After a week’s pause due to wildfire smoke, the Peculiar People Soccer League (PPSL) returned this morning with three rescheduled Round 3 fixtures. And wow, was it worth the wait! With three games, six teams, fifteen goals, four yellow cards, two reds, and enough drama to fill an entire season, today had everything. This time, it was the weather playing games of its own. The day began with a steady rainfall, threatening to wash away the long-awaited matchday. Fans arrived under umbrellas, players stretched under grey skies, and coaches kept one eye on the pitch and the other on the clouds. But in what some might call divine intervention, or just good luck, the rain paused as kickoff approached and stayed away just long enough to let the drama unfold.

The opening match between Peace and Light had the softest names but the hardest edges. Hassan put Peace ahead in the 3rd minute, firing a low shot past a still-soggy Light goalkeeper. The early goal sparked both teams into action, and from that point on, it was anything but peaceful. Delight struck back for Light in the 23rd minute with a stunning equalizer, restoring balance but not serenity. Preston, who had assisted the opening goal, soon found himself booked for simulation after collapsing in the box with all the flair of a Broadway actor. Light’s Sesan added to the drama with a straight red for retaliation, no one’s quite sure what was said, but judging by the referee’s reaction, it wasn’t a compliment. Kingiing picked up a yellow for what looked like a stealthy slap, while Light’s Matthew received his for time-wasting that bordered on philosophical. The match finished 1–1, soaked in tension and just dry enough to stay playable.

As the skies held steady and the pitch dried slightly under cloud cover, Joy and Faith took the field for what would become the game of the day. Joy’s Daniel Onyeakazi came out like a man on a mission, scoring in the 11th and again in the 18th with ruthless efficiency. Fans barely had time to process his brilliance before Bolaji pulled one back for Faith in the 23rd minute, and suddenly the match was ablaze. Daniel, undeterred, completed his hat trick before halftime with a composed finish in the 42nd. Faith’s resilience shone through in the second half, and when Kariboye converted a penalty in the 49th minute, they were within touching distance of a comeback. But the emotional high of the match came from Joy’s Daniel Olajubutu, who managed to collect a yellow and a red in record time, first for a rough tackle, then for expressing his opinion of the referee’s eyesight in terms that would make a sailor blush. The 3–2 scoreline held, Danel earned the match ball, and Joy earned some redemption on the scoreboard, if not in the disciplinary column.

The final game of the day saw Love and Grace clash in what felt like a championship preview. Osas, who by now must have GPS tracking implanted in goalposts, opened the scoring in the 47th minute, giving Love the lead and adding to his growing legend as one of the league’s top scorers. But Grace struck back almost instantly, with Fife equalizing in the 49th with a penalty kick, after James was fouled. The rain stayed away, but tensions drizzled throughout the second half. Grace’s Armani was booked for repeated fouls that seemed more like performance art, and Sodiq joined him in the referee’s book for attempting a volleyball maneuver inside the penalty area. The 1–1 result preserved both teams’ unbeaten records and left the top of the table locked in a dead heat.

By the end of the day, Grace and Love remained joint leaders with seven points each, separated only by a single goal. Peace floated comfortably in third, while Faith and Joy picked up valuable points to stay in contention. Light FC, despite their flashes of brilliance, are still searching for their first win and perhaps a bit of celestial mercy.

As fans made their way home under clearing skies, there was a shared sense of relief and excitement. The rain had held off, the games had gone on, and the PP Soccer League had delivered yet another unforgettable chapter—clouds, cards, comebacks and all.