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Vs. Lai Niao
Kaohsiung (away) Friendly fixture against local Taiwanese side saw almost twenty Pacers players to participate thanks to the great attendance. Some long not seen but experienced faces shown up such as Pacers legend Steve Dorward and Iain Castle. The newest recruits also were given a chance. First times to represent Pacers were: Canadian Phil, an Englishman John and a Pole Adam (myself). Game started with quite impressive Pacers domination. Opening goal felt to recently recovered from an ankle injury Dorward who put powerful strike into the back of the net. Hit from the right side the ball found its place close to the far post. An extraordinary strike that later on was decided to be a play of the day. Quickly Pacers put more pressure to make it 2:0. First Pat Doherty scored with referee having a different opinion on that, which obviously left Bud-blooded Canadian upset. To give a clear statement Argentinean dribbler Nestor Fabian set up Dave Cantwell who firmly and calmly netted the ball soon after. Pacers 2:0 ahead. No reasons to worry. Immediately after the break, the Taiwanese side pulled one back with a superb shot sent in the top corner of Rich Hudson’s goal saying they are not to surrender yet. Shortly after Andy Gourley kept the ball on the right side of the box and passed well to myself, who terribly missed and wasn’t able to kill Lai Niao’s dreams for a comeback. After a while the Taiwanese made it happened thanks to Pacers lack of finish abilities in the middle time of the game. 2:2. Fortunately Pacers didn’t give up. A goal scored to make it 3:2 to foreigners by Michael O’Brien was something special. Not a bicycle kick, not a 30-meters run. Described as a belly-strike, by others as a magic move. One way or another it won him prestigious Golden Leg Award. Goal’s a goal. Pacers in front again. Seeing captain Cory Baldy terrorizing opposition’s shins, playmaker Neal Furnival delivering some composure, freshman Phil stopping a few threatening passes and Adi Shard being all around and beating everybody in sight didn’t portend to the disappointing end. History likes to repeat itself. Pacers suffered two late goals as they did a week before in league fixture in Tainan. This time it meant an unexpected and undeserved defeat. Last goal of the game, to make it 4:3 to Lainiao, saw keeper Hudson making a shocking mistake. Lack of concentration in closing minutes cost Pacers a favourable result. By Adam Drzewucki |