Spitfires vs. Chungju Match Report

Well apparently it was my turn this week to prepare the 'match report' for SSFL as Martin, who normally does the write ups, has voluntarily decided to forgo the season's remaining matches. Obviously not everyone can play all the time but lemme tell ya, it's a lot better to be on the bench of a winning team then it is to be at home, watching them play. Anyways, Sun Uk asked me if I would prepare the match report this week to which I begrudgingly agreed. . .at least I can just copy and paste it here so that I don't have to re-write everything to fill you, my supportive reader, in on the details!

Enjoy. . .

Spitfires vs. ChungJu--Match Report

On a brisk Sunday afternoon in late fall, the Spitfires played host to the well-traveled ChungJu, squaring off at home in Apgujeong.

Thanks to Todd's diplomacy and Sun Uk's grace, the Apgujeong All-stars managed to be coaxed off 'their' pitch a bit early, allowing the match to begin a good 15 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time, in order to beat the 5:17pm sunset. Both teams came out strong while ChungJu showed the fire of a team who last faced an embarrassing home defeat against the visiting Spitfires.

While the Spitfires looked slightly understaffed at kickoff, no one paid our numbers much attention as we were aware that a few, key players, would be arriving late. For twenty minutes the ball bounced up and down the small field to neither teams advantage; some might say it was like a game of 'ping-pong.'

Then, without warning, on a scrappy play just outside the Spitfires goal box, two ChungJu players collided, sending the ball whirling toward our goal with uncontrolled and unpredictable spin. Try as he might, even the great 'HanDS' couldn't quite reel in this knuckleball shot. . .1-0 ChungJu.

ChunJu's celebration was cut short however as they noticed the always ferocious Joseph warming up on the sideline. Playing brilliantly while on the field, an unfortunate ball to the face forced our star center midfielder to not only take a seat but head home early due to vision problems. . .we all wish you the best Joseph!

Never a team to get down when falling behind, the Spitfires soon responded with a well placed corner kick. As Todd and Richard crashed the net, Kyung Soo waited just off the back post, showing the patience of a true Korean. Watching the ball soar over the many heads of a crowded box, Kyung Soo drove home the equalizer with not so much as a bat of his eye! Tie game, 1-1.

The two teams continued to fight in the middle with neither producing much on offense. As ChungJu would break free, a solid, foreign led Spitfire defense would shut them down before they could capitalize. On the other side of the field, the International Blues Brothers, Jun Ho and Jun Suk led a relentless, but eventually futile, attack on ChungJu's over sized keeper.

Not long after the second goal, ChunJu managed to tap in another one off of a corner kick that left the Spitfire defense dazed and confused.

Halftime. . .Spitfires 1 - ChungJu 2

With no more than a two minute break, remember, darkness is SSFL's biggest and most consistent enemy as the season wears on, the teams took back the field for the second half. For a while, neither team played much like wining as both sides engaged in what Niki so eloquently described as a 'ping-pong' match. Alas, Chungju's relentless attack by thee Brazilian underwear models caught the Spitfires off guard, allowing for yet another one to slip past the always-sticky 'HanDS.'

Having little to lose at this point but pride, the Spitfires went on the attack that had thus far eluded them all game. Pounding the ball down the throats of ChungJu defenders, the straight shooting' Kyung Soo managed to push another brilliantly played ball (from Richard I believe?) past their keeper. We're right back in it. . .3-2 ChungJu.

As the Spitfires continued to rain down hell on the opposition, they took what some might consider the 'low' road to victory, brutally attacking the hands of our fearsome all mighty 'HanDS,' forcing him out of net and on to the bench. While Ammar stepped into goal, the Spitfires rallied on. Adam tried to return the favor by slide tackling the opposing keeper in attempts to keep alive a dime ball dropped by fellow Jumbo, Niki.

A pair of remarkable free kicks, one by Kyung Soo and the other from Niki, both ricocheted off the post, leaving an empty ringing sound in the heart of the worn Spitfires. Giving it everything they had, the Spitfires continued to challenge ChunJu in the air with a flurry of unproductive corner kicks. Alas, the final whistle blew and the match was called, just minutes before true sundown.

Final Score ChungJu 3 - Spitfires 2

While the Spitfires gave up a winnable one this week, perhaps it is all for the better! Who really wanted to move up to a flashy, showier D-1 when we have all the talent in the world right here? Like someone once said, it's better to big a big fish in a small pond rather than a goldfish in an ocean!