SIFL: Week 14

SPORTS

SIFL: Week 14

Football - SIFL
Friday, 05 March 2010 07:03
Written by Tom Gurney

Three competitions, five games: the SIFL season recommenced last Saturday after a two-week break for the Chinese New Year. Rested and ready for action, nine teams made the trip to Tianma and Century park to commence battle. Nine teams? Yes, the Crazy Turks unable to field a team forfeited their game to the Anzacs, 5:0. The day's schedule included the first Hebiguchi Cup semi-final. Could the Lions keep their treble dreams alive? The Premiership saw one match, arguably the first six-pointer this season as the Beaver crossed swords with the Krauts. Elsewhere the Voodoo Child took on the Sauerkrauts whilst the Coreans pitted their wits against Shanghai 2000 at Century Park. The extra break on Saturday allowed an extra few hours cramming at the Shanghai library. Our congratulations go out to first ever SIFL quiz night winners. To find out what happened elsewhere, read on.

In the first Hebiguchi Cup semi final Japan were up against the Premiership leaders, the Puxi Lions. Not only did they enter the game as favourites, the Lions had run out 6-0 winners against Japan just before the New Year's break. The opportunity to exact revenge, and give them a chance to claim their first silverware since 2005, was too good to turn down for Japan. Penalty kicks separated the teams with the Japanese holding their nerve after the game finished 2-2 in the normal 90. Japan's goals came from Kichiro Takeuchi and an own goal whilst the Lions' replies came from Frederic Dron and top scorer Allan Mendel. Uzair Rawji secured the Lions MoM whilst Keitaro Honbo picked up the award Japan. The second semi final between the Shooters and the Cosmos will take place in early April.

In the premiership, the Krauts and Beaver played out a 0-0 bore draw that did little to help either team's battle against the drop. Leslie Campbell won the MoM for the Beaver whilst Nicolas Moeller received the same for the Germans. Only the league's second goalless draw this season, the result means the Cosmos, who didn't play on Saturday, occupy the second from bottom spot, one point behind the Beaver and two adrift of the Krauts. The Vikings remain propping up the table, though with their first victory of the season coming two weeks ago, we are bracing ourselves here at Urbanatomy to see whether the Great Escape pans out.

There was (thankfully) a little more action in the first division. Shanghai 2000 started the year with a bang, grabbing a late winner against the Coreans to secure three points with a 1-0 victory that elevates them to fourth position. Chen Wei in goal for Shanghai 2000 secured his first man of the match of award this season thanks to some fine saves. At the other end, Sung Wook in defence for Corea picked put in a stellar performance to earn himself the honours. Shanghai 2000 were unable to get anything past Sung and it took a deflection of their own defender - Sung Pil - to breach the Corean goal and secure three well earned points for Shanghai 2000.

In the day's other mid-table clash the Voodoo Child carried on where they had left off before the break with three points against the Krauts-Die Zweite. The 1-0 win will put thoughts of the wooden spoon at the back of their minds. 12 points from a possible 15 so far in 2010 must surely mean that evergreen manager Ian Dixon is setting his sights on the top four. Alex ˜Brown Bottle" Ashmore is responsible for half of the 12 points won in 2010, his 20-yard screamer on Saturday proved the difference between the two teams, adding to his match winner in his last outing against the Voodoo earlier this year. The Krauts were a disappointment on Saturday and will be hoping there is better things ahead for this season. The result means the Child leap frog the Krauts into fifth place, though they have played a game more. Veteran Spaniard Jorge Villena picked up his first MoM trophy for several seasons for the Child whilst John Zhu claimed the honours for the Krauts.

Results
Heb Cup Semi Finals

Shanghai Puxi Lions FC 2-3 Shanghai Japan FC

Premiership

Shanghai Krauts FC: 0-0 Beaver United

First Division

Shanghai Krauts - Die Zweite: 0-1 Voodoo Child

Corea International FC: 0-1 Shanghai 2000 FC

Anzacs FC: 5-0 Crazy Turks (default score - Turks failed to field a team)

Fixtures

Azzurri FC vs. Shanghai Japan FC - 10:00 AM

Shanghai Puxi Lions FC vs. Malones Shanghai Shooters FC - 10:00 AM

Beaver United vs. Shanghai Krauts FC - 12:00 PM