Report by Barbora Klímová
Both matches were a tough test for the Prague Raptors teams this Sunday. The Raptors Ladies had to travel to Brňany (about an hour far away from Prague) whilst the Men played at home against Čechie Smíchov.
The Ladies started their match in the most horrible possible way – their opponent scored a goal in the second minute of the game when the Raptors defensive line was not very well positioned and focussed.
However, the Raptors Ladies reaction to it was very good. They pushed the opponent, scored a goal thanks to McIntyre and were the better team for the rest of the first half, while giving no chance to the opponent to come closer to their goal. However, many chances were considered to be an offside by the referee, which means that the half time score was “only” 1:1.
After the break, McIntyre scored again with an awsome free kick from 25 yards and everything looked promising for the Raptors.
The pressure of Raptors relented a little bit after that, but ladies still had the match under control. However, the last ten minutes changed everything. Brňany scored after a quick counterattack in 82’ and two minutes before the end of the game they scored again and took all three points.
The Ladies have had a tough start to the season but with so many injuries and registration issues we are confident things will improve sooner rather than later...above all else the spirit in the team continues to be strong.
Well done to Lady-of-the-match Louise McIntyre for her 2 goals.
The Men welcomed Čechie Smíchov, one of the better teams of their league. They tried to push the opponent from the beginning, but Čechie played very well, too. Although defenders Carlos Martin and Vlad Orlov did very well at keeping Smíchov's chances to a minimum.
The spectators could see some chances on both sides of the pitch, but not a goal in the first half. In the second half, The Raptors men used the predominance they had at that time and scored thanks to the captain and man of the match, Ionel David.
Two minutes later, Muhaab Yassien scored another goal from 20 yards and the game result seemed to be set up despite the opponent’s effort to attack and score at least one goal.
In 86’, Raptors’ Head Coach, in his first match on the pitch, Jon Davies, scored his very first goal after six minutes.
Three points at home for the boys and top of the league!
Ladies
Final Score: ČFK Brňany 3 – 2 Raptors Prague
Goals: Cílová, Jurková, Missoni – McIntyre 2x
Raptors line-up: Orozco (GK) – Tafech, Marshall, Klímová, Gaspers – Sammarco – Šedivá, Abreu –Vanderveken ©, McIntyre, Chapman. Subs: Rodgers, Valverde Ramos, Maciejewski
Lady of the Match: Louise McIntyre
Men's
Final Score: Raptors Prague 3 – 0 Čechie Smíchov
Goals: David, Yassien, Davies
Raptors line-up: Oosterling (GK) – Sommer, Martín, Orlov, Jeunet – David © (69’ Pellegrini) – Alnakhli (46’ Yassien), Guzman –Chiodi, Aionitoaei, Mohamed (80’ Davies).
Man of the Match: Ionel David