Football is a game played by fourteen (and in the end the Germans lost)
As Gary Lineker famously said: ‘Football is a game played by eleven and in the end the Germans win’. Yesterday it was a game played by fourteen and in the end the Germans lost. Such is Football.
As we had to give up the status of settlers of the land, whenever we play at the Palace during half terms we find ourselves involved in negotiations about who plays where with other people claiming the space. This time we had to move the southern goal further up the pitch and it was a fairly complicated matter as there were a record 28 players ready to do anything to be able to start the game. Every inch on the pitch was up for grabs.
Such high density made the natural aggression even higher as proximity further reduced the time on the ball: if you didn’t get rid of the ball in a fraction of a second you were guaranteed to be the recipient of a tackle, often a bad one.
Typically when the overcrowding issue manifests itself there are calls to sort it out in various ways: late comers will only play as subs, mini tournament with four teams, players rotations etc. We have been there before and doing nothing about it has proven to be the best solution: it only takes a less than perfect weather to reduce the number of players to a manageable level, especially so when playing in the bigger and more recurring Pond pitch. A rainy or cloudy or wind day will reduce the participants to the standard 8-9 a side which is the ideal format for our game. So, time, or rather weather, is on our side.
The overcrowding though did only good to the teams selection in that it did produce a fine balance which could only be broken by a very late golden goal. When asked, fans are ready to admit that our unique introduction of the nail biting golden goal is one of the many reasons they accept paying a premium price for the ticket.
Also, interestingly , when they get back home after a much delayed golden goal, the WAGS instead of complaining, eagerly await further details about it with such a curiosity that betrays a ‘wish I was there’ attitude.
The match was also graced by the presence of two super young players: our Arman who is now establishing himself as a regular gaining growing stature match after match and Julien’s son Raphael, who showed no fear enjoying himself all along. Future is bright.
There were also no less than four Rookies (see top picture) with two ‘proper’ ones, Omer and Kevin, scoring on debut.
Orange back line was packed with defenders to counter an impressively young and gifted Colours’ attack made by Diego and Giacomo, backed only few yards behind by Omer and Andrea R with Johannes the ever present engine battling his arch rival Yasin for supremacy.
The Foglias were back in force with Federico patrolling with authority the left flank and Giacomo testing the Orange back five with every ball: his ability to rip apart defences has gained him among his own set of supporters the nickname of ‘Jack the ripper’…
Colours started the game on the front foot making a virtue of their numerical inferiority by using the space more rationally and feeding the fast spurring strikers with accurate vertical passes difficult to defend against.
Orange had indeed more possession but whenever they didn’t bounce off the likes of Massimo and Hannes their shots were met by Alessandro’s safe pair of hands. There was also an element of profligacy by the Orange strikers missing the goal with close range shots. They were also poor takers of set pieces wasting most of the corners, among others.
So, it didn’t come much as a surprise when Diego and Giacomo inflicted a double blow to the Orange sending them 0-2 down.
Seasoned bookmakers didn’t bother though adjusting the odds as they knew full well that pride is never in short supply when it comes to FDs and it was only a matter of time before Orange would strike back with a vengeance. It was Yasin, who else?, flanked by Yuv who made it clear to the Colours that a new match was just about to start with a totally different outcome.
In no time Orange halved the gap first, drew soon after and finally took the lead thanks to a brace by Yuv and a goal by Yasin before Rookie Kevin took the score to what looked like a comfortable 4-2 only for the double act Diego-Omer to put the game back in contention to a nail biting 4-4 and postpone the final verdict to the hell-heaven golden goal.
With the momentum shifting back to the Colours it was impossible to make any sensible prediction about the final score such was the rollercoaster of emotions and ups and downs on the pitch.
But if there was one player you would put your money on for scoring the winner the ever reliant Yasin would have attracted loads as being as dependable as ever to send the ball into the back of the net and sealing a game of rare intensity and finely balanced.
The Man of the Match award naturally fell on him but Yuv also was not too distant. Diego made it also to the podium ahead of Giacomo, their only fault being to belong to the losing side.
As they say, you lose some, you win some.
ORANGE-COLOURS 5-4
GOALS
ORANGE: Yuv (2), Yassin (2), Kevin
COLOURS: Diego (2), Giacomo, Omer
TEAMS
ORANGE: Tony L, Riccardo, Yimi, Kevin, Victor, Giancarlo, Al, Yassin, Ishan, Andrea M, Adam B, Francesco, Yuv, Arman, Ziad
COLOURS: Alessandro, Massimo, Hannes, Federico F, Bijan, Johannes, Federico T, David, Andrea R, Julien Se, Raphael, Omer, Diego, Giacomo
write-up by Giancarlo Castelli
