Semi-final 2: FC Twente Benson def. Cuventus
FC Twente Benson have defeated Cuventus 9-3 in the second semi-final and will be advancing to the final. FC Twente Benson scored nine goals and six in the second half to put the game out of reach and to clinch their final berth.
In typical league fashion, the scoring began quickly, this time in the 3rd minute by Cuventus. The ball was worked wonderfully into the Benson half with Will Condon making a run into the Cuventus penalty box. The ball was powered into the net, past the goalkeeper’s grasp, to give his team the lead. Less than three minutes later, FC Twente Benson returned the attack and equalised the game. FC Twente Benson rapidly entered the opposition half with shades of tiki-taka football. Within a few passes the ball was at the front of the goal and Jason Campion was there to tap it in. Michael Godley added to the Benson lead in the 9th minute. A series of passes by FC Twente Benson allowed Godley to be alone on the wing and get a shot off with little pressure to score the team’s second goal. In the 15th minute, Ronan Boyle scored the first off his two goals to catapult FC Twente Benson into a three goal lead. In the 24th minute, Tom Murphy became the third goal scorer for FC Twente Benson. A weak back pass by a Cuventus defender to the goalkeeper forced the keeper to commit to the ball which allowed Murphy a free path to the net for an easy tap-in. FC Twente Benson’s 4-1 lead heading into half-time was a result of their dominant display.
Out of the gates of half-time, FC Twente Benson continued their offensive dominance, scoring four minutes into the second half. In the 29th minute, Stephen Donnelly’s great dribbling put him past one defender and then the goalkeeper before rolling the ball past the latter for Benson’s fourth goal. Three minutes later, the deficit was cut to three by Cuventus with the goal being scored by Darren Groarke. Cuventus’ goal was as unorthodox as they would come as the ball was played all the way from their half towards the goal with Groarke getting a slight touch to redirect it into the net. Cuventus continued their comeback efforts when in the 35th minute they scored their third goal of the game. Cuventus quickly turned defense into offense when Condon escaped his own half. He dribbled past multiple defenders and the ball looked as if it was glued to his feet before slashing the ball into the goal to make it 5-3.
Tom Murphy extended FC Twente Benson’s and his own goal scoring tally in the 43rd minute with a long drive of a shot with little resistance that rolled past the goalkeeper’s left side. Less than a minute later, Boyle also scored his second goal of the game. A pass from the Cuventus goalkeeper to his defender was smartly intercepted by Boyle and expertly placed into the net to extend the lead to 7-3. The final two goals were scored by Murphy to clinch the win and the finals berth for his team. Once again, he was in the right place at the right time and his efforts were put into a practically open net. FC Twente Benson’s valiant effort put them into the final with a 9-3 win.
With this win, FC Twente Benson advanced to the final while Cuventus will play for third place. MFC Dynamo ended the regular season with 6 wins, 4 losses, 46 goals scored and 53 goals allowed. Unfortunately for Cuventus, despite finishing second in the season, they will be battling for third place.
FC Twente Benson – Cuventus – 9:3
Goals: Campion (6′), Godley (9′), Boyle (15′, 44′), Murphy (25′, 43′, 46′, 49′), Donnelly (30′) – Condon (3′, 36′), Groarke (33′)
