Enrico Pucci
Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2013
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Its a beautiful spring afternoon and the supporters are in fine voice. I didn't even see any suppporters in the away fans section for our already relegated opponents.
Rene Klingenburg is in a mood today. Muhammed Kiprit drifted left from the kickoff and Ritter chipped a pass into the right channel. I thought he was going to score but a last ditch tackle saved our opponents.
Our opponents apparently got the same scouting report as Viktoria Köln got and decided that fouling was the best tactic. The only problem for them is that we were stringing series of one touch passing sequences together. It was delightful to watch.
"Verl are already down a goal," Jörg said in the 5th minute. Then Halle and Havelse are safe regardless.
We kept creating chances and Türkgücü kept making last ditch blocks or interceptions.
In the 19th minute, Klingenburg played a give-n-go with Marius Kleinsorge. Kleinsorge ran to the end line and whipped in a cross that Klingenburg volleyed in.
1-0
"Verl are down by two," Jörg said after the celebration calmed down.
Neal Gibs couldn't prevent their right winger from sending in a cross and Avdo Spahic made a sensational diving save to keep us ahead.
In the 35th minute we slowly and methodically brought the ball out of the back. When Captain Jean Zimmer slashed in a low cross into the path of Muhammed Kiprit, every single player had touched the ball aside from Muhammed.
Muhammed didn't miss for his 29th of the season.
2-0
The odd thought crossed my mind that we'd better enjoy this now because next season might not be quite this easy.
"Check this s*** out," Jörg said holding his iPad before me. Verl might be down by two, but their opponents, Duisburg, had a man sent off in the 26th minute. Halle were down by one but Havelse level at one apiece. Might there be hope for Verl?
I spent the remainder of the half discussing FIFA rules regarding fouling and violent conduct with the fourth official.
"No changes in the scores," Jörg said as we walked up the tunnel at halftime.
From the kickoff, Türkgücü midfielder Iliya Gruev mugged Saydou Bangura.
"F*** this s***," I said to Jörg as got up off the bench. The irony is that I'd only had my b*tt in my seat for a matter of seconds.
"WHAT THE **** WAS THAT!" I yelled at the ref. "HE WENT THROUGH THE BACK. THAT WAS ASSAULT!" The ref just pointed for a foul. "HOW IS THAT NOT A CARD?"
Bangura got up and got chin-to-chin with his assailant. Teammates dragged both players away and no cards were issued.
I jogged over and had yet another lengthy but ultimately useless argument with the fourth official.
"This is getting ridiculous," I said after the fourth official told me to sit down for the third time.
In the 53rd, Ritter saw Klingenburg's run into the channel and lasered a 40m pass. Rene didn't even need to break stride.
He chipped the keeper to make it three.
3-0
In the 57th, Gibs ran alongside their winger and just wouldn't tackle despite numerous opportunities. Gibs was saved by a last ditch block from Boris Tomiak.
With a little more luck, Türkgücü could be in this match.
In the 58th, a Türkgücü player chopped out Captain Jean Zimmer's legs right in front of me.
"HOW IS THAT NOT A CARD?" I yelled.
The ref ran up. "This is your final warning," he said. "No more."
"I think its a legitimate question," I said. "He swept both legs. I just want an answer. You're not protecting my players from violent conduct."
He showed me a yellow card.
I stomped over and sat in between Jörg and Ulf.
"Don't let me get up, no matter what happens out there," I said.
They both chuckled.
Then they scored in the 71st minute. Their right fullback launched a 50m punt towards our goal. Their striker was quickest to it and scored.
3-1
"Verl scored," Jörg said said at 80 minutes. Could Verl tie it up? Then Halle would go down. Havelse were still tied.
Kevin Kraus yanked down their striker but the guy somehow managed to get the ball over the line.
3-2
The ref pointed for a foul. For us. WTF? He could have called a penalty against us just as easily.
3-1
I broke free from Jörg and Ulf and jogged over to the fourth official. The Türkgücü manager was losing his mind. Not because the match was really all that close. But more because of the principle of righteousness, all of the poor luck they'd had all season, and probably because it had been a really s*** season for him.
"That should have been goal," I said. "What was the call?"
"SEE! SEE! EVEN HE AGREES!" My opposing manager shrieked. "HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE OFFSIDES? THE KEEPER TOUCHED IT, THEN ITS IN THE NET!"
After I sat down, Jörg shoved his iPad under my nose. Havelse had taken the lead and Verl were still losing.
Not long after that, the ref blew the final whistle. We spent quite a while celebrating with the fans who refused to leave. Verl never scored and got relegated.
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