Stoppage Time Relief ('24-25 Leicester City Home 4-2)

Banner image courtesy premierleague.com

LAST WEEK –

THE CONS – the couch and rugs of my guest room wer secretly doused in urine by a handsome feline named Bobby. Can sunlight, heat, and chemical detergents overcome his lingering stench? So far, it appears not.

THE PRO –  Alex Syps DMed me after seeing an Instagram story of me playing 5-a-side against some local boys – "nice first touch." Nothing warms the heart quite like a football compliment.

THE MATCH -

- Kai Havertz is a master of the cheap tactical foul, knocking over his opponent while he’s already falling over. Kai – a true icon to the clumsy community.

- Martinelli strikes home a scruffy effort from a bobbling Timber cutback. Am I made of the same material as Jurrien Timber? Him – sturdy, athletic, powerful. Me – lanky, clumsy, brittle.

- Calafiori is reinventing the left back position. He’s everywhere, pinging passes, making tackles, winning headers.

- I enjoy this. Winning. Togetherness. Energy. Aggression. Talent. Skill. Technique. Hunger. Courage. Grace. Grit. Sacrifice. Focus. Brotherhood.

- I spend 10 minutes cooking a bizarre temple peanut sauce. I come back and it’s 2-2.

- Nervousness. Inadequacy. Self-loathing. Anxiety. A sense of doom, which is:

- Relieved by a Stoppage Time corner, swung to the back post, and met by Leo Trossard's calm left foot, then deflected off Ndidi into the Leicester net.

- Then glowing joy when a Jesus backheel is saved by the keeper, then smothered off Havertz into the goal via James Justin, who'd score an absolute banger of an equaliser in the 63rd minute.

- Pride, and a begrudging optimism. Is this our season?

‍