Drogba Clan 3
(Foster 2, Gale, Kidd)
Team WoW secured a hard fought victory in the first game of the summer futsal season tonight, narrowly defeating Drogba Clan. A packed Aurora Stadium watched a rollercoaster game, in which Team WoW only led for ten seconds - but what an important ten seconds it was. The boys in black were far from full strength, Jonathon Bryan was stranded in Sydney following a flower convention and Wil Darling was withdrawn just hours before the game with a mystery bug.
Drogba Clan were the first to draw blood on the night. A sleek centre from the right wing found the virtually unmarked striker, who curled the ball past Michael Riske at his near post. The goal shocked Team WoW into life, who instantly threw Phil Gale up forward to support the Thompson-Foster partnership. The move paid rich dividends only a minute later. Gale made a trademark run through the centre to send the ball into the bottom left. Much of the game was played in the midfield for the remainder of the first half, with precious few chances being made. The two chances that were produced, however, were put away clinically. First Drogba Clan again made a surge, again down the right wing. When the cross came in Riske was left vulnerable. He was brutally nutted as the midfielder powered one home from close range. Again, Team WoW would not lie down. Sol Foster took his chance first time, smashing the ball into the corner of the net, and thoroughly justifying his impressive FIFA 13 rating. He worried the bench, however, as he withdrew himself only moments later. The fitness staff report reveals Foster sustained a minor twist to the ankle due to an awkward landing after the shot. That wasn't enough to keep him off for long. At 2-2 the game was delicately poised. Drogba Clan had the lion's share of the shots, but could not make the pressure tell. The sides took the stalemate into the break.
Halftime was a welcomed rest for Team WoW, who were looking a little out of shape. Andy Thompson's team talk centred on the side's weak defending, with a brief mention being made also of poor passing. Curiously, there was no mention of the boys "just having fun out there." Perhaps the new season has brought out a new seriousness in the Captain.
With Thompson's words still ringing in their ears, Team WoW looked a more structured and focused side in the second half. A single defensive lapse, however, saw the boys go behind for the third time. A corner was slid into the box, and the tap-in was simply too easy. Team WoW again responded by increasing the attacking pressure. The final fifteen minutes consisted of wave after wave of attack, with brief interludes in which Drogba Clan broke. Riske, Gale, Kidd and Schaap held firm at the back, with guest appearances from Thomspon and Foster. Team WoW could've managed six or seven on another night, but their targeting was severely off. Thomspon cracked a few wide, Foster squandered some gimmes, and Gale was nutsed by Scott twice in a row in advanced positions. With three minutes to go, Foster again put Team WoW on equal terms, driving the ball into the bottom corner. The Team WoW attacks continued, and with ten seconds to go, finally put them ahead. A Gale ball from the back found Foster, who spun and shot. The keeper reacted expertly, but could only parry the ball into the feet of Schaap, who found himself at the tightest of angles to a virtually empty goal. A faint cry of YOLO flew from the mouth of Schaap as he took the strike on, only to hit the inside of the post. Just as Team WoW hearts started to sink, Alex Kidd stepped forward from the backline to fire the ball home - a Gerrard-esque strike; both in timing and quality. Kidd's subdued celebrations were a mystery to fans and analysts alike, until it was revealed in post-match interviews that the oblivious defender had not realised he had struck the winner. "Oh, was it 4 - 3?" he asked reporters. "Who won?" 4 - 3 it was indeed, making for an unforgettable game. And Jono wasn't there.
"GG," Andy Thompson commented at the close of the game. Futsal analyst and Team WoW coach Peter Thompson had a little more to say: "The boys worked hard out there, it was good hustle. The backline was rock solid in the second half, the only thing that needs work is the shooting. I sense good things coming our way this season." The fans were similarly optimistic, with partially-rhyming chants of "2013, it's our season" ringing out around the stadium as the players departed. Catch the boys in action next week in their final grading game. They face Purple Rain at Aurora at the special time of 6:15pm.
Hah! Pure gold.
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