This week’s Game of the Week featured FC Drinkers and Here 4 Beer of our Men’s C league on Wednesday nights. With two talented teams facing off, we were guaranteed a hard fought battle.
The game started off with high intensity and Here 4 Beer scoring quickly into the first period. With momentum and their adrenaline pumping they put another goal in the back of the net to have a solid lead. Fortunately for FC Drinkers, they found some energy and rhythm amongst themselves and found the back of the net in the fifth minute to bring the game back within reach. Both teams were able to hold possession of the ball nicely and create chances on goal. In the ninth minute of the game Tsutomu Ando had a lovely cut around a Here 4 Beer defender and slotted the ball to the back post to tie the game up for his team. A short two minutes later a FC Drinker player had a glorious step over to beat the Here 4 Beer defense and keeper to take the lead for his team. A quick counter attack and goal lead by Here 4 Beer brought the game back into a tie for the second time that night. In the eighteenth minute Tsutomu Ando chipped the ball over the defense and had a beautiful header goal to take the game to 4-3 in FC Drinkers favor. The game went into half time in favor of FC Drinker 4-3 over Here 4 Beer.
The second half started out with high intensity from both teams. Here 4 Beer wanted to get another goal to bring the game back within reach and FC Drinkers wanted to maintain their lead. FC Drinkers had many chances on goal throughout the second period. Marcus Chromy of Here 4 Beer kept them in the game with tremendous saves. In the ninth minute of the second period FC Drinkers hit a stinging shot low and hard to the corner, but Marcus Chromy sprawled out in a full dive to get finger tips on the ball and knock it wide, denying FC Drinkers of scoring. A short minute later Here 4 Beer had a free kick and they swung the ball nicely into the box, where FC Drinkers keeper had to come up with a big save to keep his team in the lead. There were no goals scored until the eighteenth minute of the second period when Colin Gierzak of Here 4 Beer dribbled the ball nicely, cut around a FC Drinker defensive player, and slotted the ball in the back of the net, bringing the ball back into a tie once again with a score of 4-4. But the game is not over until the referee blows the whistle and that was certainly the case tonight. With thirty seconds left Tsutomu Ando of FC Drinkers worked together with his team and ended up with the ball back at his feet, a sharp cut around Here 4 Beer, and a ripped shot that squeezed by the diving keeper put his team back in the lead with a score of 5-4. The last minute goal from FC Drinkers ended being the game-winning goal as shortly thereafter the whistle was blown to end the game. The match was heated and well contested throughout the whole game. Keep a watch on the league standings as we approach playoffs, one can expect these teams will continue their success into the playoff period.