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Turns out we suck after all
The performance of the Falcons today took a turn for the worse. We had been doing solidly in the tournament, and won our first ever game against Spruitland. However, the 2-0 defeat from Starblaydia shook us, and although victory against Pedriana was entirely possible, the shaken Falcons went down again this morning.
It started out fairly level, with both sides playing well in midfield. Nobody seemed able to break through the Falcanian defence. Then, near the end of the first half, a lucky header managed to fly over the grasping hands of the Falcanian keeper, Welch.
Galvanised by a pot of tea and some crumpets, the Falcons went back out in force, with another supreme goal from Silas Miller, for whom this has been a tournament to remember. After this much-needed goal, the entire Falcons side changed their formation, making 3 substitutions to make their team a 2-5-3. This heavily attacking formation would have made an impact, but an attacker broke through the midfield and recieved the ball. Screaming for offside, the Falcanian team could only watch as the referee made the controversial decision of allowing the ball, and as the attacker huzzed past the two defenders and thudded it past an oncoming Welch, Falcanians around the stadium knew they were going home.
FINAL SCORES:
Falcania: 1 (Miller, 52)
Pedriana: 2 (41;85) |
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Falcania |
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Winging It Since 2004 |
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That’s Jast Typical
Hypocrian fans were once again left scratching their heads as they watched their side lose yet another game they should have won. They saw it in the World Cup qualifiers and they saw it in the Under-21 Cup, in which the Hyppos were number 2 seeds and still finished bottom below three unranked teams. Now they’ve seen it in the AOCAF too as, despite wins over Bettia, Bedistan and Sarzonia, goalless and pointless Jastica proved too good.
Hypocria 0 - 1 Jastica
You didn’t need to be a World Cup winning coach to see the problem. Hypocria registered 21shots at the Jastican goal but only 5 of those shots actually troubled Luke Field. At the other end Ricardo Kindelan was having a relatively quiet day during his fiftieth game for the national side until Jastica won a corner midway through the second half. Sandervessie whipped in a wicked delivery and defender Vasher rose completely unmarked in the centre to head past Kindelan and score Jastica’s first ever AOCAF goal. A first goal that helped Jastica to a first AOCAF win.
“I had no idea who I was marking”, defender Karl Nalepka said after the match. “They don’t have squad numbers! Who doesn’t wear squad numbers? What are they? Communists?”
Poor result yes but the Hyppos still finish second in the group, a mere 4 points behind Vilita, and now face the third placed team in Group 4 in the second round. That team are Spruitland. The Hyppos and the Wabbits once again renew the rivalry that started at the Baptism of Fire, continued into the Under-21 tournaments and now round 5 takes place in the AOCAF. Unfortunately it’s Spruitland who have the edge in the previous encounters with a shootout win in the BoF semi final and a 5 - 0 hammering in the final of Under-21 World Cup 18. The Hyppos managed an extra time victory in the third place playoff of U21 World Cup 17 and there’s a hard fought draw in the group stage of the BoF just for good measure.
“There’s nothing the public enjoy more than a win over the Spruits”, co-coach Vidal said. “We’ve lost to them in two huge games and we’re going all out to ensure this will not be the third.”
Second Round Predictions
Druida v Crystilakere
The Crystils surprisingly finished behind both Nedalia and Hockey Canada in their group. Druida topped Group 1 until the final round of matches when they were held by bottom side Nojika which let Cockbill Street take first place. Crystilakere to advance but not by much.
Hockey Canada v Nova Britannicus
The Canucks seem to like the AOCAF but the Starblaydi colony are no pushovers. This one could go to extra time and maybe penalties but the Bluebirds should just edge it.
Hypocria v Spruitland
You need to ask? Besides, it’s our turn. Move along.
Fmjphoenix v Sarzonia
The Stars would like nothing better than an AOCAF trophy to add to their list of honours. But, Fmjphoenix are on their home turf. With the vocal home crowd behind them the Vikings will advance to take part in a potenial game of the tournament against Starblaydia in the quarters.
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Sep 10 2005, 04:54 AM |
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Thank you 'Verry much
There were definately some doubts that Hockey Canada would even register a threat in Group 2 in this AOCAF, but it turned out that they could prove to be a threat to any team in this tournement. The next team on Hockey Canada's hit-list is Nova Britannicus, who finished in third place in Group 1 but not without a challenge. Nova Britannicus is a good team (Starblaydi colony at that) meaning Hockey Canada will celebrate a giant-killing or get knocked out of the tournement.
Canucks- 4
Oliverry- 2
The game opened relatively smooth for the Hockey Canadians with three early goals from Vaughn, who was replacing an injured Ko. Kulkarni with two goals on a free kick. The game seemed to be pretty boring from the first half onwards except for an Oliverrian goal scored in the 23rd minute when a striker broke in on Marx beating him to the right side of the net.
The second half was equally as boring but not for the drunken Hockey Canadian fans. Kulkarni got his hattrick on once again a feww kick as well as the Oliverrian striker who notched his second goal on Marx. Hockey Canada played rough injuring a few players on the opposition but nothing out of the ordinary. Hockey Canada fans streaked and streaked after the final whistle.
Hockey Canada- Vaughn (2), Kulkarni (5, 14, 61)
Oliverry- Francois (23, 76)
Second Round Predictions
Druida v Crystilakere
Druida finished pretty good in Group 1 but have been known to drop the odd game. Crystilakere on the other hand even dropped a game to Hockey Canada. This game will be tight but we predict Druida will win in descisive fashion.
Hockey Canada v Nova Britannicus
Canucks and Bluebirds in this game. Some people asked "what the hell is a Canuck?" we can proudly say we have no freakin' idea. On the game however, we predict we'll win but just barely.
Hypocria v Spruitland
Hypocria predicted us to lose but we may not go down so fast. Them on the other hand with Spruitland will be yet another close matchup. We predict Hypocria to win barely.
Fmjphoenix v Sarzonia
Two very good nations against each other early in the competition means that the fans will want to watch this big game. Sarzonia has momentum but so does Fmjphoenix. We predict the hosts should win with high attack power. |
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Dougood puts lone goal in, puts Rams into second round
With only a few minutes left on the clock, Brian Dougood knew his team needed a boost. And he knew just how to give it to them. With only 1 minute remaining on the clock, Dougood dove down and headed the ball over the Lamoni goalkeeper to put the Rams up 1-0 and a 3-1-1 record in the qualifying round. But the Rams are now focusing on the important matchup against Sarzonia. The Rams have never gotten past the second round of the AOCAF yet, and they would like this to be the first time.
"We are playing home, and that makes it all the more important. Sarzonia has a great team, but we wanna prove that we have a great team also. This is only the first step." Laura Boyd told reporteds after the match.
Lamoni 0 Fmjphoenix 1
Lam - None
Fmj - Dougood 89 |
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Undefeated Lions Cruise to Quarters, Draw Nova Britannicus
Having to juggle time between the World Cup and the AOCAF Cup is no easy task, but manager Randy Gamman has managed to accomplish that goal with resounding success. Granted, players are inevitably rested, but Gamman has been able to put out most of the Nedalian starting eleven without complaints of being overworked by the players. The results have been better than expected.
The Group Stage looked to be a difficult one, with Krytenia, Crystilakere, Hockey Canada, Oliverry, and The Lowland Clans all accomplished (and in some cases, downright legendary) teams. However, it was the Lions that topped the group, winning 4 of their 5 matches, with the only draw coming against Crystilakere in a 1 - 1 match that saw substitute Bader Tayarra score a blistering shot that has to go down as one of the goals of the tournament. The group stage was capped off by a sensational 1 - 0 victory for the Lions over their northern neighbors, Krytenia, with the winning goal coming in the 73rd minute enroute of the wonderkid Tim James.
After cruising through a difficult group stage, the Nedalians now have their eyes firmly set on bringing home their first AOCAF Cup, to go along with their U21 World Cup championship and their Cup of Harmony champion title. A difficult task indeed, but not one the Lions feel is out of reach. |
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Nedalia |
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Emperor in Training |
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Rams get luck against Sarzonia, prepare to play Starblaydia again
It couldnt be finished in normal time. Extra time could not solve the struggle. But when the penelty kicks came, the Rams luck continued, Sarzonia's didnt. Bennie Sharp netted the lone goal for the Rams during normal play, and the penelties made by Kayla Mik'ala and Karin Shelia made sure that the Rams get at least one more match out of this.
Next up is Starblaydia. They played Starblaydia during the group stages and the teams drew 1-1. This time though, no draw will be available. Its up to the young players on the Rams to step up and produce.
Sarzonia 1 Fmjphoenix 1 1:1 AET 2:3 APK
Sar: Roy Spencer 13, PK
Fmj: Bennie Sharp 74, Kayla Mik'ala PK, Karin Shelia PK |
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Stokks Challenges League Mates
Vilitan midfielder Malovar Stokks has challenged his Spruitish league mates ahead of their Quarter Final clash in the AOCAF X tournament in Fmjphoenix. The Vilitans are defending champions of the tournament, having had an arguably easy path to the title last time out, defeating Nedalia and Hypocria to clinch the title. Last cups finalist's Hypocria have since gone out of the tournament at the hands of the bunnies who will try and pip the defending champions and break the big three's stronghold on the tournament title.
"I think they're going to be fired up for the match, in fact, they'll probably be hopping around, being bunnies and all. But I know a bunch of them, I've played with some of them and know them from the dressing rooms, then theres a bunch of others i've marked and come face to face with from time to time'' Stokks said about his counterparts. "So I think it's been helpful in prepartion for the game, we've got a bunch of leaders on the squad, in fact, a real bunch of them, Calaesa Mitaroka, Jaloey Afrikka, Mauro Baraza - your not gonna find a more experienced bunch to lead us to the title here and I think that experience is something a bunch of the other teams are lacking. Calaesa and Jaloey know the game real well being head coaches in the Vilitan league, so they can really take a look at it from both sides of the ball. I don't know how much of a look I'll get in the match if any, but I know I've been able to help the guys at least by telling them what to expect when they come up against certain players." |
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Hosts slip past Stars in penalties
For Chris Trautwig, the ending couldn't have been any harder. His second choice Sarzonian national team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Roy Spencer's penalty kick, but Spencer missed a chance to keep his team alive in penalties after his team played 120 hard-fought minutes and sent the Stars home after coming on the short end of a 3:2 scoreline in the penalty round after regulation and extra time both ended 1:1.
"What can you say," Trautwig said after his team dominated possession and outshot the hosts, by 71 minutes to 49 minutes of possession and 19-12 in shots. "We fought our guts out the entire match but they were just a little bit better than we were in the penalties round. Sometimes, the better team doesn't walk away with the win."
Whether the Stars were the better team or not could have been debated, but what couldn't was the team's tiring during the last 20 minutes of the match. Fmjphoenix seemed to find its legs during a brief 10 minute flurry that culminated in Bennie Sharp's 74th minute marker for the Rams and Trautwig had already used his three substitutions for defensive players.
"I told the guys to start playing more attack-minded football at the beginning of the first overtime," Trautwig said. "We had to change our formation with Roy getting a little tired and we played a 4-4-2 with guys who aren't suited to that formation. That was probably a rookie coaching mistake on my part."
Regardless of where the blame could be cast, whether on Trautwig or on the boot of Roy Spencer, the team is heading home empty-handed in a tournament that used to be kind to them. Outgoing national team coach Dave Wilson said he didn't think the team should send its first choice team to compete in AOCAF, even during a long layoff, calling the experience the players earn "vital."
"If we sent our first choice side, those lads would be dragging during the World Cup and during AOCAF. We can't afford to do that to our lads, especially without a Under 21 national team."
Trautwig said after the game that he was joining Dave Wilson in Hypocria to serve as one of the Hyppos' assistants. He also dropped a bombshell: Former Under 21 national team coach Cal Trottier would come out of retirement to join Barry Owens on the sidelines as the new Stars' assistant.
"Cal's been itching to get back into coaching, and I nearly had him with me coaching this team," Trautwig said. "He's going to work with the seniors now." |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Teal and Purple All Over
Starblaydia face Vilita in Semi
There are a lot of shades of green in this competition to play Starblaydia. Pedriana, Fmjphoenix, Spruitland and now Vilita. Two regular-greens, a flourescent-putrescent green and now a teal green. If only Starblaydia had as many white kits with purple, mauve and magenta trim to give a graphical artist who knows his colour wheel a field day. Alas, for them, Starblaydia's white-and-purple are off on at least one more adventure. Three times out of nine, Starblaydia have won the AOCAF. NEWI Cefn Druids, of course, have four, while Vilita have two. With the demise of the Druidish nation, the second AOCAF 10 Semi-Final will be between the the most-successful current nations in the competition's history.
That's a helluva prospect.
So what if its not for the title, like it has been twice before. Starblaydia versus Vilita at anything is an enticing prospect, one of the great moments in sport. And not only from a kit-design perspective. The mutual, er, lets say 'respect' between the nations gives Starblaydia-Vilita (or, for the sake of neutrality, Vilita-Starblaydia) matches some of the highest viewing figures in the world, never mind the region.
Don' forget, of course, the other Semi-Final. Druida, the successors to NEWI Cefn Druids, are always lurking in the shadows, while AOCAF9's second-most surprising team, 3rd Placed Nedalia, are there too. One would expect the AOCAF 10 Winner and Third-Placed team to come from this side of the draw, but you never know when there's a va'takil around. Whatever they are.
Final Matchday 5 Score:
Starblaydia 2 - 2 Spruitland
(Reynaldo 56, Diaz-Arca 72) - (Ooyevaar 13, Noegel 47)
Final Quarter-Final Score:
Starblaydia 2 - 1 Fmjphoenix
(Menecrates 6, Garcia 50) - (Cordova 62) |
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(Somewhere inside the magic Vilitan press building...)
"Akalinai! Where the flying hell are my stats!!!" Some important looking guy started screaming at the top of his lungs, "Look at this you incompetent nimcumfrat we're already in the damn semi-finals of the frigatin regional tournament you blasted noob swaggler and i dont even know who scored the first damn goal of the damn freaking tournament. WHERES MY STATS TROUT WANKER!"
Mr. Akalinai was a reserved fellow who had been hired just a few months earlier with the promise of upgrading the entire operating system at the press national. Once the upgrades were complete, things were supposed to run as smooth as water over a young jungle kitties tail. However, things weren't going so smoothly for Akalinai at the moment, being pressured to get the system online as matches were being played and not getting reported by the press national.
"Akalinai!" the important looking guy screamed again, "Stats Akalinai!, STATS!" Finally, Akalinai had enough. This guy had been screaming at him for days on end, and Mr. Akalinai had begun to wonder whether it was really a man at all, instead contemplating the odds that this important looking guy was simply a robot programmed to scream 'stats akalinai, stats!'. Akalinai approached the questionable figure who once again insisted on receiving stats. "You know what" Akalinai said in a calm voice, "I don't have your bloody stats, and do you want to know why I don't have your bloody stinking stats? Because someone in this bloody brilliant place didnt install all the correct bloody software on the new bloody servers, and you know what else? Since they decided to order the servers from freaking Bob's Island to save on labor, all the bloody software is still in bloody Bob's Island. So guess what? Until someone gets their fat ass over to Bob's Island and gets me the bloody freaking software I need to get the bloody freaking servers working right, we aren't going to have any bloody freaking stats, got it robot?"
The important looking guy looked confused, likely at being called a robot which it was now clear he certainly was not, but he then looked at Akalinai in a more sociable manner. "Akalinai, you got some nerve. You really got some nerve. I'll check on that software, but until then, what do we do about the stats?" Akalinai did not like the end of that sentance. In fact, he told the important looking guy to pull the stats out of his ass for all he cared, and then he walked away.
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Lions in Second Straight Semi Appearance
While many Lions fans would suggest that the World Cup victories are what counts, you would be hard pressed to find someone in Nedalia who isnt excited about the prospect of winning the AOCAF Cup. Of all the teams in the Semi-Finals, it is Nedalia that is least favored, a role the Lions are quite used to.
"We've been overlooked over and over again. Last time around, we placed 3rd in the competition, not an easy feat considering the outrageous amount of talented teams in this region. This year is no exception. You got Starblaydia, Vilita, and Druida. The road to the championship doesnt get any tougher than that. We got to come out with all Nedalian guns blazing like we did last match if we want to stand a chance," commented manager Randy Gamman.
Indeed, the Quarter-Final matchup against Nova Britannicus showed Nedalian attacking prowess, flair, and efficiency at near its best. The defense didnt make one mistake, and the two goals were scored quite flamboyantly by the ever impressive Nene. They also happened to be the only goals of the match, with Nedalia sealing off the win in style, with the scoreline reading 2 - 0.
So now the Lions face the World Cup hosting Druidian national side. One of the most storied teams in the region. Heavily favored to win. Which has many Nedalians thinking that the edge belongs to their side. |
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Nedalia |
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Emperor in Training |
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Posts: 486 |
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Black and Blue All Over
All that brawling and a football match broke out
Did someone give us tickets to watch the annual Vilita/Starblaydia punch-up with a side order of football-kicking? This game was brutal, to put it mildly, and we're lucky there was no obvious access to weapons, it was that bad.
Every player, let me say that again with some emphasis, EVERY PLAYER was yellow-carded. Not a single one of the 21 men (and Cherry Garcia) escaped a caution from the referee, nary a one.
| CODE |
Vilitan Bookings (3-5-2)
Shelton
Alfieri Hinds Afrikka
Sanou
Columbo Rumaoa Mitaroka Obwinyi
Ncube Holness
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| CODE |
Starblaydia Bookings (4-4-2)
Sodek Diaz-Arca
Menecrates
Rivera Garcia
Rabalais
Steliopolous Vidal
Jaegar Terrenson
Corominas
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It didn't take long for the referee to start wearing down the graphite in his pencil as Alex Vidal was booked for the very first challenge of the game. He brought down Mitaroka after 40 seconds, and the referee decided he was having none of that and promptly carded the Starblaydi right-back. Obwinyi then got in on the action with a revenge-tackle on Vidal that earned the first Vilitan card of the game, immediately followed by Joey Afrikka's explosive four-letter-strewn outburst for his reaction to the card. Three bookings inside three minutes, and it was only going to get worse.
Starblaydi defensive-player Keiran Rabalais scythed down the advancing Contall Rumaoa. The Starblaydi was booked for the challenge, as was the Jhanna City player for requesting a card for his opponent with an unsporting gesture. Then a small scuffle kicked off, involving Rumaoa and Ncube 'versus' Isiah Sodek and Menecrates. Thankfully for Vilita, the Liga Starblaydia Midfielder of the Year Season 6 was not to blame, just the other three players. No prizes for guessing they were all booked. 8 bookings and no shots-on-target in the first half was not a good start.
For observers of the game like us, who have watched and commented for many years, you can see where this was going. The referee, unfortunately, could not. Isiah Sodek, now knowing the Final or Third-Placed match would not feature him due to his second yellow of the knock-out part of the tournament, decided that he should try to make a simple defensive clearance into a 50/50 ball.
We shan't go into the details, but Sodek got his marching orders for a second yellow and Vilitan defender Alfieri was shown a yellow card for some reason too. Then, then, after 24 minutes, the first clear-cut opportunity for either side. Raul Diaz-Arca received an excellent pass from Menecrates and laid it off to the advancing Lazaro Rivera. Laz, unfortunately, thought it better to pretend he'd just been on the end of some kind of sniper fire, and went tumbling along the grass after a vague challenge from Hinds.
Rivera was booked, and also was resigned to missing the next Starblaydi match. Hind's over-use of 'you cheating little so-and-so' was also worthy of a booking, despite 'so-and-so' not being one of the 'Ten Words You Can't Say On Phoenician TV'. Perhaps it was for intent, who knew? Sugar!
Ten minutes later, Vilitan great Thierry Columbo was shown a yellow card for asking the referee "Are you on crack?" Great detective work there, Thierry, you're in the book. Ten minutes to go in the second half and only nine players had not been booked. At the sound of the half-time whistle, there were four less of that number.
Jhanna City's Vilitan offensive starlet Rumaoa was again involved, as he broke through the Starblaydi offside-trap and into the penalty area to be tugged back by Terrenson. Booking for Terrenson. Beleiving a Rumaoa dive, Starblaydi players surrounded and intimidated the card-happy Ref, and he was only too happy to dish out some more. Diaz-Arca, Jaegar and Steliopolous - rather uncharacteristically for the Starblaydi and Veles Captain - were all in the mix and so all received cards.
Of course we're forgetting the penalty-kick. Well, as Vilita's scoreline was '0', it wouldn't take Theirry Columbo to figure out that it was missed - an excellent save low down to his left from Lai Ncube. Thankfully the Starblaydi celebrations were subdued and no further bookings - or shots, mind you - occured during the First Half.
After hoping that the half-time break had been given over to calming down the players, it only seemed to be a fifteen minute hyping-up session for the Managers and the two rivals came out with even more venom in their play than before. Unfortunately for Vilita's defensive lynchpin, Sanou, his venom appeared to like to live in his elbow. As he took the play down the right he lashed-out at the challenge from Rivera, felling the starblaydi. The Referee immediately brandished a yellow card but his attention was then drawn by his linesman on the near side. The Referee's Assistant flag-waver commented that the elbow was a deliberate attempt to injure 'White Eleven', so a Red Card was now forthcoming, and duly shown.
Ten versus ten for the next forty-or-more minutes, Starblaydia's attack was blunted but the Regional Cats' defence was now in trouble.
Of the players on the field, only the two goalies, Mitaroka, Holness and Garcia remained without-caution. That didn't take especially-long to remedy, though, as Cherry Garcia and Mitaroka got themselves into hot water, in more ways than one.
Unable to stop a fine Mitaroka run, Garcia decided the best way to get her tackle in was to get her, um, sports bra out. A quick lifted-shirt and Garcia was away with the ball, not before a swift tackle from behind - 'Oo-er!', as they say in bad Britannican comedies - felled and injured Garcia. One card for ungentlemanly conduct, and another for unladylike conduct. Tits and tackle? Where could this game go next with only three players not on yellow cards?
The answer was, quite blatantly, to Extra-Time, but not without a good-old 19-man brawl. It would have been 22, of course, but for the two sendings-off and the woman on the pitch. She was still involved, however. As the players threw punches and slaps and aimed shoves at each other, the remaining two Vilitans were booked - Shelton and Holness, that is - so that left only Starblaydi 'keeper "Crazy" Corominas without a booking as the 90 minutes came to a close.
Extra Time came and nearly went without a goal or a yellow card, but good-old Corominas provided both. As Cherry Garcia probed down the right wing, suddenly she found a new player to pass to. Corominas had - unbeknownst to some - overlapped her on the right wing and received the ball forward. He dribbled around Jaloey Afrikka and crossed for the substitute Raphaelo. Ade Hinds, however, put the ball out for a corner. Starblaydia made it an all-or-nothing 9 vs 10 in the penalty area, and guess who the ball fell to? Got it in one, Corominas. At the near post he leapt higher than anyone else and used his head to marginally-deflect Garcia's cross into the far corner of the net, in off the underside of the bar, winning the game with no time left for Starblaydia. He was then booked for an over-exuberant celebration.
You just can't win, can you?
Final Score AET (FT: 0-0):
Vilita 0 - 1 Starblaydia
(None) - (Corominas, 120)
Much more interesting, however, is the list of cautions:
Bookings:
Vidal (1)
Obwinyi (2)
Afrikka (2)
Rabalais (7)
Rumaoa (7)
Sodek (11)
Menecrates (11)
NCube (11)
Sodek (19)
Alfieri (19)
Rivera (24)
Hinds (24)
Columbo (34)
Terrenson (41)
Diaz-Arca (42)
Jaegar (42)
Steliopolous (42)
Sanou (50)
Garcia (61)
Mitaroka (62)
Shelton (88)
Holness (88)
Corminas (120)
Sent Off:
Sodek (19)
Sanou (51)
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Lions Face Rumble Kings Starblaydia in Final
Perennial football powerhouse vs. perennial football underdog. This is being hyped by the Nedalian media as a David vs. Goliath story, calling it one of the most enticing finals in recent AOCAF history. They do raise a valid point about the reputations of the two teams, however.
Considered perhaps one of the strongest teams in the universe today (sadly, almost as famous for their lack of semi-final action in the World Cup as they are for their remarkably talented players), Starblaydia is one of the few teams that can call themselves an elite squad without much debate, if any. Their road to the Finals has not been an easy one, but they have overcame all challenges along the way, the latest victory coming in an allout brawl against Vilita, the team that has knocked Nedalia out of the last two AOCAF competitions.
The Lions are a different story all together. Rapidly gaining a reputation as a team no one wants to face, their attacking power has done wonders for this squad. They are not void of championships either, having won the Cup of Harmony 15 title in a 2 - 0 victory against Hockey Canada. In fact, if it was not for their talent going forward, they would have not made it past Druida in the other Semi-Final of this competition.
After Nene put two goals past Nova Britannicus in the Quarters, you would think that the player would be more respected by opposing defenses. Instead, he was given the space to roam, and he utilized it to the max. Both goals were scored by the 23 year old Inland Peaks left winger, and coupled with the continuous Nedalian offensive pressure, they pushed the game to the end, all the way to penalties. From there, Derell Lynch saved 2 penalties to book the Lions a place in the Finals of AOCAF 10.
What was worrying, again, was the inconsistency of the defence. Mohammed Khadra and Cole Zenith have not clicked the way they were supposed to, despite some truly wonderful games together. They always seem to find ways to give people hope and dash it away the very next game, and this was no exception. After shutting Nova Britannicus out in grand fashion, their mistakes nearly cost Nedalia the victory against their more illustrious AO counterparts.
Regardless, it will be a Nedalia vs. Starblaydia matchup in the Finals. The U21 teams know each other well, and it seems like the national sides will get to know each other a little better as well. |
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Campeone! Campeone! Ole, Ole, Ole!
Starblaydia equal Druids with Fourth AOCAF Title
"I've never been more nervous at a football match before," said Starblaydia's now-victorious Manager Lord Rikaard Van Honjiik, the Minister for Sport, "it was incredible, if you could bottle that feeling you'd make a lot of money."
He seems to have enjoyed himself, we should get people who have never been involved with football in their life before to manage Starblaydi teams more often. It does seem, though, that his Lordship had rather little to do with Starblaydia's triumph other than to take some of the media attention off the players and take it himself. So at least he was useful for something.
Most of the actual management seems to have been taken care of by Captain Dimitri Steliopolous, Elwood Deangelo and Syku Lyku-Agbayani, the veteran players in the team. Thankfully the 'Slani' nickname of Syku is now purely ironic, as the Half-Rejistanian forward opened the scoring in the first half to give Starblaydia the lead.
Nedalia's best player, Nene, drew the game level half-way through the second half but it was Starblaydia who finally emerged victorious. Though Extra Time was needed to separate these teams, it was Starblaydia's own incredible attacking youth - Menecrates - who won Starblaydia's Fourth AOCAF title with an excellent goal.
Menecrates, Captain of the Under-21 side in their World Cup 19, scored the goal that thrust Starblaydia into the joint-record books, a goal that saw him buried under every other Starblaydi player on or off the field at the time.
Final Score AET (FT: 1-1):
Nedalia 1 - 2 Starblaydia
(Nene 61) - (Lyku-Agbayani 37, Menecrates 117) |
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