Sloppy Fun: Team James exacts revenge on Team Phil in Clear Dream Match
There was a little bit of everything in the second Clear Dream Match last Saturday in the University of Makati Football Stadium. Great goals, hard tackles, a glimpse of Footballing royalty, some controversy, and lots and lots of rain.
After the dust, or shall we say mud, settled, James Younghusband's squad emerged 4-1 winners, avenging last year's 5-1 shellacking to Phil Younghusband's team in the 2012 edition of the exhibition game.
Phil Younghusband opened the scoring, but his elder brother's team roared back with four unanswered goals, two apiece from James himself and Izo Elhabbib in appalling conditions at Umak.
The two brothers drafted players from the Azkals and the UFL, plus TV5 celebs Slick Rick, Toni Toni and Sam YG to form their sides in the exhibition match sponsored by Clear shampoo.
ALSO READ: Buffon desperate for Champions League glory.
There were also two greats of the game who added luster to the occasion, Italian World Cup-winner Fabio Cannavaro, 39, who manned the defensive line for Team James, and Chelsea's legendary central midfielder, Dennis Wise, still spry at 46.
Phil Younghusband struck first four minutes into the encounter, spearing the ball under Team James keeper Saba Sadeghi after receiving the ball off a Chris Greatwich giveaway.
Seven minutes later the rains began, reducing the already dodgy Umak surface into a soggy, muddy soup that made for Mini-Golf like conditions for the rest of the game.
In the fourteenth minute Chieffy Caligdong, playing for James, supplied a looping cross from the left flank that was gathered near the end line by Misagh Bahadoran and pinged back to captain James.
The elder Younghusband volleyed the pass in splendidly past Patrick Deyto for 1-1.
ALSO READ: Shakey's V-League: Smart remain unscathed, Cagayan Valley wins.
25 minutes in Phil's eleven were reduced to ten when centerback Rodrigue Nembot harshly felled Misagh Bahadoran in the box after the Azkal had broken free.
To the shock of the packed crowd, referee Michael Barajas presented Nembot with a straight red.
“Who the f__k gives a red card in an exhibition match?” Opined one UFL goalkeeper from the stands.
In the ensuing penalty kick James slotted home to his left, getting Deyto to dive in the other direction for 2-1.
It became 3-1 seven minutes later when Elhabbib collected a pass from the right flank and powered past Deyto.
Meanwhile just before halftime Garmaroudi denied Phil with an excellent save. The Iranian dentistry student and Kaya number one netminder was adjudged best keeper for the second year in the row. Last year he was chosen first overall in the draft by Phil.
At halftime maintenance workers hauled out several bags of sand to help salvage the rapidly deteriorating pitch, which was impossibly muddy and sandy in the sides but in spots in the center, was hard.
Just after the half Phil's team nearly halved the deficit when Wise's shot was parried by Garmaroudi and followed up by an attempt by Chris Greatwich. The shot was also partially blocked but trickled on to the goal line, from where it was cleared. The goal was not given to the dismay of Greatwich. Under FIFA rules, the entirety of the ball must cross the line for a goal to count.
ALSO READ: Jeric Teng injured again.
At the half-hour mark Elhabbib picked Team James' fourth, waltzing through the muck in front of Deyto and poking the ball home off a rebound.
Three minutes earlier the Sudanese star from Global was denied by the post.
Deyto did come through in the 76th, producing a terrific save off a hard shot from substitute Ian Araneta.
Of the two legends, Wise was the busier, involving himself in attack and nearly scoring once. The former Chelsea stalwart was also the more playful of the two; at one point he wiped his face with the back of the shirt of an assistant referee.
Afterwards Wise praised both Phil and James and also made special mention of OJ Porteria's quality.
Chris Greatwich was adjudged best midfielder, Elhabbib best player, and Yves Ashime of Team James best defender.
Chieffy Caligdong had a remarkable game, causing lots of problems with his crossing and passing. He and Deyto both played in the Globe Futsal Invitational semifinals and finals earlier in the day, leading the Green Archers United Globe – White team to a 6-5 finals win over Iran FC. Caligdong scored in the final.
It was reported by Clear Dream Match media head Rick Olivares that there will likely be a third match next year to break the 1-1 tie between the two brothers. The rivalry is heated and real, as evidenced by the sight of Phil and James arguing about something on the pitch moments before the match ended.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
