2025-07-18, 08:36 AM - Word count:
It has been a chaotic couple of weeks for Pablo Kawasaki, as the cup is well underway, and the matchdays are starting to hit mid-season form! In a time of the year, when many of the casters are taking their much-earned breaks to focus on the season, Pablo has used it as a time to learn a bit more about all the other clubs and take a few more games under his belt.
With that, it is always an exciting time for another edition of Pablo’s lists, where he ranks the top 5 moments of the season he has been able to commentate so far this season.
5. Athenai vs Cairo City 2nd leg
With a battle between two teams close to each other in the Minor League standings, we knew that this game was going to be a fight to determine who would make it to the Round of 16. What came in the 2nd leg was a bout of chaotic energy that has rarely been seen in the league. What came into the game as a 3-2 Athenai FC aggregate lead, turned into a wild 9-7 aggregate finish, where a 5-5 draw occurred between the two clubs, and where there were many goals within minutes of one another. 3 goals in extra time, however led by Giacomo Santori and Frosty Steele happened to be a difference to where Athenai moved into the next round. One of those games where both teams had extremely high xG!
4. Not Like This!
Credit to Del Pirlo for clipping one of the moments this has happened on. (https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxUVgX2rqY0VL...YR1FoN_hnf). However, there have been many goalie mishaps this season which has been unprecedented in the previous editions of the SSL. Full credit to the strikers who never give up on a play. However, in this instance where could a cup tie amongst two top clubs be decided by this one clearance mistake? Heartbreaking. Fortunately, Reykjavik was able to add one more late goal to ensure they had a 2-goal difference to advance on.
3. Shanghai Dragons 2nd half comeback in the Cup
All Pablo can really say is wow! Down 2-0 on aggregate heading into the 2nd half of the 2nd leg, Shanghai had to pull something special out of their hat. A vital substitution occurred when Shanghai decided to sub out one of their top young players in Marcel Voda and put on Aaron Ford. What came next was the 2nd half of dreams for the club, and the best half of the team’s young history. Five Goals happened, led by their GM in Thomas Hohenhahn picking up 3 goals. Ford’s 9.0 rating in the 2nd half was a precursor to a massive victory, and a place in the Quarterfinals!
2. Community Shield 2nd half
The Shield as a game almost put the commentator to sleep in the first half. With nothing going on and a very tight affair, the game looked set to be a easy game for one team, and a tough one for the other as the two top clubs from the previous season in Sao Paulo and Reykjavik United to determined who would take the SSL Shield. The 2nd half led to a chaotic finish that nobody could have expected. Sao Paulo fought back hard in the 62nd minute to tie things up at 2-2 despite all of the attack being provided by Reykjavik. The game looked destined for penalties until Zach Mulder screamed one from range in the 80th minute. This was instantly responded to right off the kickoff to tie it again from Florian Gaisberg. In the dying moments though, Nerve De Groot was able to get on the end of a cross to bring Sao Paulo home the shield. Thriller of a finale you love to see between two top clubs!
1. Snor Lax unreal display
It is very rare to really remember a singular player’s performance that would excite a commentator. This is why this spot is at #1, with Snor Lax’s unbelievable display in goal versus an extraordinarily strong AS Paris team. Dropping a 9.3 rating in defeat, AS Paris fired 42 shots towards the Rapid Magyar SC goal, with 22 shots on goal. With an impressive 17 saves, Lax stood tall making miraculous stretch save after another. It was not just the saves, it was the quality of saves, on many shots from inside of the goal area. His bulky frame proved to be immensely helpful, making fingertip saves on opportunities from close range. At the end of the season, we will still see this performance at the top.
Pablo has seen a lot this season, but there definitely were more moments that he didn’t get to see. What are those moments you would put on this list?
With that, it is always an exciting time for another edition of Pablo’s lists, where he ranks the top 5 moments of the season he has been able to commentate so far this season.
5. Athenai vs Cairo City 2nd leg
With a battle between two teams close to each other in the Minor League standings, we knew that this game was going to be a fight to determine who would make it to the Round of 16. What came in the 2nd leg was a bout of chaotic energy that has rarely been seen in the league. What came into the game as a 3-2 Athenai FC aggregate lead, turned into a wild 9-7 aggregate finish, where a 5-5 draw occurred between the two clubs, and where there were many goals within minutes of one another. 3 goals in extra time, however led by Giacomo Santori and Frosty Steele happened to be a difference to where Athenai moved into the next round. One of those games where both teams had extremely high xG!
4. Not Like This!
Credit to Del Pirlo for clipping one of the moments this has happened on. (https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxUVgX2rqY0VL...YR1FoN_hnf). However, there have been many goalie mishaps this season which has been unprecedented in the previous editions of the SSL. Full credit to the strikers who never give up on a play. However, in this instance where could a cup tie amongst two top clubs be decided by this one clearance mistake? Heartbreaking. Fortunately, Reykjavik was able to add one more late goal to ensure they had a 2-goal difference to advance on.
3. Shanghai Dragons 2nd half comeback in the Cup
All Pablo can really say is wow! Down 2-0 on aggregate heading into the 2nd half of the 2nd leg, Shanghai had to pull something special out of their hat. A vital substitution occurred when Shanghai decided to sub out one of their top young players in Marcel Voda and put on Aaron Ford. What came next was the 2nd half of dreams for the club, and the best half of the team’s young history. Five Goals happened, led by their GM in Thomas Hohenhahn picking up 3 goals. Ford’s 9.0 rating in the 2nd half was a precursor to a massive victory, and a place in the Quarterfinals!
2. Community Shield 2nd half
The Shield as a game almost put the commentator to sleep in the first half. With nothing going on and a very tight affair, the game looked set to be a easy game for one team, and a tough one for the other as the two top clubs from the previous season in Sao Paulo and Reykjavik United to determined who would take the SSL Shield. The 2nd half led to a chaotic finish that nobody could have expected. Sao Paulo fought back hard in the 62nd minute to tie things up at 2-2 despite all of the attack being provided by Reykjavik. The game looked destined for penalties until Zach Mulder screamed one from range in the 80th minute. This was instantly responded to right off the kickoff to tie it again from Florian Gaisberg. In the dying moments though, Nerve De Groot was able to get on the end of a cross to bring Sao Paulo home the shield. Thriller of a finale you love to see between two top clubs!
1. Snor Lax unreal display
It is very rare to really remember a singular player’s performance that would excite a commentator. This is why this spot is at #1, with Snor Lax’s unbelievable display in goal versus an extraordinarily strong AS Paris team. Dropping a 9.3 rating in defeat, AS Paris fired 42 shots towards the Rapid Magyar SC goal, with 22 shots on goal. With an impressive 17 saves, Lax stood tall making miraculous stretch save after another. It was not just the saves, it was the quality of saves, on many shots from inside of the goal area. His bulky frame proved to be immensely helpful, making fingertip saves on opportunities from close range. At the end of the season, we will still see this performance at the top.
Pablo has seen a lot this season, but there definitely were more moments that he didn’t get to see. What are those moments you would put on this list?
