World Cup Qualification MD4 LIVE
Yuezhou vs. Mercedini
@ Yuezhou National Stadium - Somewhere, Yuezhou
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to a very oriental Yuezhou for MD4 of World Cup Qualification. Today, the hosts welcome Mercedini to the Yuezhou National Stadium for what could be a make or break match for the team in blue and black. Three draws out of three matches has meant this match takes on extra importance for the players and for the manager, as the Golden Eagles attempt to save their campaign after what has been a rather lacklustre first couple of matches. It's been a nice couple of days here in Yuezhou, and I've got to say the food is superb. If you ever come here, try the crispy spicy beef and the special fried rice, it is to die for. Enough about my stomach, onto the match where the stadium is really only half full, there isn't a high turnout at all with the hosts occupying only filling one of the stands while the visiting allocation hasn't been filled to an adequate level either, something which may raise concerns with the MFA. Anyway, the teams are out for the start of the match, it will be intriguing to see how this match pays out.
0' - Two national anthems later and we are moments away from the start of the match. Interesting to see the divide between the Mercedinians and the Yuezhou, the blue and black contrasting the red and yellow, capitalism verses uhh... maybe communism at a guess. Yuezhou seem confident that they could get a result from their opposition considering their difficulty in finishing games and seeing them through. Billic and Chillotov are upfront once again with the usual suspect in midfield and in defence. They will play Yuezhou who look to be playing in a rather defensive 4-5-1 with Chen Huikang the lone striker upfront. Tactics may come into play early on in this match, we have kicked of the fourth match of qualification, with Yuezhou passing it around to the pleasure of the home fans.
9' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - We are just about to hit the ten minute mark and it's a slow start to this match. Yuezhou are controlling the pace of this match thanks to their takeover of the possession. Mercedini haven't had that much time on the ball to go forward, but Yuezhou haven't conjured up the chances created by previous teams which spells good new so far for Mercedini. It is goalless, but we haven't seen what Mercedini can do in this came considering their lack of possession.
14' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - Mercedini have had their first meaningful piece of possession and it is looking pretty promising as Billic and Chillotov are linking up well in this opening period. One half-chance came from Chillotov who sent in a shot from outside of the box but that was well caught by the Yuezhou goalkeeper. It is early days and we have seen what can happen in these types of matches, Mercedini looking the more dangerous in this match but still a log long way to go in this match.
22' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - Mercedini have gone close yet again with a shot from Nymark. Billic originally had the chance but his dibble attempt was blocked by the standing leg of one of the defenders, the ball came back out to an arriving Nymark who lashed at the shot but his fizzing drive went wide of the mark. Warning shots from the golden eagles, it got the crowds attention and it may have woken up the Yeuzhou defence with that attempt. Can Yuezhou bounce back from that scare or will Mercedini maintain their dominance in this match?
29' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - Who would have expected this? The wheels have fallen off the Mercedinian wagon as Yuezhou have gone up the other end of the pitch and earned themselves a penalty Chen was weaving is way around and had only just made it into the box when Dosic gave him a shove, he went down and the referee thought there was enough in the tackle to award the spot kick. It's more of the same for Mercedini and Chen has the chance to give his nation the against the run of play.
30' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - Here he comes... SAVED BY HOSSET and it kicked out of play to avert the danger. The goalkeeper has bailed his teammates out with what could be a crucial save in the grand scheme of things. It wasn't that god of a penalty, waist height and just barely to the keeper's left which made it an easy take for the young Mercedinian goalkeeper. That will do wonders to his and his team's confidence. It remains goalless, and it would be fitting to see Mercedini to go on and win it from here.
37' - (YZH 0-0 MRC) - Confidence is oozing out of the Mercedinian team after that saved penalty as they come forward once again. Less than ten minutes plus stoppage time for get a goal in this game. the wingers are beginning to come into their own as they push forward against a rather defensive Yuezhou team. Whether a successful combination can be found before the end of the first half remains to be seen.
43' - (YZH 0-1 MRC) - GOAL for Mercedini! It's a big big goal just minutes until the final whistle and it's come from an unlikely source. Liam Dosic with his first goal in a long long time, he wheels away in celebration in front of an ironically empty stand with his teammates to celebrate on a sucker punch for the home fans. It came from a Crasic corner which was sent in with pace and was curling in towards the goal. Liam Dosic was arriving and thumped his header straight into the net, no chance for the goalkeeper or the defenders on the line. 1-0 Mercedini with only a couple of minutes remaining in the half.
45+1' - (YZH 0-1 MRC) - No more time to be added on and the referee blows his whistle for the end of the match. A late Yuezhou chance came to nothing which means Mercedini go in to the first half interval with a slender lead against their unranked opposition. A Dosic header late in the half proved to be the difference after a tense, back and forth first half. Yuezhou should feel they have blown a golden chance after a poor penalty was saved, and that gave Mercedini the confidence to go on and prove their worth. At the end of the first half, it's Yuezhou 0, Mercedini 1.
HALF TIME
Yuezhou 0 - 1 Mercedini
Dosic 43'
We have returned from the first half interval and the players are making their final preparations before the beginning of the first half. I have had today's fix of crispy spicy beef and it was delicious thanks for asking. The players are out on the pitch and it doesn't look like any changes have been made. Mercedini had plenty of momentum going in at half-time, let's see if they can continue that now. The second half coming now...
52' - (YZH 0-1 MRC) - Not much action in the opening minutes of this half as Mercedini attempt to consolidate what they have in this game. Yuezhou are coming forward and making moves on the Mercedinian defence, although their training seems to have worked regarding their line and shape, as they are holding the opposition back at the moment. Billic and Chillotov are moving back to support their midfielders, a real team effort from Mercedini, they remain 1-0 up.
61' - (YZH 0-1 MRC) - An hour gone and Mercedini look comfortable in this match, their three draws could be put behind them with a win here and decent performances in the rest of their group matches to ensure a Cup of Harmony place if not a second successive place in the World Cup in Cosumar and Bonesea. The golden eagles are seeing this game out comfortably and look to ensure their first win in the campaign at the fourth time of asking. Still 1-0, and Mercedini are cruising to a victory.
70' - (YZH 0-2 MRC) - They have got what they came for, Mercedini have got a second goal in this match thanks to Tim Crasic from the wing. Chillotov and Billic moved the ball up field and looked to combine to score the goals themselves but Billic looked up and passed to his former club mate who made space and slotted the ball in at the near post. Twenty minutes left in the game and Mercedini have put themselves firmly in the driving seat. 2-0, Mercedini.
77' - (YZH 0-2 MRC) - Time ticking down in this match and the gulf between these two matches is clear to see. Mercedini are controlling nearly every part of the pitch and look to have come a long way since their three draws at the start of this campaign. Bjarnasson looks calm on the touchline for once as he guides his team to a rather comprehensive victory against an unranked team. The match took on extra importance due to their less than perfect start but they have taken the pressure and made it their own as they ease to the win. Still 2-0.
85' - (YZH 0-2 MRC) - Less than five minutes left in the game and it's Yuezhou's time to prove their worth. They are pushing forward and are actually making a fairly decent set of chances. Their formation doesn't exactly do them any favours as Chen is isolated up top and Mercedini are cutting the balls out between the midfield and the lone striker. Mercedini are still two goals to the good and I don't think Yuezhou can make up the difference in such the small time left.
90+3' - (YZH 0-2 MRC) - There we go, Mercedini put their first win on the board with a comprehensive 2-0 win over an unranked Yuezhou side. Goals from Dosic and Crasic round out what was a good night for Mercedini in all. I'm hearing both Nephara and Starblaydia have lost which spells good news for Mercedini, it keeps them within touching distance of the top two with big matches to come in this group. Not much else to say, it's finished here Yuezhou 0, Mercedini 2.
FULL TIME
Yuezhou 0 - 2 Mercedini
Dosic 43', Crasic 70'
A very good night for Mercedini's qualification hopes as they take three points and all the teams of similar calibre lost. Next up for the golden eagles is the biggest challenge of them all, Nephara. They have had a similarly rotten time of qualification and sit below Mercedini with a game in hand. A win for the nation in blue and black means its highly likely that they will head into the top two and sink rivals Nephara even lower that they are. With Mercedini's BYE day on the final day of the circuit, it's important Mercedini produce a barrier between themselves and the chasing pack so that any margins that are cut away when Mercedini aren't playing can be absorbed by the margin, ensuring Mercedini remain competitive in the group. That's all for tonight, goodbye from Yuezhou!