MD16: Zagreb 7-2 Norden
Zagreb's star Jethro humiliates Norden
By: Drew Peacock 🦚
Norden traveled South to face Zagreb for their 16th match of the season. Coming off an impressive win over Brussels, the Norden players were looking forward to the challenge of facing off against the best defense in the league. In the other locker room, Zagreb, still salty over the disappointing Cup exit from a few weeks ago, wanted to set the record straight. Jamal Kane would re-join the Zagreb starting eleven, with winger Pepe Lozano taking a spot on the bench. Norden would field the same lineup that won them three points on the previous match day.
The first goal of the game would come from Jethro in the 19th minute. Jethro and Henry Kamel would pressure the Norden defense into conceding a long ball, and the counter-attack was on. Shugaar Plum headed it down to Jamal Kane, who found Jethro streaking into the Norden box. His left-footed shot was strong enough that Choi could not keep it out despite getting a hand on it. Zagreb takes the lead early.
In the 27th minute, Fred Gould played a nice ball to initiate an attack for Norden, but it was well-read by Zagreb's Lucca Rizzo. The defender headed the ball clear, finding Marcus Neagu. Jethro took the chance here to make another run like the one that got him his first goal. Neagu's pass cleared the Norden defense and set Jethro up perfectly for his second goal, doubling the hosts' lead.
Norden would respond with a goal of their own. Holding good possession and pinning Zagreb deep in their own penalty area, Moise Bean would get a chance to get the goal he's been craving. Odison helped create space with a run into the box, which allowed Bean to receive the pass from Apollo Hazard cleanly. He held off Rizzo well and left Majmunovic no chance to save it.
If not for being offside, Jethro could have completed a hat trick within the first 40 minutes. Instead, he'd have to settle for the 44th minute to get his third goal of this match. After a Plum interception, he found Neagu open on the left flank. Leo Sanic found himself totally unmarked as he ran from the Zagreb penalty area all the way into the Norden box. Neagu was able to find him, and Sanic laid it off to Jethro to complete his first half-hat trick.
Norden were able to get another goal just before halftime to keep the game in reach. A probing run from Kyle Zacharias allowed Matthew Shelby to get open for a shot. The attempt was blocked by Barry, and the ball went high into the air. It fell to Odinson, who headed it back towards Barry and Shelby. It is hard to understand why Barry did not head the ball clear and instead went for a volley, but that allowed Shelby to collect the ball and send it outside of Majmunovic's reach. Zagreb led by three goals to two as the players left the pitch for halftime.
Norden would change up their team and shape to try and bring the game back to level. Unfortunately for their traveling supporters, this move would backfire stupendously. The home side would counter well to extend their lead in the 62nd minute. Zagreb were able to bring five players forward, totally outnumbering their opponent, with the final ball coming from Scooter McGavin, who set up Kamel for a first-time shot to bring the lead back to two goals.
On the ensuing kickoff, Leo Sanic would intercept a pass meant for Odinson and initiate another counter-attack goal. From Sanic to Neagu to Jethro into the back of the net. Jethro's fourth goal of the night and Neagu's second assist. Now Zagreb's lead is five goals to two.
Things would go from bad to worse for Norden as Jethro & Kamel would strike again, once more each. In the 77th minute, Jethro found Kamel and made another run at the Norden goal, unmarked. Kamel was able to get the ball to him quickly, and Jethro did the rest, scoring for the fifth time in this match. However, the duo were not satisfied yet. Just ten minutes later, Scooter McGavin would play a sumptuous ball over the top of the Norden defense, finding Jethro one-on-one with Thor Odinson. Jethro showed off his dribbling skills and broke away from Odinson, finding Kamel's late run into the box. Zagreb's seventh goal of the night was the final nail in the coffin, as Norden went the whole second half without registering a single shot.
Zagreb would happily take the three points and add five to their goal differential. They would be level with Vienna on points (with Vienna yet to play their match against Lisboa) and five points ahead of third-place London. Norden will be disappointed to not get anything from the match, as they needed to distance themselves from Brussels and Hamburg. The loss may not have hurt their table position yet, but with much of the match day unfinished, Norden could be in rough shape.
