Centralis Herald - Sports Section - Stewart Faraday
Close match sees Electrum through by the skin of their teeth
It's not often that matches involving Electrum advance to a penalty shootout. In fact, it's never. Yesterday's match was Electrum's first time in a penalty shootout, and they really made it count, after defeating Yttribia 4-3, seeing them advance to the semifinals against Turori. For those of you who aren't in the know (I imagine there are a lot of you because this is the first instance that this has happened), but if goals scored is tied up at the end of the match during a finals, it goes into thirty minutes of extra time (split into two fifteen minute halves) and then if it is still unresolved, then it goes to a penalty shootout (Five opportunities for a one-on-one with a goalkeeper).
The match was initially a one-sided affair with the Yttribia establishing the early dominance, having high a possession rate. In saying that, Fielding had an excellent opportunity ten minutes into the match when she nearly popped a ball into the net, only for it to be stopped by Gaspard Irvin who dove so far. Irvin was really trying to show the team that him being placed on was an excellent investment, and will be sure to pay dividends later on. Anyways, after that goal, Yttribia suddenly changed gears and went into offence overdrive, with their formation allowing for such quick changes. Sure enough, just two minutes later, Arce scored a goal after a cross from Hale, Electrum being down 0-1. Hale played a key role in securing both Yttribian goals today.
Electrum's modus operandi is fairly simple for teams to decipher. In fact, it's almost too easy. Anyone in Electrum could answer the question, "When is it best to go offensive on the Electrumite team," and that answer is, "immediately after you scored a goal against them." Of course, Coach Wilkinson was furiously scribbling down notes, preparing for a substitution when unsurprisingly, Yttribia scored another goal, this time by Celestino who got the ball from Hale again. Finally, Coach Wilkinson from Electrum made a substitution, replacing Henry with Fernando, attempting to plug the leak which was occurring in the midfield. It worked, as Electrum stopped another goal from being conceded, going into the break.
Although cameras weren't allowed into the private coaching rooms during the break, there was a lot of scribbling and yelling by Coach Wilkinson which could be heard inside. He had a radical change of plans, swapping to an experimental formation that he was deciding to switch into the next Copa Rushmori, but he may as well try it out now, instead of during the private training sessions he was holding. He had two strikers instead of the three (Henry being replaced) and Fernando wouldn't be restrained to one area and Krane in front all by himself. He rearranged the midfield to become 3-2 and hoped that that would stop the problem of the Yttribian team. They couldn't play like they had been playing for the first half, and they had a lot to do, namely coming back from a 2-0 deficit. No team will give it up that easily.
And so the hard work began. Fernando proved his worth to the team almost immediately after the break, setting up an opportunity for Fielding to get the ball into the net, but to no avail, with Fielding getting to the ball a bit too late. Never mind, they still had plenty of time. Whatever happened in the first half can easily be spun around in the second. Another opportunity was created by Fernando again in the fifty-third minute, knocking down a header by Ingram, and slid the ball over to Krane, who had a clear shot at the goal. Krane kicked --- and the ball slid into the net faster than you can say 'fast'. 2-1, and 27 minutes to go. The team had to stay focused, as Yttribia tried to defend their lead. It almost felt as if all the Yttribian efforts gone into pure defense, but they had tripped up. It was young Larson who conceded a direct free kick for the Electrum team as he tackled Ingram almost violently. Ingram had to be stretchered off the field, but once again, Krane would step up to the plate. Krane slowed down before the kick, and with a bang, he sped up real fast and kick the ball low and to the right. Irvin moved to his right, and the ball was in. 2 all and ten minutes to go.
The next ten minutes were tortuous. Yttribia had to come to terms with the sudden vanishment of their margin, and had to come back from their defensive play. Both teams desperately needed a goal, but desparation led to more mistakes. The Electrumite defense didn't cover enough ground, the Yttribian wingers weren't playing as well as before. People were getting tired. In the eighty-first minute, Coach Wilkinson subbed in Abigail Knight for Fielding, and Luna for Ramirez. He was trying to throw everything at the other team, sensing that extra time was coming. And it did. Then it was thirty more minutes of stalemate, punctuated by sudden bouts of attack, which were ultimately shut down. Both sides suffered fatigue - the Electrumites especially - playing the full 120 minutes was unfamiliar to all of them.
The final whistle was blown, and it was time for the penalty shootout. Coach Wilkinson had opened his phone during the small break. His eyes were open. In the later press conference, he said that was when he found out the results of the other quarterfinal in Felix, Turori beat Jeckland 2-1. He withheld that information from the team, not wanting to get their hopes up, or scare them into failing. Electrum would send up Fielding, Lynn-Peters, Kane, McGann and Krane, and Yttribia would send up Celestino, di Mecurio, Hale, Kemény and Krooijmans.
Fielding walked up first. Easier said than done, he put the ball in the top-right corner, almost effortlessly. Celestino went up for Yttribia, and Fenech dived the wrong way. 1 all. Lynn-Peters, Electrum's vice captain didn't have a good match today, but was more than determined to make it up. He went for a low ball, and was nearly knocked out by Irvin, but it was far enough left that it was alright. Next was Yttribia's di Mecurio, and he kicked it high in the middle. It nearly hit the crossbar, but it sailed through. It was now two all. Defender Kane stepped up to the plate next, and he did an almost sneaky move. He kicked it straight at the goalkeeper. Of course, Irvin had no idea, as he was already diving for the ball before he even kicked it, but that tricked wowed the crowd. Hale came up next to square things up. He had an excellent match today, but he was unable to make an impression in the scoreline here, with Fenech correctly predicting where the ball would be. It was 3-2, and Electrum was up one, and Electrum was on the cusp of victory. Defender McGann then went up next -- but he too was outsmarted by Irvin. Kemény was next for Yttribia and he executed his goal brilliantly, sliding it to the top left of the goal. It was now 3-3.
Krane was up next. He had the whole team, and his whole nation's expectations on him. He was the captain, and he knew he couldn't ruin this chance. He started up slowly, just like his last goal, but unlike his last, he kept going slow and kicked it low and off to the left. Irvin expected him to go to the right again and anticipated that, but he was outfoxed. Finally, Krooijmans stepped up. This was THE last opportunity. If he got it in, then the shootout would go on, if he didn't, then Electrum would advance. All of that pressure really builds, and Krooijmans sighed as he stepped up. The ball seemed like it would be in the air forever, but Fenech was right where he was supposed to be and pushed the ball out of the net. The Electrumites would simultaneously roar and Coach Wilkinson ran onto the field to celebrate. They had booked a place in the semifinals against Turori, the furthest they've ever been ever!
But it was an emotional end for the Yttribian team. They couldn't go that extra round, their best not being good enough. The Electrumite celebrations over, all of them went up to shake Xavi Vilhjalmsson's hand -- Yttribia's former captain had said that this would be his final time on the national team. The whole Felixian crowd stood up to a standing ovation, openly applauding the Esportivan hero. Xavi cried, and it was a beautiful sight. A bittersweet ending.
Electrum 2-3 
Cosumar-Electrum 
