Match #4 vs Austria(7-0)

Well, I have to say that for our second game out we have bounced back wonderfully from our opening game defeat to Deportivo.  Here's the summary:

Nerves were a little tense as we got the kickoff underway at Lakeridge on Tuesday evening.  The Fianna Green and White were looking to erase memories of the humiliation on the opening day game against Deportivo and did not disappoint themselves.  Although playing in net for only 5 minutes, Daryl Massier came out with a shut-out!  Ash Noureldin being away for this match forced the 'gaffer' to throw Bryan Leusink into net with question marks surrounding the indoor 'keeper's ability in the outdoor game... there was no need to worry. 

From the start, Fianna were able to control the middle and use the wing play to great effect.  The Austrians were under pressure from the start, with David Parker going close and then wonderful linking play between Filipe Dos Santos and Jaime Valero saw Jaime's shot go just wide.  This was a foreshadow of things to come.  Before the 15 minute mark Jaime was played into the box again by a lovely pass and a deadly finish into the bottom left corner saw Jaime Valero open Fianna's account for the 2004 outdoor season!  You could feel the tension ease as now Fianna began to put their mark on the game, and although there were some good opportunities to build on the lead, the finishing couldn't match up.  Anders Alm saw three of his shots go very wide, shooting that would have disgraced his family if they ever chose to watch a Fianna game!  To add misery to shame, Anders was then nutmegged by one of the Austrian players.  The Shame of it all!!!  Fianna's defense were never even reasonably tested.  At the end of the half it was Austria 0 Fianna 1.

The start of the second half saw Fianna first out of the blocks again with Jaime Valero showing the reason Fianna paid a huge price tag to bring the 'dancing Columbian' into their side.  Within the space of the opening 10 minutes, Jaime had latched onto a Rick Peeteetuce pass and slotted his second and then latched onto a long ball from the Fianna defence to complete his hatrick!  Steven Tramer added his name to the scoresheet twice after with a brilliant blooped header that went into the top corner off of a cross, and then finished some good build up play and took advantage of some poor defending to score his second.  At this point it was five goals for the Green and White and we were starting to enjoy ourselves emensely!  David Parker was having an incredible game up front as well and he was not to be outdone.  A quick interchanging of passes with Jeff Brown saw David Parker through on goal and he scored easily.  David was running at the Austrian defence and went close twice again with shots just wide or just over the bar before being able to complete his second goal when Rick Peeteetuce sent David through on goal with a wonderful behind the leg backheel.  7-0 Fianna!  Filipe Dos Santos, Fabio Fiorito and Jeff Brown all went close to adding to the lead which was never in any doubt.  In the closing minutes Bryan Leusink finally had to save brilliantly after a good Austria counterattack saw one of their attackers through on a break-away. 

End Result:  Austria - 0  Fianna - 7

Player of the Game:  Jaime Valero (without question although Parker was close)

Blooper of the Game:  Anders being nutmegged a second time by the same guy in the same situation!

Quote of the Game:  "Jaime hates that song!"  (In reference to the calls for Jaime to be nicknamed "la Bomba" by the fans)

A fair result in the end, although I think that we will have a more testing match against T.P.B. next Thursday.