Futsal Update

It’s been a while since my last futsal entry so I thought I’d give you an update since the regular season has actually come to an end. My Tuesday team didn’t manage to win another game so we finished the season with an unflattering record of one win and six losses. Better luck next season I guess! My Thursday team on the other hand went on a tear and we won three more games in a row to give us a record of four wins, one draw and one loss heading into last week’s final round of matches. We were in third place but only the top two teams from each pool went through. This meant our final game, against the team coming second, was a virtual playoff for the finals. Winning would ensure our passage through to the finals while a draw would see us through (on goal difference) only if the team coming first lost their game. As it happened, the team coming first did suffer a shock loss and we only needed a draw in the final game.

Before getting to the game itself, here’s a random pre-game joke by our resident comedian, Antony.



Right, on to the game itself!

The first half was a fairly even affair and it seemed that we’d be heading into the break nil-all. However, with literally a second left on the clock, we were caught napping waiting for the buzzer and the other team managed to score a very soft goal...



While this was certainly disheartening, we were counting our lucky stars that we only needed a draw and went back out in the second half looking for the equalising goal. Unfortunately, we soon conceded another ourselves. 0-2...



At this point, I thought it was over. The momentum was against us, the clock was against us, and, most importantly, the score-line was against us. However, with four minutes left, having thrown everything at them for what seemed like an eternity, we finally got a goal back!



This turned the momentum in our favour and we began to get most of the possession. We started to constantly pepper their goal but unfortunately had no real golden opportunities. But then, with less than one and a half minutes left, I was set in the clear by Julian and found myself one-on-one with the goalie.

This was it.

A goal, and we’d go through. A miss, and we’d almost certainly be out. What a moment, what a chance...

I put the ball on my right foot, looked up, sized up the goal, and struck the ball...



ARGHHHHHHHHH!

That’s right. The whole season, done and dusted, just like that. Great work Joey! I couldn’t believe this was how the season was going to end...

Fortunately, there was still a minute to make amends, and with thirteen seconds left on the clock, we managed to get one last corner...



2-2!!! FINALS, HERE WE COME!!!