Dinamo Zenit 10 (Peter S x 2, Julio D X 3, Olman G, Daryl K, Alejandro X 2, Fernando B): Club Jalisco 1
Notes from the back…
I promise some more of your favorite alcohol laced match reports from a bar in New York as the season progresses but you’ll have to do with this as I am in town this week. For those of you who are new to the club – I work on the east coast and ONLY fly to the west coast for Zenit games
(if you believe that it’s going to be a long year for you)
I digress…10? really? Since 8 of the 10 came from new guys, the off season goal of finding guys who can finish to go along with our stellar defense was accomplished – well done Yossi! I don’t think I’m crazy thinking that our team from last year probably would’ve won 2-1. Anybody remember the tie against the crap team with 9 players?
Was our opponent good? No. Should we expect to score 10 every week? No. We are going to have some tough competition this year guys – tougher than last year. For the new lads…the defense and a few well placed shots earned us a 13-0 start only for us to come unglued in a game that didn’t matter at the end and then really come unglued in our first playoff game and put a bitter cap on an otherwise great season. The 4 teams from the other division that finished better in the playoffs than us are in our combined division this year so don’t think we are sleepwalking to 13-0 again and we only play everybody once so don’t get excited about playing these guys again.
The back line was outstanding as usual. Rafael (always exciting – nice bicycle kick across the back), Olman, Dejan and welcome J.P. (outstanding debut with a sore back) were a wall and I was happy to just stand back and work on my tan. The midfield – some of the best distributing and build up I have seen from you yet. The forwards did what they get paid…er, pay us to do – finish.
A note for the linesman in the 2nd half….when a guy gets the ball and it is close to offside when he gets it and then chooses to pass ahead to his man who then scores…it’s probably offside. Thankfully it did not matter but fucked with my…er, our clean sheet! Not a happy moment and a poll of online viewers after the game agreed that it was definitely offside.
To the last point…in a second half where we scored 7 goals we did get a little lazy with coming back to defend, we left holes and on that offside play…we did stop playing. That won’t fly the rest of the year and in a close game this point would probably be laced with some obscenities.
Some notes:
- Keep up the passing. Stop all the dribbling displays (Olman and Fernando I am in no way pointing at you)
- Mids get back to defend! Please do not make me remind you.
- Do not expect to score 10 every game (but it’s not like you shouldn’t if you the opportunity presents itself)
Welcome new guys – Alejandro, Julio, Pete, Daryl, Lucas, JP. An immediate impact was made by all. Welcome back vets…I can tell you are all a bit older 
Peace. See you for next Sunday’s win.
Marc Bergman
