FC EDA's season start was not what we hoped for. After almost three months without a game (last game was on the 2nd of June), the team certainly felt the lack of pre-season test matches. Still, with four new players joining the team (Cornelius, Manu, Noby, and Nick) and Nobs comeback as our new Assistant Coach, we were seeking a right-foot entry into the new season.
Now, to the game. Under an extreme heat of 35º degrees and over a hard and dry grass narrow pitch was definitely not the perfect comeback conditions, but that does not serve as an excuse for our poor performance.
The team lined up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, well-known to the players, however transitions and triangulations did not flow as expected.
The team lined up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, well-known to the players, however transitions and triangulations did not flow as expected.
In the other side, the recent Serie A promoted FC Thai Foodkurier, came in with a clear intention in proving that they are Serie A worthy.
The game started with a FC Thai Foodkurier trying to have more ball possession that, even with FC EDA high pressure, did not tremble and kept exchanging ball on their defensive lines, with some difficulties in transition to attack, therefore forced into long balls.
FC EDA in the other hand showed lack of calm and confidence in the build-up play, often ending up in unforced mistakes and lost possession, however, the best goal chances created were for the white and red boys.
The first goal chance came from a long shot from Viana, which the goalkeeper saved, but the ball bounced out to Flühmann reach, that with a nice movement dribbles the goalie, but a soft struck shot let the defender catch-up and save the ball on the goal line. Next big chance came also from Flühmann right foot, resulted from the attack line high pressure, which forced a mistake from the home team, ending up with Flühmann finding himself in a one-on-one situation with the kepper, but the shoot came way off target, unfortunately.
Meanwhile, FC Thai Foodkurier attempted long balls that landed behind our defensive line, causing some concern, with some materializing into goal-scoring opportunities.
With a well-disputed game in the congested midfield, the home team managed to take a 1:0 lead. The goal was originated from an unfortunate error of our last defender, allowing the FC Thai Foodkurier striker in a one-on-one situation with Marc, that wasn't wasted.
The goal was responded with some FC EDA attempts to equalize through some well-placed crosses and corners, that did not ultimately transform into clear goal chances.
Half-Time.
For the second half the coach duo Strausak/Nobs brought in three substitutes (Noby, Manu, and Nick) as FC EDA aimed to boost the team energy and turn the tide of the match.
The fresh and motivated subs set a higher pace in the FC EDA's play, but this shift didn't necessarily translate into the transition build-up that we were lacking in the first half.
Under the pressure applied by Nick and Zierski on FC Thai Foodkurier defensive line, the home team naturally lower their lines and favoured counter-attacks, which swiftly led to several opportunities and, unfortunately, resulted in the home team securing a 2:0 lead.
For the last quarter FC EDA changed the formation into a 3-5-2 and kept pushing throughout the whole second half, yet, apart from some long-range shot attempts, scoring opportunities emerged mainly from set pieces.
Goal chances kept falling equally for both sides, but the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
In the end, it's fair to say that the end result did translate what happened within the pitch, left for us to congratulate the opponent and welcome a fair and competitive team into Serie A. As for us, it's evident that we can, and should, do much better.
Focusing already on the next match, we take all lessons learned into it, seeking the first 3 points of the season.
Head up boys!
Tore:
35' 1:0 Leonard Kiener
64' 2-0 Leonard Kiener
Startaufstellung: Stauffacher – Cecchini, Blunier, Benedetto, Alexander Gottstein, Till Affolter (C), Aron Affolter, Regez, Viana - Zierski, Flühmann
Ersatz:
Norbert 'Noby' Knoll
Cornelius Were Okello
Nicholas 'Nick' Jay Ludwig
Emanuel 'Manu' Filipe Alves Lopes
Benedikt 'Beni' Gottstein
Abwesend/ohne Einsatz:
Jonas Affolter
Hamda Bousrih
Yves Hinder
Oliver Surbek
Matthias Gamma
Lukas Hartmann
Daniel Fischer
Carlos Bernardo Sanchez Saavedra