The Beautiful Game!.

Saturday 28th November:
Jos Watergraafsmeer F3 [1] Geuzen-Middenmeer F4 [2]

GM-F4 kicked off the match. Moving in a forward direction with the ball was Melle and Jan. With supporting play from Marwan on the left and play maker Samuel, it was not long before F3 were under a lot of pressure. Their good organized defense was equal to our close ball control, shots on target and corners. 

The play generally was up and down the field, our mid field players were working overtime, darting runs with the ball from Jelani on the right, well timed tackles from Nicolas on the left and Elianto meant that F3 never really came close to our goal in the whole 1^st ten minutes. With the temperature now dropping to minus, the coaches agreed to play a 9 man game. 

F4 chased the ball [if only to keep warm] but played with just Kiran as defender. It was beginning to snow, F3 reached the half way line and looked for their only option which was to boot the ball up the field and see what happens. 

Adjustments to defense were made but it was too late, with frozen feet our defenders were not able to get in position and had to watch as F3s lone attacker skipped into wide open space. Down the right hand side he looked at his target and rifled a low shot past our frozen keeper’s far post.  

A shivering group hug in front of the goal was followed by a re-group of positions on the field. Samuel dropped back with Kiran, while Ruben moved up to support the attackers. The pressure on their goal was immense, strong tackles and the chances were many. With snow in his eyes the F3 goalkeeper was able to keep out our attempts.  

Half time couldn’t have come sooner as the snow fell harder, F4 headed for the dressing room. [No pep talk this week just the message ‘do the same as you are doing & it will happen’]. 

Anyway 1^st priority is to ‘get warm’ and it wasn’t long before boys were hanging from their finger tips on hot water pipes, wearing papa’s coat, huddled in corners anything to get warm.

F4 returned quickly to the field, F3 were already waiting in position and the snow had now stopped. F3 kicked off. F4 immediately gained position and pushed forward. Jelani and Jan shifted to defense, to give Kiren opportunity to go forward while Marwan shifted to his more natural right. 

The boys spirits were high as they had most of the ball, ‘it was just difficult to kick a ball when your feet our like ice blokjes’ [Jelani]. 

It has been over 60 minutes [1.5 games] of football since the fans of F4 have heard the sound of real joy. It was from one of many corners we had had, kicked in from the left and high landed in their goal box full of players, the ball bounces out and drops nicely for Marwan on his right foot. The same as in practice he rifles a shot up into the roof of the net.  Goal ;-) 1-1 It’s been a long time coming. 

Despite not being able to see the grass, the cold, ice on hands and frozen ears F4 could smell a victory. But F3 were not just going to give it up so easy. They were cold too so there was a couple of scary moments but our defense and our keeper Vesper was now equal to any of the chances F3 did have. It wasn’t long before, from a similar position in front of their goal on the right that Marwan again had the ball on the end of his right foot [can he do it again?]  1-2 Yes He Can.

The final whistle came after 5 minutes of more spirited football with players from both sides trying to improve the score, keep warm and be brave.  

I cannot praise F4 enough. Well Done and Thank You :-)

GOALS: MARWAN [2]