Audioslavia Domestic Football Newswire

by **Audioslavia** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:47 pm

Matchday 30
National League
KT Moreazerua 2–1 KT Ferramendiak
1830 Cathair 2–1 Bombarralense
Cazadores Cathair 2–1 CF Daineri
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 Oljestaden IF
KT Itzalovalle 2–0 Union Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 5–0 Tenth Star Hasiera

This is a weird kind of hell for fans of AC Izotz Zubia. Since their run of poor results against Cathair teams, they've watched their team go eight wins in eight games, scoring 35 goals in the process. Their defence has been nigh on impregnable, they've suffered no injuries or setbacks, and their attack has been purring. They finish their season with a 5-0 win and sit atop the league by seven points. And it's totally not enough. The Catharan clubs continue to win and win and don't look like letting up any time soon. Their fans will watch the final matchdays of the season play out with a sense of dread. Zozi finish with a commendable 15-4-5 record and a goal difference that is, currently, the best of anyone. Commendable. But all the signs point to it not being enough.

In Cathair on successive weekday nights, Cazadores see off the challenge of CF Daineri via goals from Adrian Toscani and Eneko Rolondu, before 1830 Cathair leave it late to snatch all three points before a relieved crowd, with Baillaire Fillar sweeping the ball home and leaping the barriers into the home fans.

Matchday 31
National League
Tenth Star Hasiera 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Union Cathair 0–4 Shamrock Cathair
Oljestaden IF 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
CF Daineri 0–4 1830 Cathair
Bombarralense 2–4 KT Moreazerua
KT Ferramendiak 2–1 Osarese Marcadia

Strange scenes in Corvidra as Cathair net their fourth goal of a 4-0 win with ten minutes to go and the first thing that happens is Alex Sharp picks the ball out of the net and sprints to the centre circle. Cathair are here to win every single game from here on out, and for that to count for a league title, the side need to better their Goal Difference as much as possible. Cazadores, comfortably ahead against Oljestaden but failing to knock on the door for a third time, will lose ground in the title race despite the win and despite pulling in to within four points of Zozi at the top.

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   4   5    57   27  +30    49
 2 Cazadores Cathair          22   14   3   5    38   15  +23    45
 3 1830 Cathair               21   12   6   3    38   11  +27    42
 4 Shamrock Cathair           23   12   5   6    36   18  +18    41
 5 KT Moreazerua              21   12   4   5    31   23   +8    40
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   10   5   9    29   22   +7    35
 7 KT Ferramendiak            22    8   5   9    21   32  −11    29
 8 Osarese Marcadia           21    8   3  10    27   31   −4    27
 9 Bombarralense              22    5   5  12    21   35  −14    20
10 CF Daineri                 21    6   2  13    21   43  −22    20
11 Union Cathair              21    6   1  14    20   41  −21    19
12 Oljestaden IF              21    4   6  11    11   27  −16    18
13 Tenth Star Hasiera         21    4   3  14    17   42  −25    15

Matchday 32
National League
Osarese Marcadia 0–2 Bombarralense
KT Moreazerua 3–0 CF Daineri
1830 Cathair 4–0 Oljestaden IF
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Union Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 5–0 Tenth Star Hasiera

Cathair's forward line are on a different planet to the rest of the league. Where Caza struggled against the Oilers, Cathair flourish. Felixe Vetiver is unplayable. Every touch a certain one, a perfect one, away from or past a defender and onto her right foot, every movement calculated to cause maximum panic and maximum uncertainty in the defence. She's the provider of three goals on a windy evening in Oljestaden, laying all three on for Thea Squarciafichi - who is herself thriving amid Vetiver's form - and netting herself early in the second half.

Cazadores, by contrast, are laboured in defeating a staunchly defensive Union team fighting for their very survival. Ross Okano lurches off the bench and bundles a scrappy goal over the line for 1-0. The win takes them to within one point of Zozi with one game yet to play. Nothing less than a win will do in their final game, but after that will come an agonising wait for Cathair to please, please stumble at the final hurdle.

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   4   5    57   27  +30    49
 2 Cazadores Cathair          23   15   3   5    39   15  +24    48
 3 1830 Cathair               22   13   6   3    42   11  +31    45
 4 Shamrock Cathair           24   13   5   6    41   18  +23    44
 5 KT Moreazerua              22   13   4   5    34   23  +11    43
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   10   5   9    29   22   +7    35
 7 KT Ferramendiak            22    8   5   9    21   32  −11    29
 8 Osarese Marcadia           22    8   3  11    27   33   −6    27
 9 Bombarralense              23    6   5  12    23   35  −12    23
10 CF Daineri                 22    6   2  14    21   46  −25    20
11 Union Cathair              22    6   1  15    20   42  −22    19
12 Oljestaden IF              22    4   6  12    11   31  −20    18
13 Tenth Star Hasiera         22    4   3  15    17   47  −30    15

Union Cathair The Misfits
Shepworth Racecourse Ground, (Cap: 7500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Collin De Wilde (35, G , AUD)
2. Alessandro Merola (24, D R, AUD)
3. Saint Legalese (33, D LC, AUD)
4. Joan Soler (35, M C, AUD)
5. Darrin Cancel (24, D RC, AUD)
6. Anargyos Zervaes (26, D C, VDR)
7. Zorion Aiza (23, M R, AUD)
8. Errapel Zalacain (34, M C, AUD)
9. Luke Rose (33, F C, AUD)
10. Stefan Laar (22, F C, AUD)
11. Gaspar Conceicao (22, M L, AUD)
12. Luis Rey (22, AM C, AUD)
14. Kirill Kozlovsky (18, F C, AUD)
15. Cooper Rees (21, D C, AUD)
16. Alan Crockett (25, D C, AUD)
19. Ford MacAll (18, M C, AUD)
20. Dick Munro-Moura (27, M C, AUD)
Mng. Salvador Monterroso (38, D C, AUD)

Expected First XI
de Wilde - Merola, Zervaes, Cancel, Legalese - Soler - Aiza, Zalacain, Conceicao - Rose, Laar

This is the team Cazadores couldn't beat by more than a goal, and the team Cazadores are relying upon.

Matchday 33
National League
Union Cathair 0–3 1830 Cathair
Tenth Star Hasiera 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Oljestaden IF 0–3 KT Moreazerua
CF Daineri 2–1 Osarese Marcadia
Bombarralense 0–0 KT Ferramendiak

In a miserable Saturday night all round in Hasiera, visitors Cazadores all but relegate Tenth Star while also being unable to make up any of the goal difference defecit to Cathair, who had hammered Union the previous evening. Cazadores go top with one matchday to go, yet you won't find a happy Caza fan anywhere in the city.

Cazadores Cathair are relying on 1830 Cathair to slip up.

Against Tenth Star Hasiera.

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   3   5    41   15  +26    51
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   4   5    57   27  +30    49
 3 1830 Cathair               23   14   6   3    45   11  +34    48
 4 KT Moreazerua              23   14   4   5    37   23  +14    46
 5 Shamrock Cathair           24   13   5   6    41   18  +23    44
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   10   5   9    29   22   +7    35
 7 KT Ferramendiak            23    8   6   9    21   32  −11    30
 8 Osarese Marcadia           23    8   3  12    28   35   −7    27
 9 Bombarralense              24    6   6  12    23   35  −12    24
10 CF Daineri                 23    7   2  14    23   47  −24    23
11 Union Cathair              23    6   1  16    20   45  −25    19
12 Oljestaden IF              23    4   6  13    11   34  −23    18
13 Tenth Star Hasiera         23    4   3  16    17   49  −32    15

For 1830 Cathair, the task could not be simpler. Win and finish first, draw and finish second, lose and finish third at best.

Matchday 34
National League
KT Ferramendiak 2–0 CF Daineri
Osarese Marcadia 0–0 Oljestaden IF
KT Moreazerua 5–1 Union Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–0 Tenth Star Hasiera

"FiiiillAAAAAAAARRRRRR!" is the cry, the commentator's ecstatic moment, the headline of the next day's newspaper and the last thing thousands of Cazadores fans hear before shutting off the television in disgust. Eighty-eight minutes of increasing tensions, either hope or despair building and building depending on your allegiance, and then bang. From nowhere. A ball that you thought had been cleared. Bang. Fillar.

Grayson Fillar.

If someone told you a Fillar was going to score at the weekend, you might have bet money on Juxon over Grayson, yet the Cazadores goalkeeper was one of many for whom the goal ended what hope they had. Thirty yards, on the volley, ker-thunk. The ball neither dipped nor rose, just stayed on a slide-rule towards the top corner. Grayson couldn't have placed it better if he'd stood on the goal-line and held the ball where he wanted it, and he couldn't have hit it harder if he'd used a cannon.

After years of disappointment and some utterly shocking football, including this very season, 1830 Cathair's resurgence, had been immediate and seemingly against all logic. On matchday twelve, Cathair's record was 1-3-3. They finish on 16-6-3.

Football is stupid, Audioslavian football doubly so.

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   15   6   3    46   11  +35    51 IFCF CL, CAFA LA
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   3   5    41   15  +26    51 IFCF CL
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   4   5    57   27  +30    49 IFCF CL
 4 KT Moreazerua              24   15   4   5    42   24  +18    49 IFCF CL
 5 Shamrock Cathair           24   13   5   6    41   18  +23    44 IFCF ChC
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   10   5   9    29   22   +7    35 IFCF ChC
 7 KT Ferramendiak            24    9   6   9    23   32   −9    33 IFCF ChC
 8 Osarese Marcadia           24    8   4  12    28   35   −7    28
 9 Bombarralense              24    6   6  12    23   35  −12    24
10 CF Daineri                 24    7   2  15    23   49  −26    23
11 Oljestaden IF              24    4   7  13    11   34  −23    19
12 Union Cathair              24    6   1  17    21   50  −29    19 Relegated
13 Tenth Star Hasiera         24    4   3  17    17   50  −33    15 Relegated

National Two                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Laivana JPS                34   19   8   7    60   28  +32    65 Promoted
 2 CC Exiles                  34   17   8   9    50   30  +20    59 Promoted
 3 CdF Celtade                34   16   7  11    55   40  +15    55
 4 KT Koroatuz                34   15   8  11    39   35   +4    53
 5 Ceilerden Rovers           34   15   8  11    36   33   +3    53
 6 Artiglieria                34   14  10  10    42   33   +9    52
 7 Burdoc Ridge               34   13  10  11    38   38    0    49
 8 Santa Margarida            34   14   6  14    43   35   +8    48
 9 Sparta Zijweg              34   13   8  13    32   38   −6    47
10 AS Marcadia                34   10  13  11    36   36    0    43
11 Tout-Puissant Hasiera      34   10  12  12    35   33   +2    42
12 Guerrilla Cathair          34   12   6  16    33   44  −11    42
13 KT Ferratzaileak           34   11   8  15    30   40  −10    41
14 Lemmitania State FC        34   11   7  16    42   48   −6    40
15 Eletti Valligiani          34   10  10  14    33   45  −12    40
16 Silexhera FC               34   10   9  15    30   50  −20    39 Relegated
17 Crossport Mariners         34   10   8  16    28   42  −14    38 Relegated
18 Excelsior Zijweg           34   10   6  18    23   37  −14    36 Relegated

Laivana come back up at the first time of asking, while CC Exiles also make the journey back to the top flight after a short leave of absence.

Kirola Cup First Round
Excelsior Zijweg 0–1 2130 Calolziolungho
Laivana JPS 1–1 Viking Halehavn (2–1 AET)
Crossport Dynamo 0–1 KT Koroatuz
CC Exiles 1–0 Union Cathair
Kitherwell 2–0 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Burdoc Ridge 2–1 Artiglieria
Ceilerden Rovers 1–0 KT Kanpoldelko
KT Laranjauzia 1–2 DDM Dunas Secas
KT Itzalovalle 3–1 Silexhera FC
CF Daineri 1–0 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
Crossport Mariners 2–0 Uniao Tortuguita
Eletti Valligiani 0–5 KT Moreazerua
Reina Del Sud 0–4 1830 Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–2 CdF Celtade
Cazadores Cathair 1–2 Fundición
Frecce 1–0 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
Sparta Zijweg 2–0 Tenth Star Hasiera
Valão 1–0 Vidrieros
Iron Brewery 0–0 Corações (0–0 AET) (1–3 pen.)
Osarese Marcadia 0–0 Laranjeiras (1–0 AET)
CF Herradores 0–7 AC Izotz Zubia
Clockwork FC 1–3 Alistoun Academicals
Huiszwalluw FC 2–1 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Necromarinai 2–0 CdFS Ilheiros
Sobrevolante 1–0 Lemmitania State FC
C.D. Portobranco 0–1 Oljestaden IF
AS Marcadia 0–0 The Oran (1–0 AET)
Guerrilla Cathair 3–1 Orquideas
KT Ferratzaileak 0–0 Shamrock Cathair (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
Ceilerden Harp 4–1 Valens AV
Santa Margarida 4–1 Cerejeiras
Hibernação 1–4 Bombarralense

Kirola Cup Second Round
KT Moreazerua 4–1 Guerrilla Cathair
Burdoc Ridge 1–2 Bombarralense
KT Koroatuz 2–0 CdF Celtade
Sparta Zijweg 2–2 Oljestaden IF (3–2 AET)
DDM Dunas Secas 1–2 Necromarinai
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 Santa Margarida
Huiszwalluw FC 0–1 Kitherwell
Osarese Marcadia 1–3 Shamrock Cathair
Crossport Mariners 7–1 Valão
KT Itzalovalle 2–0 Ceilerden Harp
1830 Cathair 1–2 Laivana JPS
Fundición 0–0 Frecce (0–0 AET) (3–4 pen.)
AS Marcadia 3–2 CF Daineri
CC Exiles 1–0 Ceilerden Rovers
Sobrevolante 3–2 2130 Calolziolungho
Alistoun Academicals 0–2 Corações

Kirola Cup Third Round
Shamrock Cathair 2–2 Necromarinai (4–2 AET)
Sobrevolante 0–5 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 4–2 Sparta Zijweg
Kitherwell 2–1 Corações
Bombarralense 2–0 AS Marcadia
KT Koroatuz 1–0 CC Exiles
Frecce 0–1 Crossport Mariners
Laivana JPS 0–0 KT Moreazerua (0–2 AET)

Kirola Cup Quarter Finals
Crossport Mariners 1–1 Shamrock Cathair (1–1 AET) (2–3 pen.)
KT Itzalovalle 2–0 Kitherwell
KT Moreazerua 0–1 KT Koroatuz
AC Izotz Zubia 3–1 Bombarralense

Kirola Cup Semi Finals
AC Izotz Zubia 0–2 KT Itzalovalle
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 KT Koroatuz

Kirola Cup Final
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Shamrock Cathair (2–0 AET)

With Cathair and Shamrock ousted early, long before the former's return to form and before the latter's season all but ended, Itzi were one of the few big teams fighting on just the one front. With Challengers Cup football already assured, they put their firepower into the Kirola Cup and, through substitutes Eurico Da Rosa and Kauso Dione, finally put a game Shamrock to the sword in extra time.

After having gone decades without any major silverware, Valladar manager Daniel Bernard grabs the side their third trophy in four seasons.

by **Audioslavia** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 1:50 pm

Season 20

Matchday 1
The National League
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 CC Exiles
Oljestaden IF 0–1 Laivana JPS
1830 Cathair 1–0 Bombarralense
KT Moreazerua 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 2
The National League
Bombarralense 1–3 KT Moreazerua
Laivana JPS 0–3 1830 Cathair
CC Exiles 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Osarese Marcadia 1–1 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 3
The National League
Cazadores Cathair 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 2–1 CC Exiles
KT Moreazerua 2–1 Laivana JPS
AC Izotz Zubia 4–2 Bombarralense

Matchday 4
The National League
Laivana JPS 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
CC Exiles 3–4 KT Moreazerua
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 CF Daineri
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Matchday 5
The National League
CF Daineri 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
Shamrock Cathair 3–0 Osarese Marcadia
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 CC Exiles
Bombarralense 1–1 Laivana JPS

Matchday 6
The National League
CC Exiles 0–1 Bombarralense
Osarese Marcadia 1–1 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 CF Daineri

Matchday 7
The National League
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 2–1 KT Ferramendiak
Oljestaden IF 2–2 Osarese Marcadia
Laivana JPS 2–4 CC Exiles

Matchday 8
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 1–1 1830 Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 3–1 Oljestaden IF
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
CF Daineri 1–0 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 9
The National League
KT Itzalovalle 0–2 CF Daineri
Oljestaden IF 1–2 Cazadores Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Moreazerua 0–0 Osarese Marcadia

Matchday 10
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 0–2 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 KT Moreazerua
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 1830 Cathair
CF Daineri 0–2 Oljestaden IF
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 KT Itzalovalle

The National League       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair           7    5   0   2     8    4   +4    15
 2 AC Izotz Zubia              5    4   1   0     9    3   +6    13
 3 1830 Cathair                6    4   1   1     8    4   +4    13
 4 KT Moreazerua               6    3   2   1    10    7   +3    11
 5 Osarese Marcadia            9    2   5   2     9   10   −1    11
 6 KT Ferramendiak             8    2   3   3     6    6    0     9
 7 KT Itzalovalle              6    2   2   2     4    5   −1     8
 8 Shamrock Cathair            5    2   1   2     4    2   +2     7
 9 Oljestaden IF               6    2   1   3     7    8   −1     7
10 CF Daineri                  6    2   0   4     3    7   −4     6
11 Laivana JPS                 6    1   2   3     5   10   −5     5
12 CC Exiles                   7    1   1   5     8   11   −3     4
13 Bombarralense               5    1   1   3     5    9   −4     4

Early-season National League tables remain as confusing as ever. Are Bombarralense going to struggle this season? The side went winless in their first three, but back-to-back opening fixtures against the top teamsi will do that to you, regardless of who you are (see: Cathair losing their first handful of games last season and coming back to win the title). Bomba got a breath of fresh air on matchday six, taking a first win against a CC Exiles side expecting to struggle, and after a brief hiatus they return for matchday eleven against an Osarese side with the sort of 2-5-2 record reserved only for teams that are apparently desperate to stay in mid-table.

Bombarralense Os Bombardeiros
Estadio das Trevas, (Cap: 17500). Bombarral, Lusitâninha

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Uolleys (38, G , DAI)
2. Patrick Read (25, D R, EUR)
3. Anargyos Zervaes (26, D C, VDR)
4. Cechy (27, M C, DAI)
5. Gabriele Crovo (27, DM C, AUD)
6. Gastão Fagundes (25, D/M C, AUD)
7. Max Rizzo (31, M/F L, CBP)
8. Tray Mohaupt (34, M C, SPM)
9. Cillian Hurdly (32, F C, AUD)
10. Giacomo Rossi (28, F C, AUD)
11. Rylan Bishop (28, M L, TKT)
12. Cristian Cunha (18, D RC, AUD)
13. Chase Hernandes (21, D LC, AUD)
14. Petrus Maslin (29, M R, NPH)
16. Jacob Marley (34, DM C, MUR)
18. Roberto Silvestre (20, F C, CBZ)
19. Juan José Pasillas (26, D/M C, AUD)
20. Joaquim Neto (20, AM C, AUD)
21. Rock Taffarel (17, G , AUD)
22. Reinhart Nijssen (26, D C, AUD)
Mng. Louise Halldorsen (50, , ZWZ)

Expected First XI
Uolleys - Read, Zervaes, Hernandes - Bishop, Rizzo, Fagundes, Neto, Maslin - Rossi, Silvestre

New manager Louise Halldorsen has had little to play with in the transfer market. Bad news. Without any investment, Bomba will continue to struggle in a league which is achieving more parity not through the top teams losing ability to earn, but by the likes of Osarese and Ferramendiak spending to keep up, Losing Daczibog Ketadzic and Tray Mohaupt to retirement and Lewiston Clark respectively, Halldorsen will hope youth can fill the gap. The generation coming through from the ranks includes Cristian Cunha and keeper Rock Taffarel, who have looked handy in scratch development games for the national team, and young striker Roberto Silvestre has arrived on a free from Cabo Azure to add a spark to the front line.

Matchday 11
The National League
Oljestaden IF 0–2 Shamrock Cathair
1830 Cathair 4–2 CF Daineri
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Cazadores Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 3–1 KT Ferramendiak
Bombarralense 0–3 Osarese Marcadia

There’s little any of Bomba’s forward players can do on matchday eleven, as Osarese’s own teenage sensation Helios Roy runs riot in Estadio das Trevas, scoring the opener and creating the second for Phil Cole to finish. Cole himself sets up Bong Min Joon for goal number three late on. Osarese may have drawn a lot of games, but it’s not through lack of adventure up front. After an excellent season 18 and a downturn last year, the top clubs remain wary of the easterners. Can Osarese keep the pace?

Osarese Marcadia The Phoenix
Stadio Fabio Mancini, (Cap: 21000). Marcadia, Padia

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Saoirise (32, G , DAI)
3. Jan Galcirena (29, D L, AUD)
4. Tayaaga Romneir (32, D C, MRN)
5. Daniel MacCowan (34, D CR, AUD)
6. Declan MacCowan (34, M C, AUD)
7. Jiang Jieren (24, M R, YZH)
8. Phil Cole (27, AM C, TMB)
9. Esro Sepúlveda (27, F C, AUD)
10. Garnett Makanza (30, F C, CBR)
11. Bong Min-Joong (23, M L, QUE)
12. Loisé Camserhe (23, D C, KSK/FFD)
13. Shinji Teruzuki (31, G , OSR)
15. Bryson O'Lara (26, D C, EFL)
16. Bryton Menheniot (34, DM C, APX)
17. Ylva Stjern (16, D/M C, VAL)
18. Dane Pridgeon (30, M C, COS)
19. Johan Simundsen (31, M L, SVJ)
20. Helios Roy (18, AM/F C, AUD)
21. Pearl Morgan (37, AM C, OSR)
24. Apollonius Yaw (19, M C, AUD)
Mng. Fabio Mancini (47, M C, OSR)

Expected First XI
Teruzuki - Dan MacCowan, Romneir, Camserhe, Galcirena - Jieren, Cole, Pridgeon - Bong, Roy, Sepulveda

Fabio Mancini was quietly pleased with his work on the transfer market, bringing in Night Academy starlet Ylva Stjern and highly-rated Shearwater centre half Loisé Camserhe for apparently less than five million dollars, combined. Add to that the emergence of Helios Roy as a striking fulcrum, despite his tender years, and the unnerving ability of a three-man midfield of Cole, Jang and Pridgeon to attack and defend in equal measure, and there’s no reason why Osarese can’t make their presence known at the top of the table, assuming everyone stays fit. Though the talismanic Garnet Makanza, the ultra-dependable O’Lara and the young go-getter Apollonius Yaw are waiting in the wings, the side still lacks the depth of the top teams, and if the National League has proven anything it’s that a deep squad is needed to make a proper first of a title fight.

Matchday 12
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Laivana JPS
KT Ferramendiak 3–0 Bombarralense
Cazadores Cathair 3–0 AC Izotz Zubia
CF Daineri 0–2 KT Moreazerua
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 1830 Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 4–1 Oljestaden IF

Bomba are beaten again, this time on the road, after Osarese scrape past a game Laivana at the Fabio Mancini stadium. Helios Roy is the provider again, finding his way to the ball behind the defenders and playing off a sweet square pass for Sepulveda to finish for the game’s only goal.

Osarese are flying high, but typically for the provincial club, it’s not long before they’re brought down to earth

CC Exiles Main Street Posse
Stadio Oromë, (Cap: 21800). Trentina, Padia

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Tomcio (26, G , DAI)
2. Barnabé Moraes (25, D RC, AUD)
3. Gianpaolo Pizzoccheri (35, D/M L, GCU)
4. Viggo Westerlund (32, M C, AUD)
5. Onal Kinarciro (32, D C, AUD)
6. Abram Calanion (30, D/M LC, AUD)
7. Finnemolo Herzog (29, M RC, AUD)
9. Jeph'dinoes (31, F C, DAI)
10. Jack McAdams (30, F C, AUD)
11. Garfield Etxeleku (25, M L, AUD)
12. Pabel Krasinski (33, F C, AUD)
13. Tedecho MacAughtrie (20, D LC, AUD)
14. Lucas Park (20, M C, AUD)
15. Vicente Ballerini-Concepcion (24, DM C, AUD)
16. Hoyt Vonck (25, D C, AUD)
18. Ezara Wild (23, AM C, AUD)
Mng. Auren Irauvalu (42, D C, AUD)

Expected First XI
Tomcio - Moraes, Kinarcino, Calanion, Pizzoccheri - Ballerini-Concepcion, Herzog, Westerlund, Etxeleku - Jeph’dinoes, McAdams

Despite various previous appearances in the top flight, mainly under their former title Calcio Sicurezza Elfi, Club Calcio Exiles are favourites for the drop this season. Nevertheless, 31 year-old striker Jeph’dinoes sneaks in behind the defence to roll a through-ball inside Teruzuki’s near post for three much-needed points, halting Osarese’s ascension in its tracks.

Matchday 13
The National League
1830 Cathair 0–0 KT Itzalovalle
KT Moreazerua 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 CF Daineri
Bombarralense 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Laivana JPS 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
CC Exiles 1–0 Osarese Marcadia

Elsewhere, Yokin Erdokiain’s close-range finish is all that separates Zozi from CF Daineri, and is one of just three goals scored on a bizarrely (some would say romantically) low-scoring matchday, with Wilhelm Hielscher-Zendagorta providing the third and final goal, bursting through a gap in Bomba’s defence and finishing past Uolleys to the dismay of the home crowd. Bomba remain bottom of the league, marginally behind a fractious Oljestaden side.

Oljestaden IF Olga
Hygolje Arena, (Cap: 50000). Oljestaden, Hyland

Domestic Honours - 3
COCANEFA Honours - 1
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Donato Castillo (32, G , EFL)
2. Jensen Fischer (26, D CR, AUD)
3. Jody Mahmud (30, D L, AUD)
4. Thorian Nielsen (34, DM C, AUD)
5. Da Chong (28, D C, JOV)
6. Pelle Juergensen (38, D RC, AUD)
7. Folke Bolt (32, M/F C, AUD)
8. Jensen Ostergard (27, M C, AUD)
9. Eneco Carabello (31, F C, AUD)
10. Bertus Verschoor (33, F C, AUD)
11. Christiaan Kracht (30, D/M LC, AUD)
12. Ivan Sandiev (27, F LC, USR)
13. Vikingen (24, G , DAI)
14. Txordyn Coy (23, D/M RC, AUD)
16. Inigo Eskibel (30, M RC, AUD)
18. Ike Hoogstraten (26, M C, AUD)
21. Tjapko Van der Ende (19, D C, AUD)
91. Cocoabo #91 (??, F CR, COF)
Mng. Tomas Kristofics (50, DM C, PIS)

Expected First XI
Castillo - Coy, Kracht, Da Chong, Van der Ende - Ostergard, Bolt, Eskibel - Cocoabo 91, Sandiev, Carabello

Starved of success, devoid of stars, these days finding themselves squeezed ever closer towards relegation to the second flight - a division they haven’t played in since season three - the Oilers are looking less and less like one of the ‘big seven’ - as their fans are fond of calling themselves - and more and more like one of the litany of Audioslavian football sides of whom your mate turns to you and asks ‘hey, whatever happened to…’. Eletti Valligiani, Artiglieria, Silexhera FC, Excelsior Zijweg, Isle of Kjeligsted. Teams that seemed to have found their footing in the top flight, maybe even had a deep run in UICA or IFCF football, and then vanished without a trace.

As time marches on, Oljestaden look less and less relevant and less and less capable of surviving in the top division. So when champions 1830 Cathair come to visit, few give them a hope in hell.

Matchday 14
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 1–0 CC Exiles
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 Laivana JPS
CF Daineri 3–0 Bombarralense
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 KT Moreazerua
Oljestaden IF 5–1 1830 Cathair

As good a time as any to remind you all that football is stupid.

Cathair don’t quite have their first eleven available - Vetiver is rested, Menard ginger on his right ankle, newcomer Sacir Milosevic serving a one-game ban for accumulated yellow cards - but it’s still a strong side that takes to the field at the Hygolje Arena, and a strong side that finds themselves four goals behind at half-time. Cathair, confident, try to keep possession and build from the back, but Oilers manager Tomas Kristofics is no slouch, and has set up his side to press. Kevin Sherwood gives away the first goal by playing a casual pass to close to the speedy Cocoabo 91, who hoovers up the ball and blasts it beyond Goyenola for 1-0. A counter-attack brings a corner shortly after which Ivan Sandiev bundles over the line, before Goyenola lets a hard shot bounce off his chest and into the path of Bertus Verschoor, who can’t believe his luck as he finishes for 3-0. A mis-hit penalty - awarded after a hilariously slapstick dive by Cocoabo 91 - makes it 4-0 at the break. The two teams exchange injury-time goals in to the second half to cause even further confusion for those picking up the newspaper the next day.

KT Moreazerua Mozi
Ibarretako Estadioa, (Cap: 40000). Moreazerua, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 2
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Yoruyoru (31, G , DAI)
2. Adélaïde Garcia (31, D C, SVG)
3. Valentinos Giannakos (32, D C, VDR)
4. Ronan Stenhouse (31, DM C, EUR)
5. Oran Coldcross (30, D C, AUD)
6. Máximo Andikoetxea (21, D/M C, AUD)
7. Imauka Lkomorak (24, M CR, VIL)
8. Reuben Corkhill (22, D/M C, AUD)
9. Koenraad Rijsbergen (36, F C, AUD)
10. Olentzaro Karazatorre (31, F C, ASG)
11. Dashmati (27, AM CL, DAI)
12. Syerra (23, M R, DAI)
13. Ximen Errandonea (20, M R, AUD)
15. Gael Morea (18, DM C, AUD)
16. Carles Mendiolagaray (20, D L, AUD)
18. Raul Vitan (29, D CR, CMT)
19. Trevor Paraoan (29, AM/F C, FHU)
20. Yuli Gabikagojeaskoa (38, G , AUD)
Mng. Alessandro Juliana (42, M CR, AUD)

Expected First XI
Yoruyoru - Vitan, Coldcross, Garcia - Stenhouse, Corkhill - Lkomorak, Syerra, Dashmati - Karazatorre, Rijsbergen

League winners in season two of the National League, cup winners in season six, Moreazerua have developed a habit of finishing high up the table but with nothing but a short IFCF run to show for it. Star striker Koenraad Rijsbergen is one of very few Audioslavians to have stayed with their parent club their entire career, resisting the allure of warmer climates - socially as well as meteorologically - and now, at 36, is likely in his final season for Mozi.

Matchday 15
The National League
KT Moreazerua 4–0 Oljestaden IF
AC Izotz Zubia 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Bombarralense 1–1 Shamrock Cathair
Laivana JPS 0–3 CF Daineri
CC Exiles 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

The big striker apparently doesn’t plan on leaving quietly as he and long-term strike partner Karazatorre bludgeon a feeble Oljestaden into a fine paste, the goal of the game coming from a far-post volley struck so violently into the roof of the net from close range that television replays showed fans in the upper deck instinctively flinching away from the ball.

Mozi will continue to threaten to blow up any day now. Manager Alessandro Juliana is getting what he can from his players and his budget, but despite the 4-0 win nobody is expecting Mozi to *truly* be in with a shout come the end of the season.

Nevertheless:

Matchday 16
The National League
CF Daineri 1–0 CC Exiles
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 Laivana JPS
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 Bombarralense
Oljestaden IF 0–3 AC Izotz Zubia
1830 Cathair 0–2 KT Moreazerua

Karazatorre is the man of the hour, finishing two first-half chances and manning a staunch midfield press that strangles all three points from champions Cathair. Elsewhere, CF Daineri win a match of utmost importance at the bottom of the table, dragging the northerners out of the relegation battle - at least for now.

1830 Cathair The Teatimers / The Elders
Arena Kirola, (Cap: 77500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 16
COCANEFA Honours - 7
International Honours - 7
Squad
1. Lance Logan (20, G , BRO)
2. Grayson Fillar (24, D R, CMT)
3. Hernán Mata-Curie (20, D/M L, AUD)
4. Valerién Tibère (23, D C, SVG)
5. Jack Menard (27, D C, EUR)
6. Kevin Sherwood (25, D C, EUR)
7. Thea Squarciafichi (28, F C, SVG)
8. Nicola Branić (27, DM C, ZRH)
9. Felixe Vetiver (20, F C, NPH)
10. Baillaire Fillar (23, AM C, CMT)
11. Antoine Letexier (28, AM RCL, AUD)
12. Tryfon Vlahilades (33, D L, VDR)
13. Sacir Milosevic (25, M R, MYT)
14. Maerhen Wake (22, M LR, BRE)
15. Unax Goyenola (24, G , ASG)
17. Haarlem Routh (19, M C, AUD)
18. Caithe Shepherd (31, D R, BRE)
20. Alex Sharp (23, F C, EUR)
21. Alec MacLennan (20, M C, AUD)
24. Oran Gordon (19, DM C, AUD)
Mng. Gareth Blackthorn (56, , EUR)

Expected First XI
Goyenola - Grayson, Menard, Tibere, Mata-Curie - Branic - Letexier, Baillaire, Wake - Sharp, Vetiver

Cathair always have an embarrassment of riches both on the field and in the bank, so quite what lead to their four-season exile from the Champions League is anyone’s guess, but here they are once again, league champions for the umpteenth time and gunning for what their fans imagine will be their sixth title of the modern era’s twenty seasons. But if they’re a good team, why don’t they play good? Beaten comfortably by rivals Cazadores, held by Shamrock at home, turned over in the aforementioned Mozi and Olga games, Cathair look to have wound the clock back to the season before last, rummaging around in mid-table looking for scraps instead of striding confidently to the buffet like teams of old. Gareth Blackthorn says he has the team playing how he wants them to play, and seeing as this is the man that took the side first to 8th, then to 1st, whether Gareth’s way is the best way is any man’s guess.

Up front, the question of which two to start out of Sharp, Vetiver and Squarciafichi appears to have been answered by the boss, who has preferred Vetiver and Sharp when available, much to Squarciafichi’s clear frustration. Nevertheless, the Savigliane has started to be noticeably prolific from the bench. How long that can last without the striker becoming disillusioned with playing third-fiddle to Sharp and Vetiver remains to be seen.
Cathair are in for a stern test before the mid-season break, travelling into the deepest of the Herradura Mountains’s shadows to play out the first of two Derbies of Audioslavia against perennial rivals AC Izotz Zubia.

Matchday 17
The National League
AC Izotz Zubia 1–3 1830 Cathair
Bombarralense 3–1 Oljestaden IF
Laivana JPS 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
CC Exiles 0–1 Shamrock Cathair

It’s Zozi who score first on a blustery night at the Soldaduak Eremuaberria, with new signing Johnathan Bagshaw cutting inside and beating Goyenola with the outside of his right foot, but it’s the capital club who shine in the second half. Baillaire Fillar pulls the strings in midfield, and it’s the Chromatik’s ingenuity that causes the equaliser, a daintily chipped no-look pass that finds the chest of Felixe Vetiver, goal-side of the defence, and the Nepharan finishes at the second time of asking, collecting the rebound of her first shot from in front of Curipurinho and finishing into the corner.

Vetiver is involved in the second goal, beating her man down the left and cutting the ball back for Sacir Milosevic to finish, while Thea Squarciafichi grabs the goal that seals the game shortly after coming off the bench and drilling her second touch into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The lack of celebration, short of a waggled finger in the general direction of the press box, is noted.

The National League       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          12    9   1   2    16    5  +11    28
 2 KT Moreazerua              12    7   4   1    20    8  +12    25
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             12    8   1   3    18   11   +7    25
 4 1830 Cathair               12    6   3   3    17   15   +2    21
 5 Shamrock Cathair           12    4   5   3    10    6   +4    17
 6 Osarese Marcadia           12    4   5   3    13   11   +2    17
 7 KT Ferramendiak            12    4   4   4    11    9   +2    16
 8 KT Itzalovalle             12    4   3   5    10   10    0    15
 9 CF Daineri                 12    5   0   7    12   14   −2    15
10 Bombarralense              12    3   2   7    11   22  −11    11
11 Laivana JPS                12    2   4   6     7   17  −10    10
12 Oljestaden IF              12    3   1   8    14   25  −11    10
13 CC Exiles                  12    2   1   9     9   15   −6     7

Halfway through the season, Cathair have just about caught onto the coat-tails of the top three. Having come back from much lower in the table last season, nobody is counting out a late surge from the capital club. Over on the western side of Cathair, Cazadores top the division with the duo of Moreazerua and Izotz Zubia close behind. With Caza taking matchday eighteen off, the winner of Zozi’s clash with Mozi next week will join them on 28 points.

by **Audioslavia** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 1:53 pm

AC Izotz Zubia Zozi
Soldaduak Eremuaberria, (Cap: 52180). Izotzazubia , Herradura

Domestic Honours - 16
COCANEFA Honours - 4
International Honours - 7
Squad
1. Röémün Çídh (31, F C, FFD)
2. Giacomo Durán (28, D R, AUD)
3. Atole Kaplan (25, D L, KOR)
4. Chloe Vischa (32, D/M C, NPH)
5. Grigorij Savicevic (31, D C, MYT)
6. Paul Taylor (22, D C, FVA)
7. Unai Cappadonna (21, M C, AUD)
8. Lothaire Cromwell (30, M C, NPH)
9. Yokin Erdokiain (27, F C, ASG)
10. Elek Salai (26, M/F CL, PAS)
11. Eskuin Nekol (28, M L, ASG)
12. Ferus (23, G , DAI)
14. Olavo Larrea (21, D/M R, AUD)
15. Abarran Lizarraga (28, M/F RC, AUD)
16. Noor Ali (34, D C, BRO)
17. Domiku Bergara (34, DM C, ASG)
18. Iker Munir (18, DM C, AUD)
19. Johnathan Bagshaw (21, M/F R, FVA)
24. Julho Viscondessas (22, AM/F C, AUD)
27. Curipurinho (19, G , AUD)
Mng. Ager Alaba (53, M C, ASG)

Expected First XI
Curipurinho - Duran, Savicevic, Taylor, Kaplan - Bergara - Bagshaw, Cromwell, Cappadonna, Salai - Erdokiain

Consistently Audioslavia’s strongest team on the domestic front in recent years, taking two of the last four league titles and not having left the top four for the entire duration of the National League era, Zozi start every season as at least co-favourites for the title. These days without the multi-million murderers-row strike forces of old, manager Ager Alaba is bringing the best out of Yokin Erdokiain and has the enigmatic Röémün Çídh in his back pocket if needed, or vice versa depending on form. Young Daineri/Audioslavian keeper Curipurinho has forced his way into the first team, and the appearance of Flavovespian star Johnny Bagshaw on the right wing and dependable Paul Taylor in defence has filled some of the gaps form the thin squad that finished last season. Third in the league at halfway, players and fans alike are confident that they can overcome cross-mountain rivals Moreazerua.

Matchday 18
The National League
CC Exiles 1–4 KT Itzalovalle
Laivana JPS 0–0 Oljestaden IF
Bombarralense 0–3 1830 Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 KT Moreazerua

Zozi race into the lead after just six minutes, with Bagshaw causing chaos on the right and eventually finding an unmarked Erdokiain to bring the ball under his spell and side-foot it past Yoruyoru for the opener. Mozi fight back, equalising just ten minutes later through Karazatorre’s thunderous half-volley, and a tense deadlock is broken halfway through the second half as substitute Eskuin Nekol finds Lothaire Cromwell with a cross and the Nepharan buries the header into the bottom corner to take all three points.

KT Ferramendiak Feri
Burdina Jauregia, (Cap: 85000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Kazimir Sliva (37, G , AUD)
2. Zorion Mendizabal (25, D RC, AUD)
3. Per Frandsen (32, D CL, AUD)
4. Finn Townsend (34, DM C, BRE)
5. Ixaka Lizarzaburu (34, D C, AUD)
6. Andrés Calvo (21, D C, AUD)
7. Creidne Lindauer (36, F C, BRE)
8. Corby Wheeler (35, M C, BRE)
9. Davide Laguardia (28, F C, AUD)
10. Izan Alvarenga (27, M LC, AUD)
11. Erroman Gorriaran (24, M LC, AUD)
12. Ronan Fallon (36, DM C, BRE)
13. Mis (28, G , DAI)
14. Franco Almanzar (25, AM C, AUD)
15. Zorion Santisteban (30, M LC, AUD)
16. Yon Maurtua (26, D L, ISK)
17. Koldo Bazterrika (33, M LC, AUD)
18. Briareo Asaguirreiturri (21, M R, AUD)
19. Kel Malaxetxebarria (23, M C, AUD)
20. Gabriel Montilla (24, F C, AUD)
21. Sandy Harkness (18, D C, AUD)
Mng. Orson Faulkner (54, D CR, BRE)

Expected First XI
Mis - Mendizabal, Martua, Lizarzuburu, Calvo - Fallon - Asaguirreturri, Townsend, Wheeler, Gorriaran - Lindauer

“What if we just made a squad of Brenecian stars in their mid thirties” says a Brenecian star in his mid fifties. It shouldn’t work, but it very much has. Feri have always been a yo-yo club at best and here they are now, under the stewardship of former AC Izotz Zubia fan favourite Orson Faulkner, competing week in, week out with the best teams in Audioslavia. This season promises to be the last with this set-up, with those various contracts coming to an end at the season’s finish. What young players will be coming through in their place? Well, to answer that question hey look over there a talking walrus <footsteps> <car motor> <aeroplane>

Matchday 19
The National League
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Bombarralense
1830 Cathair 6–1 Laivana JPS
Oljestaden IF 1–3 CC Exiles
KT Ferramendiak 1–2 Osarese Marcadia

Mired in mid-table and missing players through injuries and strains - see the ageing squad above - a meek defeat to Osarese all but confines Feri to the relegation-shitfight half of the National League table, with Helios Roy at the double in insisting Osarese make some kind of impact at the top of the table.

Elsewhere, Cathair smash six goals past Laivana to keep pace at the top, while Oljestaden are defeated by struggling CC Exiles, further piling the misery on Tomas Kristofics’s men.

Laivana JPS Laika
Persikan Kaistastadion , (Cap: 18500). Laivanrakentajas, Hyland

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Tapani Haataja (36, G , AUD)
2. Jaana Jokinen (31, D R, SRS)
3. Alessio Lana (23, D L, AUD)
4. Viggo Flak (36, DM C, AUD)
5. Kalevi Jokinen (29, D C, AUD)
6. Ilyana Brosch (36, D C, NPH)
7. Mikelatz Idaberry (37, F C, ASG)
9. Izzat Nuri (33, F C, AUD)
10. Wilhelm Nkitilina (30, F C, TAE)
11. Alan Siman (32, M LC, AUD)
12. Elden Janssen (31, M/F C, AUD)
15. Daan Bergesen (33, DM C, AUD)
16. Antero Koskinen (29, D RC, AUD)
19. Jacopo Zanetti (22, D C, AUD)
22. Yuliy Polyakov (27, G , AUD)
24. Euan MacArthur (21, D C, AUD)
29. Cohen MacVicar (19, M C, AUD)
Mng. Lukas Meeuwsen (46, M L, AUD)

Expected First XI
Polyakov - J. Jokinen, MacArthur, Brosch, Zanetti, Lana - Siman, Bergesen, MacVicar - Nuri, Nkitilina

The city of Laivana’s switch from being a large-ish seaport to a small-ish spaceport, and the hub of Audioslavia’s interests in the skies, has brought workers and money to the area that, some day, may be reflected in the football team. For now, the men in grey have just about enough about them to fight it out at the foot of the National League. Ilyana Brosch’s arrival from Cathair adds some much-needed top-level experience to the squad, while Shamrock loanees MacArthur and MacVicar have proven to be shrewd signings.

Meeuwsen has a large squad to play with, but there’s very little quality there, meaning the gaffer is forced to name the same line-up for the upcoming Mozi match as for their 6-1 shellacking by Cathair.

Matchday 20
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
CC Exiles 0–3 1830 Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–1 KT Moreazerua
Bombarralense 3–4 AC Izotz Zubia

Mozi dropping points to this Laivana team is a shock to those fans who have never seen Mozi chase a title in the second half of a season. Karazatorre is there again for Mozi, but Nuri crops up to ping a loose ball into the roof of the net at the death to wrestle a point away and, crucially, put themselves one whole point ahead of the relegation places.

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          13   10   1   2    17    5  +12    31
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             14   10   1   3    24   15   +9    31
 3 1830 Cathair               15    9   3   3    29   16  +13    30
 4 KT Moreazerua              15    8   5   2    23   11  +12    29
 5 Osarese Marcadia           14    5   5   4    15   13   +2    20
 6 KT Itzalovalle             13    5   3   5    14   11   +3    18
 7 Shamrock Cathair           12    4   5   3    10    6   +4    17
 8 KT Ferramendiak            13    4   4   5    12   11   +1    16
 9 CF Daineri                 12    5   0   7    12   14   −2    15
10 Laivana JPS                15    2   6   7     9   24  −15    12
11 Oljestaden IF              14    3   2   9    15   28  −13    11
12 Bombarralense              15    3   2  10    14   30  −16    11
13 CC Exiles                  15    3   1  11    13   23  −10    10

Mozi have dropped off the pace slightly, though only a total climbdown would result in them losing out on that final Champions League place. At the top, Caza are still in the driving seat.

Cazadores Cathair Caza
El Ruedo, (Cap: 42500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 5
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 3
Squad
1. Juxon Fillar (29, G , CMT)
3. Harmon Mulvahill (25, D L, KOR)
5. Ross Okano (37, D C, KRY)
6. Inteali Koranjo (27, D C, VIL)
7. Kepler Marcel Gouveia de Souza (22, AM C, QUE)
8. Adrian Toscani (29, AM C, SVG)
9. Wilhelm Hielscher-Zendagorta (23, AM/F C, STL)
10. Cristian Benitez (27, AM C, VLD)
12. Claudio Casimiro (33, D RC, AUD)
13. Cristos Harding (26, D C, EFL)
15. Eneko Rolondu (28, M CL, AUD)
16. John McGraw (30, D/M LC, AUD)
18. Iñigo Higgs (18, DM C, AUD)
19. Qaqilek (25, G , DAI)
20. Azariah MacCormack (23, F C, AUD)
21. Errol Goncalves (22, D LC, AUD)
22. Aníbal Borges (24, DM C, AUD)
23. Mécia Sola (18, AM C, AUD)
32. Tiago Brown (29, D/M R, AUD)
Mng. Rook Cathar (57, F LCR, NPH)

Expected First XI
Fillar - Brown, Okano, Koranjo, Mulvahill - Borges, Higgs - Toscani, de Souza, Benitez - Hielscher-Zendagorta

Caza’s three-pronged attacking midfield of Toscani, de Souza and Benitez, with Audioslavian-born Teus Hielscher-Zendagorta marauding up front, is perhaps the most feared front line in Audioslavian football, at least since the names of Hawk, Sandro and Valrauncion were at the bottom of Zozi’s team sheet all those years ago. At the back, capturing Okano from rivals 1830 Cathair has proved a shrewd bit of business, with the Krytenian’s experience working well with Koranjo’s athleticism at the back and the young defensive midfield duo of Borges (24) and Higgs (18) also benefitting. Caza have been well worth the price of admission so far, and fans are enjoying the chasm between themselves and city rivals Shamrock.

Matchday 21
The National League
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 Laivana JPS
KT Moreazerua 2–0 CC Exiles
CF Daineri 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 KT Ferramendiak

Feri’s 5-4-1 proves a tough nut to crack, but Hielscher-Zendagorta manages to writhe through the line on sixty-five minutes and finish for the only goal of the game, maintaining Gaza’s lead atop the table amidst jubilant celebration from the home crowd. Manager Rook Cathar, is a man who looks like a yeti cosplaying as a cunt, punches the air in celebration. The air requires several stitches.

Shamrock Cathair Shammers
Glass Bridge Stadium, (Cap: 31500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 4
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 1
Squad
1. Constance Creighton (19, G , AUD)
2. Carmelo MacCowan (30, D/M LCR, AUD)
3. Aron McKenna (30, D L, TJU)
4. Archer Flat (30, D C, AUD)
6. Oran Anders (26, D C, AUD)
7. Sho Itō (26, M/F R, SQR)
8. Gabriel Buvalelli (25, M C, SVG)
9. Archer Andrews (28, F C, TJU)
10. Emilia Torgersen (23, AM C, VAL)
11. Rosewing (32.5, F C, EQS)
13. Edith Fillar (20, M L, CMT)
18. Alessandro Merola (24, D R, AUD)
19. Fergus Sloan (32, M L, GRU)
21. Fraser Mackintosh (21, D LC, AUD)
22. Thomas McFarland (33, G , AUD)
26. Lucas Keir (20, DM C, AUD)
27. Jan MacLaren (16, F C, AUD)
28. Harper McKay (20, M C, AUD)
Mng. Alexander Crewe (41, F C, APX)

Expected First XI
Creighton - Merola, Flat, Anders, McKenna - Keir - Itō, Torgersen, Buvalelli, Fillar - Andrews

After lifting the title in season fourteen, life hasn’t been easy for Shamrock fans. Having to watch their cross-city rivals Cazadores win the title the following season was bad, but not as bad as watching them win two Champions League titles back to back over the next two seasons. Fifth last season, seventh the year before that, Shamrock have been an also-ran in Audioslavian football in recent years and this season seems to be no different. Already well off the pace in terms of the title chase, Shamrock require snookers just to get into the Champions League. A prodigiously talented first team squad boasting the likes of Torgersen, Buvalelli and the other other other Fillar may well end up winning nothing else at Shamrock in spite of Alexander Crewe’s ability to get them playing well together. They remain a nice side to watch - if not as impressive as cross-capital rivals Cazadores - but have too often flattered to deceive.

Matchday 22
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 2–0 CF Daineri
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
CC Exiles 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Laivana JPS 1–0 Bombarralense

Sho Ito drags a shot under Teruzuki for the only goal of the game as Shamrock pull themselves closer to the top of the table, while at the bottom Laivana’s victory over Bomba is a crucial one. Bomba, previously confident of another season at least mid-table, are looking more and more like this relegation fight will go down to the wire.

-

CF Daineri Os Brilhantes
Batmacumbastadion, (Cap: 14200). Corvidra, Ocorno

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Bombidillyo (38, G , DAI)
2. Jerquaad (32, D CR, DAI)
3. Axel Tesoro (33, D L, AUD)
4. Olena Zinchenko (20, M C, TJU)
5. Akakios Demotis (18, M C, VDR)
6. Stamatios Christakos (27, D C, VDR)
7. Circe (34, F C, DAI)
8. Aloha (32, M/F C, DAI)
10. Tim Kewell (28, F C, STR)
11. Coridai (31, F C, DAI)
12. Miguelito Leitão (20, D C, CBZ)
13. Jiskastnya (31, AM C, DAI)
15. Amone Forlenza (26, D C, MCO)
16. Reese Russell (20, D RCL, EFL)
17. Mauithay (32, M C, DAI)
18. Ysaak (32, D RCL, DAI)
20. Zakuty (31, F C, DAI)
Mng. Winfridh (44, G , DAI)

Expected First XI
Bombidillyo - Jerquaad, Ysaak, Forlenza, Leitao - Demotis, Aloha, Zinchenko - Kewell, Coridai, Zakuty

As you may have gathered from at least one Astograthian sports publication, Daineri immigration has had an effect on Audioslavian football for some time. CF Daineri, formed from the ashes of two failed local football sides, have marched up the divisions on the back of the work of their countrymen. Now in their second stint in the top flight, the side have an advantage over the likes of Bomba in the relegation dogfight in that, well, CFD had been preparing for this kind of battle for years. Bomba are only just getting used to the idea.

Matchday 23
The National League
Bombarralense 3–1 CC Exiles
KT Itzalovalle 1–1 Osarese Marcadia
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
CF Daineri 1–1 Cazadores Cathair

Snatching a point from the league leaders is exactly the kind of performance that can, later on, prove the difference between surviving and dying in the National League. Zakuty’s near post equaliser takes the wind out of Caza’s sails somewhat, and fans of the capital club start to eye next week’s derby with Shamrock even more nervously. Not that theirs is the only derby that day.

KT Itzalovalle Itzi
The Antzerkia, (Cap: 48000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 4
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Echepare Rospide (29, G , ASG)
2. Liza Price (32, D R, BRE)
3. Katua Byrne (23, M L, BRE)
4. Artizar Bailo (31, DM C, ASG)
5. Alejandro Consuegra (35, D C, AUD)
6. Jerold Dickman (22, D C, HAP)
7. Yuriorkis Stelea (25, M C, AUD)
8. Kausu Dione (36, F C, BNJ)
9. Claudio Vantula (26, F C, MRT)
10. Dreigiau Parrish (30, AM C, BRE)
11. Inigo Brandão (22, M CL, AUD)
12. Deon Tonnesen-Zegarra (26, D CL, AUD)
14. Eurico Da Rosa (33, AM/F C, AUD)
15. Floriano Côtescassées (29, D L, AUD)
16. Milan Pallas (24, D RC, AUD)
17. Dunixi Oyangurengoitia (22, M R, AUD)
18. Eneko Burionagonatotorecagageazcoechea (32, M CR, AUD)
20. Reynard Salama (26, D C, EFL)
22. Vianca (33, G , DAI)
24. Yuli Magunagoikoetxea (16, M C, AUD)
Mng. Daniel Bernard (52, , VLD)

Expected First XI
Rospide - Price, Consuegra, Dickman, Côtescassées - Bailo - Byrne, Parrish, Stelea, Brandao - Vantula

The larger of the two clubs in Ferramendiak. Itzi were league champions in season seventeen and added the Kirola Cup to their trophy cabinet last season. Manager Daniel Bernard has put together a fit and capable side that, nevertheless, haven’t quite been able to maximise their points in the bigger games this season.

On matchday twenty-four, Itzi travel across town to Feri to play out the Second City Derby on Saturday afternoon, before attentions are drawn towards the capital, with Caza and Shamrock contesting a capital derby that evening.

Matchday 24
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 KT Itzalovalle
Cazadores Cathair 2–2 Shamrock Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Oljestaden IF
CC Exiles 0–2 Laivana JPS

In Ferramendiak, a goal-less stalemate suits the home side just fine, while Itzi fall further back in the fight for those IFCF spots. Later that evening, Shamrock twice take the lead, first through Torgersen’s curled free-kick and second, late on, through Archer Andrews’s powerful near-post header, but Caza reply both times, first via Hielscher-Zendagorta and secondly, at the death, through Ross Okano’s towering header, the former 1830 Cathair centre-half celebrating in front of the travelling Shamrock faithful by dancing a little jig that manages to be not only offensive but… kind of sexy? It’s weird, go google it.

Matchday 25
The National League
1830 Cathair 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Oljestaden IF 0–3 KT Ferramendiak
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 2–1 CF Daineri

Caza and Shamrock both bounce back with wins the following matchday, but the advantage Caza had had at the top has all but evaporated. Zozi have a game in hand and are just two points back and, if following the National League has convinced you of anything, it should be that if Zozi are in a title fight at the business end of the season, you don’t write them off.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          17   12   3   2    22    8  +14    39
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             16   12   1   3    27   16  +11    37
 3 KT Moreazerua              16    9   5   2    25   11  +14    32
 4 1830 Cathair               16    9   3   4    29   17  +12    30
 5 Osarese Marcadia           19    8   6   5    19   15   +4    30
 6 Shamrock Cathair           16    6   7   3    15    9   +6    25
 7 KT Ferramendiak            18    6   6   6    17   12   +5    24
 8 KT Itzalovalle             16    5   5   6    15   13   +2    20
 9 Laivana JPS                18    4   6   8    12   25  −13    18
10 CF Daineri                 16    5   1  10    14   20   −6    16
11 Bombarralense              17    4   2  11    17   32  −15    14
12 Oljestaden IF              16    3   2  11    15   32  −17    11
13 CC Exiles                  19    3   1  15    15   32  −17    10

Cathair’s defeat to Osarese Marcadia is a major setback for the Elders’s ambitions of a second league title in two seasons, but with eight games still to play nobody should be writing off any of the top four just yet.

At the bottom of the table, CC Exiles are running out of games in which to save themselves, while Oljestaden are now favourites to join them in the second division. Bomba, Daineri and Laivana have all shown at least some semblance of wherewithal this season, while outside of that shock defeat of Cathair, Olga has shown none.

Matchday 26
The National League
CF Daineri 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Oljestaden IF
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 1830 Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 4–2 KT Moreazerua

Oljestaten put up a fight at El Ruedo, but the home fans’ nerves are settled by Cristian Benitez, bringing a partially cleared ball under control, evading the attentions of Da Chong and thumping a low shot into the corner for the only goal of the game.

On Sunday afternoon, Cathair bounce back from last week’s let-down to defeat Ferramendiak via a first-half strike from Thea Squarciafichi - reinstated to the starting line-up. International attention is drawn to footage of Felixe Vetiver in the second half, increasingly agitated on the bench, as Gareth Blackburn elects to use substitutes that are inexplicably not Felixe Vetiver. Where reports of Squarciafichi’s imminent departure from Cathair dominated the headlines before Christmas, it looks like it’s Vetiver’s turn to spend more time on the back pages than on the pitch.

Matchday 27
The National League
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 Osarese Marcadia
KT Moreazerua 1–1 KT Ferramendiak
1830 Cathair 2–1 Cazadores Cathair
Oljestaden IF 0–4 CF Daineri
KT Itzalovalle 1–1 Shamrock Cathair

If Squarciafichi or Vetiver are unsettled, it doesn’t show. Not because they’ve been very good - Squarciafichi spends most of game against Caza running into the brick wall of their defence and Vetiver is almost invisible, hidden in a hilariously over-sized tracksuit and coat combination and sulking at the match under a hood - but because Alec Sharp shines too brightly for anything else to be seen. Muscling his way into the area for the first goal and launching a shot off the underside of the crossbar for 1-0, appearing out of nowhere to sumptuously direct a diving header into the far corner, harrying Caza’s midfield to strangle chances while they’re still in the womb, Cathair’s victory over Caza has Alec Sharp’s signature all over it, and Caza fans’s only consolation happens two minutes into injury time as Felixe Vetiver, on as a sub, skies a shot twenty feet over the bar from sixteen yards and makes a grand show the resulting jeers not affecting her.

Matchday 28
The National League
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 Oljestaden IF
CF Daineri 0–12 1830 Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–1 KT Moreazerua
KT Ferramendiak 0–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 Bombarralense

Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Felixe The Annoyed? I thought not. It’s not a story a Nepharim would tell you. It’s an Audioslavian legend. Darth Felixe was a false nine of the Elders, so powerful and so fast she could use her own sense of injustice to create goals out of thin air. She had such a knowledge of the gegenpress 3-5-2 that she could even keep the team he cared about from conceding goals. The dark side of Felixe Vetiver's being pissed off about not having been selected recently is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. She became so powerful… the only thing she was afraid of was being substituted, which eventually, of course, she did. Unfortunately, she had taught the players underneath her in the depth chart everything she knew, then his apprentice was brought on for Vetiver after seventy-six minutes. Ironic.

Seriously though. Vetiver (2, 17, 21p, 34, 44, 45+1, 45+3, 75p) B. Fillar (14), Squarciafichi (79, 82), Sharp (90). Leaving her out of the starting line-up for three weeks and having thousand of people mock her for being shit for seven minutes might be the key to unlocking the best of Felixe Vetiver.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          20   13   4   3    25   11  +14    43
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             18   13   2   3    29   16  +13    41
 3 1830 Cathair               19   12   3   4    44   18  +26    39
 4 Osarese Marcadia           22   10   7   5    25   18   +7    37
 5 KT Moreazerua              19    9   7   3    29   17  +12    34
 6 Shamrock Cathair           18    7   8   3    17   10   +7    29
 7 KT Ferramendiak            21    6   7   8    18   16   +2    25
 8 KT Itzalovalle             18    6   6   6    17   14   +3    24
 9 CF Daineri                 19    6   1  12    18   33  −15    19
10 Laivana JPS                18    4   6   8    12   25  −13    18
11 Bombarralense              18    4   2  12    18   34  −16    14
12 Oljestaden IF              19    3   2  14    15   38  −23    11
13 CC Exiles                  19    3   1  15    15   32  −17    10

Matchday 29
The National League
1830 Cathair 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–0 Osarese Marcadia
Bombarralense 3–1 KT Ferramendiak
AC Izotz Zubia 2–2 Cazadores Cathair
KT Moreazerua 1–1 CF Daineri
Oljestaden IF 0–1 KT Itzalovalle

After scoring twelve goals less than a week ago, Cathair cannot penetrate Shamrock's defence at all on matchday twenty-nine. It is, unfortunately for two proud capital clubs, a comedy sideshow of a match that precedes the main event - Saturday night's encounter between Cazadores and Zozi. For the home side, a victory would see them leapfrog their opponents in the league, knowing their rivals would have only three games to play compared to their own five. It stands to reason, then, that Cazadores come into the match fired up and ready to take the game to their opponents. Hielscher-Zendagorta's turn-and-shot on twenty-eight minutes breaks the deadlock, Bagshaw equalises early in the second half and sends the crowd into raptures by playing a delicious diagonal ball through to Röémün Çídh to finish for 2-1, only for Adrian Toscani to level the scores at the death to share the points. Caza had very much needed a win, and know that they will need their title rivals to stumble in order to take a fourth league title.

Matchday 30
The National League
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 1830 Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 KT Moreazerua
CF Daineri 2–4 AC Izotz Zubia
Cazadores Cathair 3–1 Bombarralense
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 Laivana JPS
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 CC Exiles

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          22   14   5   3    30   14  +16    47
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             20   14   3   3    35   20  +15    45
 3 1830 Cathair               21   13   4   4    45   18  +27    43
 4 Osarese Marcadia           24   11   7   6    27   19   +8    40
 5 KT Moreazerua              21    9   8   4    30   20  +10    35
 6 Shamrock Cathair           20    8   9   3    19   10   +9    33
 7 KT Itzalovalle             20    7   6   7    18   15   +3    27
 8 KT Ferramendiak            23    6   7  10    19   20   −1    25
 9 Laivana JPS                20    6   6   8    14   25  −11    24
10 CF Daineri                 21    6   2  13    21   38  −17    20
11 Bombarralense              20    5   2  13    22   38  −16    17
12 Oljestaden IF              20    3   2  15    15   39  −24    11
13 CC Exiles                  20    3   1  16    15   34  −19    10

Aside from Shamrock out-classing Mozi in eastern Cathair, there's little to write home about on matchday 30. Caza beat Bombarralense, Cathair overcome Itzi's challenge and Zozi ease past CF Daineri to keep the top three together with just two, four or three games to go depending on your team.

It's that time of the season where everyone in Audioslavia starts talking about MPP - Maximum Possible Points. Caza, on 47 points can hit 53 at most come the end of the season. Cathair, on 43, can hit 52 and Zozi, on 45, can hit 57. In fourth place, Osarese Marcadia, on 40 points, can hit a maximum possible total of, er, 40. They've played each and every one of their games already this season and will be watching the rest of the campaign from a beach somewhere. Whether or not they'll be playing in the Champions League next season depends entirely on the two teams below them. Mozi will overtake them with a win and two draws from their final three games, Shamrock with two wins and a draw from their last four.

At the bottom, nobody is mathematically down yet, but CC Exiles and Oljestaden look to be favourites for the descent to the second flight. The Oilers travel to 1830 Cathair on matchday 31 needing nothing short of a repeat of their 5-1 shellacking of the champions in order to have more than a mathematical hope of safety.

Matchday 31
The National League
CC Exiles 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
Laivana JPS 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Bombarralense 1–0 CF Daineri
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 Shamrock Cathair
KT Moreazerua 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
1830 Cathair 1–1 Oljestaden IF

Monday night's game sees Oljestaden hold Cathair to a draw. It does almost nothing for the visitors, who are still looking down the barrel of a relegation, but it incenses the home crowd who have, by now, had to watch their team drop five points to one of the worst teams in the league.

Cathair lose touch with Cazadores, victorious over Laivana, and AC Izotz Zubia who win out in a richly entertaining game against Shamrock, with Erdokiain netting a late winner to send the home fans wild.

Matchday 32
The National League
Oljestaden IF 1–1 KT Moreazerua
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
Shamrock Cathair 2–1 Bombarralense
CF Daineri 1–1 Laivana JPS
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 CC Exiles

Matchday 32 is Caza's last of the season. They have done what they can, taking victory over a doomed CC Exiles, but only after Zozi's away win over Itzalovalle. Caza fans' only hopes now lie in incantations and prayer. Candle sales in western Cathair increase by 300%.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   5   3    32   14  +18    53
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             22   16   3   3    38   21  +17    51
 3 1830 Cathair               22   13   5   4    46   19  +17    44
 4 Osarese Marcadia           24   11   7   6    27   19   +8    40
 5 KT Moreazerua              23   10   9   4    32   21  +11    39
 6 Shamrock Cathair           22    9   9   4    22   13   +9    36
 7 KT Ferramendiak            24    7   7  10    20   20    0    28
 8 KT Itzalovalle             22    7   6   9    18   17   +1    27
 9 Laivana JPS                22    6   7   9    15   27  −12    25
10 CF Daineri                 23    6   3  14    22   40  −18    21
11 Bombarralense              22    6   2  14    24   40  −16    20
12 Oljestaden IF              22    3   4  15    17   41  −24    13
13 CC Exiles                  22    3   1  18    15   36  −21    10

Meanwhile, Oljestaden grab a credible draw with Moreazerua, who are looking less and less likely of overtaking Osarese for that final Champions League spot, but it's not enough. With two games to go, Oljestaden are relegated.

Matchday 33
The National League
CC Exiles 0–2 CF Daineri
Laivana JPS 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
Bombarralense 0–0 KT Itzalovalle
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 Oljestaden IF
KT Moreazerua 0–1 1830 Cathair

Zozi are brutal. There is to be no final-day drama at the top of the table. A game Oljestaden take the lead but are pegged back, beaten and sent to the second flight with their tails between their legs with one swoop of Johnathan Baghshaw's boot. Caza are consigned to P2 for the second season in a row.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             23   17   3   3    40   22  +18    54
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   5   3    32   14  +18    53
 3 1830 Cathair               23   14   5   4    47   19  +28    47
 4 Osarese Marcadia           24   11   7   6    27   19   +8    40
 5 KT Moreazerua              24   10   9   5    32   22  +10    39
 6 Shamrock Cathair           23   10   9   4    24   14  +10    39
 7 KT Itzalovalle             23    7   7   9    18   17   +1    28
 8 KT Ferramendiak            24    7   7  10    20   20    0    28
 9 Laivana JPS                23    6   7  10    16   29  −13    25
10 CF Daineri                 24    7   3  14    24   40  −16    24
11 Bombarralense              23    6   3  14    24   40  −16    21
12 Oljestaden IF              23    3   4  16    18   43  −25    13
13 CC Exiles                  23    3   1  19    15   38  −23    10

Cathair's victory over Mozi does nothing for the visitors, yet confirms Moreazerua will not play in the Champions League next season. Fans of Osarese celebrate from their beaches, but are now relying on Shamrock Cathair to drop points at home to, er, CC Exiles.

Enjoy it while you can, boys.

The National League
1830 Cathair 3–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Oljestaden IF 0–1 Bombarralense
KT Itzalovalle 2–1 Laivana JPS
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 CC Exiles

1830 Cathair douse Zozi's title celebrations ever so slightly with a 3-2 victory on the final day. The goals come from a Vetiver flying volley, a Squarciafichi near-post finish and a header from substitute Alex Sharp. Should Gareth Blackthorn just bite the bullet and play all three of his strikers at the same time? A question for next season, perhaps.

They haven't quite been good enough this season, but are at least back in the Champions League for the second season in a row. Also in the Champions League is Shamrock, who get that victory over Osarese and confine them to the Challengers Cup. At the bottom, Laivana lose out to Itzalovalle, who leapfrog their city rivals Ferramendiak into the seventh and final IFCF spot.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   17   3   4    42   25  +17    54 IFCF CL, CAFA LA
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   5   3    32   14  +18    53 IFCF CL
 3 1830 Cathair               24   15   5   4    50   21  +29    50 IFCF CL
 4 Shamrock Cathair           24   11   9   4    25   14  +11    42 IFCF CL
 5 Osarese Marcadia           24   11   7   6    27   19   +8    40 IFCF ChC
 6 KT Moreazerua              24   10   9   5    32   22  +10    39 IFCF ChC
 7 KT Itzalovalle             24    8   7   9    20   18   +2    31 IFCF ChC
 8 KT Ferramendiak            24    7   7  10    20   20    0    28
 9 Laivana JPS                24    6   7  11    17   31  −14    25
10 CF Daineri                 24    7   3  14    24   40  −16    24
11 Bombarralense              24    7   3  14    25   40  −15    24
12 Oljestaden IF              24    3   4  17    18   44  −26    13 Relegated
13 CC Exiles                  24    3   1  20    15   39  −24    10 Relegated

Kirola Cup R1
Viking Halehavn 2–3 Crossport Dynamo
Necromarinai 0–1 Santa Margarida
DDM Dunas Secas 2–1 Sobrevolante
2130 Calolziolungho 1–2 Cerejeiras
KT Koroatuz 3–0 Frecce
Tenth Star Hasiera 1–0 The Oran
KT Kanpoldelko 1–0 Orquideas
Cazadores Cathair 5–2 Union Cathair
Fundición 0–0 Huiszwalluw FC (0–1 AET)
Burdoc Ridge 2–0 Excelsior Zijweg
CC Exiles 3–0 Guerrilla Cathair
KT Moreazerua 5–1 KT Ferratzaileak
Hibernação 0–0 Isle of Kjeligsted FC (1–0 AET)
CF Daineri 0–1 Sparta Zijweg
Clockwork FC 0–2 KT Ferramendiak
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Kitherwell 0–1 Ceilerden Rovers
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 1–4 AS Marcadia
Ceilerden Harp 0–2 Shamrock Cathair
Artiglieria 0–0 Lemmitania State FC (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Bombarralense 1–0 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Uniao Tortuguita 0–1 CdF Celtade
CF Herradores 0–3 Crossport Mariners
1830 Cathair 2–0 Reina Del Sud
KT Laranjauzia 1–0 Valens AV
Alistoun Academicals 1–1 Corações (2–1 AET)
Vidrieros 1–3 AC Izotz Zubia
Laranjeiras 0–1 Oljestaden IF
C.D. Portobranco 2–1 Silexhera FC
Eletti Valligiani 1–1 Iron Brewery (2–1 AET)
KT Itzalovalle 4–1 Laivana JPS
CdFS Ilheiros 2–2 Valão (2–2 AET) (5–4 pen.)

Kirola Cup R2
Burdoc Ridge 1–0 Crossport Mariners
KT Moreazerua 2–0 C.D. Portobranco
Santa Margarida 1–3 KT Ferramendiak
CdF Celtade 1–1 KT Laranjauzia (1–1 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Hibernação 0–2 Sparta Zijweg
Bombarralense 2–0 DDM Dunas Secas
Huiszwalluw FC 0–3 Ceilerden Rovers
KT Koroatuz 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Tenth Star Hasiera 1–0 Alistoun Academicals
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 Cerejeiras
CC Exiles 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 3–1 Eletti Valligiani
Crossport Dynamo 2–3 Artiglieria
KT Kanpoldelko 1–0 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 3–0 CdFS Ilheiros
Oljestaden IF 1–0 AS Marcadia

Kirola Cup R3
Burdoc Ridge 0–0 KT Itzalovalle (0–0 AET) (3–4 pen.)
KT Moreazerua 6–0 KT Kanpoldelko
Shamrock Cathair 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Cazadores Cathair 1–1 Bombarralense (2–1 AET)
Ceilerden Rovers 0–0 1830 Cathair (1–0 AET)
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 Sparta Zijweg (0–2 AET)
Oljestaden IF 5–0 CdF Celtade
Artiglieria 0–0 Tenth Star Hasiera (0–1 AET)

Kirola Cup QF
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 Oljestaden IF
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Ceilerden Rovers
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Sparta Zijweg
KT Itzalovalle 2–0 Tenth Star Hasiera

Kirola Cup SF
KT Moreazerua 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
AC Izotz Zubia 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Kirola Cup Final
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 KT Moreazerua

Cazadores gain a measure of revenge on Zozi by defeating their title rivals in the semi-finals of the Kirola Cup. In the final, Mozi have the better of the play but, in his last game for the club, Koenraad Rijsbergen can't muster a goal for his side. The match winner is, instead, one Kepler Marcel Gouveia de Souza, commonly known as Vegeta, who snatches a defensive pass, bursts through a gap in the defence and fires in the only goal of the game.

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:19 pm

Season 21

The Stadium Tour
Part One

Union Cathair The Misfits
Shepworth Racecourse Ground, (Cap: 7500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Commodore Pumphrey (30, G , AUD)
2. Darrin Cancel (26, D RC, AUD)
4. Ford MacAll (20, M C, AUD)
5. Cooper Rees (23, D C, AUD)
6. Alan Crockett (27, D C, AUD)
7. Zorion Aiza (25, M R, AUD)
8. Luis Rey (24, AM C, AUD)
9. Kirill Kozlovsky (20, F C, AUD)
10. Stefan Laar (24, F C, AUD)
11. Gaspar Conceicao (24, M L, AUD)
12. Randall Baron (17, D/M C, AUD)
14. Antonio Bonacci (28, M R, AUD)
15. Giulio Diorio (24, F C, AUD)
16. Conor Maxfield (21, G , AUD)
20. Dick Munro-Moura (29, M C, AUD)
Mng. Salvador Monterroso (40, D C, AUD)

Shepworth was nice about 400 years ago. History books tell of an exposition lit by actual electric lightbulbs, a cricket club that tried, and failed, to introduce cricket to Cafundeu, and a holiday park full of pre-fab ‘chalets’, two swimming pools and a go-kart track where you could almost lose a limb for just one dollar. The intervening years haven’t been entirely kind to the area, which has gone from middle-class residential to low-class residential to trendy to students to gentrified to middle class and now back to working-class once more. One constant over the centuries has been the races.

Greyhound Racing, or more accurately the wider gambling industry, enjoys periods of interest in Audioslavia. The industry grows and shrinks in the opposite way to the economy, meaning these days it’s as big as it’s ever been. Greyhound Racing is a sport as simple as the animals that compete in it. You ever own a greyhound and think ‘oh man, walking this is going to be a pain’. Not at all. You let it out at the local park, the greyhound runs four laps of it in thirteen seconds, and then you take the dog home again so it can sleep. Greyhound racing goes for two laps of a 450m track (IE, the outside of an athletics running track), with the winner being given a lot of hugs and attention and food and the loser being given a lot of hugs and attention and food, as per Audioslavian equality laws enforcing equal levels of who’s-a-good-boy-is-it-you-is-it-you-yes-it-is for all working animals. Come here on the first weekend in June and you’ll see Formula One racing, which is absolutely not what you think it is. Glorified steel roll-cages on tractor tyres churning up the track in circles until a winner is crowned ‘F1 Champion’. It has its fans. The ‘World Championship’, ‘Anaian Championship’ and ‘Audioslavian Championship’ are all held at Shepworth every year, with largely the same group of forty-something enthusiasts competing in each race.

As far as ‘places to watch football’ go, the Racecourse Ground is either the greatest ever or the worst ever. If you’re a footballing luddite that felt the sport went too far when clubs started using collars on their shirts instead of just tying things together with string, you likely love it. You’re far from the pitch, sure - I mean if you were this far from the pitch at El Ruedo you’d be in someone’s living room - but you’re covered from the elements and, if Union are doing well, their goalscorer will come and slide through the muddy racecourse ring to celebrate with you.

It’s the worst stadium to come to if you’ve in any way become accustomed to stadiums having cinemas, bucket seats and enough tournaments. Not to mention the fact that this season’s Union team are… not in good shape. This is their fifth match of the season. They’ve lost the previous four without scoring.

The Osarese fans around me groan late in the first half, when Stefan Laar jumps in at the far post to bundle Union’s first goal of the season over the line. In the distance one can just about make out a man in a Giovanni Careva suit scowling quietly at his team walking back to the centre circle. It’s unlikely that Fabio Mancini has had to pay for a meal in a restaurant in Marcadia for the last few years, so long as he stays in the sections with Osarian influence and immigration. Former Osarese Marcadia player, then player manager, now manager, the club named their stadium after him a decade ago and Mancini continues to slowly push the side deeper and deeper into the echelons of the ‘big six’, the cabal of Audioslavian teams that have dominated football in this country for, well, ever.

It’s not a surprise when Jiang Jieren provides the equaliser for Phil Cole, nor is it a surprise when a Loisé Camserhe header puts Osarese ahead early in the second half. Phil Cole provides a third for Sepúlveda and Bong Min-Joong pops up in the box to direct a fourth into the Union goal. All the while, that Giovanni Careva suit continues to scowl quietly at the field. Mancini’s players know what is expected of them so deeply that there really is very little point in getting angry at them when things go wrong.

Matchday 1
National League
Cazadores Cathair 0–0 Osarese Marcadia
CF Daineri 1–0 Union Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–3 Shamrock Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 0–2 KT Moreazerua

Matchday 2
National League
Shamrock Cathair 4–3 KT Ferramendiak
Union Cathair 0–1 Laivana JPS
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 CF Daineri
Bombarralense 1–0 1830 Cathair

Matchday 3
National League
KT Koroatuz 0–3 Bombarralense
Laivana JPS 1–3 Osarese Marcadia
KT Ferramendiak 3–0 Union Cathair
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 4
National League
Union Cathair 0–2 KT Moreazerua
Osarese Marcadia 1–1 KT Ferramendiak
Bombarralense 1–5 AC Izotz Zubia
1830 Cathair 5–1 KT Koroatuz

Matchday 5
National League
AC Izotz Zubia 2–2 1830 Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 2–3 Bombarralense
KT Moreazerua 0–0 Osarese Marcadia
Shamrock Cathair 3–2 Union Cathair

Matchday 6
National League
Osarese Marcadia 3–1 Shamrock Cathair
Bombarralense 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
1830 Cathair 2–4 KT Itzalovalle
KT Koroatuz 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 7
National League
KT Itzalovalle 3–0 KT Koroatuz
Cazadores Cathair 2–3 1830 Cathair
CF Daineri 2–2 Bombarralense
Union Cathair 1–4 Osarese Marcadia

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Osarese Marcadia            7    4   3   0    12    4   +8    15
 2 Shamrock Cathair            5    3   1   1    12   10   +2    10
 3 Bombarralense               6    3   1   2    10   11   −1    10
 4 KT Moreazerua               4    2   2   0     5    1   +4     8
 5 AC Izotz Zubia              3    2   1   0     9    4   +5     7
 6 1830 Cathair                5    2   1   2    12   10   +2     7
 7 KT Itzalovalle              3    2   0   1     9    5   +4     6
 8 Cazadores Cathair           3    1   1   1     4    3   +1     4
 9 KT Ferramendiak             4    1   1   2     7    7    0     4
10 CF Daineri                  3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
11 Laivana JPS                 3    1   0   2     3    6   −3     3
12 Union Cathair               6    0   0   6     3   14  −11     0
13 KT Koroatuz                 4    0   0   4     2   13  −11     0

Osarese fans leave the stadium more relieved than anything else. It's been an excellent start to the season for Mancini's club. They have indeed played more games than anyone else, but so far no team looks to be bettering their record. I know, I know, I've been told so many times to read literally nothing into the National League table after just a
handful of games, but still, Osarese fans are daring to dream and going into every match with their butts firmly clenched.

by **Audioslavia** » Wed Nov 02, 2022 7:00 pm

The Stadium Tour
Part Two

Matchday 8
National League
Bombarralense 1–0 Laivana JPS
1830 Cathair 5–0 CF Daineri
KT Koroatuz 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–3 KT Itzalovalle

Matchday 9
National League
Cazadores Cathair 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
CF Daineri 1–2 KT Koroatuz
Laivana JPS 0–4 1830 Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–1 Bombarralense

Matchday 10
National League
Bombarralense 0–1 KT Moreazerua
1830 Cathair 6–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Koroatuz 1–1 Laivana JPS
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 CF Daineri
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Cazadores Cathair

Matchday 11
National League
CF Daineri 0–2 KT Itzalovalle
Laivana JPS 2–2 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Ferramendiak 3–1 KT Koroatuz
KT Moreazerua 0–3 1830 Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 1–2 Bombarralense

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair                9    6   1   2    30   10  +20    19
 2 Bombarralense              10    5   2   3    14   14    0    17
 3 Osarese Marcadia            7    4   3   0    12    4   +8    15
 4 KT Itzalovalle              6    4   1   1    14    7   +7    13
 5 KT Moreazerua               6    3   2   1     6    4   +2    11
 6 AC Izotz Zubia              7    2   4   1    13    9   +4    10
 7 Shamrock Cathair            6    3   1   2    13   12   +1    10
 8 Cazadores Cathair           6    2   3   1     6    3   +3     9
 9 KT Ferramendiak             7    2   2   3    11   15   −4     8
10 Laivana JPS                 7    1   2   4     6   14   −8     5
11 CF Daineri                  7    1   2   4     4   12   −8     5
12 KT Koroatuz                 8    1   1   6     6   20  −14     4
13 Union Cathair               6    0   0   6     3   14  −11     0

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:49 am

The Stadium Tour
Part Three

Shamrock Cathair Shammers
Glass Bridge Stadium, (Cap: 31500). Cathair, Central

Domestic Honours - 4
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 1
Squad
1. Constance Creighton (21, G , AUD)
2. Carmelo MacCowan (32, D/M LCR, AUD)
3. Aron McKenna (31, D L, TJU)
4. Archer Flat (32, D C, AUD)
6. Oran Anders (28, D C, AUD)
7. Sho Itō (27, M/F R, SQR)
8. Gabriel Buvalelli (26, M C, SVG)
9. Archer Andrews (29, F C, TJU)
10. Emilia Torgersen (24, AM C, VAL)
13. Edith Fillar (21, M L, CMT)
18. Alessandro Merola (26, D R, AUD)
19. Fergus Sloan (33, M L, GRU)
21. Fraser Mackintosh (23, D LC, AUD)
22. Thomas McFarland (35, G , AUD)
24. Euan MacArthur (23, D C, AUD)
26. Lucas Keir (22, DM C, AUD)
27. Jan MacLaren (18, F C, AUD)
29. Cohen MacVicar (21, M C, AUD)
30. Joziah McKinnon (17, F C, AUD)
Mng. Alexander Crewe (42, F C, APX)

The Glass Bridge - pronounced with the emphasis on ‘Glass’ as if you’re differentiating it from an iron bridge and a wood bridge - was built in that brief period where hipster engineers would sweat into their top-hats and waggle their chops excitedly at the endless possibilities of glass as a construction material. It turned out ‘endless’ was a bit of a misnomer, so while there’s plenty of glass on the Glass Bridge, it is mainly steel. 100 metres long, the bottom section connects the western and eastern banks of the River Seam (pronounced ‘Sham’) while the top section, fifty metres up, is for trains stopping at Seamroc Station a kilometre away up the hill on the line that connects Cathair to Crossport and Ceilerden to the west, all the way to Laivana in the far north west. Seamroc is an old word for the area that refers to the tall cliff on the western side of the river Seam. It also gives The Shamrock Football Club their title; the plant was adopted based on the name. Most of Cathair refers to the area as Glassbridge.

Glass Bridge Stadium has a similarly confusing etymology. Inspired by the name of the district, sure, but it’s named as such for the, er, glass bridge curving over and around the stadium. A popular destination for runners, this glass bridge is actually made of glass everywhere except for the bolts and suspension cables. The bridge offers excellent views of the stadium, starting six hundred metres from its northern point and ending six-hundred metres from its southern point and following a smooth arc that takes it ten metres above the west stand. And yes, it is closed during games on most occasions, though competition winners and social media influencers have occasionally been invited to watch games from the bridge in the summer.

You wouldn’t want to be up there in winter. Aside from the perpetual rain making the surface slippery, the wind would make you want to jump off by the time the second half started.

I meet Maati in a nearby pub named The Devil’s Share, so named for the whisky lost from a barrel due to some chemistry thing I never really understood. We partake of a local Glassbridge Whisky - a harsh, peaty monstrosity that suggests nobody in this country knows how whisky works - and share Matti’s flask on the way to the ground, marvelling at the bridge sparkling in the evening sun.

At the away end, Matti and I are directly behind the goal, with the steep north stand towering above us. While few Laivana fans made the long trip to Koroatuz a few weeks ago, the away section is almost full - I counted one spare seat, thankfully next to me, where I could put my Spicey Cabbage, Leak and Sausage wrap down to cool for a minute and, having taken a bite, leave it to cool down forever in a handy place that isn’t my mouth.

As with our last match, Laivana start slowly. Shamrock, however, are in no mood to let us (look at me calling a team of a place I’d never visited before this year ‘us’) off so easily. Archer Flat bundles a header in on eight minutes and namesake Archer Andrews finishes at the near-post on eighteen minutes for what looks to be an unassailable lead.

Shamrock take their foot off the gas in the second half and almost pay for it. Laivana force two corners in a row and a now fully-inebriated crowd roar their approval for their team. Teenage substitute Gunner Laursen, a local Laivanan, hits a half-volley into the ground and up into the roof of the net for 2-1 and the resulting celebrations send my coffee flying into the night sky. Laivana push for an equaliser that never comes.

After the game, Matti is philosophical, figuring an away day in the capital is always going to yield zero points. Having booked a hotel for the night, we shared a whisky in the hotel bar - this one a proper whisky-tasting whisky from up north - and went our separate ways. We’ll be meeting in the capital once more in a few weeks time for Laivana’s visit to 1830 Cathair. First, though, my journey will take me back to the Herradura.

KT Ferramendiak Feri
Burdina Jauregia, (Cap: 85000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Vikingen (25, G , DAI)
2. Zorion Mendizabal (27, D RC, AUD)
3. Yon Maurtua (27, D L, ISK)
4. Kel Malaxetxebarria (25, M C, AUD)
5. Bryton Menheniot (35, DM C, APX)
6. Andrés Calvo (23, D C, AUD)
7. Briareo Asaguirreiturri (23, M R, AUD)
8. Erroman Gorriaran (26, M LC, AUD)
9. Davide Laguardia (30, F C, AUD)
10. Jacobo Escalera (19, F C, AUD)
11. Garfield Etxeleku (27, M L, AUD)
12. Vicente Concepcion (26, DM C, AUD)
12. Erroman Goitiz (17, F C, AUD)
13. Mis (29, G , DAI)
14. Franco Almanzar (27, AM C, AUD)
15. Zorion Santisteban (32, M LC, AUD)
16. Guerechen Riaz (16, D C, AUD)
18. Renato Serres (16, D C, AUD)
20. Gabriel Montilla (26, F C, AUD)
Mng. Orson Faulkner (55, D CR, BRE)

The City of Ferramendiak started life in a similar way to Koroatuz - up high on a hill, don’t take our taxes, wouldn’t it be a shame if the water came in and killed youse all - but while Koroatuz largely rejected the outside world, Ferramendiak grew to embrace it. The Second City of Audioslavia in terms of size and importance, Ferramendiak has long since expanded into the valleys around their mountain and up and around the surrounding six hills. The big businesses and political centres have all migrated from the original home of the city, a double-peaked mountain rich in iron ore that gives the city its name, and there are places where you could swear you were in Cathair were it not for the lack of sewer smells and the fact that sunset is basically 4pm year round because the hills are all in the way of the sunlight.

KT Itzalovalle are the Big Team in the city, but it’s Ferramendiak who play at the biggest stadium. Not just in the city, but in the nation.

Built for World Cup 75, the Burden Jauregia is a thing of beauty. The oval-shaped exterior is covered with criss-cross patterns of red iron that make the ground appear to be some sort of nest for a meteor-sized bird. The criss-cross patterns are visible through the slatted roof of the stadium, the angles of which cause a loud whooshing whistle sound when the wind hits at the right angle. With a capacity of 85,000 it is now the largest by seating in the country, with the older, similarly sized Arena Kirola in Cathar having downsized somewhat in pursuit of safety and comfort. The stadium is also home to the most depressingly wonderful sandwich/burger thing I have ever had. No animals were harmed, or milked, for this goats cheese and onion tofu burger and yet it tastes twice as good as the real thing. This is a burger fit for a king. And it's a stadium fit for either a strong national team or a domestic champion, and is home to neither. Audioslavia continue to play their home games at the Arena Kirola in Cathair - and besides can hardly be called a strong national team these days - while inhabitants KT Ferramendiak are traditionally a yo-yo club with just one major trophy to their name - a cup win sixteen seasons ago.

These days, Orson Faulkner is getting the best out of what he has. Relying on Brenecian veterans in his first couple of years at the club, Faulkner has put together a more experimental line-up for this season, with Yon Maurtua and Briareo Asaguirreiturri bolstering the team on the flanks.

Visitors Osarese Marcadia have fans here in numbers, but there’s still ‘only’ 26,000 fans here across the lower tiers of the stadium. Marcadia fans can’t quite find their singing voice and Feri, who are more than used to playing in a largely empty stadium, create chances early. Asaguirreiturri finds Laguardia in the box twice, but for the striker managing to find only the legs of Saoirise on one occasion and the foot of the post the next. Teenage striker Jacobo Escalera finally breaks the deadlock, ramming home a loose ball from a poorly defended corner for the only goal of the game.

Upon the final whistle, Osarese’s players look shattered. This is a team trying to keep up with the big boys at the top of the league table and that, coupled with playing in a largely empty stadium (former Feri midfielder Finn Townsend has called playing in an empty stadium ‘exhausting’ due to the lack of added adrenaline that comes from playing in front of a baying crowd), makes for a tired and sorry looking team entering the dugout. Manager Fabio Mancini doesn’t seem upset, however. He tries to pick the boys up as they head down the tunnel. It’s a long season, and there’s plenty of time left in it.

I glance towards the tunnel and see someone looking straight at me, or so it seems. Impossible. He can’t be looking at me all the way up here, can he? And yet I’m pretty sure Helios Roy and I share a brief moment before he disappears into the dressing room.

Outside the stadium, I find my way to a bar that Matti had recommended. Named Uso Galdua, which apparently translates as ‘The Lost Pigeon’, the pub is as high up the Iron Mountain as anyone dare build and can only be gotten to from here via a taxi and a funicular. It’s 9pm by the time I arrive, but it’s worth it. Cozy, wooden and warm with various log fires, I find my way to a corner seat where I’m eventually joined by a couple with a distinct Marcadian accent. Their names are Giacomo and Verita and they came here to very specifically not talk about football, but not before I sweet-talk them into meeting me later in my journey, when I finally get to Marcadia on matchday thirty-two. Giacomo, who works in Ferramendiak, promises to show me the ‘Burgundy sky’ of his home town. Without the context of having heard the Osarese Marcadia crowd chant about the red sky over their stadium it might have been the most ominous thing anyone had ever said to me.

Matchday 12
National League
Bombarralense 5–0 Union Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Koroatuz 1–2 KT Moreazerua
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Itzalovalle 3–0 Laivana JPS
Cazadores Cathair 5–2 CF Daineri

Matchday 13
National League
Laivana JPS 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–1 KT Itzalovalle
KT Moreazerua 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Shamrock Cathair 5–1 KT Koroatuz
Union Cathair 0–6 1830 Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Bombarralense

Matchday 14
National League
1830 Cathair 4–3 Osarese Marcadia
KT Koroatuz 0–1 Union Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 1–3 KT Moreazerua
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
CF Daineri 0–1 Laivana JPS

Matchday 15
National League
KT Ferramendiak 3–0 CF Daineri
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 KT Itzalovalle
Union Cathair 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 KT Koroatuz

Matchday 16
National League
AC Izotz Zubia 1–1 Osarese Marcadia
KT Itzalovalle 5–0 Union Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Shamrock Cathair
CF Daineri 0–4 KT Moreazerua
Laivana JPS 1–2 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 17
National League
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Laivana JPS
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 CF Daineri
Union Cathair 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 KT Itzalovalle

Matchday 18
National League
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Union Cathair 1–0 CF Daineri
Shamrock Cathair 2–1 Laivana JPS
KT Moreazerua 0–0 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 19
National League
KT Ferramendiak 1–3 Shamrock Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–1 Union Cathair
CF Daineri 2–5 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 1–0 Bombarralense

Matchday 20
National League
Bombarralense 0–0 KT Koroatuz
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Laivana JPS
Union Cathair 1–1 KT Ferramendiak
Shamrock Cathair 2–2 KT Moreazerua

Matchday 21
National League
KT Moreazerua 2–0 Union Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–0 Osarese Marcadia
AC Izotz Zubia 0–1 Bombarralense
KT Koroatuz 1–3 1830 Cathair

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               14   11   1   2    45   14  +31    34
 2 KT Moreazerua              15    9   5   1    21    8  +13    32
 3 Osarese Marcadia           16    9   4   3    27   14  +13    31
 4 Shamrock Cathair           15    7   4   4    27   20   +7    25
 5 Bombarralense              15    7   3   5    20   16   +4    24
 6 KT Ferramendiak            16    6   5   5    21   24   −3    23
 7 KT Itzalovalle             12    6   3   3    25   14  +11    21
 8 Cazadores Cathair          13    6   3   4    14    8   +6    21
 9 AC Izotz Zubia             13    4   7   2    18   11   +7    19
10 Union Cathair              16    3   2  11     8   35  −27    11
11 Laivana JPS                15    2   3  10    10   25  −15     9
12 KT Koroatuz                14    1   2  11    10   33  −23     5
13 CF Daineri                 14    1   2  11     8   32  −24     5

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:13 pm

The Stadium Tour
Part Four

CF Daineri Os Brilhantes
Batmacumbastadion, (Cap: 14200). Corvidra, Ocorno

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Tomcio (27, G , DAI)
2. Jerquaad (33, D CR, DAI)
3. Axel Tesoro (35, D L, AUD)
4. Olena Zinchenko (21, M C, TJU)
5. Akakios Demotis (19, M C, VDR)
6. Stamatios Christakos (28, D C, VDR)
7. Circe (35, F C, DAI)
8. Aloha (33, M/F C, DAI)
9. Jeph'dinoes (32, F C, DAI)
10. Tim Kewell (29, F C, STR)
11. Coridai (32, F C, DAI)
12. Miguelito Leitão (21, D C, CBZ)
13. Jiskastnya (32, AM C, DAI)
14. Cechy (28, M C, DAI)
15. Amone Forlenza (27, D C, MCO)
16. Reese Russell (21, D RCL, EFL)
17. Mauithay (33, M C, DAI)
18. Ysaak (33, D RCL, DAI)
20. Zakuty (32, F C, DAI)
Mng. Winfridh (45, G , DAI)

Audioslavian football often marries the sublime and the ridiculous. At one end you have the awe-inspiring AC Izotz Zubia and everything about them, at the other there’s CF Daineri and its team of absurdly named footballers playing in the absurdly named Batmacumbastadion. The ground is named after Batmacumba, a footballer who played out a 24-year career for teams like Tommy-Atkins, Jhanna City, Tout-Puissant Hasiera, 1830 Cathair and, finally, CF Daineri. He was, of course, a Daineri goalkeeper.

Quite why Audioslavian football decided Dainer was the only source of professional top quality goalkeepers it needed is beyond me and beyond everyone I’ve ever asked. They have a certain style, certainly, commanding their penalty area the way a goose would command a squash court if its eggs were lying in a corner of it, performing great feats of acrobatics to stop certain goals as a necessary side-effect of their horrendous sense of positioning, like a snail whose tentacles have evolved into one tiny lightsaber as a response to losing the shell that had done a perfectly serviceable job for the previous four hundred thousand million years. Batmacumba had been the first, signed first by Tout-Puissant Hasiera and then by 1830 Cathair as backup to Kiki Nuremberg. AC Izotz Zubia would sign their own Daineri reserve goalkeeper, Acquafresca, who would take the same shirt number as Batmacumba at Cathair - 13. It started quite a fashion. Pendergarst wearing 13 at Mozi, Tucunduvá joining his countryman at Cathair, then Uolleys and Bombidillyo and Futuyna and, outfield, Caceres and Yvete and Badminton and Umbro and Menderchuk and Aranha and now Ferus and Qaqilek and Jerquaad and Tomcio and Vikingen and Mis and Vianca and Yoruyoru and Jerquaad and Dashmati and Syerra and Saorise and Jerquaad and Syntylla. Some goalkeepers, some outfielders, one Jerquaad and his career that has taken him from to Shamrock Cathair and KT Moreazerua and Cazadores Cathair and AC Izotz Zubia and KT Ferramendiak, many wearing the number 13 and many not. And many who will go on to play for CF Daineri at some point in their career.

That’s where Jerquaad is at now, and as I see him spoon a basic forward pass out of play to cede possession from nothing, I do kind of wonder what literally half the teams in the league ever saw in him. CF Daineri aren’t all Daineri - there are Audioslvians, an Eastfielder, a Vdaran and the like - they instead take their name for the expat community that made the city of Corvidra their own and apparently insisted it have a top flight football team.

Corvidra, you’ll be relieved to hear, has nothing to do with Corvidae or indeed crows at all. It’s simply named for its industry and its place in the world. Industry: Glassmaking. Place: Ocorno, a Lusophone section of northern Audioslavia shaped like a large horn. Corn. Vidra. Corvidra. It’s a singularly beautiful town, popular with tourists. It receives the same warm weather front that makes nearby Kjeligsted largely desertified but just about manages to stay warm in winter and dry in summer. The town is specked with quaint boutiques and jewellers and adjacent industries, yet has a youthful underbelly and a student culture that ensures what few anime cons in Audioslavia often happen in Corvidra.

After a walk around the city, the concrete stadium is a bit of a let-down. Jerquaad is a bit of a let-down. The away fans are also a let-down.

1830 Cathair supporters do not travel well. In fact, they barely travel at all. Away stands up and down the country are instead visited by locals who long ago adopted the capital club as its team, likely just to avoid accusations of being a loser. They spend the sorts of money that keeps some smaller clubs, like CF Daineri, going in the colder months, but the noise is non-existent. Nevertheless, a listless Daineri side fall apart like bits of wet cake from a stainless steel codpiece as first Squarciafichi, then Baillaire net for the visitors, to the mild golf-clap of a few hundred northerners who have made the twenty-kilometre trip.

For sale at half time here is the humble Bifana, which I assumed would be a boring 5/10 sandwich but is instead an eleven. It’s just beef and bread. It’s barely seasoned. It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I don’t understand.

This place is weird.

As I make my way back to Cathair on the train, I know none of the away fans from the match are coming with me. Good riddance to them, for a few days at least.

Matchday 22
National League
1830 Cathair 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Bombarralense 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Osarese Marcadia 1–2 KT Moreazerua
Union Cathair 0–2 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 23
National League
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 Osarese Marcadia
Cazadores Cathair 0–0 Bombarralense
KT Itzalovalle 3–2 1830 Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 KT Koroatuz

Matchday 24
National League
KT Koroatuz 0–4 KT Itzalovalle
1830 Cathair 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Bombarralense 6–1 CF Daineri
Osarese Marcadia 8–4 Union Cathair

Matchday 25
National League
Laivana JPS 0–1 Bombarralense
CF Daineri 1–2 1830 Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 KT Koroatuz
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 26
National League
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 Cazadores Cathair
KT Koroatuz 1–2 CF Daineri
1830 Cathair 8–3 Laivana JPS
Bombarralense 0–0 KT Ferramendiak

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               19   13   1   5    58   24  +34    40
 2 Osarese Marcadia           19   10   5   4    36   20  +16    35
 3 KT Moreazerua              16   10   5   1    23    9  +14    35
 4 Bombarralense              20    9   5   6    27   18   +9    32
 5 KT Itzalovalle             16    9   3   4    34   18  +16    30
 6 AC Izotz Zubia             17    7   8   2    25   13  +12    29
 7 Shamrock Cathair           17    8   5   4    29   20   +9    29
 8 Cazadores Cathair          17    8   5   4    16    8   +8    29
 9 KT Ferramendiak            17    6   6   5    21   24   −3    24
10 Union Cathair              18    3   2  13    12   45  −33    11
11 Laivana JPS                17    2   3  12    13   34  −21     9
12 CF Daineri                 17    2   2  13    12   41  −29     8
13 KT Koroatuz                18    1   2  15    11   43  −32     5

by **Audioslavia** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 7:01 pm

The Stadium Tour
Part Five

KT Moreazerua Mozi
Ibarretako Estadioa, (Cap: 40000). Moreazerua, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 2
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Yoruyoru (32, G , DAI)
2. Adélaïde Garcia (32, D C, SVG)
3. Valentinos Giannakos (33, D C, VDR)
4. Ronan Stenhouse (32, DM C, EUR)
5. Oran Coldcross (32, D C, AUD)
6. Máximo Andikoetxea (23, D/M C, AUD)
7. Imauka Lkomorak (25, M CR, VIL)
8. Reuben Corkhill (24, D/M C, AUD)
10. Olentzaro Karazatorre (32, F C, ASG)
11. Dashmati (28, AM CL, DAI)
12. Syerra (24, M R, DAI)
13. Ximen Errandonea (22, M R, AUD)
15. Gael Morea (20, DM C, AUD)
16. Carles Mendiolagaray (22, D L, AUD)
18. Raul Vitan (30, D CR, CMT)
19. Trevor Paraoan (30, AM/F C, FHU)
21. Tor Zorola (17, G , AUD)
Mng. Alessandro Juliana (44, M CR, AUD)

The Ibarretako Estadioa is made from the Zozi mould, high up the hill in the city, the only big professional football club in the area. Where Zozi fans have a code of honour, however, accompanied by (or perhaps due to) the terrain around their stadium, Mozi have no such deal with away fans. The safe route to the stadium generally involves buses and coaches from the train station three kilometres away, which drop visiting fans off at the away section of the ground. A bricks-and-mortar affair, Mozi’s home stadium is imposing, especially with its industrial backdrop, but despite being former league champions and a big club in their own right, playing away at KT Moreazerua doesn’t usually have the same lions den feel as a similar fixture against AC Izotz Zubia.

Then again, this Mozi team are out-performing Zozi in every way. Alessandro Juliana’s men have their best chance at a league title in decades. Five points back from 1830 Cathair but with a whopping three games in hand, useless phrases like ‘net lead’ and ‘spiritual league leaders’ have been thrown around in recent weeks, as they do every time we get to the back end of a National League season. The team were supposed to be weakened with the loss of Audioslavian national team striker Koenraad Rijsbergen, but former strike partner Karazatorre has stepped up this season to provide the goals, with Daineri duo Dashmati and Syerra providing assists from the wings and an effective engine-room of Stenhouse and Corkhill working as hard as they can in midfield. This is a versatile team that attack as one and defend as one, a trait that often leads to tired run-ins towards the finish line. As such, the Mozi line-up is altered for this, the first of a string of eight crucial games. Gael Morea replaces Stenhouse at defensive midfield, Mendiolagaray and Vitan are preferred at the back, and long-time Mozi striker Trevor Paraoan is given the shift ahead of Karazatorre, who at 32 just occasionally needs the odd two-week rest.

The result is that Mozi can’t get a full head of steam. Opponents Bombarralense, fourth in the table, are really on there because they’ve played three or four more games than the teams around them, and offer little in return in a frustrating nil-all draw. There’s light booing at the end of the game, but Mozi are still in the hunt for the title, and a fascinating opportunity awaits next week, away at league leaders 1830 Cathair.

KT Moreazerua
 1 - GK - Yoruyoru
 2 - CB - Adelaide Garcia
 5 - CB - Oran Coldcross
 6 - CB - Maximo Andikoetxea
 4 - DM - Ronan Stenhouse (c)
15 - DM - Gael Morea
11 - LM - Dashmati
12 - RM - Syerra
 7 - CM - Imauka Lkomorak
 8 - CM - Reuben Corkhill
10 - CF - Olentzaro Karazatorre

1830 Cathair
15 - GK - Unax Goyenola
18 - RB - Caithe Shepherd
 3 - LB - Hernán Mata-Curie
 5 - CB - Jack Menard (c)
 6 - CB - Kevin Sherwood
 8 - DM - Nicola Branic
11 - LM - Antoine Letexier
13 - RM - Sacir Milosevic
10 - AM - Baillaire Fillar
 7 - CF - Thea Squarciafichi
 9 - CF - Felixe Vetiver

1830 Cathair’s four-all draw with KT Ferramendiak in midweek means Mozi’s two dropped points has been entirely mitigated by the time Saturday afternoon rolls around, and I take my place right at the top of the west stand, surrounded by mainly Cathair fans but notably a few neutrals as well. I’ve heard it said that when you’re at the top of the ground, you’re among the ‘gods’. Fitting for a visit to the Church like this. The sheer amount of people here, all ostensibly with one mind and one voice despite the variance of their birthplace, background and the like, fits with the church theme.

Mozi, turning out in a fluorescent green third strip, are largely at full-strength. Cathair are missing centre-half Tibere, Wake and one of their talented Fillar siblings but, in true Cathair style, the players they have coming in to replace them are all either current or former internationals. Mozi start brighter, but Cathair have the best of the early chances. Vetiver sprints past Stenhouse and almost through Garcia but can only hook a shot wide of the far post, before Thea Squarciafichi’s standing-header from Shepherd’s cross brings a sprawling save from Yoruyoru.

With their team finding form, the home fans begin to find their voice, but not to the same extent that you might see in other stadiums.

Tea-time-ers!
Tea-time-ers!
Tea-time-ers!
Tea-time-ers!

There’s only oooooone Squarciafichi
Oooone Squarciafichi
Walking along
Singing a song
Walking in a Cathair wonderland

Wholesome. A little tame. There’s also very few banners around the ground that couldn’t have been carried by one individual match-goer. Cathair, not known for their ultras, have easily the most fair-weather fans of all the Audioslavian clubs. Prominent tifos, such as a recent one showing Felixe Vetiver smiling awkwardly and holding the club-card for a national supermarket chain, are usually created by the club and handed to a specially selected supporters group.

And then Karazatorre receives the ball on his chest, thirty yards from goal, takes a touch, smashes the fiercest, curling half-volley you’ve ever seen beyond a flat-footed Goyenola and everything, everywhere becomes deathly silent, but for the 1,600 away fans suddenly breaking into Bella Tziao and throwing firecrackers and purple flares.

1830 Cathair’s team are full of fighters and winners. A polite, nervous, middle-class crowd like that of the Teatimers is no real impediment to them, and so when Baillaire Fillar picks out Squarciafichi for the equaliser, five minutes from half-time, and brings some noise back into the stadium, it’s to the surprise of few. Cathair, playing to increase the gap between themselves and their opponents to eight points with the visitors having a maximum of nine to make up in the intervening games, come out for the second half with renewed vigour. Menard starts to drift forward into the midfield, Vetiver starts tracking back and harrying Mozi’s midfield and, before long, Cathair have the game by the throat. Squarciafichi picks out Milosevic’s far-post run only for the Mytanijan winger to smash a bouncing ball over the bar from close range, Fillar brings an acrobatic save from Yoruyoru, before Felixe Vetiver arrives at the far post to direct a square pass goal wards from four yards out and, inconceivably, angles the ball into the side-netting with the goalmouth gaping.

Euran manager Gareth Blackthorn readies Alec Sharp to enter the fray, perhaps on for the tiring and frustrated Vetiver, but before the swap can be made, the resulting goal-kick is horrendously defended by Kevin Sherwood, whose attempt at a sideways header to full-back Shepard is casual and wayward. Dashmati dashes in, beats Shepard to the ball, rides the attempt to bring him down, and bears down on goal. Sherwood recovers, Dashmati cuts inside, finds Reuben Corkhill, and the Audioslavian midfielder finishes into the bottom corner to re-take the lead.

Nine tenths of the stadium is, once again, brought to complete silence. Cathair fans can’t even muster the energy to jeer at what they’ve just seen when the final whistle eventually comes.

One of the reason’s I’ve embarked on this journey is an attempt to experience an Audioslavian domestic season in the traditional way. Football remains popular in Audioslavia, and always will be, but if there’s one thing I’ve noticed in my journey it’s that fans aren’t necessarily actually going to games. With only twelve guaranteed home games per season, you’d expect even a ticket for the likes of Koroatuz, Laivana, Union, Ferramendiak or CF Dainer to be like gold-dust. The teams certainly price them that way - this journey has cost me more in match tickets than it has in travel, which is saying something - but it’s not enough to bring the supporters to the stadium rather than watching from the comfort of their own home.

The way the average matchday weekend is structured, you can hardly blame them. Even if you halved the price of a ticket, it’s uncertain whether it would make any difference.

With only four to six matches taking place each weekend, the old system of holding every game on a Saturday at three o’clock, with the occasional fixture moved to the evening, noon or late afternoon to accommodate a viewing audience, has died. Very rarely these days do you get two matches being broadcast at the same time.

Suffering from a particularly annoying cold, and with no plans for the weekend anyway, I spend most of Matchday 29 in my living room with tea, fruit and the TV.

Friday night. Union versus Bomba. Union have been expected to finish bottom, below even the occasionally horrific Koroatuz, but a draw here at home to Bomba, whose stadium I’ll be visiting next week, puts three points between them and the relegation spots.
Saturday lunch-time is a big one. Shamrock versus Cathair in Glassbridge. A fixture the authorities very much recommend take place in the middle of the day in lieu of letting fans of each team hit the booze and cause havoc. Shamrock have drawn too many games to truly be competitive this season, and have become very much outsiders to get into the Champions League places, but use their Powers of the Single Point to twice come from two goals behind against their hated city rivals to ensure Cathair’s title tilt takes yet another blow. Alec Sharp scores twice for 1830 Cathair, Maerhen Wake scores the third, but on three occasions Sho Ito gets service to the strikers and Archer Andrews, then Gabriel Buvalelli, then Emiia Torgersen get their names on the scoresheet.
Having gotten only two points from their last three games, Cathair fans travel home avoiding the radio and coverage of the 3pm match between title rivals KT Moreazerua and struggling Koroatuz. Mozi race into a two-goal lead, Karazatorre and Syerra on target, but a late debacle, including the sendings off of Lkomorak and Coldcross, allow Kozi to drag themselves to only their eighth point of the season, scoring late on through Eneco Carabello and Apollonius Yaw. Young striker Caetano Marcará doubles his scoring tally for the season in the process, as he has done in every game so far.
Couch potatoes like me keep the TV on for a the second of two all-Herradura derbies as KT Ferramendiak host an AC Izotz Zubia side that haven’t lost since a disappointing reverse against Bomba on matchday twenty-one. Zozi, in rich form, dismantle Feri before their own supporters. Röémün Çídh, restored to the starting line-up in recent weeks, hits a hat-trick while Johnathan Bagshaw adds a goal to his two assists. Zozi win 4-0.
On Saturday evening, footage switches to Laivana where Matti is in the crowd to see his struggling side, now level on points with relegation rivals Koroatuz, lose 3-0 to a KT Itzalovalle side that are in the hunt for that final Champions League spot.
Finally the next day, feeling less ill, I get to watch a drab match in Ocorno as CF Daineri’s only highlight is accidentally injuring Adrian Toscani, who now looks likely to miss the World Cup for Savigliane.

Union Cathair 2–2 Bombarralense - Friday, 19:30
Shamrock Cathair 3–3 1830 Cathair - Saturday, 12:30
KT Moreazerua 2–2 KT Koroatuz - Saturday, 15:00
KT Ferramendiak 0–4 AC Izotz Zubia - Saturday, 17:30
Laivana JPS 0–3 KT Itzalovalle - Saturday - 19:45
CF Daineri 0–1 Cazadores Cathair - Sunday - 13:00

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               22   13   3   6    66   33  +33    42
 2 KT Moreazerua              19   11   7   1    27   12  +15    40
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             20   10   8   2    34   13  +21    38
 4 KT Itzalovalle             19   11   3   5    40   20  +20    36
 5 Osarese Marcadia           19   10   5   4    36   20  +16    35
 6 Cazadores Cathair          19   10   5   4    18    8  +10    35
 7 Bombarralense              23    9   8   6    31   22   +9    35
 8 Shamrock Cathair           19    8   7   4    34   25   +9    31
 9 KT Ferramendiak            20    7   7   6    27   33   −6    28
10 Union Cathair              19    3   3  13    14   47  −33    12
11 Laivana JPS                20    2   3  15    13   40  −27     9
12 KT Koroatuz                21    2   3  16    15   47  −32     9
13 CF Daineri                 20    2   2  16    13   48  −35     8

It’s not just you. At this point in the season, everyone has their calculators out.

1830 Cathair lead the league, but only have two games remaining in which to take as many points as possible. 48 is their maximum, a tally three lower than the worst-performing team to win a league in the thirteen-team era (also Cathair, incidentally, two seasons ago). Mozi, with five games to play, can go a point higher than the 54 that Zozi gained last season in winning the league, while Zozi themselves can manage a maximum of 50. Further down the table, Bomba will play host to Osarese Marcadia next week in a match I will be going to see, apparently alongside the couple I met in that bar in Ferramendiak all those weeks ago. Giacomo and Verita don’t go to all Osarese’s away games - what kind of idiot would visit every stadium in Audioslavia in a season - but will be holidaying in Ocorno that weekend anyway and, after keeping in touch online for the intervening time, it’ll be nice to relax with them for the game. Giacomo and I will be relaxed, at any rate. Verita still reckons Osarese can win the league.

At the bottom, Matti’s increasingly frantic social media postings suggest he’s not enjoying the relegation dogfight. Two seasons ago, Tenth Star Hasiera finished bottom of fifteen points and Union joined them after scoring nineteen. This time around, the relegated teams may well finish in single-digits.

by **Audioslavia** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:44 am

The Stadium Tour
Part Six

Bombarralense Os Bombardeiros
Estadio das Trevas, (Cap: 17500). Bombarral, Ocorno

Domestic Honours - 0
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Rock Taffarel (19, G , AUD)
2. Patrick Read (26, D R, EUR)
3. Anargyos Zervaes (27, D C, VDR)
4. Gabriele Crovo (29, DM C, AUD)
5. Reinhart Nijssen (28, D C, AUD)
6. Gastão Fagundes (27, D/M C, AUD)
8. Konrad Nikulásson (19, M C, TJL)
9. Adam Sudžum (18, F C, ZRH)
10. Giacomo Rossi (30, F C, AUD)
11. Frank Errington (18, M L, MRT)
12. Cristian Cunha (20, D RC, AUD)
13. Chase Hernandes (23, D LC, AUD)
15. Elías Merced (21, D LC, AUD)
16. Jacob Marley (35, DM C, MUR)
18. Roberto Silvestre (21, F C, CBZ)
19. Juan José Pasillas (28, D/M C, AUD)
20. Joaquim Neto (22, AM C, AUD)
21. Fortune Cammers (29, G , EFL)
Mng. Louise Halldorsen (51, ZWZ)

Giacomo and Verita aren’t holidaying in Bombarral. They’re not insane. Bombarral is beautiful to those who admire function over form. The roads are straight, the buildings interesting in that they weren’t created as ugly concrete rectangles and then filled with whatever they needed. ‘This awful concrete block can be apartments, this awful concrete blocks can make cars’. All the foundries and mills and manufacturing plants have been designed for maximum efficacy over cost or ‘look’, and there is a certain beauty in that. Just not, y’know, long-weekend-away beauty. For that, the couple have rented a chalet in the darkly named beachside town of Caveira, a few kilometres further south from Corvidra and in the sweet spot between Corvidra’s cold, ocean water and the pollution coming from Oljestaden a few hundred clicks south.

They kindly allow me to stay the night over Saturday, though I arrive so late that the first proper chin-wag we get is over a breakfast that I can only describe as ‘tiny diabetes pie’, an egg-yolks-and-cinnamon based tart originally made by local nuns who were using the egg whites for starch and needed a way to get rid of the yolks onto an unsuspecting populace.

I’m told that the fact that Estadio Das Trevas translates as The Stadium of Dark is not an attempt at surrounding the stadium with the sort of horror mythos imbued already in the likes of Zozi’s Eremuaberria, but is instead so named because it’s in the district of Trevas in Bombarral. As such, hipsters calling it the ‘Stadium of Dark’ are being weird in translating the name of the area. Either way, the 17,000-seater ground echoes the general design of the city: They wanted to build a stadium here, so they did the infrastructure properly and built a stadium that looked like a stadium and that fit about as many people as they would need into it. The region of Ocorno can get weird and wonderful in places. Bombarral is its straight man.

Verita talks excitedly about how poor Moreazerua looked last night in succumbing to a two-nothing defeat away to AC Izotz Zubia. She is still daring to dream. Zozi, with three games to go now, can reach a maximum of 50 points. Her beloved Osarese Marcadia, too, can hit fifty points, only that particular journey involves this away tie at Bombarralense, an away tie at Kozi that should be winnable, and two home encounters against Cathair and Zozi that, she says, Osarese can ‘totally win’. Verita is daring to dream. Giacomo is more whatever-will-be. “We’ve got to beat Bombarralense first, baby” he says, every couple of minutes, to Verita’s eventual annoyance.

Osarese look like they’re firing on all cylinders, to be fair. In Phil Cole, Jiang Jieren, Bong Min-Joong and Rasmus Karlssen they have an engine-rom that has been able to keep up with the best the league has had to offer, with Mertian Graham Ellerby and veteran Osarian Pearl Morgan on hand from the bench. It’s up front, though, that Osarese truly shine. Helios Roy broke into the Audioslavia national team at 18 and has become one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country, while Cobre Garnett Makanza is a crowd favourite and Esro Sepúlveda, also an Audioslavia international, is a reliable source of goals when fit.

This is The National League though. There are no easy games. Well okay there are eight or so, but Bombarralense have never been one of them. Phil Cole bursts through the centre to net the opener, but Zwangzug manager Louise Halldorsen switches things around for the second half and, with an extra defensive midfielder, manage to confound Mancini’s Osarese for just long enough for new signing Adam Sudžum to pop up in Osarese’s box to ensure Bomba’s first and only shot on target results in a goal.

As the final whistle blows, Verita looks crestfallen. She animatedly reaches for scapegoats on the car journey back to Caveira without really settling on any one thing. It’s a coping mechanism. Bargaining comes next.

Cazadores Cathair 0–0 Laivana JPS
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 KT Ferramendiak
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 KT Moreazerua
KT Koroatuz 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
1830 Cathair 7–1 Union Cathair
Bombarralense 1–1 Osarese Marcadia

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               23   14   3   6    73   34  +39    45
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             21   11   8   2    36   13  +23    41
 3 KT Moreazerua              20   11   7   2    27   14  +13    40
 4 KT Itzalovalle             20   11   3   6    41   22  +19    36
 5 Osarese Marcadia           20   10   6   4    37   21  +16    36
 6 Cazadores Cathair          20   10   6   4    18    8  +10    36
 7 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 8 Shamrock Cathair           20    9   7   4    36   26  +10    34
 9 KT Ferramendiak            21    8   7   6    29   34   −5    31
10 Union Cathair              20    3   3  14    15   54  −39    12
11 Laivana JPS                21    2   4  15    13   40  −27    10
12 KT Koroatuz                22    2   3  17    16   49  −33     9
13 CF Daineri                 20    2   2  16    13   48  −35     8

Feri’s unlikely victory in the Ferramendiak Derby has dented Itzi’s Champions League push somewhat, and the red-and-blacks drop down into a squadron of red-and-black teams stuck on 36 points. Each of them can now hit a maximum of 48 for the season, with Itzi narrowly ahead of the pack by virtue of goal difference. That magic 48 can be hit by 1830 Cathair if the capital club can take a win in their final game, away against Osarese. I curse my luck that I’d chosen matchday thirty-three, and not thirty-one, for my Osarese Marcadia home game. Naturally, each and every one of those 21,000 tickets at the Stadio Fabio Mancini is sold out, as most Osarese tickets have been for the last few months. I console myself with a quick text conversation with Matti, who had been at the Cazadores game on Friday night and apparently celebrated their nil-all draw all the way back to Laivana on the train.

<unintelligible>
<unintelligible>
<static>
<unintelligible>
<static>
D’AAAAAII! D’AAAAAIII! D’AAAAAII OSARESE![/color]
<static>
“Yes, yes I’m watching it here. Great strike from Co…”[/color]
…ONO I CIELI?
SOPRA I BOR..
Verita, honey, you’re breaking up…
D’AI! D’AI OSARESE! STAI GUARDANDO BELLO?! STAI GUARDANDO?!
”Yes I’ve got it on the TV”
”I love you! I love you strangiero! Fuck 1830! Fuck plastics! I spit! I SPIT!
”I… love… you too?”
<static>
<call ends>

National League
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 1830 Cathair
Union Cathair 1–2 KT Koroatuz
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Moreazerua 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferramendiak 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–1 CF Daineri

National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             22   12   8   2    37   13  +24    44
 3 KT Moreazerua              21   12   7   2    28   14  +14    43
 4 Osarese Marcadia           21   11   6   4    38   21  +17    39
 5 Cazadores Cathair          21   11   6   4    20    8  +12    39
 6 KT Itzalovalle             21   11   3   7    41   23  +18    36
 7 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 8 Shamrock Cathair           21    9   7   5    36   27   +9    34
 9 KT Ferramendiak            22    8   7   7    29   36   −7    31
10 KT Koroatuz                23    3   3  17    18   50  −32    12
11 Union Cathair              21    3   3  15    16   56  −40    12
12 Laivana JPS                22    2   5  15    14   41  −27    11
13 CF Daineri                 21    2   3  16    14   49  −35     9

My family and friends often don’t quite appreciate how important each weekend throughout April and early May can be. Sure, I’m not doing ‘my weird stadium thing’ this weekend, but that doesn’t mean you should completely book up my weekend with activities that I’d be an asshole for backing out of. As such, my only interaction with the football world is through ding-a-dings on my phone.

Saturday. 12:30. CF Daineri vs KT Ferramendiak. Kick Off.

I’m in a branch of Tuckers buying some Chicken Sausages and a big box of the cheapest lager I can find. 3pm in April is far too early for a barbecue for two reasons, but it’s a brother-in-law’s birthday and he has a new barbecue and I didn’t make that last ‘thing’ my sister and him had so… here I am, I guess? Chicken Sausages sound weird, but they’re great. Long story short, everyone is eastern Cathair, and the general region around there, used to hang sausages (sometimes called chorizo or chouriço elsewhere. I’ve always found that, among foreign sausages, anything calling itself the former is always a 9/10 and the latter a 10/10. Anyway we just call them all ‘sausages’) outside in the sun to dry. Jewish families in the area naturally had no cause for eating sausages but, due to wanting to avoid persecution, didn’t want to bring attention to the fact that they never ate pork, so they’d make these chicken sausages in a more synthetic skin and hang those outside instead. Turns out it’s much nicer, especially on a barbecue. One disadvantage is the occasional bone here and there that may have survived the sausageification process, and make sure to remove the

Saturday. 12:38. CF Daineri 0-[1] KT Ferramendiak. Davide Laguardia.

Okay less sausage talk. Either way, it looks like CF Daineri won’t be catching their relegation rivals any time soon. Feri have an outside shot of a Challengers Cup place , though as this is their second to last game that window is closing fast.

Saturday. 13:47. CF Daineri 0-1 KT Ferramendiak Half Time[pre]Saturday. 14:02. CF Daineri 0-1 KT Ferramendiak Second Half

The traffic between this supermarket in Cooper’s Row (east of the river, nearish the coast) - and my sister’s flat in Archgate (much further east, ‘basically Crossport’ according to locals is horrific. I should have gotten the metro but I didn’t want to carry all this heavy bullshit. FML.

Saturday: 14:50. CF Daineri 0-1 KT Ferramendiak Full Time

Yup. That’s that. Everyone’s beloved Daineris look to be going down, while Feri will be lucky to finish eighth. Why not just let CF Daineri win? Either way, I’m out of the traffic now and I’m just about on time for this barbecue.

Saturday: 15:00. Cazadores vs KT Moreazerua. Kick Off

Mozi’s title-tilt runs into Cazadores Cathair’s late-season form. I get this message as I get out of my car. Upstairs, through the window, my niece is waving at me so frantically I can almost hear it. I’m the first person here.

Saturday: 15:36. Cazadores Cathair [1]-0 KT Moreazerua. Nicholas Candy

“You’re a Caza fan aren’t you?” I say to my brother in law. “Yeah” he says. “Always been a Caza fan”
“You going to watch the game?” I asked, knowing what the answer will be. Sure enough, he seems faintly surprised. “There’s a game this weekend?”
My phone dings, giving me an excuse to check it. “1-0 up against Mozi right now” I say. He beams and offers me another drink.
1830 Cathair don’t have a monopoly on fair-weather fans. Anyway I’m still the only person here. I am carrying an empty glass in one hand and a niece in the other. She’s telling me about these outlandishly-haired Sunrise Islander cartoon characters that you can put in a ball and bet on in fights.

Saturday: 15:48. Cazadores Cathair 1-0 KT Moreazerua. Half-Time

Saturday: 16:04. Cazadores Cathair 1-0 KT Moreazerua. Second Half

Mozi can still win the title even if they lose today, but they need two wins and to hope Zozi mess up somewhere between now and final day. I now am carrying a full glass of beer and a niece that is asking what my favourite character is in a show I’ve never heard of. I tell him ‘the big one’ and she nods. “Yeah adults always like him”

Saturday: 16:51. Cazadores Cathair 1-0 KT Moreazerua. Full-Time

I dread to think how Mozi fans must be feeling right now. All those games in hand are being used up and all those imaginary future points are evaporating along with their chances of a second league title.

Saturday: 17:30. KT Itzalovalle vs Shamrock Cathair  Kick-Off

Saturday: 18:16. KT Itzalovalle vs Shamrock Cathair  Half-Time

Saturday: 18:31.KT Itzalovalle vs Shamrock Cathair  Second-Half

Saturday: 19:21. KT Itzalovalle vs Shamrock Cathair  Full-Time

Over the course of two hours, the party is overtaken by extroverts who are much better at pretending to know who spiky haired cartoon characters are. I go on a six-match losing streak at table tennis. By the time this last notification comes through I’ve been on the water for two hours and planning my escape.

By the time I get home, AC Izotz Zubia have already put three goals into Union Cathair to take the lead in the title race. Assuming Union are incapable of a fightback, this ensures the title won’t be going back to the Arena Kirola for another season at least.

I have a couple of whiskies before bed and wake up later than expected. On the way to visit my mum to take her shopping - something she probably can do on her own but these days we don’t want to risk it else she’ll put her back out carrying something too heavy - I realise I hadn’t charged my phone overnight.

I get the notification for the kick off of Kozi’s match against Osarese Marcadia and nothing else. It’s not until I get back, three hours later, that I learn what’s happened

Not because of any phone notifications, but from four missed calls and two intelligible voicemails from Giacomo and Verita.

CF Daineri 0–1 KT Ferramendiak - Saturday, 12:30
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 KT Moreazerua - Saturday, 15:00
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Shamrock Cathair - Saturday, 17:30
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 Union Cathair - Saturday: 19:30
KT Koroatuz 0–2 Osarese Marcadia - Sunday: 13:30

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             23   13   8   2    40   13  +27    47
 2 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45
 3 KT Moreazerua              22   12   7   3    28   15  +13    43
 4 Osarese Marcadia           22   12   6   4    40   21  +19    42
 5 Cazadores Cathair          22   12   6   4    21    8  +13    42
 6 KT Itzalovalle             22   11   4   7    41   23  +18    37
 7 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 8 Shamrock Cathair           22    9   8   5    36   27   +9    35
 9 KT Ferramendiak            23    9   7   7    30   36   −6    34
10 KT Koroatuz                24    3   3  18    18   52  −34    12
11 Union Cathair              22    3   3  16    16   59  −43    12
12 Laivana JPS                22    2   5  15    14   41  −27    11
13 CF Daineri                 22    2   3  17    14   50  −36     9

I mean, why not believe? Why not just throw yourself on the Osarese Marcadia hype train. You’ve been hurt before? Everyone’s been hurt. And what better way to win the championship than by turning round to everyone you’ve ever known. It’s weird that Verita is doing this already, but hey.

Zubia lead the league, and can win it next weekend by getting to an unassailable fifty points. To do that, they’ll need to defeat Osarese Marcadia in Marcadia.
Should Zozi lose, Mozi can finally put themselves in the driving seat by defeating CF Daineri at home, something which should be a given even in Mozi’s mixed form. Following that, Mozi finish the season with a trip to Laivana, who will almost certainly be in the death throes of their relegation battle. Less easy, but on paper they’d be favourites to win the title on 49 points should Zozi fail to beat Osarese.
Victory for Osarese Marcadia would mean they could win the title if they defeat KT Itzalovalle on the final matchday, with Cazadores also in with a shout if they can run a derby gauntlet of Shamrock and Union over the final two matches. Four of the top five can win the league. 1830 Cathair could finish second, or alternatively fifth.

I double check that I have everything for next week. Two train tickets? Check. Matchday ticket? Check. Osarese Marcadia versus AS Izotz Zubia, here I come.

Matchday 30
National League
Cazadores Cathair 0–0 Laivana JPS
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 KT Ferramendiak
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 KT Moreazerua
KT Koroatuz 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
1830 Cathair 7–1 Union Cathair
Bombarralense 1–1 Osarese Marcadia

Matchday 31
National League
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 1830 Cathair
Union Cathair 1–2 KT Koroatuz
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Moreazerua 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferramendiak 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–1 CF Daineri

Matchday 32
National League
CF Daineri 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 KT Moreazerua
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 Union Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0–2 Osarese Marcadia

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             23   13   8   2    40   13  +27    47
 2 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45
 3 KT Moreazerua              22   12   7   3    28   15  +13    43
 4 Osarese Marcadia           22   12   6   4    40   21  +19    42
 5 Cazadores Cathair          22   12   6   4    21    8  +13    42
 6 KT Itzalovalle             22   11   4   7    41   23  +18    37
 7 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 8 Shamrock Cathair           22    9   8   5    36   27   +9    35
 9 KT Ferramendiak            23    9   7   7    30   36   −6    34
10 KT Koroatuz                24    3   3  18    18   52  −34    12
11 Union Cathair              22    3   3  16    16   59  −43    12
12 Laivana JPS                22    2   5  15    14   41  −27    11
13 CF Daineri                 22    2   3  17    14   50  −36     9

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:14 am

The Stadium Tour
Part Seven

Osarese Marcadia The Phoenix
Stadio Fabio Mancini, (Cap: 21000). Marcadia, Padia

Domestic Honours - 1
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Saoirise (33, G , DAI)
2. Txordyn Coy (25, D/M RC, AUD)
3. Jan Galcirena (31, D L, AUD)
4. Tayaaga Romneir (33, D C, MRN)
5. Bryson O'Lara (27, D C, EFL)
6. Rasmus Karlssen (27, M C, COR)
7. Jiang Jieren (25, M R, YZH)
8. Phil Cole (28, AM C, TMB)
9. Esro Sepúlveda (29, F C, AUD)
10. Garnett Makanza (31, F C, CBR)
11. Bong Min-Joong (24, M L, QUE)
12. Loisé Camserhe (24, D C, KSK/FFD)
13. Shinji Teruzuki (32, G , OSR)
14. Adalberto Mazzarelli (20, D C, AUD)
15. Graham Ellerby (22, M C, MRT)
16. Lloyd Seddon (20, D C, MRT)
17. Ylva Stjern (17, D/M C, VAL)
19. Johan Simundsen (32, M L, SVJ)
20. Helios Roy (20, AM/F C, AUD)
21. Pearl Morgan (38, AM C, OSR)
Mng. Fabio Mancini (48, M C, OSR)

Back when The Phoenix was a small, lower league team, boring matches at the Stadio Fabio Mancini - back then known as Corsia Repubblica - could be whiled away by watching ships come into Marcadia’s Portacosa harbour. These days, the crabbing vessels and fishing boats are obscured by a new East Stand, built to accommodate the few thousand extra fans the side were getting in following their promotion to the top flight.

Osarese Marcadia were founded by Osarian immigrants, the community of which has only grown in recent years. Rivals AS Marcadia share a common language with Osarese, and it’s not like there aren’t Osarian ex-pats or descendants who prefer the sky-blue Marchetti over the blood red Phoenix, but in general there’s a huge divide in the city between the ‘Audioslavian’ AS Marcadia and the ‘Osarian’ Osarese Marcadia. For years AS were the big team, but the tide has slowly turned over the last few years, up to the point that, while Osarese are always in the hunt for at least the Challengers Cup spots, AS Marcadia have finished in mid-table in the second tier the last two seasons running.

Had the league realised this match would be so important for the league title, it may not have marked it down for a Friday night kick-off, but here we are. After a half-day at work it’s two hours on the High Speed Rail to Ferramendiak HSR and a further two hours on the older train to Marcadia. By the time I get to Marcadia Centrale, I’m well lubricated by the couple of whiskies I’ve enjoyed on the way over. Verita and Giacomo are waiting at the station, the latter anxiously checking his watch for fear of being late to the game - it’s a seven minute drive away and it starts in two hours - the former waving animatedly at me as I approach. From the look of both of them, it’s clear Giacomo is the designated driver and Verita, who greets me with an attack-hug, should not be allowed to drive a car at all for the next day or so.

We park up a two-minute walk from the stadium, up a couple of side-streets in a residential area. It’s.. quiet. You’d barely realise a crucial top-of-the-table domestic match was about to happen in what was supposedly the biggest league in the world. A short walk takes us to the promenade, the beach to our right striped with shadows from the beachside architecture, with the sun setting slowly to the west. Up ahead, the Marcadia fans are filtering from the streets to the stadium up ahead. The claret outer facade of the Stadio Fabio Mancini is lit with warm orange lights, with controlled bonfires at each corner of the stadium like four olympic flames. Above each, a blackened wrought iron Osarian Firebird hangs. I’m told it’s still impressive during the day, but here in the dusk it looks magnificent.

The sense of occasion appears to have gotten to Verita, who has gone quiet and is clutching Giacomo’s shoulder. We find a van outside the ground and buy as many sugar and cream filled cannoli as we think it’ll take to calm her down, along with a salami and cheese sandwich that earns a ten out of ten in my notebook just for occasion alone. That and the pint of garlic butter that appears to have been poured onto the bread.

As we walk the two hundred metres to the stadium, I’m reminded of the first match of this journey, walking through the side-streets of eastern Cathair with fueled-up Osarese fans as they excitedly embarked on their eleventh season of top-flight football. Today, the alcohol has clearly flowed once more, but the general mood is different. The atmosphere is less like a holiday and more like the start of a revolution. Everyone is just as loud but deadly, deathly serious. The chants act not as a communal bonding activity but more as a warning to outsiders. We enter the stadium and into the concrete concourse, where the chants echo into unintelligibility, before emerging onto the terraces. Tracksuited Zozi players warm up in front of us with tens of thousands of eyes staring holes into them. On the far side, also full of home fans, the chants are directed at their own players warming up in black tracksuits.

“What’s the score going to be?” I ask Verita. She looks up at me like she doesn’t understand the question.
“3-0 to us” says Giacomo, before immediately revising his prediction to 0-0, and then 2-0, and then 1-1. “Jesus I don’t.. I don’t fucking know”
“Why did we come here?” asks Verita. “We should have watched this at home”
I laugh. It’s not a polite thing to do, but the situation is funny. Two people who love one another going through this amount of stress for what is, at the end of it, a ninety-minute football game is, at its core, ridiculous. And the entire reason we’re all football fans in the first place.

The players enter the tunnel and re-emerge ten minutes later, Osarese in their change colours of all white, Zozi in their all-black third strip. It really do be like that.

Zozi are apparently not at full strength, defensively, with left-back Kaplan nursing a knock and centre halves Taylor and Vischa both out completely. Replacing them are two Astograthians nominally out of position. Eskuin Nekol, signed as a left winger, has only occasionally filled in at full-back over the last two seasons, while Zozi mainstay Domiku Bergara has spent most of his nine seasons at defensive midfield but, aged 35, has been limited to appearances in central defence recently, usually from the bench. Osarese, on the other hand, look as strong as ever. Club captain Garnett Makanza starts from the bench, with Roy undroppable and Sepùlveda now the preferred choice to partner the young Audioslavian. Savojarna left-winger Johan Simundsen, like Zozi’s Nekol, these days more often gets minutes at full-back, and has been preferred to Galcirena at the number three position, offering support to Bong Min-Joong on that side.

The effect of both teams employing two left wingers each makes for an imbalance straight away, and the game begins frantically. Nekol cuts a reverse ball back to Cromwell after just two minutes but the Nepharan midfielder can only angle the ball wide under severe pressure. At the other end, Osarese temporarily overload the Zozi wings, Jieren Jiang forces a ball through for Sepúlveda, but the Audioslavian number nine can only head tamely into the arms of Curipurinho. Sitting in the stands behind one of the goals, I naturally can’t keep track of xG - and I’m not the sort of person who would get his phone out and do so during a game - but it must be at least two apiece at half-time, what with Phil Cole’s close-range header finding the meat of the crossbar, Curipurinho surviving diving over a Roy thunderbolt by virtue of his hip ricocheting the ball out for a corner and Elek Salai passing up the best opportunity of all late in the half, scooping a speeding shin-height cross over the bar at the far post with Teruzuki nowhere.

AC Izotz Zubia come out for the second half looking to hold onto the ball, trying to control the game before it gets away from them, but no matter what Ager Alaba’s words in the dressing room, psychologically there’s so much different between the two sides. A Zozi win would guarantee the side the league title, but a draw or a defeat may be okay if results on the final day go their way. A point here, and chasing Caza and Mozi would need two big wins this weekend and the next in order to overtake them. They would dearly love to be able to risk it all and get forward and win the title right here and now, but there’s just so much to lose by conceding a goal. Steadily, their attempts at holding possession seem to backfire, and Osarese begin to win the midfield battle. It’s clear Mancini has changed something. The Osarese manager sits, calmly, in his expensive looking Giovanni Careva suit, and watches as his 4-4-2 operates as a 3-5-2, Simundsen and Min-Joong swapping duties on the left with more central positioning, keeping the Zozi midfield guessing and unable to man-mark effectively.

Sepùlveda goes close on sixty minutes, grazing the top of the crossbar with a mid-range effort. Helios Roy almost breaks through four minutes later but can only find the side-netting when blasting the ball towards the keeper’s near-post. With every chance, Verita’s squeals get louder and higher pitched, while Giacomo eventually breaks his stoic shell, porco-maddonaing at a sliced cross from Simundsen that balloons out for a goal-kick with Jieren and Roy arriving in acres of space on the right hand side.

And then, on seventy minutes, a headed clearance falls to Phil Cole. The Tumbran, in the middle of a sprint, takes the ball from the air with his chest and hooks it immediately inside the advancing Cappadonna. The ball now on his right foot, Cole looks up to see Sepúlveda making a run and Roy peeling away to the right. He chooses neither, instead looking back down at the ball and driving the instep of his right foot fully through it. It’s a pearler of a goal before it’s even left his foot. I’m halfway in the air in celebration by the time it flashes past a flailing Curipurinho and into the top corner.

And everything, everywhere, is utter fucking bedlam. I’m ambushed by bodies from the rows behind me, some wanting to jump forward, some just losing their footing as a result of losing their shit, tumbling down a step or two of the stand. Nobody cares. If anyone’s hurt, they’re not showing it. I’m kissed on the cheek, at the very same time, by the most beautiful woman I’ve ever even seen and by a docker who smells of coconut and salmon.

Two minutes later and I still haven’t found my seat, I’ve no idea where Giacomo and Verita are, I’ve got my back towards the pitch helping up some older fella who’s grinning through a knee injury but the combination of the pain and the ecstasy means he’s just gutlaughing, and I can’t help but join in. Suddenly, all around me is noise. I turn to see Phil Cole bearing down on Zozi’s goal in front of us, Helios Roy alongside, with just three Zozi defenders between them and the goal. Substitute Olavo Larrea comes out of defence to meet them, because someone has to, so the ball is passed along to Roy who takes a touch and lays it back to Cole, who turns, waits, and sends the ball into the hole created by the advancing Savicevic. In behind goes Roy again, continuing his run, and the Audioslavian striker thumps the ball hard and low underneath Curipurinho for two nothing.

And this time it’s me hugging strangers. Everyone right here right now is my oldest and closest friend. Grannies here are everyone’s grannies, children everyone’s kids. The former are hugged, the latter thrown into the air to be caught by two rows up. Seating designation ceases to exist. Social boundaries are a myth perpetrated by people not currently feeling what everyone here is feeling. I find Giacomo in the throng, kissing his wife like they’re under a waterfall in a black and white movie about wartime spies. My natural instinct is to join in.

Football’s great.

(I don’t join in).

Cries of Vinciamo il Campionato abound at the final whistle. It is a distinct possibility, but I don’t want to get out my calculator or pore over the possible results elsewhere in the league over this coming weekend. Whether everything turns to shit in Ferramendiak next weekend or not, we’ll always have Osarese Marcadia 2-0 AC Izotz Zubia (Cole 68, Roy 71)

Matchday 33
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Union Cathair 1–2 KT Itzalovalle
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Moreazerua 0–1 CF Daineri
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 Laivana JPS

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   13   8   3    40   15  +25    47
 2 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45
 3 Osarese Marcadia           23   13   6   4    42   21  +21    45
 4 Cazadores Cathair          23   13   6   4    22    8  +14    45
 5 KT Moreazerua              23   12   7   4    28   16  +12    43
 6 KT Itzalovalle             23   12   4   7    43   24  +19    40
 7 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 8 Shamrock Cathair           23    9   8   6    36   28   +8    35
 9 KT Ferramendiak            24    9   8   7    30   36   −6    35
10 Laivana JPS                23    2   6  15    14   41  −27    12
11 KT Koroatuz                24    3   3  18    18   52  −34    12
12 CF Daineri                 23    3   3  17    15   50  −35    12
13 Union Cathair              23    3   3  17    17   61  −44    12

It’s a massive weekend all round.
Saturday morning, Itzalovalle defeat Union. Saturday afternoon at three o’clock, Caza put a bow tie on Shamrock’s forgettable season by beating them at Glass Bridge. Saturday evening, KT Moreazerua waste the penultimate of their games in hand by succumbing to the most miserable, deflating defeat of the season, beaten one-nil by a CF Daineri side who should be relegated already. As it stands, Laivana’s heroic nil-all draw away to KT Ferramendiak means, in the relegation battle, all of the bottom four are stuck on twelve points. Kozi have now played all their games, and must hope one of Daineri and Union lose next weekend.

There are only four league fixtures on the final weekend, all to be played on Saturday afternoon at three o’clock.

Laivana JPS vs KT Moreazerua
CF Daineri vs Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair vs Union Cathair
KT Itzalovalle vs Osarese Marcadia

Can Laivana make Matti’s day by taking advantage of Mozi’s dreadful form? Can either Union or Daineri save themselves with a result against Shamrock or Cazadores? And in the weekend’s marquee game: Can Osarese Marcadia somehow win the god damn league? Victory away to Itzalovalle will all but seal it, assuming Cazadores don’t better their win by eight goals. Lose or draw, and Zozi will win the title if Caza somehow slip up as well.

All I know is I have timed this final trip to my final stadium incredibly well.

KT Itzalovalle Itzi
The Antzerkia, (Cap: 48000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

Domestic Honours - 4
COCANEFA Honours - 0
International Honours - 0
Squad
1. Echepare Rospide (30, G , ASG)
2. Liza Price (33, D R, BRE)
3. Katua Byrne (24, M L, BRE)
4. Artizar Bailo (32, DM C, ASG)
6. Jerold Dickman (23, D C, HAP)
7. Yuriorkis Stelea (27, M C, AUD)
8. Kausu Dione (38, F C, BNJ)
9. Claudio Vantula (27, F C, MRT)
10. Dreigiau Parrish (31, AM C, BRE)
11. Inigo Brandão (24, M CL, AUD)
12. Deon Tonnesen-Zegarra (28, D CL, AUD)
15. Floriano Côtescassées (31, D L, AUD)
16. Milan Pallas (26, D RC, AUD)
17. Dunixi Oyangurengoitia (24, M R, AUD)
18. Eneko Burionagonatotorecagageazcoechea (34, M CR, AUD)
20. Reynard Salama (27, D C, EFL)
22. Vianca (34, G , DAI)
24. Yuli Magunagoikoetxea (18, M C, AUD)
27. Gaetano Torrado (18, M RL, AUD)
Mng. Daniel Bernard (53, VLD)

Three hundred years ago, before World Cup ten, an Audioslavian construction company was hired by the nation of New Montreal States to build their new national team stadium. Their task was complex: Build a stadium into a mountain, with one and a bit terraces carved into the mountain’s very rock, protected from the elements by some state-of-the-art (at the time) chemical sealants (not Rubidove, thankfully), protective barriers and strategic reinforcements. The result was the Paladindome, which housed NMS’s national team for centuries thereafter. Fifty-six cycles later, the same company (though naturally with entirely different personnel) undertook the same process to build The Antzerkia in time for World Cup 66, into which moved a plucky, small local club named KT Itzalovalle.

Itzi would go on to become one of the ‘big six’ of Audioslavian football. Light on silverware but usually near the top of the standings, Itzi have been almost ever present in the top flight, aside from a two season run where they got relegated from the National League and very nearly relegated again to division three before bouncing back to a newly expanded top flight. More recently, Itzi won the National League four seasons ago under the tutorship of Valladaran manager Daniel Bernard, adding a Kirola Cup the season after, but have largely fallen back into old ways over the last three cycles, finishing sixth, seventh and now, with this season almost at its end, can reach the heady heights of fifth only if results go their way.

The stadium is amazing. A real feat of engineering. Accessible only by the eastern half of the ground, seeing as the other half is, well, a mountain, there have been plans to build two tunnels to allow fans a romantic access to the mountain side of the ground - plans that have turned out to be more expensive than practical. Giacomo and Verita both have tickets, but unfortunately I won’t be joining them. Tickets for the home end for the final game of the season sell out fast, and I’d bought mine much, much earlier. Nevertheless, we share an unusually quiet taxi together from Ferramendiak HSR Station to the Antzerkia, disembarking right outside the away section. There, there must be tens of thousands of Osarese Marcadia fans. The drunker of them likely doesn’t have a ticket for the game, and will while away the ninety minutes continuing to drink and sing and cry next to whatever screen they can find. The soberer ones are the fans that, you suspect, have their tickets safely tucked away in inside pockets. They are saving their energy.

With nowhere to share a drink together nearby, I bid my Marcadian fans adieu with a big hug and a ‘good luck’ and take the long route round to the entrance of the North Stand. There, with the sun directly overhead, the Itzi fans are lazily chanting their way through the songbook, beers in hand. For Itzi, there is little at stake. Though the side can qualify for the Champions League today, the odds aren’t on their side. They’ll get excited about it if they hear Mozi are losing, sure, as will I, as it’ll mean Matti’s Laivana might be safe, but there’s no expectation here. It’s simply the end of an average season. If anything, fans want their team to win just to stop Osarese receiving the league title in their stadium. On the other hand, if they beat the easterners, neighbourhood rivals AC Izotz Zubia might win the title. Given the two, most fans just want to forget about it, have a drink and watch a football game.

Inside the stadium, the travelling Osarese fans are loud. Itzi drown them out occasionally, but the times where they sing with one voice are few, whereas Osarese just don’t stop.

And out come the teams. And the final game of the season begins.

I find myself scouring the away stand for signs of my friends, but even if I knew exactly where they were I’m not sure I could discern which blob was which. Everything is far away and everyone is moving around too much to really track. On the field, Itzi are very much in control. The home side, Itzi can count on the experienced Artizar Baillo, one of a million Astograthian defensive midfielders in Audioslavian football, and the reliable Yuriyorkis Stelea, Audioslavian international, to control the pace. In defence, between Dickman, Salama, Côtescassées and Price, Itzi are as solid as you’d want a team to be. Salama, one of many Eastfielders around the National League to seemingly entirely lose their form on the few occasions they’re called up for the EFL national team, seemingly has Helios Roy in his pocket, intercepting any and every pass towards the striker and not letting anyone in behind.

The second half begins, and I check my phone to see what’s happening in the wider world. Whereas the atmosphere rendered such a thing impossible last week, this time out it feels like the only thing to do. Laivana are holding Mozi 1-1, CF Daineri 0-0 with Shamrock, while Caza are defending an early lead at home to Union Cathair. As it stands, Daineri would join Union in the second flight, with Laivana safe. I put my phone away, but it’s back in my hand a minute later as the fans around me break out into sarcastic celebration. 2-1 Laivana. Suddenly, an Itzi win would put the side into the Champions League.

Osarese, in all white, haven’t laid a glove on the men in red and black, and all of a sudden Itzi look like the only team who can score. Dreigau Parrish launches a shot which beats Teruzuki but rebounds off of the crossbar, Vantula breaks through but finishes wide, before Jerold Dickman rises highest to meet a corner kick and sends a looping header back across goal, only for O’Lara to clear it off the line with a desperate leap. Osarese need to be up the field, but they’re just about hanging on here.

In the other games, Shamrock take the lead against CF Daineri, meaning Laivana will stay up regardless. Which is just as well, as KT Moreazerua grab an equaliser on seventy-seven minutes.

I can only imagine what must be going through the minds of Mozi fans. On the road to a second title just weeks ago, their season has stalled humiliatingly, the side barely clinging on to fourth place and looking to finish behind the Cathair side the were so confident of beating to the title.

I can only imagine what Matti must be feeling. Maybe like me, one eye on the phone, hoping neither Union nor CF Daineri get back in with a goal. Maybe shouting at his team to get forward, maybe celebrating every time his team win even as little as a throw-in.

And I can only imagine what Giacomo and Verita must be going through right now.This is it. Their best chance at a league title, well, ever. Maybe the only one they’ll get in their lifetimes. All they need to do is win one football game, but with time ticking away they’re watching helplessly as their beloved Osarese barely cling to a 0-0 tie. As it stands, Cazadores Cathair will win the league. I can’t imagine what those fans must be feeling either. Adnan isn’t working tonight. Is he at the stadium? Is he checking the same results I am? What must the atmosphere be like in the Cita dos Cazadores right now? So many thousands of fans, I wonder how many would say they were happy.

And then Bong Min-Joong dispossesses Liza Price down the left. He turns and sprints and plays a ball ahead to Helios Roy, who takes a heavy touch and gets his head down, sprinting hard to get himself ahead of Salama. In the far end, the end of the stadium Roy is racing towards, the fans jump to their feet. Jerold Dickman comes across to cover and forces Roy to turn hard to the left. Looking back, he lays a pass back to Min-Joong, whose deep cross finds Jieren Jiang on the right wing. There’s no attempt at controlling the ball, Jiang awkwardly flaps the inside of his right boot at it and sends the ball looping over the head of Côtescassées. There, substitute Garnett Makanza, Osarese’s club captain, races onto the pass. His first touch is heavy, his second is a sliding shot from ten yards out which Echepare Rospide dives to block. The parried ball lands behind a backtracking Dickman and finds Osarese’s Tumbran talisman Phil Cole.

Kerthunk.

No placement. Just power. The ball flashes right by the recovering Rospide, who flails forlornly at the ball as it thunders directly into the centre of the goal.

Itzi fans shrug. I stand there, frozen, not able to jump for joy to celebrate this goal that has been scored for a team I don’t support. Wherever Giacomo and Verita are, I live vicariously through them. What I see in the distance is the same bedlam I was fortunate enough to be part of last week. I still bear the scars that are likely being formed right this second on the knees and elbows of those away fans jumping for joy. Cole, Jiang and Roy jump into the crowd to celebrate, Min-Joong runs behind the goal with his shirt off, Garnett Makanza is stood motionless, his shirt over his head, his head in his hands, while substitute Graham Ellerby appears to be doing an impression of an aeroplane in the centre circle.

With five minutes to go, manager Fabio Mancini brings striker Helios Roy off and replaces him with experienced Mrii defender Tayaaga Romneir, a fan favourite, who puts himself between Osarese’s two defenders and stares daggers at the entirety of the Itzi line-up.

There is no beating Osarese tonight. The skies over the city of Marcadia will, indeed, be blood red.

Matchday 34
National League
Laivana JPS 2–2 KT Moreazerua
CF Daineri 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Union Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Osarese Marcadia

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Osarese Marcadia           24   14   6   4    43   21  +22    48 - IFCF Champions League, CAFA LigAnaia
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   14   6   4    23    8  +15    48 - IFCF Champions League
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   13   8   3    40   15  +25    47 - IFCF Champions League
 4 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45 - IFCF Champions League
 5 KT Moreazerua              24   12   8   4    30   18  +12    44 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   12   4   8    43   25  +18    40 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 7 Shamrock Cathair           24   10   8   6    37   28   +9    38 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 8 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 9 KT Ferramendiak            24    9   8   7    30   36   −6    35
10 Laivana JPS                24    2   7  15    16   43  −27    13
11 KT Koroatuz                24    3   3  18    18   52  −34    12
12 CF Daineri                 24    3   3  18    15   51  −36    12
13 Union Cathair              24    3   3  18    17   62  −45    12

I’ve been largely sober all day, but that changes when I meet Giacomo and Verita in a bar near the High Speed Rail station. We, along with the other jubilant Osarese fans at the bar, drink it dry of Cascarone and relax in front of a big screen TV, where we cheer all the things that turned our stomachs inside out during the highlights of the game. As footage of Cole’s league winning goal is shown, they do me the courtesy of celebrating like it was happening live. I don’t want to leave them, but the last HSR train to Cathair is at 10pm and missing it means arriving home gone 6am. For these Osarese fans, the slow train to Marcadia runs every hour, all night tonight.

We say our farewells, and on the train home I wonder what I’ll do with next season.

Matchday 33
National League
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Union Cathair 1–2 KT Itzalovalle
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Moreazerua 0–1 CF Daineri
KT Ferramendiak 0–0 Laivana JPS

Matchday 34
National League
Laivana JPS 2–2 KT Moreazerua
CF Daineri 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Union Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Osarese Marcadia

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Osarese Marcadia           24   14   6   4    43   21  +22    48
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   14   6   4    23    8  +15    48
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   13   8   3    40   15  +25    47
 4 1830 Cathair               24   14   3   7    73   35  +38    45
 5 KT Moreazerua              24   12   8   4    30   18  +12    44
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24   12   4   8    43   25  +18    40
 7 Shamrock Cathair           24   10   8   6    37   28   +9    38
 8 Bombarralense              24    9   9   6    32   23   +9    36
 9 KT Ferramendiak            24    9   8   7    30   36   −6    35
10 Laivana JPS                24    2   7  15    16   43  −27    13
11 KT Koroatuz                24    3   3  18    18   52  −34    12
12 CF Daineri                 24    3   3  18    15   51  −36    12
13 Union Cathair              24    3   3  18    17   62  −45    12

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 2:37 pm

National Two                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Burdoc Ridge               34   23   1  10    52   28  +24    70 Promoted
 2 Oljestaden IF              34   21   7   6    44   21  +23    70 Promoted
 3 Tenth Star Hasiera         34   18   7   9    39   22  +17    61
 4 CdF Celtade                34   18   6  10    49   25  +24    60
 5 Tout-Puissant Hasiera      34   17   6  11    43   33  +10    57
 6 Necromarinai               34   16   5  13    36   26  +10    53
 7 AS Marcadia                34   15   8  11    39   30   +9    53
 8 Santa Margarida            34   16   3  15    37   39   −2    51
 9 Ceilerden Rovers           34   16   3  15    37   46   −9    51
10 Artiglieria                34   14   7  13    39   37   +2    49
11 KT Laranjauzia             34   13   9  12    33   31   +2    48
12 Guerrilla Cathair          34   13   8  13    36   34   +2    47
13 CC Exiles                  34   12   8  14    35   39   −4    44
14 Sparta Zijweg              34   10   9  15    28   32   −4    39
15 Ceilerden Harp             34   10   6  18    35   51  −16    36
16 Crossport Dynamo           34    7   5  22    29   51  −22    26 Relegated
17 Crossport Mariners         34    6   6  22    25   54  −29    24 Relegated
18 Orquideas                  34    6   6  22    21   58  −37    24 Relegated

Burdoc Ridge reappear in the top flight for the first time since season ten. After so long spent in the mid-reaches of the second flight, the Central club will be looking to make sure their strong season wasn’t just a slash in the pan.

Promoted in second place, Oljestaden IF bounce back from their miserable relegation season at the first attempt and will be looking to once again cement themselves in the top flight. One of the ‘Original Six’ but not one of the ‘Big Six’ is the source of the Oilers’s shame. Do they have a trick up their sleeves for next season?

First Round Proper
Cerejeiras 0–1 CF Daineri
Lemmitania State FC 0–1 KT Moreazerua
Burdoc Ridge 4–2 DDM Dunas Secas
Iron Brewery 2–0 Crossport Dynamo
Valens AV 0–6 Crossport Mariners
CdF Celtade 3–0 CdFS Ilheiros
Silexhera FC 1–1 Eletti Valligiani (1–2 AET)
Uniao Tortuguita 0–0 Viking Halehavn (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Alistoun Academicals 0–1 Sobrevolante
Kitherwell 3–2 Hibernação
1830 Cathair 2–1 KT Ferratzaileak
Orquideas 1–0 KT Kanpoldelko
Union Cathair 0–2 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
The Oran 1–1 Laranjeiras (1–2 AET)
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 2–5 Cazadores Cathair
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1–0 Reina Del Sud
Ceilerden Harp 0–0 Corações (1–2 AET)
Osarese Marcadia 4–0 Valão
CC Exiles 1–1 Santa Margarida (1–1 AET) (1–3 pen.)
Huiszwalluw FC 0–1 Laivana JPS
Oljestaden IF 2–2 KT Itzalovalle (3–2 AET)
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 Necromarinai (0–1 AET)
Fundición 1–0 C.D. Portobranco
Frecce 0–3 Bombarralense
Guerrilla Cathair 1–1 AS Marcadia (1–1 AET) (1–3 pen.)
Clockwork FC 0–0 Artiglieria (0–1 AET)
2130 Calolziolungho 2–1 KT Koroatuz
Sparta Zijweg 5–0 CF Herradores
Tenth Star Hasiera 1–0 Vidrieros
Ceilerden Rovers 1–0 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
KT Laranjauzia 1–0 Excelsior Zijweg

Second Round
Orquideas 1–4 Fundición
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 2–0 Corações
Kitherwell 0–2 Ceilerden Rovers
Sobrevolante 1–2 Laivana JPS
KT Laranjauzia 0–0 2130 Calolziolungho (0–1 AET)
Artiglieria 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Eletti Valligiani 1–2 1830 Cathair
CF Daineri 1–3 Iron Brewery
CdF Celtade 2–2 Cazadores Cathair (2–3 AET)
Burdoc Ridge 3–0 Santa Margarida
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
AS Marcadia 1–2 Bombarralense
Uniao Tortuguita 1–1 Necromarinai (2–1 AET)
Sparta Zijweg 2–0 Tenth Star Hasiera
Crossport Mariners 0–1 Laranjeiras
Oljestaden IF 1–2 KT Moreazerua

Third Round
Iron Brewery 0–4 AC Izotz Zubia
Fundición 1–0 2130 Calolziolungho
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Laivana JPS
KT Moreazerua 6–1 Laranjeiras
Sparta Zijweg 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
Bombarralense 4–1 Uniao Tortuguita
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1–0 Ceilerden Rovers
Burdoc Ridge 0–0 1830 Cathair (1–1 AET) (3–1 pen.)

Quarter Final
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
Bombarralense 1–4 AC Izotz Zubia
Fundición 1–3 Burdoc Ridge
KT Moreazerua 0–0 Sporting Clube Marinheiros (0–0 AET) (3–2 pen.)

Semi Final
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 Burdoc Ridge
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Osarese Marcadia

Final
AC Izotz Zubia 1–1 KT Moreazerua (2–1 AET)

Eskuin Nekol provides the assists for both goals either side of the full-time whistle. The first for compatriot Erdokiain to nod home for a sickening late equaliser, the second a square ball that Johnathan Bagshaw rifles home to take the cup to Izotzazubia for the first time since season fifteen.

Elsewhere, Burdoc Ridge's appearance in the semi-finals suggest they may be a team to be reckoned with next year, especially given their impressive form in holding a strong Cathair side to a draw and defeating them in extra-time. Burdoc fans have tended to see 1830 Cathair as one of their rivals, due to their city's proximity to Cathair. Nobody in the capital considers Burdoc a rival. Perhaps they're wrong to believe as much?

by **Audioslavia** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:57 pm

Season 22

Matchday 1
National League
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Burdoc Ridge
Oljestaden IF 0–1 Laivana JPS
KT Itzalovalle 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 Osarese Marcadia

Matchday 2
National League
Cazadores Cathair 1–1 Shamrock Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
Burdoc Ridge 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Bombarralense 0–2 1830 Cathair

Matchday 3
National League
KT Koroatuz 1–2 Bombarralense
KT Itzalovalle 4–1 Burdoc Ridge
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 Laivana JPS
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Matchday 4
National League
Laivana JPS 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Burdoc Ridge 5–5 Shamrock Cathair
Bombarralense 3–2 KT Ferramendiak
1830 Cathair 3–1 KT Koroatuz

Matchday 5
National League
KT Ferramendiak 0–2 1830 Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 Bombarralense
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Burdoc Ridge
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Laivana JPS

Matchday 6
National League
Burdoc Ridge 0–3 Cazadores Cathair
Bombarralense 1–2 KT Moreazerua
1830 Cathair 1–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Koroatuz 1–0 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 7
National League
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 KT Koroatuz
KT Moreazerua 0–1 1830 Cathair
Oljestaden IF 1–2 Bombarralense
Laivana JPS 2–3 Burdoc Ridge

Matchday 8
National League
Bombarralense 2–0 KT Itzalovalle
1830 Cathair 1–0 Oljestaden IF
KT Koroatuz 1–1 KT Moreazerua
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 9
National League
KT Moreazerua 4–2 KT Ferramendiak
Oljestaden IF 1–0 KT Koroatuz
KT Itzalovalle 2–1 1830 Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 4–0 Bombarralense

Matchday 10
National League
Bombarralense 0–4 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 3–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0–5 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 Oljestaden IF
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 KT Moreazerua

Matchday 11
National League
Oljestaden IF 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 1–1 KT Ferramendiak
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 KT Koroatuz
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 1830 Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Bombarralense

Matchday 12
National League
Bombarralense 0–1 Laivana JPS
1830 Cathair 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 KT Itzalovalle
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Oljestaden IF

Matchday 13
National League
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 KT Moreazerua
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
Cazadores Cathair 4–2 KT Koroatuz
Laivana JPS 0–2 1830 Cathair
Burdoc Ridge 0–2 Bombarralense

Matchday 14
National League
1830 Cathair 0–0 Burdoc Ridge
KT Koroatuz 1–1 Laivana JPS
KT Ferramendiak 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 Osarese Marcadia
KT Moreazerua 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
Oljestaden IF 1–0 KT Itzalovalle

Matchday 15
National League
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Osarese Marcadia 4–0 KT Moreazerua
Cazadores Cathair 3–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Laivana JPS 2–0 KT Ferramendiak
Burdoc Ridge 2–1 KT Koroatuz

Matchday 16
National League
KT Ferramendiak 4–1 Burdoc Ridge
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 Laivana JPS
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Cazadores Cathair
Oljestaden IF 1–2 Osarese Marcadia
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 17
National League
Osarese Marcadia 4–2 KT Itzalovalle
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Oljestaden IF
Laivana JPS 1–4 KT Moreazerua
Burdoc Ridge 2–3 AC Izotz Zubia

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          12    9   2   1    19    5  +14    29
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             12    8   3   1    16    9   +7    27
 3 1830 Cathair               12    8   2   2    17    5  +12    26
 4 Osarese Marcadia           12    8   0   4    19    9  +10    24
 5 Shamrock Cathair           12    7   3   2    19   11   +8    24
 6 KT Moreazerua              12    6   3   3    16   13   +3    21
 7 Oljestaden IF              12    5   0   7     7    9   −2    15
 8 Bombarralense              12    5   0   7    12   20   −8    15
 9 Laivana JPS                12    4   1   7    10   15   −5    13
10 KT Itzalovalle             12    3   1   8    17   19   −2    10
11 Burdoc Ridge               12    2   2   8    14   27  −13     8
12 KT Ferramendiak            12    2   1   9    10   18   −8     7
13 KT Koroatuz                12    1   2   9     9   25  −16     5

Shamrock Cathair Shammers
Glass Bridge Stadium, (Cap: 31500). Cathair, Central

League Titles* - 2
Domestic Cup Trophies - 2
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Constance Creighton (23, G , AUD)
2. Paisley Patterson (21, D R, CMT)
3. Aron McKenna (32, D L, TJU)
4. Lucas Keir (24, DM C, AUD)
5. Sandy Harkness (22, D C, AUD)
6. Oran Anders (30, D C, AUD)
7. Sho Itō (28, M/F R, SQR)
9. Archer Andrews (30, F C, TJU)
10. Emilia Torgersen (25, AM C, VAL)
11. Gabriel Sayritupac (28, F LC, HUA)
12. Jan MacLaren (20, F C, AUD)
13. Edith Fillar (22, M L, CMT)
14. Aiques Cedano (18, M RC, AUD)
15. Euan MacArthur (25, D C, AUD)
16. Conor Maxfield (23, G , AUD)
17. Bogdan Laszlo (17, AM/F LC, PAS)
18. Gael Davie (18, M L, AUD)
19. Orson MacGowan (21, D/M RL, AUD)
20. Connor Fore (19, M C, AUD)
21. Fraser Mackintosh (25, D LC, AUD)
30. Marc-Antoine Trigintillion (18, M L, AUD)
Mng. Aleksandr Ivanovich (68, mng , CMT)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP”

Expected First XI
Creighton - Patterson, Harkness, Anders, McKenna - Keir - Itō, Torgersen, Fillar - Sayritupac, Andrews

Of all the teams in the National League, Shamrock have had the biggest overhaul, not least through the introduction of Chromatik manager Aleksandr Ivanovich, replacing long time Apoxian serviceman Alexander Crewe as Shamrock boss. A clear-out ensued over summer, with captain Archer Flat leaving, along with star player Gabriel Buvalelli, snapped up by an opportunistic Osarese Marcadia, with Harper McKaye, Alessandro Merola, Joziah McKinnon and Cohen MacVicar all making their way out of the door. In their stead, Chromatik full-back Paisley Paterson, a star at sub-age Chromatika teams, has arrived alongside highly rated Huayramarcan striker Gabriel Sayritupac from Atletik Tessia.

Shamrock’s early-season form has been promising, but a trip to champions Osarese Marcadia awaits.

Matchday 18
National League
Burdoc Ridge 0–0 KT Moreazerua
Laivana JPS 0–0 Oljestaden IF
Cazadores Cathair 1–2 KT Itzalovalle
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Shamrock Cathair

Buvalleli may be the higher priced of the two Gabriels, but the man who left Shamrock for Osarese - and quite a lot of cash - isn’t the one on the scoresheet on Matchday 18. Sayritupac cuts in from the left early in the second half and smashes a low drive past Teruzuki for the only goal of the game. It’s a goal that sends Shamrock above Osarese in the table, and another disappointing result in what is becoming a damp squib of a title defence.

Cazadores Cathair Caza
El Ruedo, (Cap: 42500). Cathair, Central

League Titles* - 3
Domestic Cup Trophies - 3
Major International Honours** - 2
Other International Honours*** - 2
Squad
1. Juxon Fillar (31, G , CMT)
3. Harmon Mulvahill (27, D L, KOR)
4. Iñigo Higgs (22, DM C, AUD)
6. Inteali Koranjo (29, D C, VIL)
7. Kepler Marcel Gouveia de Souza (24, AM C, QUE)
8. Adrian Toscani (31, AM C, SVG)
9. Wilhelm Hielscher-Zendagorta (25, AM/F C, STL)
10. Cristian Benitez (29, AM C, VLD)
11. Nicholas Candy (29, F CL, KOR)
13. Cristos Harding (28, D C, EFL)
16. Bartol Villanueva (19, D C, AUD)
17. Aarón Guedes (18, D L, AUD)
19. Qaqilek (27, G , DAI)
20. Azariah MacCormack (27, F C, AUD)
21. Errol Goncalves (26, D LC, AUD)
23. Mécia Sola (22, AM C, AUD)
24. Putra Aryaweda (17, F C, PCU)
32. Tiago Brown (33, D/M R, AUD)
Mng. Rook Cathar (59, F LCR, NPH) * Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Fillar - Mulvahill, Koranjo, Harding, Brown - Higgs - KMGdS, Toscani, Benitez, Hielscher-Zendagorta - Candy

Rook Cathar has made this 4-1-4-1 Cazadores’s signature style: A strong back four with full-backs than can maraud forward a DM lynchpin, and four scarily attacking playmakers behind a target man. For a while, WH-Z was that target man, but he’s since dropped back into midfield to allow Ko-orenite Nicholas Candy that honour up front, with newcomer Putra Aryaweda acting as understudy. Leading the league at halfway, a 2-1 home reverse to Itzalovalle dulls their impetus somewhat. Coming up, however, is a derby, and form is one of many things - along with decorum and the rulebook - that flies out of the window during capital city derbies.

Matchday 19
National League
Shamrock Cathair 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Laivana JPS
Oljestaden IF 1–4 Burdoc Ridge
1830 Cathair 2–1 Bombarralense

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          14   10   2   2    22    7  +15    32
 2 1830 Cathair               13    9   2   2    19    6  +13    29
 3 Shamrock Cathair           14    8   3   3    20   13   +7    27
 4 AC Izotz Zubia             12    8   3   1    16    9   +7    27
 5 Osarese Marcadia           13    8   0   5    19   10   +9    24
 6 KT Moreazerua              13    6   4   3    16   13   +3    22
 7 Laivana JPS                14    5   2   7    11   15   −4    17
 8 Oljestaden IF              14    5   1   8     8   13   −5    16
 9 Bombarralense              13    5   0   8    13   22   −9    15
10 KT Itzalovalle             14    4   1   9    19   21   −2    13
11 Burdoc Ridge               14    3   3   8    18   28  −10    12
12 KT Ferramendiak            12    2   1   9    10   18   −8     7
13 KT Koroatuz                12    1   2   9     9   25  −16     5

Caza reassert themselves at the top of the table, boasting a commanding gap over both city rivals with eight games yet to play.

Coming up next, however, is a home encounter with the champions, as Osarese return to the capital with even more of a point to prove.

Osarese Marcadia The Phoenix
Stadio Fabio Mancini, (Cap: 21000). Marcadia, Padia

League Titles* - 1
Domestic Cup Trophies - 1
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Saoirise (34, G , DAI)
2. Txordyn Coy (27, D/M RC, AUD)
4. Tayaaga Romneir (34, D C, MRN)
5. Bryson O'Lara (28, D C, EFL)
6. Rasmus Karlssen (28, M C, COR)
7. Jiang Jieren (26, M R, YZH)
8. Phil Cole (29, AM C, TMB)
9. Danil Lanziego (24, AM/F C, AUD)
10. Garnett Makanza (32, F C, CBR)
11. Bong Min-Joong (25, M L, QUE)
12. Loisé Camserhe (25, D C, KSK/FFD)
13. Shinji Teruzuki (33, G , OSR)
14. Gabriel Buvalelli (27, M C, SVG)
15. Graham Ellerby (23, M C, MRT)
16. Lloyd Seddon (21, D C, MRT)
17. Ylva Stjern (18, D/M C, VAL)
18. Haarlem Routh (23, M C, AUD)
19. Johan Simundsen (33, D/M L, SVJ)
20. Adalberto Mazzarelli (22, D CL, AUD)
Mng. Fabio Mancini (49, M C, OSR)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Teruzuki - Coy, O’Lara, Camserhe - Jiang, Bulavelli, Ellerby, Routh, Min-Joong - Cole - Lanziego

Crowned champions last season for the first time in history, Osarese have deepened their roster in the mean-time, adding Danil Lanziego and Gabriel Bulavalli to the attacking third, but the side have sorely missed star striker Helios Roy, sold for thirty-five million dollars to Vanorian powerhouses Raynor City United. Was 35 million enough? Perhaps, unless you were watching in midweek when, in a huge Champions League knockout match, Osarese are overturned by that very same RCU team and are dumped out of the competition. Had Helios been there, could it have been a different story? Perhaps. Either way, they have to pick themselves up for this trip to a Cazadores side so far most likely to replace them as Champions of Audioslavia.

Matchday 20
National League
Bombarralense 2–1 KT Koroatuz
Burdoc Ridge 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Laivana JPS 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 0–2 Osarese Marcadia

Regardless of having lost Helios Roy, Phil Cole is still pulling the strings in Osarese’s change strip of gold and white, and creates two - finished by Sepulveda and Gabriel Buvalelli, that sink title hopefuls Cazadores before their own fans.

Laivana JPS Laika
Persikan Kaistastadion , (Cap: 18500). Laivanrakentajas, Hyland

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Yuliy Polyakov (31, G , AUD)
2. Jaana Jokinen (33, D R, SRS)
3. Alessio Lana (27, D L, AUD)
5. Kalevi Jokinen (33, D C, AUD)
6. Jacopo Zanetti (26, D C, AUD)
7. Janne Lindeman (22, M/F RC, AUD)
8. Dane Pridgeon (32, M C, COS)
9. Frans Egeberg (25, F C, AUD)
10. Wilhelm Nkitilina (32, F C, TAE)
11. Ivan Molinar (23, M LC, AUD)
13. Gunner Laursen (19, F C, AUD)
14. Vernon Vermeulen (23, D/M L, AUD)
16. Antero Koskinen (33, D RC, AUD)
18. Freay Isaksen (18, D LC, AUD)
19. Anders Hjelm (18, F C, AUD)
20. Koen Schoemaker (19, M L, AUD)
21. Bruno Sandoval (19, M RC, AUD)
22. Yong Puglia-Roed (25, M C, AUD)
23. Callen Landsborough (20, D C, AUD)
Mng. Lukas Meeuwsen (50, M L, AUD)* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Polyakov - J. Jokinen, K. Jokinen, Koskinen, Isaksen - Pridgeon - Lindeman, Sandoval, Molinar - Nkitilina, Laursen

Laiva’s imminent rise continues to come ‘any day now’ as another transfer window passes without their supposed hypothetical billions leaving the coffers of parent company StarFox, which itself maintains a modest standing on the stock exchange. A largely Audioslavian squad contains long-time National League stalwarts Dane Pridgeon and Willhelm Nikitilina alongside a slew of players that have, at best, made the fringes of the Audioslavian sub-age teams without threatening to translate raw talent into measurable, permanent form. Again: That crop of unbeatable youngsters will surely come any day now.

Matchday 21
National League
Osarese Marcadia 2–2 Laivana JPS
Shamrock Cathair 3–0 Burdoc Ridge
KT Ferramendiak 0–3 Bombarralense
KT Koroatuz 0–1 1830 Cathair

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Shamrock Cathair           16   10   3   3    24   13  +11    33
 2 1830 Cathair               14   10   2   2    20    6  +14    32
 3 Cazadores Cathair          15   10   2   3    22    9  +13    32
 4 Osarese Marcadia           15    9   1   5    23   12  +11    28
 5 AC Izotz Zubia             12    8   3   1    16    9   +7    27
 6 KT Moreazerua              13    6   4   3    16   13   +3    22
 7 Bombarralense              15    7   0   8    18   23   −5    21
 8 Laivana JPS                16    5   3   8    13   18   −5    18
 9 KT Itzalovalle             15    5   1   9    20   21   −1    16
10 Oljestaden IF              14    5   1   8     8   13   −5    16
11 Burdoc Ridge               16    3   3  10    18   32  −14    12
12 KT Ferramendiak            13    2   1  10    10   21  −11     7
13 KT Koroatuz                14    1   2  11    10   28  −18     5

Gunner Laursen wants that day to be today, smashing his side into the lead in front of fifteen thousand jubilant fans (that fervent support that will encompass the western eastern seaboard will come, again, any day now), and while the Osarians are the classier team, responding via Cole and Makanza, it’s Laivana who have the last laugh, combining well in midfield to send Ivan Molinar dancing past Coy on the right and slotting home a deserved equaliser.

Laivana are currently having probably their best season. Off-pitch factors may not be aiding them as well as they’d hoped, but a thin squad gel together well and, given the home advantage of their drunken north-western fans and and the winds of the blustery west coast, have just about been able to hang with the best of them this season. They, along with Bomba, have managed to split the ‘big six’ so far, with Itzi lurching from crisis to crisis. For another member of this Audioslavian ‘midfield’, a glut of teams outside of the big ones, but generally keeping their heads above the bottom two, things aren’t going quite so well.

KT Ferramendiak Feri
Burdina Jauregia, (Cap: 85000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 1
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Vikingen (26, G , DAI)
2. Zorion Mendizabal (29, D RC, AUD)
3. Yon Maurtua (28, D L, LEX)
4. Kel Malaxetxebarria (27, M C, AUD)
6. Andrés Calvo (25, D C, AUD)
7. Briareo Asaguirreiturri (25, M R, AUD)
8. Erroman Gorriaran (28, M LC, AUD)
9. Davide Laguardia (32, F C, AUD)
10. Jacobo Escalera (21, F C, AUD)
12. Vicente Concepcion (28, DM C, AUD)
13. Mis (30, G , DAI)
14. Franco Almanzar (29, AM C, AUD)
15. Uriel John (19, M/F C, AUD)
16. Guerechen Riaz (18, D C, AUD)
17. Erroman Goitiz (19, F C, AUD)
18. Renato Serres (18, D C, AUD)
19. Augustus Santistevan (18, D/M L, AUD)
20. Gabriel Montilla (28, F C, AUD)
Mng. Ixaka Lizarzaburu (38, D C, AUD)* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Vikingen - Mendizabal, Calvo, Riaz, Maurtua - Concepcion - Briareo, Malaxetxebarria, Gorriaran - Laguardia, Escalera

Feri did indeed need a clearout, but losing their manager to Zozi wasn’t part of it. Orson Faulkner, goalscorer for Zozi in a Champions Cup final way back when, couldn’t really have said no, and so the team he had pushed to fifth place in the league, and two successive Challengers Cup appearances, must continue on without him. Gone, though, are the Brenecian stars and journeymen whose midfield prowess had made the Burdina Jauregia a hellish place for opposing sides to visit.

This season’s Feri side have a softer underbelly which new manager Ixaka Lizarzaburu does not seem to have the funds to fix. Escalera and Laguardia are an effective strike partnership when they have the service, but while star winger Briareo Asaguirreiturri has been more than doing his bit, there are simply too many flaws in a misfiring Feri midfield.

Matchday 22
National League
1830 Cathair 2–1 KT Ferramendiak
Bombarralense 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Burdoc Ridge 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
Laivana JPS 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Asaguirreiturri does make a mark on Feri’s visit to the Arena Kirola, but 1830 Cathair are simply too strong. A Cathair side resting bigger names for bigger games come through via two first half goals from Adrian Jones and Sacir Milosevic, as the title race continues to tighten.

1830 Cathair The Teatimers / The Elders
Arena Kirola, (Cap: 77500). Cathair, Central

League Titles* - 14
Domestic Cup Trophies - 2
Major International Honours** - 3
Other International Honours*** - 11
Squad
1. Lance Logan (22, G , BRO)
2. Grayson Fillar (26, D R, CMT)
3. Hernán Mata-Curie (24, D/M L, AUD)
4. Valerién Tibère (25, D C, SVG)
5. Jack Menard (29, D C, EUR)
6. Kevin Sherwood (27, D C, EUR)
7. Sacir Milosevic (27, M R, MYT)
8. Nicola Branić (29, DM C, ZRH)
9. Felixe Vetiver (22, F C, NPH)
10. Baillaire Fillar (25, AM C, CMT)
11. Alex Sharp (25, F C, EUR)
12. Adrian Jones (30, F C, FVA)
13. Oran Gordon (23, DM C, AUD)
14. Maerhen Wake (24, M LR, BRE)
15. Unax Goyenola (26, G , ASG)
17. Vacheron Heussaff (20, M RL, AUD)
18. Caithe Shepherd (33, D R, BRE)
21. Juan Diego Rolon (17, D/M L, AUD)
22. John MacKay (23, D/M R, AUD)
30. Ralston Kendrick (18, DM C, BRE)
32. Idvan Zeribayev (18, M C, AHR)
Mng. Gareth Blackthorn (58, EUR)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Goyenola - Grayson, Menard, Tibère, Mata-Curie - Branič. - Milosevic, Baillaire, Wake - Sharp, Vetiver

With finishes of eighth, first, third and fourth in his first four seasons, Gareth Blackthorn is understandably a controversial figure with fans, at least with regards to whether or not he should remain as manager of the country’s premier club. The side have, at least, won the LigAnaia for either the first or sixth time, depending on whether or not you consider the COCANEFA LigAnaia and the CAFA LigAnaia the same tournament, and Blackthorn has a strong squad to work with.

Nepharan striker Felixe Vetiver is nigh-on unplayable on their day, with Alex Sharp deputising or joining the Nepharim in attack and newcomer Adrian Jones an embarrassment of riches for a third-choice striker. In nets, Lance Logan has featured more and more, giving the side what amounts to two first-choice keepers these days, with Goyenola nominally first choice but increasingly making way for the twenty-two year-old Brookstation international.

Cathair are in good form, and they’ll need to be as Matchday 23 rolls around - the side visit perennial rivals AC Izotz Zubia in a crucial match at the top of the table.

Matchday 23
National League
Cazadores Cathair 2–1 Burdoc Ridge
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Bombarralense
AC Izotz Zubia 0–2 1830 Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 3–1 KT Koroatuz

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               16   12   2   2    24    7  +17    38
 2 Cazadores Cathair          17   12   2   3    25   10  +15    38
 3 Shamrock Cathair           16   10   3   3    24   13  +11    33
 4 Osarese Marcadia           16   10   1   5    25   12  +13    31
 5 AC Izotz Zubia             14    8   4   2    16   11   +5    28
 6 KT Moreazerua              14    6   5   3    17   14   +3    23
 7 Bombarralense              17    7   2   8    19   24   −5    23
 8 Laivana JPS                17    5   3   9    13   19   −6    18
 9 KT Itzalovalle             15    5   1   9    20   21   −1    16
10 Oljestaden IF              14    5   1   8     8   13   −5    16
11 Burdoc Ridge               18    3   3  12    19   36  −17    12
12 KT Ferramendiak            15    3   1  11    14   24  −10    10
13 KT Koroatuz                15    1   2  12    11   31  −20     5

Vetiver and Wake are the scorers as 1830 Cathair maintain a slender lead over Caza at the top, with Zozi disappointing in front of their home fans.

AC Izotz Zubia Zozi
Soldaduak Eremuaberria, (Cap: 52180). Izotzazubia , Herradura

League Titles* - 13
Domestic Cup Trophies - 5
Major International Honours** - 5
Other International Honours*** - 5
Squad
1. Röémün Çídh (33, F C, FFD)
2. Giacomo Durán (32, D R, AUD)
3. Atole Kaplan (27, D L, KOR)
4. Chloe Vischa (34, D/M C, NPH)
5. Grigorij Savicevic (33, D C, MYT)
6. Paul Taylor (24, D C, FVA)
7. Unai Cappadonna (25, M C, AUD)
8. Lothaire Cromwell (32, M C, NPH)
9. Yokin Erdokiain (29, F C, ASG)
10. Elek Salai (28, M/F CL, PAS)
12. Ferus (25, G , DAI)
13. Curipurinho (23, G , AUD)
14. Olavo Larrea (25, D/M R, AUD)
15. Skiadina Briggs (26, DM C, BRE)
17. Domiku Bergara (36, D/M C, ASG)
18. Iker Munir (22, DM C, AUD)
19. Jonathan Bagshaw (23, M/F R, FVA)
20. Julho Viscondessas (26, AM/F C, AUD)
21. Ulf Neumann (19, M/F R, AUD)
Mng. Orson Faulkner (56, D CR, BRE)* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Curipurinho - Duran, Taylor, Savicevic, Kaplan - Munir - Bagshaw, Cromwell, Salai - Erdokiain, Çídh

Orson Faulkner has made only minor tweaks since arriving at Zozi. Gone is Alaba’s 4-5-1, in its place a 4-1-3-2 system that puts Erdokiain and Cidh together up front, with Viscondessas an able backup if needed.

Last week’s defeat to Cathair is a sickener, but the side can bounce back with victory over a Koroatuz side rooted to the bottom of the table.

Matchday 24
National League
KT Koroatuz 2–4 AC Izotz Zubia
1830 Cathair 0–1 KT Moreazerua
Bombarralense 1–0 Oljestaden IF
Burdoc Ridge 0–3 Laivana JPS

Bounce back they do, with Bagshaw providing two from the wing and scoring himself on seventy minutes. Koroatuz, momentarily at 1-1 early in the first half, grab a late consolation, but this game has been all Zozi as the side push to claw themselves back into the title race.

Oljestaden IF Olga
Hygolje Arena, (Cap: 50000). Oljestaden, Hyland

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 3
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 1
Squad
1. Donato Castillo (34, G , EFL)
2. Jensen Fischer (30, D CR, AUD)
3. Anargyos Zervaes (28, D C, VDR)
4. Rem Rodijk (30, DM C, KOR)
5. Da Chong (30, D C, JOV)
6. Dusty Classen (18, D C, AUD)
8. Jensen Ostergard (31, M C, AUD)
9. Ahn Gil-Dong (22, F C, CMT)
10. Alan Newton (32, F C, AUD)
11. Jan Galcirena (33, D L, AUD)
12. Jerquaad (34, D CR, DAI)
13. Kang Do-Hyuk (22, G , CMT)
14. Lucas Park (24, M C, AUD)
15. Pierre Rostoff (22, M C, CMT)
17. Kirill Kozlovsky (22, F C, AUD)
18. Ike Hoogstraten (30, M C, AUD)
19. Tobias Vandenbroucke (22, M LC, AUD)
20. Shivay Rani (17, D C, SNL)
21. Tjapko Van der Ende (23, D C, AUD)
22. Aníbal Borges (28, DM C, AUD)
Mng. Tomas Kristofics (52, DM C, PIS)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Do-Hyuk - Jerquaad, Zervaes, Classen, Galcirena - Rodijk - Ostergard, Rostoff - Kozlovsky, Newton, Gil-Dong

Somehow, Oljestaden returned. Tomas Kristofics, a man who’s old enough to be Polarian, has managed to take the team back up to the top flight at the first attempt. This time, rather than cocoabos and aging wingers, he’s decided to fill the side with Chromatik university graduates and cast-offs from relegated Audioslavian teams. You do you, Oljestaden, you do you.

The side’s long-term aim must be to get back into the Challengers Cup spots, but before that they’ll simply need to survive. A three-time Kirola Cup champion and founder member of the LigAnaia, the Oilers have always had history on their side. It’s just been a while since they had a properly competitive team.

Matchday 25
National League
KT Itzalovalle 2–1 Bombarralense
Oljestaden IF 1–4 1830 Cathair
KT Moreazerua 0–0 KT Koroatuz
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 KT Ferramendiak

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               18   13   2   3    28    9  +19    41
 2 Cazadores Cathair          17   12   2   3    25   10  +15    38
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             16   10   4   2    22   14   +8    34
 4 Shamrock Cathair           16   10   3   3    24   13  +11    33
 5 Osarese Marcadia           16   10   1   5    25   12  +13    31
 6 KT Moreazerua              16    7   6   3    18   14   +4    27
 7 Bombarralense              19    8   2   9    21   26   −5    26
 8 Laivana JPS                18    6   3   9    16   19   −3    21
 9 KT Itzalovalle             16    6   1   9    22   22    0    19
10 Oljestaden IF              16    5   1  10     9   18   −9    16
11 Burdoc Ridge               19    3   3  13    19   39  −20    12
12 KT Ferramendiak            16    3   1  12    15   26  −11    10
13 KT Koroatuz                17    1   3  13    13   35  −22     6

Cathair are imperious on their visit north. Ahn Gil-Dong grabs a goal after half-time, calmly side-footing a waist-high pass into the bottom corner from a Jerquaad cross. 34 year-old Jerquaad, formerly of Barro Branco. Shamrock Cathair, KT Moreazerua, Cazadores Cathair, AC Izotz Zubia, KT Ferramendiak and CF Daineri, was supposed to have lost a step. He has. Several. But he’s still here, providing goals against 1830 Cathair. Somehow.

Anyway. Vetiver had already scored a brace and Baillaire had already made it three, and Jack Menard’s far-post header would mean Ahn’s goal will be for nought.

Cathair, three points clear at the top albeit having played one or two more games than the chasing teams, are still in fine fettle as the season enters its latter stages.

KT Koroatuz Kozi
Calle de los Toros, (Cap: 21000). Koroatuz, Herradura

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 1
Squad
1. Adie Sia (30, G , AUD)
3. Eneko Rolondu (32, D/M L, AUD)
4. Faustino Villela (27, DM C, AUD)
5. Jordi Balaguer (31, D C, AUD)
6. Heitor Borba (25, D C, AUD)
7. Ximen Ariztegi (21, M R, AUD)
8. Izan Alvarenga (31, M LC, AUD)
9. Abarran Lizarraga (32, M/F RC, AUD)
10. Caetano Marcará (21, F C, AUD)
11. Garfield Etxeleku (29, M L, AUD)
12. Bittor Cordone (23, F C, AUD)
12. Randall Baron (19, D/M C, AUD)
13. Apollonius Yaw (23, M C, AUD)
14. Urtzi Garechana (19, M/F R, AUD)
15. Etor Atxabal (25, DM C, AUD)
16. Gabstone Imburgia (21, M C, AUD)
Mng. Guillem Rodas (53, D/M L, AUD)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Sia - Balaguer, Borba, Baron - Ariztegi, Alvarenga, Villela, Yaw, Garechana - Marcará, Cordone

Quite what we’re supposed to be make of Caetano Maracará is anyone’s guess. In one and a half seasons in the top flight the striker is yet to score a goal. And yet the fans love him, and have full confidence in him. No matter what anyone says, Caetano will score.

Matchday 26
National League
KT Ferramendiak 1–1 KT Moreazerua
KT Koroatuz 0–3 Oljestaden IF
1830 Cathair 2–1 KT Itzalovalle
Bombarralense 0–3 Shamrock Cathair

He doesn’t score against Oljestaden, who make light work of the Herradurans. Kozi, stuck on the bottom of the table on just six points, may need some kind of miracle if they’re to even pick up another win all season, let alone repeat the miraculous avoidance of relegation that they did last season.

KT Itzalovalle Itzi
The Antzerkia, (Cap: 48000). Ferramendiak, Herradura

League Titles* - 1
Domestic Cup Trophies - 3
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Echepare Rospide (31, G , ASG)
2. Liza Price (34, D R, BRE)
3. Katua Byrne (25, M L, BRE)
4. Artizar Bailo (33, DM C, ASG)
6. Jerold Dickman (24, D C, HAP)
7. Yuriorkis Stelea (29, M C, AUD)
8. Jackson Handris (29, F RC, PFA)
9. Claudio Vantula (28, F C, MRT)
10. Dreigiau Parrish (32, AM C, BRE)
11. Inigo Brandão (26, M CL, AUD)
12. Deon Tonnesen-Zegarra (30, D CL, AUD)
14. Gaetano Torrado (20, M RL, AUD)
15. Floriano Côtescassées (33, D L, AUD)
16. Milan Pallas (28, D RC, AUD)
17. Dunixi Oyangurengoitia (26, M R, AUD)
18. Martim Picasso (31, F C, PFA)
20. Reynard Salama (28, D C, EFL)
21. Dante Fiasco (16, D C, QAD)
24. Yuli Magunagoikoetxea (20, M C, AUD)
25. Artan Irrigarai (20, D/M R, AUD)
Mng. Daniel Bernard (54, VLD)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Rospide - Price, Dickman, Salama, Cotescassees - Handris, Stelea, Parrish, Byrne - Vantula, Picasso

Daniel Bernard was supposed to take Itzi fully to the top of Audioslavian football. He kind of did, winning the side their first and only league title in their history, but he has failed to keep his side up at that level. The title defence in season 19 ended with the team a commendable second, but two sixth places and a seventh has put the side firmly back in its Challengers Cup home, and the only way out appears to be down - the side have been looking up at seventh for most of the season.

Vantula is still strong, but hasn’t hit the rich veins of form of old this season, while newcomers Jackson Handris - a relative of former 1830 Cathair forward Shaka - and Poaf Martim Picasso have improved a team that, nevertheless, just can’t seem ti actually win when it matters.

Matchday 27
National League
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 Bombarralense
Shamrock Cathair 0–3 1830 Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 KT Koroatuz
Oljestaden IF 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
KT Moreazerua 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               20   15   2   3    33   10  +23    47
 2 Cazadores Cathair          17   12   2   3    25   10  +15    38
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             17   11   4   2    23   14   +9    37
 4 Shamrock Cathair           18   11   3   4    27   16  +11    36
 5 Osarese Marcadia           17   11   1   5    27   13  +14    34
 6 KT Moreazerua              18    7   7   4    19   16   +3    28
 7 Bombarralense              21    8   2  11    22   31   −9    26
 8 Laivana JPS                18    6   3   9    16   19   −3    21
 9 KT Itzalovalle             18    6   1  11    24   26   −2    19
10 Oljestaden IF              18    6   1  11    12   19   −7    19
11 KT Ferramendiak            18    4   2  12    17   27  −10    14
12 Burdoc Ridge               19    3   3  13    19   39  −20    12
13 KT Koroatuz                19    2   3  14    15   39  −24     9

Itzi are bitterly disappointing in defeat to a Kozi side registering just their second win of the season. Down in 9th, seven points behind Bomba in the last of the ChC spots, Bernard’s job is under question for the first time in his hitherto successful stint at the club. Perhaps this is simply the purgatory the fans bought after their recent league and cup wins?

Bombarralense Os Bombardeiros
Estadio das Trevas, (Cap: 17500). Bombarral, Lusitâninha

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Rock Taffarel (21, G , AUD)
2. Patrick Read (27, D R, EUR)
4. Gabriele Crovo (31, DM C, AUD)
5. Reinhart Nijssen (30, D C, AUD)
6. Gastão Fagundes (29, D/M C, AUD)
7. Roberto Carias (22, M R, AUD)
8. Konrad Nikulásson (20, M C, TJL)
9. Adam Sudžum (19, F C, ZRH)
11. Frank Errington (19, M L, MRT)
12. Cristian Cunha (22, D RC, AUD)
13. Chase Hernandes (25, D LC, AUD)
15. Elías Merced (23, D LC, AUD)
17. Cristóvão Lopes (18, D C, AUD)
18. Roberto Silvestre (22, F C, CBZ)
19. Juan José Pasillas (30, D/M C, AUD)
20. Joaquim Neto (24, AM C, AUD)
21. Fortune Cammers (30, G , EFL)
Mng. Louise Halldorsen (52, ZWZ)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Rock - Read, Nissan, Fagundes, Merced - Carias, Nikulásson, Crovo, Errington - Sudžum, Silvestre

Bomba are the archetype of the Audioslavian ‘midfield’ team. Occasionally a problem for a big team, occasionally slipping up against a smaller one, and always, always between 6th and 11th. Bomba have been in the top flight now for twelve straight seasons, and though they have occasionally broken through into extended periods of IFCF football, the fact is they can be relied upon to finish slightly outside of those spots every single cycle. Zwangzugian manager Louise Halldorsen has come in to try to put together some kind of run and hasn’t really been able to thus far. Her side sit seventh, sure, but it’s been a ceiling for Bomba since before some of these players were born.

Matchday 28
National League
AC Izotz Zubia 4–0 Oljestaden IF
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
KT Koroatuz 1–3 Shamrock Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–3 Osarese Marcadia
Bombarralense 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Bomba fail to truly scare a Caza side who are trying not to fall behind in the title race, with Kepler ‘Vegeta’ de Souza netting the only goal of the game on a day on which 1830 Cathair slip up massively, trounced by a visiting Osarese keen to show why they’re still champions.

KT Moreazerua Mozi
Ibarretako Estadioa, (Cap: 40000). Moreazerua, Herradura

League Titles* - 1
Domestic Cup Trophies - 1
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Yoruyoru (33, G , DAI)
2. Adélaïde Garcia (33, D C, SVG)
3. Carles Mendiolagaray (24, D L, AUD)
4. Ronan Stenhouse (33, DM C, EUR)
5. Oran Coldcross (34, D C, AUD)
6. Máximo Andikoetxea (25, D/M C, AUD)
7. Imauka Lkomorak (26, M CR, VIL)
8. Reuben Corkhill (26, D/M C, AUD)
9. Nicholas Main (23, F C, TLI)
10. Olentzaro Karazatorre (33, F C, ASG)
11. Dashmati (29, AM CL, DAI)
12. Syerra (25, M R, DAI)
13. Ximen Errandonea (24, M R, AUD)
15. Gael Morea (22, DM C, AUD)
18. Raul Vitan (31, D CR, CMT)
19. Trevor Paraoan (31, AM/F C, FHU)
21. Tor Zorola (19, G , AUD)
Mng. Alessandro Juliana (46, M CR, AUD) * Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Zorola - Coldcross, Garcia, Vitan - Stenhouse, Corkhill - Lkomorak, Dashmati, Syerra - Koarazatorre, Main

Moreazerua were a true force at the start of the National League era, winning their first league title in season two and finishing second the seasons either side. They were supposed to be a force for this entire era, but aside from a cup win in season six, this is a side that has won nothing in all the years since. Two third places over the last ten cycles are their best performances in recent memory. Like Bomba, Alessandro Juliana has been trying to kick his side on to the next level, but in such a competitive league… what can you do?

Mozi remain a strong side, but not one that seems capable of showing the required consistency to mount anything approaching a title push, especially this season, where they’re seemingly already out of the running for the Champions League places.

Matchday 29
National League
Laivana JPS 2–1 Bombarralense
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 1830 Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 KT Koroatuz
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Itzalovalle 1–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Oljestaden IF 1–1 KT Moreazerua

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               22   16   2   4    35   13  +22    50
 2 Cazadores Cathair          19   13   2   4    26   11  +15    41
 3 Osarese Marcadia           19   13   1   5    31   14  +17    40
 4 Shamrock Cathair           20   12   4   4    30   17  +13    40
 5 AC Izotz Zubia             19   12   4   3    27   15  +12    40
 6 KT Moreazerua              19    7   8   4    20   17   +3    29
 7 Bombarralense              23    8   2  13    23   34  −11    26
 8 KT Itzalovalle             20    8   1  11    26   26    0    25
 9 Laivana JPS                19    7   3   9    18   20   −2    24
10 Oljestaden IF              20    6   2  12    13   24  −11    20
11 KT Ferramendiak            20    4   3  13    17   28  −11    15
12 Burdoc Ridge               19    3   3  13    19   39  −20    12
13 KT Koroatuz                21    2   3  16    16   43  −27     9

There’s no doubt who the better team is at the Hygojle Stadium, but all the same Kirill Kozlovsky is on hand to take advantage of a Moreazerua mis-hap to steal away a useful point in Oljestaden’s fight to stay out of the relegation spots. With eight points and KT Ferramendiak between themselves and a hapless Burdoc Ridge, it’s a fight they’re thus far winning.

Burdoc Ridge Thistle
The Jaffacake Stadium, (Cap: 21093). Ceilerden, Central

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Vianca (35, G , DAI)
2. Noah MacGorrie (24, D RC, AUD)
3. Evan Orson (19, D L, AUD)
4. Dick Munro-Moura (31, M C, AUD)
5. Topper Hendry (25, D C, AUD)
6. Cooper Rees (25, D C, AUD)
8. Iyan Holler (24, M/F C, AUD)
9. Gilbert Raes (25, F C, AUD)
10. Tristan Soutar (25, F C, AUD)
11. Wilder Pollock (23, M LC, AUD)
12. Raul MacCann (22, AM C, AUD)
13. Brandon Erskine (19, G , AUD)
15. Benjamin Strand (20, D CL, AUD)
17. Cesar Capuano (18, M RC, AUD)
18. John McGraw (34, D/M LC, AUD)
20. Calum Kirkpatrick (30, M LC, KSK/AUD)
35. Hifay Al-Efran (22, M C, TFS)
Mng. Zebjan Istanjovich (51, G , SIC)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Expected First XI
Vianca - MacGorrie, Hendry, Rees, Orson - Capuano, MacCann, Holler, Pollock - Raes, Soutar

Burdoc Ridge hadn’t been in the top flight since season ten, Bomba’s first season in the National League. The side is generally made up of locals, plus a few players discarded from the likes of Shamrock and Oljestaden. This season it’s shown. Manager Zebjan Istanjovich, a veteran of Audioslavian football, has done his best to get this team up to speed but, really, without significant investment, there’s little doing for the west-central outfit.

Matchday 30
National League
KT Moreazerua 1–0 KT Itzalovalle
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–2 Osarese Marcadia
KT Koroatuz 1–2 Cazadores Cathair
1830 Cathair 0–0 Laivana JPS
Bombarralense 0–1 Burdoc Ridge

Nevertheless, Tristan Soutar slots home the only goal of the game away to Bomba to take the spoils and inch closer to Ferramendiak in the table, and with it the chance to continue their fight against what seems like an imminent relegation.

In the middle of the table, Laivana are pushing for an outside shot of the Challengers Cup, for which their nil-all draw against title-chasing Cathair is a huge moment. Cathair, on 23 games, have one more left in the calendar to push themselves as far ahead of their title rivals as possible.

Matchday 31
National League
Burdoc Ridge 1–4 1830 Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–1 KT Koroatuz
Cazadores Cathair 2–1 KT Ferramendiak
Osarese Marcadia 0–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 KT Moreazerua
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Oljestaden IF

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   17   3   4    39   14  +25    54
 2 Cazadores Cathair          21   15   2   4    30   13  +17    47
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             21   14   4   3    30   15  +15    46
 4 Osarese Marcadia           21   14   1   6    33   17  +16    43
 5 Shamrock Cathair           22   13   4   5    31   18  +13    43
 6 KT Moreazerua              21    8   8   5    21   18   +3    32
 7 KT Itzalovalle             22    8   2  12    26   27   −1    26
 8 Laivana JPS                21    7   5   9    19   21   −2    26
 9 Bombarralense              24    8   2  14    23   35  −12    26
10 Oljestaden IF              21    6   3  12    13   24  −11    21
11 KT Ferramendiak            22    4   3  15    19   32  −13    15
12 Burdoc Ridge               21    4   3  14    21   43  −22    15
13 KT Koroatuz                23    2   4  17    18   46  −28    10

Alex Sharp steals the show in Burdoc, scoring thrice on the way to a dominant 4-1 victory to close out the Elders’ season. On 54 points and a goal-difference of plus 25 - enough to take the title in any of the previous 13-team league seasons - they have a good chance of coming out as victors, but fans of Cazadores, AC Izotz Zubia and Mathematics will tell you that they shouldn’t start getting out the champagne just yet. Caza can hit 56 points with three wins from their final three games, while Zozi can hit 55. So can 1830 Cathair finish third?

No. No they can’t. AC Izotz Zubia versus Cazadores Cathair comes on matchday 32.
Osarese Marcadia’s defeat to Zozi confirms that they won’t be defending their title this season. Priority number one now shifts to finishing in the top four ahead of Shamrock Cathair, whose victory over Mozi only widens the chasm between fifth and sixth. At the bottom, Laivana will be frustrated with their draw against Koroatuz, seeing as they’re now *so close* to that last Challengers Cup spot. Kozi will be even more disappointed. One game to go, five points the gap, they are officially relegated.

Matchday 32
National League
Oljestaden IF 0–2 Shamrock Cathair
KT Moreazerua 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
AC Izotz Zubia 1–1 Cazadores Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–1 Laivana JPS
KT Koroatuz 1–1 Burdoc Ridge

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   17   3   4    39   14  +25    54
 2 Cazadores Cathair          22   15   3   4    31   14  +17    48
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             22   14   5   3    31   16  +15    47
 4 Osarese Marcadia           22   15   1   6    35   17  +18    46
 5 Shamrock Cathair           23   14   4   5    33   18  +15    46
 6 KT Moreazerua              22    8   8   6    21   20   +1    32
 7 Laivana JPS                22    7   6   9    20   22   −2    27
 8 KT Itzalovalle             22    8   2  12    26   27   −1    26
 9 Bombarralense              24    8   2  14    23   35  −12    26
10 Oljestaden IF              22    6   3  13    13   26  −13    21
11 KT Ferramendiak            23    4   4  15    20   33  −13    16
12 Burdoc Ridge               22    4   4  14    22   44  −22    16
13 KT Koroatuz                24    2   5  17    19   47  −28    11

AC Izotz Zubia 1-1 Cazadores is possibly the best result fans of 1830 Cathair could have hoped for. Bagshaw scores for the home side, Hielscher-Zendagorta nets for the visitors, and the end result is AC Izotz Zubia’s mathematical elimination from the title race. Cazadores, then, need not only two wins, but two big wins, from their final two games.

Shamrock’s late-season form has been excellent, with Aleksandr Ivanovich apparently getting the best out of new striker Gabriel Sayritupac. The true revelation in their victory over Oljestaden, however, is the debut of young Pasargan Bogdan ‘Bodi’ Laszlo, who provides the cross for Sayritupac that seals the game for the men in green. Shamrock are going places, but whether those places include the Champions League may also hinge on Osarese Marcadia dropping the ball. They emphatically don’t against a sorry Moreazerua whose season has been effectively over for a while now. Mozi are the sixth best team in the country once again.

Matchday 33
National League
Burdoc Ridge 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
Laivana JPS 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 KT Moreazerua
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Oljestaden IF
Shamrock Cathair 2–1 KT Itzalovalle

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   17   3   4    39   14  +25    54
 2 Osarese Marcadia           23   16   1   6    36   17  +19    49
 3 Shamrock Cathair           24   15   4   5    35   19  +16    49
 4 Cazadores Cathair          23   15   3   5    31   15  +16    48
 5 AC Izotz Zubia             23   14   6   3    31   16  +15    48
 6 KT Moreazerua              23    9   8   6    22   20   +2    35
 7 Laivana JPS                23    7   7   9    20   22   −2    28
 8 KT Itzalovalle             23    8   2  13    27   29   −2    26
 9 Bombarralense              24    8   2  14    23   35  −12    26
10 Oljestaden IF              23    6   3  14    13   27  −14    21
11 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   5  15    20   33  −13    17
12 Burdoc Ridge               23    4   5  14    22   44  −22    17
13 KT Koroatuz                24    2   5  17    19   47  −28    11

Moreazerua do have one final trick up their sleeve. Karazatorre heads in the only goal of the game to shatter Cazadores Cathair’s meagre title ambitions and hand the title on a silver platter to 1830 Cathair, who can celebrate from the comfort of the club bar. It’s title number two for Gareth Blackthorn and number fifteen for the club in just 38 seasons of domestic football in Audioslavia. Cazadores’s prize for running them the closest is to drop down into fourth, with Shamrock compounding Itzi’s woes and Osarese sneaking a win over Oljestaden IF. The title race has finished, all that’s left is to figure out which four of these five teams will make the Champions League.

Oh, and the little matter of Laivana JPS possibly making the Challengers Cup for the first time in their history. They close the season away to Moreazerua, with Itzi hosting Champions League chasing Osarese in the marquee tie of the round.

Matchday 34
National League
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Oljestaden IF 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
KT Moreazerua 2–1 Laivana JPS
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 Burdoc Ridge

   National League           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   17   3   4    39   14  +25    54
 2 Osarese Marcadia           24   17   1   6    37   17  +20    52
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   6   3    33   17  +16    51
 4 Shamrock Cathair           24   15   4   5    35   19  +16    49
 5 Cazadores Cathair          24   15   3   6    31   16  +15    48
 6 KT Moreazerua              24   10   8   6    24   21   +3    38
 7 Laivana JPS                24    7   7  10    21   24   −3    28
 8 KT Itzalovalle             24    8   2  14    27   30   −3    26
 9 Bombarralense              24    8   2  14    23   35  −12    26
10 Oljestaden IF              24    7   3  14    14   27  −13    24
11 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   5  15    20   33  −13    17
12 Burdoc Ridge               24    4   5  15    23   46  −23    17
13 KT Koroatuz                24    2   5  17    19   47  −28    11

On a tense night in two cities of the Herradura, Laivana cannot truly lay a finger on Moreazerua, but Itzalovalle’s frustrating afternoon against Osarese Marcadia, who seal second place via a Phil Cole strike, ensures Laivana JPS will be playing IFCF football for the first time in their short history next season, with Itzi down in a depressing eighth place.

Cazadores, rocked by last week’s defeat, succumb to a miserable loss away in Oljestaden and drop down into the Challengers Cup. At the bottom, Burdoc Ridge simply do not have what it takes against AC Izotz Zubia and are relegated, officially, with Feri breathing a collective sigh of relief from their respective sofas.

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Feb 16, 2023 10:12 am

Kirola Cup First Round
The Oran 2–1 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
Crossport Dynamo 0–0 Frecce (0–0 AET) (3–5 pen.)
Eletti Valligiani 1–2 Oljestaden IF
2130 Calolziolungho 0–1 Fundición
Kitherwell 0–1 Necromarinai
Valens AV 0–1 CF Daineri
Clockwork FC 1–0 KT Laranjauzia
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferratzaileak 2–0 Sobrevolante
Guerrilla Cathair 0–1 Burdoc Ridge
Tenth Star Hasiera 2–1 Union Cathair
CF Herradores 0–2 KT Koroatuz
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 0–1 Crossport Mariners
Alistoun Academicals 2–2 Reina Del Sud (2–2 AET) (3–1 pen.)
Iron Brewery 7–0 KT Kanpoldelko
1830 Cathair 3–0 Orquideas
Hibernação 2–0 Viking Halehavn
Excelsior Zijweg 1–1 Laivana JPS (2–1 AET)
Corações 0–1 CC Exiles
Shamrock Cathair 2–0 Ceilerden Harp
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 2–1 CdFS Ilheiros
Artiglieria 1–1 AS Marcadia (2–1 AET)
DDM Dunas Secas 1–2 Laranjeiras
C.D. Portobranco 0–2 KT Ferramendiak
Uniao Tortuguita 1–1 Santa Margarida (1–1 AET) (3–4 pen.)
Cazadores Cathair 4–0 Huiszwalluw FC
Sparta Zijweg 1–2 1AC Izotz Zubia
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Silexhera FC (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)
CdF Celtade 2–4 Ceilerden Rovers
Bombarralense 2–1 Vidrieros
Osarese Marcadia 5–0 Lemmitania State FC
Valão 0–4 Maccabi Hasiera

Kirola Cup Second Round
Cazadores Cathair 1–1 Necromarinai (2–2 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0–4 Osarese Marcadia
Santa Margarida 2–0 Ceilerden Rovers
KT Ferratzaileak 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
Burdoc Ridge 1–0 Fundición
Excelsior Zijweg 1–0 Crossport Mariners
Artiglieria 1–0 CC Exiles
Tenth Star Hasiera 2–2 Bombarralense (2–3 AET)
Maccabi Hasiera 1–3 KT Moreazerua
Laranjeiras 2–0 Iron Brewery
Clockwork FC 2–2 Hibernação (3–2 AET)
KT Koroatuz 2–2 Frecce (3–2 AET)
CF Daineri 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Shamrock Cathair 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Alistoun Academicals 0–4 AC Izotz Zubia
1830 Cathair 3–0 The Oran

Kirola Cup Third Round
Laranjeiras 0–2 Artiglieria
Clockwork FC 0–1 Bombarralense
KT Ferratzaileak 0–0 Oljestaden IF (0–0 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 KT Koroatuz
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 1830 Cathair
KT Moreazerua 1–5 KT Itzalovalle
Santa Margarida 3–0 Excelsior Zijweg
AC Izotz Zubia 5–0 Burdoc Ridge

Kirola Cup Quarter Final
1830 Cathair 3–0 KT Ferratzaileak
AC Izotz Zubia 1–2 Osarese Marcadia
KT Itzalovalle 0–0 Artiglieria (0–0 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Bombarralense 2–1 Santa Margarida

Kirola Cup Semi Final
Bombarralense 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 1830 Cathair

Kirola Cup Final
KT Itzalovalle 2–2 Osarese Marcadia (2–2 AET) (0–3 pen.)

After a miserable league season, Katua Byrne's imperious form isn't enough to have the beating of Osarese Marcadia. Twice she supplies crosses for Vantula and Handris to score, twice her side are pegged back by Jiang Jieren and Gabriel Buvalelli. Her misery is compounded in the shoot-out, with Byrne the second of three Itzalovalle penalty-takers to find only the keeper's legs or the foot of the post as Osarese Marcadia add the Kirola Cup to their second place finish and last season's league title.

by **Audioslavia** » Fri May 19, 2023 3:48 pm

Season 23 Review

Laivana JPS Laika
Persikan Kaistastadion , (Cap: 18500). Laivanrakentajas, Hyland

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Yuliy Polyakov (33, G , AUD)
2. Jaana Jokinen (34, D R, SRS)
3. Alessio Lana (29, D L, AUD)
6. Jacopo Zanetti (28, D C, AUD)
7. Janne Lindeman (24, M/F RC, AUD)
8. Dane Pridgeon (33, M C, COS)
9. Frans Egeberg (27, D C, AUD)
10. Wilhelm Nkitilina (33, F C, TAE)
11. Ivan Molinar (25, M LC, AUD)
13. Gunner Laursen (21, F C, AUD)
14. Vernon Vermeulen (25, D/M L, AUD)
18. Freay Isaksen (20, D LC, AUD)
19. Anders Hjelm (20, F C, AUD)
20. Koen Schoemaker (21, M L, AUD)
21. Hassan Sondergaard (20, G , AUD)
21. Bruno Sandoval (21, M RC, AUD)
22. Yong Puglia-Roed (27, M C, AUD)
23. Callen Landsborough (22, D C, AUD)
Mng. Lukas Meeuwsen (52, M L, AUD)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Laivana JPS were supposed to be the New Money of Audioslavian football, but that StarFox money has come through only in drips and drabs. Crowds were thicker this season, not least because the side were playing in the Challengers Cup for the first time in their history, but things quickly turned sour for what had been the west coast’s only representative in the top flight. It took until matchday twenty-eight - twenty-eight! - for the side to record their first win. A subsequent run of a draw and two more victories actually managed to propel the side above the waterline, if briefly, before a sickening defeat to an already relegated CdF Celtade and a final-day loss to Shamrock, coupled with an unlikely result elsewhere, fated Laivana to the drop, much to the amusement of critics of club owner Egon Must.

The good news, if there is any, is that if Must wants any kind of return on his investment, he may actually have to, you know, invest. If he does, Laivana should spring straight back up into the big time.

Necromarinai The Bucks
Stadio della Mare, (Cap: 7750). Bolzana, Padia

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 0
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Joel Finlayson (27, G , AUD)
2. John MacKay (25, D/M R, AUD)
2. Darrin Cancel (30, D RC, AUD)
3. Marco Colicchio (22, D L, AUD)
4. Faustino Villela (29, DM C, AUD)
5. Santiago Pinho (25, D C, AUD)
6. Bruno Febo (21, D/M C, AUD)
7. Nicola Grizzaffi (19, M R, AUD)
8. Guido Campagna-Prosciutto (21, M C, AUD)
9. Alan Newton (34, F C, AUD)
10. Tristan Soutar (27, F C, AUD)
11. Horace Bringhentti (25, AM L, AUD)
12. Jan MacLaren (22, F C, AUD)
15. Jamstone Cammarano (24, M C, AUD)
16. Quinworth De Vincenzi (28, DM C, AUD)
17. Cesar Capuano (20, M RC, AUD)
18. Ezara Wild (29, AM C, AUD)
19. Driyundar (33, D/F C, DAI)
21. Frey Pelle (21, D LC, AUD)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Guido Campagna-Prosciutto’s ridiculous name is actually one of the least weird things about Necromarinai, an old Audioslavian club that had been treading water in the second and third flights before their unexpected promotion to the big time. The self-styled Pirate Football Club smashed the door down with a one-nothing defeat of title outsiders Moreazerua, going unbeaten for their first three and winning two of their first five, before a 5-1 shellacking at Cazadores sought to bring them back to earth. Shamrock would hit them for five as well, but only after another run of one win and two draws, as Necromarinai tethered themselves to mid-table at the halfway stage.

The second half of the season saw their form wither to almost nothing, but just as it seemed they’d be pipped by Laivana at the last, a final-day draw at home to 1830 Cathair proved to be enough to keep the newcomers in the top flight for one more season at least - and, if their late season form is more true of their level of skill - at most.

Oljestaden IF Olga
Hygolje Arena, (Cap: 50000). Oljestaden, Hyland

League Titles* - 0
Domestic Cup Trophies - 3
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 1
Squad
1. Dalton Speare (24, G , AUD)
2. Jensen Fischer (32, D CR, AUD)
3. Anargyos Zervaes (29, D C, VDR)
4. Rem Rodijk (31, DM C, KOR)
5. Da Chong (31, D C, JOV)
6. Dusty Classen (20, D C, AUD)
8. Jensen Ostergard (33, M C, AUD)
9. Ahn Gil-Dong (23, F C, CMT)
11. Jan Galcirena (35, D L, AUD)
13. Kang Do-Hyuk (23, G , CMT)
14. Lucas Park (26, M C, AUD)
15. Pierre Rostoff (23, M C, CMT)
17. Kirill Kozlovsky (24, F C, AUD)
18. Ike Hoogstraten (32, M C, AUD)
19. Tobias Vandenbroucke (24, M LC, AUD)
20. Shivay Rani (18, D C, SNL)
21. Tjapko Van der Ende (25, D C, AUD)
22. Aníbal Borges (30, DM C, AUD)
23. Rijs Wood (16, D LC, AUD)
Mng. Tomas Kristofics (53, DM C, PIS)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Tenth last season but with three more points than this one, Oljestaden’s ninth place finish represents a team that has largely stood still. Tomas Kristofics has been at the club since he was a teenager, and has been a manager for the last fifteen seasons, yet remains unable to propel the club into mid-table for more than a couple of seasons before the next relegation dogfight happens. They have young players coming through - Rijs Wood impressed later on in the campaign - but it’s Oljestaden. They always have good young players and a lot of journeymen to teach them the worst habits they can imagine.

Thrashed 8-0 at home by Zozi early on, Olga managed just one win and five draws in the opening half of the season. A strong run of form saw the side win three in a row along the home stretch, including an away upset over Cazadores, to ensure they wouldn’t be dragged into to demotion scrap. Like the teams around them, though, Oljestaden have work to do and money to spend if they’re to escape the whirlpool at the bottom.

KT Moreazerua Mozi
Ibarretako Estadioa, (Cap: 40000). Moreazerua, Herradura

League Titles* - 1
Domestic Cup Trophies - 1
Major International Honours** - 0
Other International Honours*** - 0
Squad
1. Yoruyoru (34, G , DAI)
3. Carles Mendiolagaray (26, D L, AUD)
4. Ronan Stenhouse (34, DM C, EUR)
5. Oran Coldcross (36, D C, AUD)
6. Máximo Andikoetxea (27, D/M C, AUD)
7. Imauka Lkomorak (27, M CR, VIL)
8. Reuben Corkhill (28, D/M C, AUD)
9. Nicholas Main (24, F C, TLI)
10. Olentzaro Karazatorre (34, F C, ASG)
11. Dashmati (30, AM CL, DAI)
12. Syerra (26, M R, DAI)
13. Ximen Errandonea (26, M R, AUD)
15. Gael Morea (24, DM C, AUD)
18. Raul Vitan (32, D CR, CMT)
19. Trevor Paraoan (32, AM/F C, FHU)
21. Tor Zorola (21, G , AUD)
24. Asentzio Iragorri (18, D R, AUD)
30. Petvqar Terziovski (25, M C, MYT)
Mng. Alessandro Juliana (48, M CR, AUD)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Good enough for a Challengers Cup spot in recent seasons, the decline of Audioslavian football in the IFCF rankings means Mozi are simply ‘best of the rest’ this season. Without a trophy since season six’s cup win, Mozi fans are growing increasingly frustrated, not least with a manager that continues to be linked with big jobs abroad without truly delivering for his club.

This season was no different to any other of Mozi’s recent efforts. After slowly coming out of the blocks they pushed their way to second in the table with a run of victories. On 34 points after 17 games, the side flopped hard down the home stretch, adding only five more points to drop right out of the top six.

Up front, Olentzaro Karazatorre once again finished as top goalscorer for the men in purple and red, but the side can no longer rely on the pace or reliability of the 35 year-old Astograthian forward, whose inability to form a cohesive unit with strike partner Nicholas Main is perhaps holding the club back, despite the goals both have been getting.

Cazadores Cathair Caza
El Ruedo, (Cap: 42500). Cathair, Central

League Titles* - 3
Domestic Cup Trophies - 3
Major International Honours** - 2
Other International Honours*** - 2
Squad
1. Juxon Fillar (32, G , CMT)
2. Grayson Fillar (27, D R, CMT)
3. Harmon Mulvahill (28, D L, KOR)
4. Iñigo Higgs (24, DM C, AUD)
5. David Iowa (23, D RC, XAN)
6. Inteali Koranjo (30, D C, VIL)
7. Kepler Marcel Gouveia de Souza (25, AM C, QUE)
8. Vincent Telerman (27, AM C, UHL)
9. Wilhelm Hielscher-Zendagorta (26, AM/F C, STL)
10. Cristian Benitez (30, AM C, VLD)
11. Nicholas Candy (30, F CL, KOR)
12. Putra Aryaweda (18, AM/F C, PCU)
13. Cristos Harding (29, D C, EFL)
14. Crawfista (18, M LC, DAI)
15. Guan Cai Tsung (19, D C, NIX)
17. Aarón Guedes (20, D L, AUD)
18. Mécia Sola (24, AM C, AUD)
19. Qaqilek (28, G , DAI)
20. Azariah MacCormack (29, F C, AUD)
21. Errol Goncalves (28, D LC, AUD)
22. Carlos Arriaga (20, M RC, AUD)
26. Fabien Baillieu (19, D RC, JUE)
Mng. Rook Cathar (60, F LCR, NPH)
* Includes finishing highest of all Audioslavian teams in LigAnaia era
** UICA Champions Cup, UICA Globe Cup, Cygnus Cup, IFCF Champions League, IFCF Challengers Cup, IFCF Associations Cup, IFCF Cup Winners Cup
*** IFCF SuperCup, COCANEFA LigAnaia, COCANEFA CopAnaia, CAFA LigAnaia, AOCL, VCIAPP

Rook Cathar’s announcement, halfway through the season, that this would be his last in Audioslavian football after a full thirty seasons at the club drew tears from the Caza faithful. Caza are a club which would raise no eyebrows by naming the entire stadium after him, let alone a stand, given the work he’s put in for the side as a hulking great striker and a hulking great manager. His hungry polar bear waving at a seal approach to touchline instructions will be missed.

His Caza team, bolstered by the arrivals of Grayson Fillar and Hawklandian starVincent Telerman, topped the table at the halfway point and looked to be challenging for the league title before a shaky mid-season run saw the side drop behind. Still in with a shout with four games to go, a bruising away draw at cross-town rivals Shamrock came before a mid-week disaster against Itzalovalle, and four points gained against Cathair and Moreazerua in the last two games would not be enough for any higher than sixth.

The top of the table in Audioslavia, like the bottom, is tight. 45 points may be their lowest points haul of the 13-team era, but they were four points - and a handful of goals - away from taking the league title.

Matchday 1
The National League
Necromarinai 1–0 KT Moreazerua
Oljestaden IF 0–1 1830 Cathair
Laivana JPS 0–2 KT Itzalovalle
CdF Celtade 0–1 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 2
The National League
KT Itzalovalle 3–2 CdF Celtade
1830 Cathair 3–0 Laivana JPS
KT Moreazerua 1–1 Oljestaden IF
KT Ferramendiak 1–4 Osarese Marcadia

Matchday 3
The National League
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 KT Ferramendiak
Laivana JPS 1–2 KT Moreazerua
CdF Celtade 2–3 1830 Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 KT Itzalovalle

Matchday 4
The National League
1830 Cathair 2–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Moreazerua 3–0 CdF Celtade
KT Ferramendiak 3–1 Bombarralense
Osarese Marcadia 1–3 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 5
The National League
Bombarralense 1–0 Osarese Marcadia
Cazadores Cathair 2–1 KT Ferramendiak
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 KT Moreazerua
KT Itzalovalle 1–0 1830 Cathair

Matchday 6
The National League
KT Moreazerua 2–0 KT Itzalovalle
KT Ferramendiak 2–2 Necromarinai
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 Bombarralense

Matchday 7
The National League
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Necromarinai 1–1 Osarese Marcadia
Oljestaden IF 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
1830 Cathair 2–1 KT Moreazerua

Matchday 8
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 1–0 Laivana JPS
Osarese Marcadia 3–1 Oljestaden IF
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 Necromarinai
Bombarralense 0–0 Cazadores Cathair

Matchday 9
The National League
Necromarinai 2–1 Bombarralense
Oljestaden IF 0–8 AC Izotz Zubia
Laivana JPS 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
CdF Celtade 2–1 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 10
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 0–3 Shamrock Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 CdF Celtade
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 Laivana JPS
Bombarralense 3–1 Oljestaden IF
Cazadores Cathair 5–1 Necromarinai

Matchday 11
The National League
Oljestaden IF 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
Laivana JPS 0–0 Bombarralense
CdF Celtade 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia
Shamrock Cathair 1–2 Osarese Marcadia
KT Itzalovalle 1–0 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 12
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 2–1 1830 Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
AC Izotz Zubia 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
Bombarralense 1–0 CdF Celtade
Cazadores Cathair 3–1 Laivana JPS
Necromarinai 2–2 Oljestaden IF

Matchday 13
The National League
Laivana JPS 1–1 Necromarinai
CdF Celtade 0–1 Cazadores Cathair
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 Bombarralense
KT Itzalovalle 4–4 AC Izotz Zubia
1830 Cathair 1–0 Osarese Marcadia
KT Moreazerua 4–0 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 14
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 0–0 KT Moreazerua
AC Izotz Zubia 1–2 1830 Cathair
Bombarralense 0–2 KT Itzalovalle
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 Shamrock Cathair
Necromarinai 1–0 CdF Celtade
Oljestaden IF 1–1 Laivana JPS

Matchday 15
The National League
CdF Celtade 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Shamrock Cathair 5–0 Necromarinai
KT Itzalovalle 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–0 Bombarralense
KT Moreazerua 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 16
The National League
Bombarralense 0–0 KT Moreazerua
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 1830 Cathair
Necromarinai 0–4 KT Itzalovalle
Oljestaden IF 0–3 Shamrock Cathair
Laivana JPS 1–2 CdF Celtade

Matchday 17
The National League
Shamrock Cathair 0–0 Laivana JPS
KT Itzalovalle 1–1 Oljestaden IF
1830 Cathair 3–1 Necromarinai
KT Moreazerua 2–1 Cazadores Cathair

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair          12    9   1   2    19    6  +13    28
 2 KT Itzalovalle             12    8   3   1    21   10  +11    27
 3 1830 Cathair               12    9   0   3    19    9  +10    27
 4 AC Izotz Zubia             12    7   2   3    25   12  +13    23
 5 Shamrock Cathair           12    6   3   3    17    7  +10    21
 6 KT Moreazerua              12    5   4   3    15    7   +8    19
 7 Osarese Marcadia           12    5   2   5    15   12   +3    17
 8 Necromarinai               12    3   4   5    12   26  −14    13
 9 Bombarralense              12    3   3   6     7   11   −4    12
10 KT Ferramendiak            12    3   2   7    11   22  −11    11
11 Oljestaden IF              12    1   5   6     8   25  −17     8
12 CdF Celtade                12    2   0  10    10   20  −10     6
13 Laivana JPS                12    0   5   7     5   17  −12     5

Matchday 18
The National League
KT Moreazerua 2–1 Necromarinai
1830 Cathair 3–1 Oljestaden IF
KT Itzalovalle 1–0 Laivana JPS
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 CdF Celtade

Matchday 19
The National League
CdF Celtade 1–2 KT Itzalovalle
Laivana JPS 0–4 1830 Cathair
Oljestaden IF 0–2 KT Moreazerua
Osarese Marcadia 6–2 KT Ferramendiak

Matchday 20
The National League
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Moreazerua 2–1 Laivana JPS
1830 Cathair 4–0 CdF Celtade
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 Shamrock Cathair

Matchday 21
The National League
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 1830 Cathair
CdF Celtade 1–2 KT Moreazerua
Bombarralense 1–1 KT Ferramendiak
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 Osarese Marcadia

Matchday 22
The National League
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 Bombarralense
KT Ferramendiak 2–2 Cazadores Cathair
KT Moreazerua 2–0 Shamrock Cathair
1830 Cathair 1–0 KT Itzalovalle

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               17   13   0   4    31   11  +20    39
 2 KT Moreazerua              17   10   4   3    25   10  +15    34
 3 KT Itzalovalle             16   10   3   3    25   14  +11    33
 4 AC Izotz Zubia             14    9   2   3    28   12  +16    29
 5 Cazadores Cathair          13    9   2   2    21    8  +13    29
 6 Shamrock Cathair           16    8   4   4    21   11  +10    28
 7 Osarese Marcadia           15    7   2   6    22   16   +6    23
 8 Bombarralense              14    3   4   7     8   13   −5    13
 9 Necromarinai               13    3   4   6    13   28  −15    13
10 KT Ferramendiak            16    3   4   9    16   32  −16    13
11 Oljestaden IF              14    1   5   8     9   30  −21     8
12 CdF Celtade                16    2   1  13    13   29  −16     7
13 Laivana JPS                15    0   5  10     6   24  −18     5

Matchday 23
The National League
KT Itzalovalle 1–1 KT Moreazerua
Necromarinai 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
Cazadores Cathair 0–0 Osarese Marcadia
Bombarralense 1–2 AC Izotz Zubia

Matchday 24
The National League
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 Cazadores Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 Necromarinai
KT Ferramendiak 0–1 Oljestaden IF
KT Moreazerua 0–1 1830 Cathair

Matchday 25
The National League
Laivana JPS 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
Oljestaden IF 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
Necromarinai 0–1 AC Izotz Zubia
Cazadores Cathair 3–2 Bombarralense

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               18   14   0   4    32   11  +21    42
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             17   12   2   3    32   13  +19    38
 3 KT Moreazerua              19   10   5   4    26   12  +14    35
 4 KT Itzalovalle             17   10   4   3    26   15  +11    34
 5 Cazadores Cathair          16   10   3   3    24   11  +13    33
 6 Osarese Marcadia           18    9   3   6    26   17   +9    30
 7 Shamrock Cathair           16    8   4   4    21   11  +10    28
 8 Necromarinai               16    4   4   8    15   31  −16    16
 9 KT Ferramendiak            19    3   5  11    16   34  −18    14
10 Bombarralense              16    3   4   9    11   18   −7    13
11 Oljestaden IF              16    2   5   9    10   32  −22    11
12 CdF Celtade                16    2   1  13    13   29  −16     7
13 Laivana JPS                16    0   6  10     6   24  −18     6

Matchday 26
The National League
Bombarralense 2–0 Necromarinai
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 Oljestaden IF
Osarese Marcadia 3–2 Laivana JPS
KT Ferramendiak 4–3 CdF Celtade

Matchday 27
The National League
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 KT Ferramendiak
CdF Celtade 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
Laivana JPS 0–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Oljestaden IF 2–1 Bombarralense
Necromarinai 0–1 Cazadores Cathair

Matchday 28
The National League
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 Oljestaden IF
Bombarralense 0–1 Laivana JPS
AC Izotz Zubia 1–0 CdF Celtade
Osarese Marcadia 0–0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 0–3 KT Itzalovalle

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             20   14   3   3    35   13  +22    45
 2 1830 Cathair               18   14   0   4    32   11  +21    42
 3 KT Itzalovalle             18   11   4   3    29   15  +14    37
 4 Osarese Marcadia           21   11   4   6    30   19  +11    37
 5 Cazadores Cathair          18   11   3   4    25   12  +13    36
 6 KT Moreazerua              19   10   5   4    26   12  +14    35
 7 Shamrock Cathair           18    9   5   4    22   11  +11    32
 8 KT Ferramendiak            22    4   5  13    20   41  −21    17
 9 Oljestaden IF              19    4   5  10    13   35  −22    17
10 Bombarralense              19    4   4  11    14   21   −7    16
11 Necromarinai               18    4   4  10    15   34  −19    16
12 Laivana JPS                19    1   7  11     9   27  −18    10
13 CdF Celtade                19    2   1  16    16   35  −19     7

Matchday 29
The National League
1830 Cathair 0–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Itzalovalle 1–2 Osarese Marcadia
Shamrock Cathair 1–0 AC Izotz Zubia
CdF Celtade 0–0 Bombarralense
Laivana JPS 3–3 Cazadores Cathair
Oljestaden IF 5–3 Necromarinai

Matchday 30
The National League
Necromarinai 0–1 Laivana JPS
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 CdF Celtade
Bombarralense 0–2 Shamrock Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 2–2 KT Itzalovalle
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 1830 Cathair
KT Ferramendiak 1–2 KT Moreazerua

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             22   14   4   4    37   16  +21    46
 2 1830 Cathair               20   14   1   5    33   13  +20    43
 3 Osarese Marcadia           23   13   4   6    34   21  +13    43
 4 Cazadores Cathair          20   12   4   4    30   15  +15    40
 5 KT Moreazerua              20   11   5   4    28   13  +15    38
 6 Shamrock Cathair           20   11   5   4    25   11  +14    38
 7 KT Itzalovalle             20   11   5   4    32   19  +13    38
 8 Oljestaden IF              20    5   5  10    18   38  −20    20
 9 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   6  14    21   43  −22    18
10 Bombarralense              21    4   5  12    14   23   −9    17
11 Necromarinai               20    4   4  12    18   40  −22    16
12 Laivana JPS                21    2   8  11    13   30  −17    14
13 CdF Celtade                21    2   2  17    16   37  −21     8

Matchday 31
The National League
KT Moreazerua 0–1 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 1–1 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 0–1 Bombarralense
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 Cazadores Cathair
CdF Celtade 0–0 Necromarinai
Laivana JPS 1–0 Oljestaden IF

Matchday 32
The National League
Oljestaden IF 2–2 CdF Celtade
Necromarinai 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Bombarralense 0–1 1830 Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 0–0 KT Moreazerua

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   14   6   4    38   17  +21    48
 2 1830 Cathair               22   15   2   5    35   14  +21    47
 3 Osarese Marcadia           24   14   4   6    35   21  +14    46
 4 Shamrock Cathair           22   12   6   4    28   13  +15    42
 5 Cazadores Cathair          22   12   5   5    31   17  +14    41
 6 KT Itzalovalle             22   12   5   5    33   20  +13    41
 7 KT Moreazerua              22   11   6   5    28   14  +14    39
 8 Oljestaden IF              22    5   6  11    20   41  −21    21
 9 Bombarralense              23    5   5  13    15   24   −9    20
10 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   6  14    21   43  −22    18
11 Laivana JPS                22    3   8  11    14   30  −16    17
12 Necromarinai               22    4   5  13    19   42  −23    17
13 CdF Celtade                23    2   4  17    18   39  −21    10

Matchday 33
The National League
KT Moreazerua 2–3 Bombarralense
1830 Cathair 0–0 Cazadores Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 5–1 Necromarinai
Shamrock Cathair 5–2 Oljestaden IF
CdF Celtade 1–0 Laivana JPS

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   14   6   4    38   17  +21    48
 2 1830 Cathair               23   15   3   5    35   14  +21    48
 3 Osarese Marcadia           24   14   4   6    35   21  +14    46
 4 Shamrock Cathair           23   13   6   4    33   15  +18    45
 5 KT Itzalovalle             23   13   5   5    38   21  +17    44
 6 Cazadores Cathair          23   12   6   5    31   17  +14    42
 7 KT Moreazerua              23   11   6   6    30   17  +13    39
 8 Bombarralense              24    6   5  13    18   26   −8    23
 9 Oljestaden IF              23    5   6  12    22   46  −24    21
10 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   6  14    21   43  −22    18
11 Laivana JPS                23    3   8  12    14   31  −17    17
12 Necromarinai               23    4   5  14    20   47  −27    17
13 CdF Celtade                24    3   4  17    19   39  −20    13

Matchday 34
The National League
Laivana JPS 0–1 Shamrock Cathair
Oljestaden IF 0–1 KT Itzalovalle
Necromarinai 0–0 1830 Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 3–2 KT Moreazerua

The National League.         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 1830 Cathair               24   15   4   5    35   14  +21    49 - Champions League
 2 AC Izotz Zubia             24   14   6   4    38   17  +21    48 - Champions League
 3 Shamrock Cathair           24   14   6   4    34   15  +19    48 - Champions League
 4 KT Itzalovalle             24   14   5   5    39   21  +18    47 - Challengers Cup
 5 Osarese Marcadia           24   14   4   6    35   21  +14    46 - Challengers Cup
 6 Cazadores Cathair          24   13   6   5    34   19  +15    45 - Challengers Cup
 7 KT Moreazerua              24   11   6   7    32   20  +12    39
 8 Bombarralense              24    6   5  13    18   26   −8    23
 9 Oljestaden IF              24    5   6  13    22   47  −25    21
10 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   6  14    21   43  −22    18
11 Necromarinai               24    4   6  14    20   47  −27    18
12 Laivana JPS                24    3   8  13    14   32  −18    17 - Relegated
13 CdF Celtade                24    3   4  17    19   39  −20    13 - Relegated

Round 1
Crossport Dynamo 0–1 Tenth Star Hasiera
KT Ferratzaileak 1–0 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
C.D. Portobranco 3–2 Frecce
Sparta Zijweg 0–1 Oljestaden IF
KT Kanpoldelko 1–2 Vidrieros
KT Laranjauzia 0–0 DDM Dunas Secas (2–1 AET)
Huiszwalluw FC 0–3 Cazadores Cathair
Ceilerden Rovers 3–1 Sobrevolante
Iron Brewery 1–0 Corações
Hibernação 0–3 Shamrock Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0–1 CdF Celtade
Clockwork FC 2–1 2130 Calolziolungho
Silexhera FC 0–0 Laivana JPS (0–1 AET)
CC Exiles 3–0 Uniao Tortuguita
Eletti Valligiani 0–2 1830 Cathair
Bombarralense 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
Burdoc Ridge 2–0 Valens AV
KT Moreazerua 3–0 The Oran
Excelsior Zijweg 0–4 Ceilerden Harp
Alistoun Academicals 2–0 Reina Del Sud
Artiglieria 2–4 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
AC Izotz Zubia 3–0 Orquideas
Santa Margarida 2–1 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Lemmitania State FC 3–2 CF Daineri
Guerrilla Cathair 0–1 Maccabi Hasiera
Union Cathair 5–0 Viking Halehavn
Necromarinai 4–1 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
KT Itzalovalle 0–2 Crossport Mariners
AS Marcadia 2–2 Kitherwell (4–3 AET)
CdFS Ilheiros 1–0 Laranjeiras
Valão 1–1 Fundición (1–1 AET) (3–4 pen.)
KT Ferramendiak 2–0 CF Herradores

Round 2
Ceilerden Harp 3–1 Vidrieros
KT Ferratzaileak 0–3 CdF Celtade
Iron Brewery 0–0 Necromarinai (0–0 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Union Cathair 0–1 KT Moreazerua
1830 Cathair 3–1 C.D. Portobranco
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 Clockwork FC
KT Ferramendiak 4–0 CdFS Ilheiros
Lemmitania State FC 2–0 Maccabi Hasiera
CC Exiles 0–2 Burdoc Ridge
Ceilerden Rovers 1–0 AS Marcadia
AC Izotz Zubia 5–0 Crossport Mariners
Laivana JPS 2–1 Shamrock Cathair
Alistoun Academicals 0–4 Tenth Star Hasiera
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0–0 KT Laranjauzia (1–0 AET)
Santa Margarida 1–0 Oljestaden IF
Fundición 0–4 Cazadores Cathair

Round 3
CdF Celtade 0–5 Cazadores Cathair
Tenth Star Hasiera 1–0 Burdoc Ridge
Laivana JPS 2–1 Santa Margarida
Osarese Marcadia 2–1 KT Moreazerua
Lemmitania State FC 0–0 Ceilerden Rovers (0–0 AET) (4–3 pen.)
1830 Cathair 0–0 Iron Brewery (1–0 AET)
AC Izotz Zubia 4–0 KT Ferramendiak
Ceilerden Harp 0–2 Isle of Kjeligsted FC

Quarter Finals
Cazadores Cathair 5–2 Tenth Star Hasiera
Laivana JPS 2–0 Lemmitania State FC
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0–2 Osarese Marcadia
AC Izotz Zubia 2–1 1830 Cathair

Semi Finals
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Laivana JPS 0–0 Cazadores Cathair (0–0 AET) (2–3 pen.)

Final
Osarese Marcadia 0–0 Cazadores Cathair (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)

That Rook Cathair’s final match in charge of Cazadores is a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory in the Kirola Cup final is sickeningly melodramatic, and Rook Cathair has no truck with it. Immediately after Juxon Fillar’s sprawling save to deny Danil Lanziego with the final penalty, he is seen rolling his eyes, shaking his head, grabbing a four bottles of water in one hand and walking down the tunnel, refusing to be part of such a poorly written moment.

by **Audioslavia** » Sun Aug 06, 2023 5:04 am

Season 24 Review

Shamrock Bid Farewell to Stadium with Imperious Title Win

National League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Shamrock Cathair           24   19   2   3    57   19  +38    59 - IFCF Champions League
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   18   3   3    53   11  +42    57 - IFCF Champions League
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   17   4   3    49   13  +36    55 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 4 KT Moreazerua              24   15   5   4    33   11  +22    50 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 5 1830 Cathair               24   14   4   6    45   18  +27    46 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 6 Osarese Marcadia           24   11   6   7    40   27  +13    39 - IFCF Cup Winners Cup
 7 KT Itzalovalle             24    7   7  10    27   33   −6    28
 8 AS Marcadia                24    6   3  15    15   38  −23    21
 9 Oljestaden IF              24    4   7  13    12   32  −20    19
10 KT Ferramendiak            24    4   6  14    15   38  −23    18
11 Bombarralense              24    3   7  14    18   46  −28    16
12 Necromarinai               24    3   5  16    11   43  −32    14 - Relegated
13 Maccabi Hasiera            24    3   5  16    14   60  −46    14 - Relegated

Shamrock Cathair will move from Glass Bridge to the new national stadium, The Beltzarga, next season. If they set out to give the old ground a kiss goodbye before leasing it to Union Cathair, they did themselves proud.

Having set the tone on opening day, defeating city rivals 1830 Cathair in one of the last games to be played at the 'old' Arena Kirola - before its extensive refurbishment that sees two quarters of the stadium closed to the public for most of the season - Shamrock Cathair are deserved champions of the twenty-fourth season of The National League.

Highlights of the season, aside from that Torgersen and Laszlo inspired opening-day win over Cathair, include the Week 27 win over AC Izotz Zubia, decided by a late Gabriel Sayritupac strike that left Curipurinho flat-footed in the Izotz Zubia goal. The late-season saw the side stumble, most notably via a 1-0 defeat to Cazadores that meant the side needed a win on the final day to guarantee the league title. Fortunately for Shamrock, the defensive partnership of teenage sensation Thorsten Hertzog and fan favourite Sandy Harkness was enough to keep struggling Necromarinai at bay, and a sumptuous first-half strike from Bogdan Laszlo, taken on the half volley, on the outside of the right boot, from outside the area and curling up into the roof of the net, would be enough to separate the two sides and to give Shamrock their first league title since season 14.

Two account for losing the title by two points, Cazadores, in second, will point to the mid-season fixture against Shamrock - a turgid, contentious nil-all draw - as their 'what if' moment. Late on, Zendagorta would hit the underside of the bar from five yards, failing to turn a bouncing loose ball into a goal by a matter of inches, but the big controversy would be in the disallowed Putra Arywaweda strike on 89 minutes, given for a phantom offside decision. Arywaweda was in an offside position when the ball had been played, sure, but that ball had been a slide-tackle from Shamrock centre half Oran Anders, desperately attempting to cut-out a through-ball to Vincent Telerman. The finish was immediately flagged, the Shamrock players pointed to the immediate flag as the reason why Creighton's flailing dive didn't magically scoop the ball to safety despite his hands being two metres away from it, and the goal was disallowed. That two-point swing would have handed Caza the title.

Such is Audioslavian football's diminished standing in world football that third placed AC Izotz Zubia, leaders of the league for much of the final stretch, if mainly due to them having played more games, make only the Challengers Cup, while sixth-placed Osarese Marcadia miss out on IFCF football entirely.

It was a season to forget for an 1830 Cathair who were always found wanting against the better sides in the league. Having beaten them at the Arena Kirola, the to-be champions defeated their city rivals 3-2 at Glassbridge with Edith Fillar on song for the hosts, providing goals for Laszlo and Saytirupac and providing the corner kick that Thorsten Hertzog nodded home for the winner. Cathair's 14-4-6 record may only be one game shy of the 15-4-5 record that saw them win the league last season. It's their record against the big teams that knackered their ambitions for the season: Cathair took just three points from a possible 18 from Shamrock, Cazadores and Zozi.

Mozi's fourth-placed finish is their strongest for five seasons, with district rivals Itzi falling off horribly to finish a distant seventh. Outwith the 'big seven', returning AS Marcadia are the surprise of the season, finishing eighth, though in reality it really is just a crapshoot in the poor half of the table. Oljestaden finish ninth but require only four wins to do so, Bomba are a tragedy, while Necromarinai can't manage a second miracle in a row and are relegated alongside a Maccabi Hasiera side who, like their city rivals Tenth Star and Tout-Puissant often do, yo-yo immediately back down to the second division.

Kirola Cup R1
The Oran 0–2 KT Kanpoldelko
KT Laranjauzia 1–2 Shamrock Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0–1 CF Herradores
KT Ferratzaileak 0–3 Cazadores Cathair
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 0–0 Laivana JPS (1–0 AET)
Alistoun Academicals 0–4 AS Marcadia
Bombarralense 2–0 Orquideas
Santa Margarida 1–2 Union Cathair
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 1–0 Crossport Dynamo
KT Moreazerua 2–0 Silexhera FC
Huiszwalluw FC 0–1 Laranjeiras
Sobrevolante 0–0 Necromarinai (0–0 AET) (6–7 pen.)
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 0–1 DDM Dunas Secas
Viking Halehavn 2–1 Oljestaden IF
Excelsior Zijweg 1–2 2130 Calolziolungho
Iron Brewery 0–1 Crossport Mariners
Ceilerden Harp 3–1 Reina Del Sud
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 2–0 CF Daineri
AC Izotz Zubia 1–1 KT Itzalovalle (2–1 AET)
Ceilerden Rovers 1–0 CC Exiles
Corações 0–2 Burdoc Ridge
Hibernação 3–0 Kitherwell
CdF Celtade 1–0 CdFS Ilheiros
Maccabi Hasiera 0–2 1830 Cathair
Valens AV 1–0 Valão
Vidrieros 1–0 Frecce
Clockwork FC 0–1 Guerrilla Cathair
C.D. Portobranco 0–2 KT Ferramendiak
Eletti Valligiani 0–1 Fundición
Artiglieria 0–3 Sparta Zijweg
Osarese Marcadia 4–0 Lemmitania State FC
Uniao Tortuguita 0–1 Tenth Star Hasiera

Kirola Cup R2
Bombarralense 0–1 KT Ferramendiak
Cazadores Cathair 2–0 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
Laranjeiras 3–0 Vidrieros
Fundición 2–0 Union Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 2–0 KT Kanpoldelko
DDM Dunas Secas 0–8 Shamrock Cathair
Hibernação 1–0 CF Herradores
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 2–4 1830 Cathair
Ceilerden Harp 2–0 Necromarinai
Tenth Star Hasiera 2–0 Viking Halehavn
AC Izotz Zubia 4–0 Valens AV
AS Marcadia 1–0 KT Moreazerua
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 3–0 2130 Calolziolungho
Guerrilla Cathair 2–2 Sparta Zijweg (3–2 AET)
Crossport Mariners 2–2 Ceilerden Rovers (4–3 AET)
Burdoc Ridge 2–1 CdF Celtade

Kirola Cup R3
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 2–0 Crossport Mariners
Osarese Marcadia 5–1 Laranjeiras
Guerrilla Cathair 0–4 1830 Cathair
Hibernação 0–1 Tenth Star Hasiera
AS Marcadia 0–0 KT Ferramendiak (1–0 AET)
Ceilerden Harp 0–2 Burdoc Ridge
Shamrock Cathair 0–2 Cazadores Cathair
AC Izotz Zubia 4–1 Fundición

Kirola Cup QF
Cazadores Cathair 1–0 1830 Cathair
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 AC Izotz Zubia
Burdoc Ridge 0–1 AS Marcadia
Tenth Star Hasiera 0–0 Tout-Puissant Hasiera (0–0 AET) (3–4 pen.)

Kirola Cup SF
Cazadores Cathair 4–0 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Osarese Marcadia 3–0 AS Marcadia

Kirola Cup
Osarese Marcadia 3–1 Cazadores Cathair

It's derbies galore in the last rounds of the Kirola Cup this season, with a tense Hasiera derby coming down to penalties and Cazadores compounding Cathair's woes in the quarter finals. In the semis, the battle of Marcadia is won by Osarese for the second time in three games this season with a resounding three-nothing win just days after winning the Matchday 33 derby by exactly the same scoreline.

Well out of the running for the last Challengers Cup spot come the cup final, Osarese Marcadia turn on the style at the Burdina Jauregia. Ylva Stern feeds Phil Cole for the opening goal, before Jiang's cross finds Lanziego's instep for number two. Cazadores fire back through Telerman, but Kelssek international Loisé Camserhe gets the head onto a corner to power home for the winning goal, delivering Osarese their second cup win in three season.

National Two.                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 CF Daineri                 34   19   7   8    35   25  +10    64 - Promoted
 2 CdF Celtade                34   17   9   8    34   24  +10    60 - Promoted
 3 Sparta Zijweg              34   17   7  10    47   30  +17    58
 4 Laivana JPS                34   17   6  11    28   20   +8    57
 5 Ceilerden Rovers           34   15  10   9    36   28   +8    55
 6 Burdoc Ridge               34   17   4  13    39   32   +7    55
 7 Santa Margarida            34   16   5  13    28   23   +5    53
 8 KT Ferratzaileak           34   15   6  13    39   31   +8    51
 9 Union Cathair              34   15   2  17    38   37   +1    47
10 Tout-Puissant Hasiera      34   15   2  17    35   34   +1    47
11 Guerrilla Cathair          34   13   6  15    46   47   −1    45
12 Artiglieria                34   10  13  11    27   29   −2    43
13 Tenth Star Hasiera         34   12   7  15    39   43   −4    43
14 CC Exiles                  34   13   4  17    36   41   −5    43
15 Silexhera FC               34   11   9  14    25   33   −8    42
16 KT Koroatuz                34   12   6  16    25   37  −12    42 Relegated
17 Excelsior Zijweg           34    7   8  19    26   41  −15    29 Relegated
18 Crossport Mariners         34    8   3  23    24   52  −28    27 Relegated

At the top, CFD and CdFC make welcome returns to the top flight, but the real story is at the bottom. Kozi were in the National League two seasons ago, Excelsior used to be semi-regulars in the Challengers Cup, yet both are relegated to the regional leagues.

by **Audioslavia** » Fri Aug 18, 2023 5:48 pm

IMPRISONING REPUTABLE BROADSHEET SPORTS JOURNALISM BEHIND A PAYWALL SINCE 22XX, IT'S

What The National League's Rights Debacle Means for Audioslavian Football

Five years ago, this wouldn't have happened. Even twenty-five years ago, the National League could have simply named rolled a d20 and insisted the figure for the winning bid must have that amount of zeroes. Four years ago, when the last domestic rights package for the league was sold, the current situation would be unthinkable.

Here, for the uninitiated, is a brief overview of the events of the last few weeks.

As it has every four seasons since anyone can remember, Audioslavia's National League auctioned off the exclusive television, internet and streaming rights for the National One, National Two and Kirola Cup in a blind auction. Competing television companies - most notably Cie, STV and GOLD, plus the occasional terrestrial joint effort - would write down exactly how much money they would be willing to pay, put it in an envelope, and wait to see if the number they'd written was higher than that of every other bid. A winning bid would have to part with that amount of money in quarterly installments, but would ordinarily recoup the fee in the millions of subscriptions and renewals that would inevitably flood in.

It was thought that, in order to low-ball the league, there would have to be collusion, something illegal even in Audioslavia's somewhat lax free-market. Instead, all it's taken for the devaluation of Audioslavian football is, well, the devaluation of Audioslavian football. This isn't, after all, the top league in the multiverse any more, and the trip down the rankings has lead to uncertainty in the domestic game. Felixe Vetiver, Juxon Fillar, Phil Cole, all the marquee names of Audioslavian football have, at some point over the season, been linked with moves abroad to teams that struggle less domestically and, in turn, thrive more on the international scene.

Last Wednesday night, long after the National League's self imposed deadline to announce the rights winners, it was finally revealed that they had received one low-ball offer, by GOLD, that they would now have to take. Cie and STV had declined to bid, citing uncertainty over the 'draws' the league would have (in terms of playing personnel) and therefore uncertainty over how much of their money they were likely to get back.

And suddenly: Bedlam. GOLD, panicking, figured their low-ball bid was still perhaps too risky and tried to exercise their right to back out of the bid by the accepted deadline - one that had already passed, due to the National League's withholding of vote details. Cue a law-suit, cue zero - zero! - TV money being paid to the National League's teams just weeks before their season openers. Cue panic among the team owners, but most notably among those teams at the top.

1830 Cathair, who only weeks ago were laughing off claims that Vetiver's head could be turned by a deal, let alone that they would ever dream of accepting such a bid, are rumoured to be quietly preparing for departure of their talismanic forward, whose wage bill they are in no position to pay given not only the circumstances but the expensive stadium rebuild they are currently undergoing (and with it the decreased matchday income from fewer supporters). And not only that: the likes of cult hero Baillaire Fillar, captain Jack Menard and compatriot Alex Sharp, all fan favourites, are rumoured to be looking at their options given the financial crisis the club is going through.

Elsewhere, Shamrock Cathair are undergoing their own stadium changes, and may find the wages of star striker Gabriel Sayritupac all too much, not to mentioned the idea of cashing in on 20 year-old starlet Bogdan Laszlo. Zozi's top earner, Jonathan Bagshaw, is now rumoured to be on a monthly salary higher than the club's projected earnings for the first three months of the season combined, such was their reliance on the billions of dollars pumped into the domestic game.

At the top, where wages are highest, there simply isn't a club that won't need to sell off assets just to stay afloat, should no 'appropriate' deal be found. And, put simply, no offer now or even over the next fifteen years will come close to equalling the kinds of money those clubs have become accustomed to. Overnight, domestic television rights in Audioslavia have become a buyer's market. The valuation of club football decreases by the day.

Ordinarily dealing with international rights on an ad-hoc basis, the National League is currently rumoured to be coming up with a 'bumper' deal to show the game abroad, supposedly offering a whole fourteen years of international rights for the entirety of Audioslavian club football to the highest bidder. Such a deal will, naturally, cause a great deal of pain in the far future, but said future is a place where the question of domestic rights has been answered.

In short, the league are gambling. And in this economy, the fact that the league are gambling only makes their hand weaker.

The transfer window will open with a clang next week. Expect some of the most marketable names in world football to walk towards it, away from the nation.

Some are saying that, for every year of unparalleled success Audioslavian domestic football has enjoyed, expect two of relative poverty and failure. The kicker? Audioslavian football was ranked in the top ten of the coefficients for thirty cycles. Will this all blow over? Yes, but by the time it does, you'll have blown over too.

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Oct 26, 2023 4:26 am

Season 25

Shamrock At the Double
No team in the history of Audioslavian football had ever completed the domestic double before: League and Cup won in the same season. In this, the first National League season after 'the crash', Shamrock scrambled over the line in first place in both competitions.

Shamrock's final points haul of 48 was reached with three matches to go. With a four-point lead over Zozi and seven ahead of Cazadores, two wins in their last three games would have been enough for the title. They lost all three. First to Cazadores, who pulled up alongside a Zozi side on a bye-week, then to city rivals 1830 on a weekend wherein the best Cazadores and Zozi could muster was a draw each, and finally to Moreazerua on a tense final day where they relied upon their goal difference to keep their heads above water. Caza hit five past AS Marcadia to close the gap, but would accomplish only the feat of leapfrogging Zozi into second place.

Five days later, Caza consolidated their second place in the league with a second place in the final of the Challengers Cup. A few days after that, an extra-time goal from Gabriel Sayritupac proved enough to beat second-tier CC Exiles and seal the first ever domestic double in Audioslavian football history.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Shamrock Cathair           24   15   3   6    42   21  +21    48 IFCF CL, CAFA LA
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   15   3   6    51   33  +18    48 IFCF CL, CAFA LA
 3 AC Izotz Zubia             24   14   6   4    48   31  +17    48 IFCF CL
 4 KT Moreazerua              24   14   1   9    47   35  +12    43 IFCF ChC
 5 1830 Cathair               24   11   3  10    48   45   +3    36 IFCF ChC
 6 KT Itzalovalle             24    9   8   7    45   41   +4    35 IFCF ChC
 7 Osarese Marcadia           24    8  10   6    43   40   +3    34
 8 Bombarralense              24    8   6  10    44   44    0    30
 9 Oljestaden IF              24    7   8   9    37   46   −9    29
10 AS Marcadia                24    6   5  13    44   54  −10    23
11 CdF Celtade                24    5   8  11    26   44  −18    23
12 CF Daineri                 24    5   5  14    23   43  −20    20 Relegated
13 KT Ferramendiak            24    2   8  14    29   50  −21    14 Relegated

National Two              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Laivana JPS                34   19  12   3    63   31  +32    69 Promoted
 2 Santa Margarida            34   20   7   7    69   40  +29    67 Promoted
 3 Ceilerden Rovers           34   16   8  10    59   43  +16    56
 4 CC Exiles                  34   15  11   8    66   51  +15    56
 5 Tout-Puissant Hasiera      34   15   7  12    69   62   +7    52
 6 Sparta Zijweg              34   11  17   6    52   41  +11    50
 7 KT Ferratzaileak           34   15   5  14    57   50   +7    50
 8 Necromarinai               34   14   8  12    37   40   −3    50
 9 Silexhera FC               34   13  10  11    54   51   +3    49
10 Maccabi Hasiera            34   12  13   9    50   48   +2    49
11 Burdoc Ridge               34   13   7  14    55   58   −3    46
12 Union Cathair              34   12   9  13    48   49   −1    45
13 Artiglieria                34   12   8  14    52   57   −5    44
14 Guerrilla Cathair          34   12   5  17    46   61  −15    41
15 Tenth Star Hasiera         34   10   8  16    50   62  −12    38
16 KT Laranjauzia             34    9   6  19    47   65  −18    33
17 Viking Halehavn            34    7   5  22    28   59  −31    26 Relegated
18 Fundición                  34    5   6  23    38   72  −34    21 Relegated

by **Audioslavia** » Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:06 am

Season 26

Part One: The KIrola Cup

After decades of running the simplest domestic cup tournament possible - a basic unseeded single-tie knockout competition with around 64 teams - the FAA turned some heads when it decided, after a particularly drunken meeting, to adopt The Helvetica Scenario for Season 26.

Here it is, in all its gory.

Matchday One
Shamrock Cathair 3-3 Frecce
Cazadores Cathair 4-2 Valens AV
AC Izotz Zubia 2-0 Vidrieros
1830 Cathair 2-1 Reina Del Sud
KT Moreazerua 1-0 KT Kanpoldelko
Osarese Marcadia 0-0 Clockwork FC
KT Itzalovalle 3-1 Uniao Tortuguita
AS Marcadia 2-2 Kitherwell
Bombarralense 3-1 Valão
Oljestaden IF 2-3 DDM Dunas Secas
KT Ferramendiak 3-0 Huiszwalluw FC
CdF Celtade 2-0 CF Herradores
CF Daineri 0-0 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
Laivana JPS 0-0 2130 Calolziolungho
KT Ferratzaileak 4-0 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Sparta Zijweg 3-1 CdFS Ilheiros
Tenth Star Hasiera 3-3 C.D. Portobranco
Burdoc Ridge 1-0 The Oran
Santa Margarida 2-4 Alistoun Academicals
Ceilerden Rovers 1-0 Hibernação
Maccabi Hasiera 1-4 Corações
Necromarinai 4-2 Laranjeiras
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 4-0 Sobrevolante
Silexhera FC 0-0 Iron Brewery
Union Cathair 4-2 Orquideas
Artiglieria 2-1 Crossport Dynamo
Guerrilla Cathair 3-4 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
CC Exiles 3-4 Eletti Valligiani
KT Laranjauzia 1-0 Lemmitania State FC
Fundición 0-4 Ceilerden Harp
Viking Halehavn 0-2 Crossport Mariners
KT Koroatuz 0-3 Excelsior Zijweg
Excelsior Zijweg 4-3 KT Koroatuz
Crossport Mariners 4-1 Viking Halehavn
Ceilerden Harp 4-3 Fundición
Lemmitania State FC 0-3 KT Laranjauzia
Eletti Valligiani 4-1 CC Exiles
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 2-1 Guerrilla Cathair
Crossport Dynamo 4-0 Artiglieria
Orquideas 0-4 Union Cathair
Iron Brewery 4-0 Silexhera FC
Sobrevolante 3-2 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Laranjeiras 2-0 Necromarinai
Corações 1-4 Maccabi Hasiera
Hibernação 1-0 Ceilerden Rovers
Alistoun Academicals 2-0 Santa Margarida
The Oran 4-3 Burdoc Ridge
C.D. Portobranco 4-3 Tenth Star Hasiera
CdFS Ilheiros 1-3 Sparta Zijweg
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1-3 KT Ferratzaileak
2130 Calolziolungho 4-2 Laivana JPS
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 3-1 CF Daineri
CF Herradores 1-0 CdF Celtade
Huiszwalluw FC 4-1 KT Ferramendiak
DDM Dunas Secas 4-0 Oljestaden IF
Valão 1-3 Bombarralense
Kitherwell 3-1 AS Marcadia
Uniao Tortuguita 4-2 KT Itzalovalle
Clockwork FC 2-0 Osarese Marcadia
KT Kanpoldelko 3-4 KT Moreazerua
Reina Del Sud 3-4 1830 Cathair
Vidrieros 1-2 AC Izotz Zubia
Valens AV 2-3 Cazadores Cathair
Frecce 2-4 Shamrock Cathair

Team                              Points
Cazadores Cathair                 2
AC Izotz Zubia                    2
1830 Cathair                      2
KT Moreazerua                     2
Bombarralense                     2
KT Ferratzaileak                  2
Sparta Zijweg                     2
Union Cathair                     2
KT Laranjauzia                    2
Excelsior Zijweg                  2
Crossport Mariners                2
Ceilerden Harp                    2
Eletti Valligiani                 2
Isle of Kjeligsted FC             2
Alistoun Academicals              2
DDM Dunas Secas                   2
Shamrock Cathair                  1
Iron Brewery                      1
C.D. Portobranco                  1
2130 Calolziolungho               1
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías    1
Kitherwell                        1
Clockwork FC                      1
KT Itzalovalle                    0
KT Ferramendiak                   0
CdF Celtade                       0
Burdoc Ridge                      0
Ceilerden Rovers                  0
Maccabi Hasiera                   0
Necromarinai                      0
Tout-Puissant Hasiera             0
Artiglieria                       0
Crossport Dynamo                  0
Sobrevolante                      0
Laranjeiras                       0
Corações                          0
Hibernação                        0
The Oran                          0
CF Herradores                     0
Huiszwalluw FC                    0
Uniao Tortuguita                  0
Osarese Marcadia                  -1
AS Marcadia                       -1
CF Daineri                        -1
Laivana JPS                       -1
Tenth Star Hasiera                -1
Silexhera FC                      -1
Frecce                            -1
Oljestaden IF                     -2
Santa Margarida                   -2
Guerrilla Cathair                 -2
CC Exiles                         -2
Fundición                         -2
Viking Halehavn                   -2
KT Koroatuz                       -2
Lemmitania State FC               -2
Orquideas                         -2
CdFS Ilheiros                     -2
Sporting Clube Marinheiros        -2
Valão                             -2
KT Kanpoldelko                    -2
Reina Del Sud                     -2
Vidrieros                         -2
Valens AV                         -2

Matchday Two
DDM Dunas Secas 1-1 Cazadores Cathair
Alistoun Academicals 1-0 AC Izotz Zubia
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0-0 1830 Cathair
Eletti Valligiani 1-1 KT Moreazerua
Ceilerden Harp 0-0 Bombarralense
Crossport Mariners 1-0 KT Ferratzaileak
Excelsior Zijweg 1-1 Sparta Zijweg
KT Laranjauzia 1-1 Union Cathair
Union Cathair 2-0 KT Laranjauzia
Sparta Zijweg 2-1 Excelsior Zijweg
KT Ferratzaileak 2-0 Crossport Mariners
Bombarralense 2-1 Ceilerden Harp
KT Moreazerua 1-2 Eletti Valligiani
1830 Cathair 2-0 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
AC Izotz Zubia 0-0 Alistoun Academicals
Cazadores Cathair 1-0 DDM Dunas Secas
Clockwork FC 1-1 Iron Brewery
Kitherwell 0-2 C.D. Portobranco
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 1-1 2130 Calolziolungho
2130 Calolziolungho 1-2 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
C.D. Portobranco 1-2 Kitherwell
Iron Brewery 1-1 Clockwork FC
Shamrock Cathair 3-1 KT Ferramendiak
Uniao Tortuguita 1-1 CdF Celtade
Huiszwalluw FC 0-1 Burdoc Ridge
CF Herradores 0-0 Ceilerden Rovers
The Oran 1-0 Maccabi Hasiera
Hibernação 0-0 Necromarinai
Corações 1-1 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Laranjeiras 1-0 Artiglieria
Sobrevolante 0-0 Crossport Dynamo
Crossport Dynamo 0-1 Sobrevolante
Artiglieria 3-1 Laranjeiras
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 1-1 Corações
Necromarinai 1-0 Hibernação
Maccabi Hasiera 2-1 The Oran
Ceilerden Rovers 2-1 CF Herradores
Burdoc Ridge 1-0 Huiszwalluw FC
CdF Celtade 3-2 Uniao Tortuguita
KT Ferramendiak 1-1 Shamrock Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 3-2 CF Daineri
Frecce 1-1 Laivana JPS
Silexhera FC 0-1 Tenth Star Hasiera
Tenth Star Hasiera 1-2 Silexhera FC
Laivana JPS 3-2 Frecce
CF Daineri 0-0 KT Itzalovalle
AS Marcadia 2-0 Oljestaden IF
Osarese Marcadia 0-1 Santa Margarida
Valens AV 0-0 Guerrilla Cathair
Vidrieros 0-0 CC Exiles
Reina Del Sud 1-0 Fundición
KT Kanpoldelko 1-1 Viking Halehavn
Valão 0-1 KT Koroatuz
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1-0 Lemmitania State FC
CdFS Ilheiros 0-0 Orquideas
Orquideas 0-2 CdFS Ilheiros
Lemmitania State FC 2-1 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
KT Koroatuz 0-0 Valão
Viking Halehavn 0-0 KT Kanpoldelko
Fundición 1-1 Reina Del Sud
CC Exiles 1-2 Vidrieros
Guerrilla Cathair 0-1 Valens AV
Santa Margarida 0-1 Osarese Marcadia
Oljestaden IF 0-0 AS Marcadia

Team                             Points
 2 Cazadores Cathair                  3
 4 1830 Cathair                       3
 9 Bombarralense                      3
16 Sparta Zijweg                      3
25 Union Cathair                      3
37 Eletti Valligiani                  3
46 Alistoun Academicals               3
 1 Shamrock Cathair                   2
15 KT Ferratzaileak                   2
18 Burdoc Ridge                       2
34 Crossport Mariners                 2
52 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías     2
 3 AC Izotz Zubia                     1
 5 KT Moreazerua                      1
 7 KT Itzalovalle                     1
12 CdF Celtade                        1
20 Ceilerden Rovers                   1
22 Necromarinai                       1
29 KT Laranjauzia                     1
33 Excelsior Zijweg                   1
35 Ceilerden Harp                     1
38 Isle of Kjeligsted FC              1
41 Iron Brewery                       1
42 Sobrevolante                       1
48 C.D. Portobranco                   1
55 DDM Dunas Secas                    1
57 Kitherwell                         1
59 Clockwork FC                       1
 8 AS Marcadia                        0
14 Laivana JPS                        0
21 Maccabi Hasiera                    0
23 Tout-Puissant Hasiera              0
26 Artiglieria                        0
43 Laranjeiras                        0
44 Corações                           0
47 The Oran                           0
51 2130 Calolziolungho                0
 6 Osarese Marcadia                  -1
11 KT Ferramendiak                   -1
17 Tenth Star Hasiera                -1
24 Silexhera FC                      -1
32 KT Koroatuz                       -1
39 Crossport Dynamo                  -1
45 Hibernação                        -1
49 CdFS Ilheiros                     -1
53 CF Herradores                     -1
58 Uniao Tortuguita                  -1
61 Reina Del Sud                     -1
62 Vidrieros                         -1
63 Valens AV                         -1
13 CF Daineri                        -2
19 Santa Margarida                   -2
31 Viking Halehavn                   -2
36 Lemmitania State FC               -2
50 Sporting Clube Marinheiros        -2
54 Huiszwalluw FC                    -2
60 KT Kanpoldelko                    -2
64 Frecce                            -2
10 Oljestaden IF                     -3
27 Guerrilla Cathair                 -3
28 CC Exiles                         -3
30 Fundición                         -3
40 Orquideas                         -3
56 Valão                             -3

Matchday Three
Alistoun Academicals 0-2 1830 Cathair
Eletti Valligiani 1-1 Bombarralense
Union Cathair 2-2 Sparta Zijweg
Sparta Zijweg 0-0 Union Cathair
Bombarralense 1-1 Eletti Valligiani
1830 Cathair 4-0 Alistoun Academicals
Cazadores Cathair 2-0 Burdoc Ridge
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 0-0 Crossport Mariners
Crossport Mariners 1-0 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
Burdoc Ridge 1-2 Cazadores Cathair
KT Ferratzaileak 1-0 KT Itzalovalle
Shamrock Cathair 0-1 CdF Celtade
Clockwork FC 0-0 Ceilerden Rovers
Kitherwell 0-0 Necromarinai
DDM Dunas Secas 1-1 KT Laranjauzia
C.D. Portobranco 1-2 Excelsior Zijweg
Sobrevolante 1-2 Ceilerden Harp
Iron Brewery 1-1 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0-0 Iron Brewery
Ceilerden Harp 0-2 Sobrevolante
Excelsior Zijweg 1-0 C.D. Portobranco
KT Laranjauzia 1-2 DDM Dunas Secas
Necromarinai 0-0 Kitherwell
Ceilerden Rovers 0-1 Clockwork FC
CdF Celtade 0-0 Shamrock Cathair
KT Itzalovalle 1-0 KT Ferratzaileak
KT Moreazerua 1-0 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
AC Izotz Zubia 5-0 Artiglieria
2130 Calolziolungho 0-2 Laranjeiras
The Oran 1-1 Corações
Corações 1-0 The Oran
Laranjeiras 0-0 2130 Calolziolungho
Artiglieria 0-1 AC Izotz Zubia
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 0-1 KT Moreazerua
Maccabi Hasiera 0-1 KT Koroatuz
Laivana JPS 0-0 Crossport Dynamo
AS Marcadia 1-0 Hibernação
Valens AV 0-1 CdFS Ilheiros
Vidrieros 0-2 CF Herradores
Reina Del Sud 0-1 Uniao Tortuguita
Uniao Tortuguita 1-1 Reina Del Sud
CF Herradores 0-0 Vidrieros
CdFS Ilheiros 1-2 Valens AV
Hibernação 2-1 AS Marcadia
Crossport Dynamo 2-0 Laivana JPS
KT Koroatuz 2-1 Maccabi Hasiera
Silexhera FC 2-1 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Tenth Star Hasiera 1-0 Huiszwalluw FC
KT Ferramendiak 0-2 KT Kanpoldelko
Osarese Marcadia 0-0 Frecce
Frecce 0-1 Osarese Marcadia
KT Kanpoldelko 1-2 KT Ferramendiak
Huiszwalluw FC 1-2 Tenth Star Hasiera
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 0-0 Silexhera FC
Lemmitania State FC 1-2 Oljestaden IF
Viking Halehavn 0-2 Guerrilla Cathair
Santa Margarida 0-0 CC Exiles
CF Daineri 1-0 Fundición
Valão 3-2 Orquideas
Orquideas 0-0 Valão
Fundición 0-1 CF Daineri
CC Exiles 1-2 Santa Margarida
Guerrilla Cathair 3-1 Viking Halehavn
Oljestaden IF 2-0 Lemmitania State FC

Seed Team                           Points
 2 Cazadores Cathair                  5
 4 1830 Cathair                       5
 3 AC Izotz Zubia                     3
 5 KT Moreazerua                      3
 9 Bombarralense                      3
16 Sparta Zijweg                      3
25 Union Cathair                      3
33 Excelsior Zijweg                   3
34 Crossport Mariners                 3
37 Eletti Valligiani                  3
12 CdF Celtade                        2
15 KT Ferratzaileak                   2
55 DDM Dunas Secas                    2
59 Clockwork FC                       2
 1 Shamrock Cathair                   1
 7 KT Itzalovalle                     1
17 Tenth Star Hasiera                 1
22 Necromarinai                       1
32 KT Koroatuz                        1
35 Ceilerden Harp                     1
38 Isle of Kjeligsted FC              1
41 Iron Brewery                       1
42 Sobrevolante                       1
43 Laranjeiras                        1
44 Corações                           1
46 Alistoun Academicals               1
52 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías     1
57 Kitherwell                         1
 6 Osarese Marcadia                   0
 8 AS Marcadia                        0
13 CF Daineri                         0
18 Burdoc Ridge                       0
20 Ceilerden Rovers                   0
24 Silexhera FC                       0
29 KT Laranjauzia                     0
39 Crossport Dynamo                   0
53 CF Herradores                      0
58 Uniao Tortuguita                   0
10 Oljestaden IF                     -1
11 KT Ferramendiak                   -1
14 Laivana JPS                       -1
19 Santa Margarida                   -1
27 Guerrilla Cathair                 -1
45 Hibernação                        -1
47 The Oran                          -1
48 C.D. Portobranco                  -1
49 CdFS Ilheiros                     -1
51 2130 Calolziolungho               -1
63 Valens AV                         -1
21 Maccabi Hasiera                   -2
23 Tout-Puissant Hasiera             -2
26 Artiglieria                       -2
56 Valão                             -2
60 KT Kanpoldelko                    -2
61 Reina Del Sud                     -2
62 Vidrieros                         -2
50 Sporting Clube Marinheiros        -3
64 Frecce                            -3
28 CC Exiles                         -4
31 Viking Halehavn                   -4
36 Lemmitania State FC               -4
40 Orquideas                         -4
54 Huiszwalluw FC                    -4
30 Fundición                         -5

Matchday Four
1830 Cathair 1-0 Cazadores Cathair
Cazadores Cathair 0-0 1830 Cathair
Eletti Valligiani 0-5 AC Izotz Zubia
Crossport Mariners 0-2 KT Moreazerua
Excelsior Zijweg 0-2 Bombarralense
Union Cathair 3-0 Sparta Zijweg
Sparta Zijweg 1-2 Union Cathair
Bombarralense 1-2 Excelsior Zijweg
KT Moreazerua 2-1 Crossport Mariners
AC Izotz Zubia 3-0 Eletti Valligiani
Clockwork FC 0-1 CdF Celtade
DDM Dunas Secas 1-0 KT Ferratzaileak
KT Ferratzaileak 0-1 DDM Dunas Secas
CdF Celtade 1-1 Clockwork FC
Kitherwell 0-1 Shamrock Cathair
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 0-1 KT Itzalovalle
Alistoun Academicals 0-3 Tenth Star Hasiera
Corações 0-1 Necromarinai
Laranjeiras 1-0 KT Koroatuz
Sobrevolante 1-1 Ceilerden Harp
Iron Brewery 3-2 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 0-1 Iron Brewery
Ceilerden Harp 0-0 Sobrevolante
KT Koroatuz 3-1 Laranjeiras
Necromarinai 1-1 Corações
Tenth Star Hasiera 1-0 Alistoun Academicals
KT Itzalovalle 2-1 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
Shamrock Cathair 5-2 Kitherwell
Uniao Tortuguita 0-4 Osarese Marcadia
CF Herradores 1-3 AS Marcadia
Crossport Dynamo 0-1 CF Daineri
KT Laranjauzia 1-0 Burdoc Ridge
Silexhera FC 1-2 Ceilerden Rovers
Ceilerden Rovers 0-1 Silexhera FC
Burdoc Ridge 1-1 KT Laranjauzia
CF Daineri 0-1 Crossport Dynamo
AS Marcadia 5-2 CF Herradores
Osarese Marcadia 4-1 Uniao Tortuguita
Valens AV 2-0 KT Ferramendiak
2130 Calolziolungho 2-1 Laivana JPS
CdFS Ilheiros 0-2 Santa Margarida
C.D. Portobranco 1-2 Guerrilla Cathair
The Oran 2-2 Hibernação
Hibernação 0-1 The Oran
Guerrilla Cathair 3-1 C.D. Portobranco
Santa Margarida 1-1 CdFS Ilheiros
Laivana JPS 0-1 2130 Calolziolungho
KT Ferramendiak 1-2 Valens AV
Oljestaden IF 3-0 Artiglieria
Vidrieros 2-1 Valão
Reina Del Sud 1-0 KT Kanpoldelko
KT Kanpoldelko 1-1 Reina Del Sud
Valão 0-0 Vidrieros
Artiglieria 1-1 Oljestaden IF
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 0-1 Maccabi Hasiera
Maccabi Hasiera 1-2 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Frecce 1-1 Orquideas
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1-0 Huiszwalluw FC
Huiszwalluw FC 0-0 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Orquideas 0-2 Frecce
Lemmitania State FC 2-1 Viking Halehavn
Viking Halehavn 1-2 Lemmitania State FC
CC Exiles 4-1 Fundición
Fundición 0-1 CC Exiles

Team                             Points
 4 1830 Cathair                       6
 3 AC Izotz Zubia                     5
 5 KT Moreazerua                      5
25 Union Cathair                      5
 2 Cazadores Cathair                  4
55 DDM Dunas Secas                    4
 1 Shamrock Cathair                   3
 7 KT Itzalovalle                     3
 9 Bombarralense                      3
12 CdF Celtade                        3
17 Tenth Star Hasiera                 3
33 Excelsior Zijweg                   3
41 Iron Brewery                       3
 6 Osarese Marcadia                   2
 8 AS Marcadia                        2
22 Necromarinai                       2
16 Sparta Zijweg                      1
27 Guerrilla Cathair                  1
29 KT Laranjauzia                     1
32 KT Koroatuz                        1
34 Crossport Mariners                 1
35 Ceilerden Harp                     1
37 Eletti Valligiani                  1
42 Sobrevolante                       1
43 Laranjeiras                        1
51 2130 Calolziolungho                1
59 Clockwork FC                       1
63 Valens AV                          1
10 Oljestaden IF                      0
13 CF Daineri                         0
15 KT Ferratzaileak                   0
19 Santa Margarida                    0
20 Ceilerden Rovers                   0
24 Silexhera FC                       0
39 Crossport Dynamo                   0
44 Corações                           0
47 The Oran                           0
18 Burdoc Ridge                      -1
38 Isle of Kjeligsted FC             -1
46 Alistoun Academicals              -1
52 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías    -1
57 Kitherwell                        -1
61 Reina Del Sud                     -1
62 Vidrieros                         -1
21 Maccabi Hasiera                   -2
23 Tout-Puissant Hasiera             -2
28 CC Exiles                         -2
36 Lemmitania State FC               -2
45 Hibernação                        -2
49 CdFS Ilheiros                     -2
50 Sporting Clube Marinheiros        -2
53 CF Herradores                     -2
58 Uniao Tortuguita                  -2
64 Frecce                            -2
11 KT Ferramendiak                   -3
14 Laivana JPS                       -3
26 Artiglieria                       -3
48 C.D. Portobranco                  -3
56 Valão                             -3
60 KT Kanpoldelko                    -3
40 Orquideas                         -5
54 Huiszwalluw FC                    -5
31 Viking Halehavn                   -6
30 Fundición                         -7

Matchday Five
1830 Cathair 5-0 Union Cathair
Union Cathair 2-7 1830 Cathair
KT Moreazerua 1-0 AC Izotz Zubia
AC Izotz Zubia 1-1 KT Moreazerua
DDM Dunas Secas 0-1 CdF Celtade
Cazadores Cathair 0-3 Tenth Star Hasiera
Iron Brewery 3-2 Excelsior Zijweg
Excelsior Zijweg 2-5 Iron Brewery
Tenth Star Hasiera 2-1 Cazadores Cathair
CdF Celtade 1-1 DDM Dunas Secas
Bombarralense 5-0 KT Itzalovalle
KT Itzalovalle 1-3 Bombarralense
Shamrock Cathair 5-3 Crossport Mariners
Necromarinai 0-0 Ceilerden Harp
AS Marcadia 2-1 Eletti Valligiani
Osarese Marcadia 0-1 Sobrevolante
Valens AV 2-1 Laranjeiras
Clockwork FC 0-0 2130 Calolziolungho
2130 Calolziolungho 2-0 Clockwork FC
Laranjeiras 1-0 Valens AV
Sobrevolante 1-2 Osarese Marcadia
Eletti Valligiani 1-0 AS Marcadia
Ceilerden Harp 0-1 Necromarinai
Crossport Mariners 0-2 Shamrock Cathair
KT Koroatuz 0-0 Silexhera FC
KT Laranjauzia 0-0 Crossport Dynamo
Guerrilla Cathair 3-0 Corações
Sparta Zijweg 3-0 The Oran
The Oran 0-0 Sparta Zijweg
Corações 1-1 Guerrilla Cathair
Crossport Dynamo 0-0 KT Laranjauzia
Silexhera FC 0-0 KT Koroatuz
Ceilerden Rovers 1-1 Vidrieros
Santa Margarida 0-1 Oljestaden IF
KT Ferratzaileak 0-0 CF Daineri
CF Daineri 0-1 KT Ferratzaileak
Oljestaden IF 2-1 Santa Margarida
Vidrieros 1-2 Ceilerden Rovers
Reina Del Sud 1-1 Sporting Clube Marinheiros
Kitherwell 1-0 CF Herradores
Sporting Clube de São Jeremías 0-1 Uniao Tortuguita
Alistoun Academicals 1-2 Frecce
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 3-2 Burdoc Ridge
Burdoc Ridge 1-0 Isle of Kjeligsted FC
Frecce 0-1 Alistoun Academicals
Uniao Tortuguita 3-2 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías
CF Herradores 3-0 Kitherwell
Sporting Clube Marinheiros 1-0 Reina Del Sud
CdFS Ilheiros 1-1 Maccabi Hasiera
Hibernação 0-1 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Lemmitania State FC 0-0 CC Exiles
CC Exiles 3-1 Lemmitania State FC
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 3-0 Hibernação
Maccabi Hasiera 2-2 CdFS Ilheiros
KT Kanpoldelko 1-2 Valão
Valão 1-1 KT Kanpoldelko
C.D. Portobranco 0-1 Artiglieria
Artiglieria 1-0 C.D. Portobranco
Laivana JPS 3-4 KT Ferramendiak
KT Ferramendiak 0-0 Laivana JPS
Huiszwalluw FC 3-0 Orquideas
Orquideas 0-1 Huiszwalluw FC
Viking Halehavn 2-1 Fundición
Fundición 3-1 Viking Halehavn

Team                             Points
 4 1830 Cathair                       8
 5 KT Moreazerua                      6
 1 Shamrock Cathair                   5
 9 Bombarralense                      5
17 Tenth Star Hasiera                 5
41 Iron Brewery                       5
 3 AC Izotz Zubia                     4
12 CdF Celtade                        4
22 Necromarinai                       3
25 Union Cathair                      3
55 DDM Dunas Secas                    3
 2 Cazadores Cathair                  2
 6 Osarese Marcadia                   2
 8 AS Marcadia                        2
10 Oljestaden IF                      2
16 Sparta Zijweg                      2
27 Guerrilla Cathair                  2
51 2130 Calolziolungho                2
 7 KT Itzalovalle                     1
15 KT Ferratzaileak                   1
20 Ceilerden Rovers                   1
29 KT Laranjauzia                     1
32 KT Koroatuz                        1
33 Excelsior Zijweg                   1
37 Eletti Valligiani                  1
42 Sobrevolante                       1
43 Laranjeiras                        1
63 Valens AV                          1
23 Tout-Puissant Hasiera              0
24 Silexhera FC                       0
35 Ceilerden Harp                     0
39 Crossport Dynamo                   0
58 Uniao Tortuguita                   0
59 Clockwork FC                       0
13 CF Daineri                        -1
18 Burdoc Ridge                      -1
26 Artiglieria                       -1
28 CC Exiles                         -1
34 Crossport Mariners                -1
38 Isle of Kjeligsted FC             -1
44 Corações                          -1
46 Alistoun Academicals              -1
47 The Oran                          -1
50 Sporting Clube Marinheiros        -1
57 Kitherwell                        -1
11 KT Ferramendiak                   -2
19 Santa Margarida                   -2
21 Maccabi Hasiera                   -2
49 CdFS Ilheiros                     -2
53 CF Herradores                     -2
56 Valão                             -2
61 Reina Del Sud                     -2
62 Vidrieros                         -2
64 Frecce                            -2
36 Lemmitania State FC               -3
52 Sporting Clube de São Jeremías    -3
54 Huiszwalluw FC                    -3
14 Laivana JPS                       -4
45 Hibernação                        -4
60 KT Kanpoldelko                    -4
48 C.D. Portobranco                  -5
31 Viking Halehavn                   -6
30 Fundición                         -7
40 Orquideas                         -7

Knockout One
KT Itzalovalle 4-1 Valens AV
KT Ferratzaileak 1-1 Laranjeiras (1-3 AET)
Ceilerden Rovers 2-1 Sobrevolante
KT Laranjauzia 2-2 Eletti Valligiani (2-2 AET, 2-4 Pens.)
KT Koroatuz 1-0 Excelsior Zijweg

Knockout Two
Cazadores Cathair 4-1 KT Koroatuz
Osarese Marcadia 5-0 Eletti Valligiani
AS Marcadia 2-1 Ceilerden Rovers
Oljestaten IF 2-0 Laranjeiras
Sparta Zijweg 0-0 KT Itzalovalle (0-1 AET)
Guerrilla Cathair 8-1 2130 Calolziolungho

Knockout Three
Necromarinai (Bye)
Union Cathair 2-1 Guerrilla Cathair
DDM Dunas Secas 0-3 KT Itzalovalle
Cazadores Cathair 1-0 Oljestaden IF
Osarese Marcadia 5-4 AS Marcadia

Knockout Four
AC Izotz Zubia (Bye)
CdF Celtade 0-1 Osarese Marcadia
Necromarinai 0-4 Cazadores Cathair
Union Cathair 0-0 KT Itzalovalle (0-2 AET)

Knockout Five
Shamrock Cathair 2-0 KT Itzalovalle
Bombarralense 1-1 Cazadores Cathair (2-1 AET)
Tenth Star Hasiera 0-2 Osarese Marcadia
Iron Brewery 0-7 AC Izotz Zubia

Knockout Six
KT Moreazerua (Bye)
Shamrock Cathair 3-1 AC Izotz Zubia
Bombarralense 2-1 Osarese Marcadia

Knockout Seven
KT Moreazerua (Bye)
Shamrock Cathair 4-1 Bombarralense

Knockout Eight
1830 Cathair (Bye)
KT Moreazerua 0-3 Shamrock Cathair

Knockout Nine (And, Finally, the Final)
1830 Cathair 0-0 Shamrock Cathair (3-2 AET)

1830 Cathair win the Kirola Cup in bizarre circumstances, twice coming back from the brink of defeat to snatch victory right at the death. After 19 rounds, and just eleven games for 1830 Cathair and 14 for Shamrock, the Kirola Cup is finally over. In its wake, a footballing nation tries to make sense of what has just occurred.

by **Audioslavia** » Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:35 am

Season 26

Part Two

Zozi Survive Bomba Scare to Take Title

On Matchday 31 of 34, Cazadores had already played each of their 24 games, amassing a cool 51 points. Cathair, three behind with one game to play, just had to defeat Bombarralense to take top spot in the league. They did not, succumbing to a draw thanks to a second-half goal from Mertian winger Frank Errington and finishing their season with disappointment.

AC Izotz Zubia, further back, scored 9 over their next two games to leapfrog 1830 Cathair into second place, a point behind Caza, with just one game to play. Again: Against Bombarralense. They too would flounder, attaining only a point earned by Katua Byrne's far-post finish in the dying minutes, but the point would be enough to leapfrog Cazadores on Goal Difference and take the Audioslavian league championship.

The National League          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AC Izotz Zubia             24   15   6   3    50   28  +22    51 IFCF Champions League, CAFA LigAnaia
 2 Cazadores Cathair          24   16   3   5    50   36  +14    51 IFCF Champions League
 3 1830 Cathair               24   14   7   3    53   30  +23    49 IFCF Challengers Cup, CAFA LigAnaia
 4 Shamrock Cathair           24   12   8   4    43   25  +18    44 IFCF Challengers Cup
 5 Laivana JPS                24   13   3   8    47   36  +11    42 IFCF Challengers Cup
 6 Osarese Marcadia           24   12   4   8    39   31   +8    40
 7 KT Moreazerua              24   11   4   9    40   32   +8    37
 8 KT Itzalovalle             24   10   5   9    38   35   +3    35
 9 AS Marcadia                24    5   7  12    19   30  −11    22
10 CdF Celtade                24    5   4  15    19   42  −23    19
11 Bombarralense              24    4   6  14    30   45  −15    18
12 Oljestaden IF              24    3   4  17    27   54  −27    13
13 Santa Margarida            24    2   7  15    16   47  −31    13 Relegated

National Two                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Burdoc Ridge               33   20   7   6    62   41  +21    67 Promoted
 2 CF Daineri                 33   17   8   8    66   45  +21    59 Promoted
 3 Silexhera FC               33   14  14   5    53   40  +13    56 Promoted
 4 Necromarinai               33   15   9   9    63   44  +19    54 Promoted
 5 Sparta Zijweg              33   15   9   9    63   46  +17    54 Promoted
 6 Union Cathair              33   15   9   9    72   58  +14    54 Promoted
 7 KT Ferramendiak            33   15   8  10    60   44  +16    53 Promoted
 8 Tenth Star Hasiera         33   14   8  11    49   43   +6    50 Promoted
 9 Ceilerden Rovers           33   14   7  12    47   46   +1    49
10 KT Ferratzaileak           33   12  12   9    40   36   +4    48
11 Artiglieria                33   13   9  11    48   48    0    48
12 Tout-Puissant Hasiera      33   12   9  12    57   62   −5    45
13 Viking Halehavn            33   11   6  16    49   59  −10    39
14 Maccabi Hasiera            33   10   6  17    52   60   −8    36
15 CC Exiles                  33   10   5  18    49   68  −19    35
16 Guerrilla Cathair          33    7  12  14    37   51  −14    33
17 KT Laranjauzia             33    5   6  22    29   60  −31    21
18 Fundición                  33    2   8  23    30   75  −45    14

Season 26 sees the end of the handful-era, as the National League expands to 20 teams, with further leagues of 20 beneath. Santa Margarita are the only team to be relegated from the first tier, as eight teams take their place in the top flight.

by **Audioslavia** » Sun Mar 31, 2024 12:33 pm

Season 27

The National League    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cazadores Cathair       38   32   1   5    97   38  +59    97 - IFCF Champions League, CAFA LigAnaia
 2 AC Izotz Zubia          38   28   5   5    90   35  +55    89 - IFCF Champions League
 3 KT Itzalovalle          38   25   5   8    74   34  +40    80 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 4 1830 Cathair            38   25   5   8    78   39  +39    80 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 5 Shamrock Cathair        38   25   4   9    83   39  +44    79 - IFCF Challengers Cup
 6 KT Moreazerua           38   23   6   9    85   47  +38    75
 7 Laivana JPS             38   22   5  11    71   43  +28    71
 8 Osarese Marcadia        38   20   8  10    66   47  +19    68 - IFCF Cup Winners Cup, CAFA LigAnaia
 9 CdF Celtade             38   18   3  17    54   54    0    57
10 AS Marcadia             38   15   7  16    60   63   −3    52
11 Bombarralense           38   15   7  16    66   71   −5    52
12 Oljestaden IF           38   13   8  17    61   69   −8    47
13 Necromarinai            38   11   7  20    35   62  −27    40
14 CF Daineri              38    7  12  19    39   74  −35    33
15 Silexhera FC            38    9   5  24    43   79  −36    32
16 Burdoc Ridge            38    6  11  21    33   64  −31    29
17 Union Cathair           38    7   7  24    50   83  −33    28
18 KT Ferramendiak         38    7   6  25    42   95  −53    27 - Relegated
19 Sparta Zijweg           38    6   7  25    34   77  −43    25 - Relegated
20 Tenth Star Hasiera      38    4   5  29    33   81  −48    17 - Relegated

After an array of second-placed finishes in the league over the last decade, Cazadores finally win the league title again after a wait of twelve seasons. The side, who had taken two IFCF Champions League titles in the intervening period, are champions of the nation once again, taking full advantage of the expanded league format to rack up wins against lower-league opposition.

At the bottom, Tenth Star are all but relegated by Christmas, while Feri's relegation comes as something of a shock. The club, seemingly hit hardest of all by the recent financial troubles of the domestic game has suffered, vow to bounce back immediately.

Kirola Cup R1
Valao 1–3 CF Daineri
Hibernacao 1–3 Necromarinai
Sparta Zijweg 4–0 Alistoun Academicals
Crossport Mariners 0–2 Shamrock Cathair
Huiszwalluw FC 1–0 Sporting Clube de Sao Jeremias
Isle of Kjeligsted FC 1–3 Cazadores Cathair
The Oran 4–2 Coracoes
Crossport Dynamo 4–4 Lemmitania State FC (4–4 AET) (2–3 pen.)
Orquideas 1–3 KT Itzalovalle
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 KT Ferratzaileak
Tout-Puissant Hasiera 2–1 Tenth Star Hasiera
Ceilerden Harp 2–0 Vidreiros
Kitherwell 1–0 Clockwork FC
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Laranjeiras
Burdoc Ridge 5–0 Iron Brewery
Uniao Tortuguita 3–4 Oljestaden IF
Bombarralense 0–0 Leftfield Steelworks (2–0 AET)
KT Laranjauzia 2–1 2130 Calolziolungho
CdFS Ilheiros 0–3 Maccabi Hasiera
Ceilerden Rovers 0–2 CdF Celtade
Osarese Marcadia 1–0 CF Herradores
C.D. Portobranco 1–1 Eletti Valligiani (1–2 AET)
Union Cathair 0–0 Excelsior Zijweg (2–2 AET) (6–7 pen.)
Artiglieria 1–2 Silexhera FC
DDM Dunas Secas 0–1 Santa Margarida
Sobrevolante 1–4 KT Koroatuz
Guerrilla Cathair 2–2 Fundición (2–3 AET)
KT Kanpoldelko 1–1 1830 Cathair (1–4 AET)
Sporting Club Marinheiros 2–0 Valens AV
CC Exiles 3–2 Viking Halehavn
AS Marcadia 3–1 Reina del Sud
KT Ferramendiak 2–0 Laivana JPS

Kirola Cup R2
AC Izotz Zubia 2–0 CC Exiles
Eletti Valligiani 1–5 KT Itzalovalle
Shamrock Cathair 1–1 Sporting Club Marinheiros (1–2 AET)
Oljestaden IF 3–0 Kitherwell
Fundición 0–1 Maccabi Hasiera
KT Ferramendiak 2–2 Bombarralense (3–2 AET)
Huiszwalluw FC 2–3 Osarese Marcadia
1830 Cathair 3–2 Silexhera FC
Sparta Zijweg 0–2 Tout-Puissant Hasiera
Santa Margarida 3–6 Cazadores Cathair
Excelsior Zijweg 0–0 CF Daineri (0–0 AET) (4–1 pen.)
Burdoc Ridge 4–3 Ceilerden Harp
AS Marcadia 1–0 Lemmitania State FC
KT Laranjauzia 2–3 KT Moreazerua
KT Koroatuz 3–1 Necromarinai
The Oran 1–1 CdF Celtade (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)

Kirola Cup R3
Sporting Club Marinheiros 0–2 AC Izotz Zubia
KT Itzalovalle 3–4 Cazadores Cathair
Burdoc Ridge 1–1 AS Marcadia (2–1 AET)
KT Koroatuz 2–5 Osarese Marcadia
KT Moreazerua 1–0 Oljestaden IF
1830 Cathair 1–2 The Oran
Excelsior Zijweg 0–1 Maccabi Hasiera
KT Ferramendiak 4–3 Tout-Puissant Hasiera

Kirola Cup QF
Cazadores Cathair 3–1 AC Izotz Zubia
Maccabi Hasiera 2–2 Osarese Marcadia (2–3 AET)
Burdoc Ridge 2–0 KT Ferramendiak
KT Moreazerua 4–0 The Oran

Kirola Cup SF
Osarese Marcadia 2–2 KT Moreazerua (3–2 AET)
Burdoc Ridge 1–2 Cazadores Cathair

Kirola Cup Final
Osarese Marcadia 2–2 Cazadores Cathair (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)

Cazadores Cathair come within half an hour of a memorable treble, but are undone by veteran Garnett Makanza, whose side win the Kirola Cup for the third time in seven seasons. The nation rejoices not only at a popular team winning, but also due to the FFA's decision not to repeat the Helvetica Scenario format of the last Kirola Cup.

Audioslavia Domestic Football Newswire

Season 21, Part One

Season 21, Part Two

Season 21, Part Three

Season 21, Part Four

Season 21, Part Five

Season 21, Part Six

Season 21, Part Seven

Season 21, Part Eight

Season 22, Part One

Season 22, Part Two

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