2008 DUFC Mini Friendly League

Kingsway, Paul & Friends and Dogs United

04 April 2008

Venue: Morse Park AI Grass Pitch

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dogs United Football Club, the Committee arranged a mini friendly league on 4 April, 2008. We invited 2 strong teams and each team played 2 matches against each others.

Kingsway, the best football team in Hong Kong financial sector. They brought a strong squad of 20+ players aiming to collect their 1,276th trophy in their club history. They also gave up their best forward Hoi who was playing for Dogs United today. Thank you, Kingsway.

Paul & Friends, plays in English Premier League, took a weekend break from UK. With half of their squad staying in UK preparing for the coming derby match, they actually brought only 10 players. Guess they knew they are going to win both matches anyway.

Dogs United, as usual, just marginally able to field in enough players (still with some hire guns) in last minute. “Enjoy the matches” was the main theme.

To maximize the chance of winning the mini league, the Committee allocated the teams into following match order:-

First match: Dogs United vs Kingsway
Second match: Paul & Friends vs Kingsway
Third match: Dogs United vs Paul & Friends

They were indeed very enjoyable as far as a player was concerned.

Back Row (L to R): Ar Wong, Robben, Matthew, Richard, Kenneth, Gary (Jason's colleague)
Front Row (L to R): Wilson, Gary, Winkins, Hoi, Jason

First Match: Dogs United vs Kingsway

Fly Airplane is a tradition of Dogs United. And this time, it was Danny who flied the plane. The team started the match with only 9 players (6 Dogs - Hoi / Robben / Jason / Wilson / Dennis / Winkins and 3 hire guns - Matthew / Kenneth / Richard). And this was the starting line-ups:-

Hoi - Robben
Matthew - Jason - Kenneth
Wilson - Dennis - Richard
Winkins

Dogs United pushed hard right after the kick off. Few chances were indeed wasted. Having said that, it couldn’t be better for the Team when Robben scored a beautiful goal in early minute, after a prefect one-two with Richard, his friend. [ 1 : 0 ]

With Wilson and Richard constantly pushing upfront to support the midfield, it was Dennis and Winkins the only 2 Dogs protecting the whole half of the pitch. It was not a surprise when Kingsway level the score by a team work effort after several eye-catching passes. [ 1 : 1 ]

The Team then pushed even harder. With few more chances wasted. In the opposite side of the pitch, Winkins faced several one-on-one from Kingsway. It was purely luck that the score remained at level.

Half time.

With Gary finally arrived, the Team now had its badly needed cover in the bench. Yes, one sub now.

Another perfect one-two between Robben and Richard brought Dogs United the second goal, this time scored by Richard. [ 2 : 1 ]

Every Dog believed that it would be a winning start to Dogs United before they saw a long high pass from the winger which hit the finger tip of Winkins and got into the back of the net. What the hell!? [ 2 : 2 ]

Before the Team was settled a draw, Robben scored his second goals of the match and brought a hard-earned win to the Team. Man of the Match. [ 3 : 2 ]

So, Dogs United won the match.

Final Score: Dogs United 3 Kingsway 2

Man of the Match: Robben (Dogs United)

Team Kingsway

Second Match: Paul & Friends vs Kingsway

Captain Hoi owe Kingsway players an explanation. Why they were arranged to play against Paul & Friends right after the first match? On the one hand, Kingsway was burned out. And one the other hand, Paul & Friends was fresh and couldn’t hold themselves from running.

Paul & Friends played in good formation, they passed the ball well and they supported each others in a very effective way. And most of their goals were came from long range.

Kingsway never gave up the fight. They tried their best to maintain their formation and they tried very hard to play their passing game. More than several times, they got very clear chances to score.

It was sad that they could only get 2 goals which were both scored by Ar Wong almost single-handed.

And Paul & Friends got their first win.

Final Score: Paul & Friends 8 Kingsway 2

Man of the Match: Ar Wong (Kingsway)

Team Paul & Friends

Third Match: Dogs United vs Paul & Friends

Right after the second match, Captain Hoi decided to sign the Man of the Match Ar Wong and play for Dogs United. With now another Gary (Jason’s colleague) arrived, Dogs United got 7 Dogs and 5 Hire Guns, i.e. 3 subs in total.

The Team started the second match with a revised line-ups:-

Hoi - Robben
Matthew - Jason - Richard
Wilson - Dennis - Winkins
Gary

With an hour rest, Dogs United pushed forward with strength and determination. Never before they played a match so seriously. They simply wanted to win the match as well as the league.

Well, determination doesn’t mean sure win. Before long, Paul & Friends scored their first goal by some text book passing. [ 0 : 1 ]

And, only few minutes later, Paul & Friends scored another goal. As same as the previous match, the goal was from long range which made Gary no chance. [ 0 : 2 ]

So, it was done. And Dennis left the pitch. From there on, Winkins moved into the center of the defense with Matthew and Richard playing the right back in turns. Kenneth, Ar Wong and Gary (the Jason's colleague) kept coming in and out to help the Team but they couldn’t really find the way back.

It was the Dogs Fight that brought the Team back to the match.

At the back, Gary denied a one-on-one shoot by his right foot. Wilson and Richard ran like a dog. Up front, Jason scored his first goal of the match. [ 1 : 2 ]

At the back, Gary denied another “must-in” goal with his left hand. Wilson and Richard kept on running like a dog, but now a worn dog. Up front, Jason scored his second. It was level. [ 2 : 2 ]

Then, it came the third goal of Paul & Friends … [ 2 : 3 ]

Dogs United players left the pitch with their heads high up and Paul & Friends got their second win.

Final Score: Dogs United 2 Paul & Friends 3

Man of the Match: Gary (Dogs United)