After last week’s dispiriting beatdown it was hard to toe the line between remembering the old guys came out to play versus wanting a good result. Some review of last week’s debacle was done as well as looking forward to what the team could do better. The improvement was immediate as the Legends started keeping the ball for long spells, turnovers occurring for understandable old man physical mistakes as opposed to mental errors of trying to make the Hollywood ball. As per the previous week though, distinct chances were in short supply. However Gjoa were having their own problems generating any significant offence, with the game mostly taking part centrally. The deadlock was finally broken with a ball slid out to Casanova on the right. He put in an Ozil like pinpoint cross that ran across the defenders & Solinas only for Venkataraman to slide in at the far post and slide the ball back in towards the back of the net. This time the Legends were able to successfully navigate the few remaining minutes to half time.
With the Legends in the ascendency the game was for the taking. Gjoa had only brought the bare minimum 11 players and it was clear that a two goal lead would break their spirit. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done. Early in the second half there was an unfortunate confluence of a clumsy looking foul, a dramatic fall and a mediocrity of a referee which resulted in a penalty. Not the most egregious ever awarded against the Legends, but poor in its early timing and in providing the lift that Gjoa were looking for. It was not the best penalty ever taken either, but it did the job to tie the game up. The Legends undertook attacking intent with renewed urgency, the appearance of Williams producing an additional cutting edge to attack a tiring defence. It looked like he had made the difference when from an acute angle he thrashed a ball goalward that the goalie got a touch on, hit the post and then appeared to roll over the line. The goalie shrewdly did a Manuel Neuer and pulled the ball back, but despite entreaties the referee just waved play on. This time it was hard to fault the referee too much with deciding to do no harm on such a close call, especially given the numerous other opportunities to find fault with him.
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My Kingdom for Goal Line Technology! |
Gjoa had a few breakaways of their own but their whiny forward usually self-immolated when given any decent opportunities, most amusingly when lined up one on one against Resnik instead of blowing by him decided to just push through him, about the most obvious wasteful foul it’s possible to make. This week unlike last, the Legends looked menacing enough to get a goal but a decent keeper and poor finishing combined to keep them out, most egregiously when Roberts conspired to miss from 3 yards out at the death. There was time for one last ditch attempt by Gjoa that was thrashed wide, although a Legends loss would truly have been an unfair result.
Although clearly an improvement in performance, its hard to tell against a Gjoa side that were forced to have everyone play 90 minutes and struggle through various injuries. Credit to them for grabbing a point, but the Legends will hope that continuous improvement will see them start winning soon.
Goal line technology: My Kingdom for goal line technology
Competition: SC Gjoa, League Opposition
Location: Randall’s Island #74, Randall’s Island
Conditions: Weather still nice at noon
Fans: 4: Mrs. Morse & kids
Result: 1-1 (1-0 at H/T)
Goals: 1:0 Venkataraman Assist Casanova
Yellow Cards: None
Red Card: None
Mike D’s aka No Shows: John Hodges with expected new baby drama. Over/Under this season, 2.5.
Conboy’s aka Reverse Mike D’s: None, although Chris Williams did manage to arrive at half time and was a welcome menace to the opposition
”Mr. Glass” Fragility/Old Man Injury Award: None, although both Teesdale & Morse played extended minutes again and will need to be watched going forward
Old Man of the Match: A vastly improved performance team wide included several good performances but none were voted on at the pub. This will need to be remedied going forward.
Old Man of the Bar: None, just a regular day at the pub after the game, Tommy Accordino’s punishing Beer Hall extravaganza the night before not helping matters
El Presidente (new award for Old Men who don’t make it to game but come to the bar): None.
Statistic of the week: Drew Faherty breaks a tie with Pete Hahn for the Legends lifetime record of Defensive Assists with 4.
Team Bar Showing: 5 out of 15 (33%)
Team Bar Night: 2 out of 5: It was good to meet up with the Old Boyz after their huge victory last week, and we got our own table again without issue.
Team (No new profiles this week): Telly Vamvouris (GK), Mark Resnik (DF), Andrew Faherty (DF), Steve Teesdale (DF), Oliver Roberts (DF), Mike Cassidy, Tony Vamvouris, Manohar Venkataraman, Randall Klitz, Steve Morse, Tom Pattinson, Ugo Solinas, Willian D’Andrea, Chris Williams, Manuel Casanova