FINAL
BERSK SK 5 - 1 AS ROCCA
Arena Nacional, Aljuá
22:00 kick-off
PRE-MATCHDaniel Nordby: Hey there, and welcome to the show! Today with us are guests Tord Haraldsen and Ernesto Martinez Jr.! Someone today's coming home with the 4th ever Champions Cup trophy - a huge award to recieve, eh? Neither team has received this huge award yet, and both are looking to fill up their trophy cabinet. What do you think, Aristione?
Aristione Marcia: In my opinion, today isn't just about the strength of each team, it's about the abilities and determination of their respective managers. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but it's about how they play to their strengths that will determine the final score. Both teams are neck-and-neck, so it's only about how they use their power.
Tord Haraldsen: Yeah, I agree. Obviously, Bersk has been dominating for quite a long time, and have recently had some huge signings that only benefited them; for example, the signing of Hamid Mahdavi. However, we cannot ignore their poor performance against Almiaro that could foreshadow a longer-term bad spell of play. Additionally, AS Rocca played amazingly against Aleanto Calcio in my opinion, and showed a great determination to win this tournament that Bersk lacked in their semi-final games.
Daniel Nordby: Interesting. So lets have a look at Bersk's and Rocca's lineups for today's game, shall we?
Ernesto Martinez Jr.: Hmm, that's rather interesting. Rocca is playing quite defensively, compared to Bersk's clearly offensive tactic. I think van Emerik is clearly playing well here, as he knows his team dominates mainly in their attacking trio. I'm predicting that a large portion of Bersk's possession will be in Rocca's half.
Aristione Marcia: Agreed. They're clearly looking to cover as much space as possible to avoid weak spots - that, in my opinion, is a good decision due to the way Rocca played against Aleanto. On the other hand, Rocca is playing a quite slow 4-3-3 which they tend to play. This has been proven effective against even more defensive teams like Aleanto, but I doubt it will work well against Bersk.
Tord Haraldsen: I disagree. Rocca's 4-3-3 formation worked well against Harris' Lads, who are quite offensive in their nature. I think the greatest thing that will have an effect on Rocca's possessive play is the lack of Mahdavi. He's key to Rocca's defence, and if one of the main reasons Rocca's midfield plays the ball so often. His passing skills are just immaculate, and it is a shame he will be missing the stand-off against his brother.
Daniel Nordby: I guess we'll have to wait and see. That's all we have for this match - now to Vidoria!
FIRST HALF0' Samuel Grøtan: And we're off here in Vidoria! Today is the big game! The ultimate standoff! This is Samuel Grøtan speaking and Gustav Arntzen is sitting beside me and we will be commentating this game for you today! 90 minutes from now, we will know who will lift the 4th Champions Cup trophy!
3' Samuel Grøtan: Rocca is holding to their possession with a tight grip. The passing is strong and Bersk is unable to intercept. What do you think, Gustav?
Gustav Arntzen: I'm quite unsurprised by this. Rocca often plays well in midfield, and it's only a matter of time until they score. It's only a matter of when, and as of now, they seem to be playing very well.
6' Samuel Grøtan: An outstanding interception by Gaumont now means Bersk is in possession. He passes it to Marchesi. He plays it down the left...
Marchesi is right in the corner, stuck with only Baresi to beat. Will he do it... OF COURSE HE WILL! MARCHESI WITH THE CROSS...7' Samuel Grøtan: And straight to Raggio, who kicks it right to Gojtia. Jesus is right at home here, so his play is outstanding.
9' Samuel Grøtan: Rocca on the attack. They've had enough time to build up, but so has Bersk. Perera with the ball. He passes it to Kask, but it's intercepted by de Toro who boots it out. Throw in.
Gustav Arntzen: I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do. Rocca was right up their face, and it was his only option. It's not worth taking any risks this early on.
9' Samuel Grøtan: Arico with the long throw...
AND IT'S STRAIGHT TO KASK'S FEET! IT'S ONLY HIM AND HELLERUD NOW! WHO WILL IT BE...10' Samuel Grøtan: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAL! KASK DELIVERS IN KASK FASHION! An outstanding throw by Arico and a supersonic shot by Kask has given Rocca the early lead and the early confidence! GOAL: Jurgen Kask (ASR)14' Samuel Grøtan: Bersk now holding to their possession. They have given their opposition an early goal, and do not want to risk another one. Helland is trying to test Nieue, but he is not having any of it - straight to to de Toro.
Gustav Arntzen: Rocca is possibly too confident now. An early goal can really boost morale, but if you get too cocky it can be the cause of your downfall. They have to be cautious.
21' Samuel Grøtan: Though Bersk are keeping possession, the pace of the game has slowed drastically. As manager Klaes van Emerik shouts to the defenders to play higher and to begin some offensive play, a pass from de Toro to Giammona starts up the Bersk offence.
22' Samuel Grøtan: Giammona to Mahdavi.
MAHDAVI IS IN THE PENALTY BOX! WILL THE GOAL MACHINE DELIVER AGAIN??!?!??23' Samuel Grøtan: Oh, that's a beautiful save by Raggio. Absolutely outstanding.
Gustav Arntzen: Agreed. This is why he is the first choice for such a world-class team.
Samuel Grøtan: But... whoops! The throw to Dufour is intercepted by Crozier!
Crozier with yet another chance at goal! HE PASSES IT TO MAHDAVI, WHO BEATS THE ROCCA DEFENCE! THEY HAVE ONLY ONE MAN TO RELY ON, BUT IS RAGGIO ENOUGH?24' Samuel Grøtan: GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! Mahdavi equalised, and they are level again! Raggio looks disappointed, meanwhile the Bersk players run back to their side of the pitch. No time to celebrate, it's time to get another! GOAL: Hamid Mahdavi (BSK)25' Gustav Arntzen: Absolutely outstanding. Hamid's always ready to deliver when he's needed. His position was perfect. Though the shot is nothing to compare against Kask, everything leading up to the shot was among the best plays I've ever seen.
28' Samuel Grøtan: Rocca is determined to get back in the lead. They are playing the ball very high right now, though they are struggling to get past Bersk's pressuring defence.
32' Samuel Grøtan: And a pass to Arico... comes to nothing. Bersk now with the ball, though Rocca is deep in their own half, so the Barbarians do not have a motivation to move forward. Rather, they are playing it slow up the left. Marchesi and Gaumont both up the left in the opposition's half, unable to cross from Rocca's strong line of defenders and midfielders blocking the way.
34' Samuel Grøtan: And Gaumont passes it back to Nerby, who passes it to de Toro. Back to their slow passing at the back.
Gustav Arntzen: Quite understandable, as there was nothing they could do in the opponent's half.
40' Samuel Grøtan: Now a rough tackle from Arico against Andersen. That is dangerous. And Andersen isn't going up...
41' Samuel Grøtan: The referee goes up to the spot.
ARICO IS ISSUED A RED CARD! The game is paused, as the medical team is running up to check on Andersen, and most certainly take him back. Meanwhile, Arico is walking back in shame.
Substitution: Liam Andersen, (LB) ⇄ Nicolás Arvenú, (RB) (BSK)45' Samuel Grøtan: Ref signals 3 minutes of added time, despite the time taken for the injury and red card. Rocca is down to 10 men, but Bersk will most likely not be able to do anything in the time they have left.
47+2 Samuel Grøtan: Despite the time limit, Arvenú plays to Giammona, who plays it down the middle.
I take back what I said previously! GIAMMONA IS IN THE PENALTY BOX! WHAT CAN HE DO?45+3' Samuel Grøtan: Nothing. De Launay gets the ball back, as the ref whistles for half time.
45' Samuel Grøtan: And we're off once again, at the ultimate deciding battle between Bersk and Rocca! It's 1-1, but Rocca being at 10 men may change that.
48' Samuel Grøtan: Bersk is having no trouble with keeping possession.
Gustav Arntzen: That is true, but the deciding factor is whether they will be able to get past their opponent's defence. Possession doesn't mean anything for the game if they cannot use it.
50' Samuel Grøtan: You're correct, and that's exactly what is happening! Nerby to Jonsson. Jonsson plays it down the middle, beating both Gavreau and Dufour.
He's parallel to Mahdavi now. Both are ready to take the shot. Will he pass it and let Hamid do the work, or will he take the risk himself? HE'S DOING IT HIMSELF! HE BEATS BARESI AND IS NOW READY TO SHOOT! HE TAKES THE SHOT...51' Samuel Grøtan: IT'S IN! BERSK ARE IN THE LEAD! What a run that was! He beat 3 defenders and then absolutely demolished the ball! Absolutely unsaveable. GOAL: Jon Jonsson (BSK)52' c That was amazing. With a team like Bersk, though, they will be looking for another.
Samuel Grøtan: Agreed. Now an interception. Bersk has the ball again. Marchesi is looking for the pass.
53' Samuel Grøtan: And the man he was looking for was Mahdavi!
A long pass defeating most of Rocca's defence is now putting them at the mercy of one outstanding player. AND MAHDAVI TAKES THE SHOT FROM OUTSIDE THE BOX! THE BALL TRAVELS THROUGH THE AIR LIKE A BULLET! RAGGIO LEAPS IN THE AIR TO PROTECT THE GOAL...54' Samuel Grøtan: THE GOAL MACHINE SCORES ANOTHER! HE'S UNSTOPPABLE! He's the perfect striker! He can shoot from distance, shoot from close, all he needs now is a header and he will prove he can do everything! GOAL: Hamid Mahdavi (BSK)56' Gustav Arntzen: He's the perfect player, however you look at it.
Substitution: Lucien Gavreau, (RB) ⇄ Francesch Marvel, (CM) (ASR)Samuel Grøtan: Rocca now switches to a 3-4-3 formation. Rocca is clearly looking for a chance to score, after a catastrophic spell of play after their loss of Arico.
63' Samuel Grøtan: The ball is alternating between Bersk and Rocca right now, in the midfield. However, the ball is not going much further than that.
66' Gustav Arntzen: The play is quite slow.
Samuel Grøtan: Rocca is pushing further into Bersk's half, though. This could be dangerous. This will be dangerous.
68' Samuel Grøtan: The ball is now in Helland's feet. He passes it to...
Canto! Canto with the ball! HE RUNS UP THE PITCH, TO THE EDGE OF THE PENALTY BOX, AND CROSSES IT TO KASK! KASK WITH THE HEADER...69' Samuel Grøtan: Just a bit too high. Goal kick.
71' Samuel Grøtan: Bersk with the ball in Rocca's side of the pitch. Nerby to Jonsson. Jonsson to Giammona. Giammona is ready to push up, towards the penalty box.
72' Samuel Grøtan: Giammona against 3 defenders, and 2 midfielders running back as well. There's no way to get out of this...
or is there? Through the legs of Dufour, ball is now in Mahdavi's possession! IS THIS TIME FOR HIS HATTRICK? AS THE CROWD CHANT HIS NAME, HE TAKES THE SHOT FROM THE SPOT...73' Samuel Grøtan: Wasn't it obvious? OF COURSE HE SCORES. 4-1, BERSK ARE UNSTOPPABLE!Substitution: Patrice Crozier, (RM) ⇄ Percy LeBatalier, (RM) (BSK)Substitution: Vegbar Nerby, (CDM) ⇄ Arturo Navarro, (ST) (BSK)Substitution: Dominico Perera, (LW) ⇄ Musa Hadid, (LW) (ASR)Gustav Arntzen: Now the biggest change of the game. Rocca is freshening up their offence while Bersk is looking for a fifth!
75' Samuel Grøtan: Bersk back with the ball! LeBatalier to Giammona. Giammona to Mahdavi!
But he doesn't fancy his chances! He sets the shot up for recently subbed Navarro! WHAT A BULLET IT IS! IT'S HEADING FOR THE BOTTOM-RIGHT CORNER... WILL RAGGIO GET TO IT IN TIME?76' Samuel Grøtan: Oh he did. Amazing stop... wait, there was a mistake.
Own goal! Raggio doesn't hold on tight enough, and it slips right out of his hands into the net! GOAL: Giuseppe Raggio (OG) (ASR)77' Samuel Grøtan: Raggio looks down at the ground, disappointed in his performance. Is it his fault that his team is losing so badly? He looks up. He knows he doesn't have any hope of winning, but at least he can try now.
Gustav Arntzen: That's something I respect in Rocca's players. Despite their losses, they still carry on. True sportsmanship from them.
80' Samuel Grøtan: The game has calmed down now. Rocca has pretty much given up on trying to come back, and Bersk is holding on to the scoreline they have now. Rocca is completely destroyed.
89' Samuel Grøtan: Rocca with the ball once again. They know they can't win, but they can at least put on a show for the last couple minutes.
Hadid to Kask! KAST IS READY TO SHOOT!90' Samuel Grøtan: Booted away by Nieue. No more game time now - full time whistle is blown. 5-1.
The 4th winner of the Champions Cup is...BERSK SK!
Samuel Grøtan: Congratulations to Bersk! A truly deserved win, they played amazingly today and throughout this entire campaign. That is it from us, thank you and goodnight! This was Samuel Grøtan and Gustav Arntzen speaking!