Imperials Reign Supreme (Again)
A last day 3 - 2 defeat in Rasium was not the ideal end to the season for Hypocrium City but it didn’t matter as the Imperials went into the final round of matches with a 6 point advantage on nearest challengers Partizan Drissa. After the match City’s captain Paul Blake was presented with the Hyper League trophy for the second season in succession. Final Hyper League Standings
CODE | P W D L F A Pts Hypocrium City 30 17 8 5 56 32 59 (C) Partizan Drissa 30 16 8 6 48 32 56 Dynamo Rasium 30 15 8 7 44 29 53 FC Hypocrium 30 15 7 8 54 33 52 Coral City Islanders 30 12 11 7 43 34 47 Pylos Reavers 30 12 10 8 42 29 46 Thraxus Rangers 30 12 9 9 40 37 45 Sarrain City 30 11 10 9 42 38 43 Drissa United 30 11 9 10 38 33 42 Tarsis Wonderers 30 10 6 14 38 48 36 FC Pydna 30 8 10 12 30 42 34 Kester Town 30 9 5 16 33 44 32 Aspern FC 30 9 4 17 23 43 31 Dornburg FC 30 8 5 17 25 39 29 (R) Linsk Mariners 30 6 10 14 23 47 28 (R) DLO 30 6 6 18 30 49 24 (R) |
However the Imperials were denied the double when Partizan Drissa came from a goal down to win 2 - 1 in the final of the Autokrator Cup in a thrilling encounter at the Hyppodrome.
CODE | Autokrator Cup Final Partizan Drissa 2 - 1 Hypocrium City |
The title may have been wrapped up but there was still NSCL and NSFA places up for grabs for sides at the top of the table to play for. Partizan Drissa capped off an excellent season by securing the second NSCL place, and second place in the league, after a 3 - 1 win in Thraxus. Dynamo Rasium finished in third after a home win over the champions. And FC Hypocrium ended the season in blistering form, winning their final two games 6 - 1 and 6 - 0, to claim fourth place and the final NSFA Cup spot.
Perennial title contenders Pylos Reavers well off the pace in sixth. The Reavers had an excellent AO Champions League campaign but couldn’t bring that form into the domestic league consistently. A goalless draw with Aspern FC on the final day proved to be Alex Santoro’s last game in charge, the coach resigning less than an hour after the final whistle.
At the bottom of the table the DLO’s policy of selling their best players finally backfired with the side finishing rock bottom of the division. Dornburg FC were also anchored in the drop zone but finished the season with a face-saving win in Tarsis.
Kester Town and Aspern FC both picked up vital points on the final day to save their Hyper league status. Those results were bad news for the Linsk Mariners who needed a win and defeats for the sides above them to have any hope of avoiding the drop. It all became academic however, the Mariners were soundly hammered 6 - 0 by FC Hypocrium.
Awards
Player of the Season
Ricardo Kindelan - Pylos Reavers
His club my had underachieved but Hypocria’s number 1 was in majestic form all season conceding just 29 goals in the process, the best record in the league.
Foreign Player of the Season
Kevin Keda - Hypocrium City
The Krytenian international proved to be a class act, scoring 12 league goals and setting up countless chances for his team mates.
Manager of the Year
Matthias DiMarco - Partizan Drissa
A second placed league finish and a cup win ended a magnificent season for the coach who was amazingly the bookies favourite to be the first sacking of the campaign.
Foreigner Report
Bettia
Pylos’ bookmakers have long since stopped taking bets on who will finish as the Reaver’s top scorer as Judson York keeps banging in the goals. Once again the Bettian international topped the scorers charts.
Druida
Partizan Drissa keeper Trevor Stoley helped his side to second place in the league and kept Hypocrium City at bay in the cup final. Enough said really.
Krytenia
Pinpoint passes and same cracking goals sums up the league’s Krytenian contribution quite nicely. Kevin Keda fitted nicely into the Hypocrium City attack and helped the Imperials retain their title. Down in Pylos Nick Caraiani was one of the better performers in an underachieving Reavers side. His prowess from dead ball situations was a potent weapon for the side.
Spruitland
Tricky is perhaps the best word to describe winger Gary Mariano. He’s pacy and can beat defenders for fun. He’s also probably too good for Kester Town.
Vilita
Midfielder Thierry Columbo looked an assured figure in the centre of the park for the champions and added 9 goals to the Imperials total.
Transfer News
The season has barely finished but already clubs are strengthening for the next campaign. Partizan Drissa have made an early bid for bargain of the year for the free transfer of Sarzonia’s AOCAF goal machine Brian Williams. Meanwhile FC Hypocrium have gone for the other end of the age spectrum with the capture of veteran Starblaydi international Michalis Mitrofanis.
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