Referat: Fröjdens - Chalmers

The curtains were raised for the season’s second game for Fröjdens and a classic Gothenburg’s autumn weather awaited us at Överåsvallen where we hosted Chalmers Studentkårs IS. While the footballing world was celebrating the recent news of Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford, we had our very own Lionel Messi aka Anton Larsson making his debut for Fröjdens FK. Albin also came into the dressing room with some delicious apple pie made by his mother to give us the extra bit of pre-game sweet motivation.

The starting line-up was announced with a couple of late changes and we were up and running with the kick-off.

Anton
Frazze Sunken
Flat

Thalén Mattsson

Niclas Albin
Viken Pedda

Paschim

Emil, Schultze, Naser

Chalmers made a promising start by keeping a lot of possession in the opposition’s half and constantly pressurizing our defence. Their first chance came when a lobbed through ball found their striker to be one on one with our keeper, but fortunately for Fröjdens, the chance went in vain as he shot it just wide of the post. Fröjdens continued to try and hold the ball and penetrate into the other half but an unfortunate cross ball from Sunken during the buildup gave Chalmers a chance to have their first goal of the game when it was intercepted and passed into the bottom right corner of Paschim. We went into the half time with a deficit of 0-1 but weren’t down at all.

A quick water break and Darko steps in to give us his two cents, while Calle and Frazze have their say as well. A half time change in both defence (Emil came on for Pedda, Tysken for Mattsson) and offence (Naser for Sunken) we were ready to give it another go. A good first 10 minutes into the second half for Fröjdens, but caught out on the counter, Chalmers get their second chance to go up 2-0 when a shot on goal which should’ve been comfortably collected by Paschim to his left, goes in against all odds only to realize that he snapped his knee in the process and is left on the ground in pain. Unable to continue anymore, he was replaced by the courageous Mattsson in goal. With nothing to lose, Fröjdens press hard and within the next few minutes, Naser brings a goal back with a solo effort. With the work cut out now, Sunken comes back in to make amends and a wonderful sprint into the penalty area wins Fröjdens a clear penalty when he is brought down and which many would’ve argued should’ve been a sending off for the defender but only a yellow card this time. Thalen steps up for the penalty confidently and looks to make it 2-2 but the Chalmers’ keeper had other ideas who guessed correctly and saves the penalty to his left bottom corner.
Not letting the missed chance affect the play, Fröjdens push hard and maybe too hard when a tackle just outside the box gives Chalmers a dangerous freekick. They convert the freekick to make it 1-3 inspite of Mattsson’s brave effort to tip it over the bar. We continue playing with the same vigor and pace, which eventually heaped pressure and against the run of play, Anton Larsson whacks a volley in from outside the box with his right foot to reduce the deficit to 2-3.

On the other hand, Simon Vikström brought out his inner Nesta for the game day and continued winning tackles successfully when Chalmers tried to get away. With the whole team pressing for the equalizer, one had to be aware of being caught out on the counter and well, we did. Chalmers score their fourth and the final goal of the game to Mattsson’s left and a few minutes later the referee blows the final whistle of the game which ended 2-4 to Chalmers.

A loss but not the end of the world, Fröjdens seemed ready for their next challenge and with a lot of games in quick succession coming up. The day’s accolade definitely goes to Simon Vikström for being a wall in defence inspite of the loss, followed by a special mention to Anton Larsson for a wonderful debut and a brilliant goal, wishing he continues giving such performances in the future at Fröjdens FK. A special thanks to Albin’s mother for baking some delicious apple pie for the team as well. Forza Fröjdens!!