Well, we suspected that there could be some tension around Bassabook, and did that pan out. The Old Boys led the league longer than any other side—though it didn't really help. So that brings us to the issue of tiebreakers, which became an issue early. Of course, with this much parity, it is rather to be expected.
Both head-to-head record and goal difference would have settled the championship in the same direction without much complaining, but we did need to break a tie for the last Globe Cup place. Goal difference had been preliminarily pencilled in without too much justification, but there wasn't a whole lot of complaining either. We have to do something rather arbitrarily, and we might as well do it in a way that seems normal enough. Goodness knows things are bizarre enough as it stands.
As for what happens if both those are tied, uh, the answer turns out to be “let's procrastinate on that, and would you look at what nifty things these generators are, my is this an exciting time.” So, that happened.
It happened, in fact, in sorting a couple teams who were in the bottom half, and so nobody really cared. Again with the parity thing, there were many potentially big clubs that didn't finish all that well. Last-place Trebuchet Cham and perhaps Namiri Independent are not quite as well known, but their other smallish counterparts had the run of the place up top. That drew all the more attention to a heated urban rivalry that will now get another sport to play itself out in: Bassabook vs. 102d.
Their clashes were rather fitting; a 4-4 aggregate, two pairs of two-goal home wins, and the home team's style carrying the day. Boisterous Bassabook barrelled to a 4-2 victory at home, to the rousing cheers of their fans (something or other about a plaza fountain, to the tune of something or other about a crystal fountain), but were blanked 2-0 in 102d, to, um, I guess whichever members of the University of 102d pep band started a student section for the pros. In both cases, the winning side had gone to the top of the league in the previous week, so there was lots of scoreboard-watching to make sure nobody caught up. Fortunately, neither set of visiting fans seemed to want to deign to read the other scoreboards, so there wasn't anything to get too worked up about.
It was Matchday 27 that saw—well, it saw a lot of things, including Spenson putting up six goals. But come on, they were playing Ephesian FC, so that's no great surprise. It also saw Bassabook fall out of the top four. Although they'd return there, it wasn't to stay, and giving up four to their local-ish rivals was a rude shock. Eintracht Trink are by no means that harmonious, and their chants still have a lot to do with how Danhy are so awful, they don't even have a team. Which, is something, but maybe now they can move on to how they're better than Bassabook. Or how Yuuki Nakano makes their offense the best in the league.
Rounding out the top four came the Twineur Bugs. They have yet to get over their identity crisis, but have promised to have things sorted out, if not next season, the one after that. I guess an international tour won't hurt...
Oh, yes, and as Matchday 27 goes, Monty Clyde's goal was the only one in Canbix versus 102d, letting the Muses take the lead in the
The fans were prickly, as expected, at first wondering how they could win when the city doesn't have a reputation for being a very happy place. But given that the Nightriders led at halfway people learned not to mess with them. (And to call them the Nightriders.) There were, to be sure, a few sendings-off; Sara Hale-Barnard's propensity for professional fouls is a little disconcerting. Though it could be worse. And, more to the point, it worked! The fast-paced play brought goals when they needed them, and Brett Chrowder led a very strong defense (by this young league's standards).
So, now Canbix and 102d could develop a friendly-ish rivalry to complete a triangle of tension. Although that'd be a pretty obtuse triangle. Whatever. There's plenty to play for in the future, is what we mean, though there can be only one first season.
Still, the “first division” is around, presumably to stay. Be you a Nightriders fan or not, that's something to cheer about.
Pos/Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Canbix Muses 30 15 6 9 40 29 +11 18
2 102d Jr.s 30 13 10 7 36 27 +9 18
3 Eintracht Trink 30 12 11 7 60 54 +6 17.5
4 Twineur Bugs 30 14 5 11 50 46 +4 16.5
5 Bassabook Old Boys 30 14 5 11 59 58 +1 16.5
6 Excelsior Slogda 30 12 7 11 33 31 +2 15.5
7 Keppal Cosmos 30 13 5 12 32 34 −2 15.5
8 Sporting Esper 30 11 8 11 28 26 +2 15
9 Arlington City 30 11 7 12 28 28 0 14.5
Spenson Suburbia 30 10 9 11 46 46 0 14.5
11 Ephesian FC 30 11 7 12 59 60 −1 14.5
12 Namiri Forest 30 10 7 13 33 33 0 13.5
13 Namiri Independent 30 9 9 12 38 41 −3 13.5
14 FTC United 30 10 7 13 34 41 −7 13.5
15 Rovers United 30 7 11 12 46 54 −8 12.5
16 Trebuchet Cham 30 6 10 14 53 67 −14 11
Zwangzug (ZWZ) qualifiers
Champions’ Cup 47: Canbix Muses
Globe Cup 44: 102d Jr.s, Eintracht Trink, Twineur Bugs
SK Sturm Nuuk 34 12 11 11 44 45 −1 47
AC Aleutia Volcanoes 34 13 8 13 45 50 −5 47
SK Aasiaat Harbour 34 12 10 12 42 47 −5 46
RSK Longyearbyen Town 34 14 3 17 46 51 −5 45
FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla 34 11 10 13 47 51 −4 43
Koppen Rig Force 34 11 9 14 35 37 −2 42
Red Star Severny 34 11 8 15 51 58 −7 41
Klub Atletisk Spitsbergen 34 10 10 14 44 63 −19 40
