- Cadenza knocked out in quarter-final shootout
- Nikolia kept Magpies on ropes and through to semis against Scottopia
- Urientai to speak in support of new stadium on Thursday
Cadenza's close defeat yesterday, at the claws of Nikolia's Black Eagles, came as a surprise to most, although there were those who might have seen it coming. Urientai's dream team hasn't been a force of nature since 2017, when it sailed through to win AstyCup without a loss. Since then, the Magpies have placed just a little bit lower every year. Despite coming out of this year's group stages tied for most points, it was a rocky Round of 16 as Khyragus, one of the lowest-ranked then left in the tournament, kept level with the Magpies until a penalty shootout. The match against Nikolia was much the same, but this time it was the Cadenzans who missed too many and crashed out earlier than expected.
It's not as though 2021 was a write-off for the Magpies, of course. This is their first AstyCup without a draw since 2016, but the goal-scoring was much lower than in previous tournaments. Some will blame the players' age, and they might not be wrong to. Three of the current squad — Juredo, ti'Solar and the captain, Qaliris — are expected to retire in the next one to three years. There are some very talented players on the bench and in the clubs who could infuse the team with new energy and their drive to win their first regional prize. Qaliris would certainly love to win next year and make it a triple, having been subbed on in the last ten minutes of the 2006 win and having led the 2016 team to victory. Time will tell on that front.
There are no rumblings yet either about Urientai, whose management is usually faultless. His loudest critic (although he has many) after yesterday's defeat has been himself. Speaking in a post-match interview, he remarked, "Maybe we made some bad calls, some mistakes in timing and strategy... You try to predict how the other team will play it and you're not always right." Subbing Pemitiq off in the 63rd minute was, many pundits feel, one of those mistakes. Nikolia's goal minutes later might not have happened had he been kept on — or so they say. The truth of the matter might be different. Maybe the Nikolian team just played smarter, had more energy and was better on the attack. The next match, against Astyria's top team, Scottopia, will see if that's the case.
But for Cadenza it's time to reevaluate football. This Thursday sees a ministerial panel, headed by Lisian Tanetai, review the CTMK's proposal to develop a new 'national sports complex' (a football stadium with training facilities, but it has a pool too) on the site of Cadenza City FC's current grounds. The price tag is estimated at Ŧ1.6 million. Urientai will argue that this defeat reveals the need for more investment to secure Cadenza's future at Astyria's top table, but he acknowledges that there are "tough questions ahead. It's a lot of money to sign off on. Everyone wants to see Cadenza do well, and we've been punching above our weight, but finding the money to support that is difficult. Everyone understands that. It's a balance."
Whether balance will be maintained is another question. The current Cadenza City stadium is due an upgrade, but rival clubs are worried that this investment gives them an unfair advantage. The last major project, the 2017 redevelopment of Ro'ekha's stadium, cost just Ŧ700,000, and that figure was heavily scrutinised at the time. It's "a tremendous night and day difference," say commentators in the know. City spokesmen say it will help the whole country. That debate has been done to death elsewhere (but if you're not tired of it, Carenter Kerimso has more on it in today's Linesman online). What is beyond doubt is that this week is the most important week for Cadenzan football in a long, long time.