Palace Casuals

[talisman]

League Round 8, away at ForzaGS FC in Istanbul, Turkey. Level 23, AQ -0.3
Palace Casuals were at last successful in achieving an away victory in this closely fought League match. Forza opened the scoring in the 18th minute, the Casuals defence successfully stopping home attacks, but only at the expense of corners, from the second of which Bratu headed home. The visitors themselves had a couple of chances from the corner, and a direct free-kick well saved, at the end of the first half, but the hosts went in to the break one goal ahead. Casuals half-time team talk obviously had an effect, as the first 10 minutes of the second half were all attack for the visitors. A couple more corners later, and Reda Mourad got into prime position to equalise with a powerful header. Forza then reversed their half-time formation change and put two forwards back on the field and the game levelled, with the Casuals defence certainly the best of the two and more than capable of containing the rampant home attack. As the home side tired later in the game, Casuals became more attack-minded, and a series of set-pieces ended with defender Freddy Jones converting another corner from Man-of-the-Match Johan Shaqiri to score an 89th minute winner.

Michael Muscroft returned to the side after his recent injury, but Casuals had another injury victim in fellow midfielder Emrah Topalan, out for 4 days with a Hamstring pull.



Palace Casuals injury stats: 4 injuries (all to MCs), 18 days.