Recap
The Dragoons Battle to Victory
A pandemic hit second half of the season finally got underway with the Dragoons facing a tough battle against Pychowianka.
The hosts started brightly and could have twice taken the lead in the opening moments of the match. Firstly through Adrian Paliś, who half volleyed inches past the post with only the goalkeeper to beat. Secondly through Nowak, who blasted the ball over the bar when well placed.
The Dragoons continued to press and Paliś was denied by a smart stop from the Pychowianka goalkeeper.
Pychowianka came even closer in the fourth minute. A swift counter-attack saw a lobbed effort strike the Dragoons crossbar. Somehow, the visiting number 10 was unable to find his feet to convert the rebound into an empty net. A real let off for the home team!
Danger for the Home side
A frenetic opening 10 minutes saw both sides go close to opening the scoring. A further great chance fell to a Pychowianka player which forced Muñoz Garcia into a great save down to his left.
Despite the Dragoons early territorial dominance, it was Pychowianka creating the better chances. The visitors were presented with a great chance on the half hour mark. A deflected cross fell kindly to the visiting number 7, who could only clear the crossbar with his shot.
A glaring opportunity in the 36th minute really ought to have seen the opening goal for the visitors. The number 2 waltzed through the Dragoons box and fizzed the ball across the six yard line. The ball struck the mid-rift of the waiting number 10, which bounced straight into the hands of the grateful Muñoz Garcia in the Dragoons goal.
Despite the couple of glorious chances for the visitors, the Dragoons looked to gain the upper hand.
The home side came extremely close to breaking the deadlock from a Nowak long-throw. The ball launched through the air and Paliś reacted quickest with a headed effort that beat the keeper, but struck the post.
Just as the game appeared to be heading into a halftime stalemate, Forabosco played a nice pass into the feet of the overlapping Paliś. The marksman expertly dropped a shoulder to beat his man and then fired a crisp left footed effort past the visiting keeper to give the home side the lead.
Despite dominating possession in the first-half, The Dragoons found themselves rather fortunate to be in the lead.
Second Half
After a pensive start to the second-half, a lapse in concentration allowed Pychowianka an opportunity to level. Possession was gifted to the visitors 25 yards from goal, allowing them to break forward three attackers to one defender. The ball was squared to the 7 in acres of space, who managed to somehow clear the crossbar with only the onrushing Muñoz to beat.
On the hour mark the visitors came tantalisingly close to an equaliser. A rasping effort from the number 6 struck the post and the follow-up rebound somehow put wide of the target.
Moments later at the other end of the pitch, another dangerous long-throw from Nowak saw Paliś bundled to the ground in the box. However, the referee showed no interest and waved for the game to continue.
The Dragoons felt even further aggrieved just two minutes later. Święcicki went shoulder to shoulder with a defender and stabbed the ball past the goalkeeper into the net. The celebrations did not last long however, as the assistant referee flagged for a free-kick against the Dragoons man.
Minutes later, Pychowianka broke through the Dragoons backline and Muñoz Garcia had to be alert. The goalkeeper was on hand to expertly save at the near post. However, the threat was not over, as the rebound found its way to the dangerous number 6. The midfield man unleashed a rocket of a shot, but fortunately for the Dragoons, the ball flew into the side netting.
Denied by the Woodwork!
Paliś the Dragoons danger-man, was in the thick of the action again in the 71st minute. The striker met a lovely Forabosco corner and could only see his header roll off the top of the crossbar.
The home side continued to come forward and again struck the woodwork in the 78th minute. The mercurial Forabosco, found space and hit a sweet left footed effort, which bounced off of the post.
Pychowianka had a great chance for an equaliser in the 85th minute when Lemmen fouled the visiting number 7. The resulting free-kick on the edge of penalty flew over Muñoz Garcia‘s crossbar.
Following some late pressure the Dragoons managed to double their lead in the 88th minute of the game. Another Nowak long-throw caused havoc in the Pychowianka area. The ball sailed over the goalkeepers head into the path of Święcicki, who nodded the bouncing ball into an open net.
Finally, the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.
The Dragoons successfully start the second half of the season with a battling victory over a determined and stubborn Pychowianka side.
