Recap

“They were outclassed…,” according to Manager Mahad from the Gold team, he stated that they were simply the better team on this day. Despite an unfortunate event leading to conceding the first and only goal scored by the Jah-E for Red team, they picked themselves up and went on to equalize with a stunning cross from Amani to Indian for a goal. The Red team, as usual, showed up with a full squad and seemed ready for damage. However, the Gold team, which started the match with eight players, was used to the odds against them, showed no fear but resilience.

From this reporter’s point of view, the Gold team started the match as the underdog but was never outclassed. They took it to the Red team with one-touches, quick defensive reflexes, and fast counters that left the Red team in awe. At one point, I heard a Red player say, “We are playing like we have 8…” This sentiment appeared to be the theme for the first half of the match.

With the reinforcement of two players, the Gold team tightened up their tactics and shifted to a defensive strategy in the second half, even with the loss of two players. Richie, the Gold team’s goalkeeper for the match, earned his keep and was indeed the man of the match. He faced a barrage of shots fired at him, with lone defender MahadAmir, who seem to have been in every passing lane opened by the Red offense. Try as they have, the Red team could not penetrate the impregnable fortress set up by the Gold team.

Some highlights of the match included Cat, who slipped causing the conceding of the first goal, 1 A Day Ray receiving a pile from Joel, who incidentally seemed unable to stand on his feet due to defenders taking no shorts from him and Indian mashing up a Red player and scoring the equalizing goal. Overall, it was an intense battle, and as the Gold team put it, “it’s like a win for us. We were outnumbered but never outmatched or overwhelmed. We withstood severe attacks from the Red team and seemed to be the better for it.” The saga continues as Match Day 6 is just around the corner, with the two teams still even on the table.