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Pedriana Review/Sarzonia Preview
The SO team were left feeling hard done by, as a late goal from Pedriana striker Zero Dandilo meant the match ended 1-0 and the team sitting bottom of the group.
The performance left little to be desired, and many will be thinking that a lot more was deserved by the team. Indications were that this could have been a dream start for South Osettia, as Fidel Britson cracked a shot against the crossbar after just five minutes. The Pedriana pressure was soaked up, and it seemed that the team could pull off a major shock. However, the tide turned in the second half, and SO took forty minutes of defending before the heart-breaking strike saw them leave Pedriana with nothing to show for their efforts.
Tomorrow is another day, as they say, and the team will be looking forward to their next match against fourth seeds Sarzonia. They may have been held to a 2-2 by Royal Engrand, but it is expected that the backlash will be swift. A second successive defeat looks to be on the cards, but coach Bozwell reamins optimistic.
"We were unlucky yesterday: we should have got at least a point from that game, if not more. Today, we're playing one of the best in the game, and we will have to pick ourselves up quickly if we are going to be able to get anything out of it. I think that we can expect a good gam, with hopefully something to smile about at the end."
Predictions
South Osettia vs. Sarzonia
Don't put a lot of money on SO winning this game. After their disappointing draw yesterday, Sarzonia will be looking for some revenge, and where better to get that than fresh meat. It'll be difficult to contain them, and in then end, the might may prove too much.
South Osettia 0-2 Sarzonia
Xile vs. Royal Engrand
RE will be on a high after their last game, but will they be going into this a little complacently? Xile will be fresh after their first day bye, and will be looking to draw blood here.
Xile 2:1 Royal Engrand |
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Sarzonia Review/Xile Preview
The defeat was expected, and indeed the defeat cometh, as South Osettia went down 2-0 to Sarzonia. The only good thing about the game was the correct prediction on our part. Everything that could have gone badly went badly, and the team were lucky to come out only two goals down.
The match started off as expected with concerted pressure from the fourth seeds. The first goal came on 15 minutes, after Bruce Badger deftly pummelled the ball into the back of the net with his shoulder. Despite the poor manner in which the goal came, it was deserved, as was the second on 16 minutes, when Darrell Bennett saw the keeper off his line and chipped him from the halfway line. Perfect.
The rest of the match was about damage limitation, and SO were able to hold the Sarzonians for the rest of the match.
The team's next match is against tenth seeds Xile. After the narrow defeat by Pedriana on Saturday, SO will have a feeling that they could get something from this game. Coach Bozwell is feeling confident of something from the match.
"After two defeats, I think tomorrow will be our day. We will practice hard, and I think that we could get something from the game tomorrow."
Predictions
Xile vs. South Osettia
SO are in desparate need of the points here, but there could be light at the end of the tunnel in this game. With some careful planning, the points are possible.
Xile 1:1 South Osettia
Sarzonia vs. Pedriana
Sarzonia will be feeling a lot better after today's result, and will surely be on top of their game now. On the other hand, Pedriana will be fresh and up for this game, so expect something interesting.
Sarzonia 2:1 Pedriana |
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Hawks win their first match of AOCAF VI
In a result that was admittedly not unexpected, the Lamoni Hawks soundly defeated Florianopolis 4-1, and moved to second place in group 4. Coach Gilbo was pleased with the result. "We may not be the 'A' squad, but by no means should anyone count us out of ANY game. Our guys played as well as anyone could have expected, and probably even suprised a few people. While we did think that a win in this game was likely, we never took it for granted. Our guys are ready and willing to play against the Chacorian team next."
Indeed, the game was mostly a Lamoni show. Florianopolis scored early on, but that was to be their only taste of success in the entire game. The Lamonian answer was as effective as it was expected. Niel Silvis supplied the first Lamonian goal, followed by Lance Sweigart and Team Captain Hugh Desper; who scored twice. Desper's second goal, however; was controversial in that it bounced it's way in. It hit the ground in front of and to the left of the Florianopolis goalkeeper, and went into the net up high.
The next match for the Hawks will be against Chacor. Lamoni has had a good record against this team, and will be looking to add to it with another win. Lance Sweigart put it this way: "Chacor is a good team, but we normally come out on top against them. We NEVER let our gaurd down against this team, and it has served us in good stead. We don't intend to start letting our gaurd down against them now, either."
Lamoni - 4 Niel Silvis (5), Lance Sweigart (6), Hugh Desper (20, 73)
Florianopolis - 1 Someone (2) |
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Democratic Maniac |
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OOC: I started this before the MD2 results, so sorry if it's a bit out of sync.
The Daily Druid
ANOTHER AOCAF BRINGS A NEW CHALLENGE
Can Druida start where NEWI Cefn Druids left off?
Liam Gessemschmitthaagen-Po reports
It's AOCAF time again ladies and gentlemen! This time we're in Cockbill Street, who've only come to the region during the last decade, nad this time we're Druida. Because of this, we start off in the rankings where Druida left off last time (a lowly ninth place), despite having much of the same squad that won the competition in Legalese.
So, can Druida make it five wins out of six for nations in the Druidish Lands? Well, it seems unlikely. All the rest of the usual suspects are there, including World Champions Crystilakere (interestingly only ranked sixth in the region), plus a few new, yet vastly experienced, nations who haven't even got a ranking in the system.
So who will Druida be facing? Well, the other four teams in the rainbows' group kicked off last night, and whichever way you look at it, it doesn't make for good reading. Turori, The Lowland Clans, Legalese and Nojika. Translated into non-footballing terms, that means "Oh, bugger."
However, there is one factor that could help Druida. They have a full strength side out here, and a fresh one too. Not even fellow World Cup hosts Starblaydia have done that. Results so far have been a convincing 3-0 win for Turori over a Lowland Clans team that seemed a bit lost bey the whole event, while Nojika, who've been coming to the AOCAF for many a year now, beat Legalese in what might be considered a surprise result.
This post has been edited by Druida on Jan 24 2005, 07:14 AM |
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Royal Scribe |
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Stars snap back to form, win 2-0
Bruce Badger may not have earned a spot on the first choice national team, but he's sure making the most of his opportunities with the second team. Badger scored a controversial goal 15 minutes into the match, followed by a Darrell Bennett strike one minute later and the Sarzonian national team defeated South Osettia 2-0 to pick up their first win of the sixth AOCAF tournament.
Goalkeeper Marco Taglianetti rebounded from a rough outing in the first match by making five saves for the clean sheet. The Stars' defense also played a much stronger match according to Coach Bryson Juergens.
"We finally provided Marco support along the backline," Juergens said. "We need to make sure to get all the points we can against the teams we should beat because we don't want to have to play in the quarters."
Sarzonia put the match away early with pressure almost from the opening kickoff. The first shot of the match came just 80 seconds in off the boot of midfielder Carlos Escandela. It went wide, but it set the tone for the frenzied first part of the match. Midfielder Josh Bentley sent a through ball into the box looking for Badger to trap it with his chest, but Bentley's service was a bit too high. The referee didn't see the ball carom off Badger's shoulder and counted the goal for a 1-0 Stars lead 15 minutes in.
"I think that goal may have deflated them a little," Badger said. "They were arguing but the referee wasn't listening."
Bennett made it 2-0 just moments later after winning the ball in midfield. He saw goalkeeper Ali Felkel (six saves) off his line and sent a long ball hoping to catch him napping. Felkel raced back desperately in an attempt to save the shot but couldn't reach the ball in time and the Stars doubled their lead after arguably the cheekiest goal in team history.
"You've gotta take chances once in a while and sometimes they work out," Bennett said. "I just tried that and it worked."
The Stars face Pedriana with memories of the AOCAF tournament they hosted still in the back of their minds when the then-nascent side beat the Stars in the opener. Sarzonia swears it will not let the same thing happen again.
"We've got motivation going in," Bentley said. "We know they can beat us if we don't play the full 90."
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Jan 24 2005, 09:19 AM |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Next For Nojika, Druida
Next for Nojika is Druida, a team that they must beat in order to continue on in the race for the AOCAF cup. The Nojikan coaching staff has been preparing the Panthers both physically and mentally for this game for a some time now.
Young star, Shane Follett said this earlier today about the game against Druida; "We know that we need this win, it's important and we are all confident we have the skill and discipline to take another 3 points. Everyone knows that we need it, and everyone knows that this is important."
Now it's just a matter of time before we see how well the Panthers have prepared themselves for this game... |
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Senator in Training |
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Street "A" Team Give Good Competition
Kansu Lyku On The Zeppelin
A weak Streetian "A" side, with old U-21 regulars, half-Eauzians, and an average age pulled up by about three years with the entry of Rikki Stone into the squad, still managed to pull off a 2-2 draw with Nova Britannicus U-23 in the Street's very first match in the AOCAF tournament. Of course, everyone else is fielding their reserves or third-choice players too, that being the nature of this tournament, but it was still an all right result in front of 20-odd thousand in the National. More turned up for the meeting with arch-rivals Starblaydia, but it was still obvious that this was a second-team tournament, as fewer came to this game than to the second-round Cup game between Vimesbairn United and FC of 1698 two days before.
Maybe that was just as well. Because the Streeters did not by any stretch of the imagination play up to the Karela-ideals, they struggled in attack, and it was a luck that they came away with 1-2 against a Starblaydi side equally full of rejects - but Starblaydi rejects play in a tougher league. Perhaps it says something that the highest a Streetian ever got in the Starblaydi league was the Gamma Division (which equates to the top of the Human Premiership). Syku Lyku-Ayegbeni, or "Slani" as witty Starblaydi fans dubbed him early on, scored the first goal from a free-kick, and Ilias Provatidis added to the scoreline just before half-time. Even Haemimorphite's header couldn't save the Street, as they crumbled to a 1-2 defeat, and are looking unlikely to qualify from their own cup. Still, they're looking to take some positives - namely that they scored three goals in two matches despite playing System Karela.
Cockbill Street 2 (Kerr 18, Gwyddich 67)
Nova Britannicus 2 (Pompey 44, 60)
Cockbill Street 1 (Haemimorphite 51)
Starblaydia 2 ("Slani" 11, Provatidis 41)
In other news, matchday 3 is coming some time during the day. Please be patient, we are working on clacks transmission out of the Street.
This post has been edited by Cockbill_Street on Jan 24 2005, 01:27 PM |
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Regional Cats Brace for Playoff match
The Vilita Regional Cats are preparing themselves for a playoff match to take them through to the AOCAF Quarter Finals, after failing to beat Krytenia. Failure against Krytenia means the Vilitans must over come their bogie side, Lamoni, in order to avoid the extra two legged playoff round. Vilitans are not optimistic about their chances, and are left wondering whether they would be facing a team from their group, or another group, in the playoff. Either way, Massimo Corsi will be fielding a strong lineup for the match that could see one or two World Cup 20 Players filling in after the Vilita entry in the World Cup 20 Finals was confirmed.
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Hawks draw with Chacor, remain in second spot
The Hawks have yet to lose in AOCAF VI, but they were lucky that Krytenia got into a draw, or the Hawks would be in third place. The Hawks got into a 2-2 draw with Chacor in a hard fought game that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Lamoni scored 25 minutes into the match, and the hushed crowd seemed to think that Lamoni had this game in the bag. When Chacor scored twice at 30 minutes and 35 minutes, it looked as if they might carry the game away with them; but a Lamoni goal at 73 minutes changed all that, and as time ran out, the game ended in a draw.
The Hawks face Krytenia next, and this match will determine who gets to face off against number one seed Vilita in a playoff match. Both Lamoni and Krytenia have identical records in this AOCAF, but the Hawks have a better rating, and Lamoni will want revenge for the two losses that the 'A' squad suffered at WC20. This match is expected to be watched by a lot of Lamonians, who will get a morale boost from the match after watching so many war scenes. Indeed, the 'B' squad is being seen as soccer heros by a nation that has been unjustly invaded for no real reason. Regardless of the outcome against Krytenia, the Hawks will still have a chance to defeat Vilita in the group stages of the AOCAF, but it would be sweet indeed to defeat Vilita while also defeating Krytenia.
Lamoni - 2 Niel Silvis (25), Hugh Desper (73)
Chacor - 2 Someone (30, 35) |
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Democratic Maniac |
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Second Loss For Nojika
Chance For A Second Round Appearence?
"We are devastated.", said Nojikan midfielder Carlos Amoa. there is nothing more embarrasing to have two straight loses. And we would love to have beat Druida, but now it seems like not much else could go wrong for us, we may very well already be out of the race for the cup championship. That aside, we are still doing what we can to remain strong so that we can win our next game and move on, this is the best group of guys I've ever played with."
The feelings Amoa expressed were not just his, but they were the same feelings the entire Nojikan squad was feeling. "We have a damn good team here, better than most of the others, things just aren't going our way right now. We need to remain positive and hope for the best and soon we will show all of Atlantian Oceania just how good the Nojikan football program is." Said head coach Randy Mulder. Since their lost against the Druida squad, the team has been watching film endlessly to observe each of their mistakes and to take note of the mistakes made by the Druida players, in hopes to better focus themselves for the games ahead.
The next team the Panthers face is The Lowland Clans, an unranked and fairly unknown team. When asked what the squad will do in their next game, Mulder said "We arent going to take our opponents lightly in this one, we don't know their style of play, so what we are going to want to do is play the game safe duing the first 45 minutes, learn their technique and then come out in the second half and exploit their problem areas and finish the game with a win. I'd love for our boys to win this game 10-0," he laughed, "if only we could do that every game."
The Panthers must win against The Lowland Clans, if they don't, they may not be able to move on to the second round. If Nojika does win, then they can only expect tougher opponents and more important games; A single loss could mean they would be done for good.
Can the new Nojikan squad go all the way? Can they do what past Panther teams could not? The answer will lie within the outcome of their next match...
Final
Nojika 1 (Follett, 31)
Druida 3 (Rodgers, 56; Law 71, 83) |
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Senator in Training |
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That was unexpected
We're actually doing somewhat well
Poor South Osettia. They've already been having to deal with a heavily disappointing record in World Cup 20 qualifying, but surely nobody expected they would stoop so low as to actually get beaten by Pedriana. Widely known (by the Pedrian people, at least) to be the laughingstocks of the football world -- heck, they finished dead last in their group when they hosted AOCAF III! -- they started off this AOCAF campaign with a win.
Then, after a break for matchday 2, the Alpacas (Pedriana's B-team; the name "Llamas" now applies only to the A-team) were to play Sarzonia, one of the most successful nations in the ongoing WC qualifiers. It was expected to be a slaughter, surely at least four-nil in favor of the Stars. Once again, Zero Dandilo was the man of the match, giving Pedriana the lead in the 25th minute. It didn't last long due to Sarzonia's quick equalizer, but it was enough to miraculously secure a point.
Many English-speaking fans have probably noticed the irony that a man called "Zero" has scored both goals for the team so far. In actuality, his name is not derived from English at all, but it's still pretty interesting. |
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THE HERALD SPORTS DIGEST
Good Ties E-Vil
Krytenia 1
Vilita 1
ONE in the eye for the Regional Cats, as the Krytenians upset the applecart by denying Vilita two points in Chesham. Carmine Mbidzo put the Vilitans in front, but Andy Tay was having none of it and cracked home a second half equaliser. The B-Celestials will have a tough task of it next game, but a win against Lamoni will leave the group deliciously poised...and would also mean that Vilita's qualification hopes would no longer be fully in their own hands (ie they could defeat Lamoni and still not finish top). Mwa ha ha!
NEXT GAME:
LAMONI v KRYTENIA
Upperborough, Cockbill Street
This post has been edited by Krytenia on Jan 24 2005, 11:29 PM |
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Krytenia |
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Now With Added Bekk! |
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The Daily Druid
WHERE'S ALAN BELMORE?
Liam Gessemschmitthaagen-Po reports
Two games into AOCAF 6, and the Druida Rainbows are doing just fine. The only thing that has surprised anyone is that the team's star player for it's last eight years as NEWI Cefn Druids, a certain Alan Belmore, has been conspicuous by his absence.
Belmore, who fired NEWI Cefn Druids to the World Cup Quarter Finals almost single-handedly, has not only been left out of the team for the Rainbows' victories against The Lowland Clans and Nojika, but he hasn't even been seen at any of the stadia here in Cockbill Street.
Of course, rumours have started that a rift has occured between himself and his father/national team coach. However, in interviews after the Nojika game, these rumours were quickly scorched.
"I know about as much as you as to Alan's whereabouts." Druida boss Trevor Belmore told us. "Not only is it worrying as coach of a national side that I have lost one of our best players, but the most worrying aspect is as a father. Alan is my son, and if anyone out there could possibly help as to Alan's whereabouts, it would be most helpful." |
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Snipes draw Starblaydia, get routed by Crystilakere
After earning a hard fought draw against Starblaydia to the tune of 2-2, the Snipes were stomped on by Crystilakere 4-1. Not much action for Fmjphoenix's regional team, as they have only gotten 3 goals to allowing 6. Bad numbers so far, but its only their first trip in the A.O.C.A.F. And its not over yet. They still have to play Cockbill Street and Nova Britannicus. Its not over for them yet!!!!!
[ooc]i meant to do more, but my computer is being stupid!!!!!![/ooc] |
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Seven from Nine not Quite Good Enough
Star Trek Pun resisted as Starblaydia await Crystils
Starblaydia's "second" team, composed mostly of youngsters, opened their Tournament with a two-all draw with Fmjphoenix's team, the Snipes. Whether they're named after some kind of animal or the military action is beyond our knowledge, but they stunned Starblaydi fans by holding the former-Champions to a draw. Zachariah Loze's height allowed him to score Starblaydia's first goal of their Group Campaign, a free header aimed down into the goal that 'keeper Fundel Near had no chance with. The Snipes' highly attack-minded 3-4-3 formation caused Starblaydia problems, however, as Carlos Delgado (probably no relation to 22 year-old Hallad Reavers and World Cup 20 Reserve player Raphael Delgado) and then Brian Bay put the South-Westerners into a shock Two-One lead. Some quick thinking led to veteran striker Eomer Hall being brought on for the ineffectual Ilias Provatidis, and it was a stroke of genius as Hall started and finished a sweeping team move that allowed him to slot home from around eight yards, drawing Starblaydia level with just minutes to spare.
Then it was hosts Cockbill Street who faced the valiant men in white and purple. Syku Lyku-Agbayani gave Starblaydia an early lead as he whipped a free-kick around the wall and beyond the grasp of young troll Obsidian after around ten minutes. Ilias Provatdis scored his first ever goal for Starblaydia before half-time, quite fittingly it was Starblaydia's winner, as although Haemimorphite the Troll (dubbed by the Starblaydi fans as a 'Hermaphrodite Troll') managed to dive past Loze for an equaliser after half-time, Starblaydia were not caught and chalked up three points for a win. Though Spearthrower went close late on, De Marco was on hand to tip the ball around the post, showing off the command of his area by plucking the resultant corner out of the air. This win kept Starblaydia above World Champions Crystilakere in Group 2 who recorded a win in their first match, having rested on Matchday One.
Then came a North-Eastern derby as Starblaydia faced friends and neighbours Nova Britannicus, who's "first" team so recently qualified for the Starblaydia/Drudia World Cup 20 in a week or so's time. Though the Navy-Blues were on a high, Starblaydia recorded a fabulous Six-Two win, equalling the demolition of Big Pimento four years ago. Twenty-One year-old Captain Thanh Madray blasted two goals past Jeremy McFarland in the first half and set up the third, playing a defence-splitting pass between Johnson and Ximbod, allowing Lyku-Agbayani to net his second of the tournament. The second half was a different matter as Iskara Daii's Frederic La Salle nicked a quick equaliser and Akira Jones volleyed into the top corner from around twenty-five yards. At Three-Two, Starblaydia had to re-double their efforts which allowed Julio Matis to get his Seventh International Goal. With a two-goal barrier reinforced, Starblaydia threw men forward and Zak Loze again scored from a Kovac corner for the fifth. Finally, young dwarf Zhorin Tumunzahar came on and scored on his international debut at the age of just sixteen. With a more-than-healthy Six goals on the scoresheet, Starblaydia now look forward to their rest-day as they prepare to face Crystilakere in the match that should decide who progresses to the Quarter-Finals, and who has to undergo the strain of a Second-Round match. |
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