Tribute to JJ

To mark the 45th birthday of Jonatan Johansson I am reproducing excepts from our report of a cup game against Exeter City.   Currently JJ is manager of the Finish professional club TPS.

Exeter City turned up at The Valley for their 3rd round FA Cup tie with Charlton accompanied by Alex the Great with his sword and shield and the statuesque Athena (Darth Vader was promised, but failed to appear. No doubt his spaceship was caught in traffic in the Blackwall Tunnel). But the Grecians were no match for the acrobatic finish of Jonatan Johanssen who scored twice to put the Addicks ahead with overhead kicks. His first goal put the Addicks 1-0 ahead before the break but Exeter levelled with an excellent header from former Brazilian youth player Santos Gaia. The score stayed level for ten worrying minutes, but then JJ got his second and the Addicks made it 3-1 with a penalty from Jason Euell.

Charlton started brightly with JJ powering down the wing and winning a corner.  On 25 minutes Bart-Williams, always good in dead ball situations, put in a well judged free kick which was headed on by Bartlett into the path of JJ. From just eight yards out JJ executed a superb overhead kick into the bottom corner of he net.

The Grecians almost got back into the game straight away. Martin Thomas saw Deano push his shot from the edge of the penalty area on to the post. The rebound fell to giant centre forward and ex-boxer Steve Flack, but his effort was well over. 

The Grecians started the second half brightly with an early corner punched out by Deano. Euell turned provider for JJ, but his effort was saved. Exeter won a free kick four minutes into the half and the Bloke Beside Me commented, 'If they score now, we're in trouble'. I wish he hadn't said that. Gaia was allowed a free header from Sheldon's free kick and headed the ball into the corner of the net in a well taken goal.

As the Exeter manager was heard to say later, Charlton now stepped up a gear. Their greater fluency in passing and their skill at feints had been evident throughout the match. Nevertheless, it was a worrying ten minutes for the Addickted faced with the prospect of a trip to St.James's Park, particularly when Rufus went down. Then on 61 minutes Bartlett headed a long ball into the path of JJ who provided another stunning overhead kick, leaving Miller to pick the ball out from the back of the net. 

Five minutes after the second Charlton goal Euell put the ball through to JJ who was brought down by Pilkington just inside the area. Euell stepped up and put the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to make it 3-1.