YFC 1 – 1 IFC Polonia

YFC laboured to a 1-1 draw with IFC Polonia at Andy Livingstone turf this past Friday evening. The match was a shame for one plain and simple fact: YFC dominated large portions of the game with no results.

Scoring chances were few and far between and the ones that did pop up weren’t converted. The first half was played at a high level, but with a slight sense of expectation that a goal would materialize eventually. The ball was nearly all YFC’s, the defense was strong, the midfield was wining balls and moving it around well. Polonia offered little by way of danger and created practically zero chances throughout the match, none in the first half with Brad Bodenhammer making no saves.

Polonia were strong in defence with a quick and intelligent sweeper and some good central midfield players. In the second half they brought on some speed demons on the wings that combined with some temporary formation changes from YFC, allowed them to apply a bit of pressure on the Yaletown goal. A run down the right from their speediest gonzalez led to Dave Farris winning the ball and attempting a clearance near the 6 yard box. It looked a safe play but bizarrely it ricocheted off their attacker almost straight up in the air, and thanks to its spin and trajectory fooled Brad Bodenhammer landing agonizingly over the goal line. Polonia had the lead against the run of play after YFC had failed to take advantage of their possession and chances.

This lead to some disjointed play from YFC for a time, before some astute substitutions and a change of shape helped reinvigorate a searching Yaletown side. However it was tough going, on more than one occasion Polonia players were heard yelling “they are killing us on the counter! We need to defend in a shell!” So they did. Committing almost no players forward YFC were faced with a VMSL Div 2 side attempting to protect a 0-1 lead for more than 35 minutes, reminiscent of the recent Rubin Kazan vs Barcelona Champions League match (comparisons to either team are a bit fanciful).

As the clock ticked down on the referee’s watch, the frenzy of attacking steadily increased in pitch until almost the entire match was being played in the Polonia third. YFC had 6 men up at times probing their defence from all angles like a US Border Inspection officer. Eventually, Dennis “the Freekick Architect” Kooij received the ball in the 18 yard box and was unceremoniously sandwiched between two Polonia players, down he went. Penalty! Relief (and smiles) were awash. Oleg Benesch stepped up to the spot and sledgehammered the ball high to the left, goal. So much for that 0-1 win, bus broken… for the draw.

Yaletown hopes to get back to its clinical early season form next weekend away in the far away, seldom travelled region of impeccable reputation known as Surrey. Temple United awaits!