Match Report
Thurlow Nunn Division 1 South - Saturday 27th December
FC Baresi 5-2 NW London
Monaye Mitchell .OWN GOAL 24' (FC Baresi)
Aymen Messaoudi 28' (NW London)
Junior Appiah 33' (FC Baresi)
Immanuel Soetan 38' (FC Baresi)
Thulio Soares 41' (NW London)
Immanuel Soetan 63' (FC Baresi)
Junior Appiah 69' (FC Baresi)
A youthful NW London side paid the price for a series of defensive lapses, as FC Baresi capitalised on "Gorilla" errors to secure all three points. Despite long periods of possession and flashes of brilliance from the visitors, NW London's slide continues with a seventh consecutive defeat, while Baresi managed to break their own poor run of form.
First Half: A Seesaw Battle
NW London entered the fray with a trademark confidence, dominating the ball for the opening 20 minutes. With Rocco Montorio returning to the lineup and a bench featuring four teenagers, the energy was high, yet the Gorillas struggled to turn possession into clear-cut chances, settling for speculative long-range efforts.
The momentum shifted when defensive fragility crept in:
The Breakthrough: After Al-Nashi produced a heroic goal-line clearance to spare initial blushes, the deadlock was broken in unfortunate fashion. Mitchell, returning for his first start since November, inadvertently poked the ball into his own net while trying to recover from a lost possession.
The Fightback: NW London responded with the goal of the game—a fluid, flowing move involving Montorio and Messaoudi, with the latter calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
The Collapse: The parity was short-lived. Okoko's misjudged header allowed Appiah to nip in and bypass Turriel for 2-1. Moments later, another turnover in midfield left the defense exposed, allowing Soetan to curl a clinical finish home for Baresi's third.
A Lifeline: Before the break, Burcea slipped a pass to Soares, who curled a delightful effort into the net to make it 3-2 and keep the Gorillas in the hunt.
Second Half: Baresi Slam the Door
The second period saw FC Baresi "set up shop," inviting NW London possession while looking to kill the game on the break. While the Gorillas held the ball relentlessly, they lacked the final ball to penetrate a disciplined Baresi rear-guard.
The game was ultimately decided by two further lapses:
Set-Piece Struggle: Poor marking from a corner left Soetan completely unmarked to header home his second and Baresi's fourth.
The Final Blow: As NW London's "bite" faded, a misjudgment from keeper Turriel on a lofted cross allowed Appiah to tap in his second, sealing the 5-2 scoreline.