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Top of the Pile
It may seem like a longer four years than usual but the AOCAF is back and the Autocracy finds itself in the odd position of being the competition’s top seeds for the very first time. Which now means the pressure and expectation heaped on coach Chavez and his side, huge at the best of times, has just been cranked up another notch. And historically the Hyppos’ have not handled pressure all that well. But under their Starblaydi coach the men in blue and white come into this tournament with a 90% win record and average 3.4 goals a game. So maybe this will be the year that the lone AOCAF trophy back in the Hyppodrome finally gets a friend.
It’s in Group B that the Autocracy start the campaign for their first piece of silverware in thirty plus years and they find themselves alongside some big names in the world game and the prospect of some cracking matches. Neighbours Bettia once topped the world rankings and have a trophy laden history. You can always guarantee goals when the Hyppos and Aroras meet. Sarzonia too once dominated the beautiful game but have fallen on harder times in recent years. Long time SAAS allies Nojika may lack consistency but on their day the Panthers can beat anyone. While at the other end of the scale 95X and debutants Kura-Pelland will battle it out at the bottom.
First up is the Lowland Clans. It’s not that long ago that the slumbering giants hosted the World Cup final itself but since then their star has been on the wane. The Clansmen have never really made an impact in the AOCAF and their ranking of 28th reflects that.
Past Meetings
Hypocria 3 - 0 The Lowland Clans (AOCAF XIV / Bettia)
Hypocria 3 - 1 The Lowland Clans (AOCAF XV / Bazalonia)
Hyppos Held
Brian Cahill reporting from Noko, Unified Capitalizt States.
It had seemed like a long time since the last tournament and the Autocracy’s finest showed real signs of rustiness in their first game as Atlantian Oceania’s top ranked side.
Right from the first whistle the players in blue and white didn’t look quite right as the normally excellent Marilier gave the ball away far too easily with his very first attempted pass. The players looked nervous and a mistimed back pass from Kajetan almost cost them an early goal but for Kutasi’s sharp reflexes. That was enough for Javi Chavez. The coach had intended to watch the opening half from high up in the stands of the Noka Communications Stadium but after just ten minutes he took his place on the touchline in an effort to try and sort his side out.
Unfortunately not even the presence of their coach could wake the Hyppos from their malaise and the Clansmen wasted a good opportunity as the defence backed off, allowing the Star’s nippy number nine to have a crack. Fortunately he shot straight at the keeper, who made a comfortable save. Five minutes later and the Hyppos’ actually managed to manufacture a chance as Sousa found some space on the left and crossed for the big striker Ongondo. He towered above the defence, won the header with ease but couldn’t even force the opposition keeper into a save as the ball went wide.
The Lowland Clans had easily been the better time in the first half and with four minutes to go until the interval they got the reward their performance had deserved. Teale drove down the left wing deep into Clansmen territory but his slack pass only found an opposition midfield player who wasted no time in launching the ball into the space just vacated by the Hyppos’ fallback. TLC’s number seven picked it up and had acres of space to run in to. He sent Kordan the wrong way with an exquisite dummy before driving the ball low into the centre of the box. Ocella desperately stuck out a leg to intercept but he couldn’t make it and the ball ran to the TLC number nine who controlled it with one touch before hitting a fierce drive into the roof of the net.
HT: Hypocria 0 - 1 The Lowland Clans
The men from the Autocracy took to the pitch at the start of the second with much more purpose, presumably after their coach gave them both barrels during the interval. They nearly equalised a mere twenty four seconds into the half as again Sousa found some space wide on the left and tried to catch the keeper out with a speculative curling effort. The ball drifted over the angle of post and bar but it was a signal of intent.
Cheered on by the blue and white army, the Hyppos’ piled on the pressure and should have scored through Ongondo. A fluid passing move involving Marilier, Kajetan and Sousa ended with the captain laying the ball off for Marica on the edge of the box. His rising drive clattered back off the crossbar to the feet of Ongondo but the big number nine’s own effort ended up in the crowd.
Chances came and were wasted. Black found some good space on the right but his crossed was just over the head of Viera who streamed in at the far post. Sousa had a twenty five yard freekick well saved by the TLC keeper and put a snapshot narrowly wide when Ongondo’s deflected drive fell to him. And the Star’s almost grabbed a second when their number 10 rose to met a cross from the left only to see Kajetan block his effort on the line.
With fifteen minutes to go Viera picked up Marilier’s pass and advanced down the left. He played it in to Sousa, took the return and swung the ball into the mass of bodies inside the TLC penalty area. Again Ongondo towered above his markers at the far post and nodded the ball down to Marica. The midfielder fired low and hard into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. The Autocracy had equalised and the relief was palpable.
Both sides could have won the game in the final stages. The TLC keeper was at full stretch to turn Ongondo’s looping header over the bar. From the resultant corner the Hyppo’s lost the ball and the Clansman broke away, forcing Kutasi into a good reflex save at the other end. Right at the death Black launched a long ball into the penalty area, Marica went down under a challenge and the blue and white army screamed for a penalty. The referee brought his whistle to his lips and blew for full time, ignoring the protests of the Autocracy’s players.
FT: Hypocria 1 - 1 The Lowland Clans
Marica
“Obviously this isn’t the result we came for”, Hyppos’ assistant coach Carlo Molinari told reporters after the game. “That first half performance was the worst I’ve seen from a Hypocria side for a long, long time. I’m not sure the other nations will be fearing the top seeds at the moment. Still, we didn’t lose and that’s something at least.”
Elsewhere in the group former AOCAF champions Bettia comfortably overcame AOCAF debutants Kura-Pelland 2 - 0 while the Panthers of Nojika hit the ground running with a 3 - 0 win over 95X. Which leaves Hypocria in third place in Group B, two points behind joint leaders Nojika and Bettia.
Matchday 2
While the Autocracy’s finest were confined to their training camp during their day off the six other teams in Group B were all in action. Nojika continued their excellent start with a 2 - 0 over The Lowland Clans. The Panthers take over sole lead of the group after Bettia were held to a goalless stalemate by Sarzonia in a clash between two former world number ones. And AOCAF new boys Kura-Pelland suffered the humiliation of being trounced by 95X, 4 - 0. Which now leaves Hypocria in fourth place in the group, five points off the lead.
Next . . .
After their disappointing start Hypocria are up against Group B’s in form side on matchday 3. It’s off to Port Lusambo for the clash with long time SAAS allies and Group B leaders Nojika. The Panther’s are a side long held in high regard back in the Autocracy and have often been tipped in the Hypocrian media to do well at AOCAF’s in the past. With their solid league structure, good organisation and crop of talented players it’s no surprise that Nojika have started so impressively. And with two wins on the board, five goals scored and none conceded confidence will be sky high in the Panther’s dressing room ahead of only the second ever meeting between the sides.
Past Meetings
Hypocria 3 - 0 Nojika (AOCAF XII / Chicanada)
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Sep 16 2007, 04:28 AM |
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Cream Rises To The Top
Starblaydia and Pacitalia pulling away
Another game, another clean sheet and another three points in the twentieth Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football for Starblaydia as they conquered Manhattan Prime 3-0. Betanii Marrones' side are showing all the defensive capabilities she had in spades during her playing career, and up front the Izretar/Fullbright combination is excelling in its potency.
With the veteran Dwarf providing the bullets for Stablaydia's latest great striker, this team have scored five and conceded none in their two matches so far. Closest Group D rivals Pacitalia, however, are showing their title contentions with four goals per game and just one conceded at the other end - the best record of any team so far. Elsewhere both Nojika and, surprisingly, Quakmybush are looking threatening with two wins from two while Group C appears to be the Communist group, with score draws seemingly being the order of the day, particularly for title-chasers Lamoni.
Tarquin Fullbright's two goals against Manhattan Prime have taken his international tally to three in just two games, a rather excellent start to any career. Fullbright's main quality appears to be that he can, quite simply, play on his own. As useful as any striking partnership can be, it's always better to have two strikers that can play together or apart. Think of the great partnerships in Starblaydi history: Bentley/Lazerevski, Hall/Di Bradini, Kiefner/Tolkacheva and Keifner/Maitland. They've all been a combination of two types of player; One is the big tough playmaker, who isn't just a provider for the other striker but a genuine goal threat themselves. The second striker is seen as the real superstar, as they often don't need the other striker alongside them. When the two types are put together, however, they are deadly.
Though Takis Domozis doesn't quite fit the mould of David Bentley, Eomer Hall or Johan Keifner, he is providing the same role; he draws defenders, provides space, time and subsequently the opportunities for Fullbright to score. However he is drawing none of the plaudits. Domozis, much like Hinkonnen when he comes on as a substitute, is allowing Kili Izretar and Fullbright the space to play. It's a deadly trinity in attack, one that neither Delesa or Ian Pierce's Manhattan Prime have so far been able to answer.
Manhattan Prime's hopes of improving on their 2-2 draw with Oliverry took a blow after a quarter of an hour, when Domozis headed down a Peytrsen cross for Fullbright to hit on the half volley and into the back of the net past Kevin Cooper. Vykk Dreygo tried to answer Starblaydia's goal with one of his own but he shot wide on one occasion, and was crowded out by Melciori and Panarii on another, firing weakly and straight into the arms of Fernando Rodriguez. Both teams had opportunities before the first half ended, notably and Domozis and Petyrsen for Starblaydia, and Katakana and Smith for Manhattan Prime. The first half finished, however, at one-nil to Starblaydia.
Marrones obviously wanted a higher pace in the second half and it seemed she had let her team know it: within minutes Domozis went close with a header and Izretar sailed a free kick over the top of the bar. Out on the left hand side of midfield, Christophe Proviia came inside with the ball into the penalty area and squared it to Fullbright, who's shot was palmed away by Cooper, but only to the feet of Proviia who showed quick feet to put the ball into the net for two-nil.
Just over ten minutes later, only just over an hour into the match, Fullbright put the game beyond doubt as he broke onto a through-ball from Lex Panarii. Though his first touch took him out wide right, he checked back inside - wrong-footing a defender - and used his left foot to curl on into the back of the net. Manhattan Prime didn't give up, however, and kept Starblaydia out for the rest of the game, not willing to let a fourth in.
Starblaydia will be very happy with this result, and though Pacitalia loom ominously on Matchday Six Starblaydia will go all-out in their next match against Schiavonia at Unity Stadium to make sure they keep pace with the early leaders.
Manhattan Prime 0 - 3 Starblaydia
(None) - (Fullbright 16 & 64, Proviia 51)
OOC: MP team extrapolated from NSwiki/ |
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Lamoni at the top in Group C!
With a 2-0 win against Aurendia, the Hawks have shot up to the top of Group C based on goal difference. This is a dramatic turnaround from what was said going in to the match, and the turnaround in team morale is likewise dramatic.
With their remaining matches against two unranked teams and Capitalizt SLANI, don't be surprised if the Hawks maintain their first place ranking right through their bye day on the last day of group play.
If the Hawks manage to retain first place in Group C, they will have two bye dates in a row, allowing them to watch whoever they will play in the knockouts; as well as some time to practice, and see the sights that the UCS has to offer. The UCS has vastly advanced technologies such as teleportation and faster than light travel that have enabled the UCS to "Set up shop" on the planet Sirius D as well as on their nation here on Earth in the region of AO. The UCS is run like a corporation, with the head of state and government being called a CEO. The UCS has two main military forces (CDA, and CCCP), as well as the two sports leagues being represented here in AOCAF XX.
Getting back to the match, Lamonian forwards Michal Kellogg and Bryan Neely scored the only goals of the match, at 25 and 80 minutes. While attempting to be as polite as possible to the people of Aurendia, the Hawks basically ran away with this match. If the Hawks keep playing like this, then a third AOCAF cup will be a distinct possibility.
The Hawks play against Capitalizt SLANI in their next match, and the match result will tell everyone if the Hawks are here for real.
Lamoni - 2 Michal Kellogg (25), Bryan Neely (80)
Aurendia - 0 |
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Az-cz Scroll
Commerce Heights
Bd-RP
Gnomes and Warriors complete the triangle
With the Gnomes having drawn Lamoni and opening day and the Warriors euqaling the Hawks on day two all that was left was for Az-cz to play Milchama to a draw and balance things out. And that's exactly what happened.
The game was a horrible boring affair. Neither team really probed much into the other teams section of the field. The Gnomes giant midfield seemed content to probe around in midfield trying to generate good attacks from there while Milchama was hoping for a counter attack. As neither team was really pushing forward their was very little action in the game, with a grand total of 11 shots and 6 shots on goal, for the two teams combined. Unsuprisingly neither team found any way into the goal.
With the top three teams all drawing each other it opens the door for other teams, but most likely it means that it will come down to who does the best in their other matches. Lamoni is nominally in the drivers seat but anything could happen. However with Milchama sending a squad of unknowns and us sending the same Lamoni should end up winning the group. |
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Az-cz |
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Senator in Training |
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2 out of 2.
Bazalopes having only played 2 games in the 3 matchdays are surprisingly still on top of the table with 2 wins under the belt, the Bazalopes are currently the only team in the group to have won all their games. Having played Northern Bettia and Quakmybush this may not be the hardest of accomplishments, however this an acheivement that not even tops seeds Vilita and Turori have not been able to acheive with their loss 2-1 loss to Demot.
The Bazalopes started the match strongly but a midfield slip-up by David Myfanwy allowed the sharks own midfielder to make successful run at the goal in the 23rd minute of the match. To the chagrin of the many fans in stands filling the Uberdome, the coach as well as many fans watching the match live on BazSports. The overwhelming structure of the Uberdome was the setting, The Bazalpoes however immediately counted in the 27th minute it ended up being 1-1, goal finally being scored from a corner by Everrett Kang, squeeking the ball through the gap just above the goal keepers head and the top of the goal.
The entire rest of the match was a 2 and fro match with neither team getting any real advantage over each other, the Bazalopes seemed to be not be upto their best today. Another goal was scored in the second half 91st minute. The ball had gone in and the Bazalonians just had to hold off the Sharks for one more minute before the match finally ended. |
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Bazalonia |
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Eating A Bazalope Burger |
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pcc.95x - The Pacific City Courier Online
Enthusiasm Still Leads To Loss
Cirto, Unified Capitalizt States - Although 95X couldn't pull it together in a 4-1 loss to Sarzonia, Coach Chris Crossman put it into perspective.
"Beats a forfeit loss for political reasons," he grudgingly said in the locker room following the defeat.
Although the 95X Board of Directors allowed the game against a nation it refuses to recognize, it was the only highlight in a game with almost non-existent offense and a defense that self-destructed in the second half.
95X went up 1-0 early in the game on a goal by Aisha Saida in the 22nd minute, only to be countered by a Sarzonian goal at the other end five minutes later. Another at the end of the first half put 95X down 2-1.
After a third goal early in the second half, Tai Doe vented his frustration, resulting in a red card for the rest of the game and another goal for Sarzonia on a penalty kick. Although 95X played the rest of the game short-handed, they managed to hold off any further embarrassment.
The loss pulls 95X down to 1-0-2 W-T-L in Group Stage.
Two of three games remaining are against top ten-ranked teams Hypocria and Bettia. Unless the team turns it around, little appears left except a possible spoiler role.
Sarzonia 4 - 95X 1
(95X Goal - Saida, 22:)
==========
livespace.co.95x - User msko18
I'm not in the mood for much, I've learned when you don't have something nice to say, then don't say it, even if you don't say anything.
I can't believe we broke down like that. One early goal and everyone else plays like we're ready to call it a day. No, you only call it a day when you're putting yourself between the bed sheet and the blanket, and you're head's resting on your pillow.
Onward. Tomorrow might be a better day. |
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Defensive Juggernaught Continues
Starblaydia need power to overcome Schiavonia
Starblaydia's cool calm and collected defensive unit faced the exciting sexy samba football of the ever-delightful Schiavone side, and in the end it was the power and tenacity of Starblaydia that saw them through.
No matter how hard the men in the orange-and-red kits tried, their fast-moving and skilled style of play just couldn't overcome Starblaydia's out-and-out defensive meanness. The first half was mostly counter-attacking football by Starblaydia, having to wait until a Schiavone move broke down before being able to charge powerfully at the other end. Peytrsen, Izretar, Domozis and Fullbright made themselves the first line of defence, and the first outlet for attack. As a unit, Starblaydia have prospered under the tuition of Betanii Marrones, who is only increasing her prestige as an excellent coach and tactician. How she fares in the tougher matches will, however, decide her reputation. On the basis of what we've seen so far, however, she's looking the odds-on favourite to be named Head Coach for World Cup 38 and - if they'll let us in - it's Baptism of Fire.
Marshalled excellently by Claudio Melciori and Roque Bravo, with Lex Panarii sitting in front and Fernando Rodriguez in goal behind, the spine of Starblaydia's defence - though not particularly experienced - is seemingly as solid as any they've put up in an AOCAF before. The experienced full-backs, Parkin Riiklik and Fain Ugrubolgdam, have fifty-seven caps between them - not bad for players who have missed over a decade each of their careers thanks to the recent War in Atlantian Oceania - and they're doing everything right. They're providing width in attack when needed and doing great jobs at hunting down wingers and wide forwards.
Their first goal was a simple smash-and-grab number, as Peytrsen raced away with the ball on a counter-attack and crossed the ball for, basically, whoever was rushing into the box. Though it went behind Fullbright, Domozis was there to out-muscle a back-tracking defender and fire the ball with an excellent dipping shot into the back of the net. Schiavonia came back at the team in white and purple, and had it not been for a despairing claw from Rodriguez, or a hasty clearance off the line from Ugrubolgdam, or even a last-gasp block from Lex Panarii, Starblaydia would have found their lead in tatters.
After fending off this challenge, Starblaydia's strongmen got a grip on the match. Julian Ramirez and Eduardo Faisca came on to add a bit more steel to the midfield, and the less-effective Fullbright made way for Stefan Hinkonnen. With this amount of Starblaydi beef on the field, Schiavonia were simply up against a wall they could not climb. As Starblaydia laid siege to the Schiavone penalty area, the ball was half-cleared, and Lex Panarii teed it up to place expertly into the top-right corner from twenty-five yards. With the 'keeper unsighted by a crowd of orange and white shirts, he had no chance of getting across and up in time, and Starblaydia were two-nil up with ten minutes to go.
No further real chances came in the match as Schiavonia were out of ideas and Starblaydia were happy to run the clock down, ahead of tomorrow's match with Oliverry. Having beaten Schiavonia themselves and come away from Manhattan Prime with a draw, Oliverry are a distant third behind Starblaydia and Pacitalia on nine points in Group D. Starblaydia's aim will be to widen that gap ahead of their rest game, before their crunch match against the Blue Foxes of Pacitalia. For now, though, another pair of goals and a third clean sheet in a row - only Bettia have, somehow, not conceded a goal in their two matches - is a great result for Starblaydia, and if it is duplicated tomorrow against Oliverry, Marrones will be a very happy coach indeed.
Starblaydia 2 - 0 Schiavonia
(Domozis 54, Panarii 79) - (None)
This post has been edited by Starblaydia on Sep 17 2007, 09:28 AM |
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[SIZE=7]WARNING YOU WILL LOSE BRAIN CELLS IF YOU READ THIS "RP"[SIZE=7][B]
An imitation RP:
Milchama not suck. We draw twice Golin play very well score all our goals. The coach thinking no subs bad idea.
The real RP:
I don't want the world I just want your half. The great line produced by Napoleon Bonaparte has absolutely nothing to do with the game I just feel like putting it here. What does have to do with the games is the great play of Golin.
The horse Golin has been playing some incredible football scoring all the Milchamian while trampsing all across the field to stop any would be attacker in the way that the horse strategy by it's creator known affectionately as "The Coach" (sometimes subsituted as Da Coach but we still don't know his name) Anyway he is coaching the B team and doing a crackerjack job. They are winning the game, at life, with cheese, for pleasure, for pain, for us, for them, for everyone.
Wow! I'm out of it. That's the end of the article for today please nobody read this. |
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Hawks in Group C driver's seat!
With another 2-0 victory (this time against Capitalizt SLANI), the Hawks have pulled ahead of everyone in Group C, and should finish with the group crown unless a major upset happens.
This was a Hawk dominated match through and through. While the same Lamonian scored once in each half, the Hawk's defense put up what amounted to a bulletproof wall. When the wall didn't work, superb Lamonian goalkeeping kept the ball from getting into the net for Capitalizt SLANI. The tactic was so effective that the UCS squad could only mount 11 shots on goal during the whole match. Compare that with Lamoni's 30, and you can see who was going to win this match, even without knowing the score.
The win places Lamoni as first in Group C with eight points. As the Hawks have their remaining two matches against unranked teams that haven't done well to this point, it is thought by many that the Hawks will retain the Group C crown, enabling them to have two bye dates in a row as they prepare for who they will face in the knockouts. For now though, the Hawks would have to lose both of their next matches in order to fall out of knockout contention. Even then, they could still possibly make it if things happen in certain ways. Lamonian bookies shorted out a laptop computer when they tried to calculate the odds of the Hawks losing both of their next matches, so we can safely say that they odds of this happening are very low.
The name of the Lamonian who scored both goals in the match against Capitalizt SLANI? It was Lamonian forward and team captain Michal Kellogg. He scored at 20 minutes, and 85 minutes; sealing the Lamonian victory.
The next match for the resurgent Lamonian national team is against Limbrogidlia, who is a puppet of Oliverry. While they are an unranked team, the Hawks will bring everything they have to the pitch, as it would be embarrassing to lose this match.
Lamoni - 2 Michal Kellogg (20, 85)
Capitalizt SLANI - 0 |
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Lamoni |
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Az-cz Scroll
Commerce Heights
Bd-RP
Down with Aurendia
The Unkgnomes, as the few fans who are paying attention to this AOCAF have taken to calling this squad, beat their old rivals to stay hot on the heels of the Lamoni Hawks.
Aurendia is a rival who goes all the way back to our very first competition. They were the team that Zax-Im, Pizelkaxrovsky and the rest topped to claim their Baptism of Fire championship. And despite a flash in the pan in World Cup 31, Aurendia hasn't managed to ascend to football royalty the way Az-cz and Demot have. And so it was again, with even a squad made up of lesser lights in the -League trounced Aurendia 3-1.
Shouhei Yamamoto continues to lead the push as he was the best player on the pitch for the Gnomes yet again. He added his second goal of the tournament while setting up Go-Bak and Thee-Dor for goals. His fine play stalked the Unkgnomes to a 3-0 half time lead, which lead to his being pulled in the 60th minute to avoid injury. Late in the game, the 84th minute to be exact, Aurendia pulled one back, but it was too late as the Gnomes had sealed the game. Unfortunately it meant that they failed to gain any ground on Lamoni, who also won 2-0.
However the Gnomes are proving that even lesser players in the -League are still quite talented. And despite the beliefs emanating from Lamoni that they have this group all but wrapped up, both the Unkgnomes and Mr. Ed from Milchama will have something to say about that. |
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Already Qualified!
Starblaydia in the knock-outs
If everything suddenly went against Starblaydia, the planets aligned, if the Gods put their terrible wrath on the players in white and purple, if the mathematicians worst nightmare occurred and every opponent took three point; Starblaydia would still Qualify for the Knock-out stages in the form of the second round.
It's a lovely feeling, but when you look at Group D it's hardly surprising. The most successful nation in AOCAF history is in second place behind the team who finished Runner-Up last time around. Only Bazalonia, seeded fifth in this tournament, have a one-hundred percent record to match that of Starblaydia and Pacitalia. Though Starblaydia's run of clean sheets was finally brought to an end by Oliverry, Pacitalia could only scrape a one-nil against Schiavonia and both teams sit on twelve points, separated at the moment by Pacitalia's superior goal difference and higher number of goals scored.
As for Starblaydia's first goal allowed in the 20th AOCAF, it was scored by twenty-three year-old Denis Monjeau, who took advantage of a miscommunication between Bravo and Melciori to nip in and fire a stinging shot past Rodriguez. Starblaydia have come back from a goal down more times than this reporter can count, but they went in at the break, some seven minutes later, a goal behind. Marrones obviously had some things to say, most probably that Starblaydia's perfect record was about to be shattered by a bunch of no-hopers from up north.
True to form, Starblaydia came out of the blocks like a rocket in the second half, with Izretar, Fullbright and Proviia all going close and drawing saves of varying athleticism from the Oliverrian 'keeper. The equaliser eventually came from Takis Domozis when he used his strength to brush off an Oliverrian defender and sprint away to get on the end of a Ugrubolgdam cross, who was overlapping from Left-Back. Domozis slid in to divert the ball into the goal and Starblaydia were level.
As much as they tried to push on for the winning goal, Starblaydia just couldn't find the breakthrough. Petyrsen hit the post, substitute Lii Chong-Sun shaved the paint off the top of the bar and, all-in-all, the Oliverry goalie had an excellent time in front of his net. The key to unlocking their defence was found, unsurprisingly, by Kili Izretar, Starblaydia's captain. The Dwarf found himself with the ball just inside the penalty area, blocked off from goal by three Oliverrian defenders. Izretar tracked back and pulled off a little trick to make himself some space and, without looking up, fired through the gaggle of defenders' legs and into the bottom corner of the net. With fourteen goals in his thirty-three appearances for Starblaydia, he is a player who, as they say, 'knows where the goal is'.
Starblaydia easily held on to their Two-One win over the next seven minutes and maintained their early one-hundred percent winning record. If they can stretch it to six more games a sixth AOCAF will be theirs, but that is something to consider once the Second Round has arrived. Next up, Starblaydia have time to rest and recuperate before a tough test against Pacitalia. The winner of that match will surely go on to win Group D and face fourth place in Group A, currently the eighteenth-ranked Ulzaxid.
Starblaydia have made a great start to this AOCAF, and if it keeps up they'll have pulled off an incredible, nation-unifying win.
Oliverry 1 - 2 Starblaydia
(Monjeau 36) - (Domozis 66, Izretar 83) |
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Demot Daily ~ Change of History?
Four matches into this AOCAF, and Demot are in a slightly favorable position. Despite being on the outside looking in, and with a game more played than those in front, Demot is very well in position to make it into the knockouts of the tournament for the first time in three AOCAFs. Following the terrible run of last tournament, where they finished second to last in their group despite being ranked ninth in the region and being a second seed, the squad came into this tournament just looking to put on some decent performances, and regain the respect they had lost after the miserable showing of '19.
It has been up and down for the Dynamo, as they opened with an unexpected loss to Quakmybush, despite outplaying the Sharks at every turn. Yet they could not convert their superior play into goals, and that cost them Quakmybush hit the back of the net with one of their two shots, and streaked away with the three points that the really didn't earn. In the next match against the lower level Bushes Been Quaked squad, the Dynamo rode the Thoril Fordgedawn hattrick to a three to nil win, and created some good momentum moving forward. Then they decided to pull the upset, and toppled over Vilita and Turori with an stellar strike from the halfway line by Maria Hart in the second minute, that completely caught the keeper napping, and very well could be the goal of the tournament. Rahall Lewis would add another right before the half, and the Dynamo would hold on despite a late rally by the combined squad, that resulted in halving the deficit, but not overcoming it. Yet they were toppled themselves again in the last match against a surprise Ulzaxid side whose biochemical make up might of been the reason the squad was not up to their usual selves and fell to the one nil scoreline and now are in a four way tie for second.
The squad now gets a week off before they try to knock off a rowdy bunch in Northern Bettia. Fans are warned to avoid the supporters of the "Fire Ants" as they are violent bunch, and the squad themselves are training with boxors to prepare themselves for the violent style their oppenents use. Then if they survive that match, they will get their chance to punch their ticket through when they take on an impressive Bazalonia squad. We all know how friendly relations are between the two nations, but if progressing through to the next round is on the line, you can bet your bucket that the Dynamo will be throughing everything at their friends to get the desired result.
Scorers
Thoril Fordgedawn 3
Maria Hart 1
Rahall Lewis 1
Schedule
MD1: Demot v Quakmybuh 0-1
MD2: Bushes Been Quaked v Demot 0-3
MD3: Demot v Vilita & Turori 2-1
MD4: Ulzaxid v Demot 1-0
MD5: Bye
MD6: Demot v Northern Bettia
MD7: Bazalonia v Demot
Article by Rich Baker |
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Demot |
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Royal Scribe |
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Az-cz Scroll
Commerce Heights
Bd-RP
Unkgnomes continue to impress
Coming into their match against the hosts there was a definite fear that the Unkgnomes would have a hard time keeping their form. No one really thought that a squad such as this one would be able to keep pace with the best teams from around the region. However they were clearly out to show that they as individuals and the -League as a whole were better than advertised and thwacked the hosts 3-0.
The whole match was pretty much dominated by the Unks. Itz-Alv started the scoring in the 8th minute. Sy-Mn added another in the 32nd and Thee-Dor finished off the scoring in the 72nd minute. The hosts rarely looked like they were going to score with Lu-Silu only having to stop four shots.
And in more good news for the Gnomes the Hawks were stunningly upset by Limbrogidlia. I think it's comeupance for Lamoni's thoughts they had the group sealed up. Regardless of the explanation the top three teams are now all level on points, but Lamoni having played a game more. It's still anyone's group but Lamoni will need help to rise out of third place. |
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Az-cz |
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Senator in Training |
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Le Slip Up!
Pacitalia drop points
Though Starblaydia managed to defeat Oliverry on the previous Matchday, Pacitalia found the Northern Calanians too much to handle and could only finish with a score-draw of One-All. This has let Starblaydia in to the hunt for the top of Group D and, should the outcome of tomorrow's Starblaydia versus Pacitalia match be honours even, then Starblaydia will have the initiative and merely require a victory over the one-win Jasīʼyūn in order to top the Group by two points.
Having conceded just one goal, and scored nine, in four victorious matches, Starblaydia have one of the best records in the AOCAF so far, behind only Pacitalia who have played a game more. Only Bazalonia can come close to this, having an equal wins record, but having scored two goals fewer. If, and that's a big if, Starblaydia can defeat Pacitalia and then Jasīʼyūn, their perfect record should put them firmly in the driving seat for the knock-outs and make them the team to beat for the rest of the Championship.
It is the goals from the front three - Izretar (2), Domozis (2) and Fullbright (3) - which have provided the excellent record, combined with only one goal conceded by Rodriguez between Starblaydia's posts. The midfield have weighed in with a couple of the goals - Panarii and Proviia the scorers -while the defence have stuck firmly to their positions, with not one of the back four having even a sniff of goal save on the occasional set piece.
In Group A, who's teams will meet Group D's in the first stage of the knock-outs, there lurks a deadly danger. Four-times winners of the AOCAF, Vilita (and their lackeys, Turori) are under-performing in the Group, currently sitting outside the Qualification places due to a loss against Demot and may sneak into fourth-place. Should Starblaydia win Group D, a clash of the titans will take place in the Second Round as the two most-successful teams still competing face each other. We all know how dangerous V&T are when they get into the knock-out stages, and Starblaydia will be looking to avoid them until at least the Semi-Finals to make sure they have their momentum going.
The prospect of the next match, however, was always going to be the toughest in this Group for Starblaydia. Will a wounded Pacitalia come out and fight, or will Starblaydia be able to kick the Blue Foxes while they're down and walk away with the first spot in this Group? |
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What the hell happened?!?!?!?!?!
Okay, we admit that the first two goals that the Limbrogidlians scored were legitimate. However, their last "goal" was not really a goal. Despite the fact that it was stopped just inches from the goal line itself, the referee called it a goal, thus sealing the match's fate. To make matters worse, the unknown coach from Limbrogidlia was seen smiling wickedly. Also, after the match, the Limbrogidlian coach was seen giving the ref a newspaper at the end of the match. Was the match fixed? Fans in the Free Republic seem to think so, and Coach McNany has filed complaint with the football authorities in the UCS about said referee. Not that it will change the outcome of the match, but it certainly makes this sports fan feel even a modicum better. Not much, but some.
Moving on to other matters, it was a Hawks reserve forward that scored the two Lamonian goals of the match. Agustin Jesse scored once at 39 minutes, and again at 70 minutes. At that point, it looked like the match would be heading into a 2-2 draw that would allow the Hawks to remain in first place, but that was when the fake goal happened; tipping the outcome in favor of Limbrogidlia.
The cheat of a loss has dropped the Hawks to third place in the region, but they can still retain first if they win their next match against Amerigo Fidelis, and get a high goal differential. Whoever places first in Group C will likely end up facing Nojika, a team that the Hawks have faced quite a few times before, both on the pitch, and when they make their periodic ventures into the realm of international politics.
Either way, the Hawks are now preparing for their match against Amerigo Fidelis; a nation that Lamoni has had some limited contact with. If the Hawks drop this match, it would be the second worst performance that they've turned in to date. It would take quite a lot to equal the truly horrid performance of that last AOCAF in Bazalonia.
Lamoni - 2 Agustin Jesse (39, 70)
Limbrogidlia - 3 (20, 50, 75) |
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Lamoni |
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Democratic Maniac |
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