Yet another draw as Europa and Glacis finish with 2-2 scoreline

Europa 2-2 Glacis United

Glacis United struck just four minutes into the match to give it an immediate change of tempo. The tensions rose immediately, with some physical interactions between players by the touchline just two minutes later, which saw the first yellow cards handed out.

Europa, who had come into the match as the favourites having finished third last season, were forced to search for an equaliser almost immediately from the start.

For the next six minutes, the pressure was intense upon the Glacis defence. Just as Glacis believed they had absorbed the immediate pressure, a long ball through the middle saw Aldair tap the ball past Victor for the equaliser.

It was now Europa on the front foot, pushing Glacis into their half and keeping them there.

In the 22nd minute, Glacis came close, seeing a corner delivery go across goal, just a tap away from their second. The ball bounced just inches from the player waiting at the back post.

The match was now settling into a to-and-fro, with urgency from both sides exposing space on the counter.

Just before half-time, Europa took the lead, completing what was a dramatic comeback from the early setback.

Glacis, who last season had proven to be a very stubborn and challenging opponent despite struggling with their squad, had shown they continued to be just as threatening an opposition. Europa, however, continued to show that their strength lay in their capacity to respond.

Whilst Glacis tried to start the second half looking to build on their offensive options, Europa soon stamped their mark to stall them.

Not by defending deep, but by pressing higher.

It was an effective way of absorbing the pressure and highlighting their confidence on the field.

Glacis were to present a similar response to Europa, pressing them high when Europa looked to play their way out with short passes through the back.

This kept the match at a high-energy tempo, ensuring Europa did not feel secure with their lead and had to work their way through the game as they approached the first hour.

Just as Europa added to their offensive options, Glacis struck in the 61st minute. A long ball arriving at the top corner of the penalty area was followed by a lobbed cross into the path of Brinkman, who chested the ball down away from Lopez’s reach from inside the six-yard box. Glacis equalised to the complaints of Europa players, who believed there had been an infringement moments earlier.

Europa were lucky not to go behind almost immediately, with a lobbed cross from the halfway line finding an attacker who beat Lopez to the ball. The attacker, however, was judged to have been in an offside position, with the goal disallowed.

As Europa searched for a third, Glacis once again exposed their defence, with five runners quickly sprinting forward in the 66th minute. Only a mistake in holding onto the ball for too long prevented Glacis from adding to their tally.

Chances were few and far between at either end as they approached the final five minutes. Both sides still had a chance to break the deadlock.

A moment of madness by Europa keeper Lopez in the 87th minute saw him come out to the very edge of the penalty box and fail to get to the ball as he was challenged. As the ball dropped to the attackers, he was fortunate to have defenders covering immediately behind him, giving him enough time to regain his footing and seize the ball before Glacis were able to take a shot. This was the only time the keeper had misjudged his intervention up to that point.

Europa searched for a third, with Victor doing well with just moments to go before the final whistle. As the ball came into the top of his six-yard box, he collected it before Victorio could get his head to the ball.

The two national team keepers at either end showed strong, confident performances at crucial moments, although the match had seen four goals.

This was to end as the third draw from three matches played in the league, with Europa and Glacis sharing the points.