From Sri Lanka with love: rookie Yuw takes it all and brings the 60th Nation

Imagine a Rookie joins the game, brings the 60th Nation to the Club, bags a hat-trick and scores the golden goal to bring victory to his team in a hardly fought match that went to the wire: 5-4. And of course wins one of the least contentious Man of the Match awards.

When Giacomo, once again Jack of all trades today, came in with his friend Yuw the fans on the stand gave him a warm reception. Had they just imagined what the young, unassuming player had reserved for them they would have thrown themselves into the pitch for a selfie, no matter what.

Just before the start Yuw had to file his rookie registration and when asked about his nationality he delighted the Club’s secretary by answering both India and Sri Lanka. The latter was conveniently elected as the 60th Nation joining the Club!

“This is just unreal” tweeted Gary Lineker shortly after, adding “I doubt there is any Club of any sport in the world that has had as many Nationalities represented”.

Also the speed of growth is breath taking: when Thomas brought the FD shirt to Antonio Gutierrez at the United Nations in 2018 the number was 38: a total of 22 Nations have been added despite Covid. 148 more to go.

The three role goalies, Tony L, Alessandro and Paride were all still missing for different reasons and that alone was again a guarantee for goal bonanza. Before the start the Oranges managed to secure Yassin in their ranks: not to disclose the sum paid they opted to settle the trade in a mix of crypto currency. They started as hot favourites and it looked plain sailing with Sara scoring the opener for the Bibbed with a diagonal long range shot finding the low opposite corner of the goal. That left fine foot of her, able to square the ball from bottom left to top right, was again put to good use.

With Hossam patrolling defence and Charlie dominating the left flank the Oranges were able to contain the Colours feeble reaction and when Yassin scored the second the Bitcoins looked well spent. At which point Jack and Yuw begged to disagree: with Jeremy T joining their side the Colours had now a proper trident to start a remuntada. From then on it was a rollercoaster that saw Jack and Yuw scoring a brace apiece to first level the game, going ahead, being caught, going behind and finally reaching a 4-4.

Towards the end the Colours lost Francesco, who had to step aside: that was a turning point as the absence of their iconic player which today was a constant aerial threat gave the Orange the determination to fight on with extra stamina and when the golden goal time came, it didn’t take long for Yew, who else? to seal the game emphatically.

COLOURS-ORANGES 5-4

GOALS:
COLOURS: Yuw (3), Giacomo
ORANGES: Sara, Yassin (2), Jeremy G.

TEAMS:
COLOURS: Daniel, Massimo, Lorenzo, Thomas, Ben, Yuw, Francesco, Giacomo, Jeremy T.
ORANGES: Hossam, Charlie, Victor, Julien, Yassin, Sara, Giancarlo, Jeremy G.

Top picture: Giacomo and Yuw