Independent Associations Championship 13 - Everything Thread

by **HUElavia** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:08 am

Blissful Draw

HUElavia's B-Team holds out in a scoreless draw to win Group E and set up a historic match against Drawkland.

Sajnur 0-0 HUElavia
Holtin Kash Stadium, Holhot, Poafmersia

Entering Matchday 3, HUElavia had already clinched their spot into the Round-of-16 for the 6th consecutive time. Only for the 3rd time in the team's history did the team clinch their place with a game left in hand (The other two times has been in IAC 9 and 12). Thus, for this final Group Stage match against Sajnur, Coach Conavacio opted to give the whole B-Team playing time in order to rest the starters and give experience to the more novice players, although it was notable that Wentz got her first start in the tournament for this match, showing that Conavacio lost faith in her with the blunder against Srednjaci in the Qualifying Round. The Home Special was worn with Marquez starting in goal and Torrisi was the Captain, in a sold out Holtin Kash Stadium (37,250), in Holhot once again, with a very strong HUElavian crowd present in the stadium.

The match was another pretty dull one, with HUElavia not giving much care to the play. Some fans were booing, so some of the players would take turns doing tricks with the ball to tease Sajnur and give a bit of eye candy to the people and the photographers. Players like Naulo and Nazar tried to get some shots in throughout the match in an attempt to pull an upset, but Marquez made saves with ease, earning applause from the crowd. Some shots from Nascimento, Yamane and Girault were taken, but would just narrowly go out wide. At the end, the referee blew his whistle a few seconds after 90 minutes, ending the match. Some fans looked disappointed in seeing the match go scoreless, while some fans applauded the team's advance as Group E winners. The Sajnurians looked frustrated at ending their tournament with a single point, while the HUElavians congratulated each other for doing the bare minimum and getting past the Group Stage, making it the second objective the team had accomplished in this tournament so far.

HUElavia wins Group E with 7 Points (2-1-0), while Indusse defeated Garbelia 3-1 to take 2nd Place with 6 Points (2-0-1), leaving Garbelia out with 3 Points (1-0-2), and Sajnur in 4th with 1 Point (0-1-2). Notably, HUElavia advances as the least scoring team in the tournament so far, with only 2 goals to their name, both coming from Substitutes. There has been calls by the press and fans for the team to adopt a more attacking system for the remaining matches, and some claiming there should have been more young players with motivation in the roster. Conavacio still gives his confidence and support to his players, stating that he is "Happy with the results from the team, while there is room for improvement, they are showing maturity and are really showing their desire to allow very few mistakes." Some notable surprises from this Group Stage includes the very notable eliminations of former IAC Champions of Reçueçn and New Lusitania, along with stronger teams like Juvencus, Kriegiersien, Trolleborg and Adab.

Now comes the "Match of the Round" for the Round-of-16: HUElavia vs Drawkland. For the second consecutive edition of the IAC, the two teams with the most appearances in the tournament's Final will meet once again. These two "cursed" teams account for 8 Finals combined and only one title between them (Drawkland winning IAC 6), and they will face each other in what the press around the multiverse calls "The best match in the knockouts." Four years ago, HUElavia won on a very late penalty kick by Navarro, 2-1 in Makarov, Muralos. Now, they meet again, with similar teams, at Dreamers Park (60,000), in Fiskadaha City, the capital of Poafmersia and where HUElavia played 3 of their Qualifying Matches at. The Home Uniform will be worn by both teams, and the A-Team will start, but Resendes starts over Wentz, and Yamane over Savedra. The stadium is expected to be filled with thousands of HUElavians, looking to take up one of the endzones as they normally do. It's moments like this that are do or die, and both teams look to give it their all to make the Quarter-Finals. Here's to hoping Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos advances to the Quarter-Finals and to keep this dream alive.

FORÇA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Kencana** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:29 am

Kencana lost 1-0 to HUElavia before holding on to a 0-0 draw with Brasilia to finish 24th in the First Stage, enough to earn them one of the 32 spots in the Second Stage. Kencana was then drawn in Group D for the Second Stage alongside Drawkland, Montana Verde and the Republic of Indian States.

Drawkland was the hot favourite to qualify from the group. They are a World Cup regular and one of the strongest side in the IAC. And Drawkland was the first opponent for Kencana in the Second Stage of the IAC. However, Kencana shook everyone by putting up a very inspiring performance and stunned Drawland with a 3-2 win.

The win against Drawkland was the most historic victory in Kencana’s history. It was a hit and run win with Kencana sitting deep the whole time and hitting Drawkland on the break three times. Ugly but something the Kencanans will repeat time and time again in the national television. The small island with very little resources beating one of the best side in the world.

Motivated by the win against Drawkland, Kencana then beat Montana Verde with the same scoreline before beating the Republic of Indian States 3-0 to finish the group at the top with 3 wins from 3 matches and booked a place in the Round of 16. It has been a remarkable run for Kencana who were in Poafmersia just to be competitive.

Kencana’s opponent in the Round of 16 is the Group E runner-up, Indusse who beat Garbelia and Sajnur in the Second Stage. Indusse is not a world-beater like Drawkland but Indusse is also not a minnows like Kencana. On paper, Indusse is the favourite. But Kencana has the motivation and momentum to cause an upset. Kencana is again expected to sit deep, happily frustrate the opponent’s attack and only hit Indusse on the break. Will it work again? Will see.

by **PotatoFarmers** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:00 pm

Poafmersia 4-0 Volinovia
@ Theatre of Light, Poafmersia
Poafmersia Scorers: Makana Tuft 7’, 84’ (assist by Gisiik Moonar); Gisiik Moonar 41’ (assist by Arnold Shwentin); Aleka Dufour 60’ (assist by Whitney Rios)

Poafmersia Lineup (4-4-2): Sandi Jaliaha; Mitchel Rosales, Nasri Sanchez, Simone Gori, Natalia Abbott; Dargis Walshor, Gisiik Moonar, Arnold Shwentin, Whitney Rios; Makana Tuft (c), Aleka Dufour
Substitutes: Mac Rojas (Rosales 73’), Nero Wood (Shwentin 78’); Hollis Stephenson (Sanchez 85’)

Kistina - A 4-0 victory over Volinovia was all it took to secure the Round of 16 spot, as the Red Panjias kept their title dreams alive following Squornshelan Remnant States’ 2-2 draw in Mudra.

A particularly wet game was on the cards, given that Kistina was suffering from torrential downpour over the past day. There was a suggestion for the hosts to change the location of the match, but given the Theatre of Light’s special features, as well as discussion with both teams, it was agreed for the match to be held with a closed roof in the same location. However, given that the grass floor was slightly water clogged, there was some time needed to do “ground replacement”, namely, replacing patches of the field with spare patches. As a result, the fixture started a whole 15 minutes behind the scheduled kickoff of 7.45pm, giving both sides an advantage of knowing what happened in Mudra.

There was little room for error for the Red Panjias. A draw would make it extremely difficult to qualify, since that would rely on Squornshelan Remnant States losing by 2 or more goals. Meanwhile, Volinovia qualify should they not lose, so the pressure is on the hosts to produce a result. Gambling on the power of a larger midfield, Adnan Suliaha opted for a 4-4-2 formation with 2 central midfielders playing a more balanced role, giving Poafmersia a slight edge against the 4-3-3 formation employed by Volinovia. It was a tactical change that the national team has rarely employed in recent years - in fact, the closest formation was a 4-4-2 diamond, with one holding midfielder, and that was 3 years ago, in the World Cup 87 Qualifiers. But the players can’t be strangers to the formation - a 4-men backline is often common in the country, and utilising 4 in the middle is familiar among the players who ply their trade in the Apex.

Captain Makana Tuft, on red-hot form this time in the IAC, opened the scoring in the 7th minute, grabbing hold of a nice clearance by Natalia Abbott, and getting it past Thomas Schmidt, who hails from Rialto City SC in the opposition’s domestic league. The leftback tried his very best to catch up with Tuft, but Tuft dictated the control of the ball like flowing water, and dribbled it all the way from the outside towards the box. Koehler Rhinehart, the center back, came forward to assist Schmidt in defending the ball, but a skill move past Rhinehart meant that Tuft was able to beat both defenders, and find the correct angle to tap in the ball past Howie Bellerose. Bellerose reached for the correct direction, but Tuft’s perfect angle meant it was a Herculean task to gain any control of the ball.

Tuft had the opportunity to double the scoreline just 5 minutes later, following Aleka Dufour’s screamer from 30 yards. Schmidt parried the ball out, and Tuft ran forward past Rhinehart to get the ball and shoot it in. However, Tuft wasn’t able to control the ball just as nicely as the one before, and it went just wide of the post. The next biggest opportunity was following a nice through ball from veteran midfielder Gisiik Moonar - but Dufour was in the wrong position when the ball went through, and Dufour fell to the opposition’s offside trap narrowly. Volinovia, for their performance as an unranked team thus far, wasn’t going to let the hosts dictate the tempo like that. In the 32nd minute, Audie Martinez and Rodney Carbal did a nice coordination to fool Simone Gori, but pressure by Nasri Sanchez forced the error from Martinez, and Jaliaha was in position to save the ball.

For all the prowess of the strikers, it was the midfielders who provided the 2nd goal of the night - an unexpected one at the very least. The midfielders were having a hard time battling the trio of Trey Zavala, Salvio Knopp and Brian Taylor, who were playing with gusto and confidence as the game went on. Dargis Walshor, however, had other ideas. Attempting to make the opponents run more than required, he faked a pass to Gisiik Moonar, but instead made a long pass from end to end to reach Whitney Rios, who pushed the ball forward. Taylor came forward to Rios, and with both strikers getting heavily marked, he passed it onto Shwentin. Shwentin took the ball, pushed forward, and Zavala made a little retreat instead of pressuring Shwentin for the ball. Of course, that gave Shwentin enough space, and he signalled Moonar and Walshor to move forward to ease the pressure on Tuft and Dufour. Sure enough, with more firepower moving forward, there was a little confusion on the defence, and Shwentin found Moonar, who was unmarked, just barely outside the box. Moonar wanted to get it across to Dufour, who was in a better position, but misaimed and instead went to hit the far right post, bouncing in, and left Bellerose absolutely dumbfounded.

The pressure must have gotten onto the opposition, for the home crowd was cheering with gusto. The thunderstorms were brewing, yet the fans largely drowned out the sound of the rain. A packed stadium cheered the players on as Whiteny Rios helped to find the Red Panjias’ 3rd goal in the 60th minute, picking out Aleka Dufour from the sea of players, and Dufour found the correct angle to get a low ball in. Volinovia tried to get in a few attempts, but wasted shots from striker Rodney Cabral, as well as brilliant saves from Jaliaha, meant that Poafmersia was on their way to a clean sheet. Tuft added a late goal to pile the misery on the now-eliminated opposition, and also warned their next opponents on the strength of Poafmersia.

Katiri Hedge, assistant coach of the Red Panjias, was extremely proud of his charges. “Really nicely executed, brilliantly done. The players were here to create a reaction, trying to show their title credentials after the loss to Squornshelan Remnant States 3 days ago. Tuft continued his form, and together with his club team mate Dufour, they put up lots of nicely executed attacks. Constantly questioning the opposition’s defence. Keeping the opposition on their toes. Moonar, Shwentin, and later Wood all did their part in midfield, controlling the tempo, while Rios and Walshor added pressure from the sides. The backline was much better today - they found the defensive structure that worked in our first few matches (of the tournament), and Jaliaha, after a less-than-great performance on Tuesday, did much better today. The entire team was great, and we are pleased to be in the Round of 16.”

Poafmersia next play Abanhfleft, who surprisingly fell to 2nd in Group G following Almuzahara’s victory over the Fleftic ladies team. The winner of the fixture will play either 2-time IAC finalists Omerica, or returning nation Felinetopia in the quarterfinals.

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:46 pm

It was another draw, the fourth such result in just seven matches for the Black-and-Reds. Enough to get them through to the knockouts, but not enough to really feel good about it. With the Kriegiersian side reportedly already looking ahead to the Olympic tournament, one would have expected them to be a fairly easy matchup for the Confederates, coming off a win over probably the toughest opponent in the entire IAC field. The frustration despite advancement was evident in some of the post-match interviews. "We're all frustrated with the results. We know we're a better team than this, and that our supporters at home expect more," center back and vice captain Walda Harkhan told reporters. "We expect more as well." Striker Lyzolda Petrov, who is one of the players who has been exempt from criticism, scoring at a torrid pace, was pragmatic in her outlook. "We're lucky that we'll have the opportunity to play in the knockouts. Any team remaining has a chance at the title."

. . . . .

Later that night, the team were back at their hotel, packing their things to prepare for the trip from Mudra to Mancodas the next morning. In most rooms though, their focus was very much elsewhere. On nearly every screen, they were watching news from home. Ljuba had been the first to find the stream, and had quickly forwarded it to the team's group chat. It showed the view from a reconnaissance drone flying over the mountains the marked the extreme western boundary of the Confederacy, beyond the West Molvanian steppe. The Far Sea Dimensional Anomaly, better known as the Edge, which had for nearly a century been the boundary between the Confederacy and the Imperium, had inexplicably begun spreading far beyond the Far Sea, and now seemed mere minutes from completing an unbroken circuit around the SRS.

The video feed - all the news channels had the same one since the military had declared the area off limits to civilian aircraft - showed a gap between two curtains of mottled grayish . . . something. Some said the Edge looked like a soap bubble full of swirling smoke, others compared it to peering into murky pondwater. Whatever it really was, it was otherworldly, and unsettling. Between the two curtains, a narrow vertical band of brilliant blue sky, and a thin strip of foothills climbing up into the mountains beyond. It was hard to tell how far the gap was without anything artificial in the image for scale, but it the movement of the two curtains of Edge toward each other was visually discernible. Clearly, whatever was going on, it was almost over.

They watched, largely in silence, as the gap grew narrower and narrower. A newsanchor's voiceover noted when the width of the gap reached a kilometer, then 500 meters. 100. And then, at last, it closed entirely. There was no earth shaking boom, no thud as of a closed door. The closure was not accompanied by a blinding flash of light, nor was the sun blotted out from the sky. The Edge's movement did not shift inward, constricting the nation it had now surrounded. No, the two gray curtains smoothly, quietly, unremarkably merged into an unbroken line of gray, beyond which no longer lay the West Pacific. As the camera zoomed out to a wider view, a viewer just joining might have thought for a moment that a bank of thick fog had settled over the West Molvanian steppe. But no fog ends in such a stark, straight line. The surface of fog does not shimmer in the sun like drops of oil in a flooded pothole.

Nothing happened.

It continued happening.

That is, it continued not to happen.

What I mean is . . .

Ok, so in order to fully understand the metaphysical forces at play here, we're going to have to go back and start with Aristotle.

You know what, nevermind.

The point is, the world did not come to an untimely end. I won't say no one was hurt or killed. People, after all, are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and some regrettable decisions were made in this turbulent time. The Black-and-Reds players, realizing at least that they would have a country to return home to after the tournament, one by one turned their streams off, finished or procrastinated their packing, and went to bed. The Confederacy, eventually, fitfully did the same.

Matchday Schedule and Results:

MD1: SRS 0-0 FEL @ Bikarish Stadium (cap. 48,000)
MD2: SRS 1-0 SAJ @ Rukiya Sports Stadium (cap. 37,000)
MD3: MAL 4-4 SRS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000)
MD4: SRS 2-3 TRL @ Libira National Stadium (cap. 68,000)
GS1: SRS 4-4 VOL @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000)
GS2: PFA 2-3 SRS @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000)
GS3: SRS 2-2 KGS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000)
R16: AMH  v  SRS @ United Park (cap. 61,000)

by **Kohnhead** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:46 pm

Kohnhead completes perfect first two stages with win over Space

After a 6-0-0 start to the tournament and after a big 2-1 win over Squidroidia, Kohnhead took on another pot 1 side in Space who had underwhelmed although they had managed to get into the second stage. Space had lost to both Adab and Squidroidia being outscored 5-0 in the process and so we were heavy favorites in this one. The win ended up being by less of a margin than I would have liked however it did the job and kept the perfect tournament alive at 7-0-0 as the only team to be 7-0-0 thanks to a draw by Srednjaci in the final group stage match.

For this one we gave some rest to a few starters knowing that it mattered less but we were still trying to get the win and so that's why you saw Stratford and Smith up top with Henderson starting in place of Rallyton and Donaldson and Prius-Leonard in the back for Corton and Callie Porsha. Speaking of Callie Porsha as you all know Nicholas Radison was injured early in the tournament, he for the first time was a full participant in training a few days ago and is ready to at least come off the bench in our Round of 16 fixture and if we win could take back the starting role sometime in the future.

As for the game itself Space scored early with Saturnia finding the back of the net getting by Donaldson with relative ease in the 19th minute and the two sides would draw the rest of the first half and so Kohnhead entered the half trailing by a goal. Coming out of halftime we knew we needed a spark and that's why Darien Robin was brought on for Thomas Stratford who had picked up a bit of a calf injury. And he showed why we brought him on getting a goal thanks to a pass from Sophie Johnson and then assisting when John Smith scored the winner in the 79th minute to keep the streak of perfection alive. Just like that Kohnhead had won Group F with a 3-0-0 record to follow up their stage one performance where they went 4-0-0.

We have already matched our furthest IAC point as we made it all the way to the Round of 16 in our first IAC which was IAC X but now the question is with lots and lots of expectations following our stage 1 and 2 performance can we surpass it and potentially even contend for the title? Waiting in our way is Srednjaci the one team to beat us in stage 1 who sat at 6-0-0 just like us before a surprise draw with Sannyamathland kept them out of first on goal differential. Srednjaci should be quite a tough battle for us and while I think that we can win they will certainly be no pushover and could easily send us home earlier than we deserve.

Despite the fact that Kohnhead has been the best team in the IAC thus far Michael White's job is far from secure, rumors have it that if we lose to Srednjaci and go out in the Round of 16 that we will almost definitely be moving on from him. Even though he has guided us to success in the first two stages that will be meaningless if we go out this early and while he has done a great many things for the squad we certainly feel that we can improve. Michael White needs to prove to everyone that he can manage us past the Round of 16 and maybe even to the IAC finals if we want to see him for the next qualifying.

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:26 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

PLAY STUPID GAMES, WIN STUPID PRIZES

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, lads, this is exactly what I was talking about when I said before that winning the next game against Almuzahara. Only a win against Almuzahara would be an acceptable result because we all know that the second-placed teams in the groups always get the worse draw. I mean, then again, given Abanhfleft's rotten luck in football the past few years, I wouldn't be absolutely surprised if even if Abanhfleft won this group, we'd be drawn against some team like Omerica or Poafmersia or Squidroidia. Well, we lost, and we got an absolutely bad matchup out of it anyway.

Look guys, if you had told me after our second consecutive loss in this tournament against Trolleborg that we would be able to claw our way back from the brink and sneak into the playoffs then I would have laughed at you for being so foolish and naive. Well, guess who's laughing now! It's always easy to dismiss this team as being just a bunch of bottlers, especially given their recent results, but if we ignore the fact that these girls practically threw away their chance at an automatic place in the World Cup come the second half of the qualifiers, there's actually a semi-decent team in that bunch. All that team needs to do is to show up every bloody fucking time and not say that the job's done when we're just barely halfway through a qualification cycle! Christ above, sometimes it really is the bloody hope that kills you. The bastard hope that maybe this is the time that the team remains consistent across 18 games and not just 9.

Anyway, Abanhfleft were on the brink of bowing out of the competition just two games into the Independents Cup, but somehow they were able to claw it back to where we had perhaps a fighting chance of making something out of something that everyone else had already written off. The girls bounced back in spectacular fashion against the Republic of Indian States, and then they beat back a determined challenge from Juvencus to end the first stage with a 2-0-2 record, which put us in Pot 3 for the second and actually important group stage. We barely squeaked past the H Corporation and then got our revenge against Trolleborg, securing our passage into the next stage of the IAC. Now all that we needed to know was whether we would advance as group winners or runners-up. I think you can certainly tell which one of these I actually want, but I'm also sure you all know what we're going to end up with anyway, so let's just cut to the chase.

Almuzahara outplayed us, plain and simple. I can't even get mad. After somehow managing to bullshit our way into almost winning our group, someone had to come along and remind us all that we're all just a bunch of frauds who had no business winning groups when we were losing games left and right at the start of the IAC. And even if we had won the group, I wouldn't have felt that it was truly deserved. Almuzahara though, they were doing their absolute best this IAC. They were definitely more deserving group winners than we could ever hope to be. Well, I say that, but they got off to a rocky start to the IAC as well. The only difference being that Almuzahara started off with two draws while we started off with two losses. Still, draws are better than losses, which automatically means Almuzahara had a better start than Abanhfleft did, and that's as simple as it can get.

So who the fuck is next for Abanhfleft now that we're through to the next stage but as a second-best team? Why, none other than Poafmersia, of course. Just the freaking bloody two-time bastard winners of the IAC! As if things couldn't get any worse for this team. The whole purpose of wanting to win the group, even if we all felt that it may have been undeserved, was to get ourselves a slightly better draw in the knockout stage, But we lost to Almuzahara because they were better, and now our prize is a matchup against a two-time IAC champion. Oh, sometimes I wonder why I even bother supporting this team. I can't remember the last time that we played Poafmersia, but if this is my reaction to them then it can't have been a good time. Oh well. It's back to "hope for the best but prepare for the worst" mode for me! It's not the best way to live life, trust me, but at least it limits the amount of disappointment that I feel every time I see that our team has lost yet another match.

Anyway, that's all that there is for me now. If you've got comments or thoughts of your own about the game against Almuzahara or predictions for the game against Poafmersia then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I've been the Man from Markovsky, feeling like I'm about to be disappointed again by my country.

█████ABANHFLEFT 1 - 4 ALMUZAHARA
KELLERMAN (76')       BEN LABRAT (19', 58' pen)
                      FERNANDEZ (28', 41')

by **PotatoFarmers** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:57 am

Round of 16 Cutoff!

RP Prompt for the MD: Rivals
We are back to standard worldbuilding prompts. The title says it all - talk about you and your rivals in football. Or generally in many different areas. Your archrivals, sworn enemies, nations whom you never want to meet.

Omerica 2–2 Felinetopia (3–3 AET) (1–4 pen.)
@ Matty Horis Stadium, Dury

Poafmersia 2–2 Abanhfleft (3–2 AET)
(Scorinated by Bollonich)
@ Stadiun of Legends, Didari

Sannyamathland 0–0 Squidroidia (0–1 AET)
@ Theatre of Light, Kistina

Kencana 0–1 Indusse
@ Red Mudra Lane, Mudra

HUElavia 4–4 Drawkland (4–4 AET) (4–3 pen.)
@ Dreamers Park, Fiskadaha City

Kohnhead 1–0 Srednjaci
@ Naksa Stadium, Naksa (Trimidau Island)

Almuzahara 0–1 Squornshelan Remnant States
@ United Park, Mancodas

TJUN-ia 2–2 Quintessence of Dust (2–2 AET) (2–4 pen.)
@ Sporting Dalaris Stadium, City of Dalaris

August 7th: Quarterfinals
Q1: Felinetopia vs Poafmersia - Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris
Q2: Squidroidia vs Indusse - Camp of Power, City of Mancodas
Q3: HUElavia vs Kohnhead - Theatre of Light, Kistina
Q4: Squornshelan Remnant States vs Quintessence of Dust - Naksa Stadium, Naksa

August 9th: Semifinals
S1: Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 - Holtin Kash Stadium, Holhot
S2: Winner of Q3 vs Winner of Q4 - Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris

August 11th: Finals/3rd Place Playoffs
Finals - Libira National Stadium, Fiskadaha City
Bronze Medal Match - Mancodas Complex, Greater Mancodas

by **TJUN-ia** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:24 am

By Peter Davis

Final: TJUN-ia (6) 2-2 Quintessence of Dust (52) AET
(QoD Win 4-2 on Penalties)
Goals: TJU - Ulawaya 26', 48'; QOD - Thurstan 42', A. Chapman 78'
TJU Pens: Green (Y), Andrews (Y), Podolov (N), Johnson (N)
QOD Pens: A. Chapman (Y),Chi (Y), Huang (Y), Okumura (Y)

Pain.

PAIN!

Even when we thought we have suffered enough already, Margaret always gives us a new low.

No one likes to lose on penalties. It is one of the most painful ways to go out in any context of the sport.

But for TJUN-ia, a nation that won their only shootout prior to tonight, it certainly felt like a knife through the heart.

QoD, specifically GK Oddmar Snævarsson, played out of their minds tonight and one of the old boys of this universe surely deserved to go through.

Vladimir Podolov and David Johnson missed their pens, but we cannot blame them for this defeat. Nor can we blame the managers either.

The only thing we can blame for this loss is time, turning our players to dust by the year as the natural cycle does its duty.

The players know this as well and, in an announcement the size of an earthquake, captain Jeff Donaldson announced that World Cup 89 would be his last, no matter how far the Jags went in this important tournament for us all.

The only captain we have ever known will be with us for the FA-TJUN-ia's deadline WC, but he won't for IAC14.

He's certainly done a lot for TJUN-ian football and certainly will be missed when his time does come, but he may not be the only one.

Football is tiring and when 10 of your starting 11 will be 30 or over by WC89, whispers of retirement begin to circle around us all.

The FA-TJUN-ia set a deadline long ago to reach the WC Finals by its 90th edition. No matter if we do make it or not, WC89 may be the end of TJUN-ia's first footballing era - the era of the OG XI.

So, for them, we must push them towards glory because if anyone deserves to play in a World Cup Group Stage before they retire, it is most definitely the Jaguars of TJUN-ia.

Stage 2
MD1: vs Dari Sultanate (UR/27th) - Rukiya Sports Stadium, Trimidau Island W 4-3 (T-1st)
MD2: vs New Lusitania and the Algarves (4/5th) - Rukiya Sports Stadium, Trimidau Island W 3-2 (T-1st)
MD3: vs Felinetopia (UR/12th) - Rukiya Sports Stadium, Trimidau Island W 1-0 (1st/9pts/+3GD)
---------------------------------------------------------
Ro16: vs Quintessence of Dust (52/25th/2nd in Group A) - Sporting Dalaris Stadium, City of Dalaris L 2-2 (2-4p)

by **HUElavia** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:28 am

Agonizing Glory!

HUElavia survives and advances past Drawkland in Penalty Kick after a spectacular 8-goal thriller!

HUElavia 4–4 Drawkland
(4–4 AET)
(4–3 pen.)
(Navarro 7', Hamada-Navarro 38', Torrisi 79', Resendes 90+3'| Apolio 16', Rodney 45', Southers 72', Bakker 90')
(Dreamers Park, Fiskadaha City, Poafmersia)

Entering the Round-of-16, HUElavia was meeting Drawkland, the two teams with the most IAC Finals appearances at four each (but Drawkland had one title to HUElavia's 0). The match was hyped as the best match of the round, pinning two rivals against each other. The Home Uniforms were worn with the A-Team playing for both teams (Resendes and Yamane starting over Wentz and Savedra) at a sold-out Dreamers Park (60,000), in Fiskadaha City. The teams came out to a great roar of the crowd, the anthems were sung with passion, the coin toss was done and the ball was kicked off for the most exciting match of the round.

The opening goal came in the 7th minute, when Fonseca-Mantovani gave a low pass to a wide open Navarro, who took a curving shot past the reach of Xander into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-0. The HUElavian crowd erupted, dancing and chanting to the tune of the goal song, while Navarro hugged and kissed Hamada-Navarro, and gave hugs and high-fives to his teammates for the goal. Drawkland responded in the 16th minute when Apolio was on the ball and took a long distance shot past the reach of Vannier into the top corner of the goal, making it 1-1. The Drawkians celebrated with joy at their end, while Apolio did a dance with his teammates. In the 38th minute, Guilbert won the ball from Bakker and gave a pass to Hamada-Navarro, who gave a low shot past the fingertips of Xander, which rolled into the goal to make it 2-1. The crowd erupted once more, Hamada-Navarro hugged and kissed Navarro, and they celebrated with their teammates in joy with a dance. In the 45th minute, an error by Mendieta trying to clear the ball allowed Rodney to get the ball and blast it past Vannier at point-blank range into the goal to make it 2-2, with the Drawkians celebrating with passion and joy. The half ended with anxieties and excitement running throughout the crowd.

The second half saw the next goal come at the 72nd minute, when a free kick taken by Southers went over the wall and past the fingertips of Vannier into the goal, making it 2-3, with the Drawkians celebrating with passion to make the stadium rumble themselves. HUElavia responded in the 79th minute when Torrisi (in for Guilbert) got a header back from Yamane, and took a blistering shot blasting past the reach of Xander into the goal to make it 3-3. Torrisi was mobbed by his teammates while the crowd erupted once more in joy and celebration. In the 90th minute, a corner taken by Southers went into the box and Bakker rose up to head the ball past Vannier into the goal to make it 3-4. Bakker was mobbed and the Drawkians celebrated once more. But in the 90+3rd minute, a corner taken by Conti-Esposito went into the box and Resendes jumped up to head the ball past Xander into the goal to make it 4-4, with the HUElavians erupting in joy and celebration. Resendes was mobbed and the match was headed into Extra Time.

Extra Time came and went, with both teams looking exhausted from the 90 minutes, and they had to agonize the Penalty Shootout. Drawkland took the shots first, with Apolio, Madison, and Southers scoring their goals. Nascimento, Yamane, and Torrisi took their shots and scored. Saves were made by Conti-Esposito's and Garnet's shots, but Kingston was saved, leaving Navarro to take the last kick. Navarro stepped up, and sent Xander the wrong way, as Navarro scored, sending HUElavia into the Quarter-Finals for the 6th consecutive time. Once again, Navarro sent Drawkland home through a penalty kick, with the HUElavians erupting in celebration, while Navarro was mobbed by his teammates and his wife, Hamada-Navarro.

Once again, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos will be participating in the Quarter-Finals of the IAC, where HUElavia will play against Kohnhead at Theatre of Light (59,000), Kistina. Both teams will wear their respective Home Uniform. Resendes will continue to start, and Yamane as well. The team is training hard and studying film looking to give it their all against Kohnhead. The fans are planning to come in droves for the match, taking up an endzone once again. Up to now, the experience in Poafmersia has been enjoyable and the fans have loved their stay in the country. Kistina is the site of this rendezvous, one with a lot to play for. Both of these teams will be fighting for a chance to make it in the Final Four of the IAC, and one can only hope this will be an exciting match to remember. Here's to the possibility of returning to the Semi-Finals.

FORÇA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Indusse** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 11:05 pm

Marching Forward!

Indussean National Team is on their all time best performance in the Independent Association Championship History. They've qualified for the Quarterfinals after the victory against Kencana.

“This is indeed a time to rejoice, a life long happiness has been produced now. We are all thankful to Coach Newman and Ex-manager Moteudi who would be the most happiest men this day!” says Baskar Kumar who's the captain of the national team after the victory against Kencana. “I am really proud that I was once the coach of this time, hats off to my successor and his team!” tweeted Joseph Moteudi who was the former coach of Indussean National Team. He was sacked by the association when the Cup of Harmony ended due to constant winless streaks. The Team is at their all time best performance after winning against Kencana for a score of 1-0 in the Round of Sixteen. The Team was scared when they had to face Kencana at their current form, Kencana which was technically a Giant Killer who had crushed Drawkland in the group stage gave Indusse a tough fight towards victory.

The Victory Goal was scored at the sixty seventh minute of the game, by Goblin Grundjee who was back from the RTC Under Fourteen World Cup Tour in Xanneria-Starcom. Many of you would think why's Grundjee still playing for the Under Fourteen team, the answer is simple because Grundjee isn't a human. Grundjee is a goblin which was created five years ago with a twenty year old maturity. So, technically Goblin Grundjee can play for the Under Fourteen Team for aleast eleven more years. Grundjee was known as a game changer for both the under fourteen as well as the national team, he's also the first non human to be part of a sporting entity.

With the victory against Kencana, Indusse has advanced to play a quarterfinals against Squidroidia. Millions of Indussean Fans have congratulated the team and has been tweeting the Hashtags "#Victorynonebeyond" , "#ForcaIndusse" , "#KENINS" with various posts which includes creative artworks, proses and many more.
Let's take a look at one of the most trending tweets ever.

Gulshan Martazha
Civil Aviation Officer, Air Avio

Heartful Congratulations to my fellow brethren playing for the national soccer team. There's a lot left, keep hope in yourself and make us proud and this is for you.

Victory isn't Far Behind
March forward, army of men
trying to get the cup to home.
The Pride of India lies within you
which shouldn't be let down until each one dies.

March forward, army of men
you're the hope of millions of brethren.
We believe in you for a better life forward
proudly powered for a glorious day.

March forward, army of men
The one's who can change the world.
The Giants would be awake to let you down
but don't fail yourself among others.

#ForcaIndusse

by **Felinetopia** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:09 pm

Cat Sports

Anchor: And now for the main topic of tonight's broadcast, the Independent Associations Cup in Poafmersia. The Unified Feline Pawball Team has turned heads all over the multiverse with the team's performance in this cup. After all, who expected the Felines to reach the quarterfinals of the cup as they defeated high-ranked teams such as New Lusitania and Omerica and drawing against other solid sides such as Eshialand. Some say that it was luck that carried the team so far but joining with us today is Emer Clery, the captain of the Unified Feline Pawball Team. Welcome to the show, Emer.

Clery: Thank you for having me on.

A: As you know, until recently the feline world has been disengaged in multiversal sports. How are you and your team handling playing against humans?

C: It has been a challenging transition as barely any felines have played against humans prior to entering the Jenna Raven Cup and we struggled during that tournament because of the size difference between us and humans. Also, don't forget that there are more than just humans that exists as sapient beings that we could play against such as magical ponies, elves, and sentient toilets.

A: That is true as PC Furbanks does have Toilet, the former Sylestone National Team Manager. Speaking of Toilets, how have you flushed your opponents during the Cup.

C: Well, the ascension of the Leopard's Dominion really helped our team size up to our competitors. That has really helped contest balls and defend corners. Though I don't want to dismiss the experience us Mollies gained during the Jenna Raven Cup. That has helped us firgure out how to play against these humans.

A: Some say that your team has gotten to the quarterfinals by luck. Do you think that's the case?

C: I can see why as we played against two unranked teams in the first stage as well as one in our group. But we didn't squander our opportunities and played big against our tougher opponent.

A: Now, you are facing the hosts and 2-time champion Poafmersia. How are you guys going to prepare?

C: Well, we are training hard and learning the strengths and weaknesses of Poafmersia. And once we're out there, anything can happen and we'll make sure that the odds are in our favor.

A: Well, thank you and good luck out there.

C: Thank you for having me on.

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:25 pm

A History of SRS Knockout Matches under Anne-Sophie Groothuis

In commemoration of the Black-and-Reds' first knockout victory since IAC10, and first not requiring extra time since CoH75, we'll take a look back at the four previous knockout matches under the team's current manager before getting to the most recent one.

Squornshelan Remnant States 2-2 Reçueçn (4-2 pk) - IAC10 Round of 16, Azure Stadium, Nassau, OME
Groothuis's first and, prior to the latest result, only advancement in a knockout round with the Confederacy. The match was opened by an early goal from Jzeovak Vladcik, with an excellent assist from then-team captain Jirar Lomidan. Reçueçn answered though, with Maynard Hebron pulling them even on a quick counter, and Per Tegeler giving them the lead just before the half. Iuri Takala had the tying goal on a layoff from Zoban Ajao, and neither team was able to find the net during extra time, despite a flurry of substitutions. In the shootout, Reçueçian striker Frank "Franky" Adams missed the opener for and Stovar Krieven made a save against Maynard Hebron. Meanwhile, Petrov, Takala, Vladcik and Starosta all scored for the Black-and-Reds. For the Confederacy, it was an important victory following a serious rough patch. Bethany Donnell had been sacked as manager a cycle and a half earlier, and Heldir Zaman followed her out the door after a poor showing at Cup of Harmony 76. More mediocrity had followed through IAC9, World Cup 85 qualifying, and Cup of Harmony 77 under Kornelie Tamela, and IAC10 was the first tournament under Groothuis's leadership. Making, and winning a knockout match was a vitally important step starting this team back on the path to relevance, and the memory of IAC10 likely helped Groothuis keep her job through some of the lean years to follow.

Squornshelan Remnant States 2-3 Poafmersia - IAC10 Quarterfinal, Londonderry Court, Londonderry, OME
Given the profound stretch of mediocrity and futility that preceded her tenure, even this result was viewed as a success, albeit one to be built on, rather than satisfied with. Shakira Handis, Pete Carisa, and Hansel Tang scored for the Red Panjias, At the other end, the Black-and-Reds were limited to a mere 4 shots on target, with Ajao and Vladcik converting two of those, but the team ultimately unable to find an equalizer. Poafmersia went on to win their first international trophy, and so there was little shame in losing this match, especially in such a close fashion.

Squornshelan Remnant States 1-2 Blouman Empire - CoH79 Round of 32, Ballina Stadium, Ballina, NWK
After declining to attend Cup of Harmony 78, and failing to advance from the group stage of IAC11 after an upset loss to TJUN-ia, the Black-and-Reds returned to knockout stages, however briefly, in the following cycle's Cup of Harmony. Here while the matchup was quite even on paper, there was definite optimism in the Confederacy, as the Black-and-Reds had won all three of their group stage matches, and were on a five-match win streak overall. Early slip ups doomed the team, however, as Luke Cousins and Ryan Hunter both scored in the first half to give the Empire the lead, and grade-A chances for Petrov and Lomidan were wasted. Lyz would pull one goal back in the second half, where the Black-and-Reds had the better of play. It turned out too little too late though, and

Squornshelan Remnant States 1-2 Silver Beach - IAC12 Round of 16, Binsakula Workers' Stadium, Binsakula, AMH
Of the three knockout losses under Groothuis, this one was likely the biggest disappointment. The Black-and-Reds were favorites in the match, and a favorable draw gave them a very realistic shot at making their second IAC semifinal, had they advanced. They had stormed through the group stage undefeated with a draw against Britland Isles the only blemish on their record. Of their four group stage victories, one was a hugely impressive 3-1 result over a Poafmersia team that had won two straight IACs and looked totally unstoppable. Like in the still recent defeat to the Blouman Empire though, early miscues put the team in a hole they ultimately could not climb out of. They went down 2-0 after just 12 minutes had elapsed on goals from Benjamin Robero and Miri Herzl. Like before, the Black-and-Reds clawed a goal back in the second half, this time from Takala. Like before, it was not enough, and their tournament ended early.

Squornshelan Remnant States 1-0 Almuzahara - IAC13 Round of 16, United Park, Manocdas, PFA
It appeared briefly that the Black-and-Reds had an opportunity to make a surprise appearance in the second round at World Cup 88, but results on the final day of the group stage aligned to send them home with a very respectable 1-1-1 record. That brings us up to the present day here at the IAC in Poafmersia, with Groothuis's side prevailing in a tightly contested match against last edition's cohosts. After preliminary and group stages littered with draws that, frankly, should not have happened, the team backed its way into the knockouts, second place in the group after being a pot 4 team for the second stage draw. Expectation, which had been surging entering the tournament, was tempered quite a bit by the time the Black-and-Reds took the field against Almuzahara. The action on the field was not particularly encouraging during the first half. While the Black-and-Reds had improved on their defensive and possession play, the attack that had put up 15 goals over the past five matches was nowhere to be seen. The Panthers, fortunately, were generating very little in the way of offense as well, and each side finished with just two shots on target through 45 minutes, all four easily handled by Bekkaye and Shimski. Yonte finally broke the deadlock deep into the second half, with less than twenty minutes to play. The Black-and-Reds, to their credit, did not immediately shift to bus-parking tactics, but continued to press and attempt to control possession, something which likely went a long way toward delaying the all out attack from the Panthers, desperate for an equalizer. In the end, the quality of chances simply wasn't there, and Paiva Shimski, target of considerable criticism earlier in the tournament, chalked up her third clean sheet of this IAC.

To follow, the team from Quintessence of Dust. The Black-and-Reds met, and defeated the Quodites a cycle ago in the group stage at IAC12. While they will certainly hope to replicate that result, it's always harder to get it done in the knockouts, as the above record will surely make clear.

Matchday Schedule and Results:

MD1: SRS 0-0 FEL @ Bikarish Stadium (cap. 48,000), Bikarish
MD2: SRS 1-0 SAJ @ Rukiya Sports Stadium (cap. 37,000), Rukiya
MD3: MAL 4-4 SRS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000), Mudra
MD4: SRS 2-3 TRL @ Libira National Stadium (cap. 68,000), Fiskadaha City
GS1: SRS 4-4 VOL @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000), Kistina
GS2: PFA 2-3 SRS @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000), Kistina
GS3: SRS 2-2 KGS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000), Mudra
R16: AMH 0-1 SRS @ United Park (cap. 61,000), Mancodas
QF:  SRS  v  QOD @ Naksa Stadium (cap. 41,000), Naksa

by **PotatoFarmers** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:36 am

Poafmersia 3-2 Abanhfleft
@ Stadium of Legends, Didari
Poafmersia Scorers: Makana Tuft 28' (assisted by Iulianus Innocenti); Dargis Walshor 60' (assisted by Innocenti); Joel Haodao 118' (assisted by Makana Tuft)

Poafmersia Lineup (4-4-2): Sandi Jaliaha; Mitchel Rosales, Hollis Stephenson, Alex Hoboson, Natalia Abbott; Dargis Walshor, Nero Wood, Arnold Shwentin, Whitney Rios; Makana Tuft (c), Iulianus Innocenti
Substitutes: Gisiik Moonar (Shwentin 75'); Simone Gori (Hoboson 88'); Joel Haodao (Abbott 100')

Yakrian Music Studio announces audition for first ever P-Pop music show in Poafmersia
Reported by Poafmer Times
Fiskadaha City - Poafmersia welcomes a new era in P-Pop history as Yakrian Music Studio, in collaboration with Poafmersia Broadcasting Corporation (PFBC), announces audition for a brand new girl idol group, which will be followed with a year long audition program in the longest reality show in Poafmersia's history.

The show, entitled "Kawisa Rydan" (Pomish, roughly means Idol Trainee), will comprise of a record 26 episodes, which gives the 142 selected participants 6 peformances. The general population, also known as "Idol Supporters", will vote for their favourite trainee based on their performances. This is the very first idol performance show on Poafmersia history, and will likely be the biggest idol group ever created in Poafmersia.

An official press release confirms that all 142 members selected to the broadcasted show will be eventually part of the bigger group. The group, collectively known as "Girls36", will feature a series of subunits. These subunits will be the main basis of group performances in the group. The first bakdraru, or Pomish for elections, will be held as part of the show, and the top 36 members will be given various additional support and resources, so Idol Supporters are encouraged to cast their vote to support the most deserving group members.

Auditions will begin for participation in the competition. Young Poafmersian girls, as well as interested ladies aged 16 to 24, from all around the multiverse, are welcome to paticipate in the auditions for the show.

by **PotatoFarmers** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 8:10 am

Quarterfinals Cutoff!

RP Prompt for the MD: Upsets
Talk about the biggest upset your team ever produced. Or the biggest upset that your team met. What was the feeling of that result? How did it come about? The reactions of your players, and the reaction of the people in your country?

Felinetopia 1–1 Poafmersia (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)
(Scorinated by Bollonich)
@ Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris

Squidroidia 4–5 Indusse
@ Camp of Power, City of Mancodas

HUElavia 5–5 Kohnhead (5–5 AET) (3–2 pen.)
@ Theatre of Light, Kistina

Squornshelan Remnant States 0–2 Quintessence of Dust
@ Naksa Stadium, Naksa

August 9th: Semifinals
S1: Felinetopia vs Indusse - Holtin Kash Stadium, Holhot
S2: HUElavia vs Quintessence of Dust - Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris

August 11th: Finals/3rd Place Playoffs
Finals - Libira National Stadium, Fiskadaha City
Bronze Medal Match - Mancodas Complex, Greater Mancodas

by **HUElavia** » Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:48 am

Valiant Vannier!

Vannier's saves in the Penalty Shootout sends HUElavia past Kohnhead into the Semi-Finals!

HUElavia 5-5 Kohnhead
(5-5 AET)
(3-2 PSO)
(Navarro 17', 58', Guilbert 28'', Resendes 85', Yamane 90+4'| Korkson 10', 64', Laker 23', Maltos 41', Stratford 89')
(Theatre of Light, Kistina, Poafmersia)

For the 6th consecutive time in their history, the HUElavian National Football Team was playing in the Quarter-Finals of the Independent Associations Championship. This is the most consistent appearance by a HUElavian team in any sport in any competition. The team was coming in after a dramatic and agonizing victory against Drawkland, winning via penalty shootout 3-2, after a 4-4 draw. Kohnhead was coming off a 1-0 victory over Srednjaci in the Round-of-16, thus having more rest than HUElavia for this match. This match was a rematch of the Round-of-32 match in the Cup of Harmony, where HUElavia won in a penalty shootout. The match was set to be played at Theatre of Light (59,000), in Kistina, where HUElavia played in the Qualifying Round, and the stadium was sold out with HUElavians taking up an entire endzone, draping the stands with their flags and banners of support. The A-Teams were playing for both teams, but Resendes and Yamane were starting over Wentz and Savedra respectively, and Vannier started in Goal with Navarro as the Captain. The teams came out to a grand cheer of the crowd, the anthems were played and sung with passion, the coin toss was done and the ball rolled to start the final match of the Quarter-Finals.

The opening goal came in the 10th minute, when Kohnhead won a free kick, where Rallyton sent the ball into the box, where Korkson rose over Ji to head the ball past a falling Vannier into the goal to make it 0-1, with Korkson doing a Shhhh celebration while the Kohnheadians celebrated with joy. HUElavia responded in the 17th minute, when they had a free kick, where Navarro took the kick and curved it over the wall and past the reach of Sanders into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-1. Navarro shared a hug and kiss with Hamada-Navarro, while hi-fiving his teammates, while the fans jumped with passion and joy, chanting and clapping to the goal song. In the 23rd minute, Laker was on the ball in front of Lieberman, where he took a curving shot outside of the box to hit the post and ricochet into the goal to make it 1-2, with Laker celebrating with a dance at the corner flag with his teammates. Once more, HUElavia responded in the 28th minute, when a counter-attack was in progress, which Fonseca-Mantovani had the ball and gave a long pass to a sprinting Guilbert, who got past Atkinson to slide the ball in between the legs of Sanders into the goal, making it 2-2. Guilbert celebrated with a dance of his own with his teammates and the bench, while the HUElavians jumped and cheered once more, applauding the great play and goal. Kohnhead would get one last chance in the half in the 41st minute, when Korkson was being covered by Mendieta, where he passed to Maltos, who gave a low, curving shot past the fingertips of Vannier into the goal, making it 2-3, with Maltos doing a jig for his celebrations. At the half, Kohnhead had the advantage.

The second half opened up with a goal in the 58th minute, when Hamada-Navarro was going one-on-one with Corton, taking a shot that hit the post, but deflected back in front of Navarro, who took a shot and it hit the post before ricocheting into the goal to make it 3-3. The HUElavian crowd jumped up once more in celebration and joy, while Navarro kissed and hugged Hamada-Navarro for the play, while hugging his teammates. In the 64th minute, Kohnhead responded when Henderson (in for Barter) sent a cross in, which Korkson won the ball from Resendes and blasted the ball past a sprawling Vannier into the goal to make it 3-4, with Korkson celebrating with his teammates in front of the reaching Kohnheadian supporters. In the 85th minute, a corner was won and Alvarado (in for Conti-Esposito) took a corner kick, where Resendes towered over Rallyton and headed the ball past a diving Sanders into the goal to make it 4-4. The HUElavian crowd erupted for the late goal, jumping and cheering to make the stadium rumble while Resendes was mobbed by her teammates for the goal. Kohnhead once again got another shot in when in the 89th minute, an error from Ji allowed Stratford (in for Maltos) to get the ball and give a shot at point blank to blast past Vannier into the goal to make it 4-5, with Stratford being mobbed by his teammates and the bench for what looked like an upset victory. Additional time came and HUElavia pushed and pushed, which paid off, as in the 90+4th minute, a counter-attack was done from Vannier moving up, and Nascimento (in for Hamada-Navarro) was on the ball, sending a pass to his right, where Yamane got the ball, was covered by Radison, before taking a low shot that rolled past Sanders into the corner of the goal to make it 5-5. Yamane was mobbed by her teammates and the bench, as the HUElavian crowd erupted and jumped with a roaring cheer and passion, making the stadium rumble from their celebrations. The match ended shortly after, and extra time was once again in play.

HUElavia and Kohnhead were exhausted from the 90 minutes and it seemed both teams were just wasting the 30 minutes of extra time to keep their composure. Both teams took their shots, but nothing much out of it came out of their attacks. The extra time ended without changes, and once again HUElavia was playing a Penalty Shootout. Nascimento and Fonseca-Mantovani took their shots and scored, while Laker and Stratford took theirs. Alvadrado skied the ball and Yamane had her shot saved by Sanders. Vannier came up clutch deflecting out Henderson and saving Radison. Navarro came up and gave a panenka kick past Sanders to make it 3-2 at that moment. Korkson came up to take his shot, and Vannier dived to send the shot out, ending the match there. Vannier kneeled down and screamed while his teammates and the bench came to mob him in celebration, while the HUElavian crowd celebrated with joy and passion, making the stadium rumble once more. 8 Years later, HUElavia was back in the Semi-Finals of the IAC.

The Quarter-Finals was filled with plenty of drama and surprises. Indusse outlasted Squidroidia 5-4, Felinetopia upset hosts and tournament favorites Poafmersia in a 5-4 Penalty Shootout victory, and Quintessence of Dust upset SRS 2-0. Thus, each of the teams remaining are the last team of each pot. HUElavia will now play against Quintessence of Dust at Dalaris State Stadium (46,500), in the City of Dalaris. The team had some rest but shortly after began to train diligently and study film, preparing to take on one of the three revelations of the tournament. Coach Conavacio continues to give orders and direct his players on what needs to be improved heading into the game. HUElavian supporters are flocking to the City of Dalaris, booking train tickets and hotels for their stay for the next few days. Fans will flock once more to make the stadium become draped in Yellow, Blue, and Green, with banners and flags all around to cheer on Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos. Now, all four teams are guaranteed to play 11 games total, 7 in the Final Tournament. For the winners, a place in the Final awaits them. The losers, they will have to settle for a bronze medal. It's the final stretch of this entertaining tournament, and here's to hoping that this semi-final can be an fun and entertaining one.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Felinetopia** » Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:47 pm

Cat Sports

Biggest Upsets in Felinetopian Pawball History: Multiversal edition

With the victory against Poafmersia, many have claimed that this has been the greatest upset that the Felines has ever pulled off. However, this is not the only monumental upsets that Felines have pulled off in multiversal pawball competition. Pre-union teams have competed in multiversal pawball competitions in the past and succeeded early on. However, will the upsets in the past hold up to the upsets of the present?

Tuori 0-1 Felinetopia, World Cup 75 Qualifying
This was the first major upset that any Feline pulled in multiversal pawball. Despite participating in a couple of previous World Cup qualifiers, no big upset occured despite the excellent performance that the cats played during qualifying. Instead, the first upset came during Felinetopia's brief return to the multiversal pawball scene. A fully united Feline team went to Kionao, Tuori to kick off their campaign. The team was expecting defeat as Tuori was ranked 16th in the KPB at the time and an away fixture is always intimidating. However, the team was to score in the 68th minute and was able to hold off the offense of Tuori to escape with a 1-0 victory. Unfortunately, the records are lost about the World Cup 75 qualifying team thus we will never know who scored the only goal for their first upset in Felinetopia history. However, that win was the only win that Felinetopia would experience during qualifying as they only manage to find 4 more points and ended last in their qualifying group.

Velocity (FET) 4-3 RGS Athletic (EFL) 3-1 1-2, 7th IFCF Challengers Cup Third Preliminary Round
While the national teams and unified feline teams get all the glory, the club teams also deserve recognition for their feats as well. The clubs in pre-union Felinetopia weren't able to produce any major upsets in the top 2 multiversal club competitions although these clubs have had good runs in the preliminary rounds. Velocity is no different as they made it to the the playoff round of the Challenger Cup. However, the tie that got them there was a tough one for the Cheetah club as RGS Athletic was ranked 38th at the time and was coming off a 4th place finish in the ICEL Premier League in Eastfield Lodge. In the first match in Kampawla, Velocity managed to get a 3-1 victory as they were able to outrun RGS Athletic on the pitch and were able to place 3 in the net while only conceding 1. In the return match in Eastfield Lodge, they ended up losing the match but kept the match close enough to win the tie. Although the won the tie, they would be eliminated in the next round to Aries Chariots of Nephara. This victory helped raise the club's profile in the Feline Super League and is an expected title contender for the upcoming season.

Felinetopia 1-1 Poafmersia (1-1 AET) (5-4 pen.), Independent Associations Championship 13 Quarterfinal
Honestly, there are several matches in the Independent Associations Championship 13 that could qualify on this list. However, the win against Poafmersia is quite different and more significant than the wins against New Lusitania or Omerica. Firstly, Poafmersia was coming into the tournament as the 2nd ranked team in the tournament according to the IAC rankings. Not only that but they are also ranked 15th in the KPB rankings, higher than the ranking Tuori had at the time of upset. Secondly, Felinetopia was also playing the hosts of the tournament which didn't help their cause as the Poafmersian fans are known to be crazy about pawball or according to them, football. The Felines didn't start off well as Daas Taisg managed to find Joel Haodao in the 41st minute for the first and only score in the match prior to penalties for Poafmersia. However, Loki Iverson found Saga Chaput in the purrfect spot in the penalty box and she slots it in for Felinetopia in the 72nd minute. The game was tied at the end of regulations and after a back and forth game in extra time, it went to penalties. It was a tense penalty shootout as each team exchanged successful penalties and was 4-4 after 5 kicks. For the 6th kick, Thandi Ayodele was up. Despite being a defender, Ayodele was able to put it past the goalkeeper to put Felinetopia up in penalties. It was up Natalia Abbot to keep the tournament alive for Poafmersia. Unlucky for her as her shot goes off both posts and out to end Poafmersia's run. While the final result of the IAC is unknown for the team but their run will undoubtedly be remembered by pawball fans all over the Feline World for years to come.

Honorable mentions
Felinetopia 2-1 New Lusitania, Independent Associations Championship 13 Stage 2 Group Stage
Omerica 2–2 Felinetopia (3–3 AET) (1–4 pen.), Independent Associations Championship 13 Round of 16

by **Indusse** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:24 am

Puranik: Past Unrecognised

Two days ago, Indusse found an ancient wonder in their lands. No one knew about it they say, just around the myths of the Kala Bhairaava Temple it led underground without anyone disturbing it's peace. The Kala Bhairaava Temple is a famous religious as well as tourist destination in Indusse. Surrounded by Lakes, Mountains and Forests the temple and it's compound gives out vibes of eternal peace. The Indussean Government had introduced a mission called "Puranik" which conducts historical reasearch under the Archeological Department of Indusse. The Puranik Team camped at the Kala Bhairaava Complex for two months learned it's history and myths and tried to find the solutions for them. They had failed their mission and had to leave the place without any gains. About a week ago, the Region in which the complex is situated got affected by a strong Earthquake. There wasn't any issues with the temple structure but a few tiles and rods fell apart. The Temple Head Priest or Tantrik found that the tiles which fell apart where at a single portion and the surface below was like it was filled recently. The Tantrik contacted the Puranik Team so that they can investigate on this issue.

PŪRĀणिK

^Puranik Mission Logo

The Puranik Team with its able archeologists took out the floor tiles and researched on the surface and the soil. It was found that it has a wooden trapdoor below the soiled surface and the team removed the soil for further investigation. Beneath the Soil, they saw a wooden trapdoor with bronze cladded Swastika's and Phallus Images. (Please Note: In Hinduism which is followed by a major population in Indusse, The Phallus also known as Linga is the form of Lord Shiva found in the Earth)
The Trap Door was pushed open and a stone stairs were found there. The stairs were closed at the sides were it was written "ॐ" and various other mantras. The Steps which were counted as "22" led to a big space which was more like a underworld full of cavitated trees and wooden pillars. There was a small pathway between those pillars and the team moved forward through the route. All the Pillars were of the same size that is of 22 metres.

They found various idols of gods in the side which were counted as 11 on the left and 11 on the right. The Idols totally counted upto a number of 22. The Passage led to a open space where there was no cavitated trees or structures. There just stood a ancient pole which had scribbles on it which read as "ॐ" and the Gayatri Mantra. There was another passage forward and it let to a dome with a beautiful entrance with images of Lord Shiva. They also found that there was just 22 "ॐ" symbols in the Pole. The Team entered the dome and saw that the walls had various murals which depicted different mythical events in the religion. There was a Hole at the center canopy which was more like an Inlet. The hole had a stone pipe running down and the pipe opened at a Linga which was located at the Center of the Dome. The Central Linga had a circular ring with a silver wheel as its base. The silver still had no signs of corrosion. They also found that behind the dome there was a stair which led to a surface above the Inlet. The surface was made in a way that a Tank could be brought up. The Stairs there also counted twenty two. The Ring of the Central Linga had an inscription which read as "Hail the creator,preserver and the destroyer of the whole world. May thou grace and blessing flow through the inlet from a box on the surface which had a base which was half of the height from the Linga to the Inlet. Let that box have a altitude which was equal to the length from the inlet to the head of the altitude. That length should be half of the altitude from the base to the inlet in the dome". The Archeologists were surprised they couldn't solve the problem here, they used a lot of technological methods but they couldn't emerge victorious. They later contacted a known mathematician who was in the Archeological Numismatic Department. He arrived at the location and started to learn the problem through Mathematical Modelling."

To be continued ...

by **Quintessence of Dust** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:25 am

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer
what

The Quodite national football team has, more or less accidentally, managed to achieve its joint best result ever by qualifying for the semifinals of the IAC 13. In its heyday a century ago the team never got this far in any regional competition (chiefly because such regional competitions didn’t exist then but given the high standards the team set for themselves that’s a marginal technicality); its best results were semifinal places (and subsequent 4th placed finishes) in the Baptism of Fire prior to World Cup 33 and the Cup of Harmony following World Cup 47, meaning that even if the team loses out to HUElavia and the subsequent third placed match, they will have achieved lofty heights that a century or more of footballing futility has failed to manage.

It is an odd time for such success, coming as Quintessence of Dust begins one of its familiar slides away from international competition: with domestic football largely continued, and even a loss of appetite for the World Baseball Classic, the only international competition the country has participated in with any regularity since ending its self-imposed century-long isolation. The Olympics, World Cup, World Cup of Hockey, and many other tournaments will pass the Quodites by untouched. Only the IAC remains, and even there, the future of Quodite participation remains uncertain. Many in the Democratic States were unaware the country had actually bid to host this tournament, rights to which were eventually awarded to Poafmersia, with voters possibly judging the demanding travel schedule of the Quodite co-bid with Trolleborg, which involved regular lunar shuttle trips, to be overly taxing for a mid-cycle regional.

Reçueçn snatched a late win through a “super sub” goal with this powerful strike

The Quodite journey to the semifinals began in a somewhat uninspiring group stage, featuring draws with Almuzahara and Minardinia, followed by a gutting 0 – 1 defeat to Reçueçn. 30th of the 32 teams that would advance, they needed a big result against the unheralded, if not downright anonymous, Roless (and might have been a little snarkier about such had past Quodite teams not signed up with a similar lack of commitment to basic roster details). Fortunately, J. J. Rousseau had eaten his reconstituted cereal biscuit wafers, and led the team with a superb performance, while Charly Renard inspired memories of her (great+?) grandfather Frederic with a long range strike to ensure victory. 25th seeding was nothing to complain about, sandwiched between Indie greats Omerica and Squornshelan Remnant States following a turbulent early group stage.

J. J. Rousseau scored a marvellous solo goal, dribbling past almost the entire Roless team; Charly Renard’s screamer from the edge of the box put the seal on the win

Up first were said Omericans, a taxing proposition for a Quodite side who had barely limped out of the group stage, but the game at Stadia Cochin was a spirited affair and the Quodites held the Incorrigibles scoreless through the hour mark until substitute Arielle Poirier arrived to spell doom (it’s spelled d-o-o-m) with a well placed goal curled high past Oddmar Snævarsson’s despairing dive. Lacking much in the way of attacking inventiveness, the Quodites could not muster up a response, and began the second group stage as they had the first, on the back foot. And they would continue the second group stage as they had first – with a match against Reçueçn.

Despite some desperate defending, Omerica’s quality was too much and eventually told in a fine goal for Arielle Poirier

The game proved something of a turnaround: rather than a scoreless drudge broken by a late winner, this was an enthralling, end-to-end battle – broken by a late winner. And crucially, this time it came for Quintessence of Dust. Kaycee Thurstan had given them an early lead but Reçueçn clawed their way back to lead 2 – 1 at half-time. Quintessence of Dust registered 17 shots on goal as they fought, knowing a defeat spelled elimination, and were eventually rewarded in slightly unfortunate circumstances when substitute Žan Luka Krajnik headed in a rebound from a fine save. It left everything to play for with 10 minutes on the clock, and captain Juurou Okumura stepped up, heading in a Chi Hương Huỳnh corner deep in added time.

Reçueçn hurry to take the restart deep in the 5th minute of injury time but the whistle soon blows as Quodite players celebrate Okumura’s late winner

Holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Reçueçn, Quintessence of Dust faced the already eliminated Tandeg Suci. News of goals flying in from Omerica at the Stadiun of Legends confirmed a draw would probably be enough, and a goalless draw duly played out as neither side had much to play for. Quintessence of Dust were able to celebrate a slightly improbable advancement at the expense of the unfortunate Reçueçn. They were on to face TJUN-ia.

Quintessence of Dust and Tandeg Suci take the field ahead of their crucial game

Written off by everyone – one Srednjaci news report described the clash as the only playoff tie guaranteed to be free of “drama” – the Quodites pulled off an improbable upset. TJUN-ia twice pulled ahead through Kepo Ulawaya, but Kaycee Thurstan and Alexis Chapman equalized each time, and Oddmar Snævarsson proved the hero in extra time and then penalties with two monster saves. Okumura (who else?) stepped up to convert the fourth penalty and sent a jubilant (and slightly bemused) Quintessence of Dust through to the quarterfinals, against World Cup heavyweights Squornshelan Remnant States, one of the few teams in this competition old enough to have been around back when Quintessence of Dust were competing in their prime years.

Kaycee Thurstan opened the scoring for Quintessence of Dust in an enthralling game

Kaycee Thurstan and J. J. Rousseau were the scorers as Quintessence of Dust pulled off one of the big shocks of an already topsy-turvy IAC to advance past the Squorn team into the semifinals.

The stands were completely dominated by Squornshelan supporters but the result was not to their liking

There they join such predictable heavyweights as Indusse…? and… Felinetopia??? With upsets seemingly the order of the day, perhaps Quintessence would draw some low ranked team that squeaked through and have a really easy semi-final match…?

Oh bollocks

by **PotatoFarmers** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:37 am

Semifinals Cutoff!

RP Prompt for the MD: Top 4 Reactions
We are down to the final 4! Whether you make it to Libira to fight for the 13th IAC trophy, or have to settle for a bronze medal match in Mancodas, being top 4 among the independent nations is, in itself, a feat. How does your countrymen view this progress? Happy? Satisfied? Is it a dream come true for your nation? Something which you have been waiting for? Hopefully, tonight's result is going to be great for you and your team.

Felinetopia 1–1 Indusse (1–3 AET)
@ Holtin Kash Stadium, Holhot

HUElavia 3–1 Quintessence of Dust
@ Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris

And that means...
August 11th: Finals/3rd Place Playoffs
Finals Indusse vs HUElavia - Libira National Stadium, Fiskadaha City
Bronze Medal Match Felinetopia vs Quintessence of Dust - Mancodas Complex, Greater Mancodas

by **HUElavia** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 7:27 am

HUElavian Hunger!

HUElavia dispatches Quintessence of Dust to enter a record-setting 5th IAC Final!

HUElavia 3-1 Quintessence of Dust
(Yamane 16', Navarro 30', 69' | Rousseau 86')
(Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris, Poafmersia)

It had been 8 years since HUElavia had participated in the "Final Four" of the Independents Association Championship. The last time they played in that stage, they defeated Megistos by the bare minimum. Fast forward 8 years, and HUElavia comes in surviving two thrilling matches in the knockouts, a 4-4 draw with Drawkland decided via Penalty Shootout, and a 5-5 draw with Kohnhead decided via Penalty Shootout. Their opponents were one of the revelations of the tournament, Quintessence of Dust, who were coming off upsetting TJUN-ia and SRS en route to this stage of the tournament. The match was set to be played at Dalaris State Stadium (46,500), in the City of Dalaris, the northernmost venue at the tournament. Once more, HUElavia would wear their Home Uniform, while Quintessence of Dust wore their Away Uniform, with the difference of blue socks being worn by them. The A-Teams would play, but in HUElavia's case, Resendes and Yamane started over Wentz and Savedra respectively, and notably Conti-Esposito had a knock from the last game, meaning Font would get the chance to start the match. The stadium was packed, with a clear majority of HUElavians present in the stadium, taking up an endzone as is the norm. The players came out to a great cheer, the anthems were sung with passion, the coin toss was done, and the ball rolled to kick off the second semi-finals match.

HUElavia went on the attack from the start, taking control of the match to their tempo. Fast passes were made, having Quintessence of Dust scrambling to defend and prevent any chances. The opening goal came in the 16th minute, when Resendes won the ball from Thurstan, giving a long pass to Font, who began a sprint with the ball. She gave a low pass to Yamane, who was covered by Renard, before moving a bit to her left and giving a curving shot that curved past the reach of Snaevarsson into the goal to make it 1-0. The HUElavian crowd erupted, jumping and screaming with joy to make the stadium rumble and clapping to the goal song, while Yamane was mobbed by her teammates in celebration of the goal. Quintessence of Dust tried to get some attacks going, but the defense of Vannier, Resendes and Mendieta, with Vannier grabbing shots left and right, while Resendes and Mendieta cleared shots left and right. Eventually, HUElavia gained control once again, where in the 30th minute, Guilbert was on the ball looking to make a pass, when he saw Navarro open to his left, passed it to him, allowing Navarro to give a low-blistering shot between the legs of Armannsson and past the reach of Snaevarsson into the bottom corner goal, making it 2-0. The crowd jumped up once more in celebration and joy, while Navarro shared a hug and kiss with Hamada-Navarro, and gave hugs to his teammates. The celebration was short lived, given that the assistant referee waved a flag for offside, but VAR was checked, and it showed that Navarro was played onside by Reed, allowing the referee to point to center circle, counting the goal to a great cheer from the HUElavian crowd. Despite chances by Rousseau and Thurstan, HUElavia held out and at the half, they had a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The second half saw Quintessence of Dust continue their attacks and chances, but Vannier was not having any of it and continuously made routine saves and blocks, earning praise and applause from the crowd. HUElavia kept the pressure coming, eventually culminating in a chance in the 69th minute. A free kick was won when Hamada-Navarro was fouled by Muff, making her get substituted for Nascimento. Navarro stepped up to take the free kick, taking a shot that went through a gap in the wall, leaving Snaevarsson standing still and blasting into the goal, making it 3-0. Navarro went to the bench to celebrate with a hug and kiss with his wife, while being mobbed by his teammates and the bench, all while the crowd jumped and cheered to make the stadium rumble. Conavacio was seen jumping and cheering, with a big smile on his face. At the end, HUElavia played it easy while Quintessence of Dust was seen deflated by the three goals and was barely trying. In the 86th minute, a lone shot taken by Rousseau hit the bar and ricochet into the goal, making it 3-1, allowing Chapman (in for Thurstan) to grab the ball and run back for a chance. Despite that lone goal, HUElavia held out and got the victory, giving HUElavia their place into the IAC Final, with Conavacio seen having a satisfied smile.

After 151 matches, being the 88 Qualifying matches and 63 Final Tournament matches, we're down to the Final Two: Indusse vs HUElavia. Indusse defeated Felinetopia 3-1 in extra time, setting up a rematch of the Group E match on Matchday 2. Indusse makes their first IAC FInal Appearance, while HUElavia makes their record-setting 5th IAC Final Appearance. The Final is set to be played at Libira National Stadium (68,000), in the capital of Poafmersia, Fiskadaha City. Indusse will wear their Home Uniform while HUElavia will wear their Away Special for the Final. The A-Teams will play, but Conti-Esposito returns, and Resendes and Yamane will get their start in the Final. Fans will be flocking to the stadium, where the HUElavians will take one of the endzones once again. The HUElavians have enjoyed their time in Poafmersia and have had plenty of memories being in this country. Back home, watch parties are the rage and it is expected every city will be having one to watch the Final. The team continues to train diligently as they have up to now, studying film and following Coach Conavacio's orders closely, with the team having a strong approval of his leadership and coaching. While the crowd will be in Yellow (and Orange for the Indusse supporters), the team chooses to wear their blue uniforms to represent the blue blazes of their passion towards this sport and tournament. It's the 13th Final of the Independent Association Championship, and both of these teams will seek to have their first ever IAC Title, giving it their very best. Here's to what can be a passionate and memorable final.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 7:45 pm

It was not the ending anyone had envisioned.

True, it was the best result at the IAC for a Black-and-Reds team since the tournament's tenth edition, and tied for second best final position. Back then though, with the team in disarray and losing to the eventual champions, it felt like an accomplishment. This time was a mere letdown. Would they have beaten HUElavia in a hypothetical semifinal matchup? Perhaps not. They'd really expected to have the opportunity though. The only thing left now was to take the long plane ride back to the Confederacy, pick up the pieces and decide how to move forward.

The ride was quiet, most players wearing earbuds, listening to music or streaming video on phones and tablets. Even the coaching staff were checked out. No one was in much of a mood for conversation. Anne-Sophie Groothuis, seated near the front of the cabin, shut her laptop for the fourth time since taking off an hour ago. She knew all too well that football was a business of "what have you done lately," but she wasn't ready to start the postmortem of her team's performance yet. It could wait at least until she was back on the ground, and took a weekend off, difficult as it would be to take her mind off things in the interim.

Over the intercom, the pilot made the announcement that they were approaching their dimensional gateway. That hadn't always been a part of flying to Poafmersia. The North Pacific and West Pacific, though distant, at least existed in the same reality. The Confederacy, of course, was no longer directly accessible from the West Pacific though. Fortunately, this sort of trans-dimensional travel had become almost routine for the sporting nations of the multiverse, and though they hadn't expected it for this tournament, indeed they had not needed it on the way out, it was routine enough for this team that no one really took much notice.

As the gray nothingness of the interdimension slid by outside the windows, those with the shades still up anyhow, the cabin lights dimmed. Players, coaches and trainers turned on reading lights or drifted off to sleep. If the cabin had been quiet before, it was silent now. The muted whine of the jet's turbines, away at the back of the plane, was the only sound.

The plane lurched.

Cups tumbled off of tray tables, spilling across laps and rolling into the aisle. Sleepers started awake, gripping the armrests in sudden alarm. Ding. The "fasten seatbelt" signs above each seat lit up.

All the passengers looked around, with quiet expressions of alarm. Questions asked without expectation of answer. The plane jumped to the left as if struck by a blow. It shuddered from stem to stern, and the cabin lights went out. The emergency lights along the aisle and next to the wing exits glowed in the gloom, faintly illuminating frightened faces.

"We are encountering some turbulence, please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened." The pilots voice was strained.

The plane tumbled through the gray, rattling like it was about to come apart completely. The beverage cart careened wildly up the aisle, smashing into elbows before smashing into the cockpit door, sending a foamy spray of soda across the flight attendant desperately clinging to the jump seat there. The whine of the turbines increased in pitch and volume to the point of causing physical pain. When it seemed the airframe and its passengers could surely take no more, the plane suddenly burst forth into brilliant sunlight with an incredible, mind-boggling noise. It was not like thunder. There was no rolling rumble that followed, scarcely even any reverberation. It was a simple flat crack that seemed to occupy the full range of human hearing, from the shrieking treble to pummeling bass. It ripped the sky apart, making the team feel as though their ears had been driven six feet into their skulls. There was a sensation of falling, then of sinking down into their seats, like being on a roller coaster. Gradually, though, it faded. The crazy movement of the sunlight streaming in the windows slowed, then stopped.

After a few minutes, the intercom crackled to life.

"Thank you for your patience through the turblence we encountered. We've emerged from the interdimension, and we have made contact with controllers in the Confederacy. We're a couple hundred miles off course from where we expected to emerge, and we'll have to divert to Yassaca instead of landing in Brantisvogan as planned. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we will continue to Brantisvogan as quickly as possible."

This announcement was met with no small amount of consternation, but with the plane back on an even keel, the mood quickly returned to calm. That is, until the pilot continued.

"We are currently . . . ahem . . . we are currently located about, umm, about 30 miles off the coast of, ah, sorry, we're getting confirmation of this." Silence awaited the pilot's next words. "We have confirmation from the Sivolvian regional control center, the Edge has vanished, entirely. They've also let us know that the Confederacy is apparently no longer located within the West Pacific. We're still trying to get positive confirmation about that. The important thing at the moment is that the Edge hasn't simply reverted to where it was before, it has vanished altogether. We are currently at 35,000 feet, about 30 miles off the coast of Blerontia province of the Imperium. Ah, former Imperium that is."

Pandemonium. Everyone began speaking at once. They hardly stopped until they were on the ground.

Matchday Schedule and Results:

MD1: SRS 0-0 FEL @ Bikarish Stadium (cap. 48,000), Bikarish
MD2: SRS 1-0 SAJ @ Rukiya Sports Stadium (cap. 37,000), Rukiya
MD3: MAL 4-4 SRS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000), Mudra
MD4: SRS 2-3 TRL @ Libira National Stadium (cap. 68,000), Fiskadaha City
GS1: SRS 4-4 VOL @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000), Kistina
GS2: PFA 2-3 SRS @ Theatre of Light (cap. 59,000), Kistina
GS3: SRS 2-2 KGS @ Red Mudra Lane (cap. 58,000), Mudra
R16: AMH 0-1 SRS @ United Park (cap. 61,000), Mancodas
QF:  SRS 0-2 QOD @ Naksa Stadium (cap. 41,000), Naksa

by **PotatoFarmers** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:09 pm

Felinetopia 1-1 Poafmersia (1-1 AET, 5-4 pens)
@ Dalaris State Stadium, City of Dalaris
Poafmersia Scorers: Joel Haodao 41' (assist by Daas Taisg)

Penalty Takers: Haodao (Y), Tuft (Y), Carisa (Y), Moonar (N), Shwentin (Y), Abbott (N)

Poafmersia Lineup (4-4-2): Sandi Jaliaha; Mitchel Rosales, Hollis Stephenson, Simone Gori, Natalia Abbott; Gisiik Moonar, Nero Wood, Daas Taisg; Joel Haodao, Makana Tuft (c), Whitney Rios
Substitutes: Nasri Sanchez (Stephenson 75'); Pete Carisa (Rios 97'); Arnold Shwentin (Taisg 112'); Nicole Potts (Jaliaha 119')

First penalty shoot out for Potts for national team ends in upsetting 4-5 defeat to unfancied Felinetopia; heartbreak for Taisg, Jaliaha as they call time on their career
As reported by Poafmer Times
City of Dalaris - Poafmersia's bid for a 3rd IAC title came to an early end as the Red Panjias fall on a heart-breaking penalties defeat to Felinetopia, home to a group of sapient cats representing the team at the IAC. This was after remaining deadlocked for over 120 minutes, where the Poafmersian frontline was left frustrated over and over again, unable to get enough goals to settle the tie in 120 minutes.

It would not be a happily ever after ending for Jaliaha, Taisg, Moonar and Carisa, who will all step down from the national team following the completion of the Independent Associations Championship. It was supposed to be a dream come true for the 4 retiring players, whose door to the finals in Libira was left wide open following the shock defeat of New Lusitania and Omerica. However, given the amount of shocks in the IAC this time round, there was always that lingering question of whether the Red Panjias can withstand the pressure to survive all the way. It turned out to be not possible, as the fury friends of Felinetopia played with all their might to ensure that they could get their ticket to the final 4. A sturdy defence was all it took, as the sapient felines stopped Tuft, Haodao and the frontline, from getting a lot of chances. Even when the chances came, they would always be in position to stop it all - Poafmersia had absolutely no chance. Joel Haodao complained that trying to score was a frustrating affair, as he had 6 of his shots on target saved by the opposition keeper. Makana Tuft was left questioning his pace, having consistently been outran by the opposition defender, while Pete Carisa couldn't keep up against a multitude of cats trying to take the ball away from him.

The next 6 months, following yet another quarterfinal exit for the Red Panjias, would be the time where Adnan Suliaha reorganizes the team. The younger players are starting to show and step up. Even though there isn't many graduates around, the U21 team, who has confirmed that they will be playing in the upcoming DBC, showcases lots of younger-than-usual talents who could very well be the backbone of a future Poafmersia National Team. In light of the variety of younger talent, it has been rumored that Alex Hoboson and Dargis Walshor will join Jaliaha in leaving the national team setup, leaving Haodao as the only 1st generation player. Haodao has widely considered taking on a coaching role in the national team setup after retirement, and that could likely be his path should he choose to call an early end to his career with the Red Panjias.

by **Indusse** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:01 am

Puranik: Past Unrecognised

OOC: I had used certain other values in the calculation part, it got mixed with the rough note so don't sit there and calculate.Read Part One here..

The Archeologists are not able to decipher the message in the inscription. They call up Mr.Brooks, a known mathematician to solve the puzzle through Mathematical Modelling.

"Hail the creator,preserver and the destroyer of the whole world. May thou grace and blessing flow through the inlet from a box on the surface which had a base which was half of the height from the Linga to the Inlet. Let that box have a altitude which was equal to the length from the inlet to the head of the altitude. That length should be half of the altitude from the base to the inlet in the dome"

He spent hours calculating and researching on the above inscription and at last he reached into a conclusion. He said "we just need to use some easy mathematical theorems here, see what I have drawn out here.

The above image shows that we can calculate and observe the dome, the lifted surface and the relic form a right angled triangle. The Inlet to the Linga is an altitude and the Hypotenuses are from the entrance and the relic. With the calculation you've done we reach to a conclusion that the distance from the relic to the base is thirty metres. The distance from inlet to relic is sixty metres. So, check the below note I have made:"

Let x be the distance from inlet to base.
Using the Thales Theorem (Pythogoras Theorem)
Altitude² + Base² = Hypotenuse²
30² + x² = 60²
900 + x² = 1200
x² = 1200-900
x² = 300
x = √300
x = 10 √3
x = 10 × 1.73205081
x = 17.3205081 metres

Now, taking the case of the steep base surface above the stairs;
It again forms another right angled triangle. 
According to the encrypted condition, Hypotenuse would be twice the base and base shall be half of The Inlet→Base Altitude. ----- (A)
Let Base be y and y be half of x,
½ x = 8.66025405
2y = Hypotenuse (from A)
Hypotenuse = 34.6410162 (Took me a while to find, don't ask me how.)
Therefore, Altitude = 1125 m.

P.S : The final calculations needs certain other values which are related to the myth. Like the 22 Phenomenon. So do not try to solve this solution again with trial and error method.

The Mathematician reached a conclusion that we need a altitude of 17.320 metres in the dome and the water tank should be having water till the altitude of 1125 metres that's 1.125 Kilometres. The base of the tank should be 8.660 metres so that the squared Mechanical wheel which has twenty two spokes and Linga moves to our result.

The Archeologists rejoiced at the finding and brought up a tank of the said dimensions and poured water so that the Mechanical wheel turns. The Mechanical Wheel didn't turn and the Archeologists were dissapointed. The Temple Tantrik, came forward and said "May thou grace and blessings flow through the inlet it says, according to the mythologies the lord's blessings flow to the World through the stream behind the Sanctum Santorium. Why don't you take those waters?" The Archeologists didn't believe the Tantrik first of all, what would that water change now? Still they agreed to try it once. The Tank was cleared up and filled again but this time with the "Holy Water". To the surprise of everywhere the wheel started to move. Upon the movement of the square Mechanical wheel twenty two times, the mystic relic turns around its base and goes below the ground. There emerges an underground passage made with red-sandstone. After walking down anothetwenty two steps, they reach a room with various sculptures and murals. There was also another door which was had a beautiful well carved marble frame but blocked with stones.

The Archaeological Department starts work to remove the stone and gain entry to the passage. After three hours of work, they finally open the entrance and gains access to the passage. The Passage was recorded as three thousand and seventy metres long and travelled below the forests the basement of the Old Royal Palace which is currently a museum. The Basement door was covered by the tiles and it was just discovered now. The Hidden Passage must be a escape route for the royals and maybe a place of ritual for them. Further investigation is been going out to know more about the event. The Archeological Department has shifted certain sculptures to the Old Palace Museum and has started cleaning them up for studies.

History getting made!

First time in the history of Indussean National Team, they get qualified for the Independents Association Championship or Independents Cup Finals. The team has joined the Final Hall of Fame of IAC. After their victory over Felinetopia in the extra time for a score of three against one they have started their journey to face the record finalist team of HUElavia in the finals of this edition IAC in Libira National Stadium, Fiskadaha City. Felinetopia would face Quintessence of Dust in Mancodas Complex, Greater Mancodas to reserve their Bronze Medal this edition.
The IAC finals would be the last match Indusse is playing wearing the Ediraf Kits, IFA has signed agreement with Kirola, a known Audioslavian Kitmakers for the supply of brand new kits.

#ForcaIndusse #ForcaFootball

by **PotatoFarmers** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 6:03 am

Finals Cutoff!
There is bound to be a new winner of the IAC. Here in Poafmersia, home of the two-time winners, we will crown yet another champion. Will HUElavia finally lift the trophy in their 5th finals? Or Indian powerhouses Indusse will cause yet another upset?
Meanwhile, in Mancodas, an unranked team of cats beat all odds to reach the bronze medal match with their brand of pawball. Against another team who bounced back from a poor performance at the last edition to reach the Bronze Medal Match, who will emerge victorious?

For everyone else, it was an honour to be able to host this edition of the IAC, and thank you for your support! We will be presenting the RP scale roundup on the discussion thread within the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, we would also like to hear out feedback on the Aggregated Group Stage - do you like it? What was some issues you had about it? Do you think that in the future, this could be adopted as an alternative to a traditional group stage? You can TG me your thoughts, or share them on the IAC Discussion Thread as well.

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