The weather was very pleasant and the number of players (22) just what was required to have a lively game with the right level of fluency. Everything was set to stage another entertaining match for the loyal spectators on the stands who wouldn’t trade Saturday morning with anything else. ‘Satisfied or Reimbursed’ is a policy our fans never had a chance to test.
Goalkeeper was again the rare commodity with in-form Alessandro the only option, snatched immediately by Colours’ team without even asking for the price. Banking credit lines have never been an issue for Football Dads.
This time around there was only one young Rookie but his gravitas on the pitch was felt from start to end: you could tell the young Italian Jacopo, brother to Gregorio, from Ravenna had football written all over him. He was the asset for the Orange that could swing the pendulum of the match. As he did.
Brothers in arms: Rookie Jacopo (left) and his brother Gregorio
The rush keeper has proven to be the Achilles’ heel in any team and today was no exception as the various goalies alternating for the Orange had few blunders to share which Francesco and Ishan were ready to clinically exploit bringing Colours to an early lead.
The Orange defence was otherwise solid with a seasoned back four line made by Branko, Hossam, Andrea and Giancarlo. The Croatian, back from a long absence, fought on every ball as if his life depended on it showing a contagious fighting spirit.
The cumulative age of these four defenders was bigger than the rest of the team that boasted both an energetic and talented midfield and attack where Diego F played a pivotal role. Curiously there were in the same Orange team two sets of brothers, Dario and Diego D, paired by Gregorio and Jacopo. Their understanding was a given and they could find each other blindfolded.
Such a well oiled machine was always going to grant a copious harvest and the time was ripe: Yuness, Diego D and Jacopo in quick succession with combined 8 goals brought the Orange to parity and then in front with a comfortable lead.
Dario helped the Orange score with ‘la maledetta’, a shot from distance with a swinging trajectory: every goalie nightmare. Pirlo was nodding on the stands.
The clock hit 11.45 with a 10-6 score for the Orange. Going into the golden goal every player made sure, especially those on the losing side, to have enough energy left to go for it as such precious goal can turn you instantly from a zero into a hero.
The aura of a golden goal scorer is such that even his wife acknowledges it!
It was again Francesco who bagged it with a dramatic volley with his weak foot: Giancarlo could only touch but not save it. It was a proper end to a vibrant game that show brilliant individual pieces of skill as well as choral moves like when Diego F, Jacopo, Yuness and Diego D with one touch each went from midfield to hitting the net.
Without one player the Man of the Match award would have been a contentious issue as the whole Drndalovski family could have made claims as well as Gregorio, Ishan and Francesco.
But Rookie Jacopo was there to steal the show running midfield with Gregorio as if it was a family business while scoring a hat trick in the process.
What was most impressive was his ability to read the game before receiving the ball and making one touch football the simplest and most effective way to free teammates o creating an opportunity. A kind of gift that keeps on giving but needs nurturing as Jacopo’s shape seems to suggest.
Shame he lives in Italy but we are blessed with the weekly presence of his tutoring brother Gregorio Calafiori, at least until Arsenal makes a move…
These Sumo guys have been going around Hyde Park since Saturday morning looking for the Football Dads pitch. They could not believe they finally found me!
ORANGE-COLOURS 10-7
TEAMS
ORANGE: Giancarlo, Hossam, Branko, Andrea M, Nadir, Gregorio, Diego F, Jacopo, Dario, Diego D, Yuness.
COLOURS: Alessandro, Matej, Alister, Adam B, Federico, Julien, Jonathan, Orian, Ishan, Francesco.
GOALS
ORANGE: Jacopo (3), Youness (2), Diego D (3), Dario, Matej (og),
COLOURS: Francesco (2), Alister, Ishan (2), Orian