2026-08-30, 06:29 PM - Word count:
CD Alfama vs SD Guaydaquil
Gösta Holmberg would make his friendly debut for CD Alfama against the other expansion team, SD Guaydaquil. Nerves were high for both teams, as even though it was a friendly it would set the tone and possible rivalry for the two teams moving forward. To have early bragging rights would be great for either team, and would help lend to a positive atmosphere in the locker room moving forward. For Holmberg, this would be his first match out of a training academy, so he was excited to see how he would shape up compared to other professional players.
Holmberg would start as an attacking left fielder, a role that he was most comfortable with. Four minutes into the match, Holmberg would win the footrace and force opposing player Rylakn off the ball and making a short pass to Doner Kebab, who would clear the ball to midfield. The play would develop until Wiggins would attempt a cross. Holmberg did not apply enough pressure and the cross would end up going through, though for Holmberg he would get lucky and the cross would result in a goal kick for his side.
After 7 minutes of play, Plačkovič would send a pass to Holmberg that would result in Holmberg making the safe play and passing back to Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab would send it right back to Holmberg, where he would make a run and get around Wiggins, before making a pass to Scochnikov, who was open just outside the box. His shot would be blocked, but the ball would go straight to Holmberg who would make a move towards the center field before crossing it to Velox just outside the box. Sadly Velox would boot it way over the goal.
Holmberg's personal play of the match would happen 27 minutes into the game. Doner Kebab would give Holmberg a thrown in near the goal line in SD Guaydaquil's end. Holmberg would immediately pass it back to Doner Kebab, and then get past his man and rush towards the goal. Doner Kebab would send it right back to Holmberg, who would take the first touch and take one step before sending a low cross to Jaden CIC, who would take the tap in and put it past Towered for CD Alfama's first friendly goal in club history. A lovely give and go between Holmberg and Doner Kebab followed by a quick pass to CIC would set up a goal that not many would be too upset to give up.
At the 29th minute, Holmberg would recover a cross header and try to walk it up the sideline, before having Rylakn bump him off the ball after a overplaying the ball while trying to get around the back. Holmberg keep pressure on Rylakn before Rylakn would pass it over to Cheeseburger. The play would end up going towards SD Guaydaquil's where Bubblegum would be ruled offsides at the edge of the box after a pass from Man. The ball went wide, but it was still a good chance from Bubblegum even being offsides.
At half time, Gösta Holmberg would sit with an assist, one clear cut chance, 6.9km ran (nice) and a rating of 8.0, highest of any of the players on the field at that time. The score would be 2-1 in favour of SD Guaydaquil, with CD Alfama possessing the ball for 60% of the game so far even though they were being outshot 6 to 12.
The second half would start with a bit of miscommunication between Bǫllrstoppari and Holmberg as Bǫllrstoppari would pass it to Holmberg. Rylakn would see the relaxed nature of the pass and jump in, taking the pass and plenty of momentum heading towards CD Alfama's net. In the end, a goal kick would be the result of that play.
A bit of a defensive misplay by Holmberg would happen at the 55th minute, as a sloppy bit of defending off a throw in would have Holmberg scrambling back to try and cover Rylakn as he came from the corner towards the box. Rylakn would try to put the ball past Holmberg, but Holmberg was able to get a piece of it. Unfortunately for him, it would go straight to SD Guaydaquil's Gruber, who would make a short pass to Rylakn who would boot it past Holmberg and go far side and make it 4-1 for SD Guaydaquil.
Holmberg would make up for his poor defensive play by making a successful tackle on Cheeseburger after a corner kick for SD Guaydaquil. Holmberg would then hustle to get back to the side of his field as the play continued. Holmberg would momentarily get control of the ball before Wiggins would knock it away from him. Ten seconds later, it would be 5-1 for SD Guaydaquil.
The final score would end up being 6-2 in favour of SD Guaydaquil, not an ideal first game as a club for CD Alfama. Holmberg would finish with the highest rating for his side with 7.6 after having an assist, running 13km, making 3 key passes throughout the game, and having a 91% passing completion rate for the game. Not too awful for his first game professional friendly.
Athenai FC vs CD Alfama
The second friendly for CD Alfama. The squad goes into the game hoping to bounce back and show that the first friendly was an anomaly and that the squad can be a force going into the season. Holmberg starts again at attacking left field. A minute in, Holmberg would try a lob pass to CIC in the middle of the field just outside the box, but Skovgaard clears it out with little trouble. Next thing you know it's a rush the other way, and Ron Wince goes bar Mexico to make it 1-0 for Athenai FC.
At the 8 minute mark, Doner Kebab has a thrown in and gives it to Holmberg. Sadly they weren't at the goal line like last game, so no give and go magic this time. Still, Holmberg immediately passes it back to Doner Kebab, who then lobs a Hail Mary cross to the far side of the box that Man for CD Alfama heads wide of the goal. Simple passing and getting to space can do wonders, kids.
A lot quieter of a game for Holmberg as the game makes it to half time. The score is still 1-0 Athenai FC, but Athenai FC are dominating the game with 10 shots compared to 2 for CD Alfama. Holmberg goes into the second half with 6.5km traveled on the pitch, and a rating of 6.5.
A possible chance at the 57th minute as Holmberg is alone far side of the goal area after a corner recovery for CD Alfama sees Scochnikov try to hit Holmberg with a cross from just outside the box.
The 82nd minute sees Holmberg clear a corner kick for Athenai FC that was going far side of the goal intended for Skovgaard. Holmberg follows up the heading clearance with pressure on Bailey who moves it Skovgaard and the ball goes to the other side of the pitch. In the next two minutes CD Alfama's goaltender Wall Jr. makes multiple clearances to Holmberg, with Holmberg winning 50% of the air battles against Duck.
Holmberg would get the ball along the sideline at the 85th minute after Hawkins boots a ball his way over the head of Holmberg and Duck. Holmberg would recover it, walk in towards the corner and make a cross attempt right on the endline. With his left foot Holmberg would try for a cross to the far post, but Duck would be too tightly on him and would deflect the ball out for a corner.
Almost two minutes into extra time, Holmberg would get the ball from Doner Kebab just outside of his team's penalty area. Holmberg would turn and boot it ahead to Scochnikov who is left all alone at midfield. Scochnikov would run it in to 35 yards before losing it.
The final score would be 3-0 Athenai FC. Shots wise, Athenai FC dominated with 24 shots to CD Alama's 5. Athenai FC's expected goals were 2.94 compared to CD Alfama's 0.68. Holmberg would finish the game with a 6.1 rating after running 3.5km, completing 83% of his passes, and successfully making 2 tackles. Not as spectacular as his first match, but the young forward shows promise!
Gösta Holmberg would make his friendly debut for CD Alfama against the other expansion team, SD Guaydaquil. Nerves were high for both teams, as even though it was a friendly it would set the tone and possible rivalry for the two teams moving forward. To have early bragging rights would be great for either team, and would help lend to a positive atmosphere in the locker room moving forward. For Holmberg, this would be his first match out of a training academy, so he was excited to see how he would shape up compared to other professional players.
Holmberg would start as an attacking left fielder, a role that he was most comfortable with. Four minutes into the match, Holmberg would win the footrace and force opposing player Rylakn off the ball and making a short pass to Doner Kebab, who would clear the ball to midfield. The play would develop until Wiggins would attempt a cross. Holmberg did not apply enough pressure and the cross would end up going through, though for Holmberg he would get lucky and the cross would result in a goal kick for his side.
After 7 minutes of play, Plačkovič would send a pass to Holmberg that would result in Holmberg making the safe play and passing back to Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab would send it right back to Holmberg, where he would make a run and get around Wiggins, before making a pass to Scochnikov, who was open just outside the box. His shot would be blocked, but the ball would go straight to Holmberg who would make a move towards the center field before crossing it to Velox just outside the box. Sadly Velox would boot it way over the goal.
Holmberg's personal play of the match would happen 27 minutes into the game. Doner Kebab would give Holmberg a thrown in near the goal line in SD Guaydaquil's end. Holmberg would immediately pass it back to Doner Kebab, and then get past his man and rush towards the goal. Doner Kebab would send it right back to Holmberg, who would take the first touch and take one step before sending a low cross to Jaden CIC, who would take the tap in and put it past Towered for CD Alfama's first friendly goal in club history. A lovely give and go between Holmberg and Doner Kebab followed by a quick pass to CIC would set up a goal that not many would be too upset to give up.
At the 29th minute, Holmberg would recover a cross header and try to walk it up the sideline, before having Rylakn bump him off the ball after a overplaying the ball while trying to get around the back. Holmberg keep pressure on Rylakn before Rylakn would pass it over to Cheeseburger. The play would end up going towards SD Guaydaquil's where Bubblegum would be ruled offsides at the edge of the box after a pass from Man. The ball went wide, but it was still a good chance from Bubblegum even being offsides.
At half time, Gösta Holmberg would sit with an assist, one clear cut chance, 6.9km ran (nice) and a rating of 8.0, highest of any of the players on the field at that time. The score would be 2-1 in favour of SD Guaydaquil, with CD Alfama possessing the ball for 60% of the game so far even though they were being outshot 6 to 12.
The second half would start with a bit of miscommunication between Bǫllrstoppari and Holmberg as Bǫllrstoppari would pass it to Holmberg. Rylakn would see the relaxed nature of the pass and jump in, taking the pass and plenty of momentum heading towards CD Alfama's net. In the end, a goal kick would be the result of that play.
A bit of a defensive misplay by Holmberg would happen at the 55th minute, as a sloppy bit of defending off a throw in would have Holmberg scrambling back to try and cover Rylakn as he came from the corner towards the box. Rylakn would try to put the ball past Holmberg, but Holmberg was able to get a piece of it. Unfortunately for him, it would go straight to SD Guaydaquil's Gruber, who would make a short pass to Rylakn who would boot it past Holmberg and go far side and make it 4-1 for SD Guaydaquil.
Holmberg would make up for his poor defensive play by making a successful tackle on Cheeseburger after a corner kick for SD Guaydaquil. Holmberg would then hustle to get back to the side of his field as the play continued. Holmberg would momentarily get control of the ball before Wiggins would knock it away from him. Ten seconds later, it would be 5-1 for SD Guaydaquil.
The final score would end up being 6-2 in favour of SD Guaydaquil, not an ideal first game as a club for CD Alfama. Holmberg would finish with the highest rating for his side with 7.6 after having an assist, running 13km, making 3 key passes throughout the game, and having a 91% passing completion rate for the game. Not too awful for his first game professional friendly.
Athenai FC vs CD Alfama
The second friendly for CD Alfama. The squad goes into the game hoping to bounce back and show that the first friendly was an anomaly and that the squad can be a force going into the season. Holmberg starts again at attacking left field. A minute in, Holmberg would try a lob pass to CIC in the middle of the field just outside the box, but Skovgaard clears it out with little trouble. Next thing you know it's a rush the other way, and Ron Wince goes bar Mexico to make it 1-0 for Athenai FC.
At the 8 minute mark, Doner Kebab has a thrown in and gives it to Holmberg. Sadly they weren't at the goal line like last game, so no give and go magic this time. Still, Holmberg immediately passes it back to Doner Kebab, who then lobs a Hail Mary cross to the far side of the box that Man for CD Alfama heads wide of the goal. Simple passing and getting to space can do wonders, kids.
A lot quieter of a game for Holmberg as the game makes it to half time. The score is still 1-0 Athenai FC, but Athenai FC are dominating the game with 10 shots compared to 2 for CD Alfama. Holmberg goes into the second half with 6.5km traveled on the pitch, and a rating of 6.5.
A possible chance at the 57th minute as Holmberg is alone far side of the goal area after a corner recovery for CD Alfama sees Scochnikov try to hit Holmberg with a cross from just outside the box.
The 82nd minute sees Holmberg clear a corner kick for Athenai FC that was going far side of the goal intended for Skovgaard. Holmberg follows up the heading clearance with pressure on Bailey who moves it Skovgaard and the ball goes to the other side of the pitch. In the next two minutes CD Alfama's goaltender Wall Jr. makes multiple clearances to Holmberg, with Holmberg winning 50% of the air battles against Duck.
Holmberg would get the ball along the sideline at the 85th minute after Hawkins boots a ball his way over the head of Holmberg and Duck. Holmberg would recover it, walk in towards the corner and make a cross attempt right on the endline. With his left foot Holmberg would try for a cross to the far post, but Duck would be too tightly on him and would deflect the ball out for a corner.
Almost two minutes into extra time, Holmberg would get the ball from Doner Kebab just outside of his team's penalty area. Holmberg would turn and boot it ahead to Scochnikov who is left all alone at midfield. Scochnikov would run it in to 35 yards before losing it.
The final score would be 3-0 Athenai FC. Shots wise, Athenai FC dominated with 24 shots to CD Alama's 5. Athenai FC's expected goals were 2.94 compared to CD Alfama's 0.68. Holmberg would finish the game with a 6.1 rating after running 3.5km, completing 83% of his passes, and successfully making 2 tackles. Not as spectacular as his first match, but the young forward shows promise!
