Master Game 9: Kids too hot for cool Dads
Revenge is a plate best served cold. In a day with 30 degrees it was always an uphill struggle for Dads to deliver on it.
Just before the start of MASTER GAME 9 (MG9) five Typhoon jets crossed the sky above the pitch: had they deviated their path from the Trooping of the Colours to peek into the MG9? Certainly they did slow down to savour as much of it as possible. Whatever the reason, it was a fitting tribute to what was about to unfold underneath.
Kids further rejuvenated their squad by taking the three best players from the Academy: Arman, Victor and Arkady who impressed fans and critics with a collective commanding performance. Dads’ squad was mostly households names with a couple of expensive new signings like Bijan and Doud. Importantly Yassin was back after the costly miss of MG8.
Dads looked well set up on the pitch with Daoud and Francesco keeping the Kids’ defence on red alert. Dads had few occasions to break the ice but found themselves either profligate in front of goal or denied by an in-form Tony L who was in no mood to gift anything to his ex-teammates.
Both Daoud and Francesco fired narrowly wide. Giancarlo had a fine ball and instead of blasting it tried his trademark curling with the outside foot but instead of hitting the top corner the ball went miserably off. And there was not even the surface to blame
Kids instead were cool and under Johaness supervision they waited for the right opportunity to strike back: Andrea took a ball on the right wing and produced an inward cross a la Donadoni that cut off Dads’ defence to find Marco closing in at the far post inflating the net with a deft touch.
Marco, usually playing as a striker, this time was deployed as a left back with licence to kill like Theo Hernandez does week in week out.
The goal put the wings on the Kids with Johannes & co constantly feeding the fast runners: talking of which Adam, un catchable till then, took possession of the ball at midfield, run with it for another 20 yards and unleashed a majestic shot right under the bar.
The question everyone had was: if Jude Bellingham goes for €100m what is the price to put on Adam? Surely his agent-father-enemy must have the answer.
Dads troubles in the meanwhile were mounting as Hossam had to pull out due to recurring injury, being replaced though by Bijan who went on to be the best Dad on the pitch fully justifying his price tag.
Incidentally as Hossam was caught in extensive chats with WAGS during the game one gossipy tabloid was suggesting that he might have feigned injury to then be able to entertain WAGS. Before the match was over a tweet came out by the newspaper CEO, apologising for the allegation and informing that the journalist was sacked.
On the pitch, Dads, far from dejected by the one-two hit, kept pushing up and creating chances. Just when the Ref was checking the clock for the halftime break Francesco received a ball in the middle of the box, kept his composure and with a cool touch avoided the desperate keeper’s attempt to put Dads back in contention: 2-1
At half time in the Dads’ dressing room there was a growing feeling that the countless number of hours spent in the war room to deploy a cunning strategy were coming to fruition. At the start of the second half a pumped up Dads’ team further boosted by the presence of Nizar on the left wing increased the pressure. Francesco was presented with a glorious opportunity to equalise in the middle of the box but his shot just went above the bar by a whisker.
It was indeed a close shave for Kids and from then on they sensed Dads had spent their best energies with Yassin and Khaled working extra hard in midfield to contain rampant Kids. Andrea had the lion’s share scoring a brace with Giacomo, Johaness and Arcelan rounding the score.
In between, Dads kept the flame alive with two finely executed goals by Bijan and Daoud for a final score of 7-3 to the Kids who went on to win their 4th consecutive MG for a total of 6 wins v 3 for the Dads.
At the final whistle, while waiting for the votes to come in, the only certainty was that the Man of the Match had to be a Kid. Andrea was top favourite with two goals and one assist while Adam was the talk of the town for his breathtaking goal while his speed and skills set him apart. But it was Johaness to grab the award as he moved seamlessly from his natural role of leasing player to that of coach on the pitch. Like a first fiddle becoming conductor making sure the orchestra play as one at the right beat and tune. The Ragni family took the ball home as bagging a collective hat trick.
The Ref, spotted doing planks, was great and would have deserved some trophy but we run out of money so please give generously in current fund raising.
Post match, comments focused on how not even a rejuvenated Dads team could contain the ever-improving Kids. “At this stage, my money is on the Kids for all future Master Game” tweeted Lineker “Dads winning one again would be akin to Leicester winning the title in 2016. Unlikely, but it can happen“.
Pep Guardiola delayed the start of his holidays to watch the Master Game. “So much talent on both side. Both Bernardo and Gundogan can leave: I know where to find upgrades.”
Less convinced was Jose Mourinho, who notoriously uses only one tactic. “I don’t understand why the Dads didn’t park the bus at the beginning of the second half, that could have saved them. Also, how could the Kids be so well organised without a coach on the sideline? I feel like I am getting an identity crisis. Perhaps Johannes should be called the Special One from now on“.
Master Game 9 will go down in history as the first ever to be played on 3G artificial grass. Most commentators praised the choice, as the flat surfaces eliminated the unpredictability of crazy ball bounces and made for a more exciting play. “It was ok actually” said Hannes after the match “but still I miss the smell and the softness of real grass, much better for sliding tackles”. Something to keep in mind as the search for a prestigious venue for Master Game 10 has already started.
In the final interview, Giancarlo summed up the Dads’ feeling with his usual honesty and wit: “The game was surely more balanced than the score suggests for at least two third of the match. Kids were terrific and must be congratulated without reserves. As much as it was painful on the pitch, it was a joy to see them play they way they did. They must have learned from someone good! Dads instead are on a vastly improving trajectory as they conceded less and scored more than in MG8….The future is bright. MG10: bring it on!”
MASTER GAME 9 – KIDS-DADS 7-3
17 June 2023 – Club Des Sports Acton
GOALS
KIDS: Marco, Adam, Andrea (2), Giacomo, Johaness, Arcelan
DADS: Francesco, Bijan, Daoud
TEAMS
KIDS: Tony L, Luca, Gabriele, Marco, Arman, Arkady, Johannes, Arav, Alessandro, Andrea, Victor, Bernardo, Adam, Ali, Giacomo, Arcelan
DADS: Alessandro, Thomas, Hannes, Massimo, Hossam, Bijan, Andre’, Julien, Yassin, Khaled, Nizar, Giancarlo, Francesco