K1K: The Game Of History
MATCH #361: WHAT'S THE TIME?
Starblaydia 8-0 Krytenia, Friendly
Jhanna, Starblaydia, 11 June 2089
OK, we're not going to lie, that draw in Keyne Island was an unmitigated disaster. Still, we've had worse days...
THE BUILD-UP
Krytenia had slipped out of the international limelight after World Cup XXXIII, missing four entire cycles of the competition. In their absence, the balance of power had shifted from Starblaydia and Bedistan (and Casari) to the likes of Bettia and Az-cz. The Aces' return in World Cup XXXVIII hadn't exactly lit up the world - in fact, they'd won only two games and rounded out a miserable campaign by getting themselves hammered six-two by Valanora - but hope sprang eternal for their chances of making it to the big stage for World Cup XXXIX.
That hope was sorely misguided.
The first half of qualifying comprised seven matches, and yielded all of five points. Consecutive five-nil drubbings at the hands of Bostopia and Ariddia hadn't helped, either. Still, there was some light at the end of the tunnel; Krytenia were assured of qualification for World Cup XL as co-hosts with Starblaydia...which brings us to this little friendly encounter.
THE MATCH
It's almost remiss to call this a "match" in the conventional sense of the word. Though this Starblaydi side was certainly not a patch on the ones that had racked up a clutch of World Cup winners medals, they were no slouches. Which is more than can be said for their opponents. The likes of Steven Sparrow and Oliver McDonald have been almost erased by the mists of time, such was their complete lack of impact on the side. Raph Kennedy carried the team, whilst Peter Pojencic scared attackers with his face - a tactic that seemed to work on his players a few years later when he went off to manage Hypocria.
One player, though, whose name will never be forgotten, though, is John Ibanez. And this game is the reason why.
Ibanez had a torrid time of things in the Krytenian goal that day. Perhaps it's a little unfair to place all the blame on him, there were defenders ahead (such as Sparrow, Pojencic, and Darren Gibernau) who did themselves no favours. The sight, though, of Ibanez fumbling a weak Roque Bravo header into his own net is one almost burned onto the retina of any Aces fan (or, indeed, prospective goalkeeper). That particular moment was goal number six; Tarquin Fullbright had already helped himself to four, and Antonio Mora had also got in on the act with a smart strike that Ibanez might have saved had he actually reacted in a timely fashion.
The Starblaydis are always one to enjoy the twist of the knife in a victims helpless flesh, and the replacement of Fullbright with Stefan Hinkonnen simply meant fresh legs to torment the Aces with. Two well-taken goals later, the embarrassment was complete. Aces boss Sam Duffy, in a classic case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, finally hoiked Ibanez and replaced him with veteran 'keeper Adam Toivonen. The tide was stemmed, and it wouldn't be the first time Toivonen would be replacing someone that day...
THE AFTERMATH
The repercussions were swift and bloody. Sam Duffy and his entire coaching staff were unceremoniusly fired within minutes of the final whistle, with Toivonen installed as player-manager. His first act was to drop Ibanez from the team; his career never recovered and he spent his later years as a virtual recluse. It didn't help that the question asked in our title up there is still answered by Starblaydis with the phrase "Eight Past Ibanez".
As for the rest of the team, their fortunes improved somewhat in the second half of qualifying, losing only one of their return matches - and even that was a completely understandable away defeat to a strong Ariddian side. The Aces may have failed to qualify, but it did set them up for a decent Cup of Harmony campaign that saw them through to the quarter-finals.
As for Starblaydia...they'd be back...
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