The holidays are always appreciated as it’s good to have some family time at home and a rest to heal up any lingering injuries. But we all know football and the rest of the season has been lurking in the back of our minds throughout the duration.
3United took the pitch against Voodoo in Songjiang to start off 2016. Sitting in 2nd and 3rd respectively, this top of the table clash was sure to be a test of the teams resolve for the rest of the season. Apart from facing each other, the pitch was far from ideal, with half-meter potholes in the keeper’s boxes, waves of dead grass straining to reach the middle circle and mud throughout each defensive area.
The first 10 minutes was 3U dominated but they were not able to string together a true shot on goal. However, in the 15th minute, Joe Williams received a pass in the midfield, beat a defender for pace but was brought down at the edge of the box for a free kick. Luismi Ramos stepped up to take the kick and made a brilliant decision to curve the shot through the center of the goal instead of the obvious corner, catching the keeper off guard and put one away for the first score of the game. However, after the goal, 3United became too complacent and Voodoo dominated the rest of the half for possession. This resulted in a penalty awarded to Voodoo, who put it away cleanly to even the score at 1. The 3United defense worked hard and diligently the entire half, and apart from the penalty, not a single shot was taken on goal despite Voodoo’s best efforts. The first half ended with a scoreline of 1-1.
After a poor performance in the tail end of the first half, 3United started the second half with more motivation and renewed vigor. The result was much better team play and majority of the possession. There were quite a few missed attempts on goal in the first 15 minutes of the half but the 3U perseverance paid off. Nick Law received a very dangerous throughball past the defense from Marco Gauden and looked like he was past the keeper on goal until a defender brought him down outside the box. Law took the resulting free kick with power and precision, placing the shot into the top right corner of the goal to give 3U the lead once again. But the day was not yet over for goals! 3U initiated a quick attacking play starting in the back that only lasted a total of 12 seconds. It started from a defense interception from Yesionowski then quickly passing it to Gauden, who gave a 2-touch to Peytheiu, passed immediately to Arslanow, who then gave a through ball to Law. Law took full advantage of it in the box, nutmegging the keeper for the third and final goal of the day. Voodoo did put their heads down and fought hard for the remaining 15 minutes but to no avail. Final score, 3-1, 3United.
Man of the match: Alejandro Verni
This win extends 3United’s unbeaten record to 8 games, including the draw in regular time against the Lions in the Hebiguchi cup and now puts them solidly in 1st place in the 1st Division for the first time in club history.
