This was the first week with our seniors in action and the reserves having a bye. Thanks to Dally for writing up this match report on the opening round action! No prizes for guessing who he supports 🦁
On Sunday 11th April, Khalsa Lions played their first game of the season in the MCSA metro East League.
Fresh from winning the Vic Regional Seniors soccer tournament, the boys were pumped and ready to start the season with a win.
Round 1 was against the strongly organised and ball playing team, Kooyong United. The weather conditions were far from ideal, with heavy rain and strong winds. Some would say it was similar to a cold wet Wednesday in Stoke.
Playing a 442 formation, the starting 11 consisted of:
Ranz (GK)
Gurjot B (LB) Harry (CB) Mantaj (CB) Jag (RB)
Jodh (LW) Shane (CM) Peter (CM) Ranz jnr (RW)
Nav (CF) Dally (CF)
There was years of experience available on the bench with the likes of Archie, Sukhman, William, Manny, Harsh and Simran.
First half.
The first 10 minutes was fairly even as both teams tried to find their passing rhythm.
Kooyong began to press forward and received a freekick just outside the KL defensive box. The freekick was struck sweetly, however, Ranz rose to the challenge and plucked the ball out of the air. The save was quite David De Gea like.
Khalsa lions began to find momentum in the game with Ranz jnr and our left footed maestro caption, Shane, both having shots from outside the box on separated occasions. This was a case of close, but no cigar, as both these shots just scraped past the post.
With 20 minutes played, Kooyong were surging forward and crossed a ball into the box. Jag leaped into the air and headed the ball away (quite similar to those defensive headers of Vidic). Shane picked up the rebound and played the ball through to Dally, who glided past one player and then found himself 1on1 with the Kooyong keeper. With strength and power, he smashed the ball into the net to give Khalsa a 1 nil lead. There was talk from around the ground that Rashford himself would have been proud of that goal.
With the lead in hand, Khalsa was pressing for a second. On numerous occasions the ball was played down our Left flank through Jodh, who ran at the opposition players, played passes and hunted to get the ball back when lost. The way in which he played was quite similar to that of Daniel James.
On one such Khalsa Lions attack, the ball was played out to Dally who found himself on the left wing. He cut inside and crossed the ball into the box. The cross found Nav, who out jumped 2 Kooyong defenders and with his peripheral vision, saw Dally racing into the box. Nav was able to head the ball down to Dally who had a shot, with finesse and precision, and placed the ball into the bottom right corner of the Kooyong goal. The keeper had no chance in stopping his shot. All the Khalsa players came in to celebrate the goal, and they were all commenting that the accuracy of the shot reminded them of how Greenwood scores his goals
The first half ended with Khalsa up by 2 goals.
Second half.
Trailing by 2 goals, Kooyong came out strong and were playing with high tempo and intensity.
They were rewarded for their efforts.
On the 55minute mark, with Kooyong pressing forward, they had a shot on goal which Ranz dived down to get a hand on to it. The ball smashed against the post and landed perfectly in the feet on their striker who scored.
Khalsa 2 – Kooyong 1.
Trying to level the game, Kooyong increased the pressure and were throwing everything at Khalsa Lions defence.
It didnt matter if it was a cross into the KL box, a long ball or 1v1, the defensive combination of Gurj B, Harry and Mantaj stayed strong and compact and ensured there would be no other shots on goal for ranz to save. The way they defended as a unit was nothing short of the defensive trio of Shaw, Bailly and Maguire.
With Kooyong pressing for the equaliser and pushing players forward, they got caught on the break by a swift KL counter attack.
Kooyong had lost the ball in the middle of the park. Lil ranz picked up the ball and played a beautifully weighted pass to Dally who broke the offside trap and was 1on1 with the opposition keeper. With a strikers instinct (similar to that of Cavani), he shot the ball across the keeper and found the bottom corner of the goal.
Khalsa Lions 3 – Kooyong 1
With a firm lead in hand, Kooyong began to get frustrated and had to resort to playing dirty. One such tackle caught Peter and a freekick was awarded to Khalsa Lions. The nasty tackle was caught Peter revved up all the Khalsa Lions who all showed heart, aggression and team unity, and worked hard as a unit to see out the game and ensure Khalsa Lions walked away with the 3 points at the final whistle.
Final score, Khalsa Lions 3 – Kooyong 1