We
were at the 2015 JNJ Euro Tournament Cup Semi-Final
stage and from 18 teams who started the day we
were down to the final 4. Before the Quarter-Finals
we had 7 nationalities vying for glory – this
was now 4 with England, Russia, Switzerland and
Turkey still harbouring hopes of success!
Up
first was De Puy Synthes 1 versus Cilag Team 1
and what a game this promised to be. We had last
year's Runners-Up versus the team with the best
record in this year's tournament to date. De Puy
Synthes 1 had won 4 and drawn 2 in normal time
today scoring 22 and conceding just 5 along the
way and had a penalty shoot-out victory. They
also had experience at this Cup Semi-Final level
having defeated another Swiss team, Team Zug,
4-1 at this same stage in Bratislava 12 months
ago. If they could repeat that feat they would
be in the Cup Final again.
The
record of Cilag Team 1 today was just irresistible.
They had played 6, won 6 and scored an amazing
28 goals and conceded just 2. The size of De Puy
Synthes 1's task should not be underestimated
but it was one they took to admirably and they
got a shot in the arm when they took a first half
lead through Liam Robinson – it was his 14 th
of the day making him the top goalscorer in the
tournament. His tally of 14 overtook the record
of most goals in a single JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament
– defeating JNJ Russia's Artem Khodas who bagged
13 in the 2013 Budapest edition.
So,
it was 1-0 at half-time to De Puy Synthes 1. Could
Cilag Team 1 respond? They had been behind before
in the Quarter-Finals but had recovered that quickly
before the break. As you might imagine they had
much of the attacking play in the second half
as De Puy Synthes 1 took an understandably cautious
approach to the game. Cilag Team 1 were patient
with their play and De Puy Synthes 1 were relatively
comfortable in holding the lead although they
were working hard to protect Neil Howard in their
goal. As we went into the final quarter of the
game we had the turning point. De Puy Synthes
1 conceded a free kick just outside the area and
they had a three man wall. Now, obviously when
build a wall you will leave men unmarked – from
the free-kick the ball was laid off to Samidin
Ljatifi in the centre – the wall could not shift
quickly enough to block and Ljatifi hammered home
the equalizing blow, 1-1. There was no time for
a winner and so we would need penalties to decide
who would progress to the Cup Final.
De
Puy Synthes 1 had reached this stage via a penalty
shoot-out so this should hold no fears for them.
However, we are not sure if De Puy Synthes 1 knew
this but it was exactly 25 years to the day (4
th July, 1990) that England lost the World Cup
Semi-Final to Germany at Italia '90. Would this
be an omen?
De
Puy Synthes 1 were to take the first penalty and
they started off with Josh Lynn as they had done
in the Quarter-Final. He was successful last time
out but dragged this penalty wide and it was advantage
Cilag Team 1 already. Samir Zujli punished the
miss by slamming his penalty in the top corner
for 1-0. Andrew Preece slotted the ball to the
goalkeeper's right to make it 1-1 before Damir
Ajvazi smashed his penalty down the middle to
retain the lead for Cilag Team 1, 2-1.
In
a change in the order from the Quarter-Final,
Liam Robinson was promoted up the order and although
goalkeeper Amend Rexhai got a hand to the ball
he was unable to keep it out. It was 2-2 and it
all came down the final penalty. Could Cilag Team
1 seal it here or could Neil Howard keep his time
alive. Sopi Walmir was the man to step forward.
He had 10 goals so far today and he struck the
ball hard and true – Neil Howard had no chance
and the English goalkeeper suck to his knees as
the Swiss team celebrated.
De
Puy Synthes 1 had contributed much to the day
and this game was worthy of a Cup Final. Alas
for the English team it was not to be this year.
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