On a drizzling morning we arrived with only 11 players in Songjiang at 9:15am to see a massive Japan squad of 18 players already warming up. Our 12th player, Dennis was still in a traffic jam not far from the pitch.
Without our regular wingers, usual fullback Daniel Messing and 17 year old Danish trialist Jakob Cetin were starting over the sides.

Already in the second minute it was Daniel who played a long ball over the left side in the path of Tobi who converted easily for a 1:0 ReU lead into the long corner of the goal against a slipping Japanese keeper.
This goal seemed to wake up the Japanese players who played now much more aggressive and were winning more balls than ReUnited. And after 5 minutes this way of playing paid off when Tomoyuki Hirai was through and equalized the score. In the meantime Dennis was warmed up and ready to go in. But 10 minutes after he had entered the field, Dennis was in a tackle with a Japanese player in which he fatally twisted his ankle. The match was stopped and Dennis was rushed to a hospital where doctors later found a complex fracture and a torn outer ligament. In the meantime the game continued and a shocked ReUnited was still unable to stand up to tough playing Japanese. A few good saves Cody saved the draw into the break.

At half time ReUnited was preparing to step up and turn the game. Around 4 minutes into second half Tobi made an irresistible sprint over the left flank and passed fast into the middle where Steve stormed towards the goal and converted easily for a 2:1 ReU lead. We had now more of the game and created several chances while Japan was still dangerous too. The ReU fans had to wait until the 83rd minute when Steve finally relieved his teammates with his second goal of the day. But it was not over! Just 2 minutes later Steve dribbled into the box again, tried to shoot but slipped and fell to the ground, the ball bounced back to Tobi whose shot bounced back again to Steve who was still on the ground. And while lying on his left side our Burundian number 10 somehow managed to lob the ball over the outcoming keeper for a personal hattrick and the 4:1 end result. Man of the match honors were given to Tobi.

Dennis got surgery the same day and will be out for a few months. We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery!