Colours’ exuberant display raises an unsettling question: ‘Was it true glory?’

Typically, when you get a low score like 3-1, two factors are at play: crowded teams and/or very balanced formations. Both applied in this instance, as 26 players stepped onto the pitch, each claiming a shirt or a bib. The resulting teams were so perfectly balanced that it took almost an hour to break the ice.

It had to come from an individual moment of sublime skill. Last Saturday we wrote about Diego D’s love affair with the right top corner of the goal near the pond when he kissed the top bar with an amazing shot. Well, yesterday, Diego D reiterated the feeling by sending —this time, by sending an official letter of engagement. The address was spot on: the ball flew undisturbed into the top corner at top speed, meeting no resistance but for a spiderweb that should have known better. The crowd went wild, particularly a bunch of fans wearing Orange shirts. They only regained composure when reminded that Diego D was actually playing for Colours, not Orange. But they were right—everyone should celebrate beauty, regardless!

You couldn’t ask for more from the game, even in its early phase: it was a mix of effrontery by the youngsters and expert artistry of the veterans. Once again, the Kids—despite a couple of borderline cases age-wise—outnumbered the Dads, and that was reflected in the relentless pace of the match. Why so many Kids? It must be word of mouth: they come, they learn, they tell their friends, and then come back together. At some point, we might have to hold selections on Friday…

The game featured two special guests. Tom was back from Munich and wasted no time taking charge of the right wing, showcasing his trademark solidity in tackles and accuracy in passing. The other was a rookie—a young girl from Brazil named Gabbi. She played in central defense for Colours and had an excellent game. At one point, she stopped a thunderous shot from Johannes that was destined for glory by putting her body on the line. Such was her confidence that she sported ‘Converse’ basketball shoes without making a fuss. Her positioning was accurate, and she didn’t waste a single ball. At one point, Giancarlo, out of frustration, approached Hossam and pleaded, “Can you please mark me instead of Gabbi?” To no avail.

At 1-0 down, Orange had to do something, but they found it hard. In fact, they spent much of their time resisting the relentless attacks from Colours, who deployed fine tactics. Instead of playing a vertical game and risking colliding with the Massimo-Hannes central wall, they took advantage of the speed and exuberance of Diego D and Oliviero on the left, and the experience and gravitas of Nizar and Francesco on the right, to constantly find shooting opportunities. Alessandro was equal to the challenge, keeping Orange in the game.

One area for improvement in Orange’s attack was communication between the two extreme flanks. Fortunately, that was a quick fix—once Nizar realised that Paulo’s true name was, in fact, Oliviero…

Any team having in midfield the likes of Diego F, Alex, and Dario is expected to be consistently good and, at brilliant at times. That brilliance was on full display when Alex delivered an inviting lateral ball to Dario, who produced a superb spur—not only keeping it in play but also providing a fine assist to Diego F, who nonchalantly converted inside the box beating Paride.

It was game on, with both teams refusing to go to golden goal, despite time pressing on. Unlike normal games, our golden goal does not provide certainty about when the precise end of our matches. This has been embraced by the community and, in fact, celebrated as the ultimate thrill. The WAGs of the fans attending our games, only asked once their husbands: “When will you be back for lunch?” The reply was always the same—“After the golden goal.” And they asked no more, respecting the sanctity of the moment.

With the score at 1-1 after 100 minutes of non-stop play, anything could happen. Legs were tired, but most players on the pitch could decide the match in a split second. The honour fell to Nadir, who produced a shot which ended in the back of the net, helped by some trickery from Nizar.

It was a devastating blow for Oranges, who had consumed most of their mental and physical energy on the earlier remuntada. They entered the golden goal period dejected, as if facing a superior force. Colours ruthlessly went for the Orange’s jugular and wasted no time to put an end to the game. Oliviero—who else?—sealed the score at 3-1 in yet another epic battle that demanded a massive effort from Colours to put to bed.

The Colours’ frontline was the star of the show, but for it to perform the way it did, it required a highly functional midfield, where Yuness was the pivotal figure. With his elegant and agile figure, he was always able to distribute the ball to the best-positioned teammate, making the Colours’ engine run like clockwork. While he was certainly not the only player deserving of the Man of the Match accolade, his comprehensive and consistent effort from beginning to end made him the right choice.

P.S. At the end of each write-up, the seasoned commentator conducts a fact-check to ensure the narrative matches the numbers. As it turned out, Colours deployed 14 players versus only 12 for Orange. This raises an unsettling question about the Colours’ sparkling display—the very same question Manzoni asked of Napoleon: Was it true glory?  To our fans the arduous sentence.

COLOURS-ORANGE 3-1

GOALS
COLOURS: Diego D, Nadir, Oliviero
ORANGE: Diego F

TEAMS
COLOURS: Paride, Hossam, Andrea M, Giuseppe, Bijan, Matej, Gabbi, Yuness, Federico, Diego D, Nadir, Oliviero, Nizar, Francesco
ORANGE: Alessandro, Tom, Hannes, Massimo, Chetan, Julien, Al, Johannes, Diego F, Dario, Alex, Giancarlo