Match report
Recreativo's dominance over Renaissance continues
Renaissance 0 - 2 Recreativo de Londres
19 April 2007
Colin Presly
Renaissance have fallen foul once again to their Spanish nemesis Recreativo De Londres. Despite putting on a better performance than in previous encounters, the men in blue could not prevent a 0-2 reversal.
As it stands, with one game to go, Renaissance cannot finish higher than third in the league. Conversly, Recreativo seem to be heading for their second consecutive Haverstock title.
For this key game, Renaissance saw the return of Masaccio and Da Vinci into the first VII. They knew how important it was to begin well. Past games against Recreativo had been all over bar the shouting in the first ten minutes due to shabby and reckless starts.
The opening exchanges saw a pretty even period of play. Both teams had some time on the ball, and were trying to play the killer ball. At each end, the keepers were tested early doors. At the back, Renaissance looked a picture of concentration. Something had to give.
Recreativo soon signalled their intent when a cracking strike from a midfielder struck the woodwork. Despite enjoying some space in the final third, Renaissance could only respond with tame shots. The score was soon to change.
After a good move forward, the ball fell to a Recreativo player on the right hand side of the Renaissance goal. He had just enough time to get a shot off, which beat Masaccio low at his right hand post. 1-0. Credit to Renaissance though, there was not a collective dropping of heads following this setback. Instead, they looked for an equaliser. And how close they came to getting one.
When the Artist moved towards goal he suddently pulled the trigger. His shot took a wicked deflection off a back tracking defender, completely fooled the keeper and fell right onto the post. Unfortunately, the ball rolled straight back into the arms of the goalie, and safety.
Knowing that they had just had a massive stroke of luck, Recreativo pushed for a second goal. It took a brilliant, instinctive save from Masaccio to prevent this happening. Instead, the score remained 1-0 at HT.
Renaissance used the interval to take stock of proceedings. At only one nil down, the game was still wide open. However, after the first five or so minutes of the second half, old failings started to rear their ugly heads. Creativity and drive going forward went AWOL. This was needed to open up a bullish Recreativo. It was clear that Renaissance really had to go for it, or they would lose 1-0. This played right into the hands of Recreativio.
On the counter, Recreativo hit the post again. Renaissance were given another warning. They tried to hit back, and although the defence largely kept the Recreativo attack at bay following this, one wandered where an equaliser might come from.
Crucially, Recreativo soon got the killer second. The counter attack once again worked a treat. With the Renaissance defence stretched, a Recreativo player received the ball and knocked it into the bottom left hand side of the goal. 2-0. With the minutes ticking away, Renaissance tried desperately to pull a goal back. Perhaps it was evident that it was not to be their day, when the Artist tickled a shot into the gleeful arms of the Recreativo stopper, when he had more time and space to do better. FT 2-0.
As Jimmy White said after losing again in the snooker world final to dour Scot Stephen Hendry: "Your beginning to annoy me now". Renaissance must look to finish on a high with a win when they face Venezuela next week. That is all they can do.
© 2007 Renaissance | site by: chingo
Renaissance glossary
a ha!
an exclamation commonly used to express enlightment, shock, surprise, or when one has been busted.
often said at the end of a joke or question..
merk
1. to make someone look foolish.
2. to embarrass or humiliate someone and brag in the aftermath.
Check out more definitions from the Renaissance Glossary.