UnReal Fun

When the Orangemen arrived at the pitch on the cool Saturday evening in mid December, the first thing they noticed was that a strange team, one they had never seen before, was slowly going through their pregame warm-ups  A few asked Mooch if this strange team, was in our league. The answer was, “They are not in the Coaches league, they are normally in the NVSL but as NVSL does not have a winter season so they are playing with with us”. They looked like pros and the only consolation was that although they play in NVSL, they play in the over 40 division. James, the UnReal Fairfax manager, revealed to Mooch that today they would have a few actually under 40 since it’s to the competitive season, and asked if that would be alright? Mooch said absolutely, not one to really take exception with how another team fields a starting 11. 

As it turns out UnReal would actually play a man down for the entire match. Upon hearing that UnReal Fairfax played in the over 40 league, one of the Orangemen laughed and said, yeah, and we’ve been playing in the over 40 division, for over over twenty years. And he would be correct as included in tonight's line-up would be many veterans of the squad including Jim L, Jim L Sr., Karl M, Dave N, Gene O, Bob A, Tedd O, and Jim M all safely past the age of 40, and then some. On average, this team was much older than the starting 11 we fielded for the humiliating defeat against our rivals the Vienna Metros the previous weekend. In fact, unless I’m not thinking clearly, our youngest starter tonight would be Greg Z, who is still cutting his teeth, this being his first year of organized soccer. Greg Z would start in defense, and come face to face with the UnReal Number 10, their star striker who was no doubt one of those players under 40 James was talking about. And who, quite frankly, has to be the most talented player we have faced in many years. So take a team loaded with talent, and over 40 experience, and add a striker who should be playing in MLS and we were in store for an interesting game. 

Before we started Gerard our duly assigned ref for the match, led us in a moment of silent reflection to remember the taking of innocent life at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut yesterday. As we stood at the center circle, each in our own thoughts, I wondered if our soccer brotherhood could bring some light to this dark time. For those assembled to play this beautiful game let's simply give thanks for our good health and these wonderful opportunities that are so easily taken for granted.

As expected, the Orangemen fell to UnReal, but not in the manner that was expected. Mooch was extremely pleased with how bravely the Orangemen played and how our senior experience came together. In fact mid-way through the first half, one of the UnReal players was overheard asking, how many players we had on the pitch, 14? Clearly a complement to how we were defending in mass in our end of the field. We left them very little space to work, however, they worked incredibly well and didn't need a whole lot more  space. Early on Chris H, made the statement that they played like an indoor team. They passed, passed, passed...many one and two touches with multiple combinations, it felt like being in a pinball machine, always leading to a through ball played to their number 10 who stated his run onto the ball, well in advance. They played incredibly well, and I think were having their own brand of fun, courtesy of us. Were it not for Maurico, interrupting play as stopper, and Jan using his speed to intervene on every ball, the score would have been a lot worse. As it was the score ended 7 to 2. Not bad against a team that could seemingly score at will. And a far better showing than last week.

What changed? Well for one, the midfield defended, along with the four full backs. Lacking more defensive players we switched back to the defensive formation of yore with Jan sweeping and Mauricio stopping. As always Karl M started as right back, with the rookie Gorrilla Greg Z playing left back. What Greg lacks in skill he makes up for in speed. Today however, we were giving Greg a little too much guidance. We would tell him to move forward to engage the off-sides trap, and then UnReal would sprint by, beating the trap by inches. We would tell him to move outside to cover the right wing, and they would attack through the center where we needed him. Late in the second half Greg got tangled with up with one of their wingers and using his speed to stay with him, accidentally gorilla'd him to the ground to earn a yellow card. Suffice is to say that Greg fared extremely well in the face of a team that could intimidate the most experienced players.

Our passing was far improved from the previous week. We always passed out of the back to the midfield, with Tedd, Mooch, Chris H and Jim L Sr. receiving passes from all full-backs. Jan, Maurico, Karl, and Greg all got their heads up and made quick passes the to midfield. Bob A, Jim Landoll, and Dave Nanney then lingered around midfield to receive a pass, while Emile made a run forward using his long legs to sprint at the UnReal Defense.  We had considerable options and used them all.   And we were not ineffective going forward.  With all those options we from the midfield we then played ball after ball foward with Emile running down most of them.  Chris H and Emile hooked up on numerous runs forward as well., with Tedd and Mooch running just behind in support. Later in the game Peter Z arrived and added to the attack. The only thing lacking was the final finishing touch...Emile, Chris, or Peter had opportunities to score on numerous occasions. Many shots went wide and the few that were on frame were collected by a keeper who could jump about 11 feet and defend above the rim. All three had one on one opportunities with the keeper and failed to come away with a goal, but there were plenty of opportunities to keep us in it and that made it exciting.

It’s hard to criticize all those opportunities other than to say our finishing was lacking. However, we had a number of other opportunities when another pass in final third would have resulted in a better percentage change to score. Mooch missed a big one to Tedd on his left, Emile missed one to three open Orangemen, on the right as he attacked through a crowd on the left, and Bob A frittered away another wonderful opportunity to put the ball back to Tedd’s famous left foot. I’m not saying to attack when the opportunity presents, but keep in mind the other options, and it helps to make the attacker know he has options...for most of us, when the attack is on, tunnel vision sets it, so a call from the other players is always helpful. I suggest a review of the following Orangemen vocabulary to help communicate passing in the attacking third.

SQUARE - you are directly even and would like a 90 degree pass to the left or right.

THROUGH - you are running forward passed the defense and would like a ball played into space between or over the defenders.

SUPPORT - you are behind the play but in an open position to receive the ball if necessary.

EIGHTEEN - play the ball back to the top of the box, you are open to attempt a shot.

Our breakthrough goal came in exactly this manner when the ball wasn't going forward, but when it was played to an on rushing Ogre at the top of the box. Played to Tedd’s left foot at the 18, the result was vintage Tedd. He buried it in the top left corner of the net with stinging pacce. A very well struck ball indeed.

A final goal came in the second half to cap off, despite the defeat, what was an extremely  fun game. Mooch, brought a poorly cleared bouncing midfield ball under control with shoulder and ran onto it. Half expecting to hear a whistle for a hand-ball (it hit the ball of his shoulder) he lifted his head knowing he had space, time, and options...he could play the ball left or right. He heard Chris H on the right side as well as a screaming Pete on the left, and he knew Tedd was in there as well. As he glance up to see which was the better option he looked forward and couldn't understand why the goal looked so big, even though it was far too distant to take a decent shot. Above the din he heard one voice...Bob A was screaming “Keepers Out”. And that was all it took. The ball was settling nicely as he ran onto it and fell perfectly for a right footed kick. He hit the ball square on the bounce and knew it was on target the moment it left his foot. It carried the defenders and Mooch could see the scrambling goalkeeper trying to make it back between the sticks. He was too late. Mooch had scored an easy late game consolation to compensate for all for the Orangemen’s hard work.

Part of the fun during the game, aside from UnReal playing very good soccer, was that they were having a lot of fun during the game as well. Not only were they talking to each other, and encouraging each other in a friendly way, they were also talking to us and encouraging us. When we did something good, they told us we did it well. It was a very friendly game between two sides who love to play the game...I hope we get to play this team again some other season.