SEASON 2 OF THE SLL IS HERE!
The start of the new season had two blockbusters for different reasons. First off we had El Rafico and SRC who finished second and third respectively. Both teams have won against each other and improved their teams with new signings ahead of the new season.
The match started in ferocious fashion and saw five goals in the first 10 minutes! El Rafico stormed their way to a 4-1 lead with their press-first mentality. Unable to maintain their momentum SRC slowly got their feet and settled becoming more dangerous as the game went on. Half-time and El Rafico leading 4-2, the game was in the balance.
The story last season with El Rafico was when they lose momentum, they are a vulnerable side and proved evident again in the second half. Some unforced mistakes from their centre-backs gave SRC the two goals they needed to level the game at 4-4.
Their rewards for the hard work were undone by two moments of brilliance from El Rafico’s new signing, Alvin with his Robbie Keane-esque finishing around the box. SRC pulled the game back to 6-5 but ultimately ran out of time.
Goals were not the only entertainment we witnessed! Two red cards in the first game is a sign of the referees being more ready to hand out cards for malicious play and put the league on notice that any time-wasting or foul play will be punished.
See highlights of the match below or head over to our YouTube channel for the extended version.
baptism of the sll
New club, SE Lions Utd entered the SLL for the first against last season’s 5th placed team, Pana FC and were looking to start off with a bang. Pana FC ended the season with some promising performances and were keen to translate these performances into points.
The match started against Pana’s intention and quickly found themselves 1-0 down due to an unforced mistake from their keeper. They quickly managed to level the game and completely bossed the match from that point onwards. It wasn’t until a missed open goal from their striker and the ball leaving the grounds which meant that SE Lions were rewarded a penalty, a new rule which was being trialled for the first time.
SE Lions found themselves 2-1 up undeservedly and didn’t really have a gameplan to maintain this lead. With Pana FC being able to level the score 2-2 at half-time, they were keen to put their sloppy final-third play behind and start afresh in the second half.
We were all surprised by what happened next… 14 goals occured in the second half and 13 of them were scored by Pana FC. The biggest scoreline, the biggest defeat and we left with more questions than answers about this SE Lions outfit.
The score ended 15-3 in Pana FC’s favour and will be interesting to see if it was a great performance by Pana FC or a shameless performance by SE Lions. Only time will tell…
See highlights of the match below or head over to our YouTube channel for the extended version.