Apollo London FC - Marylebone FC
After a tough game away today against a solid opponent, our boys didn't manage to celebrate another win literally 1 minute before the final whistle.
The first half showed both sides spending too much energy on winning first and second balls in the two-thirds of the pitch hence not any big missed opportunities were noticed. At the 38th minute FC after one of their few long-range shot attempts FC Marylebone achieved to score. Although our keeper dived to save the ball, he didn't manage to catch it steadily resulting in the opponent attacker winning the rebound and pushing the ball in the net before our keeper blocking the ball second time.
The first substitute from our Team by bringing in an extra attacking player added more pressure against the opponents. The first two missed opportunities didn't delay to come from our side within the first 10 minutes of the second half. At the 60th minute one of the ball steals from the boys in the centre of the pitch led to a promising counterattack which was violently stopped by a one of the opponent's CBs who was penalised with red card. Consequently, the whole fate of the game completely changed with the Apollonians stagely dominating in the ground and pressing the opponents at the one third of it. The formation of our squad was also altered and proved effective soon. After an enduring attempt from our striker within the opponent's small box area by covering the ball and turning to finish under pressure, the ball was initially saved from the opposite keeper and at second time our forward was close to win the rebound to finish in empty goal and equalise at the 67th minute. Additional substitutes offered more freshness to our Team. At the 80th minute, after a dangerous cross play from our right side back, the opposite defence failed to clear the ball from their small box area our attacking midfielder won at second time the ball and scored with a decisicive finish.
Before the last critical minute Apollonians had two big opportunities to score a third goal. At the 90th minute, a contentious foul kick, 5 meters outside our large box area, was given in the favour of the opponent side. The foul strike was initially blocked by our players' wall however after two consecutive deflections the ball passed through ending with big dose of luck to the opposite striker who succesfully finished the ball saving a certain loss for his Team.
Although the victory was lost at the very last minute of the game, the boys showed character at the second half and promise for progress in the upcoming demanding matches.
