Monday Night Football Match Report - 1st Feb 2021 - FIFA

A game of 3 halves is what they say isn't it?

FGFC started the night in Division 4 after midweek impromptu meetups didn't quite pan out as we'd have hoped. Still, we were raring to go and eager to change our slow 'warm-up' starts and it paid off with a gruelling 1-0 over vanssssssss (I was tempted to carry on there for a moment...). A tremendous defence-splitting pass by Rodman @Lurch in his commanding CDM role found Crunchy Connor @JamaicanSteve to go through 1-on-1 to score the solitary goal.

The FG train was on a roll and swiftly made the next team quit, obtaining a default 3-0 win. Needing one more win to go up, we turned up against a better side in Team Taunt UK. A goal a piece in the first half meant it was a tight affair but early in the second half a lovely worked play down the left ended up Forlan @ChaosGladiator putting a sweeping cross in, for what was to be the biggest salmon jump we've seen so far playing FIFA...or so we thought!

Division 3 carried on where we left off with a sublime 2-0 win; a brace from Rodman just showing how much of a utility player he is for FGFC, like the stellar Aaron Mokoena was back in the day for Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth. Memorable, right? 😎 After such a good start, we got to the end of the first Third of the night (although we didn't know this at that point in time).

The next phase of the night started with a 3-3 banger, all goals coming within 30 minutes of the first half. The Tennis match was soon over though with a cagey 2nd half of constant defending, not all because of the opposition mind you... 😄

A horrible patch followed with 3 back-to-back defeats. Some goals the back 4 couldn't do much about, whereas others we just kept on losing the ball in dangerous positions outside of the box. I think most teams will seem to have these spells through a night (I can hear Tom @LordBaguette screaming in his sleep something beginning with S...) but i'd say we weren't flat throughout that period. Just on the wrong side of luck. Our 2-1 loss Jakes U15s could've been different if Gin & Tronic @tronic44 had expected the penalty to be passed to him, although it was still a cracking save.

Near the end of the bad middle spell, we were doing everything we could against some good, skillful sides but perhaps also having a ton of luck against us. 2-0 down at H/T to TTN GaMiNg, we battled to stop further goals coming through. Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 , Roberto Barlos @Findmartin and makeshift centreback @jordie1892 were pulling out all the stops keeping them to just one extra goal, going into the last 10 mins 3-1 down. Sensing we'd had enough of getting the wrong side of this luck, @Macca89 hot a screamer against the bar with Mulletov @G_dub52 crucially following in to force an headed own goal. It set up a tense finish, with TTFN getting a corner on 89 minutes and unusually it was FGFC that managed to break away, a side-splitting pass from Torpedo Tony allowed Mulletov and Sensual Chocolate @jordie1892 to play a one-two with Mulletov smashing the equaliser home.

You wouldn't believe that last minute winners aren't our specialism. However, when one last minute goal comes, another soon follows, as the saying goes. Toronto Rabbits put up a strong fight and we were deadlocked at 1-1. We thought we lost our chance - twice - but the following 30 seconds were truly incredible stuff. FIFA at his best. They still must be screwing over that since Monday.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done early doors in Season 46 resulting in FGFC bouncing back down to Division 4.

The last minute winners and desire from those games though did give us some heart at the end of the night as the third phase kicked off, we became more dominant in overall play. Sensual Chocolate found his shooting boots, alongside MaccaNoHairMan. Rodman went back up top and his found some form with his head, alongside Mulletov and Roberto Barlos that finished some lovely team goals. 9 goals in 3 games and a lovely 3 winning game streak to end the night on.

Moment of the night went to good ol' Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 . It does have awful trouble with his WiFi at the best of times due to his Washing Machine being on 🙈🤣but this week's excuse for missing a 2 yarder was more down to some food stuck inside his controller. Don't ever change, Tony.