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The “it” that I’m referring to is the nation state of Liechtenstein. The European country sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria is so small that it is the only European country that doesn’t have a football league. Even San Marino can muster that! The country does have football teams, but they only play in a cup competition, and so you may have seen one or two of them in the early European rounds.
One team though, perennial “champions” FC Vaduz, were invited to play in the second tier of the Swiss League. If Celtic or Rangers had tried something like that there would have been murders, but Vaduz are no big fish, and it didn’t mean very much to anyone of any significance. Vaduz play at what might be called the national stadium, but with a capacity of only 3548, the Rheinpark Stadion is not one of the most famous stadia in the world.
The Swiss second tier is known as the Challenge League, and has an interesting points-scoring system. The normal points are awarded for every separate match, but there’s also a twist. The 16 teams play each other twice in succession, and the winner on aggregate from the two games is awarded a bonus 2 points. If the scores are level after the second game, penalties are used to decide who gets the bonus points. It effectively means that you can earn up to 8 points for every two games. Strange, but somehow intriguing as well.
Quite how I became manager of Challenge League side Vaduz is a bit of a mystery, even to me. Anyway, it’s not important, I’m here and that’s what counts. The squad was rather bare when I first arrived. Judge for yourself:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Zangger, M GK 20, SwissStocklasa, M SW/D RC 22, SwissWalz, J SW/D C 23, SwissPolverino, M D R 18, ItalianD'Elia, F M R 20, Swiss Zarn, M AM R 25, SwissFischer, B AM/F L 22, Swiss Stilz, R AM C 26, SwissPolverino, D F RC 27, SwissSlekys, V F LC 31, Lithuanian, 26 caps, 3 goals</pre>
The squad needed a lot of strengthening, and thanks to my trusty assistant manager, and a transfer budget of £1,000,000 I was able to double the size of the squad with ten new signings, all foreigners. Here are the imports:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Thüler, Pascal D/DM L 33, Swiss (6/1) £5,000 from Balzers (LIE)Kristjánsson, Þórarinn Brynjar S C 22, Icelandic £50,000 from Keflv*k (ICE)Bezhenar, Sergiy SW/D RC 32, Ukrainian (25/1) £24,000 from Aktobe (KAZ)Estili, Hamid Reza DM C 32, Iranian (44/6) £30,000 from Pirouzi (IRN)Khmelidze, David GK 24, Georgian (2) £45,000 from Rostov (RUS)Mkhwanaizi, Patrick D L 26, Namibian (21/2) £22,000 from Mbabane Swallows (SWZ)Bazuaye, Baldwin AM/F L 19, Nigerian (2/0) £20,000 from Shooting Starts (NGR)Mançaku, Bledar Fiqiri S C 21, Albanian (1/0) £200,000 from Tueta (ALB)Votava, Tomas SW/D/DM C 29, Czech (13/0) £50,000 from APOEL (CYP)Kryventsov, Valeriy AM C 29, Ukrainian (17/0) £16,000 from Aktobe (RUS)</pre>
Preseason didn’t go particularly well. We only played three matches, all against sides from Liechtenstein. Mançaku scored early on as we were held 1-1 by Triesenberg and Thüler scored a late consolation as we crashed 2-1 against his former club Balzers. Our last game was a 4-1 thrashing by Schaan with Kristjánsson scoring our goal just before half time. Despite the poor showing, the local bookmakers have made us 2-1 fourth favourites for promotion come the end of the season. One automatic place is up for grabs, and one play-off position is also available. I doubt we’ll get one of them this season, but it’s definitely my aim within three years.
Thanks :p I'm hoping that this will be interesting
Friday 18th July 2003 Vaduz vs Kriens
Challenge League, Game 1 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Tomas Votava, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidota Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Jérôme Walz
No one at the club has really got out of pre-season mood just yet, and the squad doesn’t look fully match fit. None of the side though are injured, and so I go with what I considered to be our best line-up.
The first half was a bit of a drab affair, and only late on in the half did anyone come close to scoring as the goalkeeper denied Kryventsov.
The goalkeeper also did well to keep out an early free kick from Kristjánsson, but on the hour the Icelander broke down the right wing and his cross was turned in by Mançaku. Three minutes later Mançaku turned provider, crossing from the left and Benjamin Fischer headed in a second. Barnettler forced Khmelidze into a good save soon afterwards before Kristjánsson forced a save from a header. With twenty minutes to play Kristjánsson broke quickly, and played the ball in for substitute Vaidotas Slekys to score a third. Slekys forced a save late on, but he scored the fourth from the penalty spot in injury time having been pushed in the box by Semoroz.
Vaduz 4-0 Kriens
Goals: 59’ Mançaku (1-0), 62’ Fischer (2-0), 70’ Slekys (3-0), 90’ Slekys (pen) (4-0)
Attendance: 3114
Substitutions: Slekys and Walz for Mançaku and Estili (67’), Stilz for Fischer (77’)
Yellow Cards: Mkhwanaizi (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Michael Stocklasa 8
It was a very confident start for us, and this result almost guarantees us the two bonus points for the tie.
Friday 25th July 2003 Kriens vs Vaduz
Challenge League, Game 2 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Tomas Votava, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidota Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Jérôme Walz
The squad is still not fully fit, but given the nature of our win last week we keep an unchanged line-up.
Things got off to a good start. Kryventsov forced an early save before a poor clearance from the goalkeeper allowed Kristjánsson to pass the ball into an open net. Kriens woke up after that, and Reto Burri forced a save before equalising from a narrow angle, having been put in by Melina. Kristjánsson smacked a free kick onto the post before Melina forced a point blank save from Khmelidze. Mançaku fired over after the goalkeeper had spilled Kristjánsson’s shot, and the Icelander fired over soon afterwards. Just before the break we retook the lead as Votova floated in a long free kick and Kristjánsson sent in a volley off the inside of the post.
Kriens were level within two minutes of the restart as Reto Burri turned Votava, moved into the area and fired in. Kryventsov shot just wide and Kristjánsson was denied by an excellent save as we looked to restore our lead, and we were handed in by Kriens on 65 when Ivo Barri pushed Mançaku in the box. Fischer easily scored from the spot, and two minutes later the goalkeeper spilled Kristjánsson’s shot into the path of Mançaku who scored for 4-2. Three minutes later though Kriens were back in the game as Gabriel Urdaneta headed in from Semeroz’s long free kick. We tried to close the game out, and Kristjánsson saw a header well saved. But in injury time Kriens found an equaliser as Melina chipped the ball into the box and Michael Budmiger fired in.
Kriens 4-4 Vaduz (4-8)
Goals: 8’ Kristjánsson (0-1), 16’ R. Burri (1-1), 44’ Kristjánsson (1-2), 47’ R. Burri (2-2), 65’ Fischer (pen) (2-3), 67’ Mançaku (2-4), 70’ Urdaneta (3-4), 90’ Budmiger (4-4)
Attendance: 2139
Substitutions: Slekys, Stilz and Walz for Mançaku, Fischer and Mkhwanaizi (68’)
Yellow Cards: I. Burri (Kriens), Bezhenar (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 9
An eight goal thriller was not what I really expected, and we might have to look at our defending after conceding four today. It’s also to lose two points in the final minute, but it’s still early in the season, and I can’t complain just yet.
Friday 1st August 2003 La Chaux-de-Fonds vs Vaduz
Challenge League, Game 3 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Jérôme Walz, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa (capt); Benjamin Fischer, Tomas Votava, Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidota Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Michele Polverino
Hamid Reza Estili, the club captain, is given a rest today as we travel to the early pacesetters. Jérôme Walz comes in to replace the Iranian.
We started quite well, with Votava firing over, and Mançaku being denied by the goalkeeper. It was the home side though who took the lead on 25 with their first attack as Pittet played in David Janko who neatly turned Sergiy Bezhenar and fired in past Khmelidze. The equaliser took only ten minutes in coming as Mançaku’s chip into the box went long and Kristjánsson eventually got the ball and sent the ball into the back of the net.
We were ahead within the first minute of the second half as D’Elia crossed, and although the goalkeeper did well to keep out Kristjánsson’s effort, the ball fell to Mançaku who passed the ball into the net. Kristjánsson was denied soon after, but on 56 the Icelander had us 3-1 up when he collected Mkhwanaizi’s long ball into the box and fired in past the helpless goalkeeper. Seven minutes later Kristjánsson had his hatrick, following up after the goalkeeper could only get his fingertips to Mançaku’s effort. Mançaku was denied by an excellent save late on in the match, but in injury time we scored a fifth as Bezhenar put the ball back into the box after the home side had cleared a corner, and Kristjánsson found himself with plenty of time to turn and fire home.
La Chaux-de-Fonds 1-5 Vaduz
Goals: 25’ Janko (1-0), 35’ Kristjánsson (1-1), 46’ Mançaku (1-2), 56’ Kristjánsson (1-3), 63’ Kristjánsson (1-4), 90’ Kristjánsson (1-5)
Attendance: 3019
Substitutions: Slekys and Zarn for Mkhwanaizi and D’Elia (64’)
Yellow Cards: Bezhenar, Mançaku (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 10
That was a really excellent performance from us today, and Kristjánsson and Mançaku look a formidable partnership up front. Hopefully they can both stay fit and fire us into promotion contention.
We’ve qualified for the UEFA Cup again thanks to the Liechtenstein Cup (which, I think, we’re not entering this season), and we’re entered in at the Qualifying Round. We’ve been given a rather reasonable draw, having to face Israeli Cup winners Hapoel Ramat-Gan. The first leg will be played in Israel in a little under two weeks time.
Friday 8th August 2003 Vaduz vs La Chaux-de-Fonds
Challenge League, Game 4 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Tomas Votava, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidota Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Jérôme Walz
The bonus points look to be in the bag already, but we want to ensure that we take 5 points today, and that will involve breaking down what I’m sure will be a very defensive side. Estili is back to captain the side, relegating Walz back to the bench.
We did everything but score in the first half. D’Elia was denied by a good save as were Kristjánsson and Kryventsov. Mançaku was denied by the foot of the post before Khmelidze was called upon to deny Janko.
There was more frustration in the second half as Mançaku was denied by an excellent save and when Kryventsov’s shot was parried Kritsjánsson hit the crossbar. The game degenerated somewhat from there, and we had to settle for a draw.
Vaduz 0-0 La Chaux-de-Fonds (5-1)
Goals: -
Attendance: 3042
Substitutions: Walz for Mkhwanaizi (45’), Slekys and Zarn for Mançaku and D’Elia (68’)
Yellow Cards: Amato (La Chaux-de-Fonds)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Michael Stocklasa 9
We played really well today, but just couldn’t get past a determined defence. We weren’t helped by some cruel luck, denied twice by the woodwork, but we can’t dwell on that; we’ve got a UEFA Cup tie coming up next week.
Thursday 14th August 2003 Hapoel Ramat-Gan (Israel) vs Vaduz
UEFA Cup, Qualifying Round, First Leg
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Tomas Votava, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidota Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Jérôme Walz, Baldwin Bazuaye, Pascal Thüler
Our European campaign gets underway in Israel, and this is a tie that I feel that we can get through. It would be really useful if we could get an away goal today, but any result would be good to take back with us.
The game was cagey early on, but we had the better of the early chances, with the goalkeeper making an excellent double save from Kristjánsson. Mançaku was also denied by the goalkeeper, before Elkayam called Khmelidze into action late on.
We had to make two early substitutions, and we were just our shape back together when Elkayam squared the ball across the box for Avi Malka to put the home side into the lead. The goalkeeper again denied Mançaku, and late on Kristjánsson fired over as we failed to find an equaliser.
Hapoel Ramat-Gan 1-0 Vaduz
Goals: 54’ Malka (1-0)
Attendance: 5652
Substitutions: Zarn and Bazuaye for D’Elia and Fischer (50’), Thüler for Mkhwanaizi (68’)
Yellow Cards: Dahan (Hapoel Ramat-Gan), Stocklasa (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Alon Haim (Hapoel Ramat-Gan) 9
1-0 is probably the worst result we could have got, and we’ve got it all to do in a fortnight when we play the return leg. But we don’t have too long to dwell on such matters; we are in Luzern for a league game tomorrow night.
Friday 15th August 2003 Luzern vs Vaduz
Challenge League, Game 5 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Pascal Thüler, Tomas Votava, Jérôme Walz, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Vaidotas Slekys, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Daniele Polverino, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Michele Polverino
Having played only yesterday, I’ve decided to only make three changes to the line-up as we travel to the early league leaders. Pascal Thüler, Jérôme Walz and Vaidotas Slekys come in for the tired trio of Mkhwanaizi, Bezhenar and Mançaku.
Despite being anything but fully fit we started very well. Kryventsov shot straight at the goalkeeper, but on 7 Slekys crossed and Kristjánsson fired in with an excellent half volley. Diethelm fired over for the home side soon afterwards, but on 16 we doubled our lead. Votava picked out Kristjánsson with an excellent pass and he found Vaidotas Slekys who drove the ball under the goalkeeper’s legs and into the net. Kristjánsson was denied by a great save soon after, but the Icelander scored a third on the half hour with a lovely lob over the goalkeeper.
Kristjánsson was twice denied his hatrick early in the second half by the goalkeeper, and he then lifted an attempted lob over the bar. Khmelidze was required to keep out both Rota and Cenci before Mehmeti shot woefully wide. Kristjánsson thundered a shot against the post before Cenci was again denied by Khmelidze. In the last few minutes Daniele Polverino fired over, whilst at the other end both Mfumu and Cenci shot over.
Luzern 0-3 Vaduz
Goals: 7’ Kristjánsson (0-1), 16’ Slekys (0-2), 30’ Kristjánsson (0-3)
Attendance: 8544
Substitutions: D. Polverino and M. Polverino for Estili and Votava (69’), Stilz for Slekys (79’)
Yellow Cards: Schwegler (Luzern), Thüler, M. Polverino (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Benjamin Fischer 10
I certainly wasn’t expecting that. Luzern are an excellent side, and with us tiring quickly, I expected more of them. It did help that we got the three goals early on, and we must make sure that we finish them off next week in the return fixture.
Friday 22nd August 2003 Vaduz vs Luzern
Challenge League, Game 6 of 30
(4-4-2): David Khmelidze; Patrick Mkhwanaizi, Tomas Votava, Sergiy Bezhenar, Michael Stocklasa; Benjamin Fischer, Hamid Reza Estili (capt), Valeriy Kryventsov, Fabio D’Elia; Bledar Fiqiri Mançaku, Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson. Substitutes: Manuel Zangger (gk), Vaidotas Slekys, Roger Stilz, Marius Zarn, Jérôme Walz
We’re looking to claim our first double-header victory today, and we’re able to recall Bezhenar, Mkhwanaizi and Mançaku to the side, at the expense of Thüler, Walz and Slekys.
Kristjánsson and Kryventsov were both denied early on by excellent saves in the early part of the match, before Luyet shot wide for the visitors. On the half hour Kristjánsson played a neat one-two with D’Elia and then fired the ball in from the edge of the box when it seemed sensible to cross the ball. Khmelidze made an excellent save to keep out Ziegler before Mançaku shot over. Three minutes before the break our lead was doubled as Kryventsov sprayed the ball out to Kristjánsson who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Luzern just didn’t seem interested in the second half, and in fact were lucky not to concede for the most part; their goalkeeping saving them from efforts from Fischer, Kristjánsson and Slekys. Six minutes from time Mkwanaizi sent a long ball into the feet of Slekys who fired in from the edge of the box, and in injury time we added a fourth as the goalkeeper parried Kryventsov’s header into the path of Slekys who gratefully tapped the ball in.
Vaduz 4-0 Luzern (7-0)
Goals: 31’ Kristjánsson (1-0), 42’ Kristjánsson (2-0), 84’ Slekys (3-0), 90’ Slekys (4-0)
Attendance: 3142
Substitutions: Slekys and Stilz for Mançaku and Fischer (68’), Walz for Stocklasa (77’)
Yellow Cards: Votava (Vaduz)
Red Cards: -
Man of the Match: Þórarinn Brynjar Kristjánsson 10
That was another highly professional performance from us, and the victory, coupled with the bonus points, sees us leapfrog Luzern into top spot at this early stage of the season.
Don’t blink; you might miss it 
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