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AOCAF XI
Hyppos Through
Hypocria 1 - 3 Krytenia
Shirko
Yes we lost but in the grand scheme of things it didn’t really matter as Vilita were never going to drop points against Hockey Canada so second place was the best we could hope for. And second place was what we got.
Naturally it would have been nice to end the group stages unbeaten but against a higher ranked Krytenia side who desperately needed all 3 points that proved slightly difficult. In the end the Jacks got the points they needed relatively comfortably with only Andrei Shirko’s goal, his fifth of the tournament, providing any real excitement for Hypocria fans.
Despite the defeat the Hyppos finished above their opponents on goal difference, largely thanks to that five goal drubbing of Pastorville earlier in the tournament. The only other team with a chance of qualification was Chacor who needed a big win over Pastorville to have any real hope. Unfortunately the Saints weren’t in so charitable a mood and held Chacor 1 - 1. In the end Vilita, as predicted, finished comfortably on top and progress straight to the quarter finals. Hypocria and Krytenia also qualify but must play in the second round. Chacor finished fourth and Pastorville’s point was good enough to move them into fifth at the expense of Hockey Canada.
Second Round Preview
The perk of finishing second in the group is that you get to play some crappy third placed team in the second round. Right? Except that the crappy third placed team Hypocria have drawn just happen to be former World Champions and the region’s fourth ranked side Crystilakere. The Hyppos and Crystils have faced each other three times in the past, twice in World Cup 24 qualifiers and once at AOCAF IX. The spoils were shared in the qualifiers with a 2 - 1 win for the Hyppos in Hypocrium and a 4 - 0 victory for the Crystils in their home fixture. A goalless draw in the AOCAF does little to tip the balance.
In all depends on which Crystilakere turns up on the day. If they play like the fourth ranked side in the region then the silent but deadly Crystilakere will be favourites to advance. But the Crystils are not in the best of form and actually have the worst record of all the sides still in the competition with just 4 points from their four group games. With a high profile quarter final against AOCAF champions Starblaydia up for grabs and hopefully some vocal support in Butetown’s old fashioned Alice Street stadium behind them Hypocria’s players will certainly give everything they’ve got. |
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Stars snap out of funk, 3-0
Tamrida, Bettia (ASP) -- Turns out the Turori Eels were all the Sarzonian national football team needed to return to form after earning only one victory in five group stage matches.
Sarzonia played its best match of the 11th Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association football, getting goals from forward Kyle Mason, midfielder Peter Green, and forward Brian Williams and a five save effort from goalkeeper Marty Tolliver and Brett Hancock settled in nicely after serving his one match suspension in the Stars' 3-0 win over Turori in the second round of the AOCAF tourament.
"Our lads did a tremendous job of focusing out there," Hancock said. "It felt good for us to get back and I bet Geoff [Blaine, the team's assistant coach] felt good to have the full roster available to us."
Ettore Salivani, the team captain who was at the centre of the controversy with Starblaydi defender Francisco "The Terrible" Ibanez, apologised to his team after he "behaved in a matter not befitting a team captain," and said he resigned his team captaincy after the match against Lamoni. Defender George Conway wore the captain's armband for the second consecutive match and was announced as the team's captain for the remainder of the AOCAF tournament.
"George doesn't get rattled. He doesn't let his temper get the best of him," Salivani said. "I did, and that's my fault."
For Turori, the loss to the Stars starts a long offseason of soul-searching that results from losing to an opponent who seemingly has their number, but the Stars to a man say they're focused on their matchup against Nedalia in the quarterfinals.
"Nedalia have proved to be an excellent side and Brent Vent did a tremendous job of getting that programme off to a great start in the Under 21s," Hancock said. "As far as Turori goes, we know how they feel because we still have yet to beat Rejistania in a match that counts for something. Nedalia is going to be a great test for us and we have enormous respect for the Nedalians." |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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AOCAF XI
Crystils Shattered
Hypocria 1 - 0 Crystilakere
Shirko (p)
Hypocrian football is on something of a high at the moment. First an impressive World Cup qualifying campaign may have ended in disappointment as the Hyppos failed to qualify but they could count themselves very unlucky after finishing with a record that would have ensured a trip to Kaze Progressa or Audioslavia in a number of other qualifying groups. Over in Praying2God the Cup of Harmony squad have won their opening two matches. The nation’s two representatives both qualified from the group stages of the AO Champions League. And now the AOCAF side have qualified for the quarter finals for the second time in three tournaments.
And the second round was no easy task as the Hyppos took on former World Champions and current fourth ranked side in the region, Crystilakere. Hypocria’s group games had been relatively open affairs which sometimes favoured the Hyppos, the rout of Pastorville springs to mind, and sometimes didn’t, such as being turned over by Krytenia, but this second round game was a world away from that attacking style of play. This game was scrappy and subdued as both teams concentrated on not conceding rather than focusing on scoring. The match hinged on one second half incident as Liberda made a rare incursion into the Crystilakere box and was up ended. The referee didn’t hesitate and pointed to the penalty spot. Veteran striker Andrei Shirko stepped up and slotted in his sixth goal of the tournament and his thirtieth international goal overall to seal Hypocria’s passage into the last eight.
Elsewhere in the second round world number ones Sarzonia showed some ominous form with a comfortable 3 - 0 over Turori and will be looking to continue in that vein against Nedalia in the next round. The home fans are still cheering as Bettia edged past Milchama by the odd goal in five. The Aroras reward is a tough quarter final with two time AOCAF champions Vilita. Krytenia versus Lamoni was even closer with only penalties ensuring that the Jacks advance to face their former World Cup co-hosts Druida in the quarters.
Quarter Final Preview
And who do we face? Why defending champions Starblaydia of course. And not for the first time. Eight years ago Hypocria met defending champions Starblaydia in the quarter finals and actually ended the Purple Peril’s campaign to retain their title. And now we have a chance to do it again.
As already mentioned the Hyppos have a winning record against the men in mauve thanks to that AOCAF upset eight years ago but there have been other favourable results recently too. In the AO CL Hyper League champions Hypocrium City took four points off Jhanna City in their group which included a win in the Starblaydi capital and in the World Cup qualifiers Hypocria denied the Starblaydi dependency Nova Britannicus top spot in the group after holding the Bluebirds to a goalless draw on the final day. Ok, that last one’s a bit of a stretch but we’re clutching at straws here.
So we’re off to Grappenhall’s Campus Ground with a place in the last four at stake. At this point we were going to say that surely this would be the closest any of Starblaydia’s players had ever been to a university and perhaps being so close to an institute of learning might put them off a bit. Unfortunately they’ve ruined that argument by playing every one of their group games in that very stadium. But with Bettia set to face Starblaydia in the World Cup hopefully the Hyppos can rely on some vocal home support. Maybe, just maybe that will inspire Hypocria’s players to another famous win. |
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The Nedalia Lions
Lions vs. Stars
Unsuprisingly, the Lions now find themselves facing the Sarzonia Stars in the Quarter-Finalists of the AOCAF Cup. The runners ups of the AOCAF X will play what will most likely be their biggest game of this cup, and they are under no illusions about what type of game this is going to be.
"The Sarzonians play smart and they play cool. They might not always get the most entertaining matches, but the results speak for themselves. If you try to run them over, you'll just find yourself trying to bring down an immovable brick wall. We've played well thus far, and our offense has been flowing smoothly, but I worry about how our defense will be able to handle the Sarzonian offense. We've been spending practices going over every possible offensive sequence they might throw at us, so we have no excuse," commented manager Gromer.
The Stars stumbled through the Group stages, but showed what they were all about when they defeated Turori 3-0 in the 2nd Round. The clash between these two friends will be a most entertaining one, but if the Lions can manage to leave the stadium victory, it will go down as one of the biggest victories in Nedalian football history.
This post has been edited by Nedalia on Dec 5 2005, 04:30 PM |
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Emperor in Training |
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Starblaydia Out!
We make the Quarters or the Final. Every bloomin' time!
Do you know the last time Starblaydia lost an AOCAF match to a naton other than Hypocria? Well, for the hard of caring, it was AOCAF6. That's right, forty years ago, when Starblaydia were defeated by Vilita in the Final. Since then, in those twenty years, Starblaydia's B Team have lost, on average, once every ten years. And here it came to bite them in the backside once more in the shape of awful blue Hyypos.
In the first of three Bettia-related Quarter-Finals for the sporting men, women and Dwarves of Starblaydia, the 'purple peril/men in mauve' fell to the now-dreaded penalty-shootout. Still missing Cisco Ibanez through disciplinary measures, but welcoming back Augusto Diaz, Starblaydia raced into an early lead thanks to Raul Diaz-Arca.
Hypocria, as is their nature, fought back just before the half-time interval with a screamer from Ashley Marshall. For the next 75 minutes, however, neither side managed to score.
So, with great forboding, Starblaydia entered that most-hated of deciders, the penalty shoot-out. Now we know why Starblaydia hate them so much, as it must be down the the fact we're so crap at them. Losing on penalties is no mean feat, but to only score two along the way is something tragic. Blame Ricardo Kindelan, Hyppo 'Keeper, if you like, but Starblaydia just didnt hit the back of the net. They did, however, managed to hit the back of the head of a steward watching the crowd for trouble.
That's gotta count for something, surely?
Starblaydia 1 - 1 Hypocria AET
FT: 1-1, Hypocria win 3-2 on penalties
(Diaz-Arca 7) - (Marshall 43) |
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Stars slip past Lions in penalties
Sukatra, Bettia (ASP) -- For a team to win a championship, they must have two qualities in abundance. One is skill, which the Sarzonian national football teams have as the senior national team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time.
But another requirement for a championship team is luck, and the second choice nationals used the latter to escape a 2-2 draw with Nedalia that didn't produce a winner after 120 hotly-contested minutes of football. The Stars won the penalty kick shootout 4-2 with a goal by Brian Williams in the fifth round providing the clinching score that sent the Stars back to the semifinals for the first time since they lost the AOCAF V final to NEWI Cefn Druids.
"That was a hard game," Coach Brett Hancock said. "Both teams gave it their all and did everything in their power to win the game. It's a shame that Nedalia have to go home. They're an outstanding team and they showed it once again."
The Stars (3-4-0) face longtime regional heavies Vilita in a match for the right to advance to the finals against the winners of the Krytenia-Hypocria fixture. For Hancock, the Stars return to the final four of the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football is a vindication of his hard lobbying for the job and for a roster of mostly new players.
"They're hungry as hell to get in there and play for their country," Hancock said. "This is not a team that has any preconceived notions that they should win because they're Sarzonia. We only had one player [defender Ettore Salivani] who had even a single cap at any level and that was by design."
Sarzonia may still not win the championship of the AOCAF tournament, a title that has eluded them in 10 tries. But if they end up holding the trophy aloft for the first time, they'll likely look back at this match as the defining moment of their run.
"No question," Salivani said. "We needed penalties to beat Turori in the World Cup XXII quarterfinals. We also won 1-0 against Starblaydia and Bedistan there. There was a huge element of luck involved and we're going to need a lot more of that against the Jungle Cats."
Indeed, Sarzonia have only defeated Vilita in one match, but it was in AOCAF IV, when the Stars played a second choice national side for the first time and had never defeated Vilita at any level. Since that tournament, the region has established itself as a sporting powerhouse where even a world championship winning side can get knocked out of its regional tournament early. Though the Stars will never say it, some observers say the team's return to the semifinals was enough vindication for Hancock's charges.
"They've been knocked out in the group stage and the second round for the most part," Woodstock Daily Mail columnist Ryan Calvin said. "Stars supporters aren't stupid. They know the World Cup and AO are different animals. Getting back to the semifinals was the first goal. Winning the title would be icing on the cake." |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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AOCAF XI
Haven’t We Been Here Before?
Hypocria 1 - 1 Starblaydia (aet)
3 - 2 (pens)
We probably shouldn’t dwell on past glories but it is impossible not to draw comparisons between this fixture and the match eight years ago. Same stage, same score after extra time, same goal scorer and, most importantly, same result. Yes, once again Starblaydia’s quest to retain their AOCAF title came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Hypocria.
The men in mauve wasted no time in trying to wipe out memories of the last encounter and Raul Diaz-Arca, who we think once scored the winner in an Under-21 fixture between the nations but are too lazy to find out for sure*, put the champions in front with just seven minutes on the clock. The tricky Corinthian Spirits forward twisted and turned past defenders, found some space in the box and slid the ball underneath Kindelan. But since the appointment of Dave Wilson as national coach the Hyppos have been made of sterner stuff and when the players eventually went in at the half time interval the scores were level. For details of that goal we will hand over to the totally unbiased commentary from HyperSports’ television coverage of the match.
Jenas on the ball now. He finds Baxter. Can the captain find one of those trademark passes to unlock this defence? He spreads play to the left flank and Liberda. He drills the ball in low. Good clearance from Stefansson. It’ll drop for Marshall. He shapes to shoot. Oh what a hit! What a hit! The script was written, it had to happen. Ashley Marshall does it again. Twenty five yards out, full on the volley, and Maestas didn’t have a pray. Two minutes before halftime and the Hyppos are right back in this, it’s 1 - 1.
With the scores level both sides shut up shop. The odd half chance went wide or was saved comfortably and neither keeper was troubled by the long ranged efforts that added to the shots total. The seconds finally ticked away and once again penalties would decide who would advance to the semi finals. The Hyppos have had mixed fortunes with penalties in the AOCAF. Obviously there was that win eight years ago but in the last tournament Hypocria were dumped out of the second round on spot kicks by Spruitland. There were misses from Burdali and Golla but Shirko, Baxter and substitute Powell all kept their nerve as a mixture of their penalties, Kindelan’s heroics and Starblaydi misfiring helped Hypocia into the last four for the second time in their three AOCAF tournaments.
The other quarter finals were all really tight and nervy matches. Krytenia were the only victors in normal time with a narrow 1 - 0 win over Druida in the Bettian capital. The other three ties all went to extra time. The hosts' campaign finally came to an end at the hands of Vilita. After an entertaining 2 - 2 stalemate the Jungle Cats grabbed a winning goal in extra time to take the two time winners through. Over in Sukatra the Nedalia/Sarzonia quarter final also went to penalties after 120 minutes of football finished with the score level at 2 - 2. The Stars kept their nerve to advance 4 - 2 on penalties to face Vilita in the semis.
Semi Final Preview
Clearly, at the start of the competition, Group 3 was the place to be as all three of the teams that qualified from that group have made it to the last four. And Hypocria’s semi final match up with Krytenia is a repeat of the final group game. On that day the Jacks ran out 3 - 1 winners but at this stage, with a place in the final itself at stake, past performances count for very little.
*Statistics provided by the office of Lord Rikaard Van Honjiik, Minister for Sport and Double-Posts
Matchday 1, Group A: Under-21 World Cup 16
Starblaydia 3-2 Hypocria
(G. Lopez, Diaz-Arca, Menecrates) - (Some Hypocrians)
This post has been edited by Starblaydia on Dec 6 2005, 01:23 PM |
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BETTER THAN STARBLAYDIA (for once!)
Krytenia 1 (5)
Vilita 1 (4)
Krytenia 1
Druida 0
For once, Krytenia got the better of a side on penalties. Mainly because it wasn't Sarzonia. The match against Lamoni was as tough as expected, with no goals until the hour, when James Rusby put the Hawks in the lead. Evan Baxter's coolly-taken equaliser forced extra-time, and after a tense thirty extra minutes, the shoot-out. St. Clair's miss was the only one of the ten not to go in, clanging against the post, and the Jacks were off to play Druida.
The Rainbows were a far simpler proposition, however it wasn't until the 75th minute of the game that Krytenia scored the only goal through sub Steve Korben. Next up is a rematch against Hypocria in the semi-final. Krytenia won 3-1 in a match that saw both teams qualify. Can they do it again? |
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Krytenia |
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Now With Added Bekk! |
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Stars let it rip, declaw Cats 4-2
Sukatra, Bettia (ASP) -- For the first time in six Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football tournaments, including one in which the Sarzonians did not send a team, the Sarzonian second choice national football team has advanced to play in the final. Ironically enough, the team wearing Sarzonia's navy and white will be facing the coach who built the first choice side into a world champion after defeating Vilita for only the second time in national team history, 4-2 in the semifinals of the 11th AOCAF tournament.
Sarzonia's opponents in the final will be Hypocria, coached by former Stars boss Dave Wilson, making his first appearance in the AOCAF tournament with second choice teams doing most of Sarzonia's work. The Hyppos throttled Krytenia 3-0 to set up an all Group 3 consolation match while the Stars prepare to face the Hyppos in the finale.
"We just wanted to focus on playing Sarzonian football and not on the other distractions out there," Coach Brett Hancock said. "That job is going to be a whole lot harder in the final, I'll admit freely. But we're going to have to saddle up and play Stars football if we're going to have a chance to win.
Sarzonia improved its mark to 4-4-0 thanks in large part to forward Brian Williams, who has just agreed to terms on a deal with Partizan Drissa of the Hyper League. He scored three of the goals against the Jungle Cats and "ran roughshod" over their defence, according to defender Ettore Salivani.
"That defence parted like the Red Sea," Salivani said. "The Jungle Cats looked pretty imposing on the films, especially in the back, but he made them look awful."
For the Stars part, they gave Hancock something to harp on in training with two goals conceded in the final five minutes of the match, long after the competitive portion of the match ended with Sarzonia scoring all four goals in the first 30 minutes of the match.
A random Vilita fan was heard to wonder aloud if Sarzonia had sent its first choice national teamers to play the Jungle Cats, but Barry Owens' charges were busy winning their World Cup quarterfinal against Tadjikistan in penalties, setting the stage for the Stars to keep their hopes alive for a regional and world championship double previously attained by the Jungle Cats. But first, the Stars will have to beat the man who was at the centre of building their programme.
"I'm sure the tele ratings will be through the roof," Hancock said. "Dave Wilson was my idol from the moment I decided I wanted to coach. Sarzonians everywhere have been cheering the Hyppos on through the World Cup and the Cup of Harmony and have been doing so here." That will end for one match, but for reasons the Stars are happy about: They're playing for the right to hoist the AOCAF trophy. A win in the final would be the first for Sarzonia, which lost the AOCAF V final to NEWI Cefn Druids in their final footy hurrah.
But most observers say that no matter what happens in AOCAF, the Stars will have every right to be pleased. Dave Wilson has brought his winning touch to Hypocria and Brett Hancock has resembled his idol at times in this tournament.
"This is just icing on the cake," a team official said. "Winning AOCAF would be a wonderful achievement, but we've only been there once before. Hypocria was here just four years ago, and they're here with Dave Wilson leading the way. This has been a lot of fun." |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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AOCAF XI
Hit the Road Jacks
Hypocria 3 - 0 Krytenia
Kreska
Liberda
Jenas
Football is a funny old game isn’t it? In the group stages of the competition the Jacks of Krytenia looked comfortable as they triumphed 3 - 1 over the Hyppos in Akani Sands but in Grappenhall the roles were reversed as Hypocria finished as easy winners. For 45 minutes the match had been close but in first half stoppage time the Hyppos won a corner and big defender Kreska duly headed in with practically the last action of the half. With the Jacks pushing forward in search of an equaliser in the second half Hyppos’ captain Marcus Baxter sprang the offside trap with a pinpoint pass and Liberda raced clear to double the lead. That goal meant that Krytenia were forced to chase the game even more vigorously which caused large gaps to open up in their back line. With precious minutes ticking away young midfielder Jenas found himself in such a gap on the edge of the box and his well placed shot effectively ended Krytenia’s final ambitions.
Over in Sukatra the Jungle Cats of Vilita, tournament favourites after Starblaydia’s exit, crashed out after an entertaining 4 - 2 defeat at the hands of Sarzonia. The side from the Tropics wouldn’t go home totally empty handed however after a narrow 1 - 0 win over Krytenia in the third placed playoff.
Final Preview
Anyone before the tournament who predicted a Sarzonia/Hypocria final would have been laughed at, seriously, laughter at and pointed at. And maybe even stoned, or at the very least accused of being stoned. But twenty one teams have fallen at the various AOCAF hurdles and now just the Stars and Hyppos remain.
Both teams have come close in the past. At both AOCAF III and IV Sarzonia finished in third place and were runners up at AOCAF V. More recently, at AOCAF IX to be exact, the Hyppos went all the way to the final only to be beaten by Vilita. And now the sides will meet in Gabalfa to put a new name on the AOCAF trophy. The nations have met a number of times in the past with Sarzonia easily having the better record. The Hyppos have just the one competitive victory to their name but that victory just happens to be in the AOCAF, a 2 - 0 win four years ago. Maybe it’s an omen. And in another of the many ironies that football has a habit of throwing up the man out to stop the Stars this time is the very man who turned them into world champions.
That man is of course Dave Wilson who was appointed as Hypocria’s national coach when his contract with Sarzonia expired after the finals of World Cup 24. Although originally destined for retirement the prospect of one last challenge clearly appealed to the veteran coach. Wilson’s own thoughts on the upcoming match are unknown as since his appointment he has preferred to concentrate on the coaching, happy to let his subordinates handle the media side. One thing is certain, if he can mastermind a Hypocria win no one will ever doubt that Dave Wilson truly has the Midas touch.
Being a football review show during a major tournament we are contractually obliged to end with one of those musical montage sequences, you know the ones, interspersed with commentary from Hypocria’s matches, looking back on the Hyppos’ path to the final. Now with Hypocria in the AOCAF final we felt Mad World was appropriate but it’s just so damned depressing. So, to the tune of Franz Ferdinand’s (the band not the former Archduke of Austria-Hungary) Take Me Out, we give you an inspiring montage . . .
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Dec 8 2005, 01:47 PM |
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'Mixed Emotions' for Stars Supporters
by Ryan Calvin
Woodstock Daily Mail
While our esteemed colleagues from Hypocria are playing the relatively recent Franz Ferdinand hit "Take Me Out" with a montage of their highlights, the old Rolling Stones classic "Mixed Emotions" might be a better fit for the Sarzonian second choice national team.
As pleased as the fans are to have their team advance to the finals of the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football for the second time in team history and the first time since AOCAF V, their excitement is muted somewhat by the team they're facing. Never mind the fact that Hypocria have become Sarzonia's unofficial sentimental second favourites, the reason the Hyppos are popular in Sarzonia has a direct connection: Former Stars boss Dave Wilson is coaching the Hyppos in his first go-around with the new side after a seven Cup tenure with the Stars.
He's been pulling double duty in the Cup of Harmony and in surprisingly his first time coaching in the AOCAF tournament. Former Stars assistant coach Chris Trautwig is coaching the Hyppos entry in the Cup of Harmony whilst Wilson concentrates on the regional tournament. Now that decision has led him to a collision course with the programme he helped build into a perennial World Cup contender.
"It's not going to be easy, I'll tell you that," Wilson said. "I'm fortunate that Barry Owens hasn't brought the first choicers over here to play, but Brett Hancock has done a fabulous job with the team we are facing."
For their part, Stars supporters are mostly saying they're happy their team has advanced to the AOCAF final for the first time in six Cups and that Wilson has done well with his side. They say they'll be happy no matter who hoists the AOCAF trophy aloft after the match.
"If we're going to lose to anyone, I won't mind it being a Dave Wilson-coached side," Laura Bridger, a history teacher at South Pavona High School in Saugerties said. "We're proud of our lads and seeing Dave Wilson win a title is always a good thing."
However, the Stars players and Hancock don't want to hear anything about conceding a title just to see their former coach triumph.
"We've advanced to the finals for a reason," Hancock said. "I love Dave Wilson to death and I'll probably ask for his autograph after the match, but for 90 minutes, I've got a job to do and that's to give my team a victory."
"Anyone who says we should just be happy to be here doesn't deserve to wear this kit," defender Ettore Salivani said. "We're in the final and our goal should be to win the bloody thing. Anything else and we become the Buffalo Bills of AOCAF."
Regardless of which team wins the AOCAF, the Sarzonian nationals have accompished more than they expected in the tournament that usually bedevils the Stars. But, typical of a Dave Wilson-coached side, these Stars will give it their all to make sure they're the team that finishes tops in the region.
"We wish Hypocria the best of luck in the world," defender George Conway said. "It'll be 'best of friends until the game begins', but then it'll be '90 minutes of Hell'. When the game's over, we'll all probably go out for a few pints of Blue Fox Ale. But we're going to bust our bums to win that Cup first."
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Dec 8 2005, 02:06 PM |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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AOCAF Fever
Around the nation football fans are gearing up for tomorrow’s AOCAF final in Gabalfa between Hypocria and Sarzonia. The Ministry of Commerce have given up trying to estimated how much revenue the country will lose as millions suffer unfortunate “accidents” and call in sick so they can watch the game. The big screens in and around the Hyppodrome will show live coverage of the match in Bettia. Tickets for seats inside the stadium sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale and the Autokrator himself is expected to attend.
“It’s going to be a great game”, said Gary Everyman from Rasium. “We’ve already beaten two teams ranked above the Stars so we’ve got a great chance.”
Support for the national team has reached an all time high with signs of support springing up all over the country.
 
A fact that has not been lost on assistant coach Gregory Vidal.
“The level of support we’ve received has been phenomenal. Hopefully we’ll have the locals in Gabalfa behind us too, they could effectively turn it into a home game for us.”
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Dec 8 2005, 05:34 PM |
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Wilson adds to honours at Stars' expense
Ninety minutes of football couldn't decide a winner between Dave Wilson and his new charges and the team he helped to build into a world contender. Thus, the match went to two 15 minutes of extra time after both sides scored goals. Brian Williams made a final impression on his future Hyper League employers at Partisan Drizza with a 29th minute tally, then the Hyppos equalised with team captain Marcus Baxter doing the honours.
Baxter struck again with three minutes expired in stoppage time after the regular 30 minutes of added time ended without a goal. He headed the ball just over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Marty Tolliver and the ball trickled past the goal line and into goal just seconds before the Bettian referee whistled the end of the match. Hypocria thus defeated Sarzonia 2-1 after extra time and the Hyppos surrounded their coach after he'd garnered them their first major honours.
"That was incredibly tough to lose that way," Stars Coach Brett Hancock said. "We were doing everything in our power to win that match, but we just couldn't make the plays we needed to when we needed them. I tip my hat to the Hyppos. Dave Wilson's got them playing extremely well."
"I'm so proud of my lads," Dave Wilson said, quickly adding, "on both sides. It's a shame someone had to lose this match, but I'm glad it wasn't my side."
Following the match, the Stars supporters in attendance stayed behind while Hypocria were presented with the AOCAF trophy. The teams went to a Bettian restaurant after the ceremony and "drank themselves silly," according to former Stars captain Ettore Salivani.
But the loudest applause of the night from the Stars supporters was reserved for the man who once led them to the sport's biggest prize: Dave Wilson. They gave him a thunderous standing ovation that clearly moved the veteran coach.
"It was overwhelming," Wilson said. "Absolutely overwhelming. I'm proud of my guys, but I'm also proud of the guys I left behind. Stars football is going to be in good hands in the years to come and it's gratifying to know that they're still successful."
"He's such a huge part of our success and I'm delighted to see him bring more success to the Hyppos," one fan said. "We'll get our turn with these lads, but it's gratifying to know that a Sarzonian can lead a team to a Cup trophy."
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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AOCAF XI
Nation in Shock as Hyppos Lift Trophy
Hypocria 2 - 1 Sarzonia (aet)
Baxter (2)
It’s a concept that we’re struggling to get our head round too but it is official, Hypocria are the new AOCAF champions.
The Hyppos emerged victorious after 120 minutes of football in front of a large and vocal crowd in Gabalfa’s Stadiwn Bettia. They had to come from a goal down after Brian Williams, soon to be seen terrorising Hyper League defences, put the Stars in front just short if the half hour mark. The lead didn’t last long as Marshall picked out Baxter’s late run into the box and the Hyppo’s captain side footed home the equaliser. From that moment on nothing could separate the sides as normal time came and went and the match headed, seemingly inevitably, for penalties. Fortunately for the nerves of all involved a shootout wouldn’t be needed.
Baxter, who plays his club football down the road in Sukatra, made another late run into the penalty area and Jenas found him with a lofted ball into the box. Hypocria’s captain looped a header goalwards and the ball sailed narrowly wide of the keeper and into the back of the net. Seconds later the referee blew the final whistle and players and backroom staff flooded onto the pitch in celebration. Scenes of celebrations that were repeated all across the Autocracy as the nation celebrated winning it's first ever trophy.
As the players went up to receive their medals and the AOCAF trophy the loudest cheer of the night greeted their coach. Dave Wilson was already a hero in Sarzonia after masterminding that World Cup win and now he’s every bit the hero in Hypocria too.
But while fans were dancing on the streets back in Hypocrium there was no rest for the Hyppos veteran coach. After an expensive post-match meal with both sets of players and staff he was back in his hotel room packing ready for a flight in the morning, to take him back to Praying2God to take control of the Cup of Harmony squad. But you can bet he won't be travelling in economy. |
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