Thank you to all of the fans who have come out to watch the Austen Morris Associates Football Team, the Badgers, head to the finals. Dubbed the Spartak Badgers, the Austen Morris Associates soccer team is looking to lift the cup in their first match next Monday. The league has eight teams of varying ability who play games every Monday at the Shanghai Stadium with kick-off time between 8pm to 10pm. The Badgers is made up of six Austen Morris Associates representatives including Associate Lawrence Barrett, Business Development Matt Arnold, and Business Development Coordinators Quentin Debonnet, Aurelien Chapuis, Michael Marriott, and Shane McDonnell.
In last night’s first semi-final, Austen Morris Associates’ Spartak Badgers swept past Russia Shanghai in a scrappy game, more notable for the bitter cold night than the quality of the football. The Spartak Badgers ran into a 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Shane “the Irish Wizard” McDonnell and Matt “MVP” Arnold and the Badgers were looking comfortable going into halftime. Some wise words were said by the captain/manager Lawrence “Jose Mourinho” Barrett and the second half began like the first with the badgers in a commanding lead. Unfortunately, maybe due to eating McDonald’s pre-match or the lack of fitness, the Russians pulled a goal back. With some poor defending, they got the game level with little time left in the game.
The match went to penalties with all four brave Badgers converting from the spot after the Russians had missed their third penalty. The Badgers went marching into the final with some good quality goals and high confidence.
The Badgers will face the Turks in the league final next Monday, November 25th at 8pm, which some are tipping to be the greatest sporting event since the rumble in the jungle.
We need as much support as possible to make Austen Morris Associates the best football team in Shanghai!
