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Hachioji Park, Sunday 6th May, A very English day met the Swiss as they were to round out the season, rain and a chilly breeze at Saitama Stadium (well, Hachioji Koen) for their final match of the '06-'07 campaign. Hopes of sneaking the title from the British on goal difference were dashed the day before with Sala being well beaten by the BFC, allowing them to claim the championship with a match in hand - well done to them. They were the strongest throughout the year, consistent recruiting on the part of management meant that player turnover and inavailability were mere speed bumps as they raced to the title.
In spite of this, the 'average' Swiss (based on the Irish reports of the last game) decided to make this last game count to show they deserved 2nd place. The French were clearly missing a few players as well, whether it be to the weather or Golden Week, not much mercy was shown as the Swiss looked sharp from the start. Movement around the back from Koin to Raffa and Andy and Kai was working hard with JP in midfield. Some good through balls found Kirk and Karl open early for some easy chances but Francois did well to keep them out - experience (or age) showed as he stopped well from short range. Though the back line was doing their best, a rather silly goal ended up breaking open the flood gates.
JP sent in a cross from the left side, high enough for Kirk just to get a nod on it. He sent it high across the goal and Francois back pedaled but could only tip it into the net, 1-0 to the Swiss. After that, the waves of attacks came from both sides with Aoki and Koi sending in balls from the right while Miles and Andy were coming up the left. Kai and JP were solid getting up and down the field as well. The French got forward occasionally with Nacer and one of their Japanese players taking people on but the Swiss had numbers in defence and made it tough. Kirk would eventually get a one on one opportunity vs. Francois to make it 2-0 and then from a nice cross from Koi, he volleyed in make it 3-0. The first half ended that way.
At the start of the second half, the French sounded as if they were going to try and raise the bar but that was not going to be the case. With 8 minutes gone, Ogata sent Kirk away for another one on one which Francois blocked up into the air only for Kirk to follow it up with a header into an open net. 5 minutes later, Kai broke down the right side and sent in a perfect ball for Kirk to blast home for his 5th on the day. The French started to carry the ball forward out of midfield better but the strikers were not providing options and the midfielders had to shoot from too far away or they were disposessed as the swarming Swiss defence closed them down. They were also guilty of some poor shooting with 2 or 3 chances shot wide when inside the box. The Swiss ended up closing the scoring with a nice one on one finish by Miles and then a great piece of passing and dribbiling by Ogata as he passed into an open net.
The Swiss finished the year strongly but it was a little too late as some silly losses (and draws) early on meant we gave ourselves little chance of catching the league winners. Well done to the BFC but the Swiss leave the other teams with something to think about with 16 goals for vs. 2 against in their last 4 games. Well done boys and we can only look forward to next year.
Report by Cap'n Kirk.
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