Bring the Brazilians on!
Fifteen fighting souls gave up the warmth of their bed and the comfort of their house to savour the smell of blood in another epic battle. The CLUB duly noted and the fans in the stands once again felt they had won the lottery ticket. Gladiators usually don’t come this cheap!
Christmas wonderland is officially few hundred yards away but the true magic is performed around the pond, week in week out.
The pitch was soaked but not muddy. Not the day anyway you wanted to be a goalkeeper: the ball was as slippery as a piece of soap and only a brave Tony L among our guardians answered the call of duty giving confidence to the Orange team while Colours had to resort to rotating keepers to defend their goals.
Francesco, Giancarlo and Chetan were sporting the new shirts courtesy of Victor (see top photo) and the effect was evident right from the start. Giancarlo and Francesco were lucky enough to get the Brazilian national team ones: perhaps if Ancelotti goes to coach the ‘Verdeoro’ they’ll get a call for the next World Cup: there is enough time to forge the passport…
It’s enough to wear a Brazilian shirt to feel like a Brazilian but when it comes to perform like a Brazilian, well then the job is better left to a Football Dad for it to be credible. Like when Giancarlo got a ball in the deep corner, did his customary nutmeg on the incoming opponent and put the ball on a plate for a classy conversion by Francesco.
Or when Andrea P scored from an impossible angle just like Maicon did against South Korea.
As always there was little time wasted trying to read opposition: seven a side provides ample spaces and they were attacked with no hesitation.
Diego was in fine form and willing to sacrifice with recovery runs: in one of those he repossessed the ball and went straight to goal giving the Colours an early lead. This was only the first of four in a very prolific game for him with no profligacy in front of of goal.
Clinical finishing along with striker natural greed. Still, if you just read the names in the Orange ranks you knew it was not game over at any time: and this time there was a shocker in the making.
Unnoticed to many Arman started the game in a Bellingham position, somewhere high up in the pitch just behind the striker in contrast to his previous role as a defender on the flank.
Never such a move, perhaps with the exception of Gareth Bale, was more productive.
Before they knew little Arman had planted four balls in the back of the Colours net, something probably unprecedented at such young age. The CLUB Data Team is taking the weekend off to check the stats and deliver the verdict.
One of his four was reminiscent of the goal Ronaldinho scored with Barcelona against Chelsea at Stamford bridge.
Still despite such an incredible contribution from the youngest player on the pitch, Colours were still leading as Diego was firing from all cylinders with also Al adding to the scoreline.
At that point Orange decided to tap the market and brought in David, a fresh 60 years old Englishman who also added Brazilian flair having lived in Rio for many years.
He added stability and fluency to his midfield making the one man up count for the Orange who first levelled and then brought he game to 10-7 before Colours had a chance to grab a well deserved golden goal with an imperious strike from Nizard.
The Man of the Match award was unquestionably reserved for the wonder Kid, Arman, with a caveat: from now on he will no longer be left unmarked but rather be surrounded by two or three opponents under a no-mercy policy.
Another glorious match came to an end with even the sun appearing for a short while while the rain deferentially gave up right at the start of the game.
When all elements pay you their respect you can only go home, enjoy the weekend and look forward to the next match.
ORANGE-COLOURS 10-8
GOALS
ORANGE: Arman (4), Johannes (3), Victor, Thomas, Bijan
COLOURS: Diego (4), Andrea P, Al, Francesco, Nizard
TEAMS
ORANGE: Tony L, Chetan, Bijan, David (from 45’), Johannes, Thomas, Arman, Victor
COLOURS: Hossam, Giancarlo, Al, Andrea P, Francesco, Nizard, Diego