Lisburn Youth U14s in Berlin
Barry Black, 9-12 May 2008
We arrived in Berlin on Friday lunchtime and were met by our host club, SV Blau Weis football club of Berlin.
They brought us to their club where we could train, eat and take in their seniors match.
They were very accommodating and made us very welcome throughout our stay and a BIG THANK YOU has to go out to Christian, Frank and Angelica who gave us a home from home and also to all the families who were very accommodating in helping us with our every need.
Saturday began with breakfast at SV Stern Britz football club and the Tournament begun at 9.45am.
Day 1 began with 24 teams from all over Germany and 1 from Northern Ireland – LISBURN YOUTH FC. They competed in 4 groups of 6. The top teams then played in another group on DAY 2 and the top 2 Teams would then play in the Final for 1st and 2nd, with further play off’s for the remaining places. Each game was 18 minutes straight with 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw.
Our first match was against the Tournament Hosts and favourites SV Stern Britz.
Game 1 on grass- KO – 10.20am v SV Stern Britz, and they didn’t know what had hit them with Lisburn starting like a house on fire with James Knowles and Christopher Clegg going close in the opening moments. Then after 5 minutes Niall Quinn hit a left footed shot across the keeper from 18 yards that flew low into the net for our first goal of the tournament and 1-0.
McCullagh was untroubled in goal with his defence working hard to keep Stern Britz out.
Niall added his and Lisburn’s 2nd with a left foot flick after good work by David Saulters and Curtis Black on the right after James Knowles had gone close with a 20 yard free kick. Chris Clegg also hit the bar late on with a lob from A Saulters through ball.
Final Score – 2-0 Lisburn Youth.
Game 2 on Astroturf – KO – 11am v SCE Miersol/Zenthen was more of the same with another early goal, this time from James Knowles who showed chose to travel with Lisburn Youth instead of going with the Northern Ireland squad to Scotland. He dribbled past 3 defenders and slotted low under the keeper.
Christopher Clegg went close a couple of times and hit a post with the keeper beaten before Scott Jordan scored a header from a corner.
The 3rd was after quick thinking from 2 subs Owen Miskelly and James Blake, Miskelly took a quick throw on the right to Blake and it was his cross that was flicked home by the lively Curtis Black.
Final Score 3-0 Lisburn Youth
Game 3 on Astroturf – KO 11.40 v SV Blau Weis Berlin, again started with Lisburn taking an early lead. A quick free kick from Knowles to Black resulted in Clegg firing home from close range.
The 2nd came moments later when Niall Quinn fed Clegg on the right and his cross was headed home by Black. Lisburn were again in control only for some slack defending starting in midfield allowing SV Blau Weis to come back with 2 goals in a minute to gain a draw they hardly deserved.
Final Score 2-2
Game 4 on Astroturf – KO 12.20 v Wiker SV.
Lisburn again ran out 2-0 winners but it took a while in coming. When the 1st came it was a pile driver from Michael Hynes hard and low from 22yards, the keeper didn’t even have time to react before it was past him.
Prentice and Black both went close following passes from Thomas McKeown, Prentice going just wide from distance and Blacks header going just over.
Black had a goal given off-side after a 1-2 between Quinn and Knowles but the 2nd came when the impressive Saulters went passed 3 challenges and slotted home with his right foot from 12 yards for my pick of goal of the Tournament for 2-0!
James Knowles was showing his class and after this match the referee described him as like a young Johan Cruyff, as if his head isn’t big enough!!
Final Score 2-0
Game 5 on Astroturf – KO 1pm v Bunder SV. Lisburn again started bright with Black’s shot coming back off the on rushing keepers legs. Blake also had an effort saved before Quinn somehow put over from 4 yards.
The breakthrough came when Black won a header in midfield and he charged onto the second ball winning another header which out Quinn through and from 18 yards out he smashed an unstoppable left footed shot high into the net for 1-0.
Knowles ran past the midfield twice in 2 minutes but dragged his shots across goal both times. Glenn Morrison found himself in unknown territory in the attacking box and he was unlucky when he headed onto the bar. McCullagh at the other end in goal for Lisburn was hardly troubled all day but he did handle well coming for crosses and dealing with the few efforts that came his way.
The 2nd was after more slick football from Blake and Knowles and Knowles finally got on the score sheet when he poked under the keeper after the neat 1-2.
Final Score – 2-0
This result meant Lisburn were group winners and deservedly so after 4 wins and a draw on 13 points. Our hosts, SV Blau Weis Berlin also qualified from our group but as runners up on 10 points.
Day 2 was finals day and Lisburn were determined to be in it although there were a few twists to come.
There was another 6 team group to be won before the final play-offs for places 1-6, with the top 2 playing for 1st and so on.
Game 1 on grass KO 2.18pm v Ludwigsfelder FC. A crowd had gathered on finals day and a hot-tempered game really came to life when Black and Quinn both challenged for a high ball with the keeper. The Keeper didn’t get anything on the ball and it came off Quinn’s leg and was diverted fortunately off Black and into the unguarded goal for 1-0. There were some boos from the locals and there were loud protests against the very young referee by the Ludwigsfelder FC bench and players and the referee couldn’t be anything but intimidated.
Lisburn didn’t take their chances but also looked comfortable in keeping a physical side at bay but then disaster struck. The referee who had given every 50-50 to Ludwigsfelder awarded a penalty against Morrison for handball, he was clearly influenced by the local side because the ball clearly came off Morrison’s lower back. The penalty taker gave McCullagh no chance and the game ended 1-1 with the home crowd delighted to have stopped Lisburn taking full points.
Final Score 1-1
Game 2 on grass KO 2.54pm v FC Hertha Berlin was a score bore. Hertha played another physical game but then rolled around when challenged by Lisburn. They time wasted right from the first whistle and a tired Lisburn now looked to have run out of steam in the 30* plus sunshine. Knowles, Morrison, Saulters and Jordan were also feeling niggling injuries.
Clegg and Blake missed Lisburn’s best chances and Prentice, McKeown, Saulters, Jordan, Morrison and McCullagh kept Hertha at bay.
The locals were against Lisburn now thinking we were too physical.
Final Score 0-0
Game 3 on grass KO 3.30pm v Lichterfelder FC was when the boo’s turned to cheers, Knowles was kicked to the ground not for the first time in the tournament, on the left side of the box but he regained his balance and fired a right footed shot into the top corner for 1-0.
Lisburn then found a second wind from somewhere and turned on the style. Knowing they needed to win their 3 remaining games they came back to life.
Knowles then went past a couple of defenders and slotted past the keeper, this brought the crowd to their feet, Lisburn were back.
Black added a 3rd after good work from Quinn and Saulters got his 2nd of the Tournament with his head for 4-0 and Lisburn were clapped off the field.
Final Score 4-0
Game 4 on grass KO 4.06pm v BSC Preusen Blankenfelde – Mahlow started with the quickest goal of the Tournament. Black and Knowles had discussed tactics before the kick off and it worked exactly as planned.
Lisburn took the KO and Knowles had the ball at his feet, Black made his run from deep and Knowles found him as he run through on goal. Black took 1 touch and curled a delightful left footed shot into the far corner after only 8 seconds and BSC Preusen didn’t even get a touch before they picked the ball out of the net. What a start, and now, after lots of lovely football, Lisburn were the crowd’s favourites.
Lisburn created many chance in this game and with some better finishing from Knowles, Quinn and Clegg it could have been a cricket score.
Final Score 1-0
Game 5 on grass KO 4.42pm V TSV Rudow started with Lisburn Knowing a win would see them finish top and qualify for the final.
Lisburn with their tired legs dominated from start to finish Knowles opened the scoring after 7 minutes but only after he, Quinn and Black all missed good opportunities.
With the defence doing so well McCullagh hardly had anything to do all day.
The 2nd and clinching goal came with 5minutes remaining when Blake pressured a defender into a mistake and the ball broke to Quinn. He was looking very tired but found the energy to cut in from the left by-line and then cut back onto his right foot before firing hard and low past the keeper from 8 yards for 2-0.
Lisburn were through to play SV Blau Weis Berlin in the final.
Final Score 2-0
The FINAL on grass KO 5.28pm v SV Blau Weis Berlin. Going into this game Lisburn were up for the fight but perhaps their opponents had a slight advantage with them being more used to the conditions and high temperatures.
One final effort was required and Lisburn made a bright start with Black hitting the bar with a rasping left foot volley from 12 yards, the bar shock for 2 whole minutes.
With Lisburn doing the attacking in the opening minutes, Blau Weis looked dangerous on the counter attack. But it was Quinn who had the next chance. He dragged his shot wide from a tight angle when maybe a cross was the best option. He then went close again following a great run and dribble but his effort was tipped wide of the far post.
From the resulting corner with 10 minutes of the final played, Prentice drove a cross-shot with his left across goal and it went straight to who else but Knowles to tap home from 6 yards for what proved to be the winner.
As the game went into the final 5 minutes Lisburn tired and their opponents went route one! They had 3 quick corners and headed 1 good chance wide before the referee blew the whistle for full time. Lisburn had been the best team in the Tournament and deservedly got the win they deserved and the local crowd had now taken them to their hearts.
Final Score – 1-0
© 2007, 2008 Lisburn Youth Football Club
