Line-up: Puig, Si Mohammed, Manfellotto, Rossi (Guarnaccia), De Roeck, Lo Presti, Friedrichs, Henriquez (Pereira), Belalij, Deschamps (Godefroid), Mineo (Pryce);

There is nothing worse than losing a match after fighting with 10 and then 9 men against 11. Unless you also have to write a report on that match.

But let’s rewind to summarize how it all happened.

After a hopeful comeback and 4 consecutive wins, the team had lost momentum, performance and crucially, points. This match seemed a good chance to regain them all.

In the post-truth fake news era, the team was welcomed by a dreadful news: we all had the wrong boots. "We’re playing on grass, boys”, said the oracle Guarnaccia. This statement sounded like an ominous prophecy but was swiftly dismissed by a double-check.

Nonno Guarnaccia eventually showed to be as good at predicting the right boots as the Italian Coach Ventura was at selecting the right squad to beat Sweden.

Despite this accident the team was ready to fight for the three points.

The first half of the match showed overall balance. LTC missed two chances, blocked by El Capitano’s reflexes but RBBFC’s defence was solid on the whole. The good team also came close to the opponents’ goal on a couple of occasions but failed to score.

The second half turned out to be a completely different story. For the first 5 minutes, RBBFC suffered LTC’s prolonged possession that nearly led to a goal. But they quickly regained control of the game, although without creating much clear chances. It all changed when Manfellotto tried to stop a dangerous counterattack. Red card, said the referee, unconcerned by the team’s vocal protests. Even with 10 men, RBBFC did not lose hope and continued to play its game. Yet again though, with no dangerous chances.

An unlucky fall almost cost ‘the priest’ Rossi his holy neck. After few worrisome minutes, we were all relieved by seeing him able to leave the pitch on his own legs, replaced by Guarnaccia (right boots, Massi?).

As if all those ominous signs were not enough, the team went from the frying pan into the fire. A false step, or perhaps too much beer the previous evening, strained Pryce’s muscles and forced him to leave the pitch. With only 9 men standing, the match turned into a struggle to secure at least one point.

On a confused LTC attacking action, Friedrichs stumbles on one of their forwards. Enough for a penalty according to the referee, in the mood for generosity. RBBFC were filled with rage and disappointment at the idea of losing the game in that way, after fighting so strenuously against both opponents and bad luck.

But LTC missed the penalty. And when RBBFC exploded with joy it seemed to them like the just reward for an unlucky afternoon.

Until that moment in the extra time when the so-far innocuous LTC player decides to collect its year-worth share of luck, put it into a shot and give it a try. And boom, it was a goal. 1-0.

It was not RBBFC’s Saturday. Helpless and grief-stricken, RBBFC players left the pitch with the consolation of having fought with 9 players with dignity and order. Heads up!

MoM and reporter: "Under my" Andrea LoPresti