Despite thinking that the league was lost, we went out and put on a show in our last game. We pinged the ball around the pitch and played aggressive defense. The other team was forced into errors that we converted into several goals in succession. At halftime, we led 7-1, and the game ended 9-4.
It was quite a different night from two weeks prior when we played the team that were the league leaders going into the final match. That team played us with force and physicality that I have never witnessed in futsal-a game that is supposed to be non-contact. We were crushed 7-0 that night, mainly because we had been intimidated into making mistakes. We repeatedly gave up the ball out of fear of being kicked if we held on to it for too long.
We got our revenge, however, the following week in a rematch with our tormenters in the penultimate game of the season. This time, we refused to bend and redoubled our efforts to attack as a unit and move the ball quickly-so quickly that by the time they came to kick us, the ball had already been passed. We triumphed 4-3 in one of the best games our team has ever played. Even Nicholas was impressed. After that game, he said, "Dad, you were really impressive, and that other team was so rough. I do not know how you did it." He was still buzzing about our win the next day and the day after. I was, too, to be honest!
If there is any downside to playing on my team, it is that one gets spoiled. Every person on the team plays his/her heart out and deeply cares about their teammates. It is unlike any other group with which I have ever played, which makes it hard to play with different folks in pick-up games or the like.
My team always rises or falls as one, but this season we just rose. Here 's to my team-Arse-and-all-a play on words for the ever-undeachieving English side Arsenal, and here's to another title!
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