So, once again the sun was shining on a Porto team making the travel away fro mthe marshlands of Rainbow to take on last falls season opening opponents SASL.
With a strong showing against CASL last weekend and that coupled with a very good hardworking week at training, the boys were ready.. If only they had a coach to get them warmed up.
Well, maybe it was a delay in the clocks going forward, but for some reason, coach thought the kick off was 1pm. Clearly getting his games mixed up, Coach finally arrived 15 minutes before kick off, but clearly coach was not the only one who had some confusion regards the game as the home team had failed to even book the referees. So, with some early morning scrambling around, the refs finally arrived and the game was on.
With Coach keeping faith with the formation from last week, the boys took to the game in much a very similar style to how they had approached the reverse fixture in the fall. SASL looked flat footed and the pre game tema talk seemed to work as the Porto boys were passing and moving with probably the best fuidity that they have ever played.
The rewards came in a freaky de javu moment, when Kai, who scored in the same fixture last season, notched a long range lob into the top of the net. 1-0 and fully deserved! Porto went from strength to strength and again went close when Kevin went through on goal, only to see his shot go just wide. Cole, David and Matty all had attempts to and this time the shots were testing the keeper. As the game settled SASL's pace started to come into play and they started to break through the Porto ranks, but found a resolute Nick, Kai, Andy and Danny in the back line to deal with their play. As Porto attacked again, todays MVP Kevin finished off a well uted passing move and took it with full venom and confidence of a natural finisher and a player playing on a different level to what he was last year HT 2-0
Coach was quick to point out that we were in this position last year and to learn from recent games when hlding a 2-0 lead.
As the half got going, SASL started to look for their pace to be the key to unlock the tight Porto back line and the excellent passing game that Porto were displaying. Despite SASL starting to dominate, once again the Porto back line (which had Ryan, Remi and Bennie all coming in) strong and ready. With the score still poised at 2-0, Porto had the best chance to put the game out of sight when again a well fought midfield move from Cole, sent David through but his shot hit ther pThen SASL produced a shot that I think I would have had difficulty saving as from outside the area and with a first time strike, SASL managed to smash the top of the net. 2-1 SASL were most definately on the push now as SASL coach sent on all 4 of their pacey players. With some assistance from the referee, SASL did get their equaliser, but it took with a huge shout for handball, that didn't stop the SASL player to drill the ball into the top left corner. With 5 minutes still to play, Porto needed to keep their focus and calm and push on and upwards. Porto nearly got back in the lead when again the front four pushed on, but the field came to SASL rescue as the shot which was goal bound slowed and enabled the SASL player to clear. FT 2-2
GREAT GAME!!
On another note, Coach was also in action today. Having to get up at 6am to head to Cary for a 8am kick off, that saw his Comets team lose 2-1, but Coach got two MVP's. One from his team and one from the opposition.. :D
