Date
Saturday April 4, 2009
Participants
John Carroll, Simon Hutchinson, Munir Merchant, Kevin Nieman, Wayne Smith, Steve Tucker
Winners
Open
- Winner: Wayne Smith
- Runner up: Simon Hutchinson
- Third: John Carroll
Mary Jane
- Winner: Munir Merchant
- Runner up: Steve Tucker
- Third: Kevin Nieman
Report
The tournament opened with Munir Merchant beating the first and second seeds, Wayne Smith and Steve Tucker, in back-to-back games. This threw the tournament wide open. After playing so well the night before in Season 7 Tucker struggled, winning only one game and finishing in the the Mary Jane portion of the group. No-one was surprised that Smith finished top of the group. John Carroll and Simon Hutchinson finished with the same number points to qualify for the Open semi final. Merchant finished in fourth place and received a bye to the Mary Jane final. Tucker and Kevin Nieman played in the Mary Jane semi final.
Both of the semi finals were decided by shoot outs. The Open one ended goalless, but was not a defensive stalemate. Hutchinson won the shoot out 3-1. Nieman made the greatest come back in the history of the Southern California Subbuteo Club against Tucker. Kevin was 0-3 down at half time and fought back to tie the game 3-3. There were no more goals in extra time, and Tucker won the shoot out 3-1.
The Mary Jane final between Merchant and Tucker was a closely fought encountered and ended goalless. In the shoot out Merchant scored the only goal with his third shot to win.
Two early goals from Smith gave him what he thought was a comfortable lead.
Hutchinson fought back and equalized after Smith's defensive error allowed him
an unimpeded shot at the goal. For the remainder of the second half play
ebbed and flowed as both players tried to score what was to surely be the
winner. A defensive error by Hutchinson with three minute left in the game
gave Smith the goal he needed to win.
Group: Munir Merchant 1 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 0-0)
Munir: It was a wide open game, both of us scattered players all over
the field.
Steve: Munir's goal came from the left side into the far corner. Munir's defense was outstanding. He stranded his goalkeeper three times and his defense was so good I did not get a shot.
Group: Simon Hutchinson 1 v Kevin Nieman 1 (HT 0-1)
Kevin: A really unfortunate defensive lapse gave up a penalty kick.
I couldn't muster my offense until the second half, when I was fortunate to
equalize.
Simon: I pressed a lot of the game and had a few shots causing Kevin to save. His goal was a shot through a gaggle of players, it was very hard to tell where it [the ball] was going.
Group Wayne Smith 2 v John Carroll 0 (HT 1-0)
Wayne: I really lucked out. Early in the game John's shot was saved
by my goalkeeper that was lying on his side. Late in the game as John was
pressing I had some opportunities, but John saved them.
John: Two of my players went on a all night drinking binge. In a
stand of solidarity I am replacing my whole team.
[John is referring to Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor of Scotland who were
banned from playing for Scotland after going on a drinking binge after their
country's defeat to the Netherlands just a few days before the critical World
Cup qualifier against Iceland]
Group: Steve Tucker 2 v Kevin Nieman 0 (HT 2-0)
Kevin: Steve scored within the first minute putting me on my heels, and
then scored again in the first half practically shattering my confidence.
I did have an amazing save that boosted some of my confidence.
Steve: I played better this game. The difference was the two early goals. After that the game leveled out with chances for both.
Group: John Carroll 1 v Simon Hutchinson 1 (HT 1-1)
John: I changed tactics midstream. I was playing fast and loose the
first five minutes, and become more conservative as Simon's attacks were strong
with good possession so I had to keep a presence at the back.
Simon: John scored very early and I had to besiege his shooting area to get back into the game. I equalized just before half time. I felt I had most of the shots in this game.
Group: Munir Merchant 1 v Wayne Smith 0 (HT 1-0)
Munir: The first half was very even. The first half of the second
half was even. The second half of the second half was a barrage [under
attack from Wayne]. The goal was a quick play, a long pass going up there
and then a shot.
Wayne: Munir's defense for the first 20 minutes was stifling. After that I got shot after shot and he did everything possible to keep the ball out of the net. I chipped the goalkeeper but it [the ball] hit the goalkeeper's foot, rolled along the rod, hit the crossbar and dropped down. This is the first time Munir has beaten me.
Group: John Carroll 2 v Steve Tucker 2 (HT 2-0)
John: It was quick I had to save ten seconds in. But I came back in
the first minute and scored upon him. Up 2-0 at half and kept my defensive
line, which worked until the last two minutes when Steve had brilliant pressing
and manufactured two goals.
Steve: Good game. I got a really good shot in the first 30 seconds, and he came down within 30 seconds and scored. The rest of it was back and forth. I found my touch with 1:30 left and leveled it up.
Group: Munir Merchant 1 v Kevin Nieman 1 (HT 1-0)
Kevin: The first goal he scored was pathetic on my part. It was
a slow roller and my goalkeeper was paralyzed. I equalized in the second
half from a very sharp angle. I feel good as I am the first person in the
tournament not to lose to Munir.
Munir: It was a very even game. My first shot was a strange one. I did not think I had the angle, it chipped off Kevin's defender and rolled into the goal. Kevin's goal was a very nice goal. It had the ball squeeze in between the goalkeeper and post.
Group: Wayne Smith 4 v Simon Hutchinson 1 (HT 2-1)
Wayne: It was way tougher than the score would indicate. Simon was
within a goal for what seemed like 20 minutes and I was starting to get worried
to give up an equalizer, especially with Simon's keeper making save after save.
Simon: It was a lot closer that the score suggests. I had lots of offense but few shots.
Group: Simon Hutchinson 1 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 0-0)
Steve: I have had many close, tight games with Simon in the past, but this
was not one of them. I had all of the possession and had at least six or
seven men on his shooting line. But stating the obvious goals win games.
Simon had a well taken goal, and deserves the victory.
Simon: I weathered the storming pulling off a number of critical saves. Steve's flicking was off as he would come up short or hit the wrong side of the ball. I kept giving away the ball with the ball striking Steve's figures when clearing the ball.
Steve: The only decisive play was Simon's build up and goal. Two stranded goalkeepers to Simon.
Simon: And one of yours too.
Group: Wayne Smith 3 v Kevin Nieman 1 (HT 3-0)
Wayne: It was an odd games. I could not keep the score straight.
When the score was 0-0 to me it was as if I was a goal up. But after
I scored the game evened up so I kept thinking it was 0-0. The only goal I
remember that I remember that I scored was after a corner kick. Kevin had
almost everyone blocked out, but the ball was sitting against one of my figures.
I flicked another figure and caromed the ball off the figure touching the ball
and the ball popped over the goalkeeper and into the goal. After the goal
Kevin made an indescribable unique noise.
Kevin: After that goal he described I rattled my goalkeeper to get the ball out of the net. I finally got the ball out of the net using the "Dominic rattle". Dominic [Hutchinson] became the topic of conversation as he does the same thing with his goalkeeper. I did not have much offense, it was very spotty. The score reflects the way the game went.
Group: John Carroll 2 v Munir Merchant (HT 1-0)
Munir: The first goal was from the left, not a typical [shot by John] just
got it in there and shot.
John: Kind of a change, a slower game. The goals came from positional lapses from Munir. Because of my speed play he was forced to make quick flicks that he missed. But stranding his goalkeeper did not help him.
Munir: A little disappointed. It took me a while to get use to his pace, by then I was a goal down. After that I tried more opportunities, but there were not many. Apart from stranding my goalkeeper right in front of the goal, John chipped it into the goal, a big on my part.
Group: Wayne Smith 1 v Steve Tucker 1 (HT 1-1)
Wayne: I thought for most of the game Steve out played me. But there
were certain times I put on substational pressure. The game was
ridiculously tight both of us had players wide open in the shooting line but for
one reason or another could not get the ball to them.
It is a credit to the field [of players] that squeeze out a 1-1 draw against the guy who finished fifth.
Steve: I thought the score line was representative of the game. I thought it was equal possession, shots, throw-ins, and corners.
Wayne: We were both scrambling as the defensive flicks were so good.
Steve: I had to play a bit faster.
Group: Simon Hutchinson 1 v Munir Merchant 0 (HT 0-0)
Munir: It was a pretty frustrating game. Simon's game frustrates me
the most so I get inpatient. The games always come down to one shot.
Simon: I did have the most shots, striking the post three times and I made Munir make two saves. I am sure I must have made some saves too. Towards the end you could tell that Munir was getting frustrated.
Group: John Carroll 2 v Kevin Nieman 0 (HT 1-0)
Kevin: John was playing really fast and despite some excellent defensive
flicks and three steals John was able to slice up my defense for the win.
John: Kevin was the victim of my speed in the attacking third. It was the only way I could get them [goals]. Kevin stole possession three or four times.
Kevin: I was seemingly stealing constantly.
After the group stage the first place player, Wayne Smith, received a bye in the
Open semi finals. Simon Hutchinson and John Carroll would play for who
would meet Wayne in the final. Fourth place Munir Merchant received a bye
in the Mary Jane semi finals and he would meet the winner of the Kevin Nieman
versus Steve Tucker semi final.
Mary Jane semi final: Steve Tucker 3 v Kevin Nieman 3 (HT 3-0, after extra time, shoot out 3-1)
Kevin: The first half was Steve domination. In the second half it
was one of greatest come backs in my Subbuteo career. Unfortunately that
greatness did not carry on the shoot out.
Steve: Kevin summed it up pretty good. In the first half I thought I had it won. In the second he one [goal] and he was playing well. He got a second, I thought "Hold on". He got a third. It was a game of two halves.
| Shoot out | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Score |
| Steve | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Kevin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Open semi final: Simon Hutchinson 0 v John Carroll 0 (HT 0-0, after
extra time, shoot out 3-1)
John: Regulation time was fairly even. In overtime Simon dominated
the shooting but my keeper was on fire with five saves. Simon placed his
shots well in the shoot out.
Simon: I had forced John to make at least seven saves to keep himself in the game. I cannot believe how many times John did the critical [defensive] flick to block me. Glad to win the shoot out.
| Shoot out | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Score |
| John | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Simon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Mary Jane final: Munir Merchant 0 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 0-0, after
extra time, shoot out 1-0)
Munir: Steve had a lot of the play. I managed to break and get a
couple of chances, but they were against the play of the game. Good game.
Steve: Well done to Munir. Like I said in the other one [game] goals count.
| Shoot out | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Score |
| Munir | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Open final: Wayne Smith 3 v Simon Hutchinson 2 (HT 2-0)
Wayne: Wow! Really tough game. I thought I had control of it.
Simon scored a nice goal. Then while pointing my finger to stop Simon from
playing showing it was my ball, I hit one of my figure's head turning over the
ball in the shooting zone with Simon in a perfect shooting position. Of
course he scored to tie the game. And unfortunately I had a little blow up
"event bomb" [laughs] and settled down. Simon blew an easy flick on his
zone to set me up in a similar situation. I had to shoot it over his
keeper and onto the crossbar, and managed to do it.
I am pleased with the win and not with my lack of composure.
Simon played really well, much better than the first time [game].
Simon: Wayne scored two quick goals on me early in the first half. I fought back in the second half to score a great goal from the right. Then Wayne's mistaken flick game me the opportunity to shoot over his goalkeeper to equalize. When getting ready to do a blocking he bumped another figure, which counted as his flick, leaving me with a clear shot at goal. It was my defensive error with three minutes left that gave Wayne the chance to score the winning goal. All in all it was a lot more even that I think even Wayne expected.
Wayne was yellow carded for his "event bomb", throwing the ball off the pitch and breaking it.
Group stage
| Pos | Name | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Wayne Smith | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 10 |
| 2= | John Carroll | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| 2= | Simon Hutchinson | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | Munir Merchant | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | Steve Tucker | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Kevin Nieman | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
Top three advance to the Open
Bottom three advance to the Mary Jane
| Munir Merchant | 1 | v | 0 | Steve Tucker |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 1 | Kevin Nieman |
| Wayne Smith | 2 | v | 0 | John Carroll |
| Steve Tucker | 2 | v | 0 | Kevin Nieman |
| John Carroll | 1 | v | 1 | Simon Hutchinson |
| Munir Merchant | 1 | v | 0 | Wayne Smith |
| John Carroll | 2 | v | 2 | Steve Tucker |
| Munir Merchant | 1 | v | 1 | Kevin Nieman |
| Wayne Smith | 4 | v | 1 | Simon Hutchinson |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 0 | Steve Tucker |
| Wayne Smith | 3 | v | 1 | Kevin Nieman |
| John Carroll | 2 | v | 0 | Munir Merchant |
| Wayne Smith | 1 | v | 1 | Steve Tucker |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 0 | Munir Merchant |
| John Carroll | 2 | v | 0 | Kevin Nieman |
Open
Semi finals
| Simon Hutchinson | 0 | v | 0 | John Carroll |
| Simon won shoot out 3-1 | ||||
| Wayne Smith | bye | |||
Final
| Wayne Smith | 3 | v | 2 | Simon Hutchinson |
Mary Jane
Semi finals
| Steve Tucker | 3 | v | 3 | Kevin Nieman |
| Steve won shoot out 3-1 | ||||
| Munir Merchant | bye | |||
Final
| Munir Merchant | 0 | v | 0 | Steve Tucker |
| Munir won shoot out 1-0 | ||||