Coach's Corner V - Game 3

The results of the first two match days guaranteed our passage into the "A" playoffs, thus ensuring that we had met our first goal in this tournament. But we clearly wanted more. With a win against Kungsbacka IF, we could win our group, and gain two advantages: a small trophy, and a weaker 2nd place finisher as our first opponent in the knockout playoffs.
The day started off with a steady drizzle, as most in Gothenburg have this week, before the sun reluctantly accepts its invitation to appear around mid-morning. We had benefitted from a good night's rest, and didn't mind having to arise at 6:30 am to make it to the game in time. The rain was beginning to let up by our arrival at Inlag, but the improved visibility was most unwelcome, because it offered us a clear glimpse of the home side: Kungsbacka IF. I may have been mistaken in calling the Alvsjo players "spruces", for that leaves little room to describe the lads from Kungsbacka. Not only tall, but chiseled, this was a mature team with, as we later learned, a reputation for being a consistent contender in the youth league of southern Sweden.
I felt it was time to adjust to circumstances. We had to match like-for-like at least in front of our goal, so the back line was reconfigured to include (from right to left) Malik/Freddie, Patrick, George, and Brennen. Their courage and cohesiveness were exemplary. Kungsbacka were obviously used to playing directly and often aerially in to their forward duo, and with 12 goals to their credit in their first two games, no one could argue with the logic of continuing that approach. But our back four were resolute, and no aerial service went unchallenged. If I could remind everyone of the meager display we gave in the air when we first played in the Milwaukee tournament last August, the improvement in our challenges for headers since then would be enough to bring a flush of pride, as it did me in watching this game. Our midfield stayed tightly organized as well, leaving few second balls to be won. Mac was restoring his confidence from game 1, distributing the ball efficiently and patiently. Diamond was frustrating their entire left flank with his tireless ball-winning. But perhaps most inspirational of all was Saul's effort, raising repeated cheers from his bench as he took down (fairly) players literally three times his size on a number of occasions.
Along the front Dennis, Joey, Zach, and Joel ran their socks off to help us defend as well as provide wide options on the attack. Tarik was his usual relentless force, making the Kungsbacka central defenders work harder than they wanted and even forcing a mistake or two.
And all of the above might have been for nought without a great save made by Andy in only the 3rd minute, deftly turning a 30 yard laser heading for the top corner over the crossbar. That shot was a clear indication that the quality of this opposition was in a different category altogether than those we had played before, but it was also a call to our team that Andy expected no let up in the fortress we had established in front of our goal.
The game ebbed and flowed, with good possession soccer from both sides, but very few clear chances created. The frustration of the Kungsbacka forwards was an inspiration to us, but we could not find a way through ourselves. After playing the best defense I have ever seen from our team, all that effort seemed unfairly forfeited when Kungsbacka were granted a penalty three minutes from time after we challenged for a 50-50 ball near the edge of our area. I suppose we'll never know whether Andy's previous heroics had anything to do with the Kungsbacka shot being pulled wide, but it seemed imminently fair that our boys be rewarded with at least a point for such stellar display.
The result places us second in our group, matched against the 1st place finisher from Group 53. There is no doubt that another step in the maturation of this team was reached today.

LISC 0 Kungsbacka IF 0

Shots (on goal): LISC 5 (1) Kungsbacka IF 3(2)