LAET vs Haringey Sixth Football Match
We were lucky to have football pundit Mr. Smith on the scene, who provided an expert breakdown of LAET's impressive 3-1 victory.
by Mr Michael Smith, 2 i/c Mathematics
16 brave LAETers braved the elements for a well-earned victory against local rivals Haringey Sixth Form. After an extremely brief warm-up, the LAET team were committed and coherent in the opening passages, creating some great chances, with only keeper heroics and the woodwork keeping the game goalless. Years 12 and 13 gelled well, with a solid defensive shape repelling the few attacking opportunities for Haringey Sixth.
However, around 20 minutes in, and against the run of play, Haringey Sixth bustled in a scrappy breakaway goal to take the lead. Heads did drop a little, but with the introduction of extra firepower on the bench, and the cheers of the late-arriving but formidable away support, LAET turned the tide, and finished the first half as they had started, dominant but goalless, and the half-time whistle sounded with the Phoenixes 1-0 down.
After a fiery half-time team talk by captain Adam Saci, LAET continued their ascendancy and soon had a golden chance for a well-deserved equaliser, when star forward Yusuf Malik rounded the keeper and was brought down. Cool as a cucumber, Yusuf pulled himself off the ground and, ignoring the protestations of the Haringey Sixth defence, slotted in the equaliser.
Soon after, Yusuf cut through the Haringey defence and latched on to a sumptuous through ball to smash a glorious second in at the near post. It was one-way traffic from then on, and Sean Aladeniyi sent the crowd into a frenzy with an unstoppable blast into the near post top corner, followed by a Cole Palmer-esque celebration befitting the cold Wednesday night.
A well-deserved 3-1 win to open the season. Well done to Saif, Kacey, Gabriel, Ahmed, Fares, Hasan, Adam, Tyrel, Aniello, Marino, Yusuf, Archie, AR, Joshua A, Joshua M and Sean.