2025-11-09, 08:41 AM - Word count:
SSL Season 23 – Majors MD1 (Part 2)
The second half of Matchday 1 in the SSL Majors continued to deliver drama, with reigning champions tested early and contenders making their intentions clear. Reykjavík showed the sharpness that made them a top-three side last season, while Schwarzwalder FV and Buenos Aires reminded everyone they’re not to be underestimated. From tactical duels to late heartbreaks, this round proved that no matchday in the Majors will be straightforward.
União São Paolo 2–2 C.A. Buenos Aires
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Anything short of a win would have felt like a disappointment for reigning champions União São Paolo, but they were made to work hard in their opener against a sharp C.A. Buenos Aires side.
USP set up in their familiar five-at-the-back system, the same structure that carried them to last season’s title, while Buenos Aires came out in an adventurous 4-2-4. Eyes were on Ashito Aoi, making his debut in a new role as defensive midfielder after moving from right wing-back at AS Paris.
USP had most of the early chances, but it was Buenos Aires who struck first. In the 17th minute, Daryl McManus lofted a perfect through ball to Sterling Scott, who brought it down on his chest and finished past Benecio Aguilera III. VAR checked for offside, but the goal stood. 1–0 Buenos Aires.
São Paolo began to find their rhythm, and Aoi made an immediate impact. Receiving the ball at the edge of the box, he slipped a clever pass to Zach Mulder, who unleashed a powerful shot beyond Misagh Khabiri. 1–1, and an assist on debut for Aoi.
The champions turned it around just before half-time. From a corner, Mulder gathered the loose ball and squared it to Julian Rubio, who struck cleanly into the top corner. 2–1 USP at the break.
The second half was a gritty battle, neither side giving an inch. In the 81st minute, Ryan Kirkpatrick’s late tackle handed Buenos Aires a lifeline from the spot. Scott stepped up again and placed his penalty into the top left corner for his second of the night. 2–2.
In the dying seconds, Aoi came close to becoming the hero with a shot that curled just wide, but it wasn’t to be. The whistle blew on a hard-fought draw that felt like a letdown for USP, yet a fully deserved point for Buenos Aires, who matched the champions in effort and discipline.
USP finished with more shots and possession, but Buenos Aires were more efficient, posting 2.54 xG compared to São Paolo’s 1.80.
Man of the Match: Sterling Scott, two goals and a composed performance that earned Buenos Aires a crucial away point.
Shanghai Dragons FC 0–3 Reykjavík United
Leikvöllurinn, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Shanghai Dragons entered the new season hoping to build on their previous campaign, while Reykjavík United aimed to go one better after finishing third last year.
Shanghai lined up in an asymmetrical 4-3-2-1, while Reykjavík stuck to their familiar 4-2-4 setup.
The match began quietly until the 13th minute, when George Shaheen broke the deadlock. Collecting the ball just outside the box, he dribbled past Petter Lind and curled a perfect shot into the top-left corner. 1–0 Reykjavík.
Both sides created chances in the minutes that followed, the best of which fell again to Shaheen, who danced through the defence but was denied by a sharp save from Shingo Takechi.
As the game went on, Reykjavík began to take control. In the 40th minute, O. Mastache Maldonado sent a looping cross to the far post, where Mikko Rashford II climbed above his marker and headed past the advancing Takechi. The keeper came out to claim it but misjudged the flight, leaving an open net. 2–0 Reykjavík at half-time.
Eight minutes into the second half, Santos Neymarinho made an explosive run down the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross for Rashford, who finished clinically to double his tally. 3–0 Reykjavík.
From there, the visitors controlled the tempo, moving the ball with composure and limiting Shanghai to half-chances. Despite having 62 percent possession and a 90 percent pass completion rate, Shanghai struggled to turn their control into danger, finishing with only two shots on target.
Reykjavík, by contrast, made the most of their opportunities, converting three of their eight on target and posting 2.07 expected goals.
Man of the Match: Mikko Rashford II, two goals, relentless movement, and another reminder of why he was last season’s top scorer.
CD Tenochtitlan 1–2 Schwarzwalder FV
The Pyramid Grounds, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Two sides that finished third and fourth last season met in what promised to be one of the most balanced fixtures of the opening week. CD Tenochtitlan set up in an asymmetrical 4-2-4, while Schwarzwalder FV lined up in an unorthodox system featuring five defenders, two wingers, two strikers, and just a single defensive midfielder.
After a cautious opening, the deadlock was broken in the 12th minute when Hakkinen squared the ball across the box for Maggie Sinclair to tap in from close range. 1–0 Schwarzwalder.
SFV maintained their momentum, creating several big chances as their wide players continued to stretch Tenochtitlan’s defence. In the 24th minute, Power threaded a perfect through ball into Sinclair’s path, and she took one touch before rounding the keeper and finishing calmly at the near post. 2–0 SFV.
Despite being under heavy pressure, Tenochtitlan found a way back into the game. In the 42nd minute, a slick passing triangle between Tut, Elliot B, and Hannibal Armaros ended with Tut finishing sharply from close range. 2–1, completely against the run of play.
The second half saw Schwarzwalder take a more conservative approach, sitting deeper and allowing Tenochtitlan more possession. CD pushed forward and gradually grew into the match but couldn’t find a way past the well-organised SFV defence.
It ended 2–1, a deserved victory for Schwarzwalder, though they’ll feel they could have added to their tally after such a dominant opening spell.
Man of the Match: Maggie Sinclair, two well-taken goals and a constant threat in the final third.
Summary
Majors Part 2 of Matchday 1 showed that the SSL remains as unpredictable as ever. Reykjavík were clinical and confident, Schwarzwalder picked up exactly where they left off, and Buenos Aires earned one of the most impressive results of the week against the defending champions.
Man of the Matchday Part (MotMP): Sterling Scott, two goals against the reigning champions, including a composed late penalty, earning Buenos Aires a hard-fought and fully deserved point.
After the first full round, A.C. Romana sit top of the table on goal difference after their emphatic 4–0 win, followed closely by Reykjavík United, Liffeyside Celtic, and Hollywood FC, all on three points. Schwarzwalder FV round out the top five, while União São Paolo find themselves in seventh after their draw. At the bottom, Shanghai Dragons and Xelajú Cósmico have work to do after heavy opening defeats.
![[Image: gLnB83I.png]](https://i.imgur.com/gLnB83I.png)
The second half of Matchday 1 in the SSL Majors continued to deliver drama, with reigning champions tested early and contenders making their intentions clear. Reykjavík showed the sharpness that made them a top-three side last season, while Schwarzwalder FV and Buenos Aires reminded everyone they’re not to be underestimated. From tactical duels to late heartbreaks, this round proved that no matchday in the Majors will be straightforward.
União São Paolo 2–2 C.A. Buenos Aires
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Anything short of a win would have felt like a disappointment for reigning champions União São Paolo, but they were made to work hard in their opener against a sharp C.A. Buenos Aires side.
USP set up in their familiar five-at-the-back system, the same structure that carried them to last season’s title, while Buenos Aires came out in an adventurous 4-2-4. Eyes were on Ashito Aoi, making his debut in a new role as defensive midfielder after moving from right wing-back at AS Paris.
USP had most of the early chances, but it was Buenos Aires who struck first. In the 17th minute, Daryl McManus lofted a perfect through ball to Sterling Scott, who brought it down on his chest and finished past Benecio Aguilera III. VAR checked for offside, but the goal stood. 1–0 Buenos Aires.
São Paolo began to find their rhythm, and Aoi made an immediate impact. Receiving the ball at the edge of the box, he slipped a clever pass to Zach Mulder, who unleashed a powerful shot beyond Misagh Khabiri. 1–1, and an assist on debut for Aoi.
The champions turned it around just before half-time. From a corner, Mulder gathered the loose ball and squared it to Julian Rubio, who struck cleanly into the top corner. 2–1 USP at the break.
The second half was a gritty battle, neither side giving an inch. In the 81st minute, Ryan Kirkpatrick’s late tackle handed Buenos Aires a lifeline from the spot. Scott stepped up again and placed his penalty into the top left corner for his second of the night. 2–2.
In the dying seconds, Aoi came close to becoming the hero with a shot that curled just wide, but it wasn’t to be. The whistle blew on a hard-fought draw that felt like a letdown for USP, yet a fully deserved point for Buenos Aires, who matched the champions in effort and discipline.
USP finished with more shots and possession, but Buenos Aires were more efficient, posting 2.54 xG compared to São Paolo’s 1.80.
Man of the Match: Sterling Scott, two goals and a composed performance that earned Buenos Aires a crucial away point.
Shanghai Dragons FC 0–3 Reykjavík United
Leikvöllurinn, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Shanghai Dragons entered the new season hoping to build on their previous campaign, while Reykjavík United aimed to go one better after finishing third last year.
Shanghai lined up in an asymmetrical 4-3-2-1, while Reykjavík stuck to their familiar 4-2-4 setup.
The match began quietly until the 13th minute, when George Shaheen broke the deadlock. Collecting the ball just outside the box, he dribbled past Petter Lind and curled a perfect shot into the top-left corner. 1–0 Reykjavík.
Both sides created chances in the minutes that followed, the best of which fell again to Shaheen, who danced through the defence but was denied by a sharp save from Shingo Takechi.
As the game went on, Reykjavík began to take control. In the 40th minute, O. Mastache Maldonado sent a looping cross to the far post, where Mikko Rashford II climbed above his marker and headed past the advancing Takechi. The keeper came out to claim it but misjudged the flight, leaving an open net. 2–0 Reykjavík at half-time.
Eight minutes into the second half, Santos Neymarinho made an explosive run down the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross for Rashford, who finished clinically to double his tally. 3–0 Reykjavík.
From there, the visitors controlled the tempo, moving the ball with composure and limiting Shanghai to half-chances. Despite having 62 percent possession and a 90 percent pass completion rate, Shanghai struggled to turn their control into danger, finishing with only two shots on target.
Reykjavík, by contrast, made the most of their opportunities, converting three of their eight on target and posting 2.07 expected goals.
Man of the Match: Mikko Rashford II, two goals, relentless movement, and another reminder of why he was last season’s top scorer.
CD Tenochtitlan 1–2 Schwarzwalder FV
The Pyramid Grounds, Mata-Utu | Matchday 1, Season 23
Two sides that finished third and fourth last season met in what promised to be one of the most balanced fixtures of the opening week. CD Tenochtitlan set up in an asymmetrical 4-2-4, while Schwarzwalder FV lined up in an unorthodox system featuring five defenders, two wingers, two strikers, and just a single defensive midfielder.
After a cautious opening, the deadlock was broken in the 12th minute when Hakkinen squared the ball across the box for Maggie Sinclair to tap in from close range. 1–0 Schwarzwalder.
SFV maintained their momentum, creating several big chances as their wide players continued to stretch Tenochtitlan’s defence. In the 24th minute, Power threaded a perfect through ball into Sinclair’s path, and she took one touch before rounding the keeper and finishing calmly at the near post. 2–0 SFV.
Despite being under heavy pressure, Tenochtitlan found a way back into the game. In the 42nd minute, a slick passing triangle between Tut, Elliot B, and Hannibal Armaros ended with Tut finishing sharply from close range. 2–1, completely against the run of play.
The second half saw Schwarzwalder take a more conservative approach, sitting deeper and allowing Tenochtitlan more possession. CD pushed forward and gradually grew into the match but couldn’t find a way past the well-organised SFV defence.
It ended 2–1, a deserved victory for Schwarzwalder, though they’ll feel they could have added to their tally after such a dominant opening spell.
Man of the Match: Maggie Sinclair, two well-taken goals and a constant threat in the final third.
Summary
Majors Part 2 of Matchday 1 showed that the SSL remains as unpredictable as ever. Reykjavík were clinical and confident, Schwarzwalder picked up exactly where they left off, and Buenos Aires earned one of the most impressive results of the week against the defending champions.
Man of the Matchday Part (MotMP): Sterling Scott, two goals against the reigning champions, including a composed late penalty, earning Buenos Aires a hard-fought and fully deserved point.
After the first full round, A.C. Romana sit top of the table on goal difference after their emphatic 4–0 win, followed closely by Reykjavík United, Liffeyside Celtic, and Hollywood FC, all on three points. Schwarzwalder FV round out the top five, while União São Paolo find themselves in seventh after their draw. At the bottom, Shanghai Dragons and Xelajú Cósmico have work to do after heavy opening defeats.
![[Image: ySrStzC.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/ySrStzC.jpeg)
![[Image: lisfor-3.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/sDzJYqYM/lisfor-3.png)
