Season 40

[Ljepoje]

Balkan Boyz - Matchday 18 (Sz.5 - lvl5)

HEADLINE: Balkan Boyz qualifies for semi-finals despite loss to Orchard Utd!

CUP: Balkan Boyz (Q50,5) Formation: 4-2N-2W-2 >> 1 - 2 (AGG: 4-3) << Orchard Utd (Q51) Formation: 4-2N-2W-2
SCORERS: H.Salihamidžić (43min.ass:E.Džeko), D.Harding (69min.ass:K.Harding) and D.Harding (77min.ass:J.Enrique)
SUBS: S.Sušić < > A.Ljajić H.Salihamidžić < > L.Modrić
MOTM: J.Enrique (rate:8)



Balkan Boyz qualified for the T11 CUP semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate Wednesday despite losing to Orchard Utd 1-2 in the quarter-final second leg at "Balkan Boyz Stadium". The Balkan Boyz withstood a second-half onslaught from Orchard Utd to qualify for their second successive T11 CUP semi-final 4-3 on aggregate, despite losing 1 - 2 on the night. Already leading with 1 - 3 from the first-leg last week, it took The Balkan Boyz just 43 minutes to build on their advantage as Edin Džeko crossed for Hasan Salihamidžić o to prod home from close range. However, after Stevan Jovetić and Ivica Olić had missed a guilt edged opportunity to double the tally on the night in the opening of the 2nd half, Orchard Utd produced a remarkable comeback as Daniel Harding thumped in an equaliser from the edge of the box in the 69th minute and made 1 - 2, 8 minutes later just as The Balkan Boyz made two substitutions. Balkan Boyz managed to put pressure the last quarter and had two goal-scoring opportunities after a Edin Džeko free-kick and a Nemanja Vidić's header, but GK Reina excellently saved for the guests. As it stands, Balkan Boyz will face the Italian FC Köln in the semi-finals, while their friends "Dynamo SWAG" will face the Dutch team "RSCA Anderlecht". The 1th leg will be played at Sunday and the return at Tuesday.

Manager -Ljepoje- seemed satisfied with the performance of his team despite the 1 - 2 loss and in a short post-game interview he said,"Overall, I am quite satisfied with the way we played and the way we approached Orchard Utd in this crucial and important game, despite the loss. We didn't play as good as in the 1th leg, but we didn't play bad either and I think a draw could have been a more fair result. They weren't better than us,as we created more and had the game in our favour. But then they got 2 quick goals the same minute we made two substitutions and that was it. I don't know if that was fair or not, perhaps just bad luck. But I'm glad that we are through and I believe we deserved it more then they. The semi-finals against FC Köln will be a pleasure and an honor to play and I seriously hope we will make it to the finals this season, perhaps end up facing Dynamo SWAG?, who knows!".


In other news, Balkan Boyz managed to beat the Turkish team "TuC FC" with 5 - 0 after goals by Adem Ljajić (x1), L uka Modrić (x1), Mateo Kovačić (x1), Stevan Jovetić (x2) and Mario Mandžukić (x2). A game in which Mario Mandžukić was declared as MoM (rate:9).The win means that Balkan Boyz holds onto first place with 42 points and are only 2points clear in front of the Israeli team "Iztik Yan" (40points). FC Kula hangs on at a 3rd place (39points) and Vanspor FC at a 4th place with 29points. Balkan Boyz will play the Turkish team "Vanspor FC" tomorrow away. The kickoff is set at 12:39CET. Later on that evening, Balkan Boyz are set to play the 1th leg in the Champions league quarter-finals against the Turkish team "Galatasaray AŞ " at home, a quarterfinal in which The Balkan Boyz are the favourites to win. The kickoff is set at 20:24CET.

Over&Out!