...............................................................Santi ……….................................................
 
Pete T……………………..….Dean……………………….Neil…….………..…….Pete R

  Rodi…..............................Mikey………………..…….Souza………….........Danielle

………………………………Andrey……………………..Nedwin……………………………… 

Subs:

Mikey, James

With the Voodoo having secured the SIFL title the day before and the sweet souled sounds of the black eyed peas blaring down the phone line at 2am, you knew it only meant one thing, a Galacticos Sunday. The game began with a full complement starting 11, those present evidently fearing McMillen’s ire after such sharp, almost seditious sentiment the previous week. In fact the team sheet was more notable than most for the inclusion of an actual Brazilian in the form of new boy Souza amongst the Galaticians.

 “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that” said the great Bill Shankley. With these words hanging in the hearts of 13 Galactico men and Danielle, an air of camaraderie settled over the familiar faces.

The game started at a traditionally intense pace reminiscent of the plains of Agincourt 1415 (not Henry V Mikey), the French wielding a far bigger squad outnumbering the British by 3 to 1. Distinctly fresh for a Sunday, both sides exchanged early blows, Kelly perhaps coming closet in the first quarter with a scuffed shot from a low cross from Ortiz minor. With the theme of the Galactico game set as “techers”, it was ironically the French who played the more fluid football in contrast to the Galacticos’ arching balls to the heart of the French defence, attacking down the phalanx through Infantrymen Rodi and Danielle.

With the sides locked in deadlock it was seemingly going to take a moment of magic or madness to unlock Pandora’s Box. The capacity crowd were granted both.

Firstly the French were taught a lesson in British wizardry. Never think the ball harmless at the feet of Mikey “Merlin” McMillen. Though an early speculative volley made no headway towards overturning rival Uidam’s goal tally, Merlin turned himself provider. Hitting a long curling pass with the instep of his left foot, his pass looped round a flat footed French defender (who had evidently  taken Antoinette’s declaration of “Let them eat cake” to heart and waist) and into the path of another man who seems to age backwards, the ever young Kelly. The experienced striker demonstrated all the cool and composure that has left him top of the SIFL goal charts and the urbanatomy.com most hit articles. Leaving his portly marker for dead, he took the ball perfectly in stride and finished with a placed shot into the centre of the net. 1-0

But as Triumph follows disaster so it can precede. Having provided impenetrable cover for rookie keeper Santi along with partner Neil, Dea-no techers suddenly sort to emulate his Liverpool idols. Unfortunately not the recalled Carragher, but the out of form Gerrard. Citing mytopia, Ramanouski sent a perfect through ball to a lurking French striker who struck into the bottom corner.

“The prompter the refusal, the less the disappointment” wrote Syrus in 1BC. So the evidently crestfallen picked themselves up, dusted down and laid down the pain. Walking in at half time heads were down. But hopes? Never!

 

Half Time 1-1

 

After some great tekkers by Mike O’B down the left, the business of the second half began with a tirade from Les Bleus. Creating chance after chance, including an effort that cannoned off the right post, it seemed for awhile that the Galacticos may luck out. Indeed the Men in Yellow almost went ahead against the run of play. A great break away set up a counter-offensive leaving Andrey 1-1 with the goalkeeper. With some good tekkers he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball nonchalantly into the open net 2-.... from nowhere a flying Frenchman leapt in front of the goal bound ball and diverted it out for a corner. Undeniably a game changing moment, the refusal of the French defender to give up (most unbecoming of his nation) and get back (retreating...that’s more like it) set in motion a renewed rouge verve, and kicking into overdrive, the Brits found themselves holding the last Bastions at Vimiero and Junot.

With the defense keeping their shape as becoming Wellesley’s troops, it seemed the French would need a moment of divine inspiration to break the deadlock. As in WWII, the French found a friend from the Left. A Stalin...sorry startling ball down the Galactician’s right flank left the French striker behind enemy lines. Holding up play, he cleverly picked out Nicholas Sarkozy’s long lost twin who bent a curling shot from the edge of the area into the far corner of the net. Turning round the newly self proclaimed chairman of the smug club turned around, all de Gaulle, and accepted the congratulations of his teammates.

 

Though as flukey as: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/17/euromillions-lottery-winner-claims-84million it is undeniable the French had had the measure of the Galacticos and that a change of tactic was needed.

Confucius wrote “When it is obvious a goal cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

So the Galacticos rallied, playing a better passing game and supplying less long balls than previous.

The notorious Holocaust denier David Irvine, though a certified cunt, makes very valid points about the contributions of the Australians during the great conflicts of the C20. Here again his words hold true. Having been off the pitch at the start of the half, the Galacticos looked down under for inspiration and found it. Oscar Wilde once wrote that: “Football is all very well a good game for rough girls, but not for delicate boys” and so with hardened mettle and the most rough and tumble girl in the league, the resurgence began.

Finding space on the left Danielle dinked a delicate chip over the top of the Rouge defence to find the bandit Ned Kelly. With the ball sitting up perfectly Kelly lifted the ball over the hapless keeper with all the lethalness of Stringybark Creek, cueing wild celebrations from the capacity crowd. Yet never satisfied to be merely even, the heist incomplete, the Galacticos set to steal a win.

With both teams chasing victory the game opened, the French going closest with two shots just past the left post. Then in the dying minutes The Galacticos having pushed too far up seeking a goal, left themselves susceptible to a ball over the top which the speedy striker pounced upon leaving himself 1on1 with Santi in goal, surely not such a cruel twist? The youngster with equal speed hounded off his line to close the angle and bravely dived at the striker, who slotted the ball passed Ortiz and...wide of the post!!! Though divided linguistically, the striker’s body language said it all.

“Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose” wrote Thomas Krause.

So the Galacticos had almost lost, but with a final foray into the opposition half they searched for an unlikely win. When in crunch situations it is the experience that holds firm, but the talent that delivers. So the 70s met the 90s in a fruitful unison. Breaking down the right, old timer James worked his way into a menacing position before picking out fellow veteran Kelly in the box. Unable to unleash for his hat-trick, Kelly instead laid up Andrey for a grandstand finish. Striking the ball first time with his left foot, Andrey slightly scuffed his shot, but managed to do the all important and guide the ball passed the goal keeper into the bottom right corner. How the Russians had rallied!!!!

The goal signalled great celebrations and was effectively the last kick of the game. 5 hours later, Long Islands, Caipirinhas and whatever else lay in the Galactico wake. Suddenly it was 7 and time for work!

Good game to the ER boys

Galacticos 3-2 Etoile Rouge

-Pete
 


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