NikeFive: Week 3 Commentary.
Check out this review of DUPLAYS NikeFive Indoor Football League, Week #3 action, written by Muhammad Nauman.
Hello boys and girls and welcome to another exciting edition of DUPLAYS “NikeFive Indoor” League. We just concluded the 3rd week of this 8 week tournament so let’s see if the big wigs from last week have managed to maintain their invincible run and also a look at a roller coaster of a week in the UEFA Champions League.
The magic number this week is, 18, the maximum points from 6 games. Only 3 teams can claim the honour to belong to this elite group. The first of which are the cabin crew boys from Emirates Airlines, the Zinkeiros, the boys from brazil have been wrecking havoc in the halls of Raffles, cheering, singing and scoring their way to glory, in true samba fashion. The Zinks have also been enjoying quite a crowd at their matches and the friendly bunch has been more than happy to put on a show. Hugo, Rafael and Andres form the core of this dynamic team.
The second team is the Emarati boys from Adhaaf FC. They have gone about cleaning up their opponents in a quiet but determined fashion. Harith, Anas and Jamaal form the nucleus of this team.
Lastly ACWA manage a perfect run owing to 4 victories and 2 walkovers from week 2. Mazin has been their most prolific goal scorer.
As the weeks press on, I have a new found appreciation for the art of goal keeping, especially in Futsal. These guys are using every part of their able bodies to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net. Mind you, the ball travels at break neck speed due to the compact nature of the court, but the goalies stand undeterred, fearless. Here are my top picks for goalies this week, Asad of Darwesh Group for withstanding the constant barrage of the Zinks, Josep Gambau of Bacalao Bacalao for leading his team to two victories and Gerd of Team Tatweer.
This analysis would not be complete without highlighting those teams who have 5 victories to their name. They are: Nofolk Enchance, CCCP, Dragon Flying, Royal Crew, Big Sky Wings, Bacalao Bacalao, Faris Abu Mayaleh Group, Lambo, Norfolk Nway, Maths and Showtime FC.
The Chelsea vs Liverpool champions’ leaugue bout proved to be one the most exciting ¼ finals we have seen in a while. Going into the match Liverpool needed to overcome a 3 goal deficit. The match couldn’t have started off to a more thrilling goal, as Aurelio’s sharp 19th minute free kick caught Petr Cech completely off guard, this was quickly followed by a successful Xabi Alonso penalty. Liverpool were 2 goals ahead in 30 minutes and almost immediately everyone’s thoughts went back to that incredible night in Istanbul when a Steven Gerrard lead Liverpool recorded the most infamous comeback in footballing history. The game resumed after half time and Chelsea came rallying back scoring 3 goals in quick succession, the first of which will definitely give Pepe Reina a few sleepless nights. Had Guus Hiddink worked his magic at half time? The game was headed into its final 15 minutes and it looked all but over for Liverpool as Benitez subbed a lackluster Torres out, Liverpool again needed to overcome a 3 goal margin to stay in contention. Then something happened that reminded me why I love this game so much, that never say die attitude, that fighting spirit, maybe the red bull kicked in, but Liverpool gave everyone in Stamford Bridge the biggest heart attack ever, Lucas and Kuyt scored two goals in the dying minutes of the game and just as I was about to boast to all my friends about how I correctly predicted Liverpool’s comeback, Frank Lampard scored another scorcher and put the game beyond contention. Thanks Frank! So it ended 4-4 with Chelsea winning on aggregate. As someone rightly pointed out, this game should have come with a ‘health warning’.
Everton just ended Man Utd’s bid for a quintiple, beating them 4-3 on penalties in today’s FA cup semis. This means United are still in contention for the Premier League and the UEFA champions league, having won the Carling Cup and Club World cup earlier this year.
I don’t know about you guys but I can’t wait to watch the UEFA Champs league semis, Barca vs Chelsea and Arsenal vs Man Utd. More so because Ashley Cole will miss the first leg due to suspension, can anyone guess who he would have covered had he played???? None other than Maradona 2.0, my main man Messi. Petr Cech will also be up against La Liga top scorer Samuel Eto, former arsenal phenom who I dare say is enjoying an Indian summer, Mr Thierry Henry, throw in Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta and you get the most dangerous offensive cocktail in football. Just to demonstrate Barca’s fire power, they sent Bayern Munich packing in the first 45 minutes of the first leg, when they poured in 4 goals, with the second leg being a mere formality. Flawless Victory! [I was just dying to use a Mortal Kombat reference].
