Football Friendly

AS23’s friendly against the Belgian and Luxemburg Association (BLAS) ended in a 4:1 defeat.

It was the team’s second defeat against the expatriate side, the first having concluded in a 6:4 reversal.

The team indicated their intentions when they bought in new players. It took a while for the teams to get settled in the scorching weather. Against the run of play, AS23 took the lead. The striker chased down a long clearance from his defense and smashed the ball past the hapless BLAS custodian.

BLAS soon levelled matters with a well crafted goal. A long ball from deep was cushioned by their left winger into an unmarked BLAS striker, who scored with an emphatic header.

The play was scrappy but it was evident the expatriate side were winning the aerial challenges. They pressured the AS23 goal, but were let themselves down with their profligate finishing.

A defence-splitting pass from centre midfield found the AS23 right winger, whose pinpoint cross found his lurking striker. But he took one touch too many and the BLAS back line was able to clear.

The near miss woke BLAS from their complacency. AS23’s offside trap was breached and the BLAS striker finished with aplomb.

AS23 attempted to assert themselves but they foiled their attacking play with misplaced passes.

Miscommunication at the back for AS23 saw their keeper and centreback collide as they went for the same ball. The latter had to be stretched off for treatment.

With AS23 trailing at half-time, they opted for a more attacking formation. The move nearly paid off soon after the restart, as the team forced a series of corners and carved out several opportunities.

By then the expatriates were tiring and AS23 had more forays into their half. Their left winger did well to skip past the lumbering BLAS right back but his cross was cut out.

Then the AS23 striker blasted an effort straight at the keeper.

Having committed men forward in search of an equalizer, AS23 were leaving gaps at the back. The BLAS forward capitalized on a moment’s indecision from the AS23’s back line and duly made it 3:1.

It was the team’s goalkeeper to get in on the end, clearing his goal kick into a BLAS striker. 4:1 the score, but hardly a true reflection of the balance of play.

To their credit, AS23 continued to attack but it was not to be their day, as the Belgian side ran out 4:1 winners.