HAMAS 1. Vs. AMM 2. (AMM Win on Aggregate + Away Goals)
After an enthralling 3 match spectacle in the war torn and poverty stricken region of West Bank, Jerusalem, Palestine. The Masters ousted and dethroned Hamas, by just edging it as they became winners of the memorable tour in the Middle East.
The Masters took part in 3 matches whilst in West Bank, with each score from each game being accumulated to calculate an overall aggregate score of 6-3. This score may look moderatley decent to the naked eye, however once we begin to delve even futher by thusly taking into consideration UEFA's ruling on Away Goals, then and only then do you realise just how special the score line really is.
The first game of the tour came at the prestigious and world renowed venue of The Masjid Al-Aqsa Courtyard, where the Masters took on a local Palestinian amateur side, who all donned red shorts, brightly colourful t-shirts; and were captained by the seasoned, hard-hitting, Mr no days off (not even on Eid) veteran Muhammed Yousef. The game ended up shattering Guiness records for being the longest durating football match in history! According to well-respected Al-Jazeera pundits; Ghazi Neville and Jamal Carragher who analysed the game on MNF, "the match was badically over within the first 5 minutes, courtesy of dangerously quick foot work from young Saif M. who majestically danced and dazzled into the oppositions area and lashed a first half 4 minute perfect hat-trick." From there on out, the Masters thoroughly dominated the game, limiting the amateur side to only 1 shot on target in the entity of the game. 'Man of the Tour' Al-bakr Mukadam (AB) dictated the speed and the tempo of the game effortlessly, pinging balls left, right and centre with no hesitation. The defensive partnership of the young Adeel Hashmi and Junaid Syed which was the core backbone of the team is blossoming even further, with Adeel learning his trade off the skipper, and getting better game by game. The elder brother of the young defender - Yousuf Hashmi, wowed onlookers by using his explosive pace to great effect, notching over a half a dozen assists and grabbing a goal for himself in the process. However there were some fairly shocking moments in a game full of sublime football and game whose backdrop was the jaw gaping scenic beauty of the Dome of the Rock, which overlooked the pitch. This entailed the goalkeeper for the opposing team (Bilal) severely injuring star winger and recent winner of the FIFA Most Improved Player 2013 Yousuf Hashmi. Not only did this leave the Masters a man down, but also weakened morale massively. Insult was then added to injury, when an own goal from debutant Raess, handed the home team a real sign of encouragement. However the idea of a comeback was quickly thwarted by 2 goals from AB and Junaid in quick succession on the stroke of full time. Meaning the game ultimately finished 10-1.
The second game of the tour came against the Palestinian Orphans, at the Orphanage home's makeshift pitch. Right from the off the Masters' confidence and ego was massively boosted after clearance from seniour club officials to allow winger Yousuf Hashmi to make his return to first team football following a minor muscle injury sustained in the previous game. Poor pitch conditions (e.g. concrete flooring, uneven pitch level, pebbles dispersed all over the ground etc.) at the fault of no-one, meant the Masters uncharacteristically started the game very slowly, sluggishly and disjointedly. They almost conceded 2 goals in 2 minutes, if it weren't for the paint of the woodwork; However as the game grew as did the style of play of the Masters, who were aided by another spectacular goal from youngster Saif Mukhadam. The Masters were then forced to work very hard, with no fruit to show for their labour as the opposition utilised the vintage ‘Umer Syed FIFA 13’ tactic of sitting back deep and long ball football very well. Some heroic defending from both Junaid Syed and Adeel Hashmi, allowed Yousuf Hashmi and AB Mukhadam to go further up field and express themselves with more time on the ball. With both of them finding the net once. Al-Bakr (AB) could have added to his collection if he had been able to latch onto a perfectly placed Inista-esque through-ball delivered by Junaid Syed. However Junaid was also guilty of poor finishing after missing a chance which would have taken pressure off the Masters hugely, after doing all the hard work of beating 5 players, could not apply the finishing touch to beat the keeper in a one on one situation. However spirits were liftedwhen a goal from who bookies are calling the 'favourite' to win the inaugural FIFA Most Improved Player 2014 - Adeel Hashmi, who scored a definately much needed goal to finally break his duck, after an excellent assist from skipper Junaid. The game concluded with a score of 6-0, however it could have been 8-2 had things gone differently.
With an Aggregate score of 2-0, and victory in the Palestinian Super Cup already assumed, the Masters went into their next game full of confidence and a wanting to secure a sweepstake aggregate victory of 3-0 which would have made them the first English team since Arsenal in 2002 to go a season unbeaten. However standing in there way was a neat, tidy and profficient 4-aside team, whom all of which were semi-professionals football players who were all well on their way to becoming full-time professionals, this accourding to 'The BBC Gossip Column' which states that per The Islamicpendent, they had all "agreed personal terms with Real Madrid and were to sign with the Spanish giants in the next transfer market." This match was going to be the Masters toughest test - and it most definitely was. There was a pre-nuptial agreement between both teams’ managers, stipulating that this match would consist of 2 4-aside games, and 1 5-aside game and the overall score of all the games would determine the winner and the loser. Critics Ghaffar Linekar and Ali Hansen said The Masters were well over there head and bound to lose. In the first game The manager of the Masters selected there 4 best players to represent the team in the all important first game; Junaid, Saif, AB and Raess. Despite facing a highly attack orientated side who displayed tika-take football that Pep Guardiola would have been elated with, The Masters managed to hang on and grind out a big win in the first of 3 games, the score finished 2-1, courtesy of 2 AB assists and a goal, and another goal for Saif. Yousuf also made an appearance late into the first game, and showed great defensive nouse, by helping to maintain the one goal lead. The Second game started identical to the first in terms of pure dominance from the opposition; however there were some surprising tactical changes by the gaffer, as star men AB and Saif were taken off, and Yousuf and Adeel were bought on. The Masters could not sustain such attacking intent, despite a more defensively orientated line up. And trailed 2 goals to none with half time approaching. So things had to change, and they did, Adeel made way for AB at the start of the seond half and the Masters suddenly found there feet, playing some excellent football. This good football was rewarded by a cheeky goal from Captain Junaid, who alike to Adeel in the previous game also broke his goal draught. However the feeling of victory nearly being in sight was heavily tainted, by a last minute screamer from the Palestinian Captain Al-Messi (@ftw_pie). This left the game on knife edge, with the last game being the all-important decisive factor, would the Masters remain unbeaten and shatter records as well as Palestinian hearts?, or would the Palestinians gain some pride back for their nation with a consolation victory. This game was slightly different to the previous 2 in that it was 5 aside, however due to the Palestinian team only having 4 players they would have to loan youngster Ismail. This decision turned out to bite the Masters in the backside, as Ismail netted 2 fantastic goals which led to a 6-2 romp of the Masters. Although the result from this last game was highly disappointing and a difficult pill to swallow, it did not really matter as it still meant the masters won the highly prestigious and sought after Palestinian Super Cup, with a 2-1 aggregate victory over its counterparts.
"Sometimes you have to lose the battle, to win the war" ~ Aunty Tabasim (2014)
Win, lose or draw... One thing is for sure, the memorable tour of Palestine will defiantely be a Journey of a Lifetime.
