Monster Mash got off to a great start this season and won the previous four matches. However, today we faced our toughest challenge yet when we played the Hurricanes. This team had three wins and one draw and was in second place behind us. While we had scored the most goals (42 in 4 games), the Hurricanes had conceded the fewest (14 in 4 games).
I knew it was going to be an epic battle, and therefore I decided on a more aggressive strategy to counter their defense. Normally, we play with two forwards and two defenders. However, I opted for a more attacking line-up to break through their defense: two forwards, one attacking midfield player who could drop back in defense as needed, and one defender.
Despite this, the Hurricanes took the lead early on. This was quite shocking and the first time in five matches that we had trailed. The Hurricanes defense continually flustered us, and we gave up several goals because we did not have sufficient defenders in the back. By half time, we trailed by several goals, and the boys were visibly frustrated and shocked.
Nicholas spoke up and said, "Dad, one defender in the back is not working! We need to switch back to two defenders!" I had the same thought, and I encouraged the boys to play more aggressive defense and to prevent the Hurricanes from having unchallenged breakaways on our goal. We went back to the formation that had worked so well in the first four games, and we came out fired up in the second half.
Immediately, we began to see a difference. The Hurricanes made more mistakes under our constant pressure when they had the ball, and we took advantage of these errors with rapid fire counter-attacks. We took more shots on goal, and the boys turned up their aggressiveness. Despite our more aggressive play, we still trailed by two goals with about ten minutes to go - definitely uncharted territory for us this season.
At this point, the boys could have responded in two distinct ways to this uphill challenge. They could hang their heads and give up, or they could turn up their game further and fight until the end.
Unsurprisingly, they boys opted for the latter strategy. It was at this point that I made very tactical substitutions and no longer rotated the entire ten boy squad back in. We continued an onslaught that reminded me of the attacking "total football" of Barcelona under its great coach Pep Guardiola - wave after wave of assaults on the Hurricanes' goal and immediate, immense pressure if we gave up the ball. This forced the Hurricanes to give the ball right back, and we attacked again.
There were beautiful "dagger balls" - passes that were played into the space our players were running to that sliced through their defenders. Our players who received these passes finished their chances clinically and scored.
There were beautiful "dagger balls" - passes that were played into the space our players were running to that sliced through their defenders. Our players who received these passes finished their chances clinically and scored.
The Hurricanes began to lose steam, and yet our boys continued to get stronger and stronger. In one word, the boys showed great resilience!
With two minutes to go, the score was level at 8-8. If I am not mistaken, our version of Messi - Quincy - scored the game winner. Our sideline and all the parents of our boys went wild. I jumped up and down even though I was wearing a splint for a broken ankle that had been surgically repaired only three days previously. Fortunately, I did not fall!
The boys, too, did not falter in the final two minutes. They smothered the Hurricanes and played ultra-defensively. Our goalie made a key save, and we won a kick-in at half court with ten or so seconds left on the clock.
We had five seconds to take our kick before the ball would turn over to the other team. I instructed our player to take his time and run out the clock even if it caused a turnover at half court. The clock soon ran down to zero, and the referee called time. We had achieved a great comeback - the first of our short but sweet season!
After each game, I hand out European Champions League trading cards to the one or two "men of the match." Today, I gave every single player on our team a card. The boys had won as a team. The boys had overcome as a team. Every boy deserved the accolade.
We had five seconds to take our kick before the ball would turn over to the other team. I instructed our player to take his time and run out the clock even if it caused a turnover at half court. The clock soon ran down to zero, and the referee called time. We had achieved a great comeback - the first of our short but sweet season!
After each game, I hand out European Champions League trading cards to the one or two "men of the match." Today, I gave every single player on our team a card. The boys had won as a team. The boys had overcome as a team. Every boy deserved the accolade.
When we got home, Nicholas drew the picture above from one of his favorite moments in the game. In it, Nicholas jubilantly celebrates his second half goal with his teammates Max and Torben.
This afternoon, I reflected on the match, too. Honestly, it was among the best football matches I have ever seen… at any level, and I have watched a lot of matches in my recent lifetime.
I was struck by how I would have been proud whether we had won or lost because of how resolutely the boys had played. I was astonished by the character, fortitude, and perseverance of these young eight and nine year olds.
I look forward to coaching the boys in the remaining two games, and I look forward to watching these boys grow up and overcome other even more important challenges… together.
I was struck by how I would have been proud whether we had won or lost because of how resolutely the boys had played. I was astonished by the character, fortitude, and perseverance of these young eight and nine year olds.
I look forward to coaching the boys in the remaining two games, and I look forward to watching these boys grow up and overcome other even more important challenges… together.
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