by Chiara Sanguanini
Festive Sunday and awards ceremonies; Martelli in full gear and dressed in red and white. Along Te park there are many drawings by children from various primary schools: a nice initiative.
The stadium quickly fills with flags, scarves, t-shirts; a red and white head also stands out: it’s mine.
Heat. Very warm in every sense.
It begins: everyone standing and singing with their scarves in the air “It’s coming, the high wave is coming…” “When I see those shirts on the pitch…”.
Then… after just two minutes, free kick from the edge and Vicenza goes through.
My neighbor grumbles “It’s Giacomelli’s fault, but why is Giacomelli there?” “Come on friend, there is time to recover”.
In fact… in the third the restart from the bottom doesn’t work, Festa makes a mistake and Ronaldo scores by hitting the empty net.
“Giacomelli…” He’s my neighbor.
“But are we joking aside?” They say behind it “They are more motivated” “We would have a good reason too: to win on promotion day, for a more complete celebration” “We are embarrassing” “Pig here, pig there” “Damn what a start!” “It’s a thriller start, better to keep quiet and wait”.
“But Giacomelli, no no no” insists the neighbor who, in addition to being angry with the player, who he considers guilty of everything, including world hunger, moans constantly.
The ultras, on the other hand, sing, their leader incites, shouts, shakes; luckily it doesn’t hit. “But never let him get a little hoarse” “But what is it?” “I don’t know!” “In my opinion it is an artificial intelligence.”
And while everyone around is chuckling, Vicenza dominates and could score again. “Every time they start again it’s a sure danger” “Hell, the only thing is to think that we’re already in Serie B” “Come on, score a goal before the end of the half” “Yes, but we should shoot on goal”.
We sing the entire repertoire of the curve, but nothing seems to shake the team from its torpor.
“What is happening?” “Nothing, they play and we don’t” “Mantova aren’t doing well, thank goodness they’re now down to the Scudele Lavade”.
The first half ends.
Everyone drinking, too hot.
My neighbor does not appease; he’s passionate, I know it and he can’t handle it: guess who he’s mad at?
Now let’s see in what spirit they return. Luckily there is a CAPTAIN. At the 8th great shot under the top corner and GOOOOOOL!
BURRAI! He runs towards us to rejoice properly, reciprocated by our joy.
Three minutes later… pole truck from Burrai himself. “I have never seen a fat cumpagn” “Pole truck on a backpass… crazy”.
Now the red and white people believe it. “Great, now we draw” “And then we win”.
Giacomelli leaves for Debenedetti: “Thank goodness” the usual neighbor.
Bombagi also enters “No, no… for goodness’ sake” it’s him.
Bragantini enters “Well, this is fine” who, after a few minutes, leaves, exhausted by his own mumbling.
Mantua attacks, Vicenza wastes all the time they can and no draw. Alright, let’s party!
The whole stadium stops for the team awards ceremony.
We are officially in Serie B!!!
“Beautiful, but not beautiful” writes Luca. Well, this comment at the end of the match seems perfect to me.
Beautiful, beautiful and impossible
…
Beautiful and unattainable
with black eyes
and with your deadly game
(G. Nannini)
