Yesterday we sent an 8 man squad to Prendener Straße to compete in the Bunte Liga 10 year anniversary tournament and to celebrate with music, a BBQ and beer.
Competing with a mix of players from FCKP I and FCKP II and battling against the heat (32 °C!), it took us a while to get into our rhythm and we never really managed to achieve our usual brand of open and expressive football. Our first two games ended up with us suffering defeat, losing 1-0 against Phoenix Wartenberg and Honey Badgers.
Our third match against the Wartenberg Badboys was better and we looked more like our usual selves. We took the lead after managing to win the ball in the final third, allowing Kyle to coolly slot home the game’s opener. We looked strong and were doing well, until a lapse in concentration lowed the other team to equalise, and the game ended level at 1-1.
Our fourth and fifth games were performances to forget as our whole team was badly affected by the heat and plagued by lapses in concentration (0-3 against the Eastside Kickers and 0-2 against Ballistiker).
Despite the defeats, we were fired up for our final game and determined not to end the day without tasting victory. We played a good game against Koni Berlin, having some good chances and scoring two excellent goals (Marian and Clement). Despite conceding a goal to make it 2-1, we were looking comfortable and in control of the game, until a foul in the last minute of the game from Marian led to what we thought would be a free kick. Even though the foul was quite far away from the goal and to the side, the opponents insisted that it should be a penalty kick. After some heated discussion, Marian generously allowed them to take the penalty, even though the time had run out at this point and the game was over. They scored the penalty, and of course insisted that the final score was 2-2, but we all knew that we could be proud of our victory – moral if not actual.
Despite finishing 7th out of 7 teams, we had a nice day celebrating the anniversary of the league, eating hot dogs, drinking beers and the whole team presenting Volkmar and Sonja with a cake.
Players: Clement, Daniel, James, Julian, Kyle, Marian (c), Sina, Tim.
Scorers: Kyle, Marian, Clement
Supporters: Ezequiel, Zahra.
