The Mighty Shane started their league campaign in impressive fashion with a convincing 5-0 win over Triangle FC at Xinzhuang.
Newly-promoted Shane started with confidence, controlling the pace of the game with some excellent passing and intense pressing on the Triangle backline.
It didn’t take long for this to pay off, with Patrick Swandell flicking a header on for Patrick Krogh to break away and score in the 4th minute. Shane continued to retain possession well and reaped their rewards in the 31st minute with a well-executed free-kick. Alex Patrascu lofted the ball to the back post, and a deft header from Lars Fund beat the keeper to make it 2-0.
The first half ended with the score 2-0, but with tiring legs under the Taiwanese sun, Triangle were starting to gain a foothold in the game, and half-time was a welcome respite for the Shane boys.
Shane started the second half as they did in the first, and it wasn’t long until Alex Patrascu outlandishly stepped up to give Shane some breathing space with looping free-kick from 35 yards with 65 minutes on the clock.
Just minutes following Alex’s free-kick, Triangle had their own effort brilliantly saved by a diving Adam Lupinski to keep the score at 3-0. With 85 minutes on the clock, Zach Paruch’s corner was cleared back out to him, but his second ball to the back post met the head of Lars Fund for his second goal of the match, 4-0.
Though the game was winding down, Shane continued to press, and Lars was unlucky to net his hat-trick with a low shot that hit the post. He didn’t have to wait long to complete his hat-trick though, with a Triangle clearance off the line meeting his head and looping back over them, to the delight of the German giant. Tougher tests will come, but this was a brilliant way for Shane to start the season and get three points on the board in the first division. This was one of the best Shane performances in recent memory, with every player giving an outstanding account of themselves.
Man of the match has to go to hat-trick-hero Lars Fund for his dominating attacking performance. Special mentions also go to Alex Patrascu for his goal and assist and Enoc Hercules for his impressive performance in the middle of the park.
Shane are next in action on October 20th in what will be another tough fixture against Badgers.
Goals
Lars Fund – ⚽⚽⚽
Alex Patrascu – ⚽
Patrick Krogh – ⚽
Assists
Patrick Swandell – 🎯
Alex Patrascu – 🎯
Zach Paruch – 🎯