FINAL SCORE 1:1 at Yishun Stadium 22 Oct!

Match Report from Cosmo Select - Francois Dotta (Cosmo Lge Vice-President):
First game of the season for the Cosmo select against the Breitling Cosmo League Champions (08/09) SCC (almost full squad) for the Dirk Poulsen trophy. The battle took place on the fantastic Yishun stadium pitch under a perfect weather. Selection was based primarily on last year managers’ vote, unfortunately many players were not available which gave the chance to equally good ones to have a competitive game.
Not sure the guys understood my blubbering franglish speech but we were well organized in 5-3-2 with Ross/Greg blocking the talented SCC wide midfield players. The game started and followed the British premier league pace & intensity standard with back and forth plays from one side to another for 90 mins. Neil our keeper was the first one to justify his ticket in the squad by a magnificent save near his left post on a SCC header. That save kept Cosmo select in the game for sure! Guys at the back (Owein-Kelso-Dave) fighting like animals to block last year MVP Hutch & another fast moving striker which gave us the stability to develop good football although too direct in the last pass. Nonetheless after 20 min, Cosmo select got the best chances with Tommy & Essad and eventually our favorite Serbian-Singaporean striker scored his signature goal dribbling 4 players and slotting the ball in bottom left corner. Scott Stars (SCC keeper) did a very good game as usual prompt to jump into our Benji/Bastian/Essad/Tommy feet to avoid a second goal. Alex (Ref) forgot a penalty but forgiven by all, even the best make mistakes!
Second half saw a few changes, but pace of the game remained equal. SCC had the best chances at the beginning but Neil managed to postpone the equalizer before it came which somehow is fair. SCC kept pushing (SCC header on the cross bar) and controlled the ball but Cosmo Select had the best chances with Tom, Tommy (super action), Essad (another 4 players dribbling) and our captain Greg unfortunately missed the last minute winner after a brilliant ball from Benji.
Game ended 1-1, Cosmo select had the best chances and SCC controlled the game so overall a fair result for a competive game played in the right spirit (Thanks Owen). Return leg will be played soon with the advantage for SCC who scored the away goal ;-)
Man of the match is always a very difficult exercise when you have such quality players in the team. The guys at the back were the foundation for the good result defending extremely well. Yann in midfield did very well always in the right tempo, Bastian had quality moments, Tommy is an absolute dangerous player every time he has the ball but it will go to Essad for his decisive and brilliant goal. Overall a very good game for him without (too much) moaning.
Thanks for the guys who came down to support especially Urs,Tony & Michael who helped putting up this team. We regretted Tunners,-coach of the year was not with us.
Thanks to the referees (gansean,alex, brad) & to Charlie Yoon president of the Super Red who made available the pitch at his own expenses.

Match Report SCC Steve Rogers (SCC Management):
SCC Retain the CUP!

Previously known as the Jurgen Martins Cup, the Dirk Paulsen Cup (In recognition to Mr Dirk Paulsen for his life long commitment to the Singapore Cricket Club Soccer Section) is the same hard fought battle between the best of the best in the COSMO Select (CS) Vs the current league champions SCC. A game which is the highlight of the calendar for many, a game that brings together players from many nationalities and opposing teams, a game that has honorary attachment but most of all and game that over the years has seen the best players of the COSMO league grace the same pitch at one time.
The game set at Yishun Stadium (under floodlight) was an ideal setting for both teams to show what they had to offer. It was nice to see a combination of many teams representing the league this year and a great choice by the management. CS had arrived early and were fired up for the start of this encounter whilst SCC still on the bus; anxious to get there and warmed up. This unfortunate problem meant that the SCC preparation was not up to its normal standard and this quite clearly showed in the first 20mins when COSMO Select seem to have more influence in the last third. A great goal just before the half way stage from Esad saw Starr scampering into his far corner only to be picking the ball out of the net.. a weak goal for SCC but a dream start for CS.
As time went by, the boys in yellow finally warmed up and started to string together passes, tight in areas across the middle, spraying the ball right to left and stretching CS down the wings... Several great crosses from both sides gave SCC a few clear headers but to no advantage. Half time 1-0 to COSMO Select.
A half time talk from the Monaghan highlighted our strength and possession in the second period of the first half and told us to do much of the same. Second half started with SCC pressing CS all over the park and creating many chances whilst controlling the defensive area limiting CS to one or two half chances. The goal came around the mid way point with Hutcho scoring following a save from Neil… 1-1. SCC failed to go on and score a second although chances fell to Anderson (hit the bar twice) and McCarvel.
The late periods in the second half saw CS come back into the game when they introduced fresh players with fresh legs. A fair result overall and considering the lack of squad availability and make shift defence for SCC we are pleased to retain the trophy.
Many thanks to COSMO Select Players for a very enjoyable game and great to see no harsh words or injuries! Once again a great testament to the league, the cup and the honorary SCC member who it is now named after.


Team Line Up Cosmo Select:

Keeper-Neil Allsop (Hotspurs)
Defense- Ross Logie (Casuals)- Dave Pellowe (Casuals)-Kelso Beggs (Lions)-Darren Warreing (Latini)-Greg Ryan Capt (Casuals) - Owain Rowatt (Casuals)
Midfield- Bastian Wolff (Hibs), Jens Hoffmann (Germans)- Benjamin Bucciali (Latini), Yann Mocellin (Latini), Francois Dotta (Latini)- Peter Hansen (Vikings)
Strikers: Daniele De Maria (Latini)- Esad Sedjic (Hotspurs)- Tom Bennett (Casuals)-Tommy Sorensen (Vikings)


Team Line up SCC:
Star
Rogers
Tan Sio beng
Goejero
Irwan Kamal
Alonso
Anderson
Bates
McCarvel
Daud
Hutcheon
Sutton
Schick
Pugh

COSMO SELECT NEXT GAME:
Next game will be against Orchard Rovers (Steve Watts’ team). For sake of clarity, team selection is done by three managers (rotation applies) taking into account recent performance, quality, track record in the league, team player spirit and eventually the right balance for a line up (we cant have 6 center mid or strikers at the same on the pitch). All managers feel free to email your top players for our consideration pls email francois@eurofinasia.com, Cc the player email for mailing list purposes