Diego’s Hat-Trick Seals Sensational Win in Thrilling 15-a-Side Clash
With only six weeks to go before the next Master Game, the pressure to secure a spot in the two competing teams is mounting. All players, whether veterans or novices, are determined to prove themselves worthy of selection—and there’s no better way to do that than by excelling in Saturday’s match. So it’s no surprise that a record number of 30 players (including two rookies, Daniel and Kerim from Lebanon) showed up at the Pond yesterday, intent on giving it their all—and more. The result was an absolutely thrilling match that saw the Colours team prevail 5–3 after a fiery battle.
FD is a club that believes in inclusivity and, above all, in having fun. With that in mind, instead of benching eight players to play 11-a-side, it was decided to start everyone. After all, if rugby is played with two squads of 15, why not football? Sure, the pitch was more crowded than the M25 on a Monday morning, but surprisingly, the play from both sides was fluid and elegant.
The Colours could count on an exceptional defensive line. In front of Paride, Hannes and Massimo provided sheer strength in the centre, while Al and André covered the flanks, and Johannes dropped in as needed. Yuness, Endi, AndreaR and Nicolò set up camp in midfield, fighting for every ball and looking to open up spaces for the attacking quartet: Diego, Francesco, Giuseppe, and Matteo.
Playing on the left wing, Diego was devastating. He tore down the flank like Road Runner on turbo, leaving defenders flailing like Wile Coyote after another doomed ACME plan. Within ten minutes, Diego had scored twice, with Alessandro unable to stop his powerful strikes.
The battle intensified. In midfield, the Bibs established their dominance. Running at what felt like illegal speeds, Dan captured more balls than a Golden Retriever at Wimbledon, quickly feeding them to strikers Victor, Yassin, and Jonathan. They created countless chances but kept hitting the defensive wall built by Paride and his backline.
The pressure from the Colours continued. Giuseppe and Matteo exploited the right wing, earning a series of dangerous corner kicks—one of which resulted in a penalty for a handball in the box. Francesco had missed his last spot-kick and was eager to prove that it had been just an unfortunate blip. He exuded such confidence that the official scorekeeper had already marked the score as 3–0. But instead, his shot went wide, to the shock and disappointment of teammates and crowd alike. What could have been the match point turned into a missed opportunity. The Bibs saw it as a sign of destiny and surged forward with renewed belief.
It was time for Victor’s moment. Our Brazilian hero had returned after months of absence and reminded us what we’d been missing. When a ball came in from the left, just outside the box, he struck it with the power and precision of a seasoned Romario, sending it into the top corner of Paride’s goal.
Minutes later, Victor created havoc again on the left, gliding past the Colours’ defence with the grace of a samba dancer. When he found himself one-on-one with Paride, he unselfishly squared it to Jonathan, perfectly placed to tap in the equaliser.
After an hour of play, the match was level again at 2–2, and everything was up for grabs. The tension reached new heights. Passers-by stopped to watch. A police car, cruising past, slowed to a crawl to catch more of the action.
Both teams wanted the win so badly that they left themselves exposed to lethal counterattacks. In one of these, the Colours regained the lead through Nicolò—and soon after, Diego completed his hat-trick to make it 4–2.
Still, the Bibs weren’t done. They launched another remuntada, pressing the Colours from every angle. Al broke up countless plays, clearing the ball with a no-nonsense style Italians call “alla viva il parroco.” Hannes threw himself into every shot, risking life and limb, while Johannes played a selfless game, sacrificing his natural attacking instincts to stay back and defend.
Despite their heroics, the Colours had to concede one more. Paride couldn’t stop Yassin’s shot, cruelly deflected by Massimo, bringing the score to 4–3, with just enough time left for a Golden Goal.
Ah, the Golden Goal! The great leveller—capable of crowning the underdog or crushing the mighty, sealing destiny in a single, breathless moment. The voice of fate, whispered through grass and sweat. A Shakespearean moment of justice or betrayal. The final twist in the screenplay of an Oscar-worthy drama.
For the Bibs, it would have meant a dramatic draw. But the Colours felt the win belonged to them—and so it was, thanks to a goal from Matteo.
The Italian had only debuted the previous week but had already shown signs of being a real powerhouse. Here is a striker with the physique of Bobo Vieri and the precision of Del Piero. A fantastic addition to the Dads team ahead of the Master Game.
His performance was rightly praised by pundits and fans alike. With many players worthy of the Man of the Match award, the jury did not have an easy task but ultimately agreed to give it to Diego for his outstanding contribution to the Colours’ win. A hat-trick for the history books.
COLOURS-BIBS 5-3
COLOURS: Paride, Hannes, Johannes, AndreaR, Al, Massimo, Andre, Arkady, Diego (3), Matteo, Francesco (1), Nicolò (1), Yuness, Giuseppe, Endi
BIBS: Alessandro, AndreaM, Matej, Bijan, Yassin (1), Victor (1), Dan, Jonathan (1), Joshua, Daniel, Kerim, Guillame, VictorD
