The first drew of Lisbon Casuals Hockey Club’s men’s field hockey team was a thrilling and memorable encounter played under challenging weather conditions in Santa Maria de Lamas. As heavy rain poured down on the field, the players showcased their dedication and love for the sport. The slick and waterlogged pitch added an extra layer of complexity to the game, as players had to constantly adjust their techniques and adapt to the conditions.
Photo: Paulo Moreira
The Lisbon Casuals Hockey Club’s men’s team demonstrated their exceptional skill and determination as they emerged as the runners-up in the prestigious Taça de Honra tournament. With their unwavering commitment to the sport, the team showcased their strategic gameplay and remarkable teamwork, captivating spectators and competitors alike.
Through their relentless efforts and disciplined training, the Lisbon Casuals Hockey Club men’s team exhibited their prowess on the field, leaving an indelible mark on the tournament and solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the hockey community.
GO CASUALS!
We are looking for members/players, Men and Women (in all positions),
Are you travelling to Portugal to live, study or you are already here? (Lisbon area, required!) We are the club for you!
We will offer you top level training and a great team spirit.
Get in touch with us lisboncasualshockeyclub@gmail.com
Lisbon Casuals Men’s team played Casa Pia at the São Domingos de Rana pavilion last Sunday.
The day started with our team managers, James and André making all the temperature checks of both teams on arrival to guarantee that the Covid measures where met.
After the all clear was given, the match was allowed to begin with the starting line up of: João Miguel in goal, John and Rafa in defence, Joe in the midfielf and Muhammad and our captain Steve as forwards.
Our coach Paulo proposed a new tactical setup that was working well, and we frustrated our opponent who couldn’t find gaps in our defense.
Casa Pia’s first shot at goal was blocked by Rafa but unfortunately it came off his backstick and a penalty stroke was awarded. At the penalty stroke, João Miguel managed to get a foot to the ball but didn’t stop it from going in the goal.
We had a couple of attacking opportunities from John and Steve but without managing a result.
In the second quarter Casa Pia score another two goals from penalty corners.
At half time we discussed the need to stop our opponent from getting penalty corners and how we could create more chances of our own.
And we did manage to create chances and put Casa Pia under pressure. Although 0-3 down we pressed forward and Fred, at full stretch intersepted a pass which landed sweetly on Joe’s stick who carried the ball in to the circle and found Sepi at the second post, who calmly tapped the ball in the goal.
Watch: Sepi’s 1st Goal
With new energy we brought the game to our opponent who struggled with Verjinder’s bursts of speed and skill up front.
João Miguel was keeping us in the game with crucial saves, and then out of nowhere, on the counter attack Steve passed to Muhammad in the circle who found the smallest of gap’s and put the ball through the kepper’s legs to Sepi, who again found himself in the correct position and scored a goal.
But, Casa Pia being an experienced team composed themselves and where more clinical with their shots and scored again from a penalty corner.
We had fewer scoring opportunities but still managed to earn a couple of penalty corners for ourselves, but couldn’t convert them.
Towards the end of the match, tired legs where showing from the Casuals boys and Casa Pia score three more times to close the match, ending in a 3-7 loss to Casa Pia.
Our next match is scheduled for the 24th of January, away against Futebol Benfica.
Thanks Jerry for being our camara man.
– JK
This saturday the Men Played the best game since the beginning of the season, the game agaisn’t Ramaldense F.C. was a game that we really wanted to win, and did everything we could to do so.
With a completely control of the game the opponent, agaisn’t all odds, scored first after a poorly defense from our veteran goalie João Miguel, the team was affected by this undeserved goal, but little by little got change after chance to equalise the score board.
The lack of experience inside the opponent circle didn’t allow us to score the goal.
At the half-time we were loosing 0-1.
On the second half the young men pushed really hard and got the well deserved goal by Thomas Machado. This was not enough, the coach ask for a victory, and this was what we wanted. Our Goalie, redimed himself with several safes preventing them to score more goals.
The opponent got the second goal through a Short corner, with our captain was very unlucky trying to get the ball out of the circle letting the forward to touch the ball first into the net.
The team didn’t give up and pushed again very hard, michael Kodde, Ruben Campos and John Harrison were most of the times successfull keeping them away from the circle, and every time the got a shot on goal the goalie saved it. LCHC attacking waves were constant but with no result… Close to the end on the only mistake of our defense during this period the opponent scored again closing the score on 1-3.
Not all the times the best team wins… the hard work we’ve been doing is starting to show results! This is the way!
Let the indoor season begin!
João Miguel Freitas