By Hakan Sukur (Ahmeds biggest fan) This years top flight against last years Hanoi league winners, new kits with your name on it and temperatures were durable . . . . . who would miss such a match for the world? Apparently everyone ! ! !
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Thursday night HCFC management met at the wolfs lair (Finnegans) and discussed the crisis. 6 players were ready for the Saturday do-or-die match against MINSK CLUB. At kick off altogether 12 players had been scrambled from various sweat shops and murky waterholes. Not the best point of departure for a tuff match against us the Hells Angels of Hanoi, made up by an impressive 17 man squad of foul looking - and playing – hooligans.
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Anyway, at first the Hanoi Capitals didn't show much stamina in front, but rested on a decisive defense lead by Brano and not least Shinya who rose as mr. here-there-everywhere to become the shinning star of the match. Half way through first half yet another long ball was sent from the MINSK goalie, and in some way the MINSK forward succeeded in rocketing the ball in behind Mr. Oanh. Bummer! 0-1 and the unfamiliar HCFC lineup seemed to be in serious trouble. Somehow the troubled midfield and attack seemed to wake up and came still closer to the opponent goal. Young energetic Tom Zimmerman repeatedly cheated the heavy MINSK defenders, and new signing Han from Holland showed promising play on the left side.
In front Toms school mate "Marc" and Klinsmann fought against a tuff defense, who didnt mind using dirty tricks to stay on top of things. Inevitably, Klinsmann would get his chance, and when he did, the respond was a hard header just underneath the cross bar. . . 1-1 and Klinsmann had done it again . . . . LUFTWAFFE ! ! ! ! !
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The brak was used to reshuffle the cards, and a new formation with Brano, Shinya, Klinsmann and Oanhs friend in the back, MINSK had practically not a single opportunity in second half. HCFC fought valiantly, but despite plenty of changes and near-box free kicks awarded (not least from crazy tackles on Tom, Shinya and Han - hope you can walk/play), none of the fixed situations resulted in the desired match winning goal.
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1-1 and despite most HCFC regulars away from Hanoi, we are still on top of things.
