Saturday, December 6, 2003, 05:08 p.m.
Thursday, December 4, 2003, 08:13 p.m.
Trust Madrid to pull such a fantastic stunt. I nearly gave it up and was heavily inclined to fall asleep half an hour before the game started. Glad that I didn’t.
A stunner it was, when Ronnie shot that first goal. Only 15 seconds into the game! I dunno if that goal had an extreme psychological impact on Athletico’s players but despite the fact that they played fairly well, they seemed to be pretty much intimidated.
Psychological speculations aside, some of the faults were to be laid on playmaker I think. All the balls were supplied to Torres and soon the strategy was devastatingly clear to Madrid’s defense. Como cristal. Still a bravo is much appropriate for Raúl Bravo, he’s developed into a very good stopper.
Also clear that Madrid strutted their stuff a good deal this partido. Zidane showed off his groovy dribbling, Ronnie went past three defenders, Raúl shot that brilliant head... even Becks seemed to have picked up some of the Spanish football style.
I say, he might or might not be necessary to Madrid but he sure is taking advantage moving into the team. Not only did his assissts become even more effective (he’d logged 6 so far) he seemed to be picking up the penetrating moves that were more identical to Spanish’s and Brazilian’s style.
Iker got to show off, too, in spite of Athletico’s somewhat poor attacks. tve replayed at least two of the footages where he’s telling the defenders off, shouting to the max of his lungs’ capacity. And didn’t he look simply splendid!
*drooling*
Athletico didn’t get any corners but there were a few free kicks taken just before the penalty box... no wait a minute, there was one corner where indeed Casillas snatched the ball easily and handed it immediately back to one of the teammates. He got to punch off a few attempts, too; once almost hitting Athletico’s striker around the head.
He was saved twice by an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Torres managed to zoom into Casillas’ territory, practically unguarded, only to find his shot very narrowly missed the net. I should think it’s only a few centimetres off the goal post.
Second time it happened, Torres’ other shots had been thawed for God knows how many times and he looked up to heaven with silent desperation. Poor thing!
(Iker tapped him on the back, though, if I were him I’d be perfectly okay!)
The other much disappointed player would be Figo, I think. He rarely got the ball and didn’t handle much of it, too. Passed it on as soon as he could. Almost as if he’s not in the mood or something. But when he got the hang of it, he was given the yellow card for alleged diving. (Which he wasn’t; he was tackled pretty badly by the Athletico’s defender.)
In spite of it, I got the feeling the ref was inclined to take Madrid’s side. Most of his decisions gave enormous advantage to los blancos. Not that they really needed that but it created an overwhelming effect to the already frustrated Athletico’s players.
To wrap, Barcelona lost a surprising match against Malaga: 1-5; Joaquin y amigos made it a draw (1-1, I think) and so was yesterday’s match, Sociedad vs Valencia: 0-0. Good thing I didn’t watch.
That puts Madrid on top of the table for now. ¡Ay, bien!
Footnote: RCTI has the most snacks to accompany the matches. This time it’s Ronny Pangemanan alias Ropan alias Roti Panggang!
Another good news: Juve lost it miserably to Galatasaray. 0-2! Hwahaha. All for not lining up Alex (was he injured or something?)
Also, Terim made a good decision by having Hasan Sas from the first. That’s another brilliant baldy footballie! Hakan Sukur scored both goals and Juve’s strikers just waste all the good chances they did have.
Wednesday, December 3, 2003, 07:33 p.m.
Ahoyyyy, people...! Finally, I'm back!
(I feel kinda like Arnold Swachzenegger *adoow orang ini... namanya susya bener!*)
Clarification again (oh, this life of a celebrity!): I'm not actually sick... just had an accident in the kitchen. I was adjusting the stove's to its seat - am sure not much people understand what I'm talking about, my landlady insisted on using the stoves dating back to pre-historic time!
Anyway, it was so that if the seat wasn't properly adjusted, the fire wouldn't go up properly and well, cooking would take a hell of a longer time.
I didn't know it was still searing hot from previous use and before I knew it, my hand was moving on its own, jumping back to escape the heat.
It made typing SMS a lil difficult but other than that, no permanent damage had taken effect.
How's everyone doing? Am surprised myself that I actually miss you guys a lot!!! I'm grinning with glee here reading all the messages you guys left.
Cousin Edwin's girl had been in town a week ago and I was the one "honored" to take her around town.
It was a nice surprise that I felt so much at ease around her. Ulen (short for Juliana: don't ask me how come: she didn't know it herself) didn't mind that we didn't talk a lot but when we do, I felt this connection I previously felt only with my oldest and closest friends.
She appreciates my kind of humor (really, sometimes I think Jakarta people are much too serious and ignorant) and she could really make me giggle like a maniac when she threw one of her dry, mischievious remarks.
The drawback of this good moments was that my sleeping schedule finally gained its proper senses thus making me sleep within the normal, sane hours --> 9/10 PM to 5/6 AM... and I couldn't watch any football match!!!
I missed mio querido Iker!!!
Good news though, there's a live match to be broadcasted tonight, YAHOOOOOOO!!!
Speaking of mio querido, I've found myself waiting around to see this Mexican soap called Mi Gorda Bella (=My Plump Belle). I didn't care much for the story, it's the usual cliché anyway but the hero... ooh, definitely yummy.
Dunno his real name, dunno anything at all about him but well, soon Bintang or any other self-respecting tabloid would reveal everything - even things we didn't want to know.
Am all aflutter now, waiting for the game - Madrid would be facing Atletico; what's all this special schedule is all about?
No matter though, any chance to see more of Iker is more than welcome.
Euro drawing was missed, thanx to Edwin and Ulen but I can always check the schedule here. Porto and Spain in one group!!! My, my, my... most of my fave players are of course in Porto but what about mio amado Iker??? I shall not watch the games between Spain and Porto, I'll die standing!
