2025-10-05, 08:23 PM - Word count:
The North Shore United has had a rocky season so far, a sign of the SSL’s growing competitiveness. Zaza Banana has been part of the struggles and has been seeking redemption, but recently was a part of a dramatic showdown against Krung Thep FC. While it was considered to be a favorable matchup, North Shore has had problems prevailing outside of New Zealand.
After two early yellows against Krung Thep, it looked like they were digging themselves into a hole, but they ended up striking first after a give and go by Peregrin Plink and Nazeed Al-Kazmi resulted in a goal by Dave Oliver. North Shore quickly evened it up on a strike by Florian Gaisberg and then took the lead after Mikko Rashford put one right on the feet of Henry Andrews, Jr. who made no mistake. Krung Thep was not done though. Moments later in the 38th minute, Matt Stro found Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame streaking through the defense. Bloodflame timed her run perfectly and fooled Fiery Chicken who jumped the wrong way. That’s the way the half ended, tied up at 2-2. The teams had similar xG, with a slight edge to North Shore.
The second half started out much the way the first did, but without anyone being carded. In the 62nd minute, disaster struck as Plink passed the ball back to keeper Gianlugia Bufoon who proceeded to misplay the ball in his feet. Brodie James stole it and potted one to make the score 3-2 for North Shore. Krung Thep would respond quickly when Stro intercepted a pass along the wing and his long ball found Diego Machado streaking back the other way. Machado deked around a falling Chicken to even it up. The game calmed down for a while after this as neither team wanted to lose this match. Andrews, Jr. took a costly foul in the 86th minute and Krung Thep capitalized on the indirect free kick leading to another goal by Machado, making the score 4-3 in their favor with time winding down. North Shore had other ideas though. Andrews, Jr. would make up for his costly error and threw up a 50-50 ball on the far post, where Zaza Banana was waiting. He headed the ball past a sliding Bufoon leveling the game two minutes into stoppage time. So, the exciting match ended in a 4-4 draw, Banana emerged as the hero, and perhaps this gives the team a glimmer of hope in what otherwise has been a disappointing season for North Shore.
After two early yellows against Krung Thep, it looked like they were digging themselves into a hole, but they ended up striking first after a give and go by Peregrin Plink and Nazeed Al-Kazmi resulted in a goal by Dave Oliver. North Shore quickly evened it up on a strike by Florian Gaisberg and then took the lead after Mikko Rashford put one right on the feet of Henry Andrews, Jr. who made no mistake. Krung Thep was not done though. Moments later in the 38th minute, Matt Stro found Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame streaking through the defense. Bloodflame timed her run perfectly and fooled Fiery Chicken who jumped the wrong way. That’s the way the half ended, tied up at 2-2. The teams had similar xG, with a slight edge to North Shore.
The second half started out much the way the first did, but without anyone being carded. In the 62nd minute, disaster struck as Plink passed the ball back to keeper Gianlugia Bufoon who proceeded to misplay the ball in his feet. Brodie James stole it and potted one to make the score 3-2 for North Shore. Krung Thep would respond quickly when Stro intercepted a pass along the wing and his long ball found Diego Machado streaking back the other way. Machado deked around a falling Chicken to even it up. The game calmed down for a while after this as neither team wanted to lose this match. Andrews, Jr. took a costly foul in the 86th minute and Krung Thep capitalized on the indirect free kick leading to another goal by Machado, making the score 4-3 in their favor with time winding down. North Shore had other ideas though. Andrews, Jr. would make up for his costly error and threw up a 50-50 ball on the far post, where Zaza Banana was waiting. He headed the ball past a sliding Bufoon leveling the game two minutes into stoppage time. So, the exciting match ended in a 4-4 draw, Banana emerged as the hero, and perhaps this gives the team a glimmer of hope in what otherwise has been a disappointing season for North Shore.
![[Image: gmSTbwI.png]](https://i.imgur.com/gmSTbwI.png)
