SFA League B Playoffs Season 2

Semi Final 1 - FC Brighton 5 - 4 F.C. Phoenix
Fabinho's 4 goals in vain

This classic match saw goals galore at The Den. After a tense opening, it was FC Brighton who took control of the tie. Firstly, Brazilian Centre Half Kaka rose high to meet a Fledderus corner and powered a header into the back of the net. Then, on 22 minutes, with the ball bobbling round the Phoenix penalty box, Lee Chun-Soo pounced to make it 2-0. A few minutes later the game was as good as over when a defense splitting pass from Modubi sent Manucharyan through on goal, and the young Armenian finished clinicaly to make it 3-0.

With nothing to lose, Phoenix manager Banks brought on young Brazilian striker Fabinho, who seemed to cause panic in the Brighton backline. On 62 minutes, a fine through ball from Bozic found Fabinho, who, from the corner of the box, beat Toni Doblas with a low drive. 2 minutes later, a defensive header from Phoenix's Gonzalez looped over Brighton's centre halves, and again there was Fabinho to finish from the edge of the box, the tie was now alive. However, Brighton seemed to have held on and booked their place in the final, until, in the 92nd minute, the creative Garcia played a wonderful ball through to Fabinho to complete his hattrick from 12 yards. Brighton complained that the goal was offside, but replays have shown the officials made the correct decision. Extra time was to be played.

Brighton came out in the first period, and started to dominate, just has they had done at the start of the match. This possesion was rewarded when Chun-Soo unlocked the Phoenix defense with a wonderful pass to Manucharyan who rounded Magnus Bahne and slotted home. 4-3 to Brighton, surely game over now. However, 2 minutes later Garcia picked up his 2nd assist of the game with a ball down the inside right for, you've guessed it, Fabinho to run onto, round Toni Doblas and score his, and Phoenix's 4th. With penalties looming, a sloppy pass by Garcia was intercepted by Anton Bober, and the Russian drove into the opposition area, only to be stopped by a clumsy tackle from Paul McShane. The nerveless Kaka stepped up to slot the penalty into the back of the net, make it 5-4, and that surely gave Brighton a place in the final.

There was 1 final twist however. In the 120th minute, Correa slipped a ball through to Fabinho, who ran clear of the defence and finished clinicaly, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Again, the officials got the decision spot-on. A truly great game, which would have graced any final.