February 2023
February 13 – Tuesday
Series B Champions’ Cup
First Preliminary Round (second leg)
FC Westpoint (SLL) 0-1 Haljo Vannarby (BYN)
(19’ Lundblad)
First Preliminary Round (second leg)
FC Westpoint (SLL) 0-1 Haljo Vannarby (BYN)
(19’ Lundblad)
February 15 – Thursday
Globe Cup
First Preliminary Round (second leg)
Sparta Torspeda (BYN) 2–2 Bohemians 1935 (NHV)
(9’ OG Suhr 0-1, 23’ Burns 1-1, 74’ Konstantinov 1-2, 89’ Moga)
First Preliminary Round (second leg)
Sparta Torspeda (BYN) 2–2 Bohemians 1935 (NHV)
(9’ OG Suhr 0-1, 23’ Burns 1-1, 74’ Konstantinov 1-2, 89’ Moga)
February 17 – Saturday
Top Division
Match Day One
Viztourzys Kolektyvinis 0–1 Tjelberg Forening
(60’ Ostergaard 0-1)
Pajukas Sport 1–1 Bengtsmark IF
(47’ Pajari 1-0, 84’ Nikolaev 1-1)
Slask Pruzniwczo 2–4 Gornik Wladica
(34’ Logansz 0-1, 62’ Marr 1-1, 71’ Velcik 1-2, 74’ Logansz 1-3, 82’ Smarov 1-4, 89’ Zahner 2-4)
Garbarnia Hoyersko 1–0 Tillsamman Stensund
(83’ Kaczor 1-0)
Match Day One
Viztourzys Kolektyvinis 0–1 Tjelberg Forening
(60’ Ostergaard 0-1)
Pajukas Sport 1–1 Bengtsmark IF
(47’ Pajari 1-0, 84’ Nikolaev 1-1)
Slask Pruzniwczo 2–4 Gornik Wladica
(34’ Logansz 0-1, 62’ Marr 1-1, 71’ Velcik 1-2, 74’ Logansz 1-3, 82’ Smarov 1-4, 89’ Zahner 2-4)
Garbarnia Hoyersko 1–0 Tillsamman Stensund
(83’ Kaczor 1-0)
February 18 – Sunday
Top Division
Match Day One
Jottnar Kallsmudden 2–2 Blau-Weiss Pallstadt
(27’ Stardust 0-1, 65’ Kang 1-1, 78’ Siebel 1-2, 92’ Dahle 2-2)
Sparta Torspeda 2–2 Thor Rellhovn
(6’ Canady 0-1, 23’ Pilgaard 1-1, 36’ Somoza, 78’ Hoie)
Match Day One
Jottnar Kallsmudden 2–2 Blau-Weiss Pallstadt
(27’ Stardust 0-1, 65’ Kang 1-1, 78’ Siebel 1-2, 92’ Dahle 2-2)
Sparta Torspeda 2–2 Thor Rellhovn
(6’ Canady 0-1, 23’ Pilgaard 1-1, 36’ Somoza, 78’ Hoie)
*INSERT BANNER*
Simon Huvl – “Good evening and welcome to the second edition of the Third Half, a talkshow in which we discuss the football events of the past week and look forth to the start of the season. I’ve got the honour to introduce to you, on my left side, our resident pundit Johan Gredholm and television analyst Holger Limensen! And to my right, Blau-Weiss midfielder Friedrich Riesling and the experienced captain and Apoxian international from Pajukas Sport, Noel Amundsen!”
*applause*
SH – “The starting gun resounded, we were off to the races and the ball got rolling. We’ve been witness of the first six games of this new season of the Top Division and they immediately had interesting things in store. It immediately became clear who got dealt with a fine hand this season and who will have to play it wisely. One side that seems to belong in that first category might be Pajukas, aren’t I right, Noel?”
NA – “I think that’s a fair comment upon our opening game, Simon. I feel that few people kept an eye on us before the season and in a way, that motivated us. By example, I think we went unmentioned in your show last week.” (grins)
JG – “I plead guilty! But someone with your experience should know that one bird doesn’t make spring, right?”
NA – “Certainly, certainly. But it did was a sign for us to do that extra lap and it paid off. If you can keep the favourite for the title at a draw and even can say that you’ve had your shots at a victory, there’s no reason to leave the Bokstas ashamed.”
SH – “Noel mentions it, shots at victory… If one team should have walked out with three points, who should it have been Holger?”
HL – “Difficult to say so, I think it was a fair draw. We saw a similar pattern in both halves but with different executors. You could see that Bengtsmark started best in the opening half, Markushovn had really told them to pin Pajukas against their own goal. This is a perfect example – Scout Given recovers a lost ball, immediately pressure by Kring, ball goes to Salnikov and Droimpol closes in. When they’re looking for Nojas, it’s Andriy Nikolaev who comes up… If we freeze it right here, you see that all but Tufte, Jamil and Smith are on the opposite side of the pitch – well done by the Yellows and with result! Maniche hits the post here, you had the feeling that that goal would come.”
FR – “It’s something we noticed in the Ulcan as well, they can really give you no air to think.”
JG – “Really good indeed, but what’s the value if you can only hold it for what, fifteen minutes?”
SH – “Indeed, they fell back bit by bit during the opening half.”
NA – “I think that’s partially our work as well. We continued to keep the space limited and eventually, you change the tides. Especially after the break, we did our thing.”
SH – “Sillema moving up, splendid vision there by Lindberg…”
NA – “He’s crucial for us, that’s a fact.”
SH – “… and it’s Pajari with the goal.”
JG – “A vintage Pajari goal if you ask me, that tip of the boot, Jamil who knows that he’s only a split second too late but that it’s enough for him to sneak through… Shale, mate, are you looking?”
SH – “What’s even more respectable, you’ve got the game in your hands for most of it, what went wrong in the end?”
NA – “They’ll add Tegner and the power of guys like Rivers and Cook… That’s not to be underestimated. The goal itself is just a bundle of minor mistakes from our side, congrats to Andriy but it shouldn’t have happened. We could’ve walked out with three…”
…
SH – “The great thing about first matches is that you get to see knew faces of course. With the circumstances, their amount was limited but who impressed you most, Holger?”
HL – “Daniel Canady. No questions, no doubt. Let us be honest here, Rellhovn should always have lost that game. It’s clear that Sakalauskas gave his boys a sternly-worded talking-to after that poor game against Bohemians in the mid-week but Canady immediately showed his value. That first one, that’s just a striker goal and he does all the hard work for the final equalizer – Hoie just has to put his foot against the ball.”
NA – “He is indeed one of those strikers that’s a handful for every defender. Attentive, strong, dangerous out of all corners…”
JG – “But he could be a liability as well with that temper. That yellow he got in the end, just shovelling Kentner into the corner flag in minute ninety… What’s that good for?”
HL – “At least he still puts that pressure in minute ninety! The only thing I regret for him is that he’ll be having flashbacks to last year, being surrounded by a poor group. I’m saying you, he’ll keep Thor up!”
JG – “Or could be their downfall…”
HL – “We’re talking about a guy with – I looked it up – 138 goals in the Nepharim Premiership.”
JG – “Then why did no one else pick him up?”
HL – “Well… That’s Ellering’s worry. But I’m sure that he’ll be relieved to work with an over-eager player instead of one who is too lazy, such as Rootare.”
SH – “Johan, you’re not that impressed by Canady it seems. Who was your revelation?”
JG – “Darwyn Lucassen. Zooey Stown didn’t leave him a very attractive heritage over at Garbarnia but he did splendid. We expected Miro Stepaniak to step up but it seems that the Cosumarite is the new guide for them. Good performance in an overall dull match.”
…
SH – “Friedrich, can I say that the season started a lot less cheerful for you?”
FR – “I’m not completely agreeing here, if you’re leading into minute ninety, it’s close to three points. On the road. Against Jottnar, not a side to underestimate I feel.”
HL – “That’s a way to look at it, but if I can put it bluntly, Jottnar felt so much fresher, so much livelier then Blau-Weiss. If only the rhythm of the passing. Let me compare these two clips that show exactly my point. Here’s Stardust on the ball, looking for options and the raw reality is that no one of his teammates is moving, is creating space, … Nothing. If you look at this at the other hand, Venclova, Coultan, Kang, back to Coultan, switching the wing to Decoteau, deep to Dahle… Luckily Jan Erhardt was doing well but there is just much more spirit in this team. With the duo Venclova-Coultan as central engine. The Schottian continues to grow – figuratively – and the quality of Jurgis Venclova…”
JG – “Most underestimated player of the league, hands down.”
NA – “He is one of those players who can determine the pace of the game and that’s such an important quality at this level.”
HL – “Especially after the break, it was all Jottnar Kallsmudden. Nine chances on goal to one, but luckily for Blau-Weiss Siebel manages to get it in the closest corner. Not the finest hour of Ruutu and Remer, to be fair.”
FR – “We struggled after the break, that’s true, but Jottnar was very attacking and with one man down…”
JG – “What a silly red card!”
FR – “… with one man down, that’s always a harsh battle.”
SH – “Let’s get to that red from Milosevici… Your comments?”
JG – “Silly, silly, silly, …”
HL – “A typical case of messing up your control and then coming in too late…”
FR – “I want to shield Doran here for a second. It’s a reflex he makes here and I’m very happy it didn’t lead to an injury for Kang – because it wasn’t a nasty tackle, just too late…”
JG – “It’s just dumb.”
…
SH – “We’ll get a look at the table and notice on number one… Gornik Wladica!”
HL – “Let’s not make big conclusions in one game but I must say it as it is, I understand why Shale called in Michal Logansz for the national team. Another brace for him and with his specific style.”
JG – “It’s something you can say about that whole team, right. I’m not saying it’s all eye-candy but they’ve got three strikers who aren’t afraid to put the pedal to the metal, combined with a group of defenders who will knock you into the ground when possible…”
HL – “That fault from St Germain on Poluceck? Classical!”
JG – “And that works out. They’re going to make big teams shiver this season – in all earnest, they play the role Slask used to have.”
NA – “I think that still goes for Slask as well, I recall us struggling against them two seasons ago. When Pérez gets the engine running of his squad its…”
JG – “But it only runs with a striker. Zahner… That’s just barely Top Division material. Friendly guy, will score a few but no killer. Gerolf Poluceck determines if they bust or break and he’s just…
SH – “Poor?”
HL – “Pitiable! No pace, too slow, … Hashtag dislike.”
FR – “Either way you turn it, a solid striker can turn a team upside down. You’ve mentioned Logansz, there’s Dahle,…”
NA – “What Risto does for us…”
SH – “Is Duco Dalmshelf of today that striker for Blau-Weiss? Or will it be Stefan Hostmann or Stardust?”
FR – “I think there is no reason to doubt Duco – the stats he amassed over time form witness to his quality. Stardust already showed that he’s a unique player last season and scored a beauty this weekend. Stefan is still a bit looking for himself but…”
JG – “He knows it’s now or never already. If he wants to fulfil the promise of become the best striker Buyan ever saw, time is running out!”
…
SH – “So that was it for this week. Tjelberg and Gornik were the winners of the opening weekend, others must take a step up if they want to battle for the UICA spots. Speaking of which, we saw two narrow escapes. Haljo Vannarby moved on due to the smallest of margins with a goal by youngster Lundblad but our goal of the week came from the Pergale Stadionas in Torspeda. After a shabby performance, Sparta Torspeda was on the brink of Globe Cup elimination when their Nova Anglican superstar Emmanuel Moga turned the tides with a majestic dribble and goal through the Bohemians defence line.
”Another poor pass in the midfield of the Orange Brigade, even reserve player Ruvelikaitis joins in the mediocrity of Sparta today. 1935 know they’re close to a stunt – it’s possible for them. Stewart moving it to the wing where Hassan Kentner is available. Suhr wide but it goes to Moga who asks for it on their own half. Turns away from his opponent… Maybe wide to Zitans? No, past one man… Past a second one! Emmanuel Moga, what are you doing? The… Oooooh! What a beautiful goal by the Black Wizard! He single-handedly drags them out of that slump. Another marvellous Moga moment!”
