Yuvraj’s wonder goal ends the never ending game the day Ishan bids farewell
Where do we start? There was never a lapse in intensity: not in the match, not in each of the 22 players. The game had all the ingredients of a proper thriller with nothing betraying the finale until the very last shot. It was full of stamina on both sides with Orange refusing to surrender and keeping the game always alive and kicking. With Alessandro and Paride in goal, strikers had to go the extra mile to hit the back of the net and that surely helped to keep the game in the balance.
It was immediately evident that Colours with a young, eager, skilled front line had a competitive advantage as Yuvraj, Oliviero and Ross did not need to utter words to combine with each other fluently and effectively keeping Orange defence on constant red alert. In fairness they had to earn their kudos as they were made to work very hard by Hossam, Matteo (later Giancarlo) and Alister who countered exuberance with experience. And when they were outplayed there was Paride to save the day like when Al pulled out the shot of the week, a missile heading to the top corner, only for Paride to divert it with the tip of his finger with a full-stretch dive which was a rare combination of athleticism and technique. The doctor, to cure his back pain, ordered Paride to stretch. And stretch he did!
On the opposite front Alessandro was no less busy: he had to cope with many changes created, and often saved or wasted, by the Orange strikers as well as a countless number of corners.
Ross was the difference between an Orange profligate side and a cynical Colours’ one bagging an hat trick as well as assisting his team mates when the occasion required it.
While the Colours’ attack was the outstanding performer, the rest of the team had solidity written all over it with Hannes and Bijan as the pillars of defence, Johaness, Al and Julien mastering midfield and Thomas with Andrea M linking back and front team on the flanks. With such an opposition it was credit to the Orange to be able to stay withing touching distance scoring six times with different strikers: the two Jonathan, Ishan, Francesco, Adam and Gregorio.
At midday with the score at 6-4 for the Colours, Orange found the pride and the strength to score the golden goal with an opportunistic header by Ishan: such goal was then downgraded to silver as it was decided to play a proper golden goal which would have meant parity if scored by Orange which they did with a thunder shot by Gregorio who soon after attempted a similar one, just wide.
At which point both players and fans refused to leave the pitch demanding for the first time ever that a Platinum goal be played to declare a winner.
There was never going to be a more fitting goal for such an adrenaline-filled game:
Yuvraj received a ball well outside the box and adjusted it for a shot that was intended for the top corner: its sheer power and precision made the fans jump in anticipation so that when the ball hit the net none of them had their feet on the ground.
Paride obliged again with an explosive dive but this time it was in vain as not even Nembo Kid could have done anything about it.
There was a last ditch attempt by few Orange player to beg the Ref for a Palladium (itself more valuable than Platinum) goal but the case was quickly dismissed as the clock was fast approaching 12.30pm.
No one on the stands discriminated between winners and losers but rather praised and cheered both sides for a nail-biting game which provided sheer non-stop entertainment for over two hours!
In a such a game you were spoilt for choosing the Man of the Match. Hossam recorded 27 consecutive won tackles despite facing ruthless strikers: the data team is checking if there is any precedent in football. Perhaps his only fault was to find himself in the losing team, though such expression today was not appropriate. The two keepers yet again reminded everyone what a valuable asset they are in whichever team employs them. Gregorio is now a default choice for any MOTM award but today it was Ross that made the most significant contribution to the score with a hat trick,
also embodying the perfect modern striker always at ease to chose selflessly the best solution between striking directly or assisting better placed teammates.
Adam deserves a mention for the enthusiasm he put in the game in multiple occasions: first he ended up in the net instead of sending the ball on his behalf. Secondly he almost killed Alessandro with a late tackle and finally attempted to the life of a three-months old baby in a pram. The baby released soon after a reassuring statement: ‘I’m fine and will always accept to risk my young life, especially when Adam is playing, for the pleasure of watching FDs. I ask my parents nothing but to take me here every Saturday morning at least until I’ll be able to walk. And then ‘I’ll always walk alone’ if that leads to a FDs match’.
It was also the day Ishan bid farewell to go back to Delhi after few eventful seasons with Football Kids. This unassuming, yet deadly striker can cover many roles, both in the build up phase as well as a dependable finisher scoring with a regularity that requires many different skills. The data team will soon provide all the info but it’s easy to anticipate a balanced mix of headers, right and left foot goals. Ishan will, in the forthcoming press conference, clarify the reasons why he is going back to India but it’s easy to anticipate the main one: Ishan’s phone has been hacked by some of his fans eager to stop the move. They found out that the last ten incoming phone calls were from Khalid Jamil, the newly appointed coach of India National football team. Most likely, after they failed to qualify for 2026 World Cup, India needs a talisman on the pitch to restore its fortune and no one better than Ishan can fill such role. This is the second time, after Yassin heading back to Morocco, that this happens in a short amount of time: how does the CLUB react to yet losing another key player? Well, at some point even these gifted players need to take their game to their next level and it is then that they buy a return ticket.
Giancarlo back from New York was interviewed at the end of the game:’ NY marathon compared to a Saturday game is a walk in the park. Here you compete with the very best and the atmosphere can be intimidating. One touch football is a must as you are not given any time on the ball, surrounded by young sharks keen to make a name for themselves, targeting seasoned meat. The speed is such that you need to train on repeating 100t spurs within 10’: anything slower makes you history. I fired my long-distance coach and took Linford Christie on’
Ref NY marathon a special mention for Julien who in his hey days run it in 3h48’. An amazing performance considering that at the time he was not even a FD!
And it does not reflect badly either on Giancarlo’s 4h45’ a week ago, when adjusted for inflation over the last 20 years plus…
COLOURS-ORANGE 7-6
GOALS
COLOURS: Ross (3), Oliviero, Julien, Alistair (og), Yuvraj,
ORANGE: Francesco, Ishan, Jonathan L, Gregorio, Adam, Jonathan D
TEAMS
COLOURS: Alessandro, Bijan, Hannes, Andrea M, Thomas, Johannes, Al, Julien, Ross, Oliviero, Yuvraj.
ORANGE: Paride, Hossam, Alistair, Matteo, Gregorio, Giancarlo, Jonathan D, Ishan, Jonathan L, Adam, Francesco,