|
 |
|
|
|
bsd - the bedistan sports digest
Not pretty, but we'll take it
PORT LUSAMBO -- Akoki Stadium in Port Lusambo hosted Bedistan's opening match in the tenth Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football yesterday against Jastica. The final score in that match was 1-0 in the Lions' favor, which many think of as a rather narrow win against such unheralded opposition. Keep in mind, though, that Bedistan's best players are away in Druida competing in World Cup XXIV, leaving the B-squad to negotiate the AOCAF in an extremely tough group including Vilita, Sarzonia, and Bettia. Bettia is in fact a bigger threat here than would appear on paper, mainly because they didn't quite qualify for the World Cup, enabling them to field a somewhat stronger AOCAF side (though the effect may be negligible since they'll still be competing in the Cup of Harmony). All in all, expect this to be the most exciting group in this edition of the AOCAF, and definitely don't expect the Lions to run away with it.
finalscore
Bedistan 1 (Valentín 53)
Jastica 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
, |
 |
|
|
|
Canucks get jump on Crystils
The AOCAFX is going pretty good for the Hockey Canadians this year as they send their World Cup team as well as Mike Ko who was injured in the World Cup. Crystilakere played Hockey Canada in what was expected to be a blowout win for the Crystils. What people didn't expect was the massive threat of Evgeni Zimin who played brilliantly to get the win. Thomas played in the game but didn't seem to get much action between the pipes, nor the Canuck defense at all for that matter.
Zimin began pressing right from the opening whistle when he took possession of the ball for what seemed like hours. Weaving his way through the Crystilakere defense making quick drives or passes when needed. His effort was rewarded in the 29th minute when he made a quick move on a Crystilakere defenseman to break in alone on the Crystilakere keeper. A punt to the left side of the keeper and the Canucks were up 1-nil going into the half.
Zimin put the game away late in the second half when a penalty kick was awarded tot he Hockey Canadians when a hand ball that was questioned by the Crystilakere players and coaching staff but rejected by officials. Zimin was surprised to take the kick but didn't fail the team or the country when he nailed the ball high and hard into the top corner of the Crystilakere net giving the canucks breathing room and the surprise win.
Hockey Canada- 2 (Zimin 29, 86 PK)
Crystilakere- 0
Overview
Crystilakere: A good, strong team that should advance to the next round. Other teams in the group could take down this Group 2 giant but we'll see. (Especially with Hockey Canada's surprise win)
Krytenia: After suffering a draw to The Lowland Clans, Krytenia better get their act together if they hope for a next round berth or even a shot at the championship. Look for them to perform better and better as the tournement wears on.
Nedalia: Off to a great start with a 2-0 win over Oliverry, Nedalia looks like the team to beat this early in the tournement. As the tournement continues, expect Nedalia to be the dark horse.
The Lowland Clans: Not expected to do much this tournement but be bottom-feeders, The Lowland Clans will just have to hope for the bext in this AOCAF and hope for the best.
Oliverry: Will be at the bottom and eaten up more than sturgeon, Oliverry can really pray for a few points to keep some dignity. It may come though; at a price.
Predicted:
1- Krytenia
2- Crystilakere
3- Hockey Canada
4- Nedalia
5- The Lowland Clans
6- Oliverry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Promising start
Lamoni – Spruitland: 2 – 2
With a draw against Lamoni, AOCAF X started off much better for the Spruitland Wegional Wabbits than AOCAF IX did. In fact, already the Wabbits are doing better than in their debut regional tournament, where they only managed to get one point in total, and only scored one goal.
This fine result is perhaps slightly surprising, since this year’s AOCAF team is hardly any more experienced than the team that participated in AOCAF IX. Ben Thorsen returns as team captain, and Asa Noegel was the starting left back for the Baptism of Fire and World Cup 23 Qualifying, but other than that, the team mostly consists of young up-and-comers with very few caps, or bench-sitters-if-they’re-lucky with very few caps.
Still, the Spruitland B-squad battled bravely, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 1-2 lead in the second half with two goals in quick succession, one by Thorsen and one by right winger Carlo Nicols. A late Lamoni goal evened the score, but the draw is certainly a promising result.
The next opponent will be Pedriana, and coach Pete Peeters hopes the team will be able to repeat this good performance. Peeters, who recently retired his playing career as left back for the Sativa Stoners, was a Spruitland international nine times, mostly as a substitute. He has only just been appointed as Cor Bensen’s assistant, and immediately got thrown into the fray, taking charge of the AOCAF team while Bensen and the Spruitland A squad are in Krytenia for the World Cup 24 Finals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
The 'Right' Way To Start
Left-wing destroys Pedrian resistance
Some astute tactical re-planning at half-time gave Starblaydia the edge over a nervy Pedriana side as both youth and experience scored for Starblaydia to set them off on the path to a shot at a fourth AOCAF title.
Old stager (he is 31 now, after all) Dimitri Steliopolous surged his way down the left-hand side in a neat passing move that involved most of the Starblaydi midfield and left the captain with a simple tap-in just after half time. Perfectly to plan, it seemed, though not 'Lord-Manager' Van Honjiik's plan, apparently.
Young Lazaro Rivera's goal, on the other hand - his first in senior international play - was rather special. From outside the penalty area he looked up and placed the ball perfectly out of the Pedrian keeper's reach, rippling the back of the net beautifully. The fact he'd missed a fair few chances before that didnt help either.
Final Score:
Starblaydia 2 - 0 Pedriana
(Steliopolous 47, Rivera 58) - (none) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Sharp nets hat trick, Rams win opener with a shutout
Bennie Sharp scored three goals in the second half to end a 0-0 draw and propel the Fmjphoenix Rams into a 3-0 victory over Falcania. During the first half, both squads seemed in disarray, as neither team got any movement. Bad passes lead to lots of turnovers that lead to more bad plays and just kept on going. Neither team looked liked they wanted to get anything going at all in the first half. But Sharp came out in the second half looking to dice things up. A header off of a rebounded shot produced the 1st goal in the 58th minute. An awarded penelty in the 73rd minute was sent home by Sharp with a powerful shot to the left. Finally, Sharp completed the day off with his third and final in the 86th minute. A cross from Laura Boyd found its way to the right side of the net for the 3-0 lead and victory. A good and solid victory by the Rams. Now Fmjphoenix gets to play Starblaydia in yet another matchup in the rivalry that all started in the U21WC.
Fmjphoenix 3 - 0 Falcania
Fmj: Sharp - 58, 73, 86
Fal: None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Hawks 0 - Falcania 0
In a most abnormal result, the Hawks have scored their second draw of AOCAF X, and while they didn't score, their opponents didn't score either. Given the Hawks AOCAF rating, this is most abnormal indeed.
Coach Emilio Vargas was livid at the result. "How could THIS have happened!! We had them outgunned, outclassed, and even outpracticed!!! This will not happen again on my watch!"
Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, and the coach eventually calmed down. The Hawks face group rivals Starblaydia next, in what is expected to be a huge loss. The best thing for Lamoni would be to win it's final two matches against Pedriana and hosts FMJPhoenix. That MIGHT get them to the knockouts if Spruitland loses enough games, or if the goal difference in the Lamonian victories will turn out to be enough.
Lamoni - 0
Falcania - 0 |
 |
 |
|
Lamoni |
|
Democratic Maniac |
 |
|
|
|
Posts: 1952 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Hawks Running Scared!
Vikings and Sprouts now Starblaydia's competition
As Starblaydia drew One-All with the hosts of the tournament in a hostile stadium, the Group D Pretenders, Lamoni's Hawks, were drawing 0-0 with Falcania, of all places.
At the top of the table sit Fmjphoenix, Starblaydia and Spruitland but, somehow, Lamoni and their two draws sit fourth after two matches and are now expecting to be trashed by Starblaydia when the two on-paper biggest sides in the Group meet tomorrow.
Final Score:
Starblaydia 1 - 1 Fmjphoenix
(Diaz-Arca 32) - (Sharp 29) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Location: aboard regional flight from Sarzonia to Bettia.
Goaltender Luke Fields came up to coach John Fisk in his seat and started to talk, 'hey coach, sorry about today. Not sure what happened really, I never expected that Spencer guy to be so rough around the goal. Figured the ref woulda called him on his second goal on me when he pushed me off, but hey coach I stopped him 5 other times.'
Coach John Fisk just looked at his goalie and then noted after looking away out the window, 'I told you to watch that guy. Instead you let the bugger score two goals in the first 15 minutes on you. Then the third goal by Sanderson before the 25th minute well I figure you know why you were pulled then. I shoulda pulled you earlier and given backup goalie Harry Colon a shot to win the game for us. He played brilliant for the rest of the match he was in though too bad it was over then.'
Fields laughed, 'come on coach, he didn't have as much problems as me cause by then they played more defens...'
Fisk cut him off, 'Colon stopped the goals he needed too. Just cause the score was 3-0 when we put him in at the 23rd minute isn't his fault, he did what he had to, you didn't. Next time keep alert to the situation around you, got it'.
Fields walked off in disgust while noting as he walked away, 'I am always alert to everything around me'
The rest of the his teammates giggled along with coach Fisk when Fields sat in his seat, since Fields had been oblivious to the fact that while he was talking to Coach Fisk, a few teammates had poured crazy glue on his seat.
The rest of the flight was filled with laughter as Fields was cursing from his chair asking who did it, while his teammates would pipe up humourously on occasion, 'sorry Fields didn't see who did it, you are the most alert person here so figured you would see who did it.'
This post has been edited by Jastica on Sep 6 2005, 07:05 PM |
|
|
 |
|
Jastica |
|
Scribe in Training |
|
|
|
|
|
Posts: 23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Wabbits aim for second round
Pedriana – Spruitland: 0 – 1
The Wegional Wabbits are setting an example which the World Cup squad will hopefully be able to follow soon. After a fine draw against Lamoni, they now managed Spruitland’s first ever AOCAF victory. The opponent, now immortalized in a paragraph in Spruitland’s sports history books, was Pedriana, one of the teams in the group that coach Peeters was determined to do well against.
“Today’s win was vital,” Peeters says. “Obviously we’re not one of the favorites to advance to the next round, but that doesn’t mean we don’t stand a chance. We’ll need a bit of luck if we want to sneak into third place, but so far we’re on schedule. We held Lamoni to a draw, and Falcania just did the same. If we manage to beat Falcania, we have a decent chance of hanging on to third in the last two tough matches.”
Sounds good in theory, but the Wabbits may have to raise their game a bit to achieve that, though. Despite coming away with three points, the win against Pedriana was far from convincing, and only a nicely placed direct free kick from Eduard Haacht made the difference.
“We’ll be ready,” veteran striker and team captain Ben Thorsen says. “True, this wasn’t exactly a smashing win, but let’s not forget who we played here today. These guys have some Bedistani genes, and we all know what they can do on a football field once they’re passed 21. So if you really think about it, we just won from the former World Champions’ distant – and perhaps slightly backwards - cousins. That’s a pretty nice accomplishment. After this, Falcania, Starblaydia and Fmjphoenix should be a walk in the park.”
Pedriana – Spruitland: 0 – 1
0-1 Haacht (73’)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Stars get four out of six points
Following the Sarzonian second choice national team's two matches against the teams expected to be the weakest of the six sides that make up Group 3 of the 10th Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football, Coach Chris Trautwig could be somewhat pleased at the results. His Stars earned four standings points out of a possible six against a tough Bettia side and a Jastica side playing for the first time in this tournament.
However, Trautwig wasn't even slightly pleased.
"We should have gotten the full six," Trautwig fumed. "We were caught off guard against Bettia and we let up after going up 3-0 on Jastica. We're going to have to do a heck of a lot better than that against Vilita."
Somewhere, Dave Wilson must be smiling. His assistant coach for two World Cup bids was starting to sound more like him. Trautwig chose to ignore the 25 minute span that saw Sarzonia take a 3-0 lead over Jastica that could have been much more if not for major lineup changes by the Jastican coach. Instead, he focused on the team trailing to Bettia 1-0 until getting an equalising goal late in the match and on the fact Sarzonia misfired when they had opportunities to put the game away against Jastica.
"We've got the top team in our group coming up," Trautwig said. "I can't overstate the importance of this match." After their battle with the Jungle Cats, the Stars (1-1-0, four points, second place Group 3) face Hypocria, then close out group play with archrival Bedistan.
"We're now well into the meat of our schedule," Trautwig said. "This is where the lads have to earn their stripes. Vilita's not just going to hand us three points. We're going to have to go in and take them. Hypocria's going to be tough, and we're bringing the brass knuckles to the Bedistan match."
Trautwig wouldn't confirm reports that the players were planning to don battle fatigues for their match against Bedistan, saying that "there's a real war going on right now. It'd be disrespectful to the men and women of our armed forces to pretend we're going to war when we're playing a football game." But he said the description that some Sarzonian media were painting the match against Bedistan, as "The Street Fight," was "rather apt.
"That's possibly the new signature rivalry in Atlantian Oceania," Trautwig said. "Redskins-Cowboys was nothing like this," he added, referring to the old gridball rivalry between teams representing Washington, D.C. and Dallas. |
|
|
 |
|
Sarzonia |
|
It's all about the Navy. |
|
|
|
|
|
Posts: 577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Bettia Beaten
The pressure was on Hypocria ahead of the derby game against western neighbours Bettia following defeat to Vilita on matchday 1. The opening day defeat was not entirely unexpected but it left the Hyppos at the foot of the Group 3 table and in need of a good performance to kick start their AOCAF campaign. Fortunately the players delivered just that.
Hypocria 2 - 0 Bettia
West (2)
Playing an attacking 4-2-4 formation Bettia made a number of early chances. John Harding, scorer of the winning goal the only other occasion the two nations have met, headed wide and Judson York was denied by a good save from his Pylos Reavers teammate Ricardo Kindelan. As the half progressed the Hyppos gradually got into the game and began to take advantage of the gaps left by the Arora’s attacking tactics. Danny West wasted the best change when he hit Marshall’s centre high and wide. Marcus Baxter, fresh from an excellent season in Bettia’s Apex League, hit a long range effort narrowly over the bar and Nalepka headed a Baxter freekick straight at Bettison as the first half finished goalless.
The second half didn’t stay goalless for very long and the goal came thanks to a huge slice of luck. Rytter found West just outside the Bettian box, the Sporting Mayo striker turned and fired goalwards but the shot took a wicked deflection off Arora defender Redpath which helped it past the keeper. Deucher missed a good chance to double the lead before Harding came close to an equaliser with another header. Nalepka was doing a good job of keeping his club teammate York quiet but Teague broke through the Hyppo’s backline only to see his effort beat the keeper but hit the post. The second goal was a killer. Baxter released Marshall down the right and the talented winger drilled the ball across the face of goal for West to turn in and secure three points for Hypocria.
In the other group matches holders Vilita maintained their 100% record with a win, by the odd goal in five, over Bedistan while debutants Jastica were given a stern lesson by Sarzonia, the Stars eventually winning 3 - 0.
HFA Anger at Bedistan Snub
Hypocria FA chief Alex Scott has reacted angrily to an AOCAF report that featured in Bedistani sports publication the Bedistan Sports Digest.
| QUOTE | | Keep in mind, though, that Bedistan's best players are away in Druida competing in World Cup XXIV, leaving the B-squad to negotiate the AOCAF in an extremely tough group including Vilita, Sarzonia, and Bettia. Bettia is in fact a bigger threat here than would appear on paper, mainly because they didn't quite qualify for the World Cup, enabling them to field a somewhat stronger AOCAF side |
“Vilita, Sarzonia and Bettia? Aren’t they forgetting someone? Don’t get me wrong they’re three excellent sides but I don’t recall seeing Vilita, Sarzonia and Bettia or Bedistan for that matter in the AOCAF final in Cockbill Street. Actually, scratch that bit about Vilita, but the rest of my point still stands. And this part about Bettia being the bigger threat because they don’t have World Cup commitments. Sure Bettia didn’t qualify for the finals but we failed to qualify long before the Aroras, so there. And we’ve already beaten Bettia in this competition. Rest assured this article will be pinned to the changing room wall ahead of our match with Bedistan.”
Strong words from the HFA there. Will they inspire the Hyppos to victory over Bedistan on matchday 3 or will they come back to haunt us? Our money’s on option two.
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Sep 7 2005, 10:30 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Hawks see red at Starblaydi accusation of 'running.'
After being implied as cowards, and actually being called 'pretenders' by the Starblaydi media, the Hawks released a scathing statement condeming the Starblaydi media. Legal action is being contemplated as well, the statement continues. It is hoped by many that these insults by Starblaydia will rally the Hawks to a win over the less intelligent, yet arrogant Starblaydi side.
When interviewed Coach Vargas basically told us where the Starblaydis could stick their insults. For the sake of journalistic decency, we won't repeat what he said. Lamoni will be running a 3-4-3 diamond formation in this particular match, which is a departure from the typical Lamonian way of playing football. It is also one more sign that Lamoni will not give in to idle insults. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lamoni |
|
Democratic Maniac |
|
|
|
|
|
Posts: 1952 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
"That is, without doubt, the funniest Press Release I have ever seen," Lord Van Honjiik said, putting down the paper handed to him by an assistant, "I haven't seen a team so unnerved by a combination of bad results and mind games since... ever, in fact. We've won three AOCAFs to their none and we're 'arrogant', I love it."
"What's your plan to deal with their odd 3-4-3 with a diamond?" Captain Dimitri Steliopolous was more concerned with the antics on-pitch than those off it.
"Our 4-4-2 Diamond is equipped to deal with anything!" 'Lord-Manager' Van Honjiik - as the Starblaydi press had labelled him - didn't seem to know a whole lot about football.
Dimitri blinked a few times and walked out, leaving the Minister for Sport to his pre-match gloating. Back out on the training pitch - somewhere he'd never seen the Minister before - he assembled the team.
"Right," he said, "I want a solid defence and a white-hot midfield. Come at them hard and fast for the first fifteen minutes. Keep the ball, overrun their empty midfield and do whatever it takes to keep the ball away from their forwards. Keiran, you'll be crucial in this, so just to what you do best."
The thirty-five year old terror of midfielders up and down Cockbill Street nodded. He was the cornerstone of the team, holding the midfield.
"Laz, Cherry, Menny, Raul," Stelios turned his gaze to the younger, forward-minded players, this'll be tough. You keep your head and keep your feet. Anyone dumb enough to get booked early on from a rush of blood to the head and a two-footed tackle will have to answer to me. Got it?"
The youngsters nodded.
"Right, shuttle runs. Let's go!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Hockey Canada draw Lowland Clans
In a game which saw absolutely no action on both sides of the pitch, Hockey canada and Lowland Clans ran to a boring zero-zero draw. The shots were even on both sides and saw hardly any good scoring chances. The Canucks even got a crossbar shot but so did the Lowland Clans giving Hockey Canada fans no real reason to cheer about. With the next game against fellow first-place ranked Nedalia, Hockey Canada will go for a win and to get three points up on the Lions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
|
|
|
Sweet Cherry Fells Lamoni
Hawks overrun in opening minutes
Boy oh boy did Starblaydia come out of the blocks with a vengeance against Lamoni in this match. Winning the coin-toss and electing to kick-off, the only Lamonian touches of the ball in the opening few minutes were panicky clearances and last-ditch tackles.
The Hawk's new 3-4-3 Diamond was ripped apart for thirteen whole minutes, and they could count themselves lucky to only be down by a single goal before they got their collective finger out and played proper football.
"That went exactly to plan," said the elated Garcia after the match, "we knew we could boss them around in our two-thirds of the pitch and we did, so it was only a matter of time before we scored. Luckily for me I was on the end of it."
With Lamoni's replication of the traditional Starblaydi 4-4-2 Diamond yeilding little result so far for the Hawks, this 3-4-3 seemed somewhat of a desperate gamble but has led to snake-eyes for the men in red and blue, earning just two points from three matches. Winless and five points behind joint-leaders Fmjphoenix and Starblaydia, Lamoni will surely be hoping to try and bump Spruitland and Falcania for the third post in this group, qualifying for the knockout stage through the back door.
Meanwhile Starblaydia's second-finest tie the Rams of Fmjphoenix on points but are behind on goal difference. Conceeding one goal in three matches is not enough to give Starblaydia the lead yet, as their four goals in three games pails in comparison to the home-team's self-confessed surprising tally of seven.
Spruitland and Falcania are Starblaydia's next opponents and the men (and woman) in white-and-purple will be looking to better any results that the hosts have in their remaining games, to take the Group Winners berth and a free ride through the first knock-out round.
Final Score:
Starblaydia 1 - 0 Lamoni
(Garcia 8) - (none) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
, |
|
Track this topic
Receive email notification when a reply has been made to this topic and you are not active on the board.
Subscribe to this forum
Receive email notification when a new topic is posted in this forum and you are not active on the board.
Download / Print this Topic
Download this topic in different formats or view a printer friendly version.
[ Script Execution time: 0.0226 ] [ 14 queries used ] [ GZIP Enabled ]
|
Close Topic Options
