| 04.04.26 Atletico Stockholm – Allihopa 0-1 (0-1) Team: Hans Håkansson (captain), Hendrik Augustin, Jacob Applinger, Patrik Alexandersson, Richard Brattlund, Nils Sandström, Staffan Lundholm, Ludwig Bell, Jacob Lapidus, Johan Thornton, Jeff Kinkle Goal scorers: Jacob Lapidus 1 |
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| Despite
my years of experience as a football commentator, it is difficult
for me to find the words to describe my reaction to this important
victory. It was a hard fought away victory on a hostile pitch; a victory
that maintains our position in the top of the table (although Catolica
has passed us on goal difference). It was a victory that continues
the best start to a season in the club’s history. Yet, for this
commentator anyway, there was something slightly unsatisfying about
the match. My strongest feeling is that this is because despite being unremittingly dominate throughout the entire match we were only able to find the back of the net once through a key Hr. Lapidus goal. It was a match in which Allihopa looked poised to utterly humiliate their opposition with a deluge of goals yet were never able to put the match beyond reach. While certain moments were reminiscent of two utterly frustrating matches against Tolvöreholm last season, Atletico Stockholm was undoubtedly a better team than the deaf-mute Tolvöreholmers and Allihopa’s performance was impressive. The strong central midfielders, Hr. Sandström, Hr. Lundholm, and Hr. Brattlund coordinated a both fluent and deadly Allihopa offense that kept Atletico’s defense under constant pressure. Hr. Lapidus and Hr. Bell on the right flank and Hr. Kinkle and Hr. Thornton on the left flank together had numerous chances to blow the match wide open within the first 10 minutes. With slightly more precision, or slightly more luck, Allihopa could have easily gone into the first half with half a dozen goals. Hr. Lundholm had an attempt ring the post. Another clever header by Hr. Lundholm to Hr. Kinkle saw Hr. Kinkle send a volley off the bar from a difficult angle. Atletico clearly felt the pressure and packed everyone into the box except a lone striker and relied completely on counters that Allihopa’s defense, bolstered by the return of H. Alexandersson from a foot injury, easily repelled. As a result, even Allihopa’s defenders, rarely venturing past the midfield line in most ties got involved in the attacks and Hr. Applinger, Hr. Alexandersson and Hr. Augustin all had opportunities to shoot or create opportunities for others. In these early moments, a goal seemed imminent yet failed to occur. Allihopa were clearly becoming slightly frustrated but remained both patient and resolute and this persistence paid off when Hr. Lapidus while pestering Atletico’s defense with the stubbornness of a mule intercepted a pass and slid it confidently into the back of the net towards the end of the first half. Allihopa were clearly relieved and a dejected Atletico looked to open the floodgates to a goal orgy but, to their credit, Atletico kept their chins up and continued to frustrate Allihopa’s attacks. The second half provide goal opportunities to nearly every Allihopa player but their finishing woes continued. Clever chips by Hr. Brattlund, Hr. Bell, and Hr. Lapidus went slightly over the bar. Another drive by Hr. Lapidus struck the bar and numerous shots by Hr. Thornton, Hr. Lundholm, and Hr. Sandström went just wide. A goal was once again definitely in the air but never materialized. Unable to put the match out of reach, Allhopa dug in on defense and despite some late pressure from Atletico they never really looked likely to concede a goal. Hr. Håkansson, whose very name in the starting line-up lets everyone in the Allihopa community sleep a bit better at night, was as secure as ever in goal. Everyone returned home to defend and Hr. Applinger, Hr. Alexandersson, and Hr. Augustin all played excellent. As in last weeks match again UBS, Allihopa dominated in the air and in midfield enabling them to launch attack after attack. Hr. Alexandersson and Hr. Applinger intercepted nearly ever pass and Hr. Augustin even had the season’s first slide tackle as an Atletico midfielder tried to beat him down the sideline. A knock to Hr. Håkansson’s ear by a large headed Atletico attacker in the final minute caused everyone on Allihopa to hold their breath for a minute but he was able to continue, looking unshaken in injury time. When the final whistle blew, Allihopa were obviously proud of the result but were also justified in feeling slight disappointed without padding their goal difference leaving next weeks eagerly awaited derby with Catolica to decide the early league favorite. Man of the Match: Like last match, it would be possible to give this award to any number of players. Hr. Lundholm, Hr. Sandström, and Hr. Brattlund all played brilliantly in midfield creating over a dozen goal opportunities. Hr. Alexandersson, Hr. Augustin, and Hr. Applinger helped give Hr. Håkansson his first clean sheet of the season. In the end though, the prize has to go to Hr. Lapidus who put in an inspiring performance within two weeks of his becoming Allihopa’s first father, the proud parent of Allihopa’s new first lady, Maja Martinez-Conde-Lapidus-Bross. Hr. Lapidus looked constantly deadly on the right flank and even occasionally in central midfield and his work ethic (of which his important goal is a testament) raised the bar a notch for the rest of the team in his first match of the season. He’ll be missed in next week’s uber-derby Dr. Mats Viktorsson |
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