Final score: Syria 2-1 Saudi Arabia.
The first upset of the tournament (Japan at least got a draw).
Saudi came out swinging after halftime, and got back to 1-1 on the hour mark. However, their joy lasted just a couple of minutes, when Syria scored the winner. Although Saudi threw everything at them, Syria managed to hang on, throwing bodies in front of shots & their keeper making a great save in injury time.
There's an interesting (for me) pattern emerging. 4 of the 7 goals I've seen over the weekend have been remarkably similar, including all 3 in this match. A ball has been crossed in, cleared as far as the top of the box, where an attacker has taken a first time shot which has finished in the back of the net. Of these, Saudi's goal was the only headed shot (the others were volleyed), and the only one not deflected.(Syria's second was almost a carbon copy of their first, right down to the scorer).
I haven't seen many similar opportunities in the Nix matches I've seen this season. Perhaps defences are set up differently, or the second line of attack is too deep, or Nix shots from those positions don't stay low enough to be deflected. May also be a reflection on our crossing.
wolfman2011-01-10 07:42:04
