unadjustednonraw_thumb_1c9cbLast weekend might have been a turning-point for the Vets Team of the German All Stars. It was quite hard to have a squad available for the monthly Vets Tournament in the last six months and when we were able to do so, we ended up in the lower area of the table.
But this month, our younger players, who are just from this or last year eligible to play, realized that playing Vets is not meaning that you are getting old – it is just a more social way of combining football with fun and a couple of adult beverages after the games. So a really
strong team showed up on the muddy and drenched pitch at Playmaker last Sunday – beside Yilmaz, Gerd and Michael the players were still in the 30s – some situation we did not have for years though.
But playing on the small pitch is still a different kind of game – so we were confident from the beginning but also careful with our expectations how this afternoon will end. 8 teams showed up, two groups of four 4, followed by the Knock Out stage – so a total of 6 games was the target
for each of the teams.
First game vs. Bangkok Condo Rentals Leased saw a quite clear game from our side, anyhow we left too many chances but finally could manage to start the day with a 3:0 win. Second game vs. JFC Penguins, one of the two Japanese teams this afternoon. Same problems with our chances in the beginning,
followed by a short moment of laxness – done and and the first goal for the Penguins. But then the team started to play using the strength we have – good combinations, good fighting spirit and finally also the goals were made out of the given chances, final result was a 2:1 win for us. Dedicated but hard work
was needed. Last game in the group phase vs. Team X – as one never knows who will show up to play fot them we were confident to bring the third win home. And what a game it was – 6:0 and a demonstration of our team ability that day – we could have easily scored another few goals, but this was still the
highest score we could ever achieve in the last years.
Top of the group – 9 points and 11:1 goals – a nearly perfect first phase for us – our supporters on the pitch were getting louder and more enthusiastic and looked all forward to the next games to come. Quarterfinal vs Bangkok Condo Rentals Rented. This team ended up on 4th place in their group but showed immediately,
that they are not willing to surrender – but the machine was working now perfect and the game was ours from the first minute. Gerd scored the probably most nicest goal in tournament, dancing through the defenders of the opponents and finally doing the same with the goalie – what a goal and what a win at the end.
4:0 and in the Semifinals vs. Sportsman, a team we know for long and played so many times. But this time all was different than earlier – in the best game from our side on this afternoon we thrashed them again 6:0 and Dome, Yilmaz and Gerd did one goal more nice than the other. A great semifinal and a perfect game from us.
Final  !!! – we did not reach the final for more than two years and our last win of the tournament was also years ago – so the mission was clear – get the cup – but the opponent was a tricky one – JFK Kickers (the other Japanese team) and they made their way through to the final also quite impressive with only one lost game in the first
round. We started as we ended in the last game – strong defensive, very good offensive and we made the goals – after half of the game we had a 2:0 lead – what should happen after such a start. But as usual Japanese teams will never give up – they started to build up pressure and were successful to score the 1:2 with another five minutes left in the game. Pressure was getting stronger and we could not really change our way of playing as fast as needed and play a more defensive game – two minutes on the clock, a long ball into our box and – bang…. 2:2 – just short after this goal the referee ended the game. 2:2 so this meant the infamous 17 second penalty striker vs goalie sudden death game
was needed to decide this game.
Japanese started, but Michael could keep his goal clear and the Japanese player finally missed the second attempt he had – so the momentum was with us. If Matteo would score we would be the winner – and Matteo did everything perfect, except that his perfect shot passed not only the goalie but also by centimeters the goal,
next round was up. The Japanese striker scored and now Dome was the one who had the pressure. But he added a perfect penalty to his goal account this afternoon – 9 goals during the tournament and now this important one, and the game went on. Number 3 to come, the crowd (our 5 supporters) was getting louder and louder.
The first shot from the Japanese striker was blocked by Michael, and the rebound could also not made it to the goal – so again the chance was with us. Yilmaz, who had a few unlucky shots during the afternoon wanted to make this one clear for us. He passed around the goalie and …… was fouled just before he could bring the ball into the net.
Clear rule – in that case it is counted as a goal and YESSSS we made it. Winners after a real battle on the muddy pitches in Northern Bangkok.
We celebrated together as a team as we played as a team – and all of the players were sure, to show up if time allows in November to defend the cup – something we never achieved in all those years at the Vets Tournament. Let’s do it Lads !!!
A big hand to the team – Cheng, Coco, Dominik, Dome, Gerd, Ronny, Matteo, Michael and Yilmaz as well as to our supporters, fans, cheerleaders and photographers Fahri, Hartwig, Max, Lani and Ohh.


From Vets Tournment Otober 2016, posted by German All Stars Bangkok on 10/10/2016 (19 items)

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