2026-03-08, 08:51 PM - Word count:
As we geared up for the upcoming SSL Cup quarterfinal match, I was really coming into my own as an offensive fixture for Liffeyside Celtic. While we had just had a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Reykjavik United to lose consecutive matches for the first time this season, I had scored three goals in the last four matches and was really gelling with my teammates in the Liffeyside front four. Next up, we'd be facing off against Shanghai Dragons FC in a SSL Cup clash of titans for the chance to go to the semifinals.
Our start to this match was better than usual as we were able to generate good chances rather than being back on our heels, but nothing high-danger was able to be put on net. I was mainly up against Allie Bunson again like I had been in our match a few weeks ago, and they were quite a good defender, meaning that I would have my work cut out for me in order to get space with the ball. Just before the 30th minute, Puma Superhoops set up a nice shot in front for a teammate with a cross into the box, but the shot bounced off the post and out. It wouldn't take long for us to get on the board though, as Superhoops set up Takeda Takahashi with a pass ahead that Takahashi could send into the goal box for Leandro Dybala to bury. Miedema, Dybala and I were proving to be a potent combo up front, where it seemed like any of the three of us had the capability to put the ball in the net.
A few minutes later, Shanghai appeared to tie the score when one of their forwards got the ball in space, but the goal was disallowed by VAR as offside. It would only take two more minutes for us to strike back again, once again off a beautiful cross by Superhoops. All three of us were there, but it was Dybala who was the closest and he was able to outjump his defender for the header past the goalie. In the span of five minutes, we'd broken this game wide open and taken the two-goal lead that we could hopefully build on until the end of the match. As time wound down in the half, we got on another rush and Superhoops sent another high cross laterally to Kika Bahl on the right side. Bahl sent a pass to the front of the net where Miedema and I were waiting, and the ball was closer to my foot so I was able to bury it for my fourth goal in the last five matches at any level that I'd played at this year. Shanghai wasn't able to get anything going through the rest of the match and Dybala narrowly avoided getting a hat trick when his third goal was disallowed by an offside, and we were able to close out the 3-0 win and punch our ticket to the semifinals. I was eager to see if I could keep my hot streak going into the last few matches of the SSL season and throughout our quest for the SSL Cup, but our team seemed to be hitting their stride at the right moment.
Our start to this match was better than usual as we were able to generate good chances rather than being back on our heels, but nothing high-danger was able to be put on net. I was mainly up against Allie Bunson again like I had been in our match a few weeks ago, and they were quite a good defender, meaning that I would have my work cut out for me in order to get space with the ball. Just before the 30th minute, Puma Superhoops set up a nice shot in front for a teammate with a cross into the box, but the shot bounced off the post and out. It wouldn't take long for us to get on the board though, as Superhoops set up Takeda Takahashi with a pass ahead that Takahashi could send into the goal box for Leandro Dybala to bury. Miedema, Dybala and I were proving to be a potent combo up front, where it seemed like any of the three of us had the capability to put the ball in the net.
A few minutes later, Shanghai appeared to tie the score when one of their forwards got the ball in space, but the goal was disallowed by VAR as offside. It would only take two more minutes for us to strike back again, once again off a beautiful cross by Superhoops. All three of us were there, but it was Dybala who was the closest and he was able to outjump his defender for the header past the goalie. In the span of five minutes, we'd broken this game wide open and taken the two-goal lead that we could hopefully build on until the end of the match. As time wound down in the half, we got on another rush and Superhoops sent another high cross laterally to Kika Bahl on the right side. Bahl sent a pass to the front of the net where Miedema and I were waiting, and the ball was closer to my foot so I was able to bury it for my fourth goal in the last five matches at any level that I'd played at this year. Shanghai wasn't able to get anything going through the rest of the match and Dybala narrowly avoided getting a hat trick when his third goal was disallowed by an offside, and we were able to close out the 3-0 win and punch our ticket to the semifinals. I was eager to see if I could keep my hot streak going into the last few matches of the SSL season and throughout our quest for the SSL Cup, but our team seemed to be hitting their stride at the right moment.
<center><img src='https://i.imgur.com/X6cSRMC.jpeg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /></center><br><center>Sig by Pandar</center>
