Jilles Djon’s freekick sealed the 3-1 half-time result
With a lot of his regular attack taking extended holidays, ReUnited coach Sebastian Becker had to look for alternative solutions. Luckily the team had picked up some promising new players during the CNY holiday and they were more than ready to fill the gaps. Newcomers Joe Williams and Lee Rowbotham had three ReUnited training sessions between them but they started in a new look offence in this cup tie against Shining.
Joe was on the score sheet after just five minutes when Shining’s goalie could not hold a shot from Mandela and he tapped in from less than five yards. The game was scrappy with ReUnited exerting pressure with their high line but not always finding their passing fluency. Their endeavour was rewarded however by a second goal and second debutant scorer as Lee tapped in after another fumble from Shining’s keeper.
The Chinese team did not give up though and they finally broke ReU’s offside trap and cut the lead in half midway through the period. The game was in a precarious position for ReU then but Shining’s keeper was on hand to provide another gift, letting our former Lions midfielder Jilles Curtis Djon’s freekick slip through his body right before half time.
At halftime ReU coach Seb Becker ordered Joe Williams to stay a little bit deeper and it provided quick dividends when just after the break Seb Kuehn played a clever chipped pass out of defence and Joe took it down and lobbed wonderfully for Mandela who was clean through and easily converted.
Mandela scored 3 times and also debutant Joe contributed 1 goal
This goal gave ReU the cushion they needed and Shining’s defence had begun to lose heart. A fifth goal followed in the 67th minute when Joe almost squeezed in his second but it was cleared off the line and out wide. The ball fell to Chris Steen who delivered a buttery cross which the unmarked Karsten Knerr headed perfectly into the corner.
But there were still more goals to plunder and ReU’s attackers had not had their fill. Joe provided the sixth with a dribble and excellent flat cross that Mandela could not miss. And the striker completed his hat trick after being put through with half a pitch of space.
7-1 to ReUnited and passage to the next round where we can avenge the defeat of our second team against their conquerors Long Tang.
