MD 20: LONDON WEMBLEY WANDERERS 0-1 ZAGREB NK
Majmunovic spoils Fantastico's debut
By: Drew Peacock 🦚
The stage for this battle between two FSL giants was set. London Wembley Wanderers would play host on this cold English winter night to Zagreb NK. This matchup has title implications for both sides, as they are both within four points of Vienna. Last time out, in the fourth match of the season, Zagreb stole three points from London, who were leading by two goals at halftime, but Zagreb scored three goals in the final fifteen minutes of play to win the match.
Both teams have new players looking to make an impact for their new clubs. For the visitors, Tobi Lawbender and Sami Bohoum were starters for the second match in a row after their transfers from Deportivo Madrid and FC Istanbul, respectively. In a shock move, former Berlin captain Diego Fantastico left Germany and made his debut for London against Zagreb.
The league's top-scoring side would not waste any time getting the first shot of the game off within the first five minutes. Amine Amzal, the all-time scoring leader, would find enough space to shoot just outside the Zagreb box. His shot tested the keeper, but Owen Majmunovic was up for the test and blocked it out for a London corner. Zagreb would have their first chance of the game in the fourteenth minute, with captain Scooter McGavin lining up a free kick from about seven meters outside the London penalty area. The right-footed shot beat the wall and froze the London keeper, but it hit the wrong part of the crossbar and rebounded away from goal.
Amzal would break through behind the Zagreb defense in the 26th minute. The London captain was denied again by the Zagreb keeper, but the rebound fell into the striker's path, and it was just him, the ball and an open net. Instead of calmly tapping it into the net, his weak foot effort went wide of the post and out for a goal kick. Would this miss come back to haunt them? Yes. In the 31st minute, McGavin would start a counter-attack and play it to Marcus Neagu. The Romanian striker was able to break free of Yuri Haji, and the race was on. Neagu left no doubt with his dipping shot, and he scored his second goal of the month. Zagreb would take the one-goal lead into halftime.
Fantastico would have his name called for the first time in the match in the 52nd minute. He was able to create space on the edge of the Zagreb box and, with his stronger left foot, fired off an absolute rocket at the Zagreb goal. Unfortunately, it did little to test Majmunovic, and he was able to fist it away for a corner. The Zagreb defense showed why they are the league leaders in clean sheets again in this match as star defender Bebe Barry and season 1's best midfielder Leo Sanic terrorized the London attackers, leading to rushed, low-quality shots. The frustration was setting in for the hosts, and in the last ten minutes, they put everything they could into their attack.
The move did little to change the game in their favor, as Zagreb would have the only chances of either team in that period. The first was dismantled as quickly as it began after Neagu played a ball over the top of the London high line. Jethro was in on goal, but the striker slipped, and the defense was able to let out a sigh of relief. In the dying moments of the match, Zagreb would have another shot to double their lead. Sanic was the first to pounce on a loose ball and played defender-turned-striker Giosuppe Spaghettini in behind the London defense. The Italian would dribble into the London box, but not quickly enough, as the defense recovered and ended the match.
With the win, Zagreb would leapfrog London in the table and keep themselves right on Vienna's tail. The win marks a ten-match stretch for Zagreb without a loss, the longest active streak in the league. London may be disappointed with the result, but they are still in the title race. The League Cup winners will look to sweep the cups this season as the FA Cup begins next.
