the dasai girls footy team started their 2003 championship campaign in fine style in the barren lands of niiza. despite an arduous journey into the wilds of saitama, this was a feast of attacking football. in front of a boisterous crowd of five, the two teams played an extremely open game of football, which could've gone either way if chances had been taken.
the wait for the first goal was not long coming, amy, top scorer in the autumn cup tournament was back on the score sheet, scoring one of her trade mark "rocket" shots which stand in goalie, dara could only helplessly paw at.
there were some comic scenes on the pitch, usually whenever the ball went into the mud patch leftover from the previous weeks' snowfall. paula tew had the crowd in stitches with her charlie chaplin antics, slipping continually in the mire. despite the hard work of groundsmen right up to kick off, those without boots were left floundering on a pitch that owed more to a pigs pen than to the beautiful game.
the early goal seemed to rock the blacks, as the blues piled on the pressure. not before long another goal slipped past dara, having a nightmare few minutes between the sticks. the "blues" constantly hounded the "blacks" goal, leaving clare standing in the opposite goal admiring her nails.
superb goals from julie and maggie left an apparently unassailable and extremely comfortable 3 goal cushion at half time.
half time saw a comeback effort from the blacks, remorseless pressure had the blues on the defence. finally, the pressure paid off mid way through the 2nd half with a bizarre goal coming from a corner kick. orla macleavy coming back after a lengthy hangover took the kick and managed to smuggle it into the goal on the near side. that had some of the crowd questioning the referees decision but overall it was another faultess performance from the uk official despite constant barracking from a furious amy long. the referee also kindly provided a little light entertainment when he was upended while in full flight by the greasy surface.
the continual pressure hinted at a possible fight back, paula missing the easiest of chances in front of goal. but how wrong we were! maggie and ayumi playing together for the first time but looking like a veteran partnership caused havoc in the blacks' defence. some very snappy passing around defenders culminating in a superb strike from the girl from carmel to make it 4-1. considering she's rumored to have put in a transfer request and reportedly rarely attends training, it was a fantastic performance full of vim and vigor.
emma was lucky not to see a red card after a chronically late tackle on ayumi as she burst through on one of her runs. the latter stages were a one sided affair. seng, and the twin strikers playing some neat attacking football that susan was unable to cope with alone. the classy american defender was surprisingly reluctant to make any of her surging runs, no doubt because of her defensive duties. jenny as ever, looking relaxed despite the importance of the occasion and smiling wider than the staff at mcdonalds. julie was a rock in defence and even had time to show off some of her childhood balletic training.
late in the game, ayumi popped up to score the fifth goal that finished off the blacks in style and send the crowd into a frenzy.
so, what's in store for 2003? this team is one to watch.
debeto rongu at the niiza stadium
blacks blues
jenny seng
susan amy
orla julie
emma ayumi
paula maggie
dara clare [ of essex]
plus
sandra maria (from the team we were meant to play!)
attendance: 5 kazu, terri, kumi, gary garner, kelly.
big thanks to Mr Tabata and Mr Morozumi of Niiza High School for marking the field and helping make this day a reality!
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