Back to normality for dreary Fever
Seoul Fever were out for revenge after Wanoo inflicted the clubs first competitive defeat back in September in an ill tempered affair.
Dennis Byrne was forced into a few changes but fielded a strong starting line-up with Ritchie in goal, Cross, Lappin, Argueta and Pegg in defence, last week’s hero Levente, Garthwaite, Fannin and Taeho across the middle of the park, with Merrit up front and captain Pusnik occupying what has become known as the ‘Auger role’, floating between midfield and attack.
In typical fashion for dirt pitch matches, the game started at a high tempo with neither side being able to claim a significant foothold on the game, but slowly enough Wanoo began to get the better of their opposition, controlling the play and patiently building attacks. However, against the run of play, Fever found themselves in the lead as James Merrit, so prolific last season, finally opened his account for the season, profiting from a Wanoo mistake. Another period of Wanoo pressure was to follow, but the Fever midfield was working hard to apply pressure to their opponents to stifle their progress, and if they did manage to bypass the midfield then the defence was united and on hand to mop up any threat. Out of the blue, a swift Fever counter attack resulted in Fil Pusnik doubling their lead with an assured finish, suggesting he has rediscovered his goal-scoring touch with his 2nd goal in as many games.
After establishing a 2 goal cushion, complacency began to set in. The usually dependable centre back pairing was looking a little out of sorts, and their nerves were transpiring throughout the team, who couldn’t keep hold of the ball. Taeho, asked to play in the unfamiliar right wing position, performing admirably, never shying away from the challenge, but was struggling to find the right pass, a crime which the majority of the team was guilty of. They were soon to be punished for their lapses in concentration as Wanoo hit back with a lazily defended corner and a decent team move which unlocked a static Fever defence. The teams went into the break all square at 2-2.
Dennis Byrne had the returning playmaker Sebastian Auger and the pacey duo of Kevin Kim and the French wing wizard Bertrand Gardereau chomping at the bit for selection in the second period, but he decided to stick with the current line up to give them a chance to replicate their endeavor in the opening 15 minutes. However, in typical Fever fashion, they started the 2nd period in a slow and lethargic fashion, and within the opening 10 minutes Wanoo had taken the lead for the first time in the game through a neat finish from a free kick routine. Byrne felt the need to inject some energy into the line-up and introduced Auger, Gardereau and Kim to liven things up. Their impact was instant, with Auger lurking behind Merrit, getting his foot on the ball and linking up well with Garthwaite and Fannin. Kim and Garederau’s pace invigorated the team on both flanks and they were beginning to attack with real drive and purpose. In one swift moment Garderau broke from his own area, playing the ball into Auger, who inventively flicked it round a Wanoo defender and back into the path of his French colleague who beat his man and whipped in a dangerous ball which Merrit was only inches away from getting on the end of. Auger was drifting from side to side linking up with Kim and Garderaeu, creating problems and trying to link up with Merrit as best he can. After upping the tempo and putting Wanoo under sustained pressure, Fever were about to get their rewards through a moment of inspiration from their playmaker. The ball was fed to Auger from midfield, having little options around him he drove forward, side stepping his opponent before moving on to the next, shrugging off a robust challenge at high pace before cutting back, to and before the defender knew it he had turned him inside out, feigned a cross which drew the keeper slightly off his line which allowed him the opportunity to slide it in at the near post. Parity restored at 3-3. There were a couple of half chances for both teams through corners and counter attacks but the sides closed out the 2nd period all square.
You may have expected the third period to have been a cagey affair, with neither team wanting to lose, but it proved to be far from that and was full of incidents. Tempers were raising and the challenges were getting stronger, but Fannin and Garthwaite were beginning to get a hold of proceedings and spread the play well in the beginning of the third. The game failed to maintain much rhythm due to constant stoppages for fouls and the ball exiting the field of play, as passes were over cooked on both sides. Although Wanoo were looking the more likely at this point, it was Fever who struck first. Carl Garthwaite combined with Auger and Pusnik, bursting forward, picking up possession with only one defender between him and the goal. He powered past him, but by doing so he had to pull wide right of the goal, and it appeared that the chance had gone, but he unleashed an unstoppable strike from a tight angle into the top right hand corner of the goal. 4-3 to Fever. This sparked a Wanoo rally as they committed more and more players to their attack, trying to force the issue. It wasn’t before too long that their gamble paid off. Dan Lappin had a rush of blood to the head and scythed down the Wanoo attacker, who was through on goal after he made a hash of the initial ball, which resulted in a spot kick which they duly converted. Back to square one at 4 goals apiece. Wanoo looked content with a draw, but Fever looked determined to seize all 3 points and burst forward time after time, trying to penetrate their opponents defence. While drifting back from an offside position, Auger suddenly found himself played through and with advancing defenders from his right and the keeper slightly off his line he attempted a delicate chip, but fluffed his lines, misjudging the trajectory completely, with the ball ending up in the grateful keepers hands. Next up to miss a sitter was Pallos Levente, who had been in a rich vein of goal-scoring form of late, but he planted his header 5 yards out from an empty goal way over the cross bar. This proved to be the last noteworthy event of the game as it drew to a close at 4-4.
The man of the match award was given to Gareth Fannin for a consistent display in the middle of the park.
Fever lay in fourth position behind HBC, Russian Style and Phoenix, their opponents next week, who are yet to be beaten this season. It will be a big ask for Fever to claim anything from their upcoming encounter, especially since they will have to do it without the guidance of Dennis Byrne, but they will want to make a good account of themselves in a clash which always seems to bring the best out of them.
Dennis Byrne was forced into a few changes but fielded a strong starting line-up with Ritchie in goal, Cross, Lappin, Argueta and Pegg in defence, last week’s hero Levente, Garthwaite, Fannin and Taeho across the middle of the park, with Merrit up front and captain Pusnik occupying what has become known as the ‘Auger role’, floating between midfield and attack.
In typical fashion for dirt pitch matches, the game started at a high tempo with neither side being able to claim a significant foothold on the game, but slowly enough Wanoo began to get the better of their opposition, controlling the play and patiently building attacks. However, against the run of play, Fever found themselves in the lead as James Merrit, so prolific last season, finally opened his account for the season, profiting from a Wanoo mistake. Another period of Wanoo pressure was to follow, but the Fever midfield was working hard to apply pressure to their opponents to stifle their progress, and if they did manage to bypass the midfield then the defence was united and on hand to mop up any threat. Out of the blue, a swift Fever counter attack resulted in Fil Pusnik doubling their lead with an assured finish, suggesting he has rediscovered his goal-scoring touch with his 2nd goal in as many games.
After establishing a 2 goal cushion, complacency began to set in. The usually dependable centre back pairing was looking a little out of sorts, and their nerves were transpiring throughout the team, who couldn’t keep hold of the ball. Taeho, asked to play in the unfamiliar right wing position, performing admirably, never shying away from the challenge, but was struggling to find the right pass, a crime which the majority of the team was guilty of. They were soon to be punished for their lapses in concentration as Wanoo hit back with a lazily defended corner and a decent team move which unlocked a static Fever defence. The teams went into the break all square at 2-2.
Dennis Byrne had the returning playmaker Sebastian Auger and the pacey duo of Kevin Kim and the French wing wizard Bertrand Gardereau chomping at the bit for selection in the second period, but he decided to stick with the current line up to give them a chance to replicate their endeavor in the opening 15 minutes. However, in typical Fever fashion, they started the 2nd period in a slow and lethargic fashion, and within the opening 10 minutes Wanoo had taken the lead for the first time in the game through a neat finish from a free kick routine. Byrne felt the need to inject some energy into the line-up and introduced Auger, Gardereau and Kim to liven things up. Their impact was instant, with Auger lurking behind Merrit, getting his foot on the ball and linking up well with Garthwaite and Fannin. Kim and Garederau’s pace invigorated the team on both flanks and they were beginning to attack with real drive and purpose. In one swift moment Garderau broke from his own area, playing the ball into Auger, who inventively flicked it round a Wanoo defender and back into the path of his French colleague who beat his man and whipped in a dangerous ball which Merrit was only inches away from getting on the end of. Auger was drifting from side to side linking up with Kim and Garderaeu, creating problems and trying to link up with Merrit as best he can. After upping the tempo and putting Wanoo under sustained pressure, Fever were about to get their rewards through a moment of inspiration from their playmaker. The ball was fed to Auger from midfield, having little options around him he drove forward, side stepping his opponent before moving on to the next, shrugging off a robust challenge at high pace before cutting back, to and before the defender knew it he had turned him inside out, feigned a cross which drew the keeper slightly off his line which allowed him the opportunity to slide it in at the near post. Parity restored at 3-3. There were a couple of half chances for both teams through corners and counter attacks but the sides closed out the 2nd period all square.
You may have expected the third period to have been a cagey affair, with neither team wanting to lose, but it proved to be far from that and was full of incidents. Tempers were raising and the challenges were getting stronger, but Fannin and Garthwaite were beginning to get a hold of proceedings and spread the play well in the beginning of the third. The game failed to maintain much rhythm due to constant stoppages for fouls and the ball exiting the field of play, as passes were over cooked on both sides. Although Wanoo were looking the more likely at this point, it was Fever who struck first. Carl Garthwaite combined with Auger and Pusnik, bursting forward, picking up possession with only one defender between him and the goal. He powered past him, but by doing so he had to pull wide right of the goal, and it appeared that the chance had gone, but he unleashed an unstoppable strike from a tight angle into the top right hand corner of the goal. 4-3 to Fever. This sparked a Wanoo rally as they committed more and more players to their attack, trying to force the issue. It wasn’t before too long that their gamble paid off. Dan Lappin had a rush of blood to the head and scythed down the Wanoo attacker, who was through on goal after he made a hash of the initial ball, which resulted in a spot kick which they duly converted. Back to square one at 4 goals apiece. Wanoo looked content with a draw, but Fever looked determined to seize all 3 points and burst forward time after time, trying to penetrate their opponents defence. While drifting back from an offside position, Auger suddenly found himself played through and with advancing defenders from his right and the keeper slightly off his line he attempted a delicate chip, but fluffed his lines, misjudging the trajectory completely, with the ball ending up in the grateful keepers hands. Next up to miss a sitter was Pallos Levente, who had been in a rich vein of goal-scoring form of late, but he planted his header 5 yards out from an empty goal way over the cross bar. This proved to be the last noteworthy event of the game as it drew to a close at 4-4.
The man of the match award was given to Gareth Fannin for a consistent display in the middle of the park.
Fever lay in fourth position behind HBC, Russian Style and Phoenix, their opponents next week, who are yet to be beaten this season. It will be a big ask for Fever to claim anything from their upcoming encounter, especially since they will have to do it without the guidance of Dennis Byrne, but they will want to make a good account of themselves in a clash which always seems to bring the best out of them.