Season 89 Are you ready?

[talisman]

Desert Rats FC started their Cup Round of 16 tie with a home 1st Leg against another Level 8 countryman (all three Cup opponents so far this season have been British), and they had a 7% Quality advantage at kickoff, playing 3W-1-5-1 against 4-1(DMC)-1(MC)-3W-2. Both the opposition DMC/MC players were offset from the centreline of the pitch, so the Rats Management had a good long think about the formation he wanted to use, and with a dangerous looking AMC looming on the defence decided to go for one with a covering DMC. The first-half was a frustrating stalemate, only kept goal-less by a resolute home defence and five saves from the visitors' 'keeper. Obviously the current formation and counter-attacks weren't working so the Management decided to change to 4-4-2 classic, no counter and high press, replacing midfielder Mashoor Ibrahim with striker Emanuele Imbimbo. The crowd were still retaking their seats after the half-time break when midfielder Glenn Seynaeve finished a cross from left-winger Unal Ozdemir, so the Management felt vindicated by his half-time tweaking. Ozdemir himself got onto a through ball from Imbimbo in the 57th minute and increased the lead, and the scoring was completed when Imbimbo launched himself at a corner from Emerson de Alencar Arraes and the header beat the 'keeper and the two covering defenders. The home side win 3-0 and take a substantial advantage to the 2nd Leg in two days' time.