2025-04-15, 12:21 PM - Word count: 1373
Hello, hello dear readers. It's been a long pre-season and it's not over yet. I've been busy with finishing the Academy and working with my new club so the number of articles by me slowed down. However, you can expect a large increase in my writing soon. At least now finally I can get back into doing match recaps.
What a game to start the friendlies. Guess this was payback for what Shanghai did in the Majors game. A dominant performance that will make Rapid Magyar rethink a few things before staring the league games. Let's start with the first half where most of the action happened. Goals from Bobby Green in the 7th, Draz Tathille in the 10th, Dom Patterson in the 18th, Roger Roger in the 31st and Adam Knight in the 34th. Just a complete destruction of Magyar. In response the Hungarians could only muster a goal by Teitur Justinussen in the 40th minute. The second half was a lot more quiet. Dom Patterson would get his second goal in the 59th minute, followed closely by Teitur Justinussen getting his second as well in the 60th minute. Don't let the score-line fool you however. Believe it or not but Rapid Magyar actually had more xG this game. It was 2.81 vs 2.96. Otto von Bismarck didn't even have a bad game, it's just that the shots from Krung were impossible to stop.
Player of the match: Sam Albinson
Someone pat Sam's back. The man tried everything. Two assists, 7 key passes, 4 clear cut chances. On any other day he would have walked away with a win and at least a hattrick of assists. But it just wasn't meant to be.
Match to forget: Hannah van Garritsen
Oh Hannah. Only 2 crosses completed out of 13. Only 1 shot on goal out of 4. Only 1 completed foul. 6 dribbles completed only to end up with nothing.
WOW. This was not on my bingo card. Everyone knows that the top 3 of the Minor league is Montreal, North Shore United and Kaapstad. So whenever these clubs play each other, it's supposed to be a tight game. This was not that at all. You would be forgiven for thinking it was going to be a normal game if you turned off your TV at half time. Since the game was only 1-1 after 45 minutes. Henry Andrews scored in the 6th minute to give NSU the lead but it wouldn't last long. Louis Ashworth would equalize in the 35th minute and that would be the end of the action in the first half. The second would start really slow. NSU was showing it's defensive ability. But it only takes one drop to bring the dam down. In the 61st minute Henry Fantobens would score to give Kaapstad the lead. Then in the 85th minute NSU's desperate defense would bring down a player inside the box, giving Kaapstad a penalty. Louis Ashworth would easily sink it into the net for his brace. Finally, Squidward Tortellini would seal Kaapstad's victory in the 88th minute with a goal of his own. Maybe North Shore United really lost their crown?
Player of the match: Louis Ashworth
Absolute beauty of a game. A dirty hattrick for Louis with 2 goals and an assist. To add to that, he had 3 key passes and 3 clear cut chances. I would say it's a shame he got a 9.7 instead of a full 10.
Match to forget: Kika Bahl
A 5.9 for Kika because they...literally did nothing the whole game. There is not a single stat I can comment on. They completed 25/31 passes...I guess.
Well...this was certainly a match. Yup. Totally enjoyed every of those many moments. Can I have my 90 minutes back? Okay jokes aside there is still something to say about this game. The only goal of the game was by Bob Kronkowski in the 43rd minute. Other than that we can comment on the team play. Despite both teams being around the same xG, 1.00 vs 1.25, it was actually how they came about those chances that they differ. London's whole team nearly averaged a 7.0 rating. While that means that nobody was fantastic, that also means that nobody was bad. Because of their team play, London was able to save their result. As for Cairo, the chances they did have were all down to individual brilliance and unfortunately in the end they couldn't finish their chances.
Player of the match: Manuel Neuer
Oddly enough, Neuer winning this award means that Cairo did really well despite the result, just like I described. He made 4 crucial saves that kept the clean sheet and the winning result. A 7.7 well earned.
Match to forget: Ronflex
Man. This is getting harder and harder to commentate. Another player who literally did nothing this match day.
GLORY MONTREAL UNITED! Let's go, get in! Hopefully this match will set the tone for Montreal's whole season. A proper champion game. Despite Montreal having several chances, scoring would only open up in the 47th minute of the first half. Zoe Clarke would score the goal to give Montreal the advantage. Then later in the second half Matias Xavier would double the lead in the 60th minute. A terrible pass from goal keeper to wing back would end up being intercepted and through that mistake Bread Lasso would score Seoul's only goal in the 68th minute. The final goal would be scored by Heather Bull in the 74th minute to secure Montreal's victory. A complete game. 21 shots to 10, 3.57 xG to 0.88, 59% to 41% possession.
Player of the match: Predrag Dobrić
Jesus. Probably my 2nd best game so far after the Sydney game. 2 assists, 5 key passes, 3 clear cut chances. A very well earned 9.0
Match to forget: Apollo Zervas
A bit better than some other players this matchday. Some success with cross completion, not bad in the air and several shots on goal. Still ended up producing nothing unforutnately.
And we come to the final game of the day and truly the funniest one. I'll first start with Dunkler Sowerwine's goal in the 16th minute. Because it was the only goal from open play this game. Just a few minutes later, a penalty would be given to Paris and Eric Belmont would slay the net with his penalty. Doubling the lead in the 30th minute. We then move all the way to the 68th minute, where Athenai would be given a penalty. Kuba Kunchki would step up to take it and it would be saved by Patrick Carrigan. ONLY FROM THE SAME ACTION for Kuba to be fouled in the box. And a second penalty would immediately be given to Athenai in the 69th minute. Which Kuba would actually score this time. Somebody check the reff's bank account.
Player of the match: Patrick Carrigan
This was a close game and Patrick was able to save that penalty. To be fair, because he saved it Athenai were given another chance at the goal and got a second penalty but it's the effort that counts.
Match to forget: Angry Lizard and Askito Satoshi
Yikes lads. Lizard didn't really do much and ended up giving the penalty that let Athenai score. Meanwhile Askito couldn't protect his net and his passing was awful.
Well, that about wraps up the recap of the first friendly games. Some were fantastic to watch. Some not. All were good chances for the new players to show their stuff. You'll be seeing more recaps from me this season. So until then, make sure you cheer for Montreal.
This post was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by Montreal United.
Krung Thep FC vs Rapid Magyar 6-2
What a game to start the friendlies. Guess this was payback for what Shanghai did in the Majors game. A dominant performance that will make Rapid Magyar rethink a few things before staring the league games. Let's start with the first half where most of the action happened. Goals from Bobby Green in the 7th, Draz Tathille in the 10th, Dom Patterson in the 18th, Roger Roger in the 31st and Adam Knight in the 34th. Just a complete destruction of Magyar. In response the Hungarians could only muster a goal by Teitur Justinussen in the 40th minute. The second half was a lot more quiet. Dom Patterson would get his second goal in the 59th minute, followed closely by Teitur Justinussen getting his second as well in the 60th minute. Don't let the score-line fool you however. Believe it or not but Rapid Magyar actually had more xG this game. It was 2.81 vs 2.96. Otto von Bismarck didn't even have a bad game, it's just that the shots from Krung were impossible to stop.
Player of the match: Sam Albinson
Someone pat Sam's back. The man tried everything. Two assists, 7 key passes, 4 clear cut chances. On any other day he would have walked away with a win and at least a hattrick of assists. But it just wasn't meant to be.
Match to forget: Hannah van Garritsen
Oh Hannah. Only 2 crosses completed out of 13. Only 1 shot on goal out of 4. Only 1 completed foul. 6 dribbles completed only to end up with nothing.
F.C. Kaapstad vs North Shore United 4-1
WOW. This was not on my bingo card. Everyone knows that the top 3 of the Minor league is Montreal, North Shore United and Kaapstad. So whenever these clubs play each other, it's supposed to be a tight game. This was not that at all. You would be forgiven for thinking it was going to be a normal game if you turned off your TV at half time. Since the game was only 1-1 after 45 minutes. Henry Andrews scored in the 6th minute to give NSU the lead but it wouldn't last long. Louis Ashworth would equalize in the 35th minute and that would be the end of the action in the first half. The second would start really slow. NSU was showing it's defensive ability. But it only takes one drop to bring the dam down. In the 61st minute Henry Fantobens would score to give Kaapstad the lead. Then in the 85th minute NSU's desperate defense would bring down a player inside the box, giving Kaapstad a penalty. Louis Ashworth would easily sink it into the net for his brace. Finally, Squidward Tortellini would seal Kaapstad's victory in the 88th minute with a goal of his own. Maybe North Shore United really lost their crown?
Player of the match: Louis Ashworth
Absolute beauty of a game. A dirty hattrick for Louis with 2 goals and an assist. To add to that, he had 3 key passes and 3 clear cut chances. I would say it's a shame he got a 9.7 instead of a full 10.
Match to forget: Kika Bahl
A 5.9 for Kika because they...literally did nothing the whole game. There is not a single stat I can comment on. They completed 25/31 passes...I guess.
Inter London vs Cairo City 1-0
Well...this was certainly a match. Yup. Totally enjoyed every of those many moments. Can I have my 90 minutes back? Okay jokes aside there is still something to say about this game. The only goal of the game was by Bob Kronkowski in the 43rd minute. Other than that we can comment on the team play. Despite both teams being around the same xG, 1.00 vs 1.25, it was actually how they came about those chances that they differ. London's whole team nearly averaged a 7.0 rating. While that means that nobody was fantastic, that also means that nobody was bad. Because of their team play, London was able to save their result. As for Cairo, the chances they did have were all down to individual brilliance and unfortunately in the end they couldn't finish their chances.
Player of the match: Manuel Neuer
Oddly enough, Neuer winning this award means that Cairo did really well despite the result, just like I described. He made 4 crucial saves that kept the clean sheet and the winning result. A 7.7 well earned.
Match to forget: Ronflex
Man. This is getting harder and harder to commentate. Another player who literally did nothing this match day.
Montreal United vs Seoul MFC 3-1
GLORY MONTREAL UNITED! Let's go, get in! Hopefully this match will set the tone for Montreal's whole season. A proper champion game. Despite Montreal having several chances, scoring would only open up in the 47th minute of the first half. Zoe Clarke would score the goal to give Montreal the advantage. Then later in the second half Matias Xavier would double the lead in the 60th minute. A terrible pass from goal keeper to wing back would end up being intercepted and through that mistake Bread Lasso would score Seoul's only goal in the 68th minute. The final goal would be scored by Heather Bull in the 74th minute to secure Montreal's victory. A complete game. 21 shots to 10, 3.57 xG to 0.88, 59% to 41% possession.
Player of the match: Predrag Dobrić
Jesus. Probably my 2nd best game so far after the Sydney game. 2 assists, 5 key passes, 3 clear cut chances. A very well earned 9.0
Match to forget: Apollo Zervas
A bit better than some other players this matchday. Some success with cross completion, not bad in the air and several shots on goal. Still ended up producing nothing unforutnately.
AS Paris vs Athenai F.C. 2-1
And we come to the final game of the day and truly the funniest one. I'll first start with Dunkler Sowerwine's goal in the 16th minute. Because it was the only goal from open play this game. Just a few minutes later, a penalty would be given to Paris and Eric Belmont would slay the net with his penalty. Doubling the lead in the 30th minute. We then move all the way to the 68th minute, where Athenai would be given a penalty. Kuba Kunchki would step up to take it and it would be saved by Patrick Carrigan. ONLY FROM THE SAME ACTION for Kuba to be fouled in the box. And a second penalty would immediately be given to Athenai in the 69th minute. Which Kuba would actually score this time. Somebody check the reff's bank account.
Player of the match: Patrick Carrigan
This was a close game and Patrick was able to save that penalty. To be fair, because he saved it Athenai were given another chance at the goal and got a second penalty but it's the effort that counts.
Match to forget: Angry Lizard and Askito Satoshi
Yikes lads. Lizard didn't really do much and ended up giving the penalty that let Athenai score. Meanwhile Askito couldn't protect his net and his passing was awful.
Well, that about wraps up the recap of the first friendly games. Some were fantastic to watch. Some not. All were good chances for the new players to show their stuff. You'll be seeing more recaps from me this season. So until then, make sure you cheer for Montreal.
This post was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by Montreal United.
![[Image: KYA7aL7.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/KYA7aL7.jpg)
