The victorious Gambia U17 team. (Photo by David Walker)
Just a short post to congratulate the Gambia U17s who gave the Pompey academy side a bit of a lesson at a rain soaked Collingwood ground last Wednesday. Although the Baby Scorpions only won 2-0, they dominated the game and adapted well to some less-than-friendly conditions… Here’s hoping the Scorpions go on and win the U17 World Cup! Below is a match report and some brief footage of the game – no goals but you can see just how dominant the Gambians were. Thanks to David Walker for the braving the rain to capture the footage and write the report.
Match Report
Being played under floodlight the game kicked off at 7pm. The rain greased up the surface of the pitch – which I’m sure the Gambians are not used to! But this didn’t get to the baby scorpions. They knocked the ball round like a professional outfit dominating the game from early on.
Portsmouth struggled to handle the pace of the Gambians who with a want to win were first to every ball. Deservedly so Gambia took the lead half way through the first half: after a scuffle in the box the ball was finally tapped in. The Gambian team delighted to see support on the touchline from few of The Gambia Experience Staff who’d braved the rain to watch the match. 1-0
Goal!
The remainder of the half was all one way with Gambia going close from a great through ball and shortly after calling the Portsmouth goal keeper into action to make an unbelievable save, pushing the Gambian’s shot over the cross bar. The half ended 1-0.
Second half the Gambians come out strong and sneaked an early second. The Gambians scored from a great strike leaving the Portsmouth goalkeeper with no chance. Portsmouth then had a 15 minute spell where they pushed forward creating a few chances, but they never really troubled the young African Keeper. For the last stretch of the game the Gambians showed why they could prove an upset at the U17 World Cup – winning every ball and pinning the Portsmouth side back deep in to their own half.
Full credit to Portsmouth though who played a brilliant, typical English game: solidly defensive throughout but lacking the same creativity that The Gambians played with. From the display I saw if I was a betting man a cheeky outside bet on the baby scorpions to win the Under 17 World Cup now doesn’t seem so silly!
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