2026-08-30, 08:21 PM - Word count:
Preseason friendlies are done and dusted. With the end of these games, I’ve gotta do what I was brought into the Ittihad Riadi Casablanca and Sociedad Deportiva Guayaquil for. That is to write Team Propaganda.
So little recap for the majors. Casablanca played 2 games. First game versus the other new Franchise in ASC Yumboes de Dakar. Second game versus Xelaju Cosmico FC.
The first game went well, not the result we wanted but valuable data regardless. Casablanca went down after conceding a pretty unstoppable header at the back post in the 31st minute. Up til this point, it’s debatable who was ahead in the game, Dakar definitely had more of the ball and played as more of the “controller”. However Casablanca didn’t allow for any significant chances. Not even 5 mins later, Casablanca had a huge chance near the penalty spot with Andrews Jr. crashing the box, but to no avail it was just high off the bar. Around the 40th minute was the next big chance for Dakar, after quite a scrappy corner, Casablanca were unable to clear and Dakar kept persisting. They swing it wide to Demarco, who whips in a cross to the head of De Groot. De Groot fortunately isn’t able to put it away and it goes above the cross bar again. We go into the second half trailing 1-0, with some solid defending. The 51st minute is where we see the first major chance. Apostle lines up a free kick about 35 yards out, however it ruffles the wrong side of the net. He curls it into the outside side netting, unfortunately it would have beat the keeper if it was on target. Casablanca definitely has more possession in this half. Some clinical possession too, much better decisions, much better carries, much better football all round. In the 66th minute, Casablanca had a corner. It seemed to be a recurring theme in this half with mounting pressure through corners. Takahashi takes the corner with a pass to the top of the box to Ofusu, to Morgenstern, who turns and puts a bullet home! 1-1! Come on Casablanca! It didn't last very long since Dakar pulled ahead again with the winning goal in the 71st minute. Wouters is allowed to run into the half space at the top of the box and rips a killer pass to the 6 yard box with De Groot there to finish his dinner. There are a few more chances in the last 20 mins but nothing that breaks the resolve of Dakar. Well played all around, would have liked a bit more.
Game 2 vs XCFC did not start well at all, 2 minutes in and a corner leads to a header leads to a goal from Rosini. In the 18th minute Casablanca did have an answer with a weird goal from a freekick that got blocked by the wall, Morgenstern sends a looping header towards the goal that gets by! But it’s waved off for an offside interference by one of the Casablanca players in the 6 yard box. Not much in the way of meaningful changes for both teams til the 1st half stoppage time. Casablanca manages to find a corner in the 45+2nd minute, whipped in by Takahashi, Jameston gets a head to it. It’s on target, Bufoon saves it. Jameston gets his rebound and it’s in the net! 1-1! Love to see! Plenty of big chances throughout the game, just none really sticking, some huge saves by both goalies. However, 89th minute sees Ofusu on the wing with a romping carry, with a pass inside to Yeager. Yeager manages to get a pass to the 6 yard box and a big redirection by none other than Jameston to score! 2-1! Big Win! Lovely performance from the guys! And that’s the final whistle.
More game reviews soon to come!
So little recap for the majors. Casablanca played 2 games. First game versus the other new Franchise in ASC Yumboes de Dakar. Second game versus Xelaju Cosmico FC.
The first game went well, not the result we wanted but valuable data regardless. Casablanca went down after conceding a pretty unstoppable header at the back post in the 31st minute. Up til this point, it’s debatable who was ahead in the game, Dakar definitely had more of the ball and played as more of the “controller”. However Casablanca didn’t allow for any significant chances. Not even 5 mins later, Casablanca had a huge chance near the penalty spot with Andrews Jr. crashing the box, but to no avail it was just high off the bar. Around the 40th minute was the next big chance for Dakar, after quite a scrappy corner, Casablanca were unable to clear and Dakar kept persisting. They swing it wide to Demarco, who whips in a cross to the head of De Groot. De Groot fortunately isn’t able to put it away and it goes above the cross bar again. We go into the second half trailing 1-0, with some solid defending. The 51st minute is where we see the first major chance. Apostle lines up a free kick about 35 yards out, however it ruffles the wrong side of the net. He curls it into the outside side netting, unfortunately it would have beat the keeper if it was on target. Casablanca definitely has more possession in this half. Some clinical possession too, much better decisions, much better carries, much better football all round. In the 66th minute, Casablanca had a corner. It seemed to be a recurring theme in this half with mounting pressure through corners. Takahashi takes the corner with a pass to the top of the box to Ofusu, to Morgenstern, who turns and puts a bullet home! 1-1! Come on Casablanca! It didn't last very long since Dakar pulled ahead again with the winning goal in the 71st minute. Wouters is allowed to run into the half space at the top of the box and rips a killer pass to the 6 yard box with De Groot there to finish his dinner. There are a few more chances in the last 20 mins but nothing that breaks the resolve of Dakar. Well played all around, would have liked a bit more.
Game 2 vs XCFC did not start well at all, 2 minutes in and a corner leads to a header leads to a goal from Rosini. In the 18th minute Casablanca did have an answer with a weird goal from a freekick that got blocked by the wall, Morgenstern sends a looping header towards the goal that gets by! But it’s waved off for an offside interference by one of the Casablanca players in the 6 yard box. Not much in the way of meaningful changes for both teams til the 1st half stoppage time. Casablanca manages to find a corner in the 45+2nd minute, whipped in by Takahashi, Jameston gets a head to it. It’s on target, Bufoon saves it. Jameston gets his rebound and it’s in the net! 1-1! Love to see! Plenty of big chances throughout the game, just none really sticking, some huge saves by both goalies. However, 89th minute sees Ofusu on the wing with a romping carry, with a pass inside to Yeager. Yeager manages to get a pass to the 6 yard box and a big redirection by none other than Jameston to score! 2-1! Big Win! Lovely performance from the guys! And that’s the final whistle.
More game reviews soon to come!
