FC Samba Online

Samba kicked off the new season under new management with a home game against Santos. Samba had a woeful record against their opponents before the start of play, with four defeats from four previous encounters. Santos had recruited a number of players from the NSL and so it looked a stern challenge for the Sandboys. New Samba boss, McDonald, lined up 4-4-2, with Gamba making his competitive debut at right back and Brewer and G.Taylor the striking partnership. Santos opted for their favoured 4-5-1 formation with K.McCardle playing the lone striking role.

The early exchanges highlighted the difficulty of Samba’s task with Santos imposing their greater physical attributes on the midfield, which allied to a one man advantage meant that Samba struggled to progress up the field. An early corner was won by Santos and was whipped in with pace to the edge of the six yd box. The attacker eluded his marker and with all the pace on the cross, simply steered the header past Nicholls and the defenders on the line before anyone could react. To concede an early goal was a real blow for Samba and a test of their resolve.

Unfortunately in the short term, they failed this test going two goals down in a matter of minutes. With a high line, Samba played a suicidal offside trap, which coupled with insufficient pressure on the ball left the Santos man with a clear run on goal and he slid the ball past Nicholls.

Santos were playing with confidence, Samba with fear, and a third goal was scored with barely 15 minutes on the clock. The ball was passed around on the edge of the Samba box before being manoeuvred to the right winger. His deep cross was perfect for McCardle who headed the ball back the way it came into the bottom right hand corner. At 3-0 down Samba were facing a hammering but thankfully they dusted themselves down and began to compete and pass the ball as they should have done from minute one.

With confidence fragile, progress was slow at first but simple short passing gave Samba a foothold in the game and they began to create chances. The first chance fell unexpectedly to Brewer, who was unmarked on the edge of the box. His effort was slightly snatched and went wide of the left hand post. Samba forced a corner and Misouda headed over from 6yds, with a good connection. These were very good chances for Samba and the importance of getting a goal before half-time was paramount. Gibbons tested the goalkeeper with a sweetly hit shot from 25yds and Samba were unlucky not to receive a penalty when Rose appeared to be tripped from behind in the penalty box.

Santos still looked capable of cutting through Samba at any time and this was underlined when McCardle raced through one on one with Nicholls. The shot was saved by Nicholls feet and eventually scrambled to safety. As the half-time whistle blew Samba trailed by three, but the last 25-30mins offered hope that the game was perhaps not over.

Half Time: FC Samba 0 v 3 Santos

At half time McDonald made two changes bringing Hill on for Rose and C.Taylor for Gamba. The midfield changed to a diamond formation to try and combat Santos’ numbers in the middle of the park.

Thankfully it was Samba who started the second half the brighter, passing the ball as they had finished the first half. They got a goal through sheer persistence on the edge of the Santos box, when the ball fell for G.Taylor, left of centre, he finished past the keeper’s near post from 12yds out with his right foot. With Gibbons a growing influence, Samba’s tails were up and for the first time in the match the belief was evident.

Just a few minutes after bringing the game back to 3-1, Samba had a great chance to further reduce the arrears. The ball was played into the box and nodded down for the surging Misouda. The ball sat up invitingly but slightly off balance he screwed the shot wide.

Samba earned a corner which Hill rose the highest to meet but his header which went over, came at a price as he fell awkwardly twisting his ankle in the turf. It was quickly apparent he could not continue and so Street replaced him for his debut with Brewer dropping into midfield.

Santos were so unlucky not to extend the lead back to three when McCardle’s flick header bounced off the cross-bar, before being booted to safety by the Samba defenders.

Samba lost some of their momentum at a time when the next goal was crucial. Unfortunately that goal came for Santos and with it ended any hope of the home side staging a remarkable recovery. The ball was cleared from a Samba set piece to the half-way line and Bassett nodded forward in an attempt to keep the attacking impetus. The Santos wide man anticipated the high bounce and out jumped the Samba full back to steal the ball in a dangerous position. With the Samba back line retreating the ball was crossed into the box and although it took McCardle two attempts, the first saved by Nicholls, he stabbed the ball into the roof of the net to seal the points for Santos.

Santos showed their class in the final few minutes and only a triple save from Nicholls denied them five. However, they got a fifth goal aided by a dubious offside, when the Santos player raced into the box and buried the ball past Nicholls. The 5-1 score line felt a little harsh on Samba who had recovered well after a suicidal first fifteen minutes. At the final whistle Samba reflected on a second successive opening day 5-1 defeat, knowing at least that they would not play many sides as strong as Santos, that last season they recovered well from such a setback and that next week they must not start the game at 2.45pm. A final mention should go to the young referee who managed the game competently and confidently throughout.