Draws all round in UMBRO Elite clashes
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The second two fixtures in the 1996 Elite section of the Umbro Galway Cup took place earlier this evening to round up what had proved a thoroughly enjoyable opening day of action in Salthill. Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Scottish side Aberdeen before the FAI Emerging Talent team also produced a stalemate in their encounter with Valerenga of Norway.
Having lost their opening game of the tournament this morning, Aberdeen knew that another defeat could seriously derail their attempt to defend the title they won last year, even at this early stage. They started their game against Maccabi Haifa like a team on a mission, and thought that they had scored a vital lead goal inside the opening five minutes, only to be denied by the linesman's flag and the referee's whistle. Winger Ryan Keir cut inside his marker from wide on the left before arrowing a measured right-footed curler beyond the bodies in the box, including the Haifa 'keeper, and into the far bottom corner of the net. Keir's celebrations were short-lived however when the officials deemed the ball to have received a touch en route to goal from an offside Aberdeen forward. This could prove a vital decision in deciding the destiny of the group, and the ball didn't seem to receive any other contact once it left Keir's boot. The Scottish side were clearly unhappy with the decision. With Cameron Young impressing with his energy and tenacity in the middle of the field, the Scottish side were looking the more likely to impose themselves on the game and score, but both sides were defending manfully and chances were at a premium.
It was beginning to seem like it would take a moment of magic from one player or a mistake for those in attendance to see a goal. This turned out to be the case as, early in the second-half, Aberdeen goalkeeper Michael Lee misjudged his position in relation to the goal and allowed a bouncing Eiloz Ori Or effort straight into his net. Lee had gestured to indicate that the ball was heading harmlessly wide and allowed it pass him, only to realise his mistake when it was already too late. The Haifa players celebrated en masse, heading over to their coaching staff to revel in what they hoped would be their first win, in their first game of the tournament.
But Aberdeen weren't giving up. The tackles were flying in and a game which had been played with a remarkably high intensity from the off(almost hectic at times), seemed to somehow find yet another gear. Haifa's Oren Edry was booked for a heavy challenge on Keir before another mistake gave the game its second goal. The Haifa 'keeper dropped the ball to his feet inside his box only to pick it up again once pressured by an opposing forward, a clear infringement. The referee awarded an indirect free-kick 17 yards from goal and the quick-thinking Evan Shine immediately squared for Michael Kelly to tap home into an empty net. It was a deserved leveller for the Scottish side and Shine could have made the result even better, but he narrowly missed reaching an inviting cross for what would have been a free header just eight yards out. So a draw it finished, allowing both sides to earn their first point of this year's competition.
In the final game of the day in this group, the FAI Development side took on Valerenga. This was an incredibly messy affair, played out in torrential rain and driving winds. The Irish began with a much-changed starting XI from the one that had overcome Aberdeen earlier in the day, while the Norwegian team fielded the same line-up as they had in the afternoon. The extremely vocal influence of goalkeeper Nima Danai was one of many characteristics of the side's first-half performance.
Another was the constant desire to feed the ball to star player Bugra Bagci, who looked lively whenever possession was spread to his left-wing domain. Bagci's quick feet and direct running caused the FAI defence some problems in a half where both teams looked relatively comfortable.
The closest either side came to a goal was when Ryan Manning bent a left-footed shot inches past Danai's far post, with the 'keeper well beaten. The second 25 minutes continued along the same lines, the half-time interval was cut almost entirely in order to lessen the amount of time the players spent in the lashing rain. With a very greasy surface, both sides were finding it difficult to judge the needed amount of weight in each pass and so the game became extremely scrappy, with possession never being maintained for very long. Midfielder Gareth McDonagh hit the target with a snap-shot and goalkeeper Harry Doherty got down well to make a couple of smart saves for the FAI team before the referee's whistle drew to a close one of the less aesthetically-pleasing encounters of the day.
Having lost their opening game of the tournament this morning, Aberdeen knew that another defeat could seriously derail their attempt to defend the title they won last year, even at this early stage. They started their game against Maccabi Haifa like a team on a mission, and thought that they had scored a vital lead goal inside the opening five minutes, only to be denied by the linesman's flag and the referee's whistle. Winger Ryan Keir cut inside his marker from wide on the left before arrowing a measured right-footed curler beyond the bodies in the box, including the Haifa 'keeper, and into the far bottom corner of the net. Keir's celebrations were short-lived however when the officials deemed the ball to have received a touch en route to goal from an offside Aberdeen forward. This could prove a vital decision in deciding the destiny of the group, and the ball didn't seem to receive any other contact once it left Keir's boot. The Scottish side were clearly unhappy with the decision. With Cameron Young impressing with his energy and tenacity in the middle of the field, the Scottish side were looking the more likely to impose themselves on the game and score, but both sides were defending manfully and chances were at a premium.
It was beginning to seem like it would take a moment of magic from one player or a mistake for those in attendance to see a goal. This turned out to be the case as, early in the second-half, Aberdeen goalkeeper Michael Lee misjudged his position in relation to the goal and allowed a bouncing Eiloz Ori Or effort straight into his net. Lee had gestured to indicate that the ball was heading harmlessly wide and allowed it pass him, only to realise his mistake when it was already too late. The Haifa players celebrated en masse, heading over to their coaching staff to revel in what they hoped would be their first win, in their first game of the tournament.
But Aberdeen weren't giving up. The tackles were flying in and a game which had been played with a remarkably high intensity from the off(almost hectic at times), seemed to somehow find yet another gear. Haifa's Oren Edry was booked for a heavy challenge on Keir before another mistake gave the game its second goal. The Haifa 'keeper dropped the ball to his feet inside his box only to pick it up again once pressured by an opposing forward, a clear infringement. The referee awarded an indirect free-kick 17 yards from goal and the quick-thinking Evan Shine immediately squared for Michael Kelly to tap home into an empty net. It was a deserved leveller for the Scottish side and Shine could have made the result even better, but he narrowly missed reaching an inviting cross for what would have been a free header just eight yards out. So a draw it finished, allowing both sides to earn their first point of this year's competition.
In the final game of the day in this group, the FAI Development side took on Valerenga. This was an incredibly messy affair, played out in torrential rain and driving winds. The Irish began with a much-changed starting XI from the one that had overcome Aberdeen earlier in the day, while the Norwegian team fielded the same line-up as they had in the afternoon. The extremely vocal influence of goalkeeper Nima Danai was one of many characteristics of the side's first-half performance.
Another was the constant desire to feed the ball to star player Bugra Bagci, who looked lively whenever possession was spread to his left-wing domain. Bagci's quick feet and direct running caused the FAI defence some problems in a half where both teams looked relatively comfortable.
The closest either side came to a goal was when Ryan Manning bent a left-footed shot inches past Danai's far post, with the 'keeper well beaten. The second 25 minutes continued along the same lines, the half-time interval was cut almost entirely in order to lessen the amount of time the players spent in the lashing rain. With a very greasy surface, both sides were finding it difficult to judge the needed amount of weight in each pass and so the game became extremely scrappy, with possession never being maintained for very long. Midfielder Gareth McDonagh hit the target with a snap-shot and goalkeeper Harry Doherty got down well to make a couple of smart saves for the FAI team before the referee's whistle drew to a close one of the less aesthetically-pleasing encounters of the day.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile