Missile FC vs. Gotham Argo

Match Report: Missile FC – Gotham Argo
Sunday October 12 2008

PIER 40 Courtyard West @ 9pm
Reported by Bruno Dupont

Final Score: 6 - 4 (2-1)

Gotham Argo:
Jeremy
Uri * Ben * Bruno * Adam
Momo * Jorge
Yoshi * Dani * Alex
Sam
Players in game: 9 Argos, 2 Silver, 1 Manager
Substitutions: Dana for Adam (1st half), and Dana for Bruno (2nd half)

Missile FC:
Unknown
Unknown * Unknown * Unknown * Unknown
Unknown * Unknown
Usain Bolt * Ato Bolton * Maurice Greene * Carl Lewis
Players in game: 19 (league max is 18)
Substitutions: yes, many

I feel the need….
Gotham Argo lost to a very good Missile FC on Sunday, in what was probably the team's best game of the season so far. Argo suffered defensively against a very fast, well-organized, fast, technical and very fast team. 2 early goals put the visitors (even though they were technically the home side) in front, with a shot from right outside the box and a very swift break away.

…the need for speed
Argo stayed under pressure from Missile's skilled midfielders, whose strategy consisted mostly in kicking high (and precise) shots over the defense, and then relying on their sprinters up front.

First goal for Alex Padilla
Gradually, Argo managed to gain a little control of the ball, and after a few promising passing sequences in the other half, the team managed to win a throw-in right next to the corner post. Sam passed back to Uri, who curled it (Beckham-style) into the box. Alex jumped higher than everybody else and smashed it into the back of the net.

Not long before half time, Adam complained of a pain in his left knee, and left the field briefly, but then decided to tough it out and was heard saying "I always play better when I can smell blood, even if it's mine" (source might not be entirely reliable).

Jeremy in the spotlight again
In the second half the game pretty much picked up where it left off, and Argo struggled to contain Missile FC's attacks, conceding 2 more goals. It could have been much more without Jeremy's numerous saves. One in particular wowed everybody when he dove backward into the feet of his opponent and grabbed the ball with one hand (he later commented: "That's just how I roll baby").

3rd goal and first assist for Sam
At 4-1, the game looked pretty much over, but Argo stayed focused, and at the 60th minute, Dana, who had just come on, flicked a counter attack ball to Sam, who sprinted 50 yards, and executed the Missile FC keeper with a cool finish. The rest of the game was pretty even, with 2 more goals on either side. In the final minutes, Sam was tackled from behind in the box, which resulted in a red card and a penalty. Sam decided to score it with panache, and very altruistically bounced the ball off the crossbar for Bruno to finish it with a diving header.

Overall, Argo lost to an excellent team, and appeared much better organized than in its previous games, with very good combinations between Momo, Jorge, Dani and Yoshi.