AFRO VS EASTPAC

Even as the light of morning sun sprung upon Dubai, Afro failed to wake up in front of a re-fueled Eastpac – the ‘fuel’ being Ali Kassam. Ali played tactical under pressure as he passed it to goalie Mujtaba Khimjee, who chipped it to center where Husain Walji was unsuccessful in bargaining with Maisam Rattansi for the ball. Next thing you know keeper Fazle had another momentary loss of breath with a Sadiq Jetha shot that he saved. Captain Husain Somji crafted some very good openings for Afro but the finishing touches were always sleepy. Eastpac captain Irfan Damji was no good friend of Husain Somji in this match as a mid-field attempt from him went next to the left post – a warning sign. Later on Fazle Abbas Khakoo chipped the ball to Walji on the left a little too high, but Walji decided to make use of it anyway with a bicycle kick that made him nominee for the unofficial “bicycle-kick-better-than-Imran-Lawati’ award. Unfortunately for them while the ball was un-agreeable and the shot took final form outside the area.

ZAGY VS DYNAMIC

Dynamic’s name was put to the test today against the tournament underdogs Zagy in a surprise turnaround that compelled fans to shout out 3 points for sheer effort. The action picked up as Zaki took the opening shot after a coin toss in Zagy’s margin. Jawad Murji rushed onto Sajjad with a clever maneuver that let him control the ball near the Zagy goal. But Jawad preferred to pass and the ball was deflected back off Sajjad who made it compulsory upon Dynamic captain and keeper Ali Bhimani to dive. Zagy keeper Zuhair Rattansi was told he was too big for the goal after saving an Imran Karim shot, something other goalies have yet to do. After a heated first half it didn’t get any better for Bhimani with a strike from Qassim Hemraj. Bhimani fell and for one of Dynamic’s few heart-stopping moments the distance between the ball and goal line could be measured by a small ruler. Three points were stopped short of either Zagy or Dynamic’s progress but maybe Zagy will get them anyway for sheer effort.   

IMAGIO VS UNIVERSAL

Zuhair Hemraj received instructions from Salman Ibraheem in Urdu in what was another add-on in Universal’s routine to pattern themselves away from the conventional crowd. Universal believe they are on course to reach the tournament finals despite loosing to Imagio in the battle which saw them 2-1 dead. Captain Akeel scored for his team in the first five minutes of the game after a stumble from keeper Arif Hassan gave him access to a free ball, to create a 1-0 interval but Imagio fought back with two goals in the same half by way of star striker Muhamed Ramzan. Ramzan ran down to the Universal goal with Akeel in hot persuit which gave keeper Hemraj enough time to make the save. He did so but the ball slipped from his hands and simply moving around him Ramzan brought Imagio back into the game. After just minutes Ali Husain took a shot but Hemraj saved. Zuhair’s tendency to give the ball back after every shot costed Universal as the ball went to Ramzan who won it for Imagio.

EASTERN FREIGHT VS TANGERINE

Maisam Asgher energized Eastern Freight with know-how and strategy in their pre-game pep-talk that would be useful in their time of need. As the match began Tangerine captain Suhail Fazeldin’s passes seemed to curve around the Eastern attack to his compatriot and there was not much they could do about it despite Ali Walji wearing Salman’s ‘legendary’ Nike shoes. Tangerine team-player Shafqat Fazeldin used himself as a decoy giving Sibtain Merchant space on the right to score his first goal in the tournament, earning the remark “kya shot hai yar!” from the buzzing spectators. Soon after, the finally-not-injured Rasul Chatoo proceeded with his usual antics of mocking the opposing team’s defense by getting the ball through Ali Abbas’s legs and scoring. At this time the experience of Maisam Asgher echoed in Eastern Freight’s style of play and Saleh went alone to bring up Eastern’s score by one. A freekick given to Ali Walji saw Maisam run suddenly to the right. He became Ali Walji’s medium of connectivity to Saleh in the front who scored a jump-touch goal. In the ending Walji passed an opportunistic freekick back to Tangerine keeper Muhammed Kazim after colliding with Suhail that brought him to the attention of fair-play lovers.  

AFRO VS DYNAMIC

Dynamic were made to involuntarily wear bibs after being tricked by the cunning Fazle Abbas and soon got their revenge in this top of the table clash. Fazle felt the impact of Maza’s shots through Arif Hassan’s gloves as he tried to compensate for the lack of speed in the Afro defense. Dynamic held an overpowering lead over a majority of the game and as Afro tried to patch up the thread in their defensive net a penalty was awarded to Dynamic which was used to advantage by Maza. The decision was refuted by Husain Walji who was then given a yellow. Upon coming back it was not Husain but Ronaldinho who tried to score, taking on four of the six Dynamic players with a very narrow shot that Ali Jawad Bhimani was given ‘man-of-the-match’ for saving. With Imran Karim breaking down Walji’s game, Afro captain Husain Somji, midfield Fazle and even Azam worked at one speed to try and ease down the pressure but there was no marks given for trying. So far the towering Azam had stood in Dynamic’s way of a crushing triumph but with him in midfield after taking a spectacular shot, Mustafa Rashid scored Dynamic’s third goal. Alas if only Fazle had not made Dynamic wear the bibs.

ZAGY VS TANGERINE

Zagy found themselves the onlooker’s favorites after a draw with tournament-highs Dynamic that showed anything is possible. Rasul Chatoo was brought down hard in the commencing minutes but chose to continue, and channeled his pain towards his team success after moving around the Zagy defense like a dizzying whirlwind keeping Tangerine in the lead. Zagy captain Muhammed Manji carried with him an essence of Michael Ballack as he ran back to assist his defense with clearing headers against Suhail’s freekicks, and then back up to help Zaki and Qassim with the offense. The on-form Ali Jetha marked his presence among the Zagy confederate as well-taken passes floated from him to Rasul, whose combined skills with Suhail counted up another goal. Qassim distracted the Tangerine defense while Zaki passed to get a 1-on-1 with the keeper, however Muhamed Kazim sharply attacked Zaki’s legs and held the ball exactly on the line. After asking for penalty Zagy were awarded freekick that did not bear any incentive. Qassim Hemraj received the ball as it turned back and got the ball through Sibtain’s legs as it drifted calmly into the Tangerine net to bring the only comfort to hard-worked Zagy.

EASTERN FREIGHT VS IMAGIO

The Eastern Freight team starred in box office smash sensation “EASTERN FREIGHT – THE WIN” as Eastern’s fine actors enacted an overwhelmingly entertaining game of indoor football whose perfect execution that would leave any director jealous. It all started as Ali Husain of the rivaling Imagio sped towards the goalpost but keeper Duli came out just in time with a balanced dive to get it off his feet without even rehearsing at first, and the super-accurate Imran Lawati made sure not to send the returning ball inside the goal with a left post hit as dictated by the script. Without a doubt, the quality of the performance by the respective artists could be seen in many-a-fan’s sweaty collar, and ‘pitch-fever’ struck them for Eastern possession when goalie Duli, defender Ali Abbas Merali, and Imagio attack Muhammed Ramzan and Imran Lawati shared a few square inches of playing field inside the box. Remembering the screenplay Ali Walji passed the ball to Muhamed Abdul Aziz from inside the Imagio box instead of shooting and with practiced ease the score was brought up from mid-field. So confident was Ali Dina as he charged brilliantly down his left wing with calculated shots (which tested the end of keeper Arif) that he must’ve thought the crowd would jump in to defend his team lest Imagio abandoned the play text, and the atmosphere did much to encourage that thinking. Witnesses were alarmed when Duli came out of the box to catch a ball but the quick ref ruled not foul and pointed out the ball itself was still in the D – apparently this was all part of the plan. The final score was as is but not before the right post was hit from a long ball by Maisam Asgher, and a Saleh Hashim one-on-one with Arif.