The second match of the night featured two of the league’s most talented squads with plenty of story lines to add. Top-ranked Sabr, led by the potent duo of perennial scoring champ Waqar “Boom Boom” Khan and sniper Yousuf (Bam Bam?) Sowdegar, had little to prove on this night, considering that first place was already clinched, earning a first round bye in the playoffs. But perhaps they underestimated their opposition, who had also clinched a playoff spot and were determined to make a statement with a strong performance after a season marred by injuries, absences and underachievement. The last meeting between these two teams featured a Ridha line up small enough to fit in a Smart Car, with aging veterans Abdu Sharkawy and Ahmad Ibrahim breathlessly calling for an Uber to take them into the Sabr offensive zone. Sabr would triumph, barely breaking a sweat, with a 4-2 win.

Ridha entered the contest with a 5 game unbeaten streak, their last defeat coming in dramatic fashion as Osama Soliman scored the winner in a game memorably recalled for “Goalie-gate” – if you missed it, Emaan goaltender Kaunain Saiyed was forced to leave with apparent injury with the game tied and only a minute remaining. While it was initially proposed to end the game as a 3-3 draw, the discussion quickly grew more heated, and Ridha insisted that the game proceed, prompting an emergency appearance by Haris Malik, who entered the game with barely enough time to spell relief, let alone, offer it. The move would backfire as Soliman would cut through the Ridha defense like a hot knife through butter, and the rest is history. This crushing loss may have been the turning point of the season for Ridha, who have been a more determined and resilient force ever since.

Sabr apparently felt there was not much to play for, electing to dress defenseman Hammad Khan in goal instead of their regular keeper, Ebad Khan. The move likely motivated Ridha, who despite missing top forwards Shaukat “Baba” Khan, and captain, Mohammad Bilal, turned in an impressive performance. It was Sabr who carried the play for much of the first half, however and after a flurry of scoring chances, Ibrahim Khan was awarded a penalty shot after being slashed on a breakaway. But Ridha tender Ali “the wall Trump can’t build” Khwaja stood tall and shut the door, keeping the game scoreless. Ridha rallied around this TSN turning point as the momentum swing was palpable. After some relentless forechecking, Shehryar “Sherry” Khan would send a laser from the point that was deflected by Abdu “the Egyptian Geriatrician” Sharkawy, to finally break the deadlock for a 1-0 lead.

The second half featured more of the same, as several odd man chances, including both 2 on 1’s and partial breakaways for Boom Boom and Bam Bam, were repeatedly denied as Khwaja remained stingier than a loan officer at a Greek bank. With each stellar save, Ridha appeared to gain more confidence, eventually leading to more scoring chances and after another offensive forechecking barrage, Ahmad “Black Panther” Ibrahim banged home his team-leading 5^th tally of the season as an insurance marker. Ibrahim, who is also known as “the human eclipse”, “Egyptian demolition”, and “the artist formerly known as Sheesha”, embraced his newest identity in style, striking the “Wakanda forever!” pose emphatically after scoring. 

The momentum appeared to be halted late in the second half when Abdu “the Shawarma skewer” Sharkawy, viciously high sticked Sabr defender Sadat Malik under the chin while battling in the corner. Sharkawy maintained his innocence, claiming he was only trying to trim Malik’s beard and keep him out of trouble at the airport for future travel but the officials were not buying it and Sabr earned a 4 minute power play and a golden opportunity to begin a comeback. Despite the lengthy advantage, Sabr was once again turned away more frequently than Charlie Sheen at a #Metoo fundraiser and it was Ridha instead who showed more resolve as they continued to pour it on like cheap chutney at a discount mendhi. Arif “Desi Jesus” Bijibhai then set up the first of not one, but 2 short-handed tallies by Sherry Khan, the latter a goal of the year marvel which included a lengthy rush, a series of ankle breaking deaks a la Uncle Drew, and capped off by a sick chip shot over a beleaguered Sabr netminder, who is apparently still scouring Value Village for his missing jockstrap. At 4-0, the game was no longer in doubt though not before yet another round of antics.  Sharkawy almost invited more shame to his name after mistiming his exit from the sin bin, claiming he was reading “desi time” rather than the actual score board, earning ridicule but mercy in equal portions from the referee, who graciously declined an extra minor for delay of game.  At this point, Sabr was resoundingly deflated and had little more left to offer up apart from the latest condo listings from real estate moguls Faisal “Find your dream home” Mahboob and Naiem “Now selling” Malik.

For Ridha, it was a signature performance as they ride a wave of confidence into the playoffs and look forward to playing Arif “Markham Missile” Khan and Haya in the first round. For Sabr, perhaps this will serve as an opportunity to reflect on missed opportunities, as they now no longer seem invincible. They will need to remain focused to get back on track for a deep playoff run. One thing is for certain, a rematch between these two team at some point in the playoffs seems almost inevitable, and based on the entertainment provided thus far, we can hardly wait for the rubber match. As Tyrell Owens says …