“I never lie about football: rarely has the beautiful game seen so many stunning goals in one match”
UNBELIEVABLE GOALS
If you ever missed live iconic goals like the dribbling one scored by Maradona against England or Van Basten’s angled volley against Russia or Ronaldo’s overhead kick against Juventus you just go to YouTube and fill your eyes.
With Football Dads you don’t have such luxury: you have to be there and that’s is a price worth being paid as you might be served the above menu in just one game. And there is no story telling that can ever match reality.
A RICH MENU
The starter was a ‘Del Piero’ curling shot right into the right top corner scored by Rookie Bilal from Pakistan (pictured below). Alessandro in goal is like the legendary Dino Zoff: he simply doesn’t dive unless there is a chance to make a save. Him not making a move right from the moment the ball was kicked just meant it was destined for glory and no one could do anything about it.
The main course was a goal scored directly from the corner kick by Giancarlo. Defence looked well positioned with Yuness on the closer post and Tony L off the line to grab any aerial ball as in a previous corner Ishan, served by Giancarlo, just shaved the bar with a powerful header: besides other Colours’ towers were ready to raid the box with their aerial prowess.
Undisturbed by such accurate defensive set up Giancarlo just thought what Roberto Baggio would have done: the resulting shot went in the tiny space between Yuness and the post sending the crowd wild on the stands, regardless the team they were supporting. Beauty belongs to those who see it.
In the post match interviews the goal attracted many questions, one of which looked disrespectful to those in the knowledge.
‘Did you really intend to score?’ asked one unashamed journalist. ‘ Yes! as indeed I intended the previous consecutive 217 times that I tried!’ replied Giancarlo in the belief that fortune favours the braves, sooner or later.
The dessert was served twice by Al who today played in a more backward position and resorted to long distance shots to make an impact on the game. And indeed he made! His first shot close to midfield line was like a ground-air missile with little elevation and great accuracy who crossed many legs and terminate in the low left angle of the net. A ballistic masterpiece who was replicated soon after just in case someone had gone to the toilet before.
FANATIC FANS
It was such an overall display of unbelievable goals that after the game most fans went online the CLUB website offering an unsolicited premium for the next season ticket to make sure they get it renewed! I can only imagine the pain for those who were not there, neither on the pitch nor in the stands: there is no substitute for FDs football!
As for the match it was a fairly intimate six a side confrontation with Orange looking better on paper but Colours having in Alessandro the only role keeper. Tony L was on duty but as photographer and motivator. In fact, as it turned out, as Thomas had to leave early, he came in as ‘plain clothes’ keeper for the Colours and was granted a full pay despite the partial service.
IF YOU SQUEEZE THE ORANGE YOU GET THE JUICE
Orange simply had too much youth and class in their ranks. They took the lead and maintained it: in turn Diego, Bilal, Yuness and Al run riots in the Colours’ defence. Arman was always at the right place at the right moment but lacked the finishing touch that proved lethal in previous matches.
Rookie Bilal was ever present in the build up on the left flank and when it came to the finishing he could always choose wisely between shot and assist. Diego was the mastermind dictating the tempo as well as scoring a hat trick.
At one point Colours frustrated by their inability to fill the gap despite a brace by Ishan and goal from Giancarlo, broke the bank and bought Diego paid partly cash and the rest through an asset swap with Giancarlo. While the move seemed to work with Diego scoring a brace also with Colours, ultimately Orange reestablished the distance and went on to also score the golden goal with Rookie Bilal who could not have dreamt of a better debut.
BIPARTISAN DIEGO STEALS THE SHOW
In any other match most likely the MOTM award would have gone to one of the three scorers of these unforgettable goals. Yet there was even more to it: Diego not only directed the game for both sides but also scored five goals in the process: a playmaker and striker all in one.
Parenthood seems to have added an extra dimension to this multilayered player in terms of accountability and reliability. No one would be surprised if baby Ugo signs for the CLUB before he turns one.
There were though one, in fact two, nutmegs that Diego had to concede to Giancarlo. Well, after all, even in football nobody is perfect.
ORANGE-COLOURS 9-6
GOALS
ORANGE: Diego F(3), Bilal (2), Al (2), Yuness (2)
COLOURS: Ishan (2), Diego (2), Giancarlo, Jonathan
TEAMS
ORANGE: Thomas (Tony L), Al, Diego, Bilal, Yuness, Arman
COLOURS: Alessandro, Giancarlo, Joshua, Salvo, Jonathan, Ishan