Some bloke in a black t-shirt who I had never met before in my life told me he loved me.
I loved him too.
Delirious scenes!
It was a fantastic moment in time, the very reason we all love football, however, we all woke up this morning back in the real world, no food on the shelves, no fuel at the pumps, blasted Brexit has left us all having to eat our own earwax… oh how I long to for days when we were in the bosom of the EU.
And when the dust has settled just sit down and think about the people who don't like football, is there really any other scenario where you can get that sort of release to scream and shout, leaping into the air and be totally consumed in that moment.
Not going to lie, until the 95th minute I was having a thoroughly wretched evening. A really annoying trip up, that absolute tip of stadium making it impossible to see anything meaningful other than the Sainsbury's penalty area, the very underwhelming Albion performance, their manky penalty being the difference between us etc etc.........And then, thanks to the keeper faking his way to a free kick, we get Veltman's precision volley and Maupay's moment of utter brilliance....The previous 3 hours forgotten and it was joy unconfined.
Let's make no bones about it, I have been less euphoric after a win, that felt like a win for us and a dagger in the heart for them. The post-goal mayhem was a sight to behold and the reaction of our players both in celebration and post-final whistle just made it all that bit sweeter. Then to discover we were not kettled so we could avoid NJ and he'd to Thornton Heath for a more sedate journey home was just the icing on the cake. Been smiling like a Cheshire Cat all day. Football eh?
About the only equivalent scenario I can think of is when a team wins a Golden Gavel on Bargain Hunt
Unlike our players, in extra time, I had resigned myself to the fact that it was an 'off-day' and anyway we'd had an excellent start to the season..... and then that wonderful moment. I was just euphoric and kept punching the air in sheer delight. That moment is up there with some of the greatest, and the memory will always bring a smile to my face....
Two hours on a bus, a shite, overpriced burger and 94 minutes and 24 seconds of not much worth watching, and the whole night is utterly transformed with two kicks in seconds. Football eh ? Even taking 3 hours to get home didn't seem so bad, just spent it (like everyone else on the bus) watching replays of the goal
And when the dust has settled just sit down and think about the people who don't like football, is there really any other scenario where you can get that sort of release to scream and shout, leaping into the air and be totally consumed in that moment.
Only because Palace are in the Premier league. They'll be getting gates of 15,000 and giving free tickets to their kiddy ultras again as soon as they go down.....that's why we go to football isn't it?
Fans going mad in the ground, fans at home screaming at their telly in joy or disbelief, shithousery from the players, kicking off everywhere, the LOOK on Zahaha's face and most of their fans' boats as well. Sky having to change every plan for their post game interviews at the very last second. Pure pantomime, pure atmosphere and it still feels pretty good now.
Plus it feels like a win. We'll go into the Arsenal game on a massive high now.
THAT is what I mean when I say that a lucky result in front of a packed stadium can sometimes be better than a good but fruitless performance in an empty one. THAT is why last season, for me, was so frustrating and m'eh. And, let's face it, if fans had been in the Amex last season for their game with us their lot would have done exactly the same while we would have emptied the stadium and sulked for months.
Football without the fans is nothing.
Only because Palace are in the Premier league. They'll be getting gates of 15,000 and giving free tickets to their kiddy ultras again as soon as they go down.
Good point, well made, as ever
Some bloke in a black t-shirt who I had never met before in my life told me he loved me.
I loved him too.
Delirious scenes!
Goalkeeper's (poor) kick
Veltman's cushioned pass.
Roar from the away end as we realise it's a chance - then after Maupay lofts the ball there was a (very brief) moment of almost complete silence as we wait for the ball to nestle in the net or go wide.
Cue complete pandemonium.
My stream was about a minute behind and had a mate text "wait for it" with no other context. I had no idea if it was us or them that scored or if it was a red card or what.