Reçueçn finally managed to win a game; third time's the charm, they say. The team defeated its neighbors Tara and Cambray by a single goal. The result was up in the air toward the end of the game. Reçueçn won a first-half goal from Raoul Lavigne, subbed on after Luc Pélissier appeared to pull a muscle. but in the seventy-fourth minute Tara and Cambray equalized, which suddenly meant that Reçueçn would be eliminated if things finished as they stood. (In the Ziwana-Monglechabagd game, Ziwana was leading by a goal, meaning they'd have the three extra points needed to pass Reçueçn.) Reçuecian fans were on the edges of their seats until twelve minutes later, when Freeman Lebo finally accomplished what had seemed briefly impossible and scored to put les licornes ahead again. Then, of course, in stoppage time, Monglechabagd equalized, meaning that a draw would have been enough anyway.
But it seems that the theme for Reçueçn this tournament is "living dangerously." Only a single group stage win, and even that a close shave. The borderline performance from the ENRF has resulted in them finishing in second place and having to play a stronger, if less-well-known team in Port Ember. Port Ember, Pot E's top seed, has joined the international footballing scene more recently, more recently even, than Reçueçn. Reçueçn's failure to win its own group means that it misses out on the easier (on paper) game against Abanhfleft, who les licornes have played twice before, once in World Cup 83 playoffs and most recently in the IAC group stage just last cycle. Both matches resulted in close wins for Reçueçn. However, the team has never before played against their upcoming round of sixteen opponents, Port Ember, so we're less sure what to expect.
Bonheur Relié, Reçueçn assistant coach, said when asked, "I'll have time to do my research on them before the game, but I haven't started reading up yet. There's just too much." ENFT spokespeople made clear afterward that Relié's comments belied the team's professionalism, and represented his personal opinion.
Unfortunately, the team has also announced that Luc Pélissier's injury is just as bad as it looked: he has suffered a strained hamstring and is most likely out for the rest of the competition.
Previous Match
Tara and Cambray 1-2 Reçueçn
Ninth Independent Associations Cup — Matchday 3
Estadio Acuatico, Bello Mar, HUElavia
Reçueçn line-up: Gerauld Firaut (c), Leo Beck, Ägidius Heissler, Norman Bright, Oliver Spencer, Luc Pélissier, Harold Saunders, Maynard Hebron, Hippolyte Lavigne, Frank "Franky" Adams, Freeman Lebo
Substitutions: R. Lavigne for Pélissier (29'), Nasser for Adams (52'), Brochard for H. Lavigne (65')
Upcoming Match
Port Ember vs Reçueçn
Ninth Independent Associations Cup — Round of Sixteen
Estadio Porto, Portimao, HUElavia
Predicted Reçueçn line-up: Gerauld Firaut (c), Leo Beck, Ägidius Heissler, Norman Bright, Oliver Spencer, Raoul Lavigne, Harold Saunders, Maynard Hebron, Hippolyte Lavigne, Frank "Franky" Adams, Freeman Lebo