MD 18: NORDEN FK 2-2 FC BERLIN
A resilient Berlin holds Norden to a draw.
By: Deek Rhyder
An in-form Norden side hosted a Berlin side struggling for form. Both teams have had very differing seasons. Norden has been battling for the top 4 for the majority of this season. Meanwhile, Berlin has been battling for relegation at times. Norden came into this game in 5th place, with 11 points from their last 5 games. Their opponents were in 11th place, with 6 points from their previous 5 games. Berlin implemented a 4-4-2, with Norden making use of a 4-2-4.
Norden started with a low-tempo game plan and won themselves a corner straight from kickoff. Neither team could threaten the goalkeepers within the first 15 minutes. But it would be Berlin with the first good chance, with star player Diego Fantastico crossing it in for Romeo Keitel, whose volley was rather tame and was an easy catch for Norden keeper Myung Choi. Norden's first chance came in the 30th minute. Amal Spitz would dribble past McDowell, passing to Matthew Shelby just outside the box. Shelby would do well and find the bottom corner with a great strike, putting Norden 1-0 up.
10 minutes later, Berlin would equalize. Midfielder Harry Viener played a great through ball to full-back Ignacio Dorito. Dorito took his time and smashed it into the far corner on the half-volley, putting Berlin back into the game. A few minutes later, the ref blew the whistle for half-time. Putting an end to a rather equal but boring first half, despite the two goals. Only one sub was made at halftime, with Center-Back Billy John replacing John Tackler. The first 15 minutes of the second half were back and forth, with neither of the teams challenging the goalkeepers, just like the first half.
Out of nowhere, Kyle Zacharias found Thor Odinson with a wonderful lobbed ball. Odinson was 1-on-1 with the keeper and showed no mercy for Remmington, firing the ball into the top corner. In the 74th minute, Captain Fantastico would sub off goalscorer Ignacio Dorito for Alexandre Mehrtens, a move that confused most fans since Dorito was one of Berlin's brightest players during the game. A minute later, Norden had a chance to put the game to sleep. With Moise Bean open in the 18-yard box, he received the ball and shot while turning, throwing himself off balance and allowing Remmington to save the effort. From the following corner, Upamaguire had the goal at his mercy, somehow missing the target with a free header from 6 yards out.
In the 81st minute, Fantastico whipped in a great cross for Romeo Keitel, who had an even worse miss compared to Upamaguire. Somehow hitting the bar from inside the 6-yard box. Luckily, though, due to a mistake from Apollo Hazard, Collin Mcdowell would receive the ball and strike it into the bottom corner from 15 yards out, equalizing for Berlin. This resulted in Hazard being subbed off for Peter Pie. 5 minutes later, Berlin had a chance to score the winner, and with substitute Mehrtens finding Fantastico, the Argentinian striker forced a good save from Myung Choi at close range. The following corner saw a header go narrowly wide. In Stoppage time, Akira Moto had a chance to be the hero, but Myung Choi saved the day, denying Moto from 10 yards out. And saving Norden from huge disappointment. The game ended 2-2, a great result for Berlin, who came in as massive underdogs, but they felt they could've won the game with chances at the end.
