Cup Game Preview
I have been pretty lucky so far this cup season. I have yet to run across a team that has too much midfield so I just load up there, PIC to build up team spirit, and move on. This week looks no different. The Rusty Trombones, our Round 5 opponent, are a middle-of-the-pack Div V team. Don't really know much about them or V.137, their series.
Cup Game Box Score
Kits
RustyTrombones 3 – 6 Hippopotami (219220233)
2-26-2009 01.00
Clear skies welcomed the 40000 spectators who had made their way to
The Fudge Factory. RustyTrombones had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players took the field: Lau - Mccord, Demare, Whitney - Sielhof, Gassend, Sauerhammer, Hilker - Wheeler, Wolgast, Kelcher.
Hippopotami started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Özkutay - Kavelashvili, Huenul, Cyburt - Sidorczak, Thacker, Marsh, Quijada, Regúlez - Treibahs, Angulo.
RustyTrombones used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. Hippopotami decided to play creatively. Many in the crowd felt the referee was being too lenient when he only showed Hippopotami's
Carlos Thacker a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 7 minutes into the game. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 10 minutes into the match left Hippopotami's
Donald Sidorczak completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. A well placed corner kick from
Donald Sidorczak was followed by
Zacarías Regúlez's hard but accurate header. The nice combination marked a goal for Hippopotami, the score now 0-2. The home crowd were delighted when
Lewis Wheeler scored with a header after an attack from the right, making the score 1 to 2. But did he use his hand? That'll be one for the pundits to talk about after the game, that's for sure! After 28 minutes RustyTrombones's
Martin Philipp Wolgast limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Hippopotami claimed to be the more dominant force in the game, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.
Robert Demare got left behind when Hippopotami's
Oliver Angulo made a sudden pull forward after 54 minutes, finishing off with a swift strike. 1-3! The visitors'
Oliver Angulo took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and central backs 63 minutes into the match. 1 - 4 for Hippopotami. RustyTrombones's
Robert Demare was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 64 minutes.
Zacarías Regúlez increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley shot away on a pass from the right. 1 - 5. Confident in their lead, Hippopotami decided to play a more defensive game at this point. Hippopotami's
Damion Marsh received a play slashing through the home side's central defense after 79 minutes, and chipped it past the keeper to score the 1 - 6 goal. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. After 84 minutes, RustyTrombones's
Robert Demare fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. 85 minutes into the game RustyTrombones broke through on the left wing and
Luki Kelcher managed to reduce the lead to 2 - 6. 87 minutes into the game RustyTrombones broke through on the left wing and
Bing Hilker managed to reduce the lead to 3 - 6.
Martin Philipp Wolgast of RustyTrombones was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Hippopotami enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 62 percent of possession.
Luki Kelcher performed admirably for RustyTrombones.
Bradley Lau was a disappointment, however. Most important Hippopotami player was
Carlos Thacker.
Zurab Kavelashvili on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 6.
Rating details
| RustyTrombones | Houston Hippopotami |
| Midfield | passable (very high) | outstanding (low) |
| Right Defence | weak (low) | solid (high) |
| Central Defence | solid (very high) | solid (high) |
| Left Defence | weak (very low) | weak (very high) |
| Right Attack | weak (very low) | passable (high) |
| Central Attack | formidable (high) | solid (very high) |
| Left Attack | solid (very high) | solid (high) |
| |
| Indirect set pieces |
| Defence | inadequate (low) | inadequate (very high) |
| Attack | inadequate (very high) | inadequate (low) |
| |
| Team Attitude | (Hidden) | Normal |
| Tactic | Pressing | Play creatively |
| Tactic skill | inadequate | - |
Highlights
Possession
39%
61%
38%
62%
Cup Game Recap
No injuries and a fairly easy win. Sorry, guys: some days there's just not much to write about.
SI