Finally the long waiting is over and we are back for the new season! Last Saturday we played the traditional season opening tournament in the SCSC facilities in Waigaoqiao. Same like in the last few tournaments we participated with three teams in the event, ReUnited, 3United, and 4United.

After five days of blue skies and sunshine in Shanghai we were excited to start the tournament in perfect conditions. However, much like the week before we woke up to a rainy Saturday morning. The weather did not compromise our spirit though and all three teams started the group stages promising with a win. Yet after a draw in the second game ReUnited lost their composure. Two losses against Oranje and United resulted in a 4th place in the group stage and thus a qualifaction only to the plate cup. 3United and 4United did better and both qualified for the gold cup. In the quarter finals 3United locked horns with Azzurri FC, and 4United faced United. While 3United lost a close match against the later finalists, 4United showed the best performance of all our three teams that day and advanced after a penalty shoot-out victory to the semifinals. There they also faced Azzurri and lost a similarly close battle with 1-2. ReUnited at the same time beat Anzacs in the plate cup quarters, but had to admit defeat vs. the new SIFL side Tianfu FC.

While results for all teams could have been a bit better, we are especially proud of the performance of 4United who – for the third tournament this year – have shown the best performance of our three teams. Also we are fired up to start the new season with the first 11-aside games this coming Saturday, 3United vs. the Cosmos and ReUnited vs. ze Krauts in Songjiang!