2025-03-12, 06:23 PM - Word count:
MD9 - Seoul Face Athenai
Seoul Mythic took on Athenai at home, searching for a way through to the top 3.
PREVIOUS MATCH
Seoul previously took on league leaders Montreal in a close away day battle, coming out as victors with the final score being 1-0. Bamford scored the winning penalty in the 51st minute after two outrageous penalties were called from the referee on Seoul, which both were scratched off by VAR. Twinkletoes also had a hell of a match, really showing up in the 2nd half and keeping that clean sheet, while Tenderlion also put in a defensive shift.
TABLE TIME
Going into the match, Seoul sat in 5th with 12 points, while Athenai sat in 7th with 7 points. All possibilities considered, Seoul could have climbed up to 3rd if results for North Shore and AS Paris went Seoul's way. Athenai could have climbed to 6th depending on how Inter London's match went.
IN FORMS
For me, the whole back line can be considered in this. Stain, Tenderlion, Primarus, and Bamford especially. Tenderlion was really good with the crosses cleared, and Bamford continues to make his runs down the right flank and they create dangerous opportunities. Also if any penalties are awarded, Bamford will be the one to watch. Qartista is also a dangerous option up top for Seoul, making runs and creating chances to set up Zervas normally. He will be a huge part in securing the win for Seoul. The squad will also hope that their 2 DMs Ahmed and Walker can control the midfield, hopefully setting up the attack for some goal scoring opportunities that can lift the form of some players like Zervas.
MATCH RECAP
Our first highlight starts out in the 2nd minute, where Zervas sent a beautiful splitting ball between Athenai's CB and LB, where Bamford flew down the flank and squared a ball for Qartista to finish it off. Seoul thought they had already made an early lead for themselves, but VAR deemed Qartista offsides.
In the 13th minute, Bamford did a 1-2 with Ahmed from a thrown in, where Ahmed then found Zervas in the box. Zervas held on to the ball, doing well to keep possession and turned, trying to snipe it into that top left corner, but a great save by the Athenai keeper kept the score level. Not long after in the 14th minute, Bamford took the ball down the right flank, passing it into the box for Varnson where an Athenai defender tackled him, putting it out for a corner. The referee blew for a penalty, seeing a shove on the back, and was recommended to look at the screen. He overturned the call, but instead of a corner a drop ball was awarded for the Athenai keeper.
After the drop ball is awarded, the keeper sends a long ball up, where Athenai striker Kunicki heads it down McManus, which was nodded over to Van der Sloth. Van der Sloth played in a ball through Primarus and Stain for Corrigan, who smashed it on a half volley, a near unsavable shot for Twinkletoes. Questions will be thrown as to why the corner wasn't given to Seoul, but the game is past now.
It wasn't long after until Varnson found Qartista in the 21st minute, who layed it off for Walker. Walker then played the ball to feet to Panda, who did brilliantly to bring the ball in front of them, and strike it on the left foot into the top right corner. The winger was brought down from the Catalunya squad, and ever since has been performing for Seoul when needed.
26th minute, a thrown in for Athenai resulted in disaster when Still played the ball to Van der Sloth through the middle, who attempted a pass back but over hit it. Qartista was hiding behind on the defensive line and pounced on the opportunity, taking a touch and slotting it low bottom left corner. Seoul may have been unhappy to concede first, but were already on the front foot of the game with a lot more time in the match remaining.
Right after, a corner in the 28th minute took place. A cross from Rubin was cleared, which was picked up by Kunicki, brought back to Rubin and rolling up for Still to hit the shot first time, and in all fairness it was a great strike. Twinkletoes is just better. A brilliant save from Twinkletoes ensured that Seoul remained in the lead. Another wasted opportunity occurred in the 38th minute, where Rubin on the right wing sent a through ball to Corrigan on the touchline, who chipped up a cross, served on a silver-platter, nobody challenging him in the air, and Ashcroft missed the wide open net, hitting it over the bar. Seoul was lucky not to concede a 2nd before halftime.
In the 2nd minute of injury time before halftime, Panda found himself near the left sided corner flag. He played a ball to Stain, who seemed to have attempted a shot at a weird angle but was blocked. The rebound fell to Walker, who passed it in to fellow DM Ahmed for the tap in to make it 3-1, a simple yet powerful effort. Halftime rolled over with Walker being the best performer so far, having picked up 2 assists already.
In the 56th minute, a cross from McManus found Corrigan's open header which painfully hit the crossbar, an unfortunate effort from Corrigan. Twinkletoes didn't stand a chance, the ball was already bouncing away by the time Twinkletoes hit the floor.
The rest of the match were mostly defensive efforts from Seoul and some attacks that ended in very little, but some late excitement happened in the 91st minute, where Varnson played a low ball from the right wing into Zervas, who seemed to be fouled from a push on the back. The referee immediately blew for a penalty, but another VAR check took place and the penalty was ruled out, and there the match ended.
MYTHIC MOMENT
The mythic moment of this match is the first goal for Seoul scored by Panda. Not only was the touch from Panda and the goal itself really good, it was a great team play. I didn't mention every player involved, but 7 players had a touch on the ball, stemming from a defensive header straight to an attack play and goal. The goal shows the quality Seoul has to make and convert these chances, and if they continue to be made in the future it'll definitely propel them up to where they want to be, and maybe eventually the squad will be winning in the Catalunya team.
MY MOTM
You'd probably expect me to go with the easy choices like Tre Qartista or Red Panda, but Day Walker gets my vote. Day Walker gave 2 assists, 1 to Red Panda and 1 to Nikolai Ahmed, and without his creativity it would've been a boring and disappointing 1-1 draw. Another shout is Tenderlion, who put in another defensive shift this match in the 2nd half and put up 13 aerial challenges, winning 100% of them.
TABLE TIME
Top 3 seems even more achievable than before with AS Paris being crushed by Kaapstad 4-1. Seoul remain in 5th, but drawn on points with 4th placed AS Paris and North Shore in 3rd with 16 points, keeping up form will be huge for Seoul if they want to achieve their aim of a consecutive top 3 finish. Athenai still sit in 7th on 7 points.
NEXT MATCH?
Seoul take on a rough opponent for MD10, Kaapstad. With Kaapstad demolishing AS Paris 4-1 away, it could likely be the same result for Seoul. Seoul will hope that they remember the passing displays they put on in this match and also the match against Montreal. Especially with that upset against Montreal, it is tough to predict the scoreline but a reasonable scoreline could end up being 1-3 Kaapstad, with Qartista scoring the only goal.
Seoul Mythic took on Athenai at home, searching for a way through to the top 3.
PREVIOUS MATCH
Seoul previously took on league leaders Montreal in a close away day battle, coming out as victors with the final score being 1-0. Bamford scored the winning penalty in the 51st minute after two outrageous penalties were called from the referee on Seoul, which both were scratched off by VAR. Twinkletoes also had a hell of a match, really showing up in the 2nd half and keeping that clean sheet, while Tenderlion also put in a defensive shift.
TABLE TIME
Going into the match, Seoul sat in 5th with 12 points, while Athenai sat in 7th with 7 points. All possibilities considered, Seoul could have climbed up to 3rd if results for North Shore and AS Paris went Seoul's way. Athenai could have climbed to 6th depending on how Inter London's match went.
IN FORMS
For me, the whole back line can be considered in this. Stain, Tenderlion, Primarus, and Bamford especially. Tenderlion was really good with the crosses cleared, and Bamford continues to make his runs down the right flank and they create dangerous opportunities. Also if any penalties are awarded, Bamford will be the one to watch. Qartista is also a dangerous option up top for Seoul, making runs and creating chances to set up Zervas normally. He will be a huge part in securing the win for Seoul. The squad will also hope that their 2 DMs Ahmed and Walker can control the midfield, hopefully setting up the attack for some goal scoring opportunities that can lift the form of some players like Zervas.
MATCH RECAP
Our first highlight starts out in the 2nd minute, where Zervas sent a beautiful splitting ball between Athenai's CB and LB, where Bamford flew down the flank and squared a ball for Qartista to finish it off. Seoul thought they had already made an early lead for themselves, but VAR deemed Qartista offsides.
In the 13th minute, Bamford did a 1-2 with Ahmed from a thrown in, where Ahmed then found Zervas in the box. Zervas held on to the ball, doing well to keep possession and turned, trying to snipe it into that top left corner, but a great save by the Athenai keeper kept the score level. Not long after in the 14th minute, Bamford took the ball down the right flank, passing it into the box for Varnson where an Athenai defender tackled him, putting it out for a corner. The referee blew for a penalty, seeing a shove on the back, and was recommended to look at the screen. He overturned the call, but instead of a corner a drop ball was awarded for the Athenai keeper.
After the drop ball is awarded, the keeper sends a long ball up, where Athenai striker Kunicki heads it down McManus, which was nodded over to Van der Sloth. Van der Sloth played in a ball through Primarus and Stain for Corrigan, who smashed it on a half volley, a near unsavable shot for Twinkletoes. Questions will be thrown as to why the corner wasn't given to Seoul, but the game is past now.
It wasn't long after until Varnson found Qartista in the 21st minute, who layed it off for Walker. Walker then played the ball to feet to Panda, who did brilliantly to bring the ball in front of them, and strike it on the left foot into the top right corner. The winger was brought down from the Catalunya squad, and ever since has been performing for Seoul when needed.
26th minute, a thrown in for Athenai resulted in disaster when Still played the ball to Van der Sloth through the middle, who attempted a pass back but over hit it. Qartista was hiding behind on the defensive line and pounced on the opportunity, taking a touch and slotting it low bottom left corner. Seoul may have been unhappy to concede first, but were already on the front foot of the game with a lot more time in the match remaining.
Right after, a corner in the 28th minute took place. A cross from Rubin was cleared, which was picked up by Kunicki, brought back to Rubin and rolling up for Still to hit the shot first time, and in all fairness it was a great strike. Twinkletoes is just better. A brilliant save from Twinkletoes ensured that Seoul remained in the lead. Another wasted opportunity occurred in the 38th minute, where Rubin on the right wing sent a through ball to Corrigan on the touchline, who chipped up a cross, served on a silver-platter, nobody challenging him in the air, and Ashcroft missed the wide open net, hitting it over the bar. Seoul was lucky not to concede a 2nd before halftime.
In the 2nd minute of injury time before halftime, Panda found himself near the left sided corner flag. He played a ball to Stain, who seemed to have attempted a shot at a weird angle but was blocked. The rebound fell to Walker, who passed it in to fellow DM Ahmed for the tap in to make it 3-1, a simple yet powerful effort. Halftime rolled over with Walker being the best performer so far, having picked up 2 assists already.
In the 56th minute, a cross from McManus found Corrigan's open header which painfully hit the crossbar, an unfortunate effort from Corrigan. Twinkletoes didn't stand a chance, the ball was already bouncing away by the time Twinkletoes hit the floor.
The rest of the match were mostly defensive efforts from Seoul and some attacks that ended in very little, but some late excitement happened in the 91st minute, where Varnson played a low ball from the right wing into Zervas, who seemed to be fouled from a push on the back. The referee immediately blew for a penalty, but another VAR check took place and the penalty was ruled out, and there the match ended.
MYTHIC MOMENT
The mythic moment of this match is the first goal for Seoul scored by Panda. Not only was the touch from Panda and the goal itself really good, it was a great team play. I didn't mention every player involved, but 7 players had a touch on the ball, stemming from a defensive header straight to an attack play and goal. The goal shows the quality Seoul has to make and convert these chances, and if they continue to be made in the future it'll definitely propel them up to where they want to be, and maybe eventually the squad will be winning in the Catalunya team.
MY MOTM
You'd probably expect me to go with the easy choices like Tre Qartista or Red Panda, but Day Walker gets my vote. Day Walker gave 2 assists, 1 to Red Panda and 1 to Nikolai Ahmed, and without his creativity it would've been a boring and disappointing 1-1 draw. Another shout is Tenderlion, who put in another defensive shift this match in the 2nd half and put up 13 aerial challenges, winning 100% of them.
TABLE TIME
Top 3 seems even more achievable than before with AS Paris being crushed by Kaapstad 4-1. Seoul remain in 5th, but drawn on points with 4th placed AS Paris and North Shore in 3rd with 16 points, keeping up form will be huge for Seoul if they want to achieve their aim of a consecutive top 3 finish. Athenai still sit in 7th on 7 points.
NEXT MATCH?
Seoul take on a rough opponent for MD10, Kaapstad. With Kaapstad demolishing AS Paris 4-1 away, it could likely be the same result for Seoul. Seoul will hope that they remember the passing displays they put on in this match and also the match against Montreal. Especially with that upset against Montreal, it is tough to predict the scoreline but a reasonable scoreline could end up being 1-3 Kaapstad, with Qartista scoring the only goal.
