Coaches Wrap Up of Cup Round
USC Lion played Adelaide Uni in the Cup last Friday Night and what a cracking game it was. The game was played on Adelaide Uni smaller ground under lights which proved to be very bumpy and spongy to try play good football on.
We have many new faces at Lion this year and showed with Lion starting off slowly and taking some time to gel and get into the game. Adelaide Uni started the scoring with a well taken header from a very good cross in. Lion then started to take control of the game and equalized with a well taken header by Jack from a great cross from the wing. We then created a few more chances but it was Magnus who put Lion ahead after jumping for a 50/50 ball with the keeper and making the most of a loose ball to put the ball into a empty net to make it 2-1.
The 2nd Half was much like the first Lion pushed ball around nicely and were unlucky hitting the woodwork, Uni created a couple of half chances but our strong defence held it’s on and cleared there attacks. Things got harder for Lion when Josh received a Red Card for a foul on one of Uni players. Lion was still the better team with 10 men but we didn’t put our chances away to bury the game and Uni took advantage and equalized to make it 2-2. Near the end of normal time Lion were awarded a penalty but we didn’t put it away and so we went into extra time.
Extra time started and we continued to create but didn’t put our chances away and we made it even harder for ourselves when we went down to 9 men after a bad challenge on a Uni player by Tim. The game was in the balance but Uni went ahead to go 3-2 up and they thought they have done enough to win the game but Lion showed great heart and kept pushing and were rewarded when Magnus from a corner flicked a great volley into the net to make it 3-3. With 1 minute to go Jack received the ball from the wing and looked like scoring as he was one on one with the keeper and as he shot and with the ball was heading towards goal the lights at the ground went out and the goal was subsequently disallowed, so when lights came back on we went to penalties.
The boys showed great composure and slotted away all 5 penalties and with a great save by Chris in Goals it provided Lion with a 5-3 win in the penalty shoot out. A great team effort by Lion winning with 9 men, we have some work to do but with each game we will get better. I can’t wait for Season to start this weekend against Monarchs and to get 3 points to start the season off…
#2014YearoftheLion Cheers the Coach…..