Weekend Update 4th Feb 2017

By Monica Villar

AFC Wembley (1 – 2) DGL

Deportivo Galicia overcame a tough AFC Wembley side 1-2 last Saturday to keep their title hopes alive. Both DGL goals came in the final minutes of each half.

Wembley were unlucky not to get the first goal; their chances included: hitting the side of the net, the ball being cleared by Juli on the line and a bizarre ball that hit both posts but incredibly didn’t go in.

Our boys were a lot less organised than the opposition, however as time went on they started growing in confidence, Felipe, MK and Stephan Kitenge each had the opportunity to put us in the lead, however they lacked
precision in the final metres.

Just when it looked like the score would be 0-0 at half time and after Antón Fernández Casal had a goal dubiously ruled offside, Chema Rios Conceiro – who we’re used to seeing avoiding goals – scored with a header from a corner taken by Felipe, giving DGL minimum advantage going into half time.

The second half had barely started when AFC Wembley scored the equaliser; the score was levelled once again.

Tensions were running high during the second half, after the umpteenth time Antón was fouled, he retaliated which resulted in him being sent off 10 minutes before the final whistle.
Far from giving up, DGL showed resilience towards the end of the match, Michel Chinito Payne scored the injury time winner – which was wildly celebrated on the sidelines – he beat the keeper one-on-one to make it 1-2.

During – what felt like – the longest injury time ever, Aitor Lizaso came on and nearly made it 1-3, he definitely made great use of the few minutes he was on the pitch.

MOM was awarded to Julián for his no-nonsense performance.

Speaking after the match, goalscorer Chema said he knew it would be a tough match, and although on paper DGL are the superior team “for some reason it took us a while to get through their defence”.

“They did have a couple of good chances in the first half, which made us a bit nervous”. The DGL centre-back also confessed that being down to 10 men improved their performance as “we took the best out of us and that helped us in creating some good chances that we didn’t create throughout the match”.

Regarding his goal, Chema said that right before the match he was speaking to Felipe and Gill, about how they could capitalise more on corners “It was my first goal of the season, and I believe that now Felipe and I know what to do to connect better in these types of situations”.

Deportivo Galicia are still in a great position to win the league, still four points behind FC Assyria with three games in hand, still too early to get over-confident but possibly the right time to start to believe.

Meanwhile, in the Senior Reserve League……..

LPOSSA FC (3 – 4) DGL2

Another nail biter was unfolding as LPOSSA took an early lead after going 2-0 up in the 1st half but goals from Neko Dolce, Ivan Costa Suarez and another brace from Emilio Mendes (one of which was caught on camera and very spectacular in execution) saw DGL2 take all 3 points against one of the league’s toughest sides.

Speaking after the game, Abb Hamaida DGL2 Manager commented “we made things difficult for ourselves yet again but we managed to turn round what could have been a disastrous afternoon. I had to play Hafide Ibnahaten in about 5 different positions throughout the game and was a well deserved MOM”

DGL2 are now focusing on their semi final game in 10 days time so lets hope all the boys are getting ready for this.

So, that completes another Club double in successive weeks.