6-1 Win vs Redstars

Match report by Mike Roberts:

Febrero 21, 2009, siempre va a ser una fecha para recordar, con la histórica victoria del Espanyol en el campo del FCB. Pochettino se ha santificado, el mismo honor que podríamos otorgar a varios miembros de la plantilla del Michael Collins tras el fulminante 6-1 endosado al Red Stars, la segunda victoria consecutiva para los verdiblancos.

Como ya viene siendo habitual, creo que es la tercera vez consecutiva que sucede, los Red Stars optaron por facilitarnos las cosas y empezaron el partido con sólo diez. Y pocos minutos tras la llegada del undécimo jugador rojiblanco, el veterano Sean Gribben se retiró lesionado y volvimos a disfrutar de una superioridad numérica que aprovechamos al máximo.

Sólo habían pasado unos veinte minutos y ya íbamos 4-0. El primero fue quizás el peor gol que jamás se ha visto en un campo de fútbol. James falló una oportunidad de esas que podría haber marcado tu abuela, pero de alguna forma imposible de entender, la bola rebotó entre culos y postes, y volvió a los pies del calvo, que está vez no falló. Un gol vergonzoso, pero le perdonaremos, ya que pocos minutos después subió con la elegancia de una gacela para conectar con un balón lanzado desde un corner, y su cabezazo de marca acabó en el fondo de la red.

El Collins estaba jugando a placer, burlándose de los Red Stars, y poco después llegaron dos goles más sin que nadie realmente supiera como, y parecía que íbamos a presenciar una goleada de escándalo. Uno de estos goles casi lo podemos calificar como bueno, él que marcó Fritz. Hablando del austriaco, fijados en él en el próximo partido. La cantidad de agua que bebe este chico durante un partido es una auténtica barbaridad. El otro gol no lo recuerdo, pero entre los gritos de Magog desde la portería y de Terry desde la banda, no es de sorprender que a veces resulte difícil enterarse de lo que está pasando.

El árbitro del encuentro fue Paul Gregson, y con él es inevitable que en algún momento va a pitar un penalti a o bien a favor o bien en contra nuestro. Está vez nos tocó a nosotros cuando un defensa de Red Stars impidió un gol con la mano. Seguro que en un partido normal esa acción le hubiera costado la roja, pero dada la evidente superioridad del Collins, y para no dejar a los Red Stars con nueve, se salvó con la amarilla. Humberto lo tiró, pero lo paró Zahir, el arquero carismático del Red Stars, pero no llegó a hacerse con el control de la bola, que rebotó para terminar en una de esas posiciones desde la que no se puede fallar. Humberto falló. La pelota todavía está en órbita sobre el barrio de San Andreu.

Sin embargo, llegó otro gol antes del descanso, y con un 5-0 a nuestro favor, pareció que todo estaba decidido. Sin embargo, Mike recordó un partido contra el mismo equipo hace unos seis años que íbamos ganado 5-1 en el descanso, y que terminamos perdiendo 6-5. Todavía quedaban por delate 45 minutos. Y durante el intermedio, llegó otro del Red Stars. La segunda parte iba a ser de once contra once, y sobre todo durante el primer cuatro de hora, el mejor equipo no fue precisamente nosotros. Una parada excepcional de Magog en un uno contra uno impidió que los Red Stars abriesen su cuenta, pero poco después, tras un despiste en defensa, los Red Stars consiguieron lo que al final sólo iba a ser un golito de honor.

De hecho, hubo otro momento cuando Magog tuvo que sacar la pelota de la portería, tras uno de los mejores disparos que hemos visto esta temporada. Lo extraño, sin embargo, es que este chute fue la inexplicable obra de Richard. Afortunadamente para él, su impresionante autogol no valió ya que el colegiado ya había parado el juego por una infracción anterior.

Luego un gol para el recuerdo. Desde la defensa, Mike mandó un balón en profundidad de tanta clase que no se lo creía ni él, encontró a Caj, que también conjuró una jugada de las que nadie sabía que el finlandés es capaz, y lo remató Samu. Mike, por si alguien pensase que su pase había sido casualidad, repitió la misma jugada unos minutos más tarde, pero esta vez, por poco, no terminó en gol.

Globalmente, un partido muy satisfactorio, aunque también cabe destacar que esperábamos más de un Red Stars bastante pobre que jugó la primera mitad con sólo diez. Pero una jornada redonda, que culminada con la histórica conquista Espanyolista del fuedo del Barça, ha hecho que incluso un jugador perico del Michael Collins puede, a veces, tener algo para celebrar.

And an attempt at translation by Rich.....

Feb 21st 2009 will always be a date to remember, with the historic victory for Espanyol at the Camp Nou. Pochettino was sainted, and the same honour could be given to various members of the Michael Collins team after beating Red Stars 6-1, the second victory in a row for the green and whites.

It feels like Red stars always try to help matters, I think its the third time in a row that they started the game with 10 men. A few minutes later, the veteran red and white player Sean Gribben retired injured and allowed the Collins superior numbers once again.

In only 20 minutes it was 4-0 . The first was one of the worst goals seen on a football pitch. James missed an opportunity that your gran could have scored, but some how the ball returned to baldys feet and he didnt miss the second time. An ugly goal but well forgive him as a few minutes later he rose with the elegance of a Gazelle to score with his head.

The Collins were playing beautifully, and taking the P$%s out of Redstars, and not much later we scored two more goals that no-one really knows how, and it seems that we also managed a scandalous goal to cap it all. Now one of these goals, we can accept as good, the one scored by Fritz. Watch him in the next game, the amount of water this kid drinks is barbaric. The other goal, I don't remember, but between the shouting of Magog from the goal and Terry from the bench, its not surprising that sometimes its difficult to understand whats going on.

Paul Gregson was the ref for the match, and with him its inevitable that at some point he'll blow for a penalty. This time it went for us, as a defender from Redstars handled the ball in the penalty area. In a normal game, this would have resulted in a red card, but due to the evident superiority of the Collins, and so as not to leave Redstars with 9, he only gave a yellow. Humberto took it, but it was saved by Zuhir the charismatic goalie from Redstars, but he didn't control the ball, and Humberto was in one of those positions that is impossible to miss from, Humberto missed! The ball is still in orbit somewhere over San Andreu.

We still scored another goal before the break to make it 5-0, and it seemed like it was all decided. However, Mike remembered a game against the same team about 6 years ago where we were winning 5-1 at the break and lost the game 6-5. There was still another 45 minutes left and at the break more players arrived to give them a full team, and throughout the first 15 minutes it wasn't as easy as before the break, with the teams evenly matched. A marvelous save from Magog one on one with the striker stopped Redstars opening their account, but a little before, after a disaster in defense, the Redstars managed to score a face saving goal.

Once again Magog had to remove the ball from the goal, after one of the best shots seen this season. The problem however was that this shot inexplicably was by Richard. Fortunately for him, his impressive own goal wasn't counted as the whistle was blown for an earlier infringement.

After that followed a goal to remember. From the defense, Mike sent a long ball with such class and accuracy that even he couldn't believe it. It arrived to Caj who also conjured a piece of play that nobody thought the fin capable of, and Samuel scored. Mike just in case anyone thought the original pass was luck, repeated the feat a few minutes later, although unfortunately the forwards missed this time.

Globally, a very satisfying game, although slightly disappointing was the lack of players for Redstars. Overall a good day that culminated in the historic conquest by Espanyol of Barca, and gave a Michael Collins player and Espanyol fan finally something to celebrate. MOM Samuel

2-1 Win vs Independent

Finally some points back on the board for the Collins and a good start to the second half of the season.. Almost a full team were available for the game just Caj and Terry really lacking and Victor Guapo injured but raring to get on anyway.

The game was really all about missed opportunities and the Collins should have been (does this sound familiar?) 1 or 2 up by half time, but in fact it was 0-0 with MC's struggling to get the width, and Juan struggling hard to get sent off. Luckily for us, the ref was feeling generous and we went into the break none the worse for wear. As we had subs for once, it was all change at half time, with Mike Roberts swapping for Fritz, Doctor moving over for Humberto, Walther coming on for Juan, with Nick supporting Samuel up front.

The change took effect quickly and we looked more sprightly and certainly kept the ball much better. The wings were working well, and if it hadn't been for Nick and Samuel's almost telepathic ability to miss a barn door from 3 yards we would have been away and uncatchable within 20 minutes. It took a characteristic long ranger from Nick to break the deadlock, but soon afterwards the smallest man on the pitch rose between James and Richards combined 13 foot to head home for the equaliser.

At this point we were dominating though, and many a wasted opportunity meant that we were in danger of losing it. The goal did come though in the end, and Victors' appearance for 10 minutes came with it. He gamely hobbled about for the remaining time and (although i can't remember who scored the 2nd goal) it was a deserved victory even if we were rubbish for long periods. Thats the great thing about the 2nd division, everyone else is rubbish too!

MOM Michael, our geordie midfield dynamo scuffed both knees and put in a tireless 90 minutes.

5-3 loss to Flahertys

It was a bit of a mishmash before the game as lack of fit or unsuspended players meant a frantic friday trying to get bodies in for the Michael Collins. After the last friendly vs Flahertys where we were winning comfortably until the last 20 minutes and their 5 subs made the difference, we were determined to have replacements for the game. This meant finding Michael from the BIFL website, calling Glendon who hadn´t played for us for a while, and pressganging Nick into his first game for 6 months. Sami came in too for his league debut, and Hector made up the numbers.

Terry came in as goalie which allowed Mike to get on the field in his favoured left back role. James and Rich as centre backs, and Fritz started as RB. The midfield and forwards were interchangeable in a 4-1-4-1 lineup with Nick, Victor, Samuel, Glendon, Caj, and Doctor.

I have to say, Flahertys have improved dramatically and have a very strong will to win. They battle for everything, complain about everything, shout at everyone, and expect a high standard from their players. Their Midfield is especially strong. From the start, they were putting us under pressure and it wasn´t long before they beat the offside trap to slot home 1-0. Our midfield was struggling to cope with their fluidity with the unusual formation, at 2-0 we decided to revert to 4-4-2 as the midfielders didn´t know where they were supposed to be. It immediately changed things and we came back into the game. Terry was pulling off a series of good stops, and only a poor penalty beat him after losing control of the ball and handling outside the box. 3-0 at half time, changes needed.

Caj came off and Victor came on ignoring his injury and made an immediate impact, scoring and giving us some width. Central mid was not helping to contain the powerful running of the flahertys players so we needed a change, step up Michael into his debut. Not knowing what to expect, it was a last throw of the dice, and in hindsight it should have been done earlier. Michael came in like a dynamo, snapping at heels, winning ball, and turning the tide in the centre. All of a sudden we were going forward again, Samuel scored soon after. It took a postage stamp shot from 25 yards from Nick to end the scoring but i was very pleased with the second half display and attitude. Thats the first half of the league over and we´re in the 2nd division, but now the real work starts, we need 3 points against Independent on saturday and lets try to make a challenge for this league.