The GW4 UFFA Champions League Final saw DFA Steve Williams' Ash Wonders (Daytime FA) take on Phil Sinkins' Frootloops FC (Primetime FA). Phil threw down the challenge within the DFA playtime, so the game drew quite a partisan crowd! Both sides lined up with some sort of 4-5-1 variant, with Samuel Eto'o leading the line for Steve and Romain Bonnet up top for the Loops.
The game burst into life straight away, with Frootloops surging ahead in the 7th min, when the Ash defense disintegrated and allowed Bonnet to power home a header from a corner. The lead was to last only seconds, however; in the 9th minute a weak pass from Djourou gifted the ball to Sergio Mota, who smashed home the equaliser.
What could have been the defining moment of the game came when Nkoulou was sent off in the 14th minute for a late two-footed challenge. Frootloops had to reshuffle, switching to a 4-4-1, with a wide diamond in midfield, bravely keeping Santiago Lucio in his favoured attacking midfield role. Eto'o ran much of the rest of the first half, holding up play well but with Ash failing to capitalise on possession.
The tension continued to mount, with Ash dominating possession and territory, but the Fruitloops always looking dangerous on the counter and at set-pieces. Indeed, it was from a free kick in the 59th minute that Bonnet snatched his second, converting at the near post from a Pavan free-kick near the corner flag. The Loops looked ready to snatch a victory against the odds, but the referee was determined to enjoy his day out and continued to influenced play. The anxious Wonders' boss Williams watched his side nervously defending some excellent set-pieces. As the end drew closer, the Wonders sought to get level and pressure mounted, with Eto'o forcing a terrific safe in the 82nd from point blank range.
It was the referee that was to deliver the blow to the Loops though, awarding an 83rd minute penalty to the Wonders after a tug on Belluschi's shirt by Ramirez. Eto'o stepped up to coolly convert, and the game was tied at 2-2. We went into extra time with the game delivering more of the same, with the Loops actually managing to get back on top somewhat, despite the tired legs of the 10 men and the DFA-centric crowd urging on their golden Wonders.
Eventually it became apparent that the game was drifting on to penalties, and the managers exchanged pleasantries as quiet fell across the watching crowd. Loops went first, with Bonnet smashing home before Eto'o proved he could finish just as well. It would be Thapelo Mtshali who would be the fall guy for the Wonders, hitting the woodwork with their 3rd penalty, and the result never looked in doubt when Vincent Kompany, cool as a cucumber, eventually stepped up to smash home the winning penalty for Frootloops FC.
Final score: Ash Wonders 2 Frootloops FC 2 AET (Frootloops win 5-3 on penalties)
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