Season 8 | Part 2 Challenger's Cup Second Preliminary Round
Marthorpe City FC (FVA) 3-1 Mercedini Armed Forces
Mercedini Armed Forces 0-2 Marthorpe City FC (FVA)
Marthorpe City FC (FVA) win 5-1 on aggregate
The Armed Forces simply cannot escape their league blues as they go two-and-out in the Challenger's Cup, cementing their miserable run of form, despite it being one of the biggest moments in their club's history. Following their promotion to the Premier League, they seemingly lucked out at the start of the season, finishing in fourth position at the league's conclusion and bagging them a shock position in the second qualifying round draw. That didn't help them though, as they quickly wet 2-0 down to Marthorpe City, as team they were expected to beat on paper. MAF steadied the ship somewhat to net an away goal, but they still had a mountain to climb back in Kirkenton. Their faint hopes soon evaporatied, as Marthorpe delivered a professional performance to win 2-0 in Mercedini, sealing a 5-1 aggregate win. The Armed Forces can now concentrate on their domestic form, as they brief stint internationally comes to an end.
Liga B Champions Cup Second Preliminary Round
Rygge Athetic 1-3 Anubis Kairi (HIN)
Anubis Kairi (HIN) 0-0 Rygge Athletic
Anubis Kairi (HIN) win 3-1 on aggregate
Saabham Forest 0-3 Williams Isle (TAE)
Williams Isle (TAE) 2-1 Saabham Forest
Williams Isle (TAE) win 5-1 on aggregate
Over to the Liga B Champions Cup. with both Mercedinian sides knocked out of contention. After their heroics in the previous round, Rygge couldn't last the distance with Anubia Kairi as they bowed out at the second preliminary round. All of the damage was done int he first leg as Kairi netted three away goals to take the first leg 3-1 in Mercedini. Over in Hinode, Anubis knew all they had to do was hold firm against the Mercedinains, and that is exactly what they did, in style. It finished 0-0 in Hinode, with Rygge at least finishing their tournament with a hard-fought draw against a rising Hinode power.
Saabham will join them back in National League 1, after they went two-and-out in the second qualifying round to Taeshan's Williams Isle. An established team is always difficult to come through in these qualifying round, and it was the Taeshani experience which came through in the end. Once again, it was the first leg which decided the tie, with Williams Isle running riot in Saabham with a 3-0 first leg victory which made the second leg in Taeshan merely a spectacle. Williams Isle ultimately did the double over the Mercedinian side with a 2-1 win at home. They sent the Mercedinians home with a 5-1 aggregate loss, as they seek promotion back to the Prem.
MFA Cup Second Round
Dynamo Shebchetsik (1) 4-0 Irstfjord (4)
Gordonia (3) 2-3 Rygge Athletic (2)
St. Austell Town (2) 1-2 Sutsik Chernomorets (3)
Brampton United (2) 0-1 Acoflosa United (1)
Etruria-Sul-Mare (3) 2-2 Inter Paruscia (3) (2-3 AET)
Alton Swifts (2) 2-0 Coral Island (2)
Saabham Forest (2) 3-4 Shebchetsik City (3)
Sanzana Celtic (3) 3-1 New Cassandra United (4)
Naral Volvania (3) 0-2 Mercedini Armed Forces (1)
Civittanevosa (2) 3-0 Alania United (3)
Plympton Town (1) 1-4 Blue Strike Zoloroni (1)
Zoloroni Park (2) 1-1 Denby Town (1) (2-1 AET)
Sporting Rafelonia (1) 2-5 Zoloroni City (1)
East Kilbride United (3) 0-0 Humber Valley (2) (0-0 AET, 4-3 PKs)
AFC Monmouth (3) 0-1 Centre for Excellence (4)
North Dajaiina (5) 1-6 Cannock Chase (2)
Acoflosa Olimpico (4) 0-5 Ali Mercedes Carassai (2)
Kingfisher Invictus (2) 0-3 Exton Oilers (1)
Ignavi Borough (2) 6-2 FK Shebardiagrad (5)
Hoventon & Corlington Town (1) 4-0 Project Olimpo Mercedini (2)
FC Carshalton (3) 2-2 Zholvi Athletic (1) (2-2 AET, 4-5 PKs)
RFK Ogdenagorv (2) 6-0 Cosneoltan Capitals (5)
Lonek Town (4) 2-7 Zoloroni Metropolitan (1)
Bravajetti Athletic (4) 0-2 Orga City (1)
Dorchester United (2) 1-1 CFC Esson (3) (1-1 AET, 2-4 PKs)
OFR Ozzaya Agranka (4) 1-0 AFC Langtree (2)
South Dajaiina (5) 0-0 Slavjoni Town (2) (0-0 AET, 6-5 PKs)
Carvi Albion (1) 9-0 Carlsgrunik Metropolis (5)
Monastir (4) 2-1 Atletisk Svobodna (5)
Elspachia (1) 13-1 Manfredonia Union (5)
Real Vozë (3) 2-0 Inablidak (2)
Langtree United (1) 4-2 Lokomotiv Arkenton (2)
The MFA Cup Second Round features teams from up and down the leagues of Mercedini, and is a spectacle of football with thirty two matches played over four days with drubbings and shocks guaranteed with so many teams in action. The Premier League teams ruled the evening as is so often the case, with 13 of the original 16 teams advancing from the second round. There were two all-Prem fixtures so we were always likely to lose at least two, but minnows Denby Town were also taken out by second-tier Zoloroni Park. There were no fairy tale endings for our two fifth-tier sides drawn against Premier League sides, as Carvi brushed Carlsgrunik aside by 9 goals to nil. While Manfredonia went wild when they scored at the Sevada Stadium against Elspachia, regardless of the act that they conceded thirteen in the process. We will have a non-league side through to the third round, as South Dajaiina delivered the shock of the third round by beating Slavjoni Town on penalties.
Over to the draw and South Dajaiina have a perfectly winnable tie against Monastir of National League 3, while the main chunk of the draw is dominated by all-Prem match-ups. We are guaranteed to lose three more Premier League sides from those, although it looks as if we are heading for an all top-tier final with shocks being few and far between this season.
MD11
Zoloroni Metropolitan 6–2 Plympton Town
Carvi Albion 2–2 Exton Oilers
Dynamo Shebchetsik 2–3 Langtree United
Blue Strike Zoloroni 1–0 Denby Town
Acoflosa United 6–3 Hoventon & Corlington Town
Orga City 5–1 Sporting Rafelonia
Zoloroni City 2–2 Elspachia
Mercedini Armed Forces 0–0 Zholvi Athletic
MD12
Plympton Town 1–1 Zholvi Athletic
Elspachia 3–1 Mercedini Armed Forces
Sporting Rafelonia 0–0 Zoloroni City
Hoventon & Corlington Town 2–0 Orga City
Denby Town 1–1 Acoflosa United
Langtree United 4–4 Blue Strike Zoloroni
Exton Oilers 2–2 Dynamo Shebchetsik
Zoloroni Metropolitan 2–2 Carvi Albion
MD13
Carvi Albion 0–0 Plympton Town
Dynamo Shebchetsik 3–2 Zoloroni Metropolitan
Blue Strike Zoloroni 5–3 Exton Oilers
Acoflosa United 1–2 Langtree United
Orga City 3–4 Denby Town
Zoloroni City 0–0 Hoventon & Corlington Town
Mercedini Armed Forces 0–1 Sporting Rafelonia
Zholvi Athletic 1–1 Elspachia
MD14
Plympton Town 3–2 Elspachia
Sporting Rafelonia 2–2 Zholvi Athletic
Hoventon & Corlington Town 7–3 Mercedini Armed Forces
Denby Town 1–1 Zoloroni City
Langtree United 0–0 Orga City
Exton Oilers 4–3 Acoflosa United
Zoloroni Metropolitan 1–3 Blue Strike Zoloroni
Carvi Albion 1–1 Dynamo Shebchetsik
MD15
Dynamo Shebchetsik 1–2 Plympton Town
Blue Strike Zoloroni 4–1 Carvi Albion
Acoflosa United 2–4 Zoloroni Metropolitan
Orga City 1–0 Exton Oilers
Zoloroni City 6–3 Langtree United
Mercedini Armed Forces 2–1 Denby Town
Zholvi Athletic 0–2 Hoventon & Corlington Town
Elspachia 0–0 Sporting Rafelonia
. MPL Table Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Blue Strike Zoloroni 15 8 4 3 28 19 +9 28
2 Langtree United 15 8 4 3 27 22 +5 28
3 Hoventon & Corlington Town 15 7 4 4 33 23 +10 25
4 Zoloroni Metropolitan 15 7 4 4 29 22 +7 25
5 Dynamo Shebchetsik 15 6 6 3 28 23 +5 24
6 Sporting Rafelonia 15 6 6 3 18 14 +4 24
13 Zholvi Athletic 15 3 6 6 17 21 −4 15
14 Carvi Albion 15 1 7 7 25 38 −13 10
15 Mercedini Armed Forces 15 2 3 10 23 41 −18 9
16 Denby Town 15 1 4 10 17 32 −15 7
Half way through the league season and it's now Blue Strike Zoloroni who take the lead on goal difference with a recent rise in form to take them above the original front runners who were having a mid-season lull at this point in the season. Blue Strike have been investing in their flagship teams ahead of the new season, and have clearly been performing well as they prepare for their Champions League outing. They are backed up by Langtree in second, who will also be in action as they enter the Challenger's Cup at the third preliminary round. Three more surprises further down the table as Hoventon, Zoloroni Met, and Dynamo round out the IFCF spots, a near total change from the landscape of previous seasons. Rafelonia could pick up another international spot, as they are lined up for a Taca Das Confederacoes spot by occupying sixth place. Notable clubs not shown in the current table is Zoloroni City in 7th and Elpachia in 8th.
At the bottom, it is the same bottom three as previous with Denby, the Armed Forces and Carvi all propping up the rest. Neither team has really for going this season and have a combined four wins between them which is as much as Plympton, only two places above. This season is teeing up to be one of the closest in a long time, with only six points separating sixth and ninth.
Champions League Third Preliminary Round
Admiral Storevik (SVJ) 2-2 Zoloroni City
Zoloroni City 1-1 Admiral Storevik (SVJ)
Match tied 3-3 on aggregate. Zoloroni City advance on away goals
Blue Strike Zoloroni 0-4 Turoki Tide (VIL)
Turoki Tide (VIL) 2-2 Blue Strike Zoloroni
Turoki Tide (VIL) win 6-2 on aggregate
Champions League activity resumed in Mercedini, with two teams involved in third preliminary round action for the first time ever in Mercedinian football. Both teams were from Zoloroni , but neither could mean each other as they were going down differant routes. Zoloroni City entered at this stage, and faced a tough challenge in Savojarna's Admiral Storvik, with both teams evenly matched from the get go. Things were finely poised in Storevik as Zanzala and Baudelio netted for the Mercedinian side to grab two away goals and leave it all square going to back to the City of Zoloroni Stadium. Those away goals proved to be crucial, as they proved to be what took City through. A 1-1 draw with Kulap scoring from a free kick late in the game meant the match was tied, the aggregate score was tied, but City went through by virtue of their two away goals to Storevik's one. A big moment, it meant Mercedini was guaranteed Challenger's Cup Group Stage football.
In the other match, Blue Strike Zoloroni's fairytale quest for success came to an end as they ran into the brick wall which was Turoki Tike, which proved a step to far for the debutantes. In the Blue Strike Arena, Turoki ran riot and sealed the tie from the start with a 4-0 thrashing to take back to Vilita. Blue Strike may have been effectively eliminated from proceedings, but that didn't stop them from giving as good as they got in Vilita. With Adrian Talisky netting late on to earn a draw on the night, even if that goal didn't mean much in the scope of the fixture. It will be the Challenger's Cup next for Blue Strike, where they will need two more overall wins to make it to the groups.
Challenger's Cup Third Preliminary Round
CF Bondstad (TSA) 0-2 Langtree United
Langtree United 2-1 CF Bondstad (TSA)
Langtree United (TSA) win 4-1 on aggregate
It was the turn of Langtree to begin their camapign in the IFCF, as they returned to what is becoming a familiar place for the team. This was the fifth and sixth time these two teams met in two cycles, with these two playing three times in last season's Liga Da Vencadores. Langtree beat them once in the group stages and in both legs of the Round of 16, and they quickly resumed where they ended last season by beating Bondstad in both legs. Langtree's Zeigenhorn and Talla both scored a goal each in Bondstad to take a two goal lead back to the LMS. There, they went behind to a Bonstad opener in the first half, but that was paid back with interest as Vorthik scored twice in the second half to put the tie beyond the visitors. Langtree go through 4-1 aggragate, they seem to love the Challenger's Cup qualifiers as a way to escape the league.
MFA Cup Third Round
Zoloroni Park (2) 2-0 East Kilbride United (3)
Inter Paruscia (3) 1-4 Zoloroni Metropolitan (1)
Dynamo Shebchetsik (1) 0-1 Langtree United (1)
Centre for Excellence (4) 0-5 Real Vozë (3)
Alton Swifts (2) 1-1 Sanzana Celtic (3) (1-2 AET)
Orga City (1) 0-2 Ali Mercedes Carassai (2)
Blue Strike Zoloroni (1) 3-1 Acoflosa United (1)
Elspachia (1) 1-0 Zoloroni City (1)
South Dajaiina (5) 3-4 Monastir (4)
Hoventon & Corlington Town (1) 5-0 Shebchetsik City (3)
Carvi Albion (1) 0-0 Cannock Chase (2) (1-1 AET, 0-2 PKs)
Ignavi Borough (2) 0-2 Zholvi Athletic (1)
RFK Ogdenagorv (2) 3-0 Civittanevosa (2)
Sutsik Chernomorets (3) 2-4 Rygge Athletic (2)
CFC Esson (3) 1-2 Mercedini Armed Forces (1)
OFR Ozzaya Agranka (4) 2-3 Exton Oilers (1)
We now have out final sixteen teams as the third round played out over the weekend. There is to be no happy ending for South Dajaiina as they couldn't edge past fourth-tier Monastir in a seven goal thriller, Dajaiina took the lead twice in the match but three unanswered goals from Monastir put them 4-2 up with ten to go. It was a grandstand finish as Jonas Caria scored for the non-league side, but it wasn't meant to be as it was Monastir secured an historic spot in the fourth round as the only fourth tier side remaining. Real Voze could also be the story of the cup this season as they thrashed youth academy Centre for Excellence 5-0 away from home, they now face second tier RFK Ogdenagorv for a spot in the quarter finals. Eight Premier League sides remain, with at least three of them going home due to all top-tier sides. These teams can now see the Sports City Stadium in their sights, with three matches to go until the final for those left standing.
Champions League Playoff Round
Montreal Koreana (QUE) 1-2 Zoloroni City
Zoloroni City 0-1 Montreal Koreana (QUE)
Match tied 2-2 on aggregate. Zoloroni City advance on away goals
It's the Champions League Group Stage for Zoloroni City as Zanzala's late strike in Quebec was enough to give them the edge over Montreal Koreana. It was set up to be a big clash between two teams who could very well go deep in the tournament, with this final barrier between themselves and the group stages. The first leg was a tight tussle, with an Angelica header cancelling out an MK opener before half time. Chances were few and far between until Zanzala's low drill beat the Koreana goalkeeper with minutes to go in the game. They took that goal advantage back home to... Siovanija and Teusland? That's right, due to restrictions by the Quebecois Assocation, Zoloroni's home tie was played in Borograd, the neutral venue agreed to by the two clubs, which was a strange setting for such a big match. Zoloroni were effectively playing two away matches, but their advantage from the first leg paid dividends, as they held on. An MK goal in the second levelled the tie on aggregate, but they still needed another against the Mercedinians to advance. The final whistle blew with the players collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. Borograd was the location of Mercedinian delight was they edged past Montreal Koreana on away goals.
Challenger's Cup Playoff Round
Blue Strike Zoloroni 3-2 Lonngeylin Coast (VIL)
Lonngeylin Coast (VIL) 2-0 Blue Strike Zoloroni
Lonngeylin Coast (VIL) advance 4-3 on aggregate
Patrons (OAM) 3-5 Langtree United
Langtree United 3-1 Patrons (OAM)
Langtree United win 8-4 on aggregate
Blue Strike fans will be sick of seeing the sight of Vilita at the end of this cycle as not only did a Vilitan team knock them out of the Champions League, one also took them out of the Challenger's Cup aswell, although it wasn't for the lack of trying. A 3-2 lead in Mercedini was a big moment for the fans present in the stadium with the club rising from the depths of non-league to now beating some of the multiverse's best teams. Sadly, they couldn't make it last as a 2-0 win for Lonngeylin Coast in Vilita turned their goal deficit into a goal advantage, which was enough to take them through to the playoff round.
Meanwhile, Langtree's already bloated campaign just got longer as their form in IFCF qualifying rounds continued with a solid 8-4 aggregate win over Oberour's Patrons. Langtree has made this tournament their own as they netted five away goals against a team they were always likely to beat. Audioslavia's Lagrange scored a hat-trick in the return leg for another in in front of the home fans in Langtree. 3-1 on the night and 8-4 overall, they are going through to another playoff round.
Liga B Champions Cup Playoff Round
SC Myrkan (PAS) 4-1 Ali Mercedes Carassai
Ali Mercedes Carassai 1-0 SC Myrkan (PAS)
SC Myrkan (PAS) win 4-2 on aggregate
Ali Mercedes were one step away from the group stages, but they couldn't make it stick as they were taken out by SC Myrkan of Pasarga. Despite winning the second leg in Mercedini by a single goal, they needed three times that much to overcome their deficit, as the Pasargan side made their home advantage count by taking a whopping 4-1 lead into the second leg. Ali Mercedes are favourites to return to the LBCC as they are leading the second division at the moment, they will likely return for another crack at a deep run.
MD16
Plympton Town 1–1 Sporting Rafelonia
Elspachia 4–1 Hoventon & Corlington Town
Zholvi Athletic 1–0 Denby Town
Mercedini Armed Forces 1–2 Langtree United
Zoloroni City 3–1 Exton Oilers
Orga City 1–1 Zoloroni Metropolitan
Acoflosa United 3–2 Carvi Albion
Blue Strike Zoloroni 0–0 Dynamo Shebchetsik
MD17
Blue Strike Zoloroni 1–0 Plympton Town
Dynamo Shebchetsik 2–1 Acoflosa United
Carvi Albion 2–3 Orga City
Zoloroni Metropolitan 1–1 Zoloroni City
Exton Oilers 1–3 Mercedini Armed Forces
Langtree United 3–0 Zholvi Athletic
Denby Town 1–4 Elspachia
Hoventon & Corlington Town 0–0 Sporting Rafelonia
MD18
Plympton Town 1–3 Hoventon & Corlington Town
Sporting Rafelonia 3–0 Denby Town
Elspachia 4–2 Langtree United
Zholvi Athletic 2–3 Exton Oilers
Mercedini Armed Forces 1–3 Zoloroni Metropolitan
Zoloroni City 3–0 Carvi Albion
Orga City 3–2 Dynamo Shebchetsik
Acoflosa United 3–1 Blue Strike Zoloroni
MD19
Acoflosa United 4–1 Plympton Town
Blue Strike Zoloroni 1–1 Orga City
Dynamo Shebchetsik 3–5 Zoloroni City
Carvi Albion 1–1 Mercedini Armed Forces
Zoloroni Metropolitan 0–0 Zholvi Athletic
Exton Oilers 0–3 Elspachia
Langtree United 0–0 Sporting Rafelonia
Denby Town 1–3 Hoventon & Corlington Town
MD20
Plympton Town 4–2 Denby Town
Hoventon & Corlington Town 2–2 Langtree United
Sporting Rafelonia 3–3 Exton Oilers
Elspachia 2–1 Zoloroni Metropolitan
Zholvi Athletic 0–1 Carvi Albion
Mercedini Armed Forces 0–3 Dynamo Shebchetsik
Zoloroni City 3–4 Blue Strike Zoloroni
Orga City 0–0 Acoflosa United
. MPL Table Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Elspachia 20 11 5 4 38 22 +16 38
2 Blue Strike Zoloroni 20 10 6 4 35 26 +9 36
3 Langtree United 20 10 6 4 36 29 +7 36
4 Zoloroni City 20 8 9 3 44 31 +13 33
5 Hoventon & Corlington Town 20 9 6 5 42 31 +11 33
6 Acoflosa United 20 9 5 6 40 33 +7 32
13 Zholvi Athletic 20 4 7 9 20 28 −8 19
14 Carvi Albion 20 2 8 10 31 48 −17 14
15 Mercedini Armed Forces 20 3 4 13 29 51 −22 13
16 Denby Town 20 1 4 15 21 47 −26 7
Ten matches to go in the Mercedinian Premier League and we are still no closer to finding out who is going to win the title. It's Elspachia who is now top of the table, with a clear margin of two points now separating themselves and second placed Blue Strike. The Elspa natives have seemingly come from nowhere in the title race and have crept up the standings to now find themselves at the summit. If it were to end now, they would be joined in the Champions League by the aforementioned Blue Strike who keep up their good run and are now considered a major power in Mercedinian football. Zoloroni City, following their absent start to the league, now find themselves in the hunt for a second successive title, while Hoventon & Corlington Town are in fifth and are looking for their first international appearance since the very first season. At the other end, it's looking more and more bleak for Denby with each passing matchday, they sit on only seven points from twenty matches and simply haven't been able to compete with the qualify and finances of the Premier League teams. Further up, it's getting tighter with Carvi now cutting the margin of safety down to five points for Zholvi, who must be looking over their shoulder.
We are now on countdown with IFCF places and relegation spots now close to being confirmed as the number of points available begins to tick away!