Seoul Fever stormed back to winning ways with an emphatic victory over Kimchi Kickers, played in difficult conditions on a dirt pitch in Jamwon, in a game full of commitment and positive performances.
Everyone played their part to ensure Fever’s current slide would be resigned to the past as manager Dennis Byrne shuffled his pack and utilized the whole squad he had available for the game. He had a very strong bench at his disposal, including the likes of Pallos Levente, who was particularly unlucky not to make the starting XI. Fever played with a 4-4-1 formation, with Sebastian Auger being allocated a free role in behind target man James Merrit, with current top scorer, Emile De Vos, playing on the right hand side of midfield. Fever have been known to start game slowly, but there was no sign of that today as they quickly got their foot on the ball and put the Kickers under pressure. This was Merrit’s first start of the season, and the centre forward was looking hungry and energetic up front, hustling the back four and almost latched on to an Auger through ball after 10 minutes but there was a little too much pace on the pass, which zipped across the dirt pitch and out of play. However, Fever didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock. Another Fever attacked resulted in a corner kick, with captain Fil Pusnik whipping a delightful ball into the box, which flicked off a defenders head before finding its way into the path of Dan Lappin who, even though having a huge height advantage over the challenging keeper, leaped like a salmon to give Fever the lead with a firm header. 1-0 to Fever.
Everyone played their part to ensure Fever’s current slide would be resigned to the past as manager Dennis Byrne shuffled his pack and utilized the whole squad he had available for the game. He had a very strong bench at his disposal, including the likes of Pallos Levente, who was particularly unlucky not to make the starting XI. Fever played with a 4-4-1 formation, with Sebastian Auger being allocated a free role in behind target man James Merrit, with current top scorer, Emile De Vos, playing on the right hand side of midfield. Fever have been known to start game slowly, but there was no sign of that today as they quickly got their foot on the ball and put the Kickers under pressure. This was Merrit’s first start of the season, and the centre forward was looking hungry and energetic up front, hustling the back four and almost latched on to an Auger through ball after 10 minutes but there was a little too much pace on the pass, which zipped across the dirt pitch and out of play. However, Fever didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock. Another Fever attacked resulted in a corner kick, with captain Fil Pusnik whipping a delightful ball into the box, which flicked off a defenders head before finding its way into the path of Dan Lappin who, even though having a huge height advantage over the challenging keeper, leaped like a salmon to give Fever the lead with a firm header. 1-0 to Fever.
A new midfield combination of Carl Garthwaite and Gareth Fannin was proving very effective as they retained possession well in the middle of the park, distributing the ball well to De Vos and Pusnik on the wings and the floating Auger, who was about to increase Fever’s lead. After more sustained pressure, De Vos had an effort on goal from a tight angle which the Kickers defense failed to clear sufficiently, and the ball sat up nicely for Auger to smash a left footed volley past the flailing keeper. 2-0 Fever.
With confidence sky high and the back four of Greg Cross, Lappin, Dan Argueta and David Pegg looking secure in front of Andrew Ritchie in goal, Fever looked to add to their lead as they continued to press and use the ball well. Not long before the break, Fever found themselves in the very comfortable position of having a 3 goal cushion, thanks to a right footed strike by De Vos, courtesy of a dangerous ball from Pusnik . 3-0 Fever.
With confidence sky high and the back four of Greg Cross, Lappin, Dan Argueta and David Pegg looking secure in front of Andrew Ritchie in goal, Fever looked to add to their lead as they continued to press and use the ball well. Not long before the break, Fever found themselves in the very comfortable position of having a 3 goal cushion, thanks to a right footed strike by De Vos, courtesy of a dangerous ball from Pusnik . 3-0 Fever.
The second period proved to be a tightly contested affair, but with few genuine goal scoring chances. As anticipated, Kimchi Kickers started the period with a high tempo as they tried to erase some of the damaged caused by the Fever attack in the first period. They were very much on the front foot, but looked vulnerable on the counter attack, with Fannin and Garthwaite in the thick of the action and Auger using the ball effectively. Pallos Levente came on for Pusnik not long after the restart and injected some fresh legs into a midfield that refused to give up chasing and hounding the first and second balls in an action packed display. Bertrand Garderau also came on to offer another attacking outlet on the wing, and proved a menace with his pace and tenacity. After a Kickers attack broke down it was Fannin who spotted the run of Auger who picked up the ball on the half way line before charging at the defence before being forced to the right of the goal before blazing just over from a tight angle, when it might have been better to have played the ball across goal toward the on rushing Merrit. Fever and Kickers
were going punch for punch without finding a clear sight of goal. Ritchie, in the Fever goal, did make an outstanding reflex save to deny Kickers goal from a dangerous corner kick, but he, along with the rest of the defence, looked confident and assured throughout. The defence offered a sturdy platform on which to build attacks and before the period was finished, Fever had the chance to assert a four-goal lead. Auger, who had proved a handful to mark with his movement across the pitched popped up on the right hand side, side footed past an opponent and dispatched a perfectly weighted 40 yard ball along the ground, taking out no less than 3 Kickers defenders, and into the path of De Vos. After a heart-in-mouth moment from the Dutchman, who fumbled his initial effort, he made no mistake with the rebound to notch his second of the game. 4-0 Fever.
were going punch for punch without finding a clear sight of goal. Ritchie, in the Fever goal, did make an outstanding reflex save to deny Kickers goal from a dangerous corner kick, but he, along with the rest of the defence, looked confident and assured throughout. The defence offered a sturdy platform on which to build attacks and before the period was finished, Fever had the chance to assert a four-goal lead. Auger, who had proved a handful to mark with his movement across the pitched popped up on the right hand side, side footed past an opponent and dispatched a perfectly weighted 40 yard ball along the ground, taking out no less than 3 Kickers defenders, and into the path of De Vos. After a heart-in-mouth moment from the Dutchman, who fumbled his initial effort, he made no mistake with the rebound to notch his second of the game. 4-0 Fever.
Byrne rang the changes at the start of the 3rd period, introducing winger Kevin Kim, and his namesake up front, as well as Aussie Benny Ho at wing back, in order to inject some energy and enthusiasm into the team, in order to preserve the lead. They did an admirable job, although the large amount of changes did affect the rhythm of the game, but the whole 3rd period as a whole was very scrappy. Striker Kevin Kim was fed the ball from midfield but failed to put Kickers to the sword as he couldn’t find the final ball and scuffed his cut back out for a corner. Auger, who was withdrawn in the 3rd period, was re-introduced to provide some stability, as Byrne again had to shuffle his pack, as Lappin departed the field and Garthwaite switched to centre back for the final 20 minutes. Kimchi Kickers frustration was beginning to show and tempers were raised after Auger abruptly ended one of the attacks with a clumsy tackle, sparking a case of hand bags. A Kickers player, not involved in the foul, threw an elbow in Augers chest as he walked past, causing Auger to momentarily lose sight of the game and confrontationally shoved the opponent, resulting in the games first, and only, yellow card. A few failed attacks by both teams later, Auger had the ball on the edge of the Kickers box with his back to goal, he twisted and turned to evade a couple of challenges but felt the force a wimpy French revenge as he was scythed down from behind by the player he fouled a few minutes prior, highlighting the Kickers defeatist attitude and the fact they couldn’t deal with the threat he and the rest of the Fever attack posed. Unfortunately, Auger, never one to shy away from confrontation, had to be restrained and was fortunate to stay on the pitch after another case of handbags. The game then petered out and the final score was a comprehensive 4-0 to Fever.
It was a game of firsts. The first time Fever dominated a game, with the score line reflecting this, the first time Greg Cross used his head without shutting his eyes and wincing like a fairy, and a first goal for vice-captain Dan Lappin, who opened his account with a powerful header. Most notably, however, Andrew Ritchie will forever be remembered as the first Soul Fever custodian to repel the threat of his opposition and finish the game with a clean sheet, to surely shake the tag of massive lemon.
Unfortunately for Dan Argueta, it was a different week, but the same story. He had another fantastic game marshalling the back four, but was pipped to the Man of the Match award by Gareth Fannin, who proved what a vital member of the squad he will be with his finest game in a Fever shirt to date.
Man of the Match: Gareth Fannin
It was a game of firsts. The first time Fever dominated a game, with the score line reflecting this, the first time Greg Cross used his head without shutting his eyes and wincing like a fairy, and a first goal for vice-captain Dan Lappin, who opened his account with a powerful header. Most notably, however, Andrew Ritchie will forever be remembered as the first Soul Fever custodian to repel the threat of his opposition and finish the game with a clean sheet, to surely shake the tag of massive lemon.
Unfortunately for Dan Argueta, it was a different week, but the same story. He had another fantastic game marshalling the back four, but was pipped to the Man of the Match award by Gareth Fannin, who proved what a vital member of the squad he will be with his finest game in a Fever shirt to date.
Man of the Match: Gareth Fannin