Settebello.....

Is the name of my intramural soccer team.

we are a motely crew....

4 italians, 3 from naples, 1 from the vicinity of rome
1 lebanse, who lives in germany
1 basque, that talks like a brit
1 peruano
1 mexicano
1 panameno
1 croat

we closed the group stages as #1 in ourr group, winning 4 games, losing 1 (and we beat that team when we played them again, first time they got us cause we were missing our best player), then in the knockouts, we were so fierce the first team we had to play did not even show up, how scared they were, the second game was a tight one, and we were up 1-0, missed a host of chances, and let them back into the game with 2 penalty's (one which they converted), however as we pushed for the winner we were awarded a PK, and unluckily we missed it, they stole a goal minutes later, and we were 1-2 down with 8 minutes to go. We attacked, got a penalty, and converted it....with 2 minutes to go, then on the restart our MVP stole the ball, dribbled a midfielder, went out wide with a def, and using his trusty left foot hammered a shot into the far side. We won 3-2.

Next up in the semi's was our antagonist, the Holiday in your mum team, It was a titanic game with fierce exchanges between the benchesm and every call by the ref was voiceferously challenged by both sides. The first half ended in a dead stalemate, even the lights went out at halftime, causing a wait of 15 minutes as they recharged....as the game restarted the holiday inners had 3 quick chances, due to us fielding our bench midfield, quickly they came off and the game was again a tense battle in the middle....however as they took a shot, our central def with his view blocked had his foot out, and the ball clipped it and cruised into the net. 0-1 for the holiday inners, having been down before, Settebello responded by taking the attack to their goal, and we were granted a freekick from quite a distance, it wasnt much of a chance on goal or anything, but marc's foot worked some magic, the wall jumped, the ball stayed low, the goalie dropped to his feet and the ball curved out of his path and into the net....GOOOOL and 1-1.

There was no further big chances for either team, nor did any come in the agony of extra time....so it went to penalty's.

Our goalie, who we all considered to be rather jumpy, unsure, and our weakest link, was told its on his shoulders, by your author, i was chided for mounting pressure on his back.

The holiday innner's got the first kick ... Alan stepped up, about 6ft5" he was a massive fellow, and he shot just like a big guy does, in the same way as the goalie.....MARCO SAVES!!!!.....next up our goalscorer Marc steps up to take his shot....its hard and swift, into the back of the net!......Sam takes the kick for the holiday inner's.....he was probably their MVP on the night, played amazingly...and he surely wouldnt dissapoint....however his kick was slow and right down the middle, but marco in his erraticness jumps up and before he can get down the ball rolls ever so slowly through his legs....Sam is spared the blushes.......David steps up for Settebello, perhaps our biggest doubt as a penalty taker, mainly because its his first one in the tournament....but he does not dissapoint, wrongfooting the goalie to the opposite post he strikes the finest penatly kick to be seen on the Michael Yaron Fields......Steve the steps up with for the 'inners knowing he must score, he had a tremendeous game that was only beaten by Sam's for his team, he looks a tad distraught...but you feel that his kick is the only sure one they have.....and he shoots it with an air of confidence, fast paced, very powerful, deadly accurate.....MARCO SAVES!!!....he dove left early...and Steve failed to spot it.....he makes a stunning save.....since there are only 4 kickers per team in the first round, if our next taker scores, we win.....ALI...our MVP...and perhaps the best player in the intramural leauge steps up.....he has missed a penalty once in the competition once, but has scored 3 times......with his trusty left foot he goes left, Owen the goalie, has no chance.....

A CARTWHEEL IS FOLLOWED BY A MOBBING OF ESTATIC TEAMMATES!!!!......we did it....wining 3-1 in the shootout....and going onto the final

we beat a team that is player for palyer alot better then us, a team that few favored us to beat, and frankly a team we would only beat with some magic in the air...

Tonite is the final, vs the defending champions...let us hope the next post is as happy as this one.


Regardless of waht happens, playing on this team has been great, a true joy, and perhaps one of the best and certanly the most experience i have had relating to school since my Senior year at Killian and the defeat in the wildcard game, i was captain of that waterpolo team and i still cannot say i am over that loss.....which is why last night meant so much....winning is everything!