Al Muslim Masters returned to winning habits after defeating rivals 'Aston Villa Academy' by 8 goals to 7. The Masters who were coming into the game as underdogs on the back of a 3 loss winning rot, quickly ended the streak in true Brock Lesnar style with a workmanlike and team orientated victory. Notable returns to the starting XI; including that of Umer, Saif, Hamzah and man of the match AB Mukadam helped to ensure an important victory.
The team lined up in a 4-1-3-1 formation with Saif Mukadam operating as the false number 9, whilst brother AB Mukadam slotted in at defensive midfield, where he put in a shift resembling that of Claude Makélélé. The match started with an early goal for the masters from usual suspect; Adam Mahmood. However sloppy goals from corners and simple man marking meant that Aston Villa Academy; who were fielding there under 20, rather than under 17 team today! Got In front by 3 goals to one. Another Villa goal from there star winger put the score at a shocking 4-1. A goal from Hamzah in the 35th minute restored some pride and put the Masters with only a 2 goal deficit, however all this hard work was quickly overturned as Mark Henry nodded home another goal for Villa making the scoreline a resounding 5-3 at the half time interval.
Tactical changes were made during the second half, where injured striker Saif Mukadam replaced debutant, and fellow La Masia prodigé Ahmed Syed in goal. This as well as AB returning to defensive midfield, gave strength and protection to the defence. These changes proved originally ineffective as an Aston Villa player managed to creep round the Masters' right back to furtherly increase the scoreline to a 4 goal lead. However the tactical switches made at half time finally proved successful as the Masters then went on to score 2 goals in quick succession in the 50th minute, through a great square pass and cross from winger Yousuf Hashmi. The first of the goals was a phenomenal Erik Lamella-esque-rabona from 10 yards out by inform striker Hamzah Haq. The second was a long rang effort from Albakr who managed to beat 2 players before striking the ball with his left foot. The Muslim Masters were not done yet, as they scored another goal - a 40 yard screamer from Adam Mahmood which had shades of Cristiano Ronaldo vs Porto 2009 all over it. This wonderstrike levelled things up at 6-6. With only 10 minutes left on the clock and the possibility of the dreaded penalties looming, both sides held down D-Pad to the right and went all out. It was Villa Academy who were second best throughout the whole of the second half, struck first with a near post tap in, past the helpless Said Mukadam. As things stood the Masters would lose, and this loss would be there 4th in a row! This kind of embarrassment was too big to contemplate, so Adam Mahmood who had already secured a brace, broke through the middle, weaved past 3 defenders like they weren't there and sent the keeper the wrong way with a cheeky dink, to secure not only his hattrick but also a win.
Many a times, the headlines from these games are normally stolen and dominated by the striker who managed to secure a hattrick. But this victory was a great all round team performance, with all parties putting in an equal shift, which demonstrated fantastic strength, solidarity and in the notorious words of Brendan Rogers; character.
Special mentions must go out to the defence; who all played well, in a much improved performance from previous games; especially centre backs Junaid Syed and Ikhi. Also Hamzah Haq, who still managed to bag a brace despite a touch of fatigue and jet-lag flew back from Morocco last night where he was setting up his charity; the Hamzah Haq Foundation, which aims at giving disadvantaged children a way to escape abject poverty through football. And last but not least a final S/O must go to man of the match Ab Mukadam, who in his first game back in the team in 8 months, put in a mesmeric performance which epitomised the performance put in by the team.
(AB pictured with his Man of the Match Award!)
