Match Report v VBR

27th July 2006

Ebrahim's Match report

Final score: QPT 0-3 VBR

A disappointing loss where we undoubtedly missed the Wadee brothers. Even still, I believed we could have imposed ourselves on the game more. Conceding the first goal early on was not a good start. Their team rely on Fletcher as their main outlet and he delivered with a well placed finish, having been shown the space to shoot. We couldn't really decide on how to contain Fletcher, which was why he was loving the time and space that he got in that first half.

We were stuttering. However, the player that we wanted to stay on the ball as much as possible, i.e. Adam, was doing his utmost to conduct some form of rhythm to our game. This did indeed lead to two great chances to equalise - one to MAli and a similar one to Fayaz. Both were closed down well by the GK but we were hoping for at least one of the two to remain composed enough to slot the ball in. These were our only real high points of the game and, had we taken the chances, things could have looked different at half time. As it happened, Amin uncharacteristically lost the ball to Fletcher for a simple one-on-one finish. 2-0 at half time and we were back down to earth, left with a mini-mountain to climb.

The mountain proved to be steeper in the 2nd half as we failed to create any clear chance to score. Fayaz was replaced by Yasir as an outfield player (he plays outside while in nets anyway!) and MAli and Husky switched positions so Husky was the striker. We closed Fletcher down better using Mo N but it was a bit-part performance by us in this half. Yasir 'cleverly' getting punched in front of the ref should have pushed us to get that goal that we needed. (He should be fine after a couple days of icing...!) Another player then got blue-carded for kicking the ball away. Playing against 5 men, we kept the ball but it was evident that they got their tactics spot on when staying in front of goal and not gettin drawn out wide to leave gaps in the area. We had to resort to a shot here and there, but they had to be top quality shots to test the keeper. We tried to remain patient but I believe we needed some form of ingenuity to make something happen for us, even after the sendings off. I would have loved to have come on at this time...

Another blocked shot led to the ball being rebounded out to that man Fletcher again who ran away to score his hat-trick and bury the game. Disappointing moment for us to know we've lost a game before it's even ended.

Summary

This was the first game of the season that we truly deserved to lose. We did have an under-strength side out with the Wadees and I missing, and MAli not quite at home playing from the start. He did his best though, had a one-on-one and wonderfully created that chance for Fayaz, both in the first half. Our game didn't really hinge on these chances because our football was not flowing on the night, but it would have given the boys some encouragement to have seen a goal go in the right way.

VBR are a bit-part team - they will have good and bad games, but this was not their best game. They relied on one man to win - the rest were good, but it wasn't enough to give me a sense that we were playing a functioning TEAM. Like us on a good day! Some of our incoming players are not renowned for relaxing on the ball, which is what we needed to do against such a team, while dictating the game to our rules.

It really wasn't to be. Bear in mind that this was the first time that these particular players played together - not a stroll, even with practice. Along with the Wadees, I will be back next time!!! Let us forget about this game as there are no lessons to be learnt here - we were beaten well. It won't affect us because we are the new-age QPT - positive throughout with bags of skill to match.