I would like to start by saying congratulation to all of you girls for a great win against a very good team.
I felt extremely proud as I watched each one of you last night step up to the challenge and play your hearts out! Everyone contributed to our win last night against our big rival Freestate! I am also so proud of the way we kept our composure and kept fighting and battling until the end.

We started the game a little sluggish- we tried to force the long ball through the middle of their defense. However, their center backs won almost 90% of those balls. Their back line was too centralized and very heavy in the middle of their defensive third.
Midway through the first half- the girls and I during substitutions and during communication on the field- we talked (shoutedJ) about the need to loosen their back line. At half time, we discussed adjustments that will enable us to shake the centrally condensed back line. We talked about controlling the rhythm, being patient, and play the wide ball. We needed to engage our outside runs and attack through the wings. This way, we would hope to occupy their full backs with our outside runs and loosen the middle of their defensive line. Magic executed very well and we started creating gaps- It was a BEAUTIFUL thing to watch.
Our strikers put a lot of pressure on Freestate back line and took many shots on goal. Most importantly, they dropped to the middle and defended in an effort to help win the ball back. Our midfielders worked really hard to control the rhythm, spread the field, send through wide balls and create gaps. Furthermore, they dropped back and help defend when needed. I believe that we controlled the game at that time. However, Freestate tried to quickly counter attack us a few times but they were met by our rock- solid defensive unit and by our awesome goal keepers. The defense worked very well together and kept Freestate to one or two opportunities. They also supported the middle and made some beautiful runs out of the back. On the couple of occasions that Freestate was able to get a couple of shots on goal, our goal keepers took charge and controlled the balls, came off their line when they needed to, and worked as a unit with the back line. What the parents may not know, we even executed some of the trick plays that we worked on at practice. You have no idea how happy that made meJ. However and with all of that, the score was still 0-0 with time winding down. But finally with 3 minutes left in the game, the Gods of soccer finally reward the girls for their hard work. In the final 3 minutes of the game, an effort that started in the back- through the center mid- and up to attacking third- we were finally on the board with an awesome finish. To reserve the win, in the last 2.5 minutes, we dropped everyone behind the ball and waited for the final whistle! Magic wins!!!