The Astograthian Football League
Season 683 Review The 38th season of the Astograthian Football League is now concluded.
First DivisionAnd yet again, a thrilling season was in store. A third of the way into the season, defending champions Sporting Iturributa held a tenuous lead, followed closely by Urbizania Wanderers, Royal Rumiatzi and Ituraitz FC. They soon let it slip following a shock 5-1 defeat to Antiguoko FC and a 4-3 derby loss to Iturributa United, then further sunk into 5th place by matchday 20, just past the halfway point, after losses to Wanderers, Gesterlake and Urbitzo. Indeed, going into matchday 23, it seemed it would be Royal Rumiatzi and their 9-point lead that would be winning the title. Managed by the previously unknown Farf firebrand Lele Manguele, Rumiatzi had put forth a bold form of ultra-attacking that had never been seen in domestic Astograthian football before, leading the club to smash the First Division’s most-goals-in-a-season record with 105. The deadly pairing of Olibondeka’s Yasone Urdanibia and Euran striker Martin Blessed accounted for 52 of these, as Rumiatzi routinely pummelled their opponents and finished with an also record-breaking +52 goal difference. And yet, this was not enough for them to claim the championship.
Sporting Iturributa plodded along, slow but steady, keeping up the pace with dominant Royal Rumiatzi, waiting for the 9-point lead to narrow after a 1-1 draw in Rumiatzi left neither side content. The cracks in the Knights’ armour finally showed on matchday 30, losing 3-1 at Urbitzo while Sporting beat Antiguoko. Six-point lead with eight matches to go. Next week, Royal Rumiatzi drew 1-1 with Miners FC, but Sporting Iturributa could take nothing from Arkamo in a 0-0 draw. Then Rumiatzi took an embarrassing loss to Astograth University, and Sporting went into the Iturributan Derby with the stakes that much higher, United knowing that they could cost their rivals the title. In a clash that was even more heated than usual, Ximun Blacksdove-Beukers scored a brace to take Sporting to an epic 2-1 victory, bringing them within a mere 3 points of Rumiatzi and, as a bonus, throwing a wrench in United’s quest for a Challengers’ Cup spot.
On the next matchday, Sporting defeated Echegoyan and Rumiatzi was beaten at home by Ituraitz FC, allowing Sporting to draw level and, thanks to their victory over Rumiatzi in the first round, took the lead on head-to-head results. They each followed up with wins, over Gesterlake and Olarria, then on matchday 35 a 3-point lead was once again established – with the roles reversed. Sporting travelled to Bakartirla to batter the beleaguered Buccaneers 7-1, while Rumiatzi hosted Antiguoko. In a memorable display, Antiguoko resisted Manguele’s intense offense and took the battle to Rumiatzi’s box. As the clock marked 71 minutes, a shot by Antiguoko’s Olentzaro Karazatorre struck the crossbar and rebounded up high. With his back to goal and eyeing an opportunity at immortality, Nepharan left winger Petrarch Karaiskakis caught the ball in a stunning bicycle kick that shot straight past surprised compatriot Carsten Thunder, securing a 1-0 win for Antiguoko that would be voted Goal of the Season and, in retrospect, decide the title race.
Royal Rumiatzi, now lagging by three points, next faced Iturributa United, scheduled at the same time as Sporting Iturributa vs. Urbizania Wanderers. While Sporting and Rumiatzi tangled for the title, Wanderers was holding onto the 4th IFCF spot against a 5th-placed United desperate to claw their way in. United were therefore stuck in the unenviable position of needing Sporting to win so they could stay alive in the IFCF race. Sporting did indeed beat Wanderers, 1-0 with a goal by Egoitz Laurnagaray, but Rumiatzi and United played out a nerve-wracking 3-3 draw (Blessed x2, Gartzi; Arana, Yriberri, Pikolaugh) that widened Sporting’s lead to 5 points and drove the penultimate nail into the coffin of United’s IFCF hopes.
Sporting Iturributa would finally win the title the following week, matchday 37, by comfortably beating Gortz United 2-0. After an arduous season that saw them pull off a 14-3-2 record in its second half, a First Division record, the Chevrons celebrate their unparalleled, unprecedented achievement of three league championships in a row. Not even the Champions’ Cup-winning Ituraitz and Wanderers of old managed that. Whether this is an indictment of the current state of Astograthian football is an interesting discussion, but no one can deny the talent on display. Zorion Legeren, after 14 seasons at the helm, has polished Sporting Iturributa into one hell of a machine, and backbone of the Astograthian national team. The strongest defence in the league, commanded by centre-back Mogel Doyenard and goalkeeper Aratz Anzizar, allowed just 25 goals in 38 matches. The midfield, already masterminded by Gaitzka Gurina, was further reinforced this season by the deadly Xefe Larribe and the clever, combative, ever-reliable Servet Misidjan, nominated as one of the Players of the Season. Further up, Ximun Blacksdove-Beukers continued to be the vital link between midfield and attack, while forward Egoitz Laurnagaray had his best season yet, scoring 21 goals. A fearsome squad that now turns its attention the Champions’ League – and possibly, unthinkably, a fourth straight league title?
Royal Rumiatzi finished the league with the stigma of having given up a 9-point lead, their lowest moments of the season coinciding with Sporting Iturributa putting together a demolishing run of form. For a club that expects to win the title every season, being runners-up will never be enough. However, considering the fact that this was manager Lele Manguele’s début season – as manager in general, not just as manager of Rumiatzi – and that his Farf-style ultra-offense has been such a resounding success with the fans, the club are eyeing the team’s future favourably, and are likely to not just keep Manguele but hand him a generous cheque for the transfer market.
In 3rd place, well out of the title race, is a resurgent Ituraitz FC, who quietly but surely climbed their way up from last season’s 7th place. Under new manager Bob Partridge and his tried-and-true 4-4-2, Gorriaka came from behind to challenge Urbizania Wanderers and Iturributa United for the Challenger’s Cup spots – and came out winning. Their signing of Brenecian left winger Isidra Corvey was critical to their success, the former international proving a constant threat down the flank and providing direction for the team as a whole, whether on the wing or cutting into the centre. Serving many of Ituraitz’s assist as well as scoring several crucial goals herself, such as winners against Royal Rumiatzi and Blue Mountain Range, Corvey was doubtless the single most influential player on the pitch, and received FAF recognition as Player of the Season.
Urbizania Wanderers, after a strong first season under Eriz Bakaikoa, were expected to be the main challenger for Sporting Iturributa’s title. Though this held true for the first half of the season, with Wanderers even holding onto the lead for a full month, they would eventually give up the top position to Royal Rumiatzi and fall 9 points behind their impressive form, then were superseded by Sporting Iturributa as the main title contenders. With the title increasingly out of reach, Wanderers were forced to focus their attention on staying within the Challengers’ Cup positions, which were under increasing pressure from Ituraitz FC, Iturributa United, even Royal Ibarbe, Sporting Arkamo and Urbitzo FC for a stretch. Though their 3rd place was pinched away by Ituraitz in the last few weeks of the season, Wanderers did well to put enough distance between themselves and United in 5th. Overall, an unremarkable season for Wanderers, though there is still some cause to celebrate: their defence was rock-solid, conceding just 38 in 38, and while the retiring Jê Çìró was not the phenom of seasons past, there is another Farf to take his (symbolic) place. 21-year-old goalkeeper Dieje Ibrelaná, already called up to the national team as third keeper, performed admirably for Wanderers, and everyone at the club hopes he’ll mature into one a goalkeeping greats.
Left out of the Challengers’ Cup and ruing yet another title by Sporting, Iturributa United are living a nightmare. Their signings of Miriam Lechei and Fangti Pikolaugh, though an improvement in their positions, were not enough to offset a disorganised team playing a 4-3-1-2 that pundits have labelled outdated and surpassed by the other top teams. Though United were capable of grinding out wins against lesser opposition, they ran into a wall against Wanderers and Ituraitz FC and now find themselves without international competition. The club hope to make a number of changes ahead of next season; the first of them, showing manager Machin Logegaray the door.
Sporting Arkamo, like many other teams, had a rough start to the season, winning just 1 of their first 10 matches. The board, desperate for results, ended up sacking the previously much-praised Galeano and hiring former Victory gaffer Hanni Andikola. Under new management, Arkamo were still irregular but started slowly picking up points, including an away win over Sporting Iturributa, a 7-2 defeat of Gortz United and a glorious 5-1 home victory over Ituraitz FC. Notable improvement toward the end of the season, a thrilling final draw against and Ituraitz and their closest rivals cannibalising each other, all allowed Arkamo to finish in 6th, equalling their best ever.
The next five teams were separated by just three points, and one point off Arkamo: Royal Ibarbe, Gortz United, Antiguoko FC, Athletic Club Olarria and Basabe Old Boys were all tightly involved in the mid-table scramble, and evenly-matched in their attempts to get a slightly higher portion of the league prize money. Ibarbe had a strong campaign, retaining its defensive solidity even in the face of departing stalwarts, while Gortz United exceeded expectations in finishing 8th, their highest result since before the First Division was refounded. Antiguoko FC and Basabe Old Boys were happy to be 9th and 11th, respectively, fulfilling predictions that saw them untroubled in the mid-table. However, Antiguoko are right to be worried that their young striker Olentzaro Karazatorre, who scored 19 this season, may soon be set to depart.
In 10th place, Athletic Club Olarria saw a crushing reversal of their fortunes. Initially hoping to finish within the top 4, Olarria fans were subject to severe whiplash, going from beating Iturributa United 1-0 one week to losing 2-1 to Bakartirla Buccaneers to annihilating Ituraitz Victory 8-1. Stricken by injuries, which pundits attribute to poor planning and physical preparation, along with the exhaustion of having to travel long distances for home matches due to their ground being rebuilt, Olarria had a season to forget. There was already uncertainty over whether the club would be able to fill out the new 61,000-seater North Point Stadium, and it only deepens now that they’re unsure whether they’ll be able to retain players like Marko Martel, Aurre Laurnagaray and Ubelteso Peruchena. Manager Ikatz Alberro will certainly not be returning.
Urbitzo FC had one of the most bizarre runs yet seen in the First Division. Manager Yeremi Belaustigetigoitia, untested in the top flight, with a squad of similarly untested players, at a club that had never played in the top flight at all, managed to put together a run of form that by the midpoint of the season had them in 2nd place. They’d pulled off such feats as a 2-1 victory over Sporting Iturributa in the opening match of the season, a 1-0 win at Iturributa United, and a 1-1 away draw against Royal Rumiatzi, and for a moment it seemed possible that this unknown team might qualify for the Challengers’ Cup or even seriously go for the title. Alas, reality set in, and as the season wore on and opponents adapted to Urbitzo, they steadily slipped down the table into 12th place. A very respectable finish for the Second Division champions, and their thrilling dash for the top were enough to get Belaustigetigoitia a mention as one of the Managers of the Season.
Blue Mountain Range, Miners FC and Gesterlake FC finished further down, within 2 points of each other. Surprisingly, Miners FC were quite untroubled, coasting through the bottom half of the table but never becoming embroiled in the relegation battle, despite widespread predictions that they’d be down in 20th. Gesterlake spent the season flirting with the mid-table, but ended up swallowing a string of losses that sunk them down into 15th. Blue Mountain Range did have an extended relegation scare, only pulling away in the last third of the season; their early results were so dire that they dispensed with manager Zuriko Eliz in favour of their U21 boss, Frantz Ormache.
The relegation battle proper involved five clubs: Ituraitz Victory, Echegoyan FC, Royal Association, Astograth University and Bakartirla Buccanneers. All of them went into their final match with a chance of staying up or going down and, out of all of them, only Bakartirla stuck with the same manager the whole season. The most tragic of them was, perhaps, Royal Association, who had a rough start but then spent most of the season out of the relegation struggle – until a series of losses put them up against the wall. Into the last matchday, Victory played Olarria away, Association played Antiguoko away, Bakartirla played Miners away, and University hosted Echegoyan in a macabre do-or-die affair between former First Division champions. Ultimately, Bakartirla drew 2-2 with Miners, thereby saving Victory, who were crushed 8-1 by Olarria. Royal Association, who needed a single point to save themselves due to negative H2H matchups against Echegoyan, Victory and University, fell 5-0 to a rampaging Antiguoko. Finally, substitute Peyo Isamendi scored the winner for Echegoyan against Astograth University in a tense 1-0 match, sending the two-time league winners tumbling into the Second Division. There was wild celebration for Echegoyan, but this was a miserable season considering they expected to be top 6 and ended up fighting to survive below even rivals Blue Mountain Range. For University, this is absolute and unprecedented disaster; though they have played in the Second Division, even within the last decade, they have always started there and never been relegated to it. It will be a tough climb back to the First Division, never mind the First Division title they once so proudly held.
Taldo Lehan Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Sporting Iturributa 38 25 5 8 68 25 +43 80 Champions / Copa de Campeones / Champions’ League – 19th CC/CL appearance
2 Royal Rumiatzi 38 22 10 6 105 53 +52 76 Challengers’ Cup – 17th GC/ChC appearance
3 Ituraitz FC 38 20 9 9 77 48 +29 69 Challengers’ Cup – 23rd GC/ChC appearance
4 Urbizania Wanderers 38 19 10 9 66 38 +28 67 Challengers’ Cup – 16th GC/ChC appearance
5 Iturributa United 38 18 9 11 62 41 +21 63
6 Sporting Arkamo 38 16 9 13 61 62 −1 57
7 Royal Ibarbe 38 14 14 10 48 33 +15 56
8 Gortz United 38 16 7 15 51 50 +1 55
9 Antiguoko FC 38 15 9 14 64 54 +10 54
10 Athletic Club Olarria 38 15 9 14 61 58 +3 54
11 Basabe Old Boys 38 15 8 15 46 51 −5 53
12 Urbitzo FC 38 15 6 17 48 60 −12 51
13 Blue Mountain Range 38 11 11 16 28 35 −7 44
14 Miners FC 38 11 10 17 28 45 −17 43
15 Gesterlake FC 38 12 6 20 50 70 −20 42
16 Ituraitz Victory 38 10 8 20 39 75 −36 38
17 Echegoyan FC 38 9 11 18 40 59 −19 38
18 Royal Association 38 10 8 20 41 73 −32 38 ↓ 1-year run
19 Astograth University 38 9 10 19 23 38 −15 37 ↓ 8-year run
20 Bakartirla Buccaneers 38 9 9 20 39 77 −38 36 ↓ 2-year run
CHAMPIONS
SPORTING ITURRIBUTA6th titleFAF AwardsAt the traditional awards ceremony, held at Rumiatzi’s Kraitzaga Theatre once the season is concluded, the Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa presented the following awards, based on First Division performance. Local media consider these highly prestigious, and the definitive acknowledgement of the best in Astograthian football.
Player of the Season:1.
Isidra Corvey (BRE) – 37 apps, 7 goals – Ituraitz FC
2.
Yasone Urdanibia – 36 apps, 28 goals – Royal Rumiatzi
3.
Servet Misidjan (NPH) – 36 apps, 3 goals – Sporting Iturributa
Young Player of the Season:1.
Dieje Ibrelaná, GK (FFD), age 20 – 38 apps – Urbizania Wanderers
2.
Lino Kaberle, GK (STL), age 18 – 36 apps – Sporting Arkamo
3.
Anchoka Oyhartkabal, LM, age 20 – 31 apps, 7 goals – Basabe Old Boys
Manager of the Season:1.
Zorion Legeren – Sporting Iturributa
2.
Yeremi Belaustigetigoitia – Urbitzo FC
3.
Bob Partridge – Ituraitz FC
Golden Uri for Top Scorer:28 –
Yasone Urdanibia – Royal Rumiatzi
24 –
Martin Blessed (EUR) – Royal Rumiatzi
22 –
Lastur Orkola - Ituraitz FC
Elmsvikur Trophy for Goal of the Season:1.
Petrarch Karaiskakis – Antiguoko FC, vs. Royal Rumiatzi, MD 35, FT 1–0. Incredible bicycle kick after a rebound from the crossbar.
2.
Otsando Larzondo – Royal Association, vs. Ituraitz FC, MD 17, FT 1–0. Rainbow flick into the box, then a cool finish past the goalkeeper.
3.
Gasteiz Yrisarri – Athletic Club Olarria, vs. Basabe Old Boys, MD 14, FT 4–3. Beautiful chip from outside the box, over the keeper and into the top corner.
Team of the Season:GK –
Aratz Anzizar – 38 apps – Sporting Iturributa
LB –
Marko Martel – 36 apps, 1 goal – Athletic Club Olarria
CB –
Mogel Doyenard – 36 apps, 3 goals – Sporting Iturributa
CB –
Zohiartze Urkia – 33 apps, 4 goals – Urbizania Wanderers
RB –
Ixaka Echeberz – 35 apps, 1 goal – Urbizania Wanderers
LM –
Isidra Corvey (BRE) – 37 apps, 7 goals – Ituraitz FC
CM –
Servet Misidjan (NPH) – 36 apps, 3 goals – Sporting Iturributa
RM –
Xefe Larribe – 34 apps, 11 goals – Sporting Iturributa
AM –
Azeari Duarte – 33 apps, 15 goals – Royal Rumiatzi
CF –
Martin Blessed (EUR) – 34 apps, 24 goals – Royal Rumiatzi
CF –
Yasone Urdanibia – 36 apps, 28 goals – Royal Rumiatzi
Second DivisionA new team will début in the First Division next season, and as champions of the second tier too. Urbitzo FC, hailing from the Oyardo-Urbitzo conurbation on the eastern end of Lake Anzar, have long been outshone by their neighbours Oyardo FC, but no longer! Joining them will be Royal Association of Iturributa, who have played for 19 seasons in the First Division already, and Miners FC of Echegoyan, who scored in extra-time of the promotion playoff final. The losers, third-placed Sporting Ibarguren, came the closest they've ever been to joining the top flight, but will at least console themselves with the LBCT appearance that their league finish entitles them to
Urbitzo FC, after winning the Second Division last season and débuting in the First, quickly became a sensation in Astograthian football. Not to be outdone, their rivals Oyardo FC have battled their way back into the top flight in thrilling fashion, coming from behind to knock Dockyard Oaks and East Railway off their perch. From next season, the East Anzar derby will take place for the first time in Astograth’s top tier. Railway managed to hold on to second place, and will return to the First Division after a whopping 22 years away, since before its refounding. Dockyard Oaks of Basabe held the lead for long stretches of the season but ended up in the promotion playoffs, where they walloped South Factory while in the other tie Athletic Rumiatzi beat Erribe United in extra time. In the playoff final at Grand Duke’s, where Oaks had the chance of achieving their first promotion to the First Division, they were beaten 3-1 in extra time by an eager Athletic, who complete their bounce back into the top tier.
Taldo Biharran Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Oyardo FC 46 22 13 11 59 41 +18 79 ↑ Champions / Liga B Champions’ Trophy – return after 2 years, 5th SBCC/LBCT appearance
2 East Railway 46 21 12 13 44 31 +13 75 ↑ Liga B Champions’ Trophy – return after 22 years, 5th SBCC/LBCT appearance
3 Athletic Club Rumiatzi 46 20 12 14 77 55 +22 72 ↑ Liga B Champions’ Trophy – return after 1 year, 4th SBCC/LBCT appearance
4 South Factory 46 22 6 18 49 48 +1 72
5 Dockyard Oaks 46 19 14 13 57 44 +13 71
6 Erribe United 46 18 17 11 54 39 +15 71
7 Sporting Ibarguren 46 21 8 17 45 40 +5 71
8 Iturributa Racing Club 46 18 14 14 58 55 +3 68
9 Ichapeldun Mariners 46 18 13 15 53 51 +2 67
10 Nabarrieta FC 46 19 10 17 46 47 −1 67
11 Mars Athletic 46 19 7 20 44 50 −6 64
12 Royal Arexa 46 17 12 17 49 45 +4 63
13 Army United 46 18 9 19 67 77 −10 63
14 Old City Central 46 16 14 16 43 39 +4 62
15 Ximun Orieta FC 46 17 10 19 52 53 −1 61
16 Garitzeta FC 46 15 16 15 45 50 −5 61
17 Garitzeta Racing Club 46 16 12 18 49 45 +4 60
18 Sporting Olarria 46 15 14 17 44 42 +2 59
19 Urizaharra FC 46 16 10 20 42 55 −13 58
20 Lermendia FC 46 15 11 20 52 50 +2 56
21 Basabe Youth 46 15 10 21 51 66 −15 55 ↓ 2-year run
22 San Markez 46 13 12 21 40 58 −18 51 ↓ 1-year run
23 Bizkarra Castle 46 12 13 21 45 63 −18 49 ↓ 2-year run
24 Freedom FC 46 11 9 26 38 59 −21 42 ↓ 1-year run
Promotion PlayoffsSemifinalsErribe United 1–1 Athletic Club Rumiatzi
Dockyard Oaks 2–1 South Factory
Athletic Club Rumiatzi 0–0 Erribe United (1–0 AET, 2–1 agg.)
South Factory 0–4
Dockyard Oaks (1–6 agg.)
Final@ Grand Duke's Stadium, RumiatziAthletic Club Rumiatzi 1–1 Dockyard Oaks[/color] (3–1 AET)
Second Division BThe Second Division B saw a very narrow finish to its East Group, as Biazterri FC lost to Erreana Orient on the last matchday and Eagles FC, having beaten Biazterri head-to-head, took the lead and the automatic promotion. Biazterri were forced into the promotion playoffs against the West Group, where an away result against Progress Athletic earned them a place in next season’s Second Division. In the other promotion tie, FAS SC of Ezkutia defeated Gesterlake’s Berlasko FC to book their way into the second tier for the very first time. In the third tier’s grand final, to decide the overall champions, favourites Rumiatzi 529 could not break down the tough Eagles FC, and it was ultimately on penalties that they took the Second Division B title.
East GroupTaldo Biharran B East Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Eagles FC 46 21 15 10 46 41 +5 78 ↑ return after 8 years
2 Biazterri FC 46 23 9 14 54 39 +15 78 ↑ return after 24 years
3 Berlasko FC 46 22 10 14 60 39 +21 76
4 Letzama FC 46 21 12 13 58 44 +14 75
5 Uzio Blackstar 46 21 11 14 55 43 +12 74
6 Markiniz Union 46 20 12 14 54 45 +9 72
7 Uertza Gymnastic 46 19 13 14 49 41 +8 70
8 Larrinoa Yellow-Green 46 19 13 14 45 40 +5 70
9 Arbetsana Crossing 46 21 7 18 53 39 +14 70
10 Langaraitz Rovers 46 18 12 16 52 49 +3 66
11 Cafundelense 46 17 13 16 43 45 −2 64
12 Akialden Marauders 46 17 13 16 50 45 +5 64
13 Sorokin's Old Boys 46 17 12 17 51 46 +5 63
14 Mauritza FC 46 17 10 19 30 41 −11 61
15 Warrior Spirits 46 16 12 18 43 44 −1 60
16 Uriarte United 46 17 9 20 45 50 −5 60
17 Athletic Club Basabe 46 17 8 21 46 51 −5 59
18 Izarloka FC 46 15 13 18 50 61 −11 58
19 Madarrierna FC 46 14 16 16 51 57 −6 58
20 Saint Laida 46 15 10 21 46 54 −8 55
21 Uertza FC 46 12 16 18 49 62 −13 52 ↓ 10-year run in the Football League
22 Andozketa Wanderers 46 12 15 19 46 50 −4 51 ↓ 10-year run
23 Erreana Orient 46 11 11 24 46 71 −25 44 ↓ 3-year run
24 Favourites 46 8 12 26 33 58 −25 36 ↓ 2-year run
West GroupTaldo Biharran B West Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Rumiatzi 529 46 26 10 10 68 37 +31 88 ↑ Champions – return after 3 years
2 FAS SC 46 26 7 13 80 46 +34 85 ↑ will make Second Division début
3 Progress Athletic 46 23 14 9 52 37 +15 83
4 Tzaramaga Rovers 46 23 12 11 61 36 +25 81
5 Gortz Academy 46 22 10 14 57 39 +18 76
6 Ibarbe Sport 46 20 14 12 62 49 +13 74
7 FK Aliantza 46 20 12 14 58 38 +20 72
8 Chinchartu Lehoi 46 16 18 12 52 49 +3 66
9 Goyardeliz United 46 18 12 16 49 48 +1 66
10 Ezkutia MFC 46 18 11 17 49 48 +1 65
11 Ibarbe Youth 46 17 14 15 41 40 +1 65
12 Uidio Mariners 46 17 12 17 50 48 +2 63
13 Omagoitia Rovers 46 18 9 19 55 58 −3 63
14 Okerruri FC 46 17 10 19 44 52 −8 61
15 Ertzanga FC 46 15 13 18 44 56 −12 58
16 Athletic Club Yokano 46 15 11 20 35 51 −16 56
17 Izurria Pirates 46 16 7 23 47 62 −15 55
18 Athletic Club Yungoitio 46 15 9 22 55 63 −8 54
19 Ibarriola United 46 13 15 18 40 48 −8 54
20 Guenaztia Electric 46 14 11 21 52 66 −14 53
21 Wardworks 46 11 15 20 34 48 −14 48 ↓ 1-year run in the Football League
22 Matzaka Old Boys 46 13 9 24 35 51 −16 48 ↓ 1-year run
23 Ametzanga Valour 46 9 15 22 38 60 −22 42 ↓ 3-year run
24 High Sky 46 9 12 25 36 64 −28 39 ↓ 2-year run
Championship Final – East vs. West@ Grand Duke's Stadium, RumiatziRumiatzi 529 0–0 Eagles FC (0–0 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Promotion PlayoffsProgress Athletic 0–1 Biazterri FC
Berlasko FC 0–2 FAS SC
Biazterri FC 1–1 Progress Athletic (2–1 agg.)
FAS SC 0–0 Berlasko FC (2–0 agg.)
Astograthian Development League – Honours Division The Astograthian Development League, a joint FAF-Ministry of Sport venture, pits U21 teams across the nation in round-robin action. The top flight, or Honours Division, has been won by Urbizania Wanderers for the second season in a row.
Honours Division Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Urbizania Wanderers 30 21 3 6 46 18 +28 66 Champions / Rising Stars’ Cup
2 Ituraitz FC 30 19 5 6 67 40 +27 62
3 Royal Rumiatzi 30 16 7 7 52 32 +20 55
4 Sporting Iturributa 30 16 5 9 31 23 +8 53
5 Echegoyan FC 30 15 5 10 54 40 +14 50
6 Astograth University 30 11 9 10 36 31 +5 42
7 Basabe Old Boys 30 10 8 12 36 47 −11 38
8 Oyardo FC 30 10 8 12 31 41 −10 38
9 Antiguoko FC 30 10 7 13 39 46 −7 37
10 Iturributa United 30 10 7 13 49 48 +1 37
11 Bakartirla Buccaneers 30 8 10 12 26 32 −6 34
12 Ituraitz Victory 30 9 6 15 40 53 −13 33
13 Blue Mountain Range 30 8 8 14 20 35 −15 32
14 Miners FC 30 7 10 13 23 30 −7 31
15 Athletic Club Rumiatzi 30 8 5 17 48 57 −9 29 ↓
16 Royal Association 30 7 7 16 28 53 −25 28 ↓
Promoted: Garitzeta FC, Letzama FC
The Royal Cup One-legged ties. First and Second Division teams enter at the Round of 64, and the former are seeded for that and the following round. If clubs have a two-tier difference or greater, the lower-tier team will play at home.
Round of 64 (select matches)
Ituraitz Victory 1–0 Bizkarra Castle
Mars Athletic 2–1 Gortz United
South Factory 1–2 Echegoyan FC
Andozketa Wanderers 1–1 Urbizania Wanderers (1–2 AET)
Gesterlake FC 2–1 Freedom FC
Okerruri FC 3–3 Sporting Iturributa (4–4 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Astograth University 0–0 Army United (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
Riverside Athletic 2–3 Athletic Club Olarria
High Sky 1–0 Royal Ibarbe
Astograth Meat Commission FC 0–2 Sporting Arkamo
Letzama FC 1–3 Royal Association
Ituraitz FC 4–2 Dockyard Oaks
Basabe Old Boys 0–1 Erribe United
Arbetsana Crossing 1–1 Miners FC (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Erenia FC 1–2 Bakartirla Buccaneers
Ximun Orieta FC 1–5 Royal Rumiatzi
Garitzeta FC 5–2 Urbitzo FC
Lermendia FC 2–0 Antiguoko FC
Nabarrieta FC 0–0 Iturributa United (0–0 AET) (3–0 pen.)
San Markez 0–1 Blue Mountain Range
It seems that First Division clubs learned surprisingly little from the early eliminations of past years, as a whopping 9 top flight sides fell in the Round of 64. Among them, defending champions Sporting Iturributa, who rested their starters in the middle of intense multi-tournament commitments and paid the price against third tier Okerruri, drawing 3-3 in normal time, 4-4 in extra time, and losing on penalties. There was no schadenfreude to be had for rivals Iturributa United who, also fielding a weaker side, lost to second tier Nabarrieta on penalties following a scoreless draw. Other matches, such as Army United beating Astograth University in an infrequent derby clash and Lermendia taking down Antiguoko, go to show that the Second Division is not as far from First Division quality as many would believe, and on a good day can very well take on the top flight’s mid-table.
Round of 32 (select matches)
Army United 1–2 Royal Rumiatzi
Nabarrieta FC 0–2 Blue Mountain Range
Royal Association 2–2 Mars Athletic (3–2 AET)
Markiniz Union 1–2 Bakartirla Buccaneers
High Sky 0–2 Sporting Arkamo
Athletic Club Olarria 2–0 East Railway
Garitzeta Racing Club 1–2 Urbizania Wanderers
Rumiatzi 529 0–1 Ituraitz Victory
Ituraitz FC 2–2 Oyardo FC (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Okerruri FC 2–5 Gesterlake FC
Basabe Youth 3–6 Echegoyan FC
The First Division would reassert their authority in the Round of 32, winning all of their ties. Royal Rumiatzi took down cross-town upstarts Army United in a 2-1 away win, Royal Association struggled but were finally able to beat Mars Athletic in extra time, and Ituraitz FC were pushed to the limit by Oyardo FC, requiring penalties to finally come out victorious. Eventual third tier champions Rumaitzi 529 were beaten by Ituraitz Victory, erstwhile Champions’ Cup finalists Garitzeta Racing knocked out by Urbizania Wanderers, and the now-famous Okerruri dismissed by Gesterlake in a 5-2 thrashing.
Round of 16
Sporting Arkamo 1–1 Blue Mountain Range (1–2 AET)
Urbizania Wanderers 4–2 Athletic Club Olarria
Arbetsana Crossing 1–0 Ituraitz FC
Bakartirla Buccaneers 1–1 Gesterlake FC (2–2 AET) (2–3 pen.)
Royal Rumiatzi 1–0 Ichapeldun Mariners
Ituraitz Victory 0–0 Sporting Olarria (0–0 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Iturributa Racing Club 2–3 Lermendia FC
Echegoyan FC 4–2 Royal Association
Third tier Arbetsana Crossing, still in competition, pulled off the upset of the Round of 16 by achieving a win over Ituraitz FC at home. Lermendia FC became the other team outside the top flight to book their place in the quarterfinals by beating the also-second-tier Iturributa Racing in an exciting 3-2 encounter. Royal Rumiatzi beat the unfancied Ichapeldun Mariners in a discrete 1-0 affair, and Urbizania Wanderers dominated Athletic Olarria, going 4-0 up before the Olarrians clawed back two.
Quarterfinals
Lermendia FC 0–1 Royal Rumiatzi
Gesterlake FC 2–2 Echegoyan FC (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Arbetsana Crossing 0–4 Urbizania Wanderers
Ituraitz Victory 1–0 Blue Mountain Range
Two fairytale runs came to an abrupt end in the quarterfinals, Azeari Duarte sentencing Royal Rumiatzi’s 1-0 victory over Lermendia FC and Urbizania Wanderers smacking Arbetsana Crossing with a 4-0 defeat, goals by Aragolaza, Sorrosua and Epherra x2. Ituraitz Victory played out a tense match against BMR, a long shot from Aitzol Nanklares finally giving them the goal they needed to reach the semifinals. In the last tie, Gesterlake FC came from behind with a brace from Eguntsenti Belazkez to stun Echegoyan FC and take them to penalties, where substitute Aingeru Edera had the misfortune of skying his crucial shot.
Semifinals
Urbizania Wanderers 3–1 Ituraitz Victory
Royal Rumiatzi 3–0 Gesterlake FC
The luck of the draw pitted Urbizania Wanderers and Royal Rumiatzi, the two favourites for the cup title, not against each other but against the unfavoured Ituraitz Victory and Gesterlake FC. Rumiatzi and Wanderers are two of the three most winningest sides in the Royal Cup, and they made it known in emphatic wins. Eguaras, Çìró and Epherra put one each past Victory, receiving a short-lived equaliser from Gartzi Abaroa in the process. For Rumiatzi it was an Urdanibia hat-trick, assisted by Duarte and twice by Blessed, that took manager Lele Manguele and his ultra-attacking hairbrained schemes into the Royal Cup final.
The Final
@ Grand Duke's Stadium, Rumiatzi
Going into the final, the last time Urbizania Wanderers had won the Royal Cup was in 661 – 22 years ago. After a 12 year interruption that started in 661, there had been 9 more editions of the cup, of which Wanderers had reached two and lost. First, embarrassingly, against the second-tier Sporting Ibarguren, and then against Louis Vaudrail’s Royal Rumiatzi, which robbed Wanderers of a domestic double. Both had stung. For Royal Rumiatzi, this was their 5th Royal Cup final in 8 seasons; they’d won 3 of their last 4 finals, and had the chance to extend their win record by winning their 9th cup. This would also serve as confirmation that Farf manager Lele Manguele and the insanity he had unleashed upon the football pitches of Astograth could win silverware, having come agonisingly close in the First Division.
Wanderers, under Eriz Bakaikoa, lined up with a conventional 4-2-3-1. Manguele claims not to follow any tactical diagram and will immediately walk out of any press conference where it is brought up, but analysts have surmised that, in practice, what Rumiatzi end up playing is a (sometimes asymmetric) 3-2-3-2, with a backline of 3 centre-backs, 2 wing-backs, 3 attacking midfielders and 2 forwards. The midfield generates spontaneously, with fluid movement into the middle of the pitch by the team’s defensive and attacking players. By all rights, it shouldn’t work.
Urbizania is quite close to Rumiatzi, sometimes even considered part of the same enormous conurbation, so the 90,000-seater Grand Duke’s Stadium was packed with both sets of supporters. It was even-matched, with Rumiatzi adopting Manguele’s characteristic reckless abandon in attack, and Wanderers playing at resisting, playing defensively, and wearing down Rumiatzi physically and mentally. Wanderers’ counter-attacks, though not few and capable of quickly covering ground, frequently ran into the fact that Rumiatzi still employs some supremely talented defenders. Selatse Yrigoy, Xantalen Luzarraga, goalkeeper Carsten Thunder and veteran Siovanijan Lutz Daschner shined in cutting off these counter-attacks and recycling the ball – through Farf left-back Loxjilo Exihosahar, for instance, who had emerged as one of the bright revelations in Manguele’s innovations. Despite this, Wanderers were successful in holding out into the second half, while Rumiatzi grew restless. In the second half, Wanderers fought back more effectively as Rumiatzi began to run out of breath and ideas, controlling possession through the triad of Ibon Irisarre, Domiku Bergara and Gero Sorrosua. Continually probing a Rumiatzi that was ill-suited to face opponents driving through the middle, Çìró burst through on Daschner’s inside and curled in a cross to meet the run of Aire Epherra, who drove a header at goal that was parried by Thunder and hastily cleared by Aztore Andia, only to fall to Wanderers’ Gero Sorrosua. With a clear shot, the attacking midfielder scored what would be the winner. An exhausted Rumiatzi, despite substitutions, did not have it in them to break down a Wanderers committed to shutting them out, and Urbizania thus claimed their 7th Royal Cup from the hands of Grand Duke Gaxan. The first title of Eriz Bakaikoa’s managerial career, and a memorable send-off for retiring club legend Jê Çìró.
Urbizania Wanderers 1–0 Royal Rumiatzi
CHAMPIONS
URBIZANIA WANDERERS7th title
HonoursAstograth (ASG) qualifiers
Champions’ League: Sporting Iturributa
Challengers’ Cup: Royal Rumiatzi, Ituraitz FC, Urbizania Wanderers
Liga B Champions’ Trophy: Oyardo FC, East Railway, Athletic Club Rumiatzi
Rising Stars’ Cup: Urbizania Wanderers
Cup Winners’ Cup: Urbizania Wanderers
Copa de Campeones: Sporting Iturributa