retired_manpk1

The winter break was a great time. Apart from team building on the Alps, we worked on tactics together, and making all the newcomers feel very welcome in Liechtenstein. We also had three new backroom staff members come in, and their expertise will be invaluable for us. Paolo Baffoni and Jean Gallice will help with the coaching, and John Richards joins as our second scout.

Saturday 12th March 2005
Vaduz vs Basel
Super League, Game 19 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Nenad Lalatovic, Jérôme Walz, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Baldwin Bazuaye, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

It’s a big match to restart the season, but we’ve got virtually a full-strength squad to choose from. Choi Jin-Chul and Lobatón are both handed debuts from the start, but with Mkhwanaizi away on international duty, it’s Jérôme Walz who gets the nod at the back.

Lobatón had two early efforts to put us ahead, and Guzelov forced a save. Gimenez forced Vailati into a save, but on 15 D’Elia played a long ball forward to Kristjánsson and when he got into the box, fired the ball across the goalkeeper and into the net. We were in total command, and both Lobatón and Kristjánsson were denied by good saves. Gimenez hit the bar as Basel threatened to equalise, and at the other end the goalkeeper denied Kerkar. Seven minutes before the break Kristjánsson crossed and Lobatón scored with a powerful header that the goalkeeper couldn’t keep out. Lobatón saw another header go into the arms of the goalkeeper, but after the goalkeeper spilled Kerkar’s free kick, Lobatón was on hand to turn the ball in. Two minutes into injury time we added a fourth as Stocklasa lifted the ball into the box and Kristjánsson bagged his brace with a well-taken volley.

Gimenez was denied by Vailati early on in the second half, and at the other end Kristjánsson was denied by the woodwork, and Lobatón fired over from the rebound. Fifteen minutes from time Basel had Boris Smiljanic sent off for a second booking, and ten minutes from time Almushnino played in Kristjánsson to complete his hatrick. Lobatón was denied by another save late on, and Almushnino came within inches of opening his account in injury time.

Vaduz 5-0 Basel :eek:
Goals: 15’ Kristjánsson (1-0), 38’ Lobatón (2-0), 43’ Lobatón (3-0), 45’ Kristjánsson (4-0), 80’ Kristjánsson (5-0)
Attendance: 3502
Substitutions: Almushnino and Babalade for Walz and Choi Jin-Chul (66’), Bazuaye for Fischer (76’)
Yellow Cards: Smiljanic, M. Yakin (Basel)
Red Cards: 75’ Boris Smiljanic (Basel)
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 10

Wow! What a fantastic result, and a brilliant performance to go with it. We totally outplayed Basel from start to finish, and the partnership up front of Kristjánsson and Lobatón already looks like it could be lethal at this level.

retired_manpk1

Wednesday 16th March 2005
Vaduz vs Thun
Super League, Game 20 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Siaka Bamba, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

We’re on an amazing high following the win at the weekend, and the only change to the line up sees Mkhwanaizi return to the side, dropping Walz out of the squad.

We were given a helping hand when Patrick Baumann was shown a red card in just the 6th minute when he kicked out at Guzelov. But the game failed to get going until the twentieth minute when Kerkar crossed and Kristjánsson headed us into the lead. The goalkeeper twice denied D’Elia after that, but seven minutes before the break Stocklasa’s cross was well taken down by Lobatón and the Peruvian neatly turned and fired in a second.

Kristjánsson fired wide and Lobatón was denied by a point-blank save in the early exchanges of the second half, but ten minutes in Fischer played in Kristjánsson to take the ball into the box and the Icelander fired in for his brace from a tight angle. Fischer shot wide after the goalkeeper had only parried Lobatón’s effort, and when the goalkeeper parried Kerkar’s free kick, Lobatón skied the ball over the bar. Late on Almushnino was denied by another great save, but 3-0 was a fair result.

Vaduz 3-0 Thun
Goals: 21’ Kristjánsson (1-0), 38’ Lobatón (2-0), 55’ Kristjánsson (3-0)
Attendance: 3290
Substitutions: Mançaku and Almushnino for Kristjánsson and Guzelov (63’), Bamba for D’Elia (72’)
Yellow Cards: Schneider (Thun)
Red Cards: 6’ Patrick Baumann (Thun)
Man of the Match: Benjamin Fischer 10

Thun were pathetic today, and they never really looked like getting close to a goal today. We though have come back from the winter break totally refreshed and looking fantastic. Let’s just hope that we can keep it up for the rest of the season.

retired_bbcarr

fantastic result against basel :eek:

retired_manpk1

I certainly wasn't complaining :eek:


Saturday 19th March 2005
Neuchâtel Xamax vs Vaduz
Super League, Game 21 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

We’re unchanged for the trip to Neuchâtel Xamax, and we’re looking to build upon our excellent recent results.

We started off brightly, with D’Elia firing over, and when the goalkeeper parried Kristjánsson’s effort, Lobatón fired over. Bühlmann sent a free kick over the bar and Lobatón was then denied by two excellent saves. Kristjánsson saw another save before we finally took the lead as Guzelov sent a long ball over the top into the path of Lobatón who fired in at the near post. Two minutes later Nenad Lalatovic doubled the lead, reacting quickest after the goalkeeper had spilled Kristjánsson’s header from a corner.

Kristjánsson fired wide early in the second half, but on the hour Fischer crossed for Kristjánsson to control the ball and neatly lob the goalkeeper. The game was quiet after that, and we closed out the last twenty minutes with ease.

Neuchâtel Xamax 0-3 Vaduz
Goals: 36’ Lobatón (0-1), 38’ Lalatovic (0-2), 62’ Kristjánsson (0-3)
Attendance: 6109
Substitutions: Kryventsov and Babalade for Fischer and Choi Jin-Chul (64’), Mançaku for Kerkar (81’)
Yellow Cards: Montandon, Bratic (Neuchâtel Xamax), Mkhwanaizi, Fischer (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 9

This was another excellent result for us, and our form since the winter break has been nothing short of fantastic. I just hope that we can keep it up now.

retired_manpk1

Wednesday 23rd March 2005
Grasshopper vs Vaduz
Super League, Game 22 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

We’re on such a high after our recent results that we are confident of winning every game that comes to us. Grasshopper though won’t be pushovers, but we’re unchanged from our successful team.

We started poorly, and in just the second minute Candelario crossed for Johan Vonlanthen to head Grasshopper into the lead. Six minutes later Stocklasa fouled Vonlanthen in the box, and Mihai Tararache fired in the resultant penalty. It didn’t get much better after that, and on 19 Canderlario crossed, Vailati parried Guillermo’s header, and Vonlanthen fired in for 3-0. Guillermo had an effort to further extend the lead, but he sent his effort over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half Lobatón headed the ball forward, and Kristjánsson got into the box and pulled a goal back off the post. Lobatón fired wide soon after, but Grasshopper shut up shop, and Chatruc was the only player to come close to getting another goal.

Grasshopper 3-1 Vaduz
Goals: 2’ Vonlanthen (1-0), 8’ Tararache (pen) (2-0), 19’ Vonlanthen (3-0), 50’ Kristjánsson (3-1)
Attendance: 6415
Substitutions: Mançaku and Kryventsov for Kristjánsson and Fischer (62’), Babalade for Choi Jin-Chul (78’)
Yellow Cards: Ziegler, Candelario (Grasshopper)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: José Manuel Chatruc (Grasshopper) 9

It had to happen sometime, but why did we have to do it in such a poor fashion? We know we can play better, and I’m prepared to give them another chance at the weekend.

retired_manpk1

Saturday 26th March 2005
St. Gallen vs Vaduz
Super League, Game 23 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

The result during the week has really knocked the stuffing out of us, but I’ve decided to keep faith with the side as we face a St. Gallen side who are just below us in the table.

Imhof had two early efforts for St. Gallen, and Sutter also forced a save from Vailati. We slowly got back into the game, and both Kristjánsson and Lobatón came close to opening the scoring. Sutter forced Vailati into another save, but five minutes before the break Kristjánsson crossed for Lobatón to turn on a sixpence and fire us ahead with a shot that was fired in at the near post. In injury time Lalatovic’s corner was met by the head of Choi Jin-Chul. His header was parried, and Benjamin Fischer fired us 2-0 up.

Four minutes into the second half St. Gallen struck back as Tachie-Mensah played a long ball into the box and David Marazzi fired in across Vailati. Three minutes later Jenny’s corner was turned in by Stefan Wolf at the second attempt, and St. Gallen were level. Lobatón saw a header parried as we looked for an immediate reply, and at the other end Vailati made a smart save from Tachie-Mensah. Kristjánsson fired over, and Lobatón had an effort cleared off the line. Late on Wolf was denied by a good save, but both sides had to settle for a draw.

St. Gallen 2-2 Vaduz
Goals: 40’ Lobatón (0-1), 45’ Fischer (0-2), 49’ Marazzi (1-2), 52’ Wolf (2-2)
Attendance: 7591
Substitutions: Mançaku and Kryventsov for Kristjánsson and Kerkar (65’), Almushnino for Choi Jin-Chul (77’)
Yellow Cards: Wolf (St. Gallen)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Abel Augusto Lobatón 9

I’m a bit disappointed with the way that we let slip a two-goal lead, but such is football, and in truth we might have also lost the game.

retired_manpk1

Saturday 9th April 2005
Aarau vs Vaduz
Super League, Game 24 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

We have a fourth consecutive away match, but Aarau are struggling and an unchanged side is confident of getting a result.

Friedli forced Vailati into a good save early on, but on five minutes D’Elia sent in a low cross from the right and Lobatón volleyed us into the lead. Biancalani forced another save soon after, but eight minutes after taking the lead Fischer crossed for Kristjánsson to turn and hit the ball high into the net. Kerkar fired wide, and Kristjánsson was twice denied by good saves. On the half-hour Friedli played a long ball across the box that missed everyone, allowing Rainer Bieli the opportunity to pull a goal back with an open goal. Lobatón was denied by a good save late on in the half.

Two minutes into the second half Lalatovic’s long free kick forward was headed home by Lobatón and on the hour Lobatón had his hatrick, beating the goalkeeper after collecting the ball from Fischer. Kristjánsson fired over as the game meandered towards its’ end, but three minutes from time Lobatón made it 5-1 from the penalty spot after Vanetta had fouled Kristjánsson in the box.

Aarau 1-5 Vaduz
Goals: 5’ Lobatón (0-1), 13’ Kristjánsson (0-2), 32’ Bieli (1-2), 47’ Lobatón (1-3), 52’ Lobatón (1-4), 87’ Lobatón (pen) (1-5)
Attendance: 7972
Substitutions: Kryventsov and Almushnino for Fischer and Guzelov (69’)
Yellow Cards: Gerber, Schultz (Aarau)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Abel Augusto Lobatón 10

What a fantastic result, and Abel Lobatón has really staked a name for himself in the club with his four-goal haul today. Aarau aren’t the best team admittedly, but that doesn’t really detract much from the performance and result today.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Basel 24 15 4 5 33 24 +9 492nd St. Gallen 26 12 8 6 45 33 +12 443rd Grasshopper 24 12 4 8 38 28 +10 404th Servette 24 11 6 7 30 24 +6 395th Vaduz 24 11 4 9 49 36 +13 376th Concordia BS 24 10 6 8 41 33 +8 367th Neuchâtel Xamax 26 7 8 11 33 38 -5 298th Aarau 25 8 2 15 37 58 -21 26---------------------------------------------------9th Thun 25 6 7 12 31 39 -8 25---------------------------------------------------10th Zürich 24 3 7 14 24 48 -24 16</pre>

retired_manpk1

Wednesday 13th April 2005
Vaduz vs Servette
Super League, Game 25 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

It’s nice to finally return back to Liechtenstein, and a win today will lift us over Servette into fourth spot. Yet again we name an unchanged line-up, and the squad is in good spirits following the win at the weekend.

A quiet start to the game was broken midway through the first half when Fischer played in Kristjánsson. The goalkeeper parried his effort, and Lobatón fired in the rebound. But eight minutes later a horrible defensive mistake allowed Léonard Thurre to take the ball into the box and fired in an equaliser across Vailati. Kristjánsson saw a late effort parried, but we went into the break level.

On the hour Lobatón got himself into the box and crossed for Kristjánsson to restore our lead, and we kept Servette at bay to hold on for the three points.

Vaduz 2-1 Servette
Goals: 23’ Lobatón (1-0), 31’ Thurre (1-1), 60’ Kristjánsson (2-1)
Attendance: 3535
Substitutions: Kryventsov for D’Elia (70’)
Yellow Cards: Kerkar, Guzelov (Vaduz), Minavand (Servette)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 8

That was a good result for us today, although I admit that the performance wasn’t great. Still, a win is a win, and we’re up to fourth.

retired_manpk1

Sunday 17th April 2005
Concordia BS vs Vaduz
Super League, Game 26 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Karim Kerkar, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Valeriy Kryventsov, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

It’s another unchanged line-up as we travel to Basel for this tie. Last time we were here it ended 3-3, but from a personal point of view, I hope that we don’t have the roller coaster ride that we had back in November.

Kerkar shooting wide was the only real goalmouth action early on in the game, but on 21 Lobatón chipped the ball into the box and Kristjánsson volleyed us ahead. Kennedy forced Vailtai into a good save, and at the other end the goalkeeper denied Kristjánsson.

We were severely under pressure early in the first half as Santillo saw a header turned over the bar, and Peço saw his effort turned behind. At the other end Lobatón was denied by the post but on 57 we were caught at the back as Tchouga played the ball across the box and Peço left the ball for Mark Kennedy to fire in an equaliser. We came back into the game, with Kristjánsson shooting wide and Lobatón denied by a good save. Eighteen minutes from time Kerkar sent a low cross into the box, and Kristjánsson had an easy chance to restore our lead. Kristjánsson shot over soon after, and at the other end Kennedy and Sessa came close to finding an equaliser. But on 78 Mançaku played a lovely ball forward for Kristjánsson to run onto, and the Icelandic international completed his hatrick, sending the ball under the forlorn goalkeeper. Concordia went up the other end, and after Vailati had parried his first effort, Tchouga could only send the ball wide of the post. Six minutes from time Santillo played in Jean-Michel Tchouga and he pulled a goal back. And just two minutes later there wasn’t much we could do as Tchouga curled in an equaliser from 35 yards out. We didn’t give up hope, and in injury time Kristjánsson shot straight at the goalkeeper and Mançaku shot over. Four minutes into injury time D’Elia somehow centred the ball from the right, and Mançaku drove in the winner with the last kick of the game.

Concordia BS 3-4 Vaduz :eek:
Goals: 21’ Kristjánsson (0-1), 57’ Kennedy (1-1), 72’ Kristjánsson (1-2), 78’ Kristjánsson (1-3), 84’ Tchouga (2-3), 86’ Tchouga (3-3), 90’ Mançaku (3-4)
Attendance: 4296
Substitutions: Kryventsov and Almushnino for Fischer and Mkhwanaizi (65’), Mançaku for Lobatón (75’)
Yellow Cards: Kerkar (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 10

What an exciting last 18 minutes, going from 1-1 to 4-3. We were undone by some poor defending and some excellent counterattacking football, but we’ve got the grit between our teeth at the moment and will take on anybody. Kristjánsson has now scored 51 goals for the club, and he really is indispensable for us on current form. We won’t be able to name an unchanged side for our next match though; Karim Kerkar has earned himself a one-game suspension having been booked for the fourth time during the game today.

retired_manpk1

Wednesday 20th April 2005
Vaduz vs Zürich
Super League, Game 27 of 36

(4-4-2): Germano Vailati; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Nenad Lalatovic, Choi Jin-Chul, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Igor Guzelov, Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson, Abel Augusto Lobatón. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Siaka Bamba, Eyal Almushnino, Ajibade Babalade

Zürich are still trying to avoid the drop this season, but we’re in no mood for niceties, and we’ll be looking to continue our good recent form. Kryventsov is the only change to the side from the weekend, coming in for the suspended Kerkar.

Kristjánsson was denied by an early save, and Vailati had to be alery to keep out both Simo and Petrosyan. Twenty minutes in Fischer’s cross eluded everyone, expect for Fabio D’Elia who tapped in to put us ahead. Petrosyan was denied by a good save from Vailati, but on the half hour Vailati fumbled Calla’s chip and Augustine Simo struck to equalise. Zürich were on top, and before half time Vailati did well to deny a Grubesic free kick, and Keller shot over.

Five minutes into the second half Fischer centred the ball for Kristjánsson to hit the ball high into the net to restore our lead, and a minute later Fischer again turned provider, playing in Kristjánsson who fired in from the edge of the box. Kryventsov saw a header parried to safety, but just before the hour Lobatón made it 4-1 after the goalkeeper had parried Fischer’s excellent header. Kryventsov and Kristjánsson came close to adding to the score late on, and two minutes from time Kristjánsson wrapped up another hatrick, heading home from Fischer’s pinpoint cross.

Vaduz 5-1 Zürich
Goals: 19’ D’Elia (1-0), 29’ Simo (1-1), 50’ Kristjánsson (2-1), 51’ Kristjánsson (3-1), 58’ Lobatón (4-1), 88’ Kristjánsson (5-1)
Attendance: 3523
Substitutions: Babalade for Mkhwanaizi (62’), Almushnino for Choi Jin-Chul (73’)
Yellow Cards: Stocklasa, Mkhwanaizi (Vaduz), Keller, Schmid (Zürich)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 10

Another game, and another fantastic performance. Kristjánsson is playing superbly, and I don’t know what we’d do without him. The only down side to the game is that Michael Stocklasa was booked for the fourth time this season, and he’ll miss the trip to Thun at the weekend due to suspension.