While most of Italy was getting ready for the UEFA Champions League match in Milan, the Coffee Masters and the Illy Grinders played by far the wildest game of the season.
It was a breathtaking match on Friday, May 27, 2016, which included ten goals!
Initially it looked like it would end with the Coffee Masters as the winners with 2-1 score at half time.
But after half time, the Illy Grinders basically pulled out most of their first half players and replaced them with a fresh group, putting our weary 12 Coffee Masters to the test.
But the long bench of the Illy Grinders was perhaps their only strong point: they continuously pulled out their tired, replacing them with fresh energized players – a luxury that the Coffee Masters did not have.
Nevertheless, the Coffee Master did put fear into those many hearts of the Illy Grinders: at the beginning of the second half, the Coffee Masters were winning: 3-1
It was during the last 10 minutes of the match that things turned around for the Coffee Master team: exhaustion was the main culprit, not to mention a very questionable penalty kick in favor of the Illy Grinders.
In the end, the score was 4-6, with the Illy Grinders wining for the 6th year in a row.
This match was exhausting, exhilarating and physically demanding. But I couldn’t be more proud of those 12 Coffee Masters who were on that pitch Friday night, not to mention our devoted Coffee Master cheerleaders on the bleachers!
True champions are not always the winners; they are the ones that show the most courage! And I can assure you, our Coffee Masters are a group of audacious people.
In about 2 weeks our Coffee Masters will be returning to their country of origin: they will take back with them their passion and dedication for coffee, for life and for the love of the game!
I thank you Coffee Masters for ALWAYS giving everything you've got!