A hugely impressive, well drilled GPS Bayern brushed aside a youthful MS Select in the opening group game at Anderson Park this evening.
The Bayern contingent made a strong start to the game showing no nerves in front of the considerable Anderson Park crowd. Number ten Hesselmeyer Donovan exciting the crowd with his vast array of skills early on.
It was evident in the opening exchanges that the American side had been working hard on set pieces. Two well worked set plays directly from the training ground creating chances, after the call of ‘D1’ from the side line.
GPS continued the pressure a fantastic through ball from Ngobia Maina was met by the head of Dylan Rice, Rice’s effort sailing over the crossbar.
Ironically, the American side’s breakthrough came from the first traditional corner they took. The New Zealanders failing to clear their lines, a period of pinball ensued in the area with Dawson Malcolm firing home past Thomas Lewis in the Select goal.
The New Zealand select side would show flashes of brilliance Benjamin Old on the wing’s positivity and quick feet a bright spark throughout a difficult opening.
Thomas Lewis in the MS goal would be called into action a few minutes later doing well to dive low to his right to prevent Ngobia Maina’s well struck shot. Lewis would be a mere spectator from the next play GPS’ Hesselmeyer Donovan’s remarkable effort from thirty yards cannoning off the crossbar with Lewis only watching in hope.
Donovan’s influence on the game was huge as he formed the vocal point of his sides attack switching the play to find Maina before heading the cross just wide of the post in swift counter attack.
The lead would have been doubled on the twenty sixth minute of the game only for Benjamin Old’s crucially timed goal line tackle. Two minutes later however the lead would be doubled in spectacular fashion. Dylan Rice showing a vast arsenal of tricks, rouletting past two before slipping Andra Neptune in, the latter showing real conviction to hit the top left hand corner of the goal.
HALF TIME: GPS BAYERN 2-0 MS SELECT
The second half would be off to a slow start as it appeared GPS had shut up shop and were happy to see out the game. This afforded MS Select more time on the ball after the high intensity pressing eased slightly. The New Zealanders knocking the ball around better than they had in the first half, without threatening Isaac Hernandez in the Bayern goal.
The first chance of the half fell to Bayern a wonderful dink ball from arguably the man of the match Donovan finding one of his midfielders whose effort was bravely blocked by Josh McCarroll.
The game was well and truly put to bed with nineteen minutes left on the clock when GPS were awarded a penalty for a clumsy tackle in the eighteen yard box. Centre back David Cubillos stepped forward confidently stepped forward slotting the ball into the bottom left corner beyond the best efforts of Lewis.
Cubillos could have had a second late on showing fast feet to skip around two defenders before sending a rasping effort just wide of the post, as the sound of the referee’s whistle brought the game to an end confirming a win for GPS Bayern coinciding with a hugely impressive performance.
GPS Bayern: Isaac Hernandez, Ngobia Maina, Coleman Meredith, Andrew Rent, Dylan Rice, Hesselmeyer Donovan, Pedro Caledron Torres, Dawson Malcolm, Andra Neptune, Jose Hazim.
MS Select: Thomas Lewis, Josh McCarroll, Davind Tor, Dan McKay, Ryan Bolus, Tyler Hornsby, Ryan Hornsby, Ryan Langman, Jayden Chiplin, Benjamin Old, Lochlan McNicholl, Benjamin Stansfield.
Credit: Odhrán Crumley, @odhranc14