Shanghai Lions FC

Saturday, November 8th 2003. Tianma soccer pitch.

Winter arrived in Shanghai that Saturday. Cold temperature, freezing wind, wet pitch due to small rain, that were not good conditions for a soccer game, ask the poor mascot. Add an early kick off (isn't it, Damien and Olivier?), and there is no wonder why the game started slowly. Balls was travelling back and forth, until after 15 minutes, and a corner for Les Bleus on the right side. Olivier C. went to kick it, and used his "italian" trick. Good effect, second post, little help from the wind, and the ball went into the net. Gaining some confidence, Les Bleus got several more opportunities, but unhappily they couldn't add one. On the contrary, Roodoodoos came back into the game, before half time. After a corner, they managed to push the ball pass the keeper. 1-1, half-time.

The second half started with Roodoodoo getting the ball in the midfield. Les Bleus played their game, kicking long high balls that they had no trouble catching in midfield. And after a period of domination, Roodoodoo took the lead 2-1. But that was not counting on Les Bleus spirit! After some changes in the team, and fighting hard to win the midfield battle, they started to play their game again, short passes on the ground. A ball from Max seemed to be a little too long, but Olivier C. managed to push the defender and keeper to the fault, the ball came back to David O. who pushed it neatly in the back of the net. The last minutes were an offensive show from Les Bleus. They could even have taken the three points, but Christophe and Gregory shots were denied by the keeper, helped by his post. Final score : 2-2

Comments: games against Dragons (former name of Roodoodoo) have always been tough. But this one has been played in a good spirit and the results is fair, even if we could have been a little more lucky in the last minutes. We played their game during most of the match, long balls. But the team again had a great finished and didn't collapse despite the opponent's second goal. Just a little more progress and we'll win our next one against Roodoodoos.