From Villains (0-5) to Heroes (8-6): Unbibbed show true Colours as Jonathan L scores a wonder golden goal (video below)
It was undeniably hard to adapt to the new pitch after playing MG12 in St Adam park in Wycombe last Sunday. Yet FDs are known both for their technical abilities, as much as their fighting spirit under the most challenging conditions, this time four seasons on a Saturday morning. The rolling ball took out the warrior in them for a game of two halves, each dominated by a different side.
The unpredictability of football and the uniqueness of its protagonists made today’s game one where bookmakers had heaven and hell: they could have either become rich or defaulted. A couple experienced the latter, filing for bankruptcy as they were complacent after the first half result. They should have known better: some of the Colours’ players would have not gone down without leaving their own mark on the game.
The two teams looked very balanced for the first 10’. All three keepers answered the call of duty with Paride opting for an outside role as attacking defender, specialised on aerial raids from set pieces in the Colours’ ranks. Then suddenly an unstoppable Jonathan R (JR) sprung to life dominating a midfield crowded with star players. As if that was not enough JR opened the score for Orange with a formidable shot from the distance terminating its run just under the bar. As his amazing momentum was both sustained and progressing at one point few opposition players took it easy in the conviction that JR would test positive at the post match drug check and Colours would be handed a default 3-0 victory.
Well, that was a major mistake from the Colours as anyway Orange were not only JR dependent but they could count on a team rock solid in each department able to connect with speed and precision resulting in a fluency that pleased spectators’ eyes.Hossam, Federico and Bijian erected a defensive wall which was not easy to either climb or go around. Digging was not an option. And when Colours made it through, guardian Tony was there to deny the ultimate access.
In midfield Orange were spoilt for choice: Hussein was dictating the tempo as well as freeing strikers with straight, penetrating passes which cut through Colours’ defence like knife into butter. Julien, Davide, Forteza and Smayan provided the rest: a mix of tenacity, liveliness, assists as well as clinical finalisation. The young and lively Artman was always available on the left flank to provide optionality growing in stature game after game, requiring a dedicated marking.
Such an efficient set up would go and add, after JR’s opener, other four goals by Davide ( scoring in back to back games) Bijian, Forteza and Edo own goal as the whole Colours’ defence had to cope with massive pressure.
At 5-0 down Colours decided they’d enough: under Hannes’ leadership defence steadied: Andre’ on the right flank hardly put a foot wrong while Edo on the left one grew in confidence and shut the door to the Orange assaults which lost ferocity throughout the game. Colours’ midfield started functioning both in protecting defence and, more importantly, feeding constantly striker in what looked an unlikely remuntada. But the belief grew along with the goals, with three winning headers in succession by Aurian, Jonathan L (JL) and Paride complemented by a brace from Johannes and a strike by Andrea so that at 11.45 the score went from 0-5 to 6-5 for the Colours who succeeded in one of the best, if not the best, remuntada on records.
The vigour and intensity of the game was such that it took a toll in terms of injuries: first Orange were deprived of their talisman, Hussein, then there in-form JR but equally opposition had to cope without Paride and then Edo.
Colours had gone from a certain, disastrous defeat that would have consigned them to the hall of shame to an unbelievable, nails biting ‘Remuntada’ for a prominent place in the hall of fame and now there were faced with the possibility of a glorious comprehensive victory if they scored, cherry on the cake, the magical golden goal.
Not only they did that but the goal was such that only a restricted bunch of past champions like Maradona, Beckham, Rooney and Xabi Alonso scored it in such a fashion.
Jonathan L received an innocuous ball from Giancarlo just inside his own half and, back to the goal, sensing that the goalkeeper might have been off his line, with the killing instinct of a born striker turned and suddenly sent a diabolical, long shot into the goal. When the ball inflated the net the crowd erupted giving JL a bipartisan standing ovation, grateful that such goals can only be seen them on a Saturday morning at the FDs Kensington Gardens Arena where miracles are performed on a weekly basis. This is a goal only few players can score: those with an intimate, if not privileged relationship with the ball. JL has officially entered such a list.
Exceptionally the goal was filmed live (see below) by Paride and consigned to future generations
At three quarter of the game the Man of the Match award was a sure property of JR but then events turned Colours from villains to heroes with JL scoring twice, the second a golden goal living long in the memory of fans. While MG12 was poetry in motion, today was a tale of two teams who experienced joy and despair, pain and elation in equal measure.
It was a blessing for those lucky enough to be there: for the others just turn up next Saturday at 10am when the factory of miracles opens the doors.
COLOURS-ORANGE 8-6 (0-5 first half)
GOALS
COLOURS: Andrea M, Aurian (2), Paride, Johannes (2), Jonathan L (2)
ORANGE: Jonathan R, Edo (og), Federico, Davide, Bijan, Forteza
TEAMS
COLOURS: Alessandro, Andre’, Edo, Hannes, Andrea M, Paride, Anton, Johannes, Giancarlo, Aurian, Jonathan L.
ORANGE: Tony, Hossam, Federico, Bijan, Julien, Davide, Jonathan R, Hussein, Forteza, Smayan, Arman