Orangemen played their last game of 2014 in fine fashion vs their arch nemesis, Internazionale...in fact Internazionale is everyone in the Grey Division’s nemesis. It just seems like these guys have a style of play that goes beyond physical and treacherous, it’s down right organized and criminal. From the use of hands to push and pull you off the ball, to their use of hands to direct the ball, it’s almost like they don’t know handling the ball is against the rules. They dive at the slightest kick, and sometimes, it doesn’t even take a kick for them to go down. I was watching John H run down a ball on the sidelines, one of their players was standing just off the field about 5 feet from the play, I was about ten yards further down the field looking straight down the sideline. John kept the ball in with 6 inches of daylight between him and the ball, there wasn’t even a question as to whether or not the ball went out of bounds, but, sure enough the players hand went up to signal the ball was out of bounds. The ref didn’t buy it, even though he was standing at midfield. Just goes to show how egregious the attempt at gaining the advantage is to them. But it gets worse. They make their calls for offsides on every single through ball, doesn’t matter if a guy is off-sides or not. Just like with their use of hands, fair play in whatever culture they grew up in, is basically whatever you can get away with. And when a push or a handled ball, or a wrong call isn’t enough, they simply bring down their man. Cris S was taken down 3 times, deliberately. After the first time, the ref, to his credit, gave a yellow card the next three times. Three Cris, and all just have Cris beat his man, and ran by the defender. Rather than give chase. The forth was Mike Z, running onto the ball and touching it by his defender, who rather than give chase, simply turned into Mike’s path and took him down.
Despite this style of play, Orangemen, you all kept your heads. Final score was (4) to 4 and a fight didn’t break out. Clearly on another night, and with that kind of treacherous play going on, someone would have lost their head and starting fighting back. Thanks for keeping it together and making it a very enjoyable evening.
Great goals and passing is to be applauded. I’m gonna go ahead and count Mike’s Z’s final miss as a goal for us...given us a 4 to 4 tie. Simply because the assist, was nothing short of world class. Someone should have video taped that perfectly weighted ball through the center of the field, splitting the defenders and drawing the keeper into no mans land. Z easily moved passed the defender, took the ball in stride, side-stepped the keeper, and simply had to roll the ball into the net. Just like Wil H, did a bit earlier in the game. We also had goals from Alfredo and Jose, and hit the post a least three times. The game winner...in the last seconds of the game...sadly, deflected off of Cris’s feet...but was definitely headed into the low right corner of the goal.
Well played in 2014 Orangemen! See you next year!.
