Chef Reaches 100th Appearance in Style
Team News: Swedish Chef makes his 100th appearance for the team. Rizzo joins Oscar and A. Muppet in the unavailability bracket this game leaving no subs available.
Previous Results: No previous encounters.
First Half
With little to go in terms of preparation the results Parcelona FC have this season includes 8 wins with similar results to the wins CBFC have. On paper the teams looked even.
Fozzie warmed up with a save tipping a long range shot onto the outside of the post. They were in again after Gonzo played a dangerous flick pass on the edge of his box, gifting the opposition with a shot that was not punished. Fozzie again made another save in as many minutes, one that he should not of had to dealt with after the attacker makes his way past four CBFC players without much hassle, Chef put the follow up cross out for a corner. As the pressure was kept up Fozzie in the correct position to deal with the shots pulled out another save but looked on as another shot bounced off the outside of the right post.
Chef was the first to have a crack at the opposing goal, on target but a little weak after being worked wide of the goal. A goal against the run of play would have been vital for something to hold onto more than a goalless score.
Goal 0-1 // Parcelona FC
A touch of bad luck was to blame for the unfair goal. The goalscorer having dribbled forward loses control of the ball but wins a free kick over the alleged foul by Gonzo. The ball had been lost as Gonzo and Big Bird were there to regain possession leading to the attacker fouling Gonzo, however the referee viewed the clash of players to have been an obstruction on Gonzo's part. As the CBFC players move into position for availability on their assumed free kick, Parcelona FC take the free kick and the player catches Gonzo off guard to score the opener. Gonzo and Kermit both protest to the referee in disgust.
After the goal CBFC started to push up more keeping the opposition more limited plus the closing down was forcing mistakes against the side who were destroyed by Shoot Off Site 5-0 (the team CBFC lost just 2-0 to earlier in the season). Parcelona created a clever one two to produce the first chance since the goal but with the return pass Fozzie had read the situation rushed out to challenge and won the goal kick. Or so he should have done with the referee's view obstructed the corner was awarded, notching up the third wrongly awarded decision in favour of Parcelona of the match so far.
Goal 0-2 // Parcelona FC
After losing possession via the defender reading Beaker's pass forward the ball was passed out to the right for a long range shot that caught everyone out by surprise.
Goal 0-3 // Parcelona FC
A good passing move from the goal kick broke through CBFC's mass numbers in the opponents half. Parcelona put through the scorer free on the edge of the area to side foot it into the goal.
Parcelona FC were passing and moving with a purpose, something which CBFC have struggled to produce over the seasons, something which earnt them the lead going into half time.
Second Half
Both sides shared decent shooting opportunities in the opening stages to the half, Kermit had a shot saved by the keeper after skipping past a player into space and Parcelona FC scuppered two or three great chances. Despite the score it was the second half performance of the Cillit Bang FC players that stood out, the team were determined to keep their defensive record better than the opposition and especially a positive goal difference. After capitulating in numerous matches in the past Parcelona were not in for an easy ride this time much like the team 1st in the league found.
Pressing on Kermit and Chef punished a backheel on the edge of Parcelona's box to force a kick in when incoming tackles shut out any room for escape. After Big Bird played in Chef down the right wing a heavy touch had lost the ball but quick movement towards the striker receiving the ball gave him no time for a touch as the tackle ripped the ball from him leaving Chef to have a pop at goal. With their solid defender's desperate attempt to block the shot his spin in the air caused himself to lose control of his footing as the fall onto his ankle caused another stoppage, the sheer pain of the injury forced him to sit out the rest of the match.
With no restbite straight from the goalkick tackles continued to fly in, Beaker made sure no cross got in to the box, with the corner forced away from danger Chef won the ball on the halfway line yet when in on goal he had no ideas leaving the Parcelona player making a desperate last ditch tackle.
After Beaker picked out Chef who subsequently won a foul off the defender a touch of the unlucky when the long range free kick was struck perfectly heading for the top corner when a slight touch by a midfielder's head on the flight of the ball pushed it ever so slightly off onto the post. Big Bird immediately rushing out to tackle the forward from the free kick crashing off the post showed that desire and commitment the side had showed in bundles when preventing Parcelona from exiting their half.
After the first half goals had come in a short space of time in the latter part of the half Fozzie was finally called into action at the midway point of the second comfortably there to catch the first shot on target in nine minutes.
Goal 0-4 // Parcelona FC
An undeserved fourth goal killed off the match, with CBFC working the ball into the opponents half using all players Gonzo's clever pass was not returned by Chef when he was free outside the box. Seeking out Kermit instead the one two was blocked unfortunately with Beaker and Big Bird looking to win the ball back a 3 on 1 attack appeared too easily. The sucker punch came when the one on one shot with Fozzie rebounded off the post hitting the bewildered supporting striker and into the goal to notch up his hattrick.
After some long awaited encouragement a few shots came into the fray with a few sloppy moments the main cause of the problem. Rectified with style one thing Parcelona FC would not get this game would be a clean sheet.
Goal 1-4 // 17 Swedish Chef - Assist 8 Big Bird
Perhaps cockiness was to blame for the goal as Parcelona's goalkeeper dashes up field for the poorly taken corner. Big Bird clears the ball from the box, the opposition defender makes a mess of his first touch allowing the ball to drift out for a kick in. Knowing the keeper is AWOL from the goal Swedish Chef seeks the chance to scoop the ball from his own half over the defenders head into the centre of the goal on his 100th appearance for Cillit Bang FC.
After losing their best defender through that ankle injury Parcelona couldn't handle the closing down and aggressive pressure. Cillit Bang FC were on top and were it not for hitting the target the score would have been reduced quicker than it was, the Parcelona keeper was showing signs of vulnerability. Firstly, Gonzo would be disappointed with his strike from distance often buried in a training session. Secondly, Big Bird intercepted a pass cut inside, creating the space for his shot to hit the outside of the post. Then both combined with Beaker's ball over the top of the Parcelona defence, Big Bird controls the ball out of the air with one boot, slowing up, turning and sending the ball into the box with his other boot to the near post area where Gonzo was lurking to knock the ball to goal. The keeper was in the right place to stop a great move. Big Bird having turned striker for the closing minutes had another effort at goal, though it was meant to be a pass infield for Gonzo, the keeper made a hash of the stop watching nervously as the ball loops past the post for a corner. The danger man was close on the resulting corner attempting a backheel off the cross.
Goal 2-4 // 8 Big Bird - Free Kick
After Kermit and Big Bird combine on the right wing with some skill Kermit wins a foul on the edge of the area. With the defensive wall on the pathetic side considering the proximity of the set piece, Big Bird's fierce right footed shot arrows past five players from both sides into the centre of the goal.
As their first half display had disappeared, CBFC were on top just a little too late, had the score been closer after the first half a different result could have loomed. A substitute or two for CBFC would of been an important part to the match allowing fresh legs to provide further attacking options.
Goal 2-5 // Parcelona FC
However despite the effort all round in the competing often PFC players were allowed to dribble past CBFC players and with not strong enough tackles their life was made too easy at times. This turned up multiple times in the match as the last goal on the final whistle proved, where the scorer ran the entire length of the pitch with little resistance to draw the half at 2-2.
The 3 goal win does little to damage the goal difference, but the defensive record takes a slight battering. With the loss comes a 6 point gap that will need the top two to self-destruct if CBFC are to catch up, but considering the teams usual placings in previous seasons a third spot would be a great platform to build upon and the second half of the season's priority should be to consolidate that amongst pressure from Serendipity United.
Full-Time Result: Cillit Bang FC 2-5 Parcelona FC
Goal - 17 Swedish Chef // Assist 8 Big Bird