Palace Casuals

[talisman]

A couple of away games today as Palace Casuals continue their odyssey...

Champions League Group Stage Round 3, away vs Ko FC. level 22, AQ -3.2
Palace Casuals turned up at Ko FC hoping for a first win in the Champions League this term, and did not disappoint their travelling fans, packed into a small (77.5k) ground. The match started fairly evenly, with neither side gaining an advantage until the 35th minute, when Casuals' attacking midfielder Valentin Ndjengue fouled a Ko player at the edge of the box. Makris punished the transgression by neting the free-kick. The half-time team talk in the visiting dressing room had its effect at the start of the second period, when first Andres Ramos with a solo effort and Johan Shaqiri, from a Ndjengue corner, turned the game around in favour of the Casuals. After that it was back to business as usual and time ran out with a 2-1 win for Palace Casuals.



The midfield performance woes continue as Jack McCaul produced another 5, so the Management decided that a replacement was in order. After a couple of efforts were fruitless, a new MC was picked up for $98.7M and 2T.



With a new player safely in hand, The current players were evaluated and it was decided to release Ayman Gomaa, and he duly departed to Upton Rovers for $114M.

League Round 5, away vs FC Croatia. Level 22, AQ +0.4
A continuation of today's road trip, a short hop from Berlin to Zagreb, Croatia for this evening's League match. New recruit Suhail Kamal was drafted into the starting XI, and produced a sterling performance in a match which pitted a strong attack against a resolute defence. The first 20 minutes was all the home side, as Croatia surged forwards in search of an early goal and ran aground on the rocks of the Casuals defence. Zoltan Bieder in the goal was also in top form, which gave the defence added confidence. Having weathered the early storm, the visitors started to come back into the game, and the hosts gave Omar Hansen a couple of opportunities to open the scoring, but he seemed to have left his free-kick boots at home as neither were on target. Just after the half hour, however, Hansen did show that he could find the back of the net as he rifled a loose ball home from just outside the box, to send the travelling support into raptures. The rest of the match was more even, both sides having chances to score but both defences were solid and the scoreboard was not further troubled. Casuals Captain Anurak Arma picked up the MoM award.



As the top two dropped points, Palace Casuals now take over at top spot:



The League match was used as a second attempt to test DC/DMC Kevin Pigott in the defensive midfielder position and he acquitted himself well. The Management then decided to release DMC/DMR Charles Salami and he was signed by Haticesu FC for $98.6M.