What a game! - two own goals, two red cards, heaps of yellows, torrential rain and a local derby to boot. What more could you ask for? Well, the Stallions fans asked for it and got it - the long awaited return from injury of "Bugsy" Maloney. And what a comeback game it was. Down 1 - 0 at half-time , and down to 10 men the Stallions fans were ecstatic to see Brad take the field for the second stanza.
Bugsy scored the goal of the game (well the other two were OGs anyway), a scorcher from just inside the box - from the time Brad set his sights on the ball, this was a goal - nothing was going to come between that him and that ball or between that ball and the back of the net.
Ten minutes later he was yellow carded for a dive(?) - who was this ref kidding? Bugsy didn't have time to dive - the Croatia (sorry) Sydney United player should have been "carded" for one of the most blatant fouls of the match - unfortunately the ref must have been reading too many articles about players diving. Even the usually staid Forza was heard to mutter "horseshit!" and, of course Stallions should know all about that subject.
To cap off a great comeback, at the completion of the game Brad led his team down to an area behind the goal at the scoreboard end to acknowledge the support of a small, but vocal, hardy band of Stallions fans gathered there. How much more appealing must it have been to have run straight to the dressing rooms and a hot shower? It was a nice gesture and much appreciated by the fans.
Actually, I do apologise for the "Croatia" reference - the famous war cry was not in evidence today, even though United dominated for long periods of the first half. This side won't finish last - in fact don't be surprised if they are still in with a chance around finals time next year.