10 October 2009

LEGOLAND CITY-An empathic first half display has handed the opening Classic of the season to the Cartel and perhaps ended the crisis which had engulfed the club. Having failed to win in any of their previous four league games, Legoland FC’s dramatic victory over an in-form Legoland United has moved the club to within just 4 points of United and 8 points behind league leaders Lion Lakers. “It’s game on”, said LFC’s recently appointed coach José Amavisca, keen to express his view that the league challenge is back on course.

In front of a huge crowd at the new San Siro stadium, the game sprung to life from the off-set with both sides attacking in numbers and pressurising their opponent's defence. Indeed the home side’s formation, 3-3-4, said it all. United were out to bombard the LFC goal and with attackers Andrei Arshavin, Robert Pirès, Alex Taribello, Leper, Christy and Mathew Edile all in the starting 11 who would have bet against it. Yet their Old Rule rivals, although playing a more defensive 4-4-2 line-up did have an array of attacking options with Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Denílson, Franck Ribéry, Romário and Raúl all featuring. And it was veteran forward Raúl who did the damage.

After repelling an attack from Legoland United’s Alex Taribello LFC broke and countered with Ronaldo storming towards the Reds’ goal. A well-timed tackle from Fabio Galante drew what appeared to be a dive from Ronaldo but the referee bought it and awarded LFC a free-kick and Galante a yellow card for his troubles. Ronaldo himself whipped in the resulting free-kick and Raúl was there to fire home past Francesco Antonioli sending the visiting fans into wild celebration.

With 3 minutes to go before the break, Legoland FC doubled their lead through Frank Lampard after Iván De la Peña mistakenly passed the ball straight into the path of the Eland international. Lampard made no mistake and firmly shot the ball past Antonioli. In what appeared to be a total collapse by the reigning champions, a minute later and LFC had made it 3-0. A wonderful weighted ball over the Legoland United back three was controlled majestically by Ribéry and slotted straight into the path of an incoming Raúl. Raúl made no mistake and netted his second of the game whilst avoiding the missiles being fired from the United faithful.

3-0 down at half-time forced the United boss into a rake of changes and the minifig brought on defensive duo Andrea Coda and Daniele Bonera in place of Mathew Edile and Robert Pirès.

It was difficult to determine whether it was the changes United made or the fact that LFC appeared to sit-back on their lead that the action all but ceased in the second period. Whilst the Reds did have one or two chances in the second half, Amavisca’s minifigs, now strengthened defensively by the introduction of Andrea Barzagli for Frank Lampard, looked relatively comfortable at killing off any danger.

With the final whistle blown, LFC had picked up not just three points but their biggest ever victory away to Legoland United, equalling the biggest ever margin ever scored in a meeting of the two sides. With the United boss refusing to appear at the post-match press conference, the media mouthpiece was solely with Amavisca. “We may well look back on today next year and say that it was this great victory that landed us the title. United look a shadow of the team last season and if I was them I would focus on rebuilding an aging squad. Although I respect the United team for their past achievements, no one can say they look like title contenders after today”.

Mr Armchairus Fanus, Sports correspondent

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