YMCA/HK Giants

After two games cancelations in a row due to the rain, we were scheduled on this Tuesday night at 19h45. Originally planned 30 minutes earlier, we had to fight with the Association, to make them understand that working people can’t make it on time. Because of some –stupid- rules from the Government or else, we had no other choice that to play that day.

Arriving at the pitch, the clouds were starting to gather and made us expect the worst. With, luckily for once, enough time to warm up, both keeper and the team, we started with the ball against YMCA.

The first minutes, were, unusually, very good, with a strong defense, helped by the miss shots of the opponents, as well as a good attack, playing easy and waiting for the best chance. After 3 minutes, the score was already 3-0 for us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep with the defense, and after a few shots from the wings, the score was tied. We then collected the yellow card until our first team 2 minutes. The all first half was very defensive, with slow attack and very few goals. And 5 minutes before the half time, YMCA passed the 2^nd gear and took an advantage of 2 goals, to reach the half time whistle on the score of 10-8.

There wasn’t much to say at the half time, the defense was really good besides a very few mistakes, the attack could have been better, but we were on the good way.

Back on the pitch, we fell in our usual problem, with a poor start. After 11 minutes, we were 4 goals behind and many miss shots. But then, same as the last game, we found in ourselves the mental strength we needed and scored 3 goals in a row to get back on YMCA heels. Then, the referees, crappy since the beginning of the game, became even more. Missing many obvious fouls (defender catching shooting arm, stopping the ball with his feet on purpose…) which would have brought penalty shots and a few 2 minutes, we couldn’t get back this last goal to tie the game. Our beloved Swedish, on a very basic defensive action, took a red card in the last minute. Incomprehension on our side, YMCA decided to not shoot this penalty and ended the game on the score of 17-16.

Beside the fact that we played most of the game really well, I would to draw the attention on the referees. We agree we are quite keen to complain, but when a referee, during the game, whistle things on one side but not on the other, see definitely some fouls but ask the player to take it easy, and completely change the game with their whistle, we can only complain.

The worst would be when this referee clearly admits that he forgot to whistle some obvious fouls and that he also referees differently the teams, because we, GIANTS, are stronger. This is not a normal attitude, and we can only be disappointed by the level of the top referees in HK.

Complaining done, time for the highlights of the game. Gaspard, our best scorer of the day with 4 goals and two amazing defensive actions. Wan, great keeper with a few stops of international level. Joakim, for his red card. And all of the players who came despite the difficult schedule. We showed some great stuff and we can only expects to do better for the coming games.

We have 4 last games coming, we definitely need to win 3 of them! See you all at training.