JV: ‘Welcome back to SargoSport 1, your home for live Copa Rushmori action. Business is picking up, sixteen teams remain, it’s time for the knockout rounds. For Sargossa it’s a return to the knockout stages following a dreadful showing two years ago, in which the Corsairs finished bottom of their group. And after something of a stumble in this group stage this fixture serves as an opportunity to remind the doyens of Rushmori football that Sargossa is not a spent force just yet. Standing in the way is Eastfield Lodge, the tournament’s fifth seeds and a side that has looked relatively untroubled so far. The Corsairs have never beaten Eastfield Lodge. Today would be a good day to rewrite a bit of history. Right now over on SargoSport 2 we’ve got live action from Brattleboro as two former champions clash. It’s Pasarga against Darmen. And on the blue button service there’s your choice of all six other knockout matches. All of Rushmore's finest can be found right here.
‘But now it’s that time. Once again live from the port city of Starksville, it’s Sargossa versus Eastfield Lodge. Sargossa, looking to reach a first quarter final in five tournaments, Eastfield Lodge hoping to continue to establish themselves as a force in this competition. Taking you through all the action it’s Matías Montiel and first Carlos Acuña. Good afternoon gentlemen.’
CA: ‘Good afternoon Javi. Good afternoon everybody. Welcome back to Starksville here on the east coast of Cassadaigua. This city has become something of a home away from home for Sargossa’s travelling support in this tournament. It’s the third time in four matches that the Corsairs have taken to the pitch here, the two previous fixtures bringing slightly differing results. There was the confidence boosting victory over Thibaea on the opening day and then that battling defeat to Nephara in round two. This time it’s Eastfield Lodge who provide the opposition, a nation against whom Sargossa has a poor historic record. Does that factor into this contest Matías?’
MM: ‘Not even a little bit. Good evening everybody. No, not at all. Look at the historic context to the two previous encounters. A Sargossan B-Team lost at the Draggonnii Inviyatii decades ago and a transitional side lost in the opening game of the fourteenth Copa Rushmori. That was the last meeting between the nations. So much time has elapsed since then to make those previous results entirely irrelevant.’
CA: ‘We’ve reached the knockout rounds of this tournament, which always adds another layer to the pressure. How do you think Rodrigo Defederico and his side will handle that?’
MM: ‘I think they’ll cope with it just fine. Admittedly it’s been a little while since we saw a Sargossan side in a knockout match but things are going pretty well right now. We’ve seen three successive World Cup qualifications. There was that win over Cosumar over in The Equestrian States. That was a first World Cup Finals victory for quite some time, so that was a monkey off the back. And the world ranking is now 21, which is not too far off the nation’s highest ever ranking. So it’s pretty good right now. Talking of ranks, Eastfield Lodge are the fifth seeds here while Sargossa sits in thirteenth. So they do go into this fixture as favourites, with the accompanying pressure that brings.’
CA: ‘The players are out and Rodrigo Defederico takes his place in the dugout. There was some question marks about that happening, after he was sent to the stands against Rou Scotan. For which he has received a hefty fine but the disciplinary panel stopped short of a touchline ban. So he’s ready, the team’s appear to be ready so here are the lineups. First, Eastfield Lodge…’
MM: ‘It’s a 4-3-3- system for Eastfield Lodge and this is how we believe they’ll start out. But in their group games this attacking unit of five have shown themselves to be pretty fluid in their positional play. The front three pose an obvious goal threat but behind them the partnership of The Doctor, as enigmatic a character as you’ll find in this tournament, and Malenna von Kraus provide a creative hub that will need to be shutdown. In the centre Hugh Ilyess will combine protection duties with an ability to dictate the tempo. There’s danger all over the pitch.’
CA: ‘How dangerous remains to be seen. Here’s Sargossa…’
MM: ‘Two enforced changes for Sargossa. Espina and Guerrero are suspended following red cards against Rou Scotan so in come Camargo and Vazquez. Camargo slots straight into the back three, that’s a straight swap, but Luís Vazquez is a more defensive option than Sergio Espina. Bustamanté or even Amaro would have been more creative options so the coach is obviously weary of the Eastfield Lodge midfield strength. There’s also a tactical switch on the left, with Germán Montero in for Alfredo Valenzuela. Again that is a defensive option brought into the midfield. I think we can expect to see a slightly less expansive attitude from the Corsairs today.’
CA: ‘As is often the case when tournaments reach the latter stages. Now we are mere moments away from kickoff, it’s time for the national anthems. Starting with the national anthem of Sargossa…’
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CA: ‘… crunching challenge from Vazquez. And the ball runs for Vecino who plays it forward. Here’s Marí. They’re backing off him and OH! He has a crack from twenty five yards and Harvey palms it away.’
MM: ‘Good effort from Marí. There was so little back lift in the shot. It could have taken the keeper by surprise but Harvey was the equal of it. And what a good challenge on Ilyess. They’re clearly trying to unsettle the deep laying playmaker by given him no time on the ball at all.’
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CA: ‘Rathun and von Kraus exchange passes. Here is von Kraus, lays it forward for Tirs Rathun again. And the cross! It’s wide! Tia Drenas throwing herself at the cross but not quite getting the connection she wanted.’
MM: ‘Good move down that left hand side for Eastfield Lodge. The cross just a had a little too much zip for Drenas to execute her header with any kind of precision.’
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CA: ‘Zevallos is gaining some traction for Sargossa down this flank. He’s up against Siddique. Great feet! He’s left the fallback in the dust. Edge of the box! And . . oh . . . it flashes right across the face of the goal. No one could get a touch. And a good chance goes begging.’
MM: ‘Really good play from Alonzo there. Once again he’s looks to be a potent threat down that flank. He just needed one of his teammates to have made the gamble and got into the six yard box.’
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CA: ‘And that’s the whistle for halftime. Unsurprisingly it hasn’t been a spectacle of attacking football. A couple of chances for either side but it’s been more a game of perspiration than inspiration so far.’
* * * * * * * * * *
CA: ‘Another great block from Vazquez. He’s really justifying his inclusion today. Malenna von Kraus had Eskama Nagi streaking away into space on the right but the attempted ball thudded into the leg of the sliding Vazquez. Great anticipation from the Sportivo Cordova man.’
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CA: ‘But Marí wins it back for Sargossa. He has Cáceres in front of him. But the attempted pass is snuffed out by the telescopic leg of Emely Towers. She plays her club football for Tanrisal in Pasarga and you can see why on this performance.’
MM: ‘She’s having a great game. And again you saw there just how deep Miguel Marí is dropping to try and get some hold of the match. It’s almost like a midfield five at the moment.’
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CA: ‘Freekick given. It’s about twenty yards out, just to the right of the Sargossan goal. Hugh Ilyess stands on one side of it, Malenna von Kraus on the other. It is von Kraus! Oh! Half the ground thought it was in! The net rippled but it was the side netting.’
MM: ‘I must admit I was one of those who thought it was in. A great effort from the midfielder. She got it up and over the wall beautifully but the direction narrowly let the effort down. Ríos was just as much a spectator as those in the stand.’
* * * * * * * * * *
CA: ‘The second half is drifting away. The ball is spending an awful lot of time bogged down in the midfield. There’s not been a lot of openings for either side in this second forty five minutes and extra time is looking increasingly likely.’
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CA: ‘And there is the whistle. Ninety minutes of football has been unable to separate these two nations. A brief break and we go again. Cagey stuff here in Starksville.’
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MM: ‘That was certainly the best chance of this extra time period. A rare slip from Towers gifting Cáceres the opportunity. He probably had more time than he realised, he could have taken a touch. But the first time effort was a good one and Korbin Harvey did well to turn it behind the post.’
CA: ‘Corner. Swung in by Zevallos. And Vegas! What a chance! What a save! Sebastían Vegas raising highest but directed his header straight at Harvey. Either side and it would have been a goal but the reflexes of the Duke of the North stopper keeps the score level.’
* * * * * * * * * *
CA: ‘What a ball that is. What a ball! Is this the moment?! Drenas! Wide! Tia Drenas, with only Ríos to beat slides the effort wide. What a chance for Eastfield Lodge. But it goes begging.’
MM: ‘Oh wow. It was a wonderful pass from the Doctor, picking out Tia Drenas who had timed her run to perfection. But that right there is the pressure of tournament football. If this were a domestic fixture you’d have put your house on Drenas burying that. But she hasn’t.’
CA: ‘No she hasn’t and that could well have been the last chance of this match. We have less than a minute of the extra time remaining and Ríos is not exactly rushing over this goal kick. It looks inevitable now. How are your nerves? We’re heading to penalties.’
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CA: ‘It looks as though Eastfield Lodge have won the coin toss and have elected to open this shootout. Ríos settles himself in the goal. It’s going to be Malenna von Kraus to open the account. A short run up . . . but a fine finish. She waited for the keeper to commit and just stroked it into the opposite corner. Great start for Eastfield Lodge.’
MM: ‘She really kept her cool there, waiting until the very last second before commiting. Just what you want from your opening penalty taker.’
CA: ‘Germán Montero strides forward for Sargossa. The Dínamo Maturín man is not perhaps the obvious choice but it’s all about who wants to take one. Montero. Left footed. Hits the post! Low and hard from Montero. He beat Harvey all ends up but that post stood firm. It’s advantage Eastfield Lodge.’
MM: ‘We’ve seen it so often back home, coaches reversing their five penalty taker so that the fifth choice goes first and the first choice is held until last. It’s a gamble and, as we’ve just seen, it can backfire.’
CA: ‘Tia Drenas now. She missed a great chance in extra time to take her nation through. Can she make amends here? She can! Cool finish. Ríos went the right way but the placement was just too good. Eastfield Lodge consolidate their lead.
‘Alonzo Zevallos. He had a good game but that counts for little now. It’s all about this spotkick. Sargossa yet to register. Can Zevallos change that? He can! High into the roof of the net. The Corsairs are off the mark.’
MM: ‘What a good penalty that was. There really was no room for error and Alonzo rose to the occasion magnificently.’
CA: ‘Here comes Hugh Ilyess. The Euran based midfielder is so normally the tempo setter for this side. He was in good form in the group stages but Vazquez and Vecino gave him very little time to breathe in this encounter. It’s another short run up. But Ríos is equal to it! He delayed his dive and the ball thudded into his chest and bounced clear.’
MM: ‘Those short run ups look fine when the penalty is scored but horrendous when you miss.’
CA: ‘But Eastfield Lodge are still ahead in this shootout. Matías Cáceres now. He’s had a quiet game but now all the focus is on him. Cáceres! Levels it up! It’s two-two in the shootout.’
‘Hamaad Siddique is next up for Eastfield Lodge. We’re right back where we started, with the sides at deadlock. Siddique, with his nation’s fourth penalty. Siddique! And it’s saved! Carlos Ríos makes the save! He guessed right and got a strong hand to it. It’s a second miss for Eastfield Lodge.’
MM: ‘Take a bow Carlos Ríos. What an important save. It was at a good height for him but he still had to keep it out and he did just that.’
CA: ‘On we go. Miguel Marí. An accomplished penalty taker domestically but this is a whole different situation here. To put Sargossa in front for the first time in this shootout. It’s Marí! Oh, cool as you like!’
MM: ‘What pressure?! In to the top corner it goes. No goalkeeper in the world is saving that one.’
CA: ‘This is going to be a pressure kick for Eastfield Lodge. And who better for such pressure than The Doctor? He simply must score. The Doctor. It’s in! Another terrific penalty and their captain hauls Eastfield Lodge back from the brink. Temporarily at least.’
MM: ‘A carbon copy of Marí’s penalty. Simply unsaveable. And he did exactly what he had to do. He forces Sargossa to take their fifth penalty.’
CA: ‘And this is exactly why Rodrigo Defederico made his gamble with the penalty takers. The fifth penalty for Sargossa will be taken by their first choice penalty taker. It’s the captain, Alejandro Vecino. He’s already scored one penalty in this tournament, in the group win over Thibaea, but this is an entirely different scenario. He steadies himself. Vecino! VECINO! No subtlety there, it was all power. And it billows the back of the net. Sargossa are going to the quarter finals! For the first time in five tournaments the Corsairs are into the last eight. And who would have predicted that?’
SSM | Sargossan State MediaInternational Edition -
SportThen There Were EightBlanco Borrayo reports;Up and down the country, at big screens in stadiums, at fan parks, in pubs and bars or just in living rooms a nation celebrated the sweet agony that only comes from a penalty shootout victory. And a particularly dramatic end to what had been, in truth, a largely uninteresting match. Not that anyone cared. The ends, in international football, tend to justify the means. And it was something of a surprising end in a competition that has been a little predicable thus far.
Elsewhere in Cassadaigua the Concord Heights crowd were treated to an unusually exciting knockout round encounter between the hosts and Nephara. In front of a raucous home crowd the Dagans put up a spirited fight but it was the class of the Cormorants that told in the end, coming through 4 – 2. There was no such drama for Ceni, who breezed passed talented newcomers Qusmo. But this Qusmo side have won plenty of admirers and will surely be back in two years much stronger for the experience. Pridnestrovia too barely broke a sweat, dispatching a poor Sarrbia effort 3 – 0 in Grande Mountain. The holders too have advanced, rolling over Olastor 3 – 1. Savojarna and Yuezhou fought each other to a standstill in New Lakeland. They couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes of play and a single missed penalty was enough to see Savojarna through. But there was no such issue for Eura, as they stuck six passed Thibaea. And surprise of the day went to the All-Greens of Darmen, who narrowly edged out third seeds, and one of the tournament favourites, Pasarga in Brattleboro.
So the expected Eastfield Lodge against Pasarga quarter final will instead be Sargossa versus Darmen. And if that looks familiar it’s probably because we’ve met before, a large number of times. I feel some stats coming on. Who wants stats? Tough, you’re getting stats.
Sargossa v DarmenPrevious Meetings: 16
Overall Record: P 16 W 8 D 5 L 3 GF 32 GA 27 GD +5
Sargossa 1 – 2 Darmen Copa Rushmori VIII, Group Stage (Astograth)
Darmen 3 – 3 Sargossa Copa Rushmori XII, Group Stage (Darmen)
Darmen 1 – 2 Sargossa World Cup 60, Friendly (Darmen)
Darmen 2 – 2 Sargossa World Cup 63, Friendly (Darmen)
Sargossa 2 – 4 Darmen Copa Rushmori XIII, Final (Ancharmunn)
Sargossa 3 – 3 Darmen (4 – 3 pens)
Copa Rushmori XIV, Quarter Final (Taeshan)
Darmen 3 – 2 Sargossa World Cup 65, Friendly (Darmen)
Sargossa 2 – 1 Darmen Copa Rushmori XV, Group Stage (Saugeais)
Sargossa 1 – 0 Darmen Copa Rushmori XV, Semi Final (Saugeais)
Sargossa 1 – 1 Darmen World Cup 66, Finals Group Stage, (Audioslavia)
Sargossa 3 – 3 Darmen Copa Rushmori XVII, Group Stage (Ossidiacqua)
Darmen 2 – 1 Sargossa World Cup 68, Friendly (Darmen)
Darmen 2 – 3 Sargossa Copa Rushmori XX, Group Stage (Darmen)
Sargossa 3 – 0 Darmen Copa Rushmori XX, Semi Final (Valladares)
Sargossa 1 – 1 Darmen World Cup 78, Qualification Group Stage, (Sargossa)
Darmen 0 – 1 Sargossa World Cup 78, Qualification Group Stage, (Darmen)
The All-Greens of Darmen are Sargossa’s most persistent foe. But, with just three defeats in the previous sixteen fixtures, the historic record is very much weighted in the Corsairs’ favour. But one of those three defeats happened to occur in the biggest fixture of all between the nations, the final of the thirteenth Copa Rushmori in Ancharmunn. Since then Sargossa have gained some measure of revenge in a quarter final and a couple of semi finals. But any number of knockout round wins isn’t going to bring back that trophy. The Corsairs may have had their measure historically but The All-Greens will be full of confidence following the Felix Lucanus inspired win over mighty Pasarga. Now they will be gunning for Olde Rushmore’s other representative.
Elsewhere the fans in Concord Heights are being spoiled, with a mouth-watering tie between Nephara and Ceni next up for them. Both sides have looked pretty imperious so far and the winner of this match must be considered a huge contender for the trophy itself. Ceni are looking to exit the international arena on a high but the Cormorants have never struck us as the sentimental types. The holders, Valladares, have enjoyed a relatively untroubled passage into the last eight. And their run is unlikely to be halted by Pridnestrovia. Savojarna have endued an altogether trickier route, the reward for which will be a pasting by the Eurans.
Expected Semi-Final LineupNephara v Valladares
Eura v ????????