Llamanean Domestic Newswires

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Oct 01, 2016 2:26 pm

SuperLleague             Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Emerald City Harmony   21 11 4 6 27 17 +10 37 Champions, CC
2 New Llama Stars        21 10 4 7 43 38 +5  34 GC
3 AFC Ruby               21 8 8 5 31 27  +4  32 GC
4 New Llama Capitals     21 9 4 8 39 45  −6  31 GC
5 Los-Juantos Coastal    21 7 9 5 36 32  +4  30
6 Kyrinson               21 7 7 7 37 33  +4  28
7 BSC Vargas             21 7 3 11 25 30 −5  24 Relegation Playoff
8 Olympic East           21 4 3 14 19 35 −16 15 Relegation Playoff

SecondLleague            Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nandaozhou Sharks      21 16 3 2 53 9 +44 51 Promotion Playoff
2 Wheathampton Warriors  21 15 2 4 59 17 +42 47 Promotion Playoff
3 1940 Asure             21 10 2 9 43 45 −2 32 SBCC
4 Talahita Tigers        21 10 1 10 30 29 +1 31
5 SC Nikcoro             21 8 3 10 31 42 −11 27
6 Svenssonsfjord Dynamo  21 7 5 9 19 27 −8 26
7 New Llama Generals     21 3 5 13 10 47 −37 14
8 Lake Graz              21 3 3 15 5 34 −29 12

All-Lleague First XI: Sindelaar (ECH); Damjana (NLS), Ferraro (ECH), Holloway (NLC), Davenport (ECH); Saint Paul (ECH), Volkhov (NLC); Møller (LJA), Rinaldi (KYR), Carrasco (OLY); Mandelbrot (NLS)
Honorable Mentions: GK Nielsen (NLS), DF Gunnarsson (VRG), DF Wagner (LJA), MF Tresor (ECH), MF Yu (RBY), FW Vincent (NLS), FW Petrarch (RBY), FW Korsky (NLC)

TOP SCORER
1. Francis Mandelbrot (16, NLS)
2. Nolan Garcia (14, KYR)
3. Immanuel Petrarch (13, RBY)
4. Madison Rojas (12, NLC)
5. Carsten Vincent (12, NLS)
MOST ASSISTS
1. Stefan Rinaldi (13, KYR)
2. Nemanja Volkhov (11, NLC)
3. Jake Raburn (10, NLS)
JOHAN LINDBERG AWARD FOR BEST FOREIGNER
1. Aysu Damjana (Chromatik)
2. Johannes Sindelaar (Arondic)
3. Marco Saint Paul (Anglatian)
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
1. Curtis Chen (NLC)
2. David Russell (RBY)
3. Erik Anderssen (ECH)
OLIVER TROPHY
The Oliver Trophy, named after former Llamanean national team player John Oliver, who was instrumental in creating the SuperLleague, is a new award given to the best player each season. Votes from players, managers, and an independent panel assembled by the LFA are all considered when designating a player to receive this award.
1. Francis Mandelbrot (ST, NLS)
2. Stefan Rinaldi (AM, KYR)
3. Johannes Sindelaar (GK, ECH)
4. Nemanja Volkhov (CM, NLC)
5. Aysu Damjana (LB, NLS)
6. Jordan Carrasco (FW, OLY)
7. Edward Korsky (FW, NLC)

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:54 pm

SEASON 3 PREVIEW

Last season saw Emerald City repeat in the SuperLleague, fueled by a thrilling comeback in the final month of the season that saw them leapfrog both capital teams. This season, star-studded City have continued to improve, but Stars aren't far behind and will be gunning to stop the three-peat. Will one of the two favorites prevail? Or will a new team, like Capitals nearly did last season, rise to the occasion?

Manager: David Russell (-2.5); Stadium: Falls Field (28,500); Colors: Ruby and Silver; Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Claudia Kelly (#01, 35, BRE), Emily Kouzmanoff (#13, 21)
Defense: Chris Myers-Briggs (#03, 24), Cassandra Costell (#06, 34, NPH), Everett Seymour (#15, 30, COS), Marcelo Ferreira (#05, 33),, Emmanuel Saint Marcel (#14, 19, SEM), Alex Bale (#15, 37), Jane Walden (#02, 28)
Midfield: Cameron Petridis (#10, 26), Page Bailey (#15, 33, BRE), Damian Conagher (#18, 33, NPH), Michael Kennedy [C] (#08, 30), Cosimo Poole (#17, 24, COS), Michael Castro (#38, 26), Keith Blanton (#39, 35)
Forward: Felix Prowse (#09, 36, BRE), Immanuel Petrarch (#11, 27), Emory Byrne (#20, 31), Alfonse Gerard (#22, 27)

In: Cosimo Poole (AM, 24, Depri Sanar, free), Page Bailey (CM, 33, Westpike United, free), Michael Castro (MF, 26, SC Nikcoro, free), Keith Blanton (LB/MF, 35, Olympic East, free), Alex Bale (CB/DM, 37, Los-Juantos Coastal, $100k), Everett Seymour (CB, 30, Z’ai’ai, $1m)

Out: Eric Springer (DF, 31, released), Kurt Riedel (MF, 37, retired), Madison Rojas (FW, 27, Nandaozhou Sharks, $200k), Geraldine DeGrom (MF, 36, Red Star Hlavne, $100k), Seleste Yu (MF, 31, Dalen Athletik, $600k), Morgan Lewicki (DF, 30, FK Montgomery, $200k), Jane Walden (DF, 28, Brookport Capitals, $500k)

Ruby’s financial situation is starting to catch up to them. After a strong first season where they won the cup and almost won the league, injuries knocked them down to fourth place last season, and David Russell was ordered to cut payroll. Somehow, the Llamanean manager has managed to simultaneously pocket $500k and improve Ruby’s roster.

Everett Seymour, Ruby’s most expensive transfer of the window at one million dollars, has improved drastically since leaving FC Mendel City, and should pair well with Nepharim Costell while national team defender Myers-Briggs slides over to fullback. Page Bailey and Cosimo Poole are both underrated pickups, although the expected first-choice pairing of Bailey and Damian Conagher, as well as the underrated but limited defense and versatile left-midfielder Petridis, offer little attacking prowess but form a solid defensive line.

It’ll then be up to captain Michael Kennedy, an athletic right-winger with a strong passing and finishing touch, as well as the two strikers, likely the Brenecian Prowse and Petrarch, to find goals. All three are more than capable of doing so, but all come with caveats - Kennedy was injured for much of last season, Prowse declined sharply after a strong first campaign, and Immanuel Petrarch is exceptionally inconsistent. Russell has done a lot, but is still relying on all three to step things up to succeed.

AFC Ruby is only getting older, and they’ll need things to fall their way to make it back to the heady heights of their first season. Despite all of Russell’s improvements, bad luck could easily drop them out of the Globe Cup places, although they’re still a dark horse to win the title if things go right.

Manager: Erik Anderssen (-4); Stadium: Emerald Coliseum (20,000); Colors: Green and Black; Formation: 4-4-2 diamond
GK: Erika Blanton (#01, 28), Marcos Santana (#12, 18)
Defense: Tim Ferraro (#16, 25), Ephraim Wagner (#02, 27), Ellie Hanger (#03, 20) Henrick Davenport (#05, 35, NPH), Tim Ferraro (#16, 25), Emily Gustav (#14, 19), Kristztina Berky (#06, 17, PAS)
Midfield: Willard Banks (#11, 29, HSZ), Marin Tresor (#06, 19, ACR), Trevor Fournier [C] (#10, 22), Megan Thurmond (#07, 20), Justin Koehler (#08, 27), Griffin Varga (#17, 30), Gudjon Letonien (#45, 23), Francesca Abel (#39, 24)
Forward: Nego do Jordel (#21, 16, MTH), Tzipporah Cohen (#09, 23, NPH), Jake Wesley (#20, 26), Costa Barros (#29, 22, USI)

In: Erika Blanton (GK, 28, New Llama Stars, $1.25m), Marcos Santana (GK, 18, promoted), Gudjon Letonien (MF, 23, Norton Athletic, player), Tzipporah Cohen (ST, 23, Chatswood, loan), Ephraim Wagner (CB, 27, Los-Juantos Coastal, $4.5m+player), Justin Koehler (MF, 27, Olympic East, $2.75m), Krisztina Berky (DF, 17, New Llama Capitals, $1m), Ellie Hanger (DF, 20, OAS Royal FC, two-year loan), Nego do Jordel (CAM/SS, 16, Morro do Jordel, Free)

Out: Arturo Jimenez (MF, 27, released), Aurelio Sandoval (FW, 28, Norton Athletic, player), Tobias Ebenezer (ST, 20, SC Nikcoro, loan), Marco Saint Paul (MF, 19, Castle United, $11m), Kris Suarez (DF, 27, Los-Juantos Coastal, player), Johannes Sindelaar (GK, 28, Mallox, $8m), Eliza Korakov (MF, 31, Oslerholm Reds, $1m), Allison Ticheli (ST, 27, IF Meaburg, $1m), Jan Caulson (DF, 31, Los-Juantos Coastal, $500k)

Fans will recoil at the fact that Harmony sold two of their best players last season (and a total of eight, with Ebenezer also leaving on a loan), but the nineteen million Johannes Sindelaar and Saint Paul brought in have enabled them to create this team, possibly the best to ever play in the SuperLleague. Erika Blanton is one of the most underrated keepers in the league, but she won’t be needed long with Marcos Santana (and a number of other academy graduates) knocking on the door. The defense, which declined a little last season, has been completely remade with the purchase of Ephraim Wagner and loan of Eleanor Hanger, a hot prospect from Cosumar, who will form a dynamic center-back pairing. Tim Ferraro slides over to left-back, where he’ll share time with teenager Emily Gustav, while Nepharim veteran Henrick Davenport, the only player in the entire league who’s won the Champion’s Cup, keeps his spot at right-back. Goals will certainly be hard to find against Harmony.

Yet Harmony aren’t the offensive lightweights they were in SuperLleague I, either. Hasznian Banks, Trevor Fournier, and Megan Thurmond (who has finally forced the resurgent Eliza Korakov out of her starting spot) all offer attacking prowess, especially new captain Fournier, one of the best midfielders in the league, and defensive anchor Marin Tresor is a master of set-pieces. Up front, Nepharim Cohen (on loan from Chatswood) and Matthewsianian support-striker Nego do Jordel both have lots of potential and will form (for this season, at least), one of the most dangerous partnerships in the league, with the safer, blander Jake Wesley and Sunrisian Costa Barros on the bench if something goes wrong.

Manager Erik Anderssen has used a large portion of the nineteen-million-dollar windfall to revitalize the team’s youth academy as well. With one of the best teams in recent memory and a ton of prospects on the horizon, Harmony could be paving the road to complete league domination. But that could all come undone if they underperform this season.

Manager: Tim Robespierre (-3.5); Stadium: LlamaCard Football Complex (55,000); Colors: Green and Sky Blue; Formation: 5-3-2/i]
GK: Renaud Fournier (#13, 26, COS), Mark Horowitz (#01, 37), Fiona Wintergreen (#12, 22)
Defense: Ramiro Hechavarria (#14, 18), Rook Cypress (#02, 34, NPH), Michael Cordero (#16, 27), Ryan Correia (#26, 27), Cecille Petrovic (#03, 18, EFL), McKenna Fordham (#17, 31), Victor Kucinski (#05, 32), Jake Pedersen (#16, 20)
Midfield: James Blake (#06, 33), Lucas Christensen (#08, 24), Harrison Stevensson (#07, 30) [C], Jordan Svensson (#19, 30), Bethany Hart (#25, 30), Morgan Ericsson (#33, 30)
Forward: Jayce Alnwick (#14, 32, NPH), Nolan Garcia (#20, 24, MIA), Emma Isoaho (#32, 32) Taylor Moore (#31, 30)

In: Ryan Correia (DF, 27, Talahita, $150k), Lucas Christensen (MF, 24, 1940 Asure, $650k), Fiona Wintergreen (GK, 22, Emerald City Harmony, $100k), Renaud Fournier (GK, 26, Morponte Fief, Free), Ramiro Hechavarria (DF, 18, promoted), Cecille Petrovic (RB, 18, W-D School Academy, free), Jake Pedersen (DF, 20, promoted)

Out: Stefan Rinaldi (MF, 21, New Llama Stars, $3m), James Franklin (GK, 29, Lake Graz, free), Emma Glass (DF, 29, released), Chris Foster (MF, 37, retired), Jared Blake (DF, 30, released)

Ownership demanded that Tim Robespierre get a younger team, and he certainly did that - veteran pieces Horowitz, Foster, Glass, Blake, Franklin, Fordham, Kucinski, and Ericsson all either have been dropped or sold. More surprisingly, so has Stefan Rinaldi, ownership also demanding that Robespierre get far cheaper as well. The loss of the team’s playmaking talisman could’ve stung a lot more, but Kyrinson has switched a counterattack-focused 5-3-2 formation in an attempt to compensate for the loss of their best player to the Stars.

Age started to catch up to Mark Horowitz last season, but Cosumar’s Renaud Fournier is good enough to start in his place while Wintergreen remains the long-term backup. The defense is really where Robespierre has made changes, though - switching to a 5-3-2 scheme and bringing in second-tier Talahita’s best defender Ryan Correia won’t turn heads from non-supporters, but definitely represents an improvement over their last system. Petrovic and Hechavarria are both gambles, but if they pan out, they should bring both attacking and defensive presence.

The midfield will be crippled offensively without Rinaldi, and although Lucas Christensen was arguably the best midfielder in SecondLleague last season, he’s not exactly the both attacking presence. Alnwick and Garcia, however, still form a top-notch pairing - it’ll be interesting to see how they adapt to the new system.

Tim Robespierre’s counterattacking, defensive 5-3-2 certainly has a chance at working, and a number of younger players will make this team one to watch in the future. But will Robespierre be there when it happens? Underperformance here could lead to his firing - and it’s hard to envision a scenario where a transitioning Kyrinson finishes in the top half.

[i]Manager: Leo de la Cruz (+3); Stadium: Tenacity Park (40,000); Colors: Scarlet and Gold; Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Nicholas Lindberg [C] (#01, 28), Aranha (#12, 21, USI)
Defense: Jan Caulson (#02, 31, NPH), Kris Suarez (#03, 27), Kiernan Gustav (#15, 35), Evangelista Sandoval (#30, 28), Sergey Kuznetsov (#36, 17), Adrian Pitt (#24, 21, TRV)
Midfield: Vanessa Booker (#06, 30, NPH), Petra Suleimann (#05, 26), Jonathan Rhoderick (#25, 36), Jake Appel (#18, 28), Ryan Zhou (#07, 31), Felix Adamson (#35, 28), Alice Møller (#10, 22), Jacob Hull-Benson (#36, 30), Caroline Jensen (#17, 28)
Forward: Lilou Reid (#09, 18, SCH), Roman Pierce (#11, 30), Pavel Kilalurak (#20, 24, ABI)

In: Aranha (GK, 22, BSC Vargas, $200k), Vanessa Booker (DM, 30, Depri Lanar, Free), Jonathan Rhoderick (CM, 36, New Llama Capitals, $200k), Sergey Kuznetsov (DF, 17, Promoted), Kris Suarez (DF, 27, Emerald City Harmony, player), Adrian Pitt (21, CB, Glenham Athletic Youth, Free), Pavel Kilalurak (ST, 24, SC Dragon Arlinnguit, free), Lilou Reid (ST, 18, South Berwick Auks, $1m), Jan Caulson (31, LB, Emerald City Harmony, $500k),
Out: Alex Bale (DF/DM, 37, AFC Ruby, $100k), Ephraim Wagner (DF, 27, Emerald City Harmony, player+$4.75m), Felicity Jennings (ST, 32, BSC Vargas, $250k), Vincent Christensen (MF, 40, retired), Kevin Jorgensen (DF, 30, FF Axel, $500k)

Leo de la Cruz was certainly busy over the offseason, and a number of improvements mean that his team are favored to win a Globe Cup spot for the first time in their short history. Resolute captain Nicholas Lindberg remains the favored keeper, although former BSC Vargas keeper Aranha represents an upgrade at backup. De la Cruz’s upgrades are far more noticeable at defense, however - Jan Caulson and Kris Suarez may not have made the cut at a stacked Emerald City, but they definitely bring both attacking and defensive prowess to this team. Kiernan Gustav remains the one defensive anchor on Coastal, although the loss of Ephraim Wagner to Harmony will sting, while Sandoval remains an incisive presence on the right flank and Kuznetsov and Pitt excellent prospects for the future.
The midfield is solid as ever - Nepharim free transfer Vanessa Booker will anchor the defense alongside the pacy Suleimann, while 36-year-old Jonathan Rhoderick is expected to be used frequently as an impact sub. Up front, the real prize is Alice Møller’s composure and speed on the right wing, while Zhou is less athletic but equally skilled. Felix Adamson at CAM is a question mark - he’s a dynamic playmaker with an eye for goal, but is reportedly dissatisfied at Coastal and unsuccessfully tried to force a move abroad.

Up front, Lilou Reid is undoubtedly the prize of Coastal’s transfer window. The teenage (although remarkably composed for her age) striker is unproven, having only played in Schottia’s semi-pro WSL, but has shown immense promise and delightful on-ball skills. Former starter Roman Pierce, less athletic than in the past, will wait on the bench, while Amberian Pavel Kilalurak is one to watch in the future.

The team remains defined by enigmatic manager Leonidas de la Cruz, but for all his antics, they still haven’t found the top half of the table. Will this be the year de la Cruz’s upgrades pay off? Or will management’s patience start running thin?

Manager: Jonathan Gonsalves (+2.5); Stadium: Bayside Park (23,500); Colors: Navy and White; Formation: 3-4-3

GK: Emily Johanssen (#01, 26), Christian Wictorsson (#13, 30)
Defense: Michael Pereira (#02, 26), Brad Okugo (#05, 22, USI), Diego Kloosterman (#03, 19, AUD), Jason Bradstreet (#14, 27), Blake Tyson (#25, 30)
Midfield: Sigurd Herleksson (#06, 25), Michael Guthrie (#07, 23), Elizabeth Bellard (#08, 22, NPH), Justin Yin (#17, 25), Bryant Manning (#15, 24), Caitlyn DeWitt (#18, 27)
Forward: Rafael Constantin (#20, 29), Jack Muskerry (#09, 25, NPH), Chelsea Yao [C] (#10, 27), Alyssa Marcusson (#18, 25), Jared Lund (#33, 30)

In: Jack Muskerry (ST, 25, BSC Vargas, $300k), Diego Kloosterman (RB, 19, Cazadores Cathair, Free), Brad Okugo (CB, 22, Myana, Free), Emily Johanssen (GK, 26, Olympic East, $250k), Elizabeth Bellard (DM, 22, Tihon, Free), Jared Lund (ST, 30, Lake Graz, Free)
Out: Jayson Herrera (MF, 24, Grigio Calcio, Free), Marvin Schunemann (GK, 39, released), Ariana Loe (RW, 26, released)
After a dominant SecondLleague campaign where they took fifty-one points out of twenty-one matches and finished nineteen points ahead of third-place 1940 Asure, Nandaozhou Sharks will be looking to successfully complete the jump to SuperLleague. Whether or not they have the squad quality to perform such a feat is uncertain, but under the stewardship of Jonathan Gonsalves and his counterattacking 3-4-3, they may have the system to stay in the top flight for another season. Emily Johanssen is an underrated goalkeeper known for her distribution, while Okugo is a strong playmaker from the back and Pereira and Kloosterman solid pickups. None of the three are particularly good defenders, but their passing touch makes them deadly on the counterattack (far better than Bradstreet and Tyson, last year’s starters).

The midfield has significant question marks, however. The departure of Jayson Herrera to the distant Askari Union has left a gap in central-midfield, while former star winger Ariana Loe’s career had been crushed by injuries before her release. The team will turn to Sigurd Herleksson, an unpolished but athletic winger, and Justin Yin, who has the opposite problem, on the wings to pitch in while Nepharim Bellard provides a solid defensive presence but not too much in the way of actual counterattacking - DeWitt is more suited to the team’s formation, but spent nearly half of last season suspended for one reason or another, while Guthrie is still a little unpolished, but has potential as a playmaker.

The forwards are the stars of this team, though, and nearly make up for the midfield’s shortcomings. In the middle, Nepharim Jack Muskerry spent most of last season as BSC Vargas’ only real attacking threat. Chelsea Yao, the team’s captain, is even more dangerous, nearly leading SecondLleague in goals scored as a winger, although Yao tends to drop in to play behind Muskerry or as an inside-forward. And Rafael Constantin is, although not particularly quick or strong, a fiend with the ball at his feet and defenders in front of him. The new formation might take a while adapting to. Still, Gonsalves has done an excellent job even getting them here, and the team has an excellent chance of staying up.

Manager: Curtis Chen (+2.5), Stadium: Tyler Rocke (37,500); Colors: Blue and Silver; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Marcus Siegrist [C] (#01, 30), Jenna Marquette-Dunsinane (#13, 24)
Defense: Eloisa Primavera (#14, 20, TAU), Immanuel Sorensen (#03, 30), Ellis Holloway (#15, 27, HSZ), Madeline Warwick (#16, 24),, Corey Dunbar (#02, 27), Wictor Henriksen (#05, 32)
Midfield: Schuyler Rutledge (#10, 30), Anna Walquist (#17, 30), Nemanja Volkhov (#07, 28) Taylor Morrison (#18, 31), Christian Whetham (#08, 31)
Forward: Madison Rojas (#20, 24), Guto (#09, 29, USI), Edward Korsky (#32, 28), Petra Wladecki (#18, 28), Margus Gerrard (#30, 22)

In: Schuyler Rutledge (CM, 30, FK Brookport, $5m), Eloisa Primavera (LB, 20, FC Elan, $500k)
Out: Jonathan Rhoderick (CM, 36, Los-Juantos Coastal, $200k), Emma Vanderwaal (DF, 22, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, Loan), Krisztina Berky (DF, 17, Emerald City Harmony, $1m)
Curtis Chen’s New Llama Capitals nearly won the league and cup last season before fading late and finishing fourth, but after a strong offseason, they could be Harmony’s strongest challenger. The team has retooled their attack-minded 4-3-3 with a number of strong pieces, and could finally beat their capital city rivals in the league.

Marcus Siegrist is a strong if overaggressive goalkeeper, and Jenna Marquette proved a decent deputy last season. The back four has been retooled with the introduction of Askari left-back Eloisa Primavera, while young right-back Madeline Warwick can only improve with time and Holloway and Sorensen (with Henriksen on the bench) form a decent, underrated pairing.

The big name in the midfield is five-million-dollar-purchase Schuyler Rutledge, a national hero in Eastham for his tenure as player-manager of AFC Dunsinane, who he brought from the bottom of the second division to the first-division championship in a single year. Rutledge is known for his attacking prowess (both in his inspired passing and devastating long-distance shots) and leadership, and there’s no doubt that he’ll slot in nicely alongside box-to-box midfielder Nemanja Volkhov and his passing touch and the quiet consistency of Anna Walquist to form one of the best midfields in the league.

Sunrisian striker Guto remains the main threat up front, but impact substitute Edward Korsky, after an excellent goal-scoring record last season, has been brought up to the right wing, displacing the excellent Petra Wladecki, while Madison Rojas stays on the left wing.

Overall, the team has improved on both the attack and defense. If anyone can keep up with Harmony, it’s them, and sophomore manager Curtis Chen will be expected to mount a serious title challenge this season.

Manager: Jeremy Hayes (+3); Stadium: Arthur Clarke (50,000); Colors: Green and White; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Sebastian Nielsen (#01, 34, ACR), Vincent Minaya (#12, 27)
Defense: Aysu Damjana (#06, 24, CMT), Michael Gunning (#03, 28), Stern Chaucer (#18, 32, NPH), Mark Sorensen (#10, 31), Ava Florentin (#16, 28), Sandor Constantinescu (#17, 29), Reagan Fleming (#15, 18)
Midfield: Sebastian Romero (#09, 27), Stefan Rinaldi (#10, 21), Annalisa Sigurdsson (#07, 22), Christine Valdevic (#33, 28), Scott Fillmore (#26, 25)
Forward: Francis Mandelbrot [C] (#11, 29), Uerlisson (#29, 30, MTH), Carsten Vincent (#09, 21), Caitlyn Gunning (#22, 21), Juniad Moussa (#31, 18, GAD)

In: Stefan Rinaldi (MF, 21, Kyrinson, $3m), Sandor Constantinescu (DF, 29, BSC Vargas, $100k), Juniad Moussa (ST, 18, Gadirya, $100k), Scott Fillmore (MF, 25, Free Agent), Reagan Fleming (DF, 18, Corbin City Islanders, $250k), Vincent Minaya (GK, 27, 1940 Asure, $200k)
Out: Jake Raburn (MF, 37, retired), Bryant Vanderwaal (MF, 18, Wheathampton Warriors, Loan), Erika Blanton (GK, 28, Emerald City Harmony, $1.25m), Jason Walker (DF, 30, released)

Stars would be legitimately frightening, and after they signed Stefan Rinaldi, many thought they were the team to beat. Although Emerald City’s spending spree has ensured that they remain the title favorites, Stars are likely to remain on Harmony’s heels the entire season. With Erika Blanton’s departure, Acronian national team starter Sebastian Nielsen is the unquestionable first-choice and one of the team’s stars, although there’s not much behind him if he goes down. The defense will be relied on to stop goals from pouring past the attack-minded midfield - Aysu Damjana has become one of the league’s best defenders, while Gunning and Chaucer form a solid partnership. It should be enough to cover for Mark Sorensen’s constant runs down the line - the defender wears #10 for a reason, although the“Second Captain” is starting to lose some of his pace.

The midfield is easily the nation’s best, although none of them do much on defense. In the center, three-million-dollar-man Stefan Rinaldi is a free-floating, dynamic playmaker who’s been capped for the national team - he’s just 21, too! To his right, Annalise Sigurdsson is just a year older, and she’s athletic and excellent with corners and free-kicks. To his left, Sebastian Romero is known more for his raw athleticism and occasional acts of aggression than for his skill, but he’s an underrated player who’s the best goalscorer of the three.

Up front, Carsten Vincent (also 21!) is arguably the best player of his generation - the goalscoring winger scored eleven goals in his first SuperLleague season, forcing Mia Ticheli from the starting lineup in the process. Left-winger, occasional striker, and national team substitute Francis Mandelbrot has an equally impressive scoring record, while Matthewsianian Uerlisson had an off year last year but was excellent in SuperLleague One. Gunning and Moussa are also capable enough, although they’re more long-term projects. One thing’s for sure - no matter who’s starting where, the midfield and attack will guarantee a steady stream of goals. It’ll be up to the defensive to stop the Stars’ opponents from doing the same. Still, this is a dangerous team with an excellent manager in Jeremy Hayes, and they should be serious contenders.

Manager: Ryan Reagan (0); Stadium: Olympic Field (36,000); Colors: Emerald and Silver; Formation: 4-4-2

GK: Sigrid Cooper (#01, 30, NPH), Matthew Bengtsson (#12, 25)
Defense: Paul Althusse (#03, 19, ACR), Jan Mertesacker (#02, 31), Emily Ren (#14, 27), Tristan Lin (#05, 27), Megan Olafson (#16, 29), Will Henry (#26, 29)
Midfield: Morgan Sandberg (#30, 26) Markus Rasmussen (#18, 24), Kurtis Mann (#09, 26), Adria Sigurorzson (#07, 30), Gedeon Gyenis (#06, 17, PAS), Ryan McAllister (#08, 19)
Forward: Alex Cartwright (#10, 45), Jordan Carrasco [C] (#11, 27), Violet Ticheli (#33, 26), Younus Bull (#20, 30, EFL), Jeremy Faulkner (#21, 20)

In: Morgan Sandberg (L/RW, 26, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, $250k), Violet Ticheli (ST, 26, BSC Vargas, $200k), Emily Ren (DF, 27, BSC Vargas, $300k), Younus Bull (ST, 30, Berevo Bulls, Free), Jeremy Faulkner (ST, 20, promoted), Matthew Bengtsson (GK, 25, Lake Graz, $75k), Ryan McAllister (MF, 19, Norton Athletic, $1.5m)
Out: Cora Wilkensen (DF, 18, Corbin City Islanders, Loan), Emily Johanssen (GK, 26, Nandaozhou Sharks, $250k), Jordan Svensson (MF, 29, Talahita Tigers, $300k), Justin Koehler (MF, 27, Emerald City Harmony, $2.75m)

Last year was a nightmare for David Korhonen and Olympic East - the team was easily the worst in the league, and only a late revival and the Llamanean relegation playoff kept them from going down. This year may still be a nightmare for Korhonen, who was unceremoniously sacked at the end of the season, but under the new leadership of Ryan Reagan, a former national-team center-back and assistant coach for both second-tier Wheathampton and the U21 team, things may be looking up. Justin Koehler has left the team - despite an underwhelming first season, Harmony still splashed three million dollars for his services. U21 starter Ryan McAllister, rescued from the third tier, will slot in admirably, although he’s not ready to play yet. The real gem of the midfield, however, remains vice-captain Kurtis Mann, whose playmaking acumen has not gone unnoticed by bigger clubs that have been continually trying to snatch him away for two years. On the wings, Sandberg and Sigurorzson provide pace and an aerial presence, making the midfield pretty decent.

The back line isn’t bad, either. Cooper was fairly well-regarded in Nephara, center-back Emily Ren was one of the bright spots in BSC Vargas’ season, and Mertesacker is a reliable cog who also happens to be six-five. Lin and perpetually-about-to-be-arrested Althusse aren’t bad as fullbacks, either, and Olafson and Henry were decent if unspectacular last season.

Of course, there’s one major concern - they can’t finish. Alex Cartwright is ostensibly the team’s best goalscorer, even at forty-six, but his new job as a Congressman is taking up most of his time. Jordan Carrasco, the team’s captain and best player, is more of a false-nine type who preferred to set up a winger or Cartwright last season. Without Cartwright, a number of hastily-assembled options could be paired with Carrasco, but none are at all inspiring and the team will struggle for goals this year.

Ryan Reagan has made a number of improvements, but it may not be enough for Olympic. If the team can’t find goals in time, a second straight trip to the relegation playoffs may be waiting.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:14 pm

New Llama Capitals 0–2 Olympic East
Emerald City Harmony 3–3 New Llama Stars
Los-Juantos Coastal 2–2 Kyrinson
AFC Ruby 1–3 Nandaozhou Sharks

Olympic East 1–2 Nandaozhou Sharks
Kyrinson 0–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Stars 5–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Capitals 1–0 Emerald City Harmony

Emerald City Harmony 1–1 Olympic East
Los-Juantos Coastal 3–3 New Llama Capitals
AFC Ruby 0–1 New Llama Stars
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–1 Kyrinson

Olympic East 0–1 Kyrinson
New Llama Stars 6–0 Nandaozhou Sharks
New Llama Capitals 0–3 AFC Ruby
Emerald City Harmony 4–3 Los-Juantos Coastal

Los-Juantos Coastal 0–1 Olympic East
AFC Ruby 1–2 Emerald City Harmony
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–1 New Llama Capitals
Kyrinson 1–1 New Llama Stars

Olympic East 2–2 New Llama Stars
New Llama Capitals 1–0 Kyrinson
Emerald City Harmony 3–1 Nandaozhou Sharks
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–1 AFC Ruby

AFC Ruby 1–0 Olympic East
Nandaozhou Sharks 0–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
Kyrinson 1–3 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Stars 0–2 New Llama Capitals

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Emerald City Harmony       7    4   2   1    16   11   +5    14
2 New Llama Stars            7    3   3   1    18    9   +9    12
3 New Llama Capitals         7    3   2   2     8    9   −1    11
4 AFC Ruby                   7    3   1   3     7    6   +1    10
5 Nandaozhou Sharks          7    2   3   2     8   13   −5     9
6 Olympic East               7    2   2   3     7    7    0     8
7 Kyrinson                   7    1   4   2     6    8   −2     7
8 Los-Juantos Coastal        7    0   3   4     9   16   −7     3

Olympic East 0–1 New Llama Capitals
New Llama Stars 1–1 Emerald City Harmony
Kyrinson 1–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–2 AFC Ruby

Nandaozhou Sharks 0–0 Olympic East
AFC Ruby 1–0 Kyrinson
Los-Juantos Coastal 2–1 New Llama Stars
Emerald City Harmony 0–1 New Llama Capitals

Olympic East 1–0 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Capitals 2–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Stars 0–2 AFC Ruby
Kyrinson 0–2 Nandaozhou Sharks

Kyrinson 2–0 Olympic East
Nandaozhou Sharks 0–4 New Llama Stars
AFC Ruby 0–1 New Llama Capitals
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–0 Emerald City Harmony

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        11    7   2   2    13    9   +4    23
2 AFC Ruby                  11    6   1   4    12    8   +4    19
3 New Llama Stars           11    4   4   3    24   14  +10    16
4 Emerald City Harmony      11    4   3   4    17   15   +2    15
5 Kyrinson                  11    3   4   4     9   11   −2    13
6 Nandaozhou Sharks         11    3   4   4    11   19   −8    13
7 Olympic East              11    3   3   5     8   10   −2    12
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       11    2   3   6    12   20   −8     9

Olympic East 1–2 Los-Juantos Coastal
Emerald City Harmony 1–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Capitals 5–3 Nandaozhou Sharks
New Llama Stars 0–1 Kyrinson

New Llama Stars 2–1 Olympic East
Kyrinson 0–0 New Llama Capitals
Nandaozhou Sharks 0–3 Emerald City Harmony
AFC Ruby 1–0 Los-Juantos Coastal

Olympic East 0–0 AFC Ruby
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–1 Nandaozhou Sharks
Emerald City Harmony 2–0 Kyrinson
New Llama Capitals 3–3 New Llama Stars

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        14    8   4   2    21   15   +6    28
2 Emerald City Harmony      14    7   3   4    23   15   +8    24
3 AFC Ruby                  14    7   2   5    13    9   +4    23
4 New Llama Stars           14    5   5   4    29   19  +10    20
5 Kyrinson                  14    4   5   5    10   13   −3    17
6 Nandaozhou Sharks         14    4   4   6    15   27  −12    16
7 Olympic East              14    3   4   7    10   14   −4    13
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       14    3   3   8    14   23   −9    12

New Llama Capitals 1–0 Olympic East
Emerald City Harmony 0–2 New Llama Stars
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–2 Kyrinson
AFC Ruby 2–0 Nandaozhou Sharks

Olympic East 1–1 Nandaozhou Sharks
Kyrinson 0–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Stars 3–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Capitals 3–2 Emerald City Harmony

Emerald City Harmony 1–0 Olympic East
Los-Juantos Coastal 3–3 New Llama Capitals
AFC Ruby 0–4 New Llama Stars
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–0 Kyrinson

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        17   10   5   2    28   20   +8    35
2 New Llama Stars           17    8   5   4    38   19  +19    29
3 Emerald City Harmony      17    8   3   6    26   20   +6    27
4 AFC Ruby                  17    8   3   6    15   13   +2    27
5 Kyrinson                  17    5   6   6    12   14   −2    21
6 Nandaozhou Sharks         17    5   5   7    17   30  −13    20
7 Olympic East              17    3   5   9    11   17   −6    14
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       17    3   4  10    17   31  −14    13

Olympic East 0–0 Kyrinson
New Llama Stars 5–0 Nandaozhou Sharks
New Llama Capitals 0–1 AFC Ruby
Emerald City Harmony 2–0 Los-Juantos Coastal

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        18   10   5   3    28   21   +7    35
2 New Llama Stars           18    9   5   4    43   19  +24    32
3 Emerald City Harmony      18    9   3   6    28   20   +8    30
4 AFC Ruby                  18    9   3   6    16   13   +3    30
5 Kyrinson                  18    5   7   6    12   14   −2    22
6 Nandaozhou Sharks         18    5   5   8    17   35  −18    20
7 Olympic East              18    3   6   9    11   17   −6    15
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       18    3   4  11    17   33  −16    13

Los-Juantos Coastal 0–1 Olympic East
AFC Ruby 0–1 Emerald City Harmony
Nandaozhou Sharks 2–1 New Llama Capitals
Kyrinson 0–3 New Llama Stars

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Stars           19   10   5   4    46   19  +27    35
2 New Llama Capitals        19   10   5   4    29   23   +6    35
3 Emerald City Harmony      19   10   3   6    29   20   +9    33
4 AFC Ruby                  19    9   3   7    16   14   +2    30
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         19    6   5   8    19   36  −17    23
6 Kyrinson                  19    5   7   7    12   17   −5    22
7 Olympic East              19    4   6   9    12   17   −5    18
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       19    3   4  12    17   34  −17    13

Olympic East 0–1 New Llama Stars
New Llama Capitals 4–0 Kyrinson
Emerald City Harmony 0–1 Nandaozhou Sharks
Los-Juantos Coastal 3–2 AFC Ruby

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Stars           20   11   5   4    47   19  +28    38
2 New Llama Capitals        20   11   5   4    33   23  +10    38
3 Emerald City Harmony      20   10   3   7    29   21   +8    33
4 AFC Ruby                  20    9   3   8    18   17   +1    30
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         20    7   5   8    20   36  −16    26
6 Kyrinson                  20    5   7   8    12   21   −9    22
7 Olympic East              20    4   6  10    12   18   −6    18
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       20    4   4  12    20   36  −16    16

AFC Ruby 1–1 Olympic East
Nandaozhou Sharks 4–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
Kyrinson 0–2 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Stars 1–1 New Llama Capitals

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Stars           21   11   6   4    48   20  +28    39
2 New Llama Capitals        21   11   6   4    34   24  +10    39
3 Emerald City Harmony      21   11   3   7    31   21  +10    36
4 AFC Ruby                  21    9   4   8    19   18   +1    31
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    8   5   8    24   36  −12    29
6 Kyrinson                  21    5   7   9    12   23  −11    22
7 Olympic East              21    4   7  10    13   19   −6    19
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       21    4   4  13    20   40  −20    16

New Llama Stars 3–3 New Llama Capitals
New Llama Capitals 0–1 New Llama Stars (3-4 agg)

Olympic East 4–3 Los-Juantos Coastal
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–0 Olympic East (4-4 agg, Los-Juantos survives on away goals)

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                  7    4   2   1    11    4   +7    14
2 Wheathampton Warriors       7    4   1   2    10    5   +5    13
3 SC Nikcoro                  7    4   1   2    11    8   +3    13
4 1940 Asure                  7    3   1   3     7    8   −1    10
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo        7    2   3   2     5    6   −1     9
6 SC Apple Valley             7    1   4   2     5    8   −3     7
7 Easthaven Centurion         7    1   3   3     2    4   −2     6
8 Talahita Tigers             7    1   1   5     2   10   −8     4

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 11    6   3   2    18    9   +9    21
2 Wheathampton Warriors      11    6   3   2    13    6   +7    21
3 SC Nikcoro                 11    6   2   3    22   17   +5    20
4 1940 Asure                 11    5   2   4    17   13   +4    17
5 Easthaven Centurion        11    3   3   5     8    8    0    12
6 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       11    2   5   4     8   13   −5    11
7 Talahita Tigers            11    3   1   7     6   17  −11    10
8 SC Apple Valley            11    1   5   5     8   17   −9     8

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 SC Nikcoro                 14    8   3   3    31   22   +9    27
2 BSC Vargas                 14    7   5   2    26   15  +11    26
3 Wheathampton Warriors      14    7   4   3    17   10   +7    25
4 1940 Asure                 14    6   4   4    19   14   +5    22
5 Easthaven Centurion        14    3   5   6     9   10   −1    14
6 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       14    3   5   6    10   17   −7    14
7 SC Apple Valley            14    2   6   6    10   19   −9    12
8 Talahita Tigers            14    3   2   9     8   23  −15    11

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 SC Nikcoro                 17   10   4   3    38   22  +16    34
2 BSC Vargas                 17    9   6   2    33   20  +13    33
3 Wheathampton Warriors      17    9   5   3    19   10   +9    32
4 1940 Asure                 17    7   6   4    22   16   +6    27
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       17    4   6   7    12   19   −7    18
6 Easthaven Centurion        17    3   5   9     9   16   −7    14
7 Talahita Tigers            17    4   2  11    12   28  −16    14
8 SC Apple Valley            17    2   6   9    11   25  −14    12

SC Apple Valley 0–2 Talahita Tigers
Wheathampton Warriors 1–2 BSC Vargas
SC Nikcoro 1–1 1940 Asure
Svenssonfjord Dynamo 0–1 Easthaven Centurion

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 18   10   6   2    35   21  +14    36
2 SC Nikcoro                 18   10   5   3    39   23  +16    35
3 Wheathampton Warriors      18    9   5   4    20   12   +8    32
4 1940 Asure                 18    7   7   4    23   17   +6    28
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       18    4   6   8    12   20   −8    18
6 Easthaven Centurion        18    4   5   9    10   16   −6    17
7 Talahita Tigers            18    5   2  11    14   28  −14    17
8 SC Apple Valley            18    2   6  10    11   27  −16    12

Easthaven Centurion 0–1 SC Apple Valley
1940 Asure 1–1 Svenssonfjord Dynamo
BSC Vargas 3–3 SC Nikcoro
Talahita Tigers 1–2 Wheathampton Warriors

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 19   10   7   2    38   24  +14    37
2 SC Nikcoro                 19   10   6   3    42   26  +16    36
3 Wheathampton Warriors      19   10   5   4    22   13   +9    35
4 1940 Asure                 19    7   8   4    24   18   +6    29
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       19    4   7   8    13   21   −8    19
6 Easthaven Centurion        19    4   5  10    10   17   −7    17
7 Talahita Tigers            19    5   2  12    15   30  −15    17
8 SC Apple Valley            19    3   6  10    12   27  −15    15

SC Apple Valley 1–5 Wheathampton Warriors
SC Nikcoro 4–0 Talahita Tigers
Svenssonfjord Dynamo 2–4 BSC Vargas
Easthaven Centurion 0–1 1940 Asure

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 20   11   7   2    42   26  +16    40
2 SC Nikcoro                 20   11   6   3    46   26  +20    39
3 Wheathampton Warriors      20   11   5   4    27   14  +13    38
4 1940 Asure                 20    8   8   4    25   18   +7    32
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       20    4   7   9    15   25  −10    19
6 Easthaven Centurion        20    4   5  11    10   18   −8    17
7 Talahita Tigers            20    5   2  13    15   34  −19    17
8 SC Apple Valley            20    3   6  11    13   32  −19    15

1940 Asure 3–2 SC Apple Valley
BSC Vargas 2–2 Easthaven Centurion
Talahita Tigers 0–0 Svenssonfjord Dynamo
Wheathampton Warriors 2–0 SC Nikcoro

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 21   11   8   2    44   28  +16    41
2 Wheathampton Warriors      21   12   5   4    29   14  +15    41
3 SC Nikcoro                 21   11   6   4    46   28  +18    39
4 1940 Asure                 21    9   8   4    28   20   +8    35
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       21    4   8   9    15   25  −10    20
6 Easthaven Centurion        21    4   6  11    12   20   −8    18
7 Talahita Tigers            21    5   3  13    15   34  −19    18
8 SC Apple Valley            21    3   6  12    15   35  −20    15

Wheathampton Warriors 1–1 BSC Vargas
BSC Vargas 0–0 Wheathampton Warriors (1-1 agg, BSC Vargas advances on away goals)

Talahita Tigers 0–1 Easthaven Centurion
Easthaven Centurion 0–1 Talahita Tigers (2-1 AET) (3-1 agg)

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Southfeld Wanderers         7    4   1   2     5    4   +1    13
2 Derrierton City             7    4   0   3    11   11    0    12
3 Lake Graz                   7    3   0   4     4    6   −2     9
4 Corbin City Islanders       7    2   1   4     8    7   +1     7

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Corbin City Islanders      14    9   1   4    31   12  +19    28
2 Derrierton City            14    7   1   6    24   22   +2    22
3 Southfeld Wanderers        14    5   2   7     7   18  −11    17
4 Lake Graz                  14    5   0   9     7   17  −10    15

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Corbin City Islanders      21   11   1   9    34   19  +15    34
2 Lake Graz                  21   10   2   9    17   21   −4    32
3 Derrierton City            21    8   5   8    33   32   +1    29
4 Southfeld Wanderers        21    7   4  10    16   28  −12    25

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 FC Mendel                   7    5   0   2    15    7   +8    15
2 South Bryant Athletic       7    4   1   2    13   11   +2    13
3 Warwick Palace              7    2   3   2    13   11   +2     9
4 New Llama Generals          7    0   2   5     8   20  −12     2

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 FC Mendel                  14    9   2   3    26   14  +12    29
2 Warwick Palace             14    6   4   4    33   23  +10    22
3 South Bryant Athletic      14    4   3   7    19   27   −8    15
4 New Llama Generals         14    2   5   7    17   31  −14    11

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 FC Mendel                  21   12   4   5    37   21  +16    40
2 Warwick Palace             21   10   6   5    46   27  +19    36
3 South Bryant Athletic      21    7   4  10    28   33   −5    25
4 New Llama Generals         21    3   6  12    21   51  −30    15

by **Super-Llamaland** » Mon Apr 03, 2017 11:07 am

SuperCup - Preliminary Round

1940 Asure v. Southfeld Wanderers (0-2, 3-1)
Wheathampton Warriors v. Corbin City Islanders (3-0, 4-2)
BSC Vargas v. Lake Graz (3-1, 3-2)
Talahita Tigers v. Derrierton City (2-1, 4-0)
SC Apple Valley v. FC Mendel (1-0, 0-0)
New Llama Generals v. Svenssonfjord Dynamo (0-2, 0-1)
South Bryant Athletic v. SC Nikcoro (0-1, 1-2)
Easthaven Centurion v. Warwick Palace (1-1, 0-1)

SuperCup - Round of 16

Nandaozhou Sharks v. Svenssonfjord Dynamo (0-1, 3-1)
SC Nikcoro v. Talahita Tigers (0-3, 1-0)
Warwick Palace v. Southfeld Wanderers (0-2, 0-3)
New Llama Capitals v. Wheathampton Warriors (4-4, 0-2)
Los-Juantos Coastal v. New Llama Stars (2-2, 0-4)
AFC Ruby v. SC Apple Valley (2-1, 1-0)
BSC Vargas v. Kyrinson (0-0, 0-1)
Olympic East v. Emerald City Harmony (0-0, 0-1)

SuperCup - Quarterfinals

Talahita Tigers v. Southfeld Wanderers (0-3, 2-2)
AFC Ruby v. Emerald City Harmony (0-3, 0-1)
Nandaozhou Sharks v. New Llama Stars (1-2, 0-1)
Wheathampton Warriors v. Kyrinson (1-2, 1-1)

SuperCup - Semifinals

Southfeld Wanderers v. Emerald City Harmony (0-2, 0-0)
New Llama Stars v. Kyrinson (1-0, 0-1 [0-2 AET])

SuperCup - Final

Emerald City Harmony 3–2 Kyrinson

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 8:02 pm

SEASON 3 RECAP

Another year, another last-second race to the finish! But not the one anybody expected...

With just seven matches to play, the table was in flux. Harmony, after some early-season struggles, had managed to go 7-3-4 and work their way into second place, but they were still four points behind two-time Unexpected League Leaders Capitals. Meanwhile, Stars had slipped to fourth, eight points and three places out of the title, and the bottom of the table was still up for grabs - although Olympic East and newly-hired Ryan Reagan, as well as Los-Juantos, stubbornly clinging on to Leo de la Cruz, looked to be most in danger.

However, poor form from Harmony and the Capitals, combined with Ruby being Ruby, saw the Stars climb up to 32 points, three behind their crosstown rivals but two ahead of both Harmony and Ruby. Meanwhile, the bottom had largely resolved itself as well - with Olympic and Coastal both resigned to playing for their spot in the SuperLleague next season.

Plucky Nandaozhou had finally secured sixth place and could relax at last with three games to play...or so Curtis Chen's New Llama Capitals thought. Instead, the Sharks bested the league leaders two-one, and suddenly there was a tie for first. Stunned, Capitals kicked back into gear with a four-nil thrashing of Kyrinson, but Stars' nervy away win kept the two teams tied heading into the final matchday, playing...each other. Meanwhile, Harmony, Ruby, Sharks and Kyrinson had sealed their spots. With a game left, the only thing left to be decided was the champion.

Schuyler Rutledge's forty-eighth minute free kick threatened to bring Arthur C. Clarke down to the ground. Stars immediately threw themselves into attack, and with eight minutes to play, Stefan Rinaldi went down in the penalty box. Capitals fans called it a dive, but the referee correctly carded Henriksen, and Mandelbrot coolly slotted the penalty home to save his team's title hopes. The championship would be decided by an electrifying two-game playoff.

The first game, at The C, did not disappoint at all. Stars went up three-nil in the first half behind goals from Romero, Sigurdsson (on a delightful free-kick), and Francis Mandelbrot. But this time, it was their turn to choke away the lead. First came Schuyler Rutledge, drawing a penalty off a shoddy Michael Gunning challenge and converting it cleanly. Next was Edward Korsky, somehow getting past Damjana before cutting outside and scoring a wondergoal. And, with just five minutes to play, Guto got past three defenders before rifling his shot into the top corner. Three-all. Advantage, Capitals.

They proceeded to take twenty-one shots, score precisely zero, and watch helplessly as Stefan Rinaldi tore apart their defense before finding a wide-open Mandelbrot, who could do nothing but knock it past Siegrist in the eighty-sixth minute. The Stars had become the first non-Emerald champions ever. And they had done so in the best way possible.

TEAM RECAPS

AWARDS

All-Lleague First XI: Fournier (KYR); Damjana (NLS), Myers-Briggs (RBY), Wagner (ECH), Seymour (RBY), Abel (ECH); Sigurdsson (NLS), Rutledge (NLC), Rinaldi (NLS); Reid (LJA), Mandelbrot (NLS)
Honorable Mentions: GK Kelly (RBY), DF Hanger (ECH), DF Sorensen (NLS), MF Tresor (ECH), MF Volkhov (NLC), FW Vincent (NLS), FW Muskerry (NDZ)

TOP SCORER
T1. Lilou Reid (13, LJA)
T1. Francis Mandelbrot (13, NLS)
3. Carsten Vincent (12, NLS)
T4. Jack Muskerry (11, NDZ)
T4. Guto (11, NLC)

MOST ASSISTS
1. Stefan Rinaldi (15, NLS)
2. Schuyler Rutledge (14, NLC)
3. Michael Kennedy (11, RBY)

JOHAN LINDBERG AWARD FOR BEST FOREIGNER
1. Lilou Reid (Schottia)
2. Aysu Damjana (Chromatika)
3. Renaud Fournier (Cosumar)

MANAGER OF THE YEAR
1. Jeremy Hayes (NLS)
2. Jonathan Gonçalves (NDZ)
3. David Russell (RBY)

OLIVER TROPHY
The Oliver Trophy, named after former Llamanean national team player John Oliver, who was instrumental in creating the SuperLleague, is a new award given to the best player each season. Votes from players, managers, and an independent panel assembled by the LFA are all considered when designating a player to receive this award.

1. Stefan Rinaldi (AM, NLS)
2. Schuyler Rutledge (CM, NLC)
3. Ephraim Wagner (CB, ECH)
4. Lilou Reid (ST, LJA)
5. Renaud Fournier (GK, KYR)
6. Annalisa Sigurdsson (CM, NLS)
7. Jack Muskerry (ST, NDZ)

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Stars           21   11   6   4    48   20  +28    39
2 New Llama Capitals        21   11   6   4    34   24  +10    39
3 Emerald City Harmony      21   11   3   7    31   21  +10    36
4 AFC Ruby                  21    9   4   8    19   18   +1    31
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    8   5   8    24   36  −12    29
6 Kyrinson                  21    5   7   9    12   23  −11    22
7 Olympic East              21    4   7  10    13   19   −6    19
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       21    4   4  13    20   40  −20    16

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 BSC Vargas                 21   11   8   2    44   28  +16    41
2 Wheathampton Warriors      21   12   5   4    29   14  +15    41
3 SC Nikcoro                 21   11   6   4    46   28  +18    39
4 1940 Asure                 21    9   8   4    28   20   +8    35
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       21    4   8   9    15   25  −10    20
6 Easthaven Centurion        21    4   6  11    12   20   −8    18
7 Talahita Tigers            21    5   3  13    15   34  −19    18
8 SC Apple Valley            21    3   6  12    15   35  −20    15

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 FC Mendel                   7    5   0   2    15    7   +8    15
2 South Bryant Athletic       7    4   1   2    13   11   +2    13
3 Warwick Palace              7    2   3   2    13   11   +2     9
4 New Llama Generals          7    0   2   5     8   20  −12     2

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 FC Mendel                  21   12   4   5    37   21  +16    40
2 Warwick Palace             21   10   6   5    46   27  +19    36
3 South Bryant Athletic      21    7   4  10    28   33   −5    25
4 New Llama Generals         21    3   6  12    21   51  −30    15

by **Super-Llamaland** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 10:13 am

SEASON IV PREVIEW

Eight teams, seven cities, twenty-one matchdays, one champion. It's back and better than ever.

Updates:

The procedure for SecondLleague relegations/ThirdLleague promotions has been changed:
-The worst SecondLleague team will be automatically relegated, and the best ThirdLleague team from that division automatically promoted,
-The next two worst SecondLleague teams (one from the North, one from the South) will play in a home-and-away playoff against the best remaining RegionLleague teams from their divisions to determine promotion/relegation.
The LFA would like to welcome four new teams - AFC Dunsinane, Sherbrooke United, SC Hazel, and Westbridge DIamonds to the RegionLleague. Dunsinane and Sherbrooke will play in the six-team NorthLleague (formerly ThirdLleague North) while Hazel and Westbridge will play in the six-team SouthLleague (formerly ThirdLleague South)
The league pyramid now consists of twenty-eight teams, meaning that all NorthLleague and SouthLleague teams will play a home-and-away playoff to determine who can enter the Round of 24, now named the Second Preliminary Round.
Many fans remarked how odd it was that Southfeld Wanderers had been placed in ThirdLleague North while New Llama Generals had been placed in ThirdLleague South despite the fact that Southfeld is further south than New Llama City. The two teams have agreed to switch spots this season.

AFC RUBY
Manager: David Russell (-1); Stadium: Falls Field (28,500); Colors: Ruby and Silver; Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Claudia Kelly (#01, 36, BRE), Emily Kouzmanoff (#13, 22)
Defense: Chris Myers-Briggs (#03, 25), Cassandra Costell (#06, 35, NPH), Everett Seymour (#15, 31, COS), Madeline Warwick (#16, 24), Marcelo Ferreira (#05, 34), Emmanuel Saint Marcel (#14, 19, SEM), Jane Walden (#02, 28)
Midfield: Konrad Foster (#07, 32, NPH), Page Bailey (#15, 34, BRE), Damian Conagher (#18, 34, NPH), Michael Kennedy [C] (#08, 31), Cameron Petridis (#10, 27), Cosimo Poole (#17, 25, COS), Michael Castro (#38, 27)
Forward: Deon Partell (#09, 31, SEM), Immanuel Petrarch (#11, 28), Alfonse Gerard (#20, 28), Liam Dahl (#22, 24, PAS), Felix Prowse (#29, 36, BRE)

In: Deon Partell (ST, 31, Klyde, free), Madeline Warwick (RB, 24, New Llama Capitals, $500k), Liam Dahl (ST, 24, Unattached)
Out: Emory Byrne (ST, 31, released), Alex Bale (CB, 37, retired), Keith Blanton (CM, 35, released)

David Russell has silenced his doubters yet again. Many were doubtful of his ability to retool his team for a Globe Cup run and another SuperLleague season - all on a basically-nonexistent budget. But, somehow, the veteran manager has reconstructed flawlessly, and Ruby look poised to compete for the Globe Cup spots again. Ruby play clean, quick counterattacking football, but are fairly flexible tactically and provide ample opportunity for Russell to experiment. As all Russell teams are, Ruby are very solid at the back - with the addition of Capitals’ Maddie Warwick to a great (if aging) backline that conceded the fewest goals out of any SuperLleague team, and a fairly defensive-minded midfield pairing of Bailey and Conagher, it’ll be very hard to score on them this season.

The concern with Ruby is always whether or not they have enough creative presence to find goals. Konrad Foster and previously-capped Michael Kennedy are a decent pair of wingers, but they’re a little too straightforward to make much. Ruby might still struggle to create goals, as usual. But David Russell has made them very good on the counterattack - new signing Deon Partell is looking to make his mark on SuperLleague, and the extremely fast Immanuel Petrarch is hoping to bounce back. If they can achieve their goals, the front two could be a force to be reckoned with - and Ruby might even have an outside chance at the title.

David Russell, once again, has created a counterattacking, defensively solid, inexpensive, but old squad. As always, if they can avoid injuries, they’re in a decent position.

Prediction: FOURTH.

BSC VARGAS
Manager: Evan Powell (+1.5); Stadium: Centennial Field (52,000); Colors: Green and Yellow; Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Conor Matthewson (#01, 37), Rebecca Boumediene (#13, 28)
Defense: Erik Gunnarsson (#03, 33), Scott Sonnett (#02, 34, BRE), Sandor Constantinescu (#05, 30), Troy Bradlee (#17, 25), Jeff Martinsen (#16, 32), Jessica Myers (#25, 31)
Midfield: Markus Klein [C] (#28, 30), Ariadne Eldridge (#06, 23, NPH), Jason Petrovic (#08, 25), Meghan Rasmussen (#30, 22), Richard Mendelsohn (#15, 26), Anna Chiswell (#26, 23)
Striker: Uerlisson (#10, 30, MTH), Harry Robertson (#09, 34, NPH), Franz Christensen (#12, 28), Derek Santos (#33, 25)

In: Conor Matthewson (GK, 37, Marque, free), Uerlisson (ST, 30, New Llama Stars, $300k), Harry Robertson (ST, 34, Corvette Maulers, free), Ariadne Eldridge (DM, 23, Matthew Mets, free), Anna Chiswell (CM, 23, Öslerholm Chariots, loan)
Out: Caroline Rasmussen (MF, 29, FF Axel, $250k), Chelsea Marino (DF, 30, Southfeld Wanderers, $50k)

Vargas are back in the SuperLleague! And they’ve brought a new manager and several new faces as well. Evan Powell, a former national-team striker, should be given a lot of credit for Vargas’ unexpected promotion last season, and on paper, he’s a squad that should be able to stay up comfortably as well. Conor Matthewson is a solid shot-stopper despite his age, and the defense in front of him is decent as well - Gunnarsson one of the team’s best players and generally the more conservative of the two fullbacks, Sonnett and Constantinescu experienced, composed center-backs, and Troy Bradlee an audacious young talent on the right side. The midfield is solid and reliable as well - Jason Petrovic and Markus Klein the team’s main sources of inspiration, Eldridge a clean, hard-working defensive-midfielder, and Meghan Rasmussen is pacy, strong, and a potential source of goals and solid crosses from the right wing.

Matthewsianian Uerlisson, freshly signed from the Stars, has been inconsistent, but Vargas will hope he can channel his goalscoring form from last season - even when not “on”, he should be able to set up chances for the other striker, Harry Robertson. The Nepharim poacher doesn’t do much when he isn’t scoring but is, keeping with the theme, hard-working and reliable. The substitutes (and BSC has a surprising amount of depth for a newly-promoted club) fit into this theme as well.

BSC won’t even be looking at the Globe Cup spots this year - their goal is nothing more than survival and a decent cup run. They have assembled their roster to fit these goals, and there’s little doubt they’ll be able to achieve them.

Prediction: SIXTH.

EMERALD CITY HARMONY
Manager: Erik Anderssen (0); Stadium: Emerald Coliseum (20,000); Colors: Green and Black; Formation: 3-5-2
GK: Erika Blanton (#01, 29), Marcos Santana (#12, 19), Erin Donalbain (#13, 18)
Defense: Emily Gustav (#14, 19), Ellie Hanger (#03, 21), Ephraim Wagner (#02, 28), Henrick Davenport (#05, 36, NPH), Kristztina Berky (#06, 18, PAS), Tim Ferraro (#16, 26)
Midfield: Willard Banks (#11, 30, HSZ), Marin Tresor (#06, 20, ACR), Trevor Fournier [C] (#10, 23), Justin Koehler (#08, 28), Francesca Abel (#39, 25), Megan Thurmond (#07, 21), Kurtis Mann (#21, 26), Gudjon Letonien (#45, 24)
Forward: Mursill Lubiflor (#09, 29, COS), Nego do Jordel (#21, 17, MTH), Jake Wesley (#20, 27), Emma Berdych (#25, 19)

In: Kurtis Mann (MF, 26, Olympic East, $1.5m), Emma Berdych (ST, 19, Warwick Palace, $300k), Mursill Lubiflor (ST, 29, West Gundar FC, $7m)
Out: Tzipporah Cohen (ST, 23, Chatswood, returned from loan), Griffin Varga (MF, 31, Zazrak Athletic, $600k), Costa Barros (ST, 23, SC Nikcoro, loan)

Last season was arguably the greatest disappointment in Harmony’s short history. After two consecutive championships and a number of squad improvements, the side managed a mere third-place finish, behind both capital clubs. It was unacceptable for Erik Anderssen and for the team’s ownership, and it was decided to spend the remainder of their $19m warchest (from the sales of Johannes Sindelaar and Marco Saint Paul). And it was spent very well. Mursill Lubiflor, a tenacious, direct striker who netted fifteen goals last season in Cosumar, was made the most expensive signing in SuperLleague history at $7m and will easily be the best player in SuperLleague next season unless something goes horribly wrong. She’s supported by Nego do Jordel, arguably her exact opposite, and by star midfielder Trevor Fournier.

But, even with Lubiflor up top, this team still can win games through defense alone. Erika Blanton is a talented shot-stopper, but she’s only a short-term solution with hot prospects Santana and Donalbain on the rise. That’s not to say they don’t have young talent in the back - teenager Emily Gustav is a bit attack-minded for LCB but has a lot of defensive potential, Ellie Hanger enters the last season of her loan on a very high note, and national-teamer Ephraim Wagner isn’t too old yet. The defensive replacements are solid as well - Davenport is excellent if losing pace, Pasargan Berky has potential, and Ferraro is a decent backup.

They’re helped out by a pair of excellent wing-backs - Banks has been serviceable in an odd position, while Francesca Abel’s skillset is seemingly perfect for this system. In the middle of the 3-5-2, Marin Trésor and Justin Koehler hold things together and allow talented attacker Fournier to bomb forwards. Overall, this is an excellent team with heaps of quality and a lot of depth to back it up. Do they have what it takes to reclaim their title?

Prediction: FIRST.

KYRINSON TWIN PINES
Manager: Tobyn Clearwater (0); Stadium: LlamaCard Football Complex (55,000); Colors: Green and Sky Blue; Formation: 5-3-2
GK: Renaud Fournier (#13, 27, COS), Fiona Wintergreen (#12, 23)
Defense: Ramiro Hechavarria (#14, 19), Rook Cypress (#02, 35, NPH), Michael Cordero (#16, 28), Ryan Correia (#26, 28), Cecille Petrovic (#03, 19, EFL), Patrick Olmos (#15, 19), Jake Pedersen (#17, 21)
Midfield: Kelpie Whiteforest (#11, 31, NPH), Lucas Christensen (#08, 25), Harrison Stevensson (#07, 31) [C], Jordan Svensson (#19, 31), Olivia Hawke (#33, 23)
Forward: Jayce Alnwick (#14, 33, NPH), Nolan Garcia (#20, 25, MIA), Emma Isoaho (#32, 33), Michael Ecker (#33, 24)

In: Kelpie Whiteforest (LM, 31, Brookford Otters, free), Michael Ecker (ST, 24, unattached), Olivia Hawke (CM, 23, unattached), Patrick Olmos (DF, 19, Corbin City Islanders, $150k)

Out: Mark Horowitz (GK, 37, Brookport FK, $200k), Bethany Hart (MF, 31, Chisholm, $250k), James Blake (MF, 34, RB Öslerholm, $500k), Taylor Moore (ST, 31, Anmen Athletic, $100k), Victor Kucinski (DF, 33, Chisholm, $100k), Morgan Ericsson (MF, 33, released), McKenna Fordham (DF, 32, released)

Ouch. Megan Sigurorzson, perhaps realizing the challenge in store for her, resigned and took a job in Arondesheim. The rebranded “Twin Pines” have appointed Capitals flop Tobyn Clearwater to the position, and his instructions appear to be nothing short of “sell everyone”. Kyrinson has lost a lot of depth due to the board’s...not having any money, and this could be the year they pay for it with a drop to SecondLleague. A lot of strong depth pieces have been pawned off and replaced with talented but raw free agents as Clearwater struggles to keep his team up. If they do make the drop, the loss of TV revenue could hamstring them for a long time.

If they do go down, it won’t be because of Renaud Fournier. Hailing from Cosumar, the young keeper was seemingly unbeatable last season, and will look to rediscover his red-hot form. The defense in front of him isn't the best, consisting of two nineteen-year-old wing-backs who barely track back, the reliable but aging Cypress, the inconsistent Cordero, and SecondLleague-quality Correia, but Fournier should be able to pick up some of the slack. Free transfer (the only sort of purchase Kyrinson have been dealing in) Whiteforest and Stevenson are both attack-minded midfielders, although Stevenson’s injury history make the team’s captain unreliable at best. Meanwhile, the undoubtedly talented Lucas Christensen has been given the unenviable task of trying to patch up all the defensive holes in the team’s formation and supplying the attackers at the same time. Up front, Nolan Garcia was simultaneously the team’s most talented player and its worst performer last season, but there’s hope he’ll be able to put injuries behind him and return to SuperLleague 2 form, while Jayce Alnwick remains reliable but aging.

The team will play the same 5-3-2 as last season, but Whiteforest’s introduction makes it slightly more counterattack-focused and less concerned about keeping defensive stability. If they can leverage their strikers’ talent and get enough goals in, they can stay up. If not, they’ll be too porous at the back to have a chance. It’s a gamble, but probably Clearwater’s best option. Even if they stay up, though, the long-term financial outlook is not bright.

Prediction: EIGHTH.

LOS-JUANTOS COASTAL
Manager: Leo de la Cruz (+3.5); Stadium: Tenacity Park (40,000); Colors: Scarlet and Gold; Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Felix Shaw (#01, 31, TSA), Aranha (#12, 22, USI)
Defense: Cheney Ralston (#13, 31, NPH), Kris Suarez (#03, 28) [C], Dominik Ciernik (#05, 21, NOV), Evangelista Sandoval (#30, 29), Jan Caulson (#02, 32, NPH), Sergey Kuznetsov (#36, 17), Adrian Pitt (#24, 21, TRV)
Midfield: Vanessa Booker (#06, 31, NPH), Petra Suleimann (#05, 27), Jonathan Rhoderick (#25, 37), Jake Appel (#18, 29), Ryan Zhou (#07, 32), Alexandre Russo (#18, 30), Alice Møller (#10, 23), Jacob Hull-Benson (#36, 31), Caroline Jensen (#17, 29)
Forward: Lilou Reid (#09, 19, SCH), Roman Pierce (#11, 31), Pavel Kilalurak (#20, 25, ABI)

In: Dominik Ciernik (CB, 21, Aiton Swifts, free), Alexandre Russo (MF, 30, SC Nikcoro, player), Felix Shaw (GK, 31, Ramusok United, free), Cheney Ralston (LB, 31, Cranequin Wanderers, free)
Out: Nicholas Lindberg (GK, 29, Maximum Rovers, $800k), Kiernan Gustav (DF, 36, Bronte Athletik, $200k), Felix Adamson (MF, 29, SC Nikcoro, player)

After Coastal finished dead-last and barely stayed up via the playoffs, one could be forgiven for wondering why Leo de la Cruz hasn’t quit yet. But the Hicañan seems determined to continue his project, even if it’s becoming a little more difficult than he may have thought. After the nightmare of SuperLleague 3, there’s been a lot of squad reshuffling - starting in the back, where longtime captain Nicholas Lindberg has finally left for Nephara. His replacement, former The Sarian international Felix Shaw, should be a worthy replacement. At left-back, early-thirties Nepharim Caulson has been replaced with early-thirties Nepharim Ralston, who is...basically the same player, while free transfer Ciernik is an interesting gamble at center-back. Booker and Suleimann, an excellent pairing last season, have been kept intact, while creative wingers Zhou and Møller now will be working with the mercurial but talented Alexandre Russo. Up front, Lilou Reid remains one of the league’s best strikers, with Pierce and Kilalurak great backups.

The game plan remains all-out, explosive attack - Coastal have the athleticism and creativity to kill opposing defenses in a lot of different ways, and they’ll be looking to exploit that. Defense is generally seen as optional, and Shaw and the center-backs will struggle no matter what happens. If they can score enough goals, they’ll stay up and maybe even make a run for fourth. If not, well...de la Cruz might be leaving sooner than we thought.

Prediction: SEVENTH.

NANDAOZHOU SHARKS
Manager: Jonathan Gonsalves (+3.25); Stadium: Bayside Park (23,500); Colors: Navy and White; Formation: 3-4-3

GK: Emily Johanssen (#01, 27), Christian Wictorsson (#13, 31)
Defense: Michael Pereira (#02, 27), Immanuel Sorensen (#03, 30), Brad Okugo (#05, 23, USI), Diego Kloosterman (#03, 20, AUD), Jason Bradstreet (#14, 28)
Midfield: Adria Sigurorzson (#17, 31), Michael Guthrie (#07, 24), Elizabeth Bellard (#08, 23, NPH), Justin Yin (#17, 26), Sigurd Herleksson (#06, 26), Bryant Manning (#15, 25)
Forward: Rafael Constantin (#20, 30), Jack Muskerry (#09, 26, NPH), Chelsea Yao [C] (#10, 28), Alyssa Marcusson (#18, 26), Jared Lund (#33, 31)

In: Adria Sigurorzson (31, LW, Olympic East, $500k), Immanuel Sorensen (30, CB, New Llama Capitals, $600k),
Out: Caitlyn DeWitt (28, CM, Wheathampton Warriors, $350k), Blake Tyson (31, CB, Southfeld Wanderers, $150k)

The future is bright in Nandaozhou. Jonathan Gonsalves, fresh off the heady heights of fifth place in his first SuperLleague season, has managed to make some improvements to the Sharks, and this side could very realistically challenge for a spot in the Globe Cup. It all starts up top - not only is the strike force of Rafael Constantin, Jack Muskerry, and star winger Chelsea Yao ruthlessly clinical at creating and finishing chances, but they’re also known for their high-tempo pressing that led to a lot of defensive mistakes last season. They’re supported and supplied by a hard-working midfield - largely unchanged from last year except for the introduction of Adria Sigurorzson, who should make opposing right-back’s lives very difficult.

The defense...is, well, a lot worse, and probably the only thing that could stop them from finishing in the top half. It’s simply not very good - Johanssen has regressed from last year, although she’s remains a solid shot-stopper. The three in front of her aren’t much better - Pereira has talent but is prone to comical errors, while Okugo is still fairly raw and Sorensen is decent but has lost a step. With the other seven players on the pitch not offering very much help, the Sharks’ defense could be comically bad next season.

Still, Gonsalves’s high-octane 3-4-3 largely succeeded in keeping the Sharks up, and it’s unlikely the league will be able to adjust in time. The Globe Cup is very, very possible this year, If the defense holds up, they might even be a dark horse to finish second or third, even if their squad’s quality is far behind those of Capitals, Stars, or Harmony.

PREDICTION: FIFTH.

NEW LLAMA CAPITALS
Manager: Curtis Chen (+2.5), Stadium: Tyler Rocke (37,500); Colors: Blue and Silver; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Marcus Siegrist [C] (#01, 31), Jenna Marquette-Dunsinane (#13, 24)
Defense: Eloisa Primavera (#14, 21, TAU), Ellis Holloway (#15, 28, HSZ), Catarina Soler (#16, 25, AFT), Wu Haiwen (#03, 23), Corey Dunbar (#02, 28), Wictor Henriksen (#05, 33)
Midfield: Schuyler Rutledge (#10, 31), Ethan Candelario (#08, 33), Nemanja Volkhov (#07, 29), Anna Walquist (#17, 31), Christian Whetham (#18, 32)
Forward: Madison Rojas (#20, 25), Guto (#09, 30, USI), Edward Korsky (#32, 29), Petra Wladecki (#18, 29), Kristopher Matheus (#32, 24)

In: Wu Haiwen (23, DF, Anmen Athletic, $1m), Ethan Candelario (33, MF, Goodfeather FC, $2m), Kristopher Matheus (24, FW, Öslerholm Capitals, loan)
Out: Madeline Warwick (24, RB, AFC Ruby, $500k), Immanuel Sorensen (30, CB, Nandaozhou Sharks, $600k), Taylor Morrison (32, MF, released), Magnus Gerrard (23, FW, Dinamo Visånd, $1.5m)

After an excellent transfer window for Curtis Chen’s Capitals, the “other” New Llama club will be looking to make another run at the title this season. Managing to sign Wu Haiwen, an exceptionally dangerous right-back who led his team in assists last season but can defend as well, was already a huge success, and adding Tigers starter Ethan Candelario to the mix was massive. Capitals could legitimately win it all this season.

They certainly have the players to do so - Siegrist is a reliable shot-stopper and club captain, if not the best keeper in the League. The defense can both attack (Primavera and Wu both dangerous going down the line, although Primavera’s still a bit raw) and defend (new signing Catarina Soler a criminally underrated pickup alongside Holloway), and is excellent at both. And the midfield is by far the league’s best - even better than Stars’ Rinaldi-Carmichael-Sigurdsson trio. The tireless Ethan Candelario is easily the most reliable holding-midfielder SuperLleague has ever seen, and should do wonders for a Capitals side that struggled to win balls back. Schuyler Rutledge can rival anyone in terms of pure creativity, and is a wonder to watch on the field. And Nemanja Volkhov is incapable of walking, has a decent scoring record from set-pieces, and is an underrated passer. With Wu and Primavera, they’ll be sure to create heaps of opportunities for the front three next season.

And what of the front three? Guto is a solid striker who makes the most of his chances, Rojas is a generic hardworking (if criminally wasteful) left-winger, and Korsky, possibly the team’s biggest threat, can create danger out of seemingly nothing and has an underrated finish. They aren’t the best in the league, but they can do a fair bit of damage themselves next season.

Hopes are high in New Llama City. If the Capitals can avoid choking again (like they did last season...and the season before), maybe they’ll finally put the curse behind them and win it all.

Prediction: THIRD.

NEW LLAMA STARS
Manager: Trevor Duncan (+2.5); Stadium: Arthur Clarke (50,000); Colors: Green and White; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Sebastian Nielsen (#01, 35, ACR), Vincent Minaya (#12, 28)
Defense: Aysu Damjana (#06, 25, CMT), Michael Gunning (#14, 29), Eden Finley (#03, 30, BRE), Mark Sorensen (#10, 32), Stern Chaucer (#18, 33, NPH), Ava Florentin (#16, 29)
Midfield: Stefan Rinaldi (#10, 22), Ryan Carmichael (#06, 29), Annalisa Sigurdsson (#07, 23), Christine Valdevic (#33, 29), Kris Ziegler (#27, 20)
Forward: Sebastian Romero (#18, 28), Francis Mandelbrot [C] (#11, 30), Carsten Vincent (#09, 22), Caitlyn Gunning (#22, 22), Juniad Moussa (#31, 19, GAD)

In: Eden Finley (30, CB, Northern Union, $3.75m), Kris Ziegler (20, MF, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, player), Ryan Carmichael (29, MF, Pelethas United, $2m)
Out: Reagan Fleming (18, DF, Olympic East, Loan), Uerlisson (31, ST, BSC Vargas, $300k), Scott Fillmore (26, MF, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, player), Sandor Constantinescu (30, DF, BSC Vargas, returned from loan)

The worst trap that a reigning champion can fall into is complacency, and Stars definitely couldn’t afford to do that with Harmony and Capitals right on their heels and beloved manager Jeremy Hayes taking his talents to Cosumar. Luckily for fans, new manager Trevor Duncan was the opposite of complacent this cycle, making a number of huge moves. The first place to look would be the defense, where Brenecian Eden Finley will provide the stability at the back Stars sorely lacked last season in addition to a decent passing touch. He should slot in perfectly alongside Michael Gunning and in front of reliable-as-ever goalkeeper Sebastian Nielsen. Damjana and Sorensen are both excellent fullbacks, although Sorensen’s overenthusiasm can sometimes leave the right flank exposed.

However, this team really shines on the attack. Stefan Rinaldi is arguably the best passer in the league, Annalisa Sigurdsson isn’t far behind and possesses a very dangerous free kick, and Ryan Carmichael, although a defensive midfielder by trade, is often the starter of explosive counterattacks under Duncan’s new system. All three forwards are athletic, strong, and dangerous finishers - Romero is relatively new to his position, but Mandelbrot is always a favorite to win the Golden Boot and Carsten Vincent is one of the nation’s brightest young talents.

There’s arguably no weaknesses in their starting XI, and Stars are expected to repeat. But they don’t have very much depth for the league or UICA, and there’s a possibility their season could go down in flames.

Prediction: SECOND.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:04 pm

MD1-7

UICA First Preliminary Round, First Leg

(ARG) Hamburger SV 0 - 0 New Llama Stars
(CSE) Galway United 0 - 2 Emerald City Harmony
AFC Ruby 2 - 1 Sporting Ceres (IRN)
Wheathampton Warriors 1-0 North York FC (KSK)
(CSE) Derry Giants AFC 0-2 SC Nikcoro

Decent performances all around as Llamanean clubs go unbeaten. Stars are horrifically wasteful against HSV, and can’t manage to get a goal - they’ll need to win at home to advance. Luckily, everyone else wins - Harmony easily two-nil Galway United, Lubiflor scoring a brace in her debut, and SC Nikcoro are excellent as well. Closer to home, Gallus Jay’s Sporting Ceres scared Ruby fans with an early goal, but Ruby fought hard and recovered well, Petrarch equalizing early in the second half and Partell firing a winner home with five minutes to spare. And Wheathampton struggled to score, but managed a nervy victory over North York.

UICA First Preliminary Round, Second Leg

New Llama Stars 3 - 0 Hamburger SV (ARG) [3-0 agg]
Emerald City Harmony 5 - 1 Galway United (CSE) [7-1 agg]
(IRN) Sporting Ceres 0 - 0 AFC Ruby [1-2 agg]
(KSK) North York FC 1 - 2 Wheathampton Warriors [1-3 agg]
SC Nikcoro 2 - 2 Derry Giants AFC (CSE) [4-2 agg]

Stars were much better at home, with Mandelbrot scoring a brace and Vincent adding on late to see them comfortably through. Harmony were even more comfortable, however, with Lubiflor making it five goals in two matches with a hat-trick as Emerald City cruised to a five-one win at home. AFC Ruby had a harder time of things travelling to The Iron Syndicate, but their defense managed to hold firm and they scraped a well-deserved victory. SC Nikcoro went down one-nil early, but two late-first-half goals saw them comfortably through on aggregate. Wheathampton’s match, though, was the most interesting of all - they went down one-nil early, and with five minutes left extra-time looked probable...until Max Quirk scored two screamers within three minutes of each other, sending the Warriors onwards.

UICA Second Preliminary Round, First Leg
New Llama Stars 2 - 1 Golden Eagles (AVN)
(DAI) Minigoleada 1 - 0 AFC Ruby
(SUL) Império de Luz 1 - 0 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Capitals 1 - 2 Xistrumbigonça (DAI)
(DAR) OGC Nauti 0 - 1 SC Nikcoro
Wheathampton Warriors 0 - 1 3.14 (TAE)

A considerably worse set of results this time around. Stars manage a comfortable win over Golden Eagles, but Mark Sorensen will be upset with himself for a late defensive error that made it two-one. And, uh, SC Nikcoro managed a one-nil away win over OGC Nauti? Unfortunately, the positives end there - AFC Ruby and Harmony’s away losses mean that they’ll need a comfortable win to advance, while Wheathampton and Capitals need a two-goal win away as well.

UICA Second Preliminary Round, Second Leg
(AVN) Golden Eagles 0 - 3 New Llama Stars
AFC Ruby 1 - 2 Minigoleada (DAI)
Emerald City Harmony 2 - 2 Império de Luz (SUL)
Xistrumbigonça 0 - 0 New Llama Capitals
SC Nikcoro 1 - 2 OGC Nauti (DAR)
(TAE) 3.14 2 - 3 Wheathampton Warriors

Things go mostly as expected - while Stars are dazzling in Avon, Ruby, Harmony, and Capitals all can’t find the away win they need so badly. Meanwhile, SC Nikcoro take an early one-nil lead, but let their spot in the playoffs slip through their fingers on away goals. Not everything is bleak, however - after the Warriors go down two-nil in the first half, they pull off a miraculous comeback and scrape past on away goals, with Max Quirk the man of the match.

MD1
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–4 BSC Vargas
New Llama Stars 3–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Capitals 5–2 Los-Juantos Coastal
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–1 Emerald City Harmony

And we’re off! The first match of the day to kick off is Sharks-BSC, where Nandaozhou will hope to start a Globe Cup-qualifying campaign. They don’t look the part, though, with their defense basically crumbling to the whims of Uerlisson, who scores a brace and finds Harry Robertson for two more. BSC, even away, are in control and tirelessly pressing the entire match. Not the greatest start for Nandaozhou.

Everything else more or less goes as expected - Stars overwhelm even Ruby’s defense, newly-converted winger Sebastian Romero scoring a brace in the final ten minutes, while Felix Shaw gets a rude introduction to the SuperLleague as Coastal go down 5-2 away. And, finally, Harmony look weaker than expected, but Kyrinson simply can’t get by their impermeable defense and Trevor Fournier converts a late penalty-kick. A solid start from Harmony, but can they maintain it?

UICA Playoff Round, First Leg (non Globe Cup)
(PCR) Willox Street Pirates 2 - 2 New Llama Stars
(CMT) Eyrods 3 - 1 BSC Vargas
(SCT) Lammerton City 2 - 2 Wheathampton Warriors

A decent start. Stars and Warriors muster high-scoring away draws and get themselves in decent position, but BSC Vargas’ three-one defeat probably knocks them out of further UICA contention.

MD2
BSC Vargas 0–1 Emerald City Harmony
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–0 Kyrinson Twin Pines
AFC Ruby 1–1 New Llama Capitals
Nandaozhou Sharks 3–0 New Llama Stars

Vargas are solid again, but this time they’re beaten within five minutes by Mursill Lubiflor en route to a one-nil home defeat. Kyrinson go down by the same scoreline - the two teams combine for thirty-one shots, but only Alice Møller’s long-distance strike finds its way in. Ruby-Capitals in Ruby Falls promises to be an exciting match, and it delivers - and ninety nervy minutes later, the two teams walk out equals after Rutledge’s clutch equalizer.

The one surprise is at Bayside. Chelsea Yao is put on the left wing, with the sole job of beating Mark Sorensen into a pulp. She manages a brace before Sorensen comes off in the thirty-fifth minute, and Sharks miraculously hold firm for the remainder of the match while Muskerry adds his first of the season.

UICA Playoff Round, Second Leg (non Globe Cup)
New Llama Stars 0 - 2 Willox Street Pirates (PCR)
BSC Vargas 1 - 1 Eyrods (CMT)
Wheathampton Warriors 1 - 1 Lammerton City (SCT)

Stars collapse at home, though, and are knocked into the Globe Cup playoffs (against Vilitan giant Eastal Lunar, too), while BSC Vargas go down weakly (despite a late penalty kick that Robertson knocks in). But after a one-all draw, it’s Wheathampton who make their triumphant return to the SBCC.

MD3
New Llama Stars 3–0 BSC Vargas
New Llama Capitals 10–0 Nandaozhou Sharks
Kyrinson Twin Pines 1–0 AFC Ruby
Emerald City Harmony 4–0 Los-Juantos Coastal

Ten. That’s right, Sharks - fresh off a clean sheet against Stars - just conceded ten goals at Tyler Rocke. The Capitals’ midfield is absolutely on fire, and the forwards are more than happy to put away all the chances they’ve created - Edward Korsky leads the way with four, but Guto and Rojas both add braces with the last two goals coming from Primavera and substitute Matheus. From the Sharks’ point of view, Immanuel Sorensen’s eighth-minute red card basically crippled the defense, and nothing Gonsalves tried could stick.

Not much else happened - although Kyrinson’s counterattacking style earned the Twin Pines their first scalp after Nolan Garcia fired his team to a narrow home win over Ruby. Stars and Harmony were expected to win fairly comfortably, and both did (with Mursill Lubiflor continuing to wreak havoc upon the SuperLleague with another brace), making Capitals-Nandaozhou the only real shock of the day.

SuperCup - First Round
Derrierton City 2–1 AFC Dunsinane
SC Apple Valley 2–0 Westbridge Diamonds
SC Hazel 1–4 Sherbrooke United
Southfeld Wanderers 2–0 South Bryant Athletic

Nothing was really expected of the first round of the SuperCup, with only ThirdLleague teams facing each other. Southfeld Wanderers, shocking semifinalists last season, are the only team most neutrals actually bother to watch, but their match is a straightforward two-nil victory over fellow minnows South Bryant.

Another interesting thing to note - when expansion club SC Hazel go down at home to other expansion club Sherbrooke United, they do so with Alexandra Jimenez as manager and Michael Beeler wearing the #9 - those names will be familiar to anyone who followed SuperLleague 1, when Jimenez presided over SC Nikcoro’s disastrous season and Beeler began as AFC Ruby’s starting striker. How the mighty have fallen...

MD4
BSC Vargas 0–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
AFC Ruby 1–0 Emerald City Harmony
Nandaozhou Sharks 3–4 Kyrinson Twin Pines
New Llama Stars 1–1 New Llama Capitals

Disaster strikes in Nandaozhou again - after getting 10-0’d by Capitals, they needed a win to right the ship. Instead, their defensive woes continue - it turns out a starting back three of Pereira, Okugo, and Bradstreet will not get you very far in the SuperLleague. Nolan Garcia scores a hat-trick (he’s back!), Jayce Alnwick adds a goal of her own, and not even Nandaozhou’s offensive firepower can save a home point for the Sharks. Meanwhile, BSC suffer the same fate - their disciplined defensive effort holds Coastal at bay for eighty-seven minutes, but Lilou Reid manages to fire Leo de la Cruz’s side ahead in the dying embers of the match.

Nobody’s paying attention, though, because all eyes are watching Ruby-Harmony and Capitals-Stars - two derbies that could have a massive impact on the title race. Stars-Capitals is fairly uneventful - two dubious penalty calls go in either direction, but Rutledge and Mandelbrot both step up to score. However, AFC Ruby have the defensive effort of the season, holding even Future Golden Boot Winner Mursill Lubiflor at bay, while late sub Dahl is deadly on the counterattack and fires Ruby ahead.

Globe Cup Playoff Round, First Leg
New Llama Stars 5 - 0 Eastal Lunar (VIL)

Stars fans are widely expecting a thrashing as Eastal Lunar come to The C. They’re correct, but nobody expected it to be the Vilitans at the receiving end. Stars are absolutely scintillating over the ninety minutes, and although most fans still internally expected a 7-1 after Francis Mandelbrot put his team ahead in the seventeenth minute, Carsten Vincent won the Llamaneans over with a brace at the end of the first half. The second half was nothing short of bliss as the Stars continued their complete demolition of Eastal Lunar. In the end, it was five goals and a clean sheet, as well as a virtually-guaranteed Globe Cup spot, to the Llamanean club. What a game.

MD5
New Llama Capitals 5–0 BSC Vargas
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–1 New Llama Stars
Emerald City Harmony 3–3 Nandaozhou Sharks
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–0 AFC Ruby

What is Nandaozhou doing this season? After a thrashing at the hands of the Capitals and a home loss to Kyrinson, the Sharks manage to pull an away point at Emerald City. The Sharks’ last opponent, Kyrinson, put four past them, but they aren’t so lucky this time - the Stars, featuring Ava Florentin over Sorensen at right-back, hold their opponents off until Mandelbrot finds a late goal - but Sharks are vastly improved. The defense still isn’t great - Mursill Lubiflor inexplicably adds another brace (making it five goals in as many matches). But Sharks’ attack as brilliant as they catch Harmony’s defense on an off day, and after going down three-one, Yao and Muskerry both score to rescue a late point.

Sharks and Harmony might’ve both had troubles defending, but AFC Ruby’s attack is already showing cracks. While they kept Coastal quiet for the full match, even Coastal’s mediocre defense managed to stifle Ruby’s midfield and keep Partell and Petrarch mostly isolated. Ruby will be disappointed to only get a point at Los-Juantos. Meanwhile, Capitals don’t seem to have any issue with either, smashing five past BSC Vargas in what Evan Powell called “utterly disgraceful”. Is the rookie manager beginning to lose his cool?

Globe Cup Playoff Round, Second Leg
(VIL) Eastal Lunar 0 - 0 New Llama Stars

In order to win, the Stars literally have to avoid losing by five goals. As a result, while they keep a first-choice defense (that, once again, includes Ava Florentin), the attack is heavily rotated, featuring the likes of Juniad Moussa, Caitlyn Gunning, and Kris Ziegler starting. And it worked, Stars holding Lunar scoreless to easily advance to the Globe Cup proper.

MD6
BSC Vargas 0–1 AFC Ruby
Nandaozhou Sharks 4–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Stars 2–1 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Capitals 4–1 Kyrinson Twin Pines

BSC Vargas are in trouble - they haven’t scored, or won, in four matches. And they won’t start now, as Robertson and Uerlisson are completely stifled by Ruby’s defense after Deon Partell gives his team an early lead. Evan Powell has to be worrying about his job security by now. Also in trouble? Twin Pines, who after finally winning their first match, are thrashed four-one by the cruising New Llama Capitals, and Coastal, who are downed four-one by Sharks.

But not much notice is given to these smaller teams, because in a hugely important match, Stars play host to Emerald City. It’s the visitors who get on the scoreboard first - Nego do Jordel scoring his first of the season with a beautiful long-range strike. But Mandelbrot quickly pulls a goal back, and it’s substitute Kris Ziegler who puts the Stars ahead for good early in the second half. A massive result for the New Llama side, and a disappointment for Harmony.

UICA Group Stage, MD1
New Llama Stars 4 - 1 Yuba United (COM)
Wheathampton Warriors 1 - 0 Lancaster City (AVN)

Can Stars stop winning? The capital club are huge underdogs to Yuba United, but somehow pull off a four-one victory backed by brilliant performances from Francis Mandelbrot at center-forward and the reinstated Mark Sorensen at right-back. Meanwhile, Warriors get off to a good start as well, edging Avonian Lancaster City at home - right-winger Max Quirk may be thirty-five, but he’s still a star.

SuperCup, Second Round
1940 Asure 1–0 New Llama Generals
SC Apple Valley 0–1 Talahita Tigers
Wheathampton Warriors 0–1 Svenssonfjord Dynamo
Southfeld Wanderers 1–3 Easthaven Centurion
SC Nikcoro 1–0 FC Mendel
Corbin City islanders 1–0 Derrierton City
Sherbrooke United 0–0 Warwick Palace (1–0 AET)
Lake Graz 0–2 Olympic East

Another round of lower-tier SuperCup matches, but there are a few entertaining matches. Alex Cartwright - now elected to office on his second attempt - finally makes his final appearance for Olympic East at the age of forty-eight. He scores a brace as East overwhelm Lake Graz before being substituted out in the end of an era. Will Olympic be able to return to SuperLleague without him?
Meanwhile, Wheathampton - who are now focusing on the SBCC - are stunned at home by Svenssonfjord, where Michael Christiansen manages to volley in a late goal to put his team ahead with five minutes to play. But there aren’t a lot of other upsets - Southfeld are the only favorite to go down.

The next round, however, shows more promise - with SuperLleague clubs entering the mix and bringing intriguing matchups like Emerald City - Los-Juantos and New Llama - BSC Vargas, the SuperCup's stakes are only rising.

MD7
Kyrinson Twin Pines 2–1 BSC Vargas
Emerald City Harmony 2–0 New Llama Capitals
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–1 New Llama Stars
AFC Ruby 3–1 Nandaozhou Sharks

MD7 is a SuperLleague milestone, representing the one-thirds-way point of the season. While the table from MD7 tends not to be particularly reflective, it’s considered significant nevertheless. For Trevor Duncan’s new-look Stars, a narrow one-nil win over Coastal marks the conclusion of a fantastic start to their season, as the Globe Cup qualifiers find themselves first in the league. On the receiving end of Sebastian Romero’s late screamer, sixth-place Los-Juantos haven’t been great, scoring just five goals in seven matches, but still could bounce back. After Vargas find themselves down two-nil in fifteen minutes and eventually lose two-one. BSC has just three points after seven matches, worst in the league, and Evan Powell is starting to feel the heat. Meanwhile, nine points in seven matches puts the Twin Pines in fifth place, but it’s a fantastic start for Tobyn Clearwater, who’s only really looking to stay up.

The other two matches are huge matchups - seventh-place Nandaozhou can only keep their Globe Cup hopes alive with a win...and concede three in the first half, making Ruby’s fourth-place finish seemingly inevitable. And in Emerald City, when the second-place Capitals come to town with a chance to overtake the Stars with a win, it’s late substitute Henrick Davenport to head the Harmony up one-nil in the second half before Lubiflor finishes things off.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Stars            7    5   1   1    11    5   +6    16
2 New Llama Capitals         7    4   2   1    26    7  +19    14
3 Emerald City Harmony       7    4   1   2    12    6   +6    13
4 AFC Ruby                   7    3   2   2     6    6    0    11
5 Kyrinson Twin Pines        7    3   0   4     8   11   −3     9
6 Los-Juantos Coastal        7    2   1   4     5   14   −9     7
7 Nandaozhou Sharks          7    2   1   4    15   25  −10     7
8 BSC Vargas                 7    1   0   6     5   14   −9     3

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:45 pm

MD8-14

MD8
BSC Vargas 1–1 Nandaozhou Sharks
AFC Ruby 1–1 New Llama Stars
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–4 New Llama Capitals
Emerald City Harmony 1–3 Kyrinson Twin Pines

Things are starting to fall apart in Nandaozhou. Michael Guthrie and Chelsea Yao go down injured within fifteen minutes of each other, and the Sharks can’t find a way past BSC. Jonathan Gonsalves reportedly has his eye on AC Bartolomé’s vacant managerial position - could the popular manager be leaving town? Harmony are having injury problems of their own as well - Trevor Fournier goes down in a dreary home loss to Kyrinson, and Emerald City will have to find a way to survive without the cornerstone of their attack. The way to the title is being paved for the two capital clubs, who now find themselves tied at seventeen points apiece. Who will it be to raise the President’s Trophy in thirteen weeks?

UICA Group Stage, MD2
(FFD) Madorre De Fuego 1 - 0 New Llama Stars
(PAS) Aleine United 0 - 3 Wheathampton Warriors

Wheathampton fans are ecstatic after their team’s resounding away win over Aleine United. The Warriors are quickly becoming one of the better clubs in Super-Llamaland despite their second-tier status, and the future seems bright. Stars can’t find a way past a superior Madorre De Fuego side in a match whose scoreline goes against everything the two nations playing in it stand for, but fans won’t be too upset - it’s only MD2, and the league title is still more important.

MD9
Emerald City Harmony 1–4 BSC Vargas
Kyrinson Twin Pines 1–2 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Capitals 0–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Stars 7–1 Nandaozhou Sharks

What’s happening to Emerald City? Despite the team’s preseason signing of backup midfielder Kurtis “basically Trevor Fournier” Mann, the Harmony’s attack looks completely toothless in a four-one home loss to relegation battlers BSC Vargas. Mursill Lubiflor is the only player with some idea of what she’s doing, and it shows as Vargas annihilate the former contenders, who are now seven points adrift of the title. Nandaozhou’s collapse is even worse - Sharks manage to keep the score tied after forty-five minutes, but the Stars, led by an absolutely scintillating Carsten Vincent, score six goals in a nightmare second half. Jonathan Gonsalves, just over two years after his appointment, resigns and is immediately signed by AC Bartolomé.

Remember Los-Juantos? They’re still in the league, and they’re doing fairly well for themselves - a late brace by Lilou Reid puts Coastal in exactly the mid-table zone fans were expecting of them. But it’s worth noting that Leo de la Cruz’s “process” is still nowhere near producing results. How much longer will ownership wait? Judging by the fact that they were reportedly going in on Gonsalves, not very.

UICA Group Stage, MD3
(NPH) Sabrefell Athletic 1 - 1 New Llama Stars
(TAE) Los Roisa Monstas 1 - 1 Wheathampton Warriors

Llamanean teams have never done this well at UICA competitions, but the SuperLleague appears to be reaching new heights. Wheathampton’s away draw make them favorites to advance to the SBCC octofinals, while Stars have managed to easily take a point from Sabrefell Athletic, a club that many fans thought was far superior to anything SuperLleague could put out. A promising sign for the future, even if Stars’ chances of advancing seem low.

MD10
BSC Vargas 2–2 New Llama Stars
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–4 New Llama Capitals
AFC Ruby 1–0 Kyrinson Twin Pines
Los-Juantos Coastal 0–2 Emerald City Harmony

Trevor Duncan’s New Llama Stars are entering the most difficult phase of their season - how will they balance pursuing a shot at the Globe Cup knockout rounds with their pursuit for a league repeat? It’s a tough challenge for any club to navigate, and the capital club is no exception - Duncan tries to rest a few key players for the return leg against Sabrefell, but the Stars look a bit off, and drop two critical points away to a hardworking BSC Vargas side. Meanwhile, Capitals, freed from the burden of having to play two matches a week, look the part, overwhelming new Nandaozhou manager Cristiano Barros (a former FC Nikcoro striker in the old days of the LFL) to the tune of a four-one trouncing.

Meanwhile in Los-Juantos, Emerald City are finally back on track as Harmony manage a two-nil win over Los-Juantos. Erik Anderssen’s club may be overly reliant on new striker Mursill Lubiflor, but things were going fairly well before Trevor Duncan’s injury, and the Cosumarite shows why by scoring an early brace.

UICA Group Stage, MD4
New Llama Stars 1 - 0 Sabrefell Athletic (NPH)
Wheathampton Warriors 2 - 4 Los Roisa Monstas (TAE)

Stars one, Sabrefell Athletic nil is a massive home result for a New Llama side seeking advancement. Could the Stars get out of the group stage in their very first Globe Cup? Meanwhile, Warriors’ stingy defense looks uncharacteristically poor at home as the northern side go down four-two at home. It’s definitely a setback, but Megan Sigurorzson’s Warriors still have a shot to advance.

MD11
Los-Juantos Coastal 3–2 BSC Vargas
Emerald City Harmony 1–0 AFC Ruby
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–2 Nandaozhou Sharks
New Llama Capitals 3–1 New Llama Stars

The halfway point of the SuperLleague season is officially on us, and it’s provided some exciting matches. In Los-Juantos, Coastal and BSC play an exciting match that’s surprisingly high-quality for a pair of clubs that are fighting relegation. BSC manage to take a two-nil lead behind goals from Uerlisson and Harry Robertson, but towards the end of the half, Conor Matthewson and Alexandre Russo collide just outside of Matthewson’s box - and the BSC keeper finds himself sent off. Vargas struggle to hang onto their lead with Uerlisson off and backup keeper Rebecca Boumediene thrown on, but Los-Juantos’ attack is better than that. Led by Russo, Alice Møller, and Lilou Reid, Coastal dominate the second half and leave the pitch with all three points, sending them surging into fifth place with thirteen points and leaving BSC at the bottom of the table and four points from safety. Meanwhile, New Llama SuperLleague fans are treated to a capital city derby. Stars get the first goal through brilliant play from Sebastian Romero, but Capitals get the last laugh, dominating Mark Sorensen and Stars’ midfield and winning three-one to take undisputed control of first place.

Stars-Capitals isn’t the only derby going on, as in Emerald Springs, Harmony and Ruby battle for control of the northeast. Ruby stifle their rivals’ attack early on, marking Lubiflor out of the match and making Emerald City sorely miss Trevor Fournier. But it’s an unlikely hero, Kurtis Mann, the Fournier substitute who’s been vilified by fans, to save Harmony in stoppage time, sending a screamer past Kelly and into the net. Are Harmony creeping back into the title race?

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        11    7   3   1    37    9  +28    24
2 New Llama Stars           11    6   3   2    22   12  +10    21
3 Emerald City Harmony      11    6   1   4    17   13   +4    19
4 AFC Ruby                  11    4   4   3     8    8    0    16
5 Los-Juantos Coastal       11    4   1   6    10   23  −13    13
6 Kyrinson Twin Pines       11    4   0   7    12   17   −5    12
7 Nandaozhou Sharks         11    3   2   6    20   37  −17    11
8 BSC Vargas                11    2   2   7    14   21   −7     8

UICA Group Stage, MD5
(COM) Yuba United 2 - 2 New Llama Stars
(AVN) Lancaster City 3 - 0 Wheathampton Warriors

Wheathampton can seal advancement with a win. They do the exact opposite, wilting under the pressure at Lancaster and losing three-nil. Stars do slightly better, Francis Mandelbrot’s late penalty salvaging a well-deserved point, but will need a result to advance. Both Llamanean teams have a decent shot at the knockout rounds - can either of them capitalize?

MD12
BSC Vargas 2–2 New Llama Capitals
New Llama Stars 5–2 Kyrinson Twin Pines
Nandaozhou Sharks 2–1 Emerald City Harmony
AFC Ruby 7–2 Los-Juantos Coastal

Los-Juantos have always had defensive issues, and they resurfaced again as Ruby managed to double their goals total in a single game. Deon Partell scores four goals after scoring one in his previous eleven games, Michael Kennedy is a revelation, and Coastal don’t stand a chance - especially after Kris Suarez sees red at the start of the second half. It’s not all disappointment for the southern teams, though, as Nandaozhou finally lives up to the hype in a 2-1 defeat of an underwhelming Harmony and Vargas (they’re still the third-furthest south in the league despite...not being in the south) manages to score a point against the Capitals.

UICA Group Stage, MD6
New Llama Stars 1 - 2 Madorre de Fuego (FFD)
Wheathampton Warriors 1 - 1 Aleine United (PAS)

Despair in New Llama City as a late own-goal sends Sabrefell Athletic out of the group ahead of the third-place Stars. New Llama’s strong showing in the Globe Cup will be remembered simply because it was the first time, but the Stars undoubtedly did a fine job representing their nation on a larger stage, even if it had to end this way. At least they can focus on their league run now?

Things are considerably happier up north, however, as despite a late Aleine equalizer, Wheathampton find themselves in the SBCC octofinals. Osarius’s FC Barciddia are by no means an easy opponent, but Megan Sigurorzson has no plans of rolling over and focusing on ensuring that the team gets promoted.

MD13
AFC Ruby 1–2 BSC Vargas
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–7 Nandaozhou Sharks
Emerald City Harmony 1–0 New Llama Stars
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–3 New Llama Capitals

If Emerald want to stay in the title race, a win against the Stars will be imperative. And the Harmony deliver, Mursill Lubflor carrying the offense on her back as the team grinds out a classic one-nil Harmony win at Emerald Coliseum. There’s still hope for Harmony, but Capitals have bounced back quickly, Guto and Korsky combining to score all three of the Capitals’ goals to push Kyrinson into last place. It might be tough to catch the other New Llama club. Meanwhile, BSC Vargas continue their rise up lower-midtable with two late goals to stun Ruby in their home park. Harry Robertson isn’t flashy, but he’s getting the job done for Evan Powell’s BSC.

But the real story is Nandaozhou continuing to bounce back with a 7-1 annihilation of Los-Juantos. Coastal have conceded fourteen goals in their last two matches, but that shouldn’t detract from Chelsea Yao’s unbelievable performance at Tenacity Park. She’s just two points out of the Globe Cup places now - what a huge comeback for her Sharks.

SuperCup, Third Round

Sherbrooke United 0–1 Kyrinson Twin Pines
New Llama Stars 3–1 BSC Vargas
Corbin City islanders 0–1 Talahita Tigers
Olympic East 0–1 Easthaven Centurion
Emerald City Harmony 0–0 Los-Juantos Coastal (2–0 AET)
1940 Asure 1–4 New Llama Capitals
SC Nikcoro 2–2 AFC Ruby (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Svenssonfjord Dynamo 0–2 Nandaozhou Sharks

The third round has arrived - it’s now time for the SuperLleague clubs to make their entrance into the nation’s premier football Cup. And, for the most part, they’re successful. Kyrinson Twin Pines require the full ninety minutes plus stoppage time to get a Nolan Garcia goal, but almost every other SuperLleague team beats a lower-league opponent. Of course, there are exceptions. BSC Vargas go down 3-1, but it’s to the Stars, and Evan Powell is more concerned with staying up anyways. The other exception? AFC Ruby score two early goals, but let their lead slip away to Nikcoro’s talented attack. And after thirty scoreless minutes of extra time, it’s the SecondLleague club who get the last laugh.

Now, only eight teams remain. Five SuperLleague teams, two SecondLleague teams (SC Nikcoro and Easthaven Centurion) and a ThirdLleague team, Talahita. What will the teams look like when only four are left?

MD14
BSC Vargas 4–0 Kyrinson Twin Pines
New Llama Capitals 0–2 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Stars 0–5 Los-Juantos Coastal
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–0 AFC Ruby

BSC just continues to surprise, thrashing Kyrinson four-nil and essentially dooming them to the relegation playoff if Tobyn Clearwater can’t make a massive comeback. But they can’t gain ground on Coastal, who inexplicably put five goals past New Llama Stars at The C, led by Lilou Reid and Alice Møller. Capitals - Harmony is a vital game, and Capitals can put a lot of space between them and second place with a win. Alas, Harmony have recovered from their earlier struggles, and completely stifle the Capitals’ midfield en route to a dominant two-nil win. Another vital match? The one between Sharks and Ruby. It’s scoreless for eighty-nine minutes, but Ruby’s week only gets worse as Maddie Warwick is sent off and Jack Muskerry buries a penalty-kick in stoppage time. Nandaozhou, after a horrendous start to the season, would qualify for the Globe Cup if the season ended today.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        14    8   4   2    42   13  +29    28 CC, Champions
2 Emerald City Harmony      14    8   1   5    21   15   +6    25 GC
3 New Llama Stars           14    7   3   4    27   20   +7    24 GC
4 Nandaozhou Sharks         14    6   2   6    30   39   −9    20 GC
5 AFC Ruby                  14    5   4   5    16   13   +3    19
6 Los-Juantos Coastal       14    5   1   8    18   37  −19    16
7 BSC Vargas                14    4   3   7    22   24   −2    15 Relegation Playoff
8 Kyrinson Twin Pines       14    4   0  10    14   29  −15    12 Relegation Playoff

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 1:45 pm

MD15-20

MD15
Nandaozhou Sharks 3–1 BSC Vargas
New Llama Stars 1–0 AFC Ruby
New Llama Capitals 1–0 Los-Juantos Coastal
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–2 Emerald City Harmony

Capitals fans are scared late in the game when Alice Møller lifts a free kick over the wall and off the post, nearly breaking a scoreless tie in stoppage time, but instead it’s Schuyler Rutledge to score just thirty seconds later, keeping the Capitals in first place despite effortless wins for Stars and Harmony - for Harmony, it’s Mursill Lubiflor to score her tenth and eleventh goals of the match and stay comfortably in first in the Golden Boot discussion.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Barros has completed something nobody thought possible. Not only are his Nandaozhou Sharks comfortably ahead of Ruby for a Globe Cup spot after beating Evan Powell’s Vargas 3-1 at home, but they’re now challenging for third place.

SuperCup, Quarterfinals
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–0 Emerald City Harmony (0–0 AET) (2–4 pen.)
New Llama Capitals 2–2 Talahita Tigers (3–2 AET)
SC Nikcoro 1–1 New Llama Stars (1–2 AET)
Easthaven Centurion 1–3 Nandaozhou Sharks

If things had just changed a little, we could’ve seen two lower-tier sides and Kyrinson, who are basically relegated at this point, in the semifinals of the SuperCup. However, things ended up considerably more...boring than that, although fans of Capitals, Harmony, and Stars would tell you otherwise. In Emerald City, Kyrinson parked the bus for two hours, but they just couldn’t get past goalkeeping prodigy Marcos Santana in a high-octane penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Talahita played a much more open game, and it worked as teenage winger Magdalena Geiger scored a brace in the first half to put the Capitals in an awkward position. But they just couldn’t keep it up, and while Ethan Candelario basically killed the Tigers’ offense, Rutledge and Guto managed to bring the Capital club back into the game before Nemanja Volkhov headed in a corner in extra time. As for third-tier SC Nikcoro? A late own goal off Jason Walker got Ramon Vasquez’s underdogs back into the game, but Francis Mandelbrot had no problems finishing Nikcoro off in added time. Perhaps the only straightforward game was Nandaozhou-Easthaven. Chelsea Yao and Jack Muskerry both scored within ten minutes of kickoff, and even though Isabella Shi managed a late goal, the Sharks dominated the entire time.

UICA Eighth-Finals, First Leg
Wheathampton Warriors 3 - 1 FC Barciddia (OSR)

A stunning upset for Wheathampton, and one that sees them on the precipice of a quarterfinals appearance that nobody expected. Warriors fans mostly came expecting Barciddia to dominate, but despite an early own goal that skipped past Warriors keeper Blaine Moyer and into his own net, it was the Warriors who managed to control the game. Enigmatic winger Max Quirk was undoubtedly the star of the night, scoring a brace and assisting the third goal, a late strike from young midfielder Kyle Morris to secure the win. Warriors now find themselves in a very comfortable position - even losing by one goal in the away leg would see them through to the quarterfinals.

MD16
BSC Vargas 0–2 Emerald City Harmony
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–0 Kyrinson Twin Pines
AFC Ruby 1–0 New Llama Capitals
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–5 New Llama Stars

Ruby aren’t about to give up their perennial fourth-place finish without a fight, especially not on home turf. David Russell’s side sit back for eighty-five minutes before a desperate Capitals team opens themselves up and Cameron Petridis finds himself in the right place at the right time to sidefoot the ball between Siegrist’s legs. The win and Sharks’ 5-1 demolition at the hands of Trevor Duncan’s New Llama Stars puts AFC just a point out of fourth place. It also means that the Stars are back in the playoff race - in fact, they’re just a point behind Capitals and Harmony now.

In Los-Juantos, despite rumors that he’s now clashing with management, Leonidas de la Cruz guides Coastal to a calm one-nil win over Kyrinson, putting Coastal four points out of the playoff spots and Kyrinson seven points from safety. Tobyn Clearwater’s job is on the line, as he’s managed to get nothing out of his Twin Pines this season - and what talent he does have, like Renaud Fournier, is trying to get out as quickly as possible. Still, their fellow playoff battlers BSC Vargas don’t appear to be going anywhere either. They look like they’ve given up, slumping to a third straight loss.

SuperCup, Semifinals (first leg)
Emerald City Harmony 2–1 New Llama Capitals
New Llama Stars 1–1 Nandaozhou Sharks

Two exciting matchups, as second-place Harmony take on first-place Capitals and third-place Stars go up against the fourth-place Sharks. The first semifinal is a dull, straightforward, controlling Harmony win for eighty-three minutes, as Mursill Lubiflor scores early and Harmony drop back. In the eighty-fourth minute, Schuyler Rutledge manages to pull a goal out of nowhere off a delightful free-kick, and suddenly Harmony are in trouble. But it’s none other than Nego do Jordel to fire back with a wonderful solo goal, and Harmony head to New Llama with a one-goal advantage.

The second semifinal is the opposite - exciting early on as Chelsea Yao and Sebastian Romero trade first goals and then shoves after Romero sends Yao flying with a poorly-timed challenge. But after fifteen minutes, things settle down and the goals dry up. In the end, it’s Sharks who feel better about the result, having managed an away goal and a draw against the superior team. It’ll all come down to what happens at Bayside.

UICA Eighth-Finals, Second Leg
FC Barciddia (OSR) 0 - 2 Wheathampton Warriors

Incredibly enough, Wheathampton have done it again. The game plan clearly wasn’t to score two goals, but when Blaine Moyer’s long pass dropped perfectly into the path of a sprinting Max Quirk, the winger couldn’t help but juke past two defenders and slip the ball into Barciddia’s net. After that, Barciddia opened up, and Quirk found a second goal. Cazadores Cathair in the quarterfinals isn’t exactly the best draw, but Warriors have shown they have what it takes to keep on going.

MD17
New Llama Stars 0–1 BSC Vargas
New Llama Capitals 3–3 Nandaozhou Sharks
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–3 AFC Ruby
Emerald City Harmony 1–2 Los-Juantos Coastal

Right when it looked like Vargas were going down, they manage to find three more points at none other than The C - that’s right, Stars just lost one-nil to BSC Vargas, who execute their plan of “sitting back and sending long balls to Harry Robertson” perfectly. Luckily for the capital team, though, their two rivals do just as poorly. Harmony take a one-nil lead early off - you guessed it - Mursill Lubiflor, but Coastal fight back, and Lilou Reid manages to score a late winner. The only title contender that picks up any points, the Capitals, will still be disappointed at choking away a 3-1 lead to Sharks. But Nandaozhou won’t be too happy with the result, either - with their draw and Ruby’s win, it’s David Russell’s side who have put themselves back into fourth.

UICA QF, First Leg
Wheathampton Warriors 0 - 2 Cazadores Cathair (AUD)

Guess not, then. Warriors tried to play too open, and they were annihilated on defense by Cazadores Cathair, conceding a brace within fifteen minutes. The western side managed to regroup and stop the Audioslavians from scoring again, but with a two-goal deficit, they’re basically out of the SBCC.

MD18
BSC Vargas 3–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
AFC Ruby 1–1 Emerald City Harmony
Nandaozhou Sharks 3–3 Kyrinson Twin Pines
New Llama Stars 1–3 New Llama Capitals

BSC are back! Three early goals from Evan Powell’s team has them just a point away from safety, while Los-Juantos’ dark horse run at the Globe Cup spots is all but extinguished. Under Leo de la Cruz, they just don’t look organized enough to do much of anything, and it’s likely that the fiery manager will be on his way out soon. Meanwhile, Kyrinson show signs of life, as Alnwick and Garcia combine to score all three goals en route to an away draw against Nandaozhou, who are seriously slipping up. Meanwhile, Harmony’s draw at Ruby makes Stars-Capitals even more exciting - Trevor Duncan’s New Llama Stars basically need a win to stay in the title race. But under pressure, they choke, and the Capitals manage an easy win.

SuperCup, Semifinals (second leg)
New Llama Capitals 2–1 Emerald City Harmony (3-3 aet, 4-5 agg)
Nandaozhou Sharks 2–2 New Llama Stars (a3-3 agg)

Two very exciting second legs. In New Llama City, the Capitals come in knowing they need a win to advance - against Harmony, arguably the best defense in the league. But Schuyler Rutledge finds a new gear, and Harmony find themselves very vulnerable even before Ethan Candelario manages to head a corner-kick into the back of the net. Suddenly, Erik Anderssen’s men need to push forwards - and although Capitals score again, they do get the goal they need to send things to extra-time. Just three minutes in, Guto collapses in the box and the referee points to the spot - hearts stop when Erika Blanton saves the shot, but Volkhov pounces on the deflection and scores easily. Still, Harmony aren’t about to give up - and two Lubiflor goals later, they clinch a spot in the finals.

In Nandaozhou, Vincent and Damjana put the Stars up two-nil with early goals, and the lead holds for eighty minutes. But with the Sharks giving it all they have, things just can’t hold up, and Muskerry and Constantin manage to equalize - and send Nandaozhou to their first-ever cup final on away goals.

UICA Quarterfinals, Second Leg
(AUD) Cazadores Cathair 2 - 1 Wheathampton Warriors

Warriors, to their credit, aren’t about to roll over, and Max Quirk even scores an early goal. But two goals against a strong Audioslavian side just proved too much to ask for, as Cathair sealed their trip to the semifinals with two late-first-half goals. An excellent UICA run from the Warriors, but all good things must come to an end.

MD19
New Llama Capitals 3–1 BSC Vargas
Kyrinson Twin Pines 1–1 New Llama Stars
Emerald City Harmony 0–2 Nandaozhou Sharks
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–0 AFC Ruby

It’s official: despite somehow managing to get a point off of a slumping Stars team, Kyrinson will be in the relegation playoffs. Joining them will most likely be BSC Vargas, as Coastal surprise Ruby with a late Lilou Reid winner to put four points between them and Vargas. Harmony are the last team that can stop Capitals, and if they can stay within three points of the current frontrunners, they might be able to keep a title. They promptly undo that with a disgraceful two-nil home loss to Nandaozhou. Suddenly, Capitals - who have choked so many times in the final matchdays - need only a point out of their last two matches to become national champions.

MD20
BSC Vargas 1–0 AFC Ruby
Nandaozhou Sharks 1–3 Los-Juantos Coastal
New Llama Stars 0–1 Emerald City Harmony
New Llama Capitals 1–2 Kyrinson Twin Pines

...And they manage to screw that up too, as Nolan Garcia scores a brace to put basically-relegated Kyrinson past Curtis Chen’s men and win two-one. Combined with Harmony’s narrow win over Stars (who have one point out of their last four matches), things are seriously heating up again, and Capitals memes are at their all-time high. Meanwhile, Ruby get a golden chance to reclaim fourth place, which they lost on MD19, when Sharks somehow manage to let Lilou Reid score a hat-trick on them. They proceed to lose to BSC Vargas, one-nil.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        20   11   5   4    53   21  +32    38
2 Emerald City Harmony      20   11   2   7    28   20   +8    35
3 New Llama Stars           20    9   4   7    35   27   +8    31
4 Nandaozhou Sharks         20    8   4   8    43   54  −11    28
5 Los-Juantos Coastal       20    9   1  10    26   43  −17    28
6 AFC Ruby                  20    7   5   8    21   17   +4    26
7 BSC Vargas                20    7   3  10    29   33   −4    24
8 Kyrinson Twin Pines       20    5   2  13    20   40  −20    17

Just one game to play. All eyes will be on Capitals-Harmony, but the fight for the Globe Cup spots and Vargas' attempt to get out of the relegation playoffs will also be very important. Only Kyrinson and Stars know how their final matchday will end up. The stakes could not be higher.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:59 am

Conclusion

MD21
All eyes will undoubtedly be on Schunemann Park, as Emerald City Harmony need a win to steal yet another SuperLleague from under the Capitals’ noses, but there are many other important matches, too. Kyrinson may be resigned to playing for their survival, but their opponents, BSC Vargas, could leapfrog AFC Ruby with a win and a Ruby loss to Nandaozhou - a fairly likely possibility. And while Stars don’t have much to play for in third place, fourth through sixth will be a battlefield - Sharks can sescure their spot with a win over AFC, but one slip up and Coastal and Ruby will both have a shot to secure the final Globe Cup spot.

As is usual, all four matches kick off at the same time - and there are immediate fireworks. Kyrinson are on paper a counterattacking team with defensive solidity, but they show absolutely none of that as Cordero and Correia are stymied by a long-ball that Harry Robertson drives home past a helpless Fournier, betrayed once again by his defense. Twelve minutes later, though, Jayce Alnwick equalizes, scoring what could be her last goal in this league off a penalty after Bradlee shoves Nolan Garcia over in the box.

Meanwhile, Harmony - Capitals is fast becoming a stalemate, with Harmony’s defense and Capitals’ midfield just too much to handle for their opponents. It’s anybody’s game, but Capitals have one advantage - they only need to not lose, while Harmony might open themselves up in pursuit of a vital three points. Ruby - Sharks is scoreless as well, but the game is wide open - the sides have combined for seven shots on target in all of fifteen minutes.

The next goal comes out of Los-Juantos, where Carsten Vincent slices Coastal’s meager defense open before slipping a perfect cross to Mandelbrot, who heads home. They nearly make it two, but Dominik Ciernik manages a brilliant sliding clearance after Sebastian Romero managed to dribble past Coastal keeper Felix Shaw. It turns out to not matter, because they actually make it two five minutes later, when Kris Suarez gets himself sent off for a senseless tackle and Mandelbrot converts the penalty.

If Stars - Coastal is becoming one-sided, then Vargas - Kyrinson is just an annihilation. Renaud Fournier makes four diving stops, saving the Twin Pines from ruination, but it turns out not to matter as the shots just keep on coming. Uerlisson scores first, destroying Correia before whipping a shot off Cordero and into the net. He’s quickly followed by BSC captain Markus Klein, who gets on the right end of a beautiful Rasmussen cross. And after Rasmussen gets one of her own off a corner, it’s four-one at the half. Los-Juantos also bag a goal off Lilou Reid, but the two matches are looking increasingly decided.

Sharks aren’t exactly known for their defense, and it shows - although Chelsea Yao nearly scores off a free-kick, Ruby are able to completely destroy their three-man back line and score a crucial goal, with none other than Immanuel Petrarch putting Ruby ahead. AFC can simply park the bus now, and with one of the best defenses in the league, it’s clear that’s what they’re going to do. Could David Russell’s men somehow find a way back into the Globe Cup?

The last domino, Harmony - Capitals, falls shortly after, when Schuyler Rutledge stuns Emerald City with a beautifully-placed free kick. Capitals are now parking the bus as well - if they can hold Harmony scoreless for twenty minutes, they will be champions.

And, with no other goals scored, that’s exactly what happens. Curtis Chen has finally done it. The Capitals have won SuperLleague.

Kyrinson Twin Pines 1–4 BSC Vargas
Emerald City Harmony 0–1 New Llama Capitals
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–2 New Llama Stars
AFC Ruby 1–0 Nandaozhou Sharks

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        21   12   5   4    54   21  +33    41
2 Emerald City Harmony      21   11   2   8    28   21   +7    35
3 New Llama Stars           21   10   4   7    37   28   +9    34
4 AFC Ruby                  21    8   5   8    22   17   +5    29
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    8   4   9    43   55  −12    28
6 Los-Juantos Coastal       21    9   1  11    27   45  −18    28
7 BSC Vargas                21    8   3  10    33   34   −1    27
8 Kyrinson Twin Pines       21    5   2  14    21   44  −23    17

Relegation Playoff

Twin Pines have basically given up. Vargas didn't deserve to be in the relegation playoff, finishing just two points out of the Globe Cup spots, and it shows as they completely outclass Tobyn Clearwater's struggling side. The Kyrinson outfit never threaten, and go out as meekly as they came. They'll be missed.

BSC Vargas 2–0 Kyrinson Twin Pines
Kyrinson Twin Pines 0–1 BSC Vargas (0-3 agg)

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        21   12   5   4    54   21  +33    41 Champions, CC
2 Emerald City Harmony      21   11   2   8    28   21   +7    35 GC
3 New Llama Stars           21   10   4   7    37   28   +9    34 GC
4 AFC Ruby                  21    8   5   8    22   17   +5    29 GC
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    8   4   9    43   55  −12    28
6 Los-Juantos Coastal       21    9   1  11    27   45  −18    28
7 BSC Vargas                21    8   3  10    33   34   −1    27
8 Kyrinson Twin Pines       21    5   2  14    21   44  −23    17 R

All-League XI - Blanton (ECH); Damjana (NLS), Hanger (ECH), Finley (NLS), Wu (NLC); Rutledge (NLC), Trésor (ECH), Candelario (NLC); Yao (NDZ), Lubiflor (ECH), Korsky (NLC)

Honorable Mentions - GK Fournier (KYR), DF Wagner (ECH), DF Myers-Briggs (RBY), MF Christensen (KYR), MF Rinaldi (NLS), ST Muskerry (NDZ), ST Reid (LJA)

Golden Boot
1. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH) - 17
2. Jack Muskerry (NDZ) - 15
3. Chelsea Yao (NDZ) - 13
4. Francis Mandelbrot (NLS) - 13
5. Guto (NLC) - 12

Most Assists
1. Schuyler Rutledge (NLC) - 18
2. Stefan Rinaldi (NLS) - 16
3. Kurtis Mann (ECH) - 15

Johan Lindberg

1. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH) - Cosumar
2. Aysu Damjana (NLS) - Chromatika
3. Lilou Reid (LJA) - Schottia

Best Manager

1. Curtis Chen (NLC)
2. David Russell (RBY)
3. Cristiano Barros (NDZ)

Oliver Trophy

1. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH)
2. Schuyler Rutledge (NLC)
3. Chelsea Yao (NDZ)
4. Aysu Damjana (NLS)
5. Ethan Candelario (NLC)
6. Edward Korsky (NLC)
7. Francis Mandelbrot (NLS)
***
Cup Final: Nandaozhou Sharks vs. Emerald City Harmony

NDZ: Johanssen; Pereira, Sorensen, Kloosterman; Sigurorzson, Guthrie, Bellard, Yin; Constantin, Muskerry, Yao
ECH: Santana; Gustav, Hanger, Wagner; Banks, Trésor, Mann, Koehler, Abel; Lubiflor, do Jordel

Nandaozhou and Emerald City are both coming off heartbreaking last-matchday defeats that cost them a Globe Cup spot and the title, respectively. Both have one shot to end the season on the high note. But only one team can do so.

And, at first, it looks like that team will be the Sharks. They open with a high-octane pressing strategy, and it works. Harmony's defense, so strong during the season, begin to fall apart. Still, it takes some luck to find the opening goal - Adria Sigurorzson sends a fairly weak cross in, and Rafael Constantin scuffs the header, but it somehow bounces off Justin Yin and through Santana's legs. After fifteen minutes, Nandaozhou lead one-nil. It doesn't last for long, even if the equalizer was as lucky as the first goal. Much-maligned Kurtis Mann dribbles down the center of the field before laying it off to Banks, who also tries to cross it in. Instead, it hits the crossbar and slips into the goal. It looks as if the two teams will be equally matched going into the half. But Harmony have different ideas, and it could only be Mursill Lubiflor to score the potential game-winner.

With five minutes to play, and Harmony having shut down Nandaozhou's press, things look over. But Chelsea Yao is not one to give up easily. The Sharks captain streaks down the right wing, cuts inside, and curls a devastating thirty-yard strike past a diving Santana and no less than three defenders to equalize. It's easily the best goal of the season. Three minutes later, Lubiflor nutmegs the keeper and Harmony win anyways.

Nandaozhou Sharks 2–3 Emerald City Harmony

Promotion Playoff

1940 Asure 1–1 Easthaven Centurion
Easthaven Centurion 1–0 1940 Asure (2-1 agg)

After an entertaining season, two surprise clubs - Asure and Easthaven - are set to play for promotion. Neither game is particularly interesting, and after eighty-five minutes, Easthaven are set to go through on away goals. At least, until 1940 wins a dubious penalty. But Arthur Velasquez fires off the crossbar, and Centurion get a dangerous counterattack going. Just thirty seconds after Asure thought they had won promotion, it's Isabella Shi celebrating on the other end. Easthaven have just won a second promotion in three years. It'll be interesting to see them in SuperLleague next season.

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 1940 Asure                 21   10   5   6    33   26   +7    35  Champions, SBCC
2 Easthaven Centurion        21   10   4   7    27   26   +1    Promoted, SBCC
3 Wheathampton Warriors      21    8   8   5    24   17   +7    32 SBCC
4 Olympic East               21    8   6   7    26   23   +3    30
5 Corbin City Islanders      21    9   2  10    21   24   −3    29
6 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       21    7   6   8    18   18    0    27 p/o
7 SC Nikcoro                 21    6   6   9    23   28   −5    24 p/o
8 FC Mendel                  21    6   3  12    19   29  −10    21 R

NorthLleague           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 SC Apple Valley         20   11   4   5    31   14  +17    37 p/o
2 Sherbrooke United       20   11   4   5    31   25   +6    37
3 Derrierton City         20   11   2   7    34   26   +8    35
4 AFC Dunsinane           20    9   4   7    24   15   +9    31
5 New Llama Generals      20    6   5   9    19   34  −15    23
6 Lake Graz               20    1   3  16     1   26  −25     6

SouthLleague              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Warwick Palace             20   11   5   4    29   18  +11    38 P
2 Southfeld Wanderers        20    9   5   6    31   22   +9    32 p/o
3 South Bryant Athletic      20    8   5   7    30   24   +6    29
4 SC Hazel                   20    7   6   7    25   29   −4    27
5 Westbridge Diamonds        20    6   3  11    13   21   −8    21
6 Talahita Tigers            20    6   2  12    21   35  −14    20

Second/RegionLleague playoffs

Svenssonfjord Dynamo 2–1 SC Apple Valley
SC Apple Valley 1–1 Svenssonfjord Dynamo (2-3 agg)

After a nervy second leg, it's Svenssonfjord Dynamo who breathe a sigh of relief and retain their place in SecondLleague despite a massively disappointing season. SC Apple Valley put up a fight, but in the end the NorthLleague champions will have to wait until next year.

SC Nikcoro 0–1 Southfeld Wanderers
Southfeld Wanderers 1–1 SC Nikcoro (2-1 agg)

Absolute shock in Nikcoro as Southfeld Wanderers barely get past Nikcoro and into SecondLleague. SC Nikcoro, who just three seasons ago played in the league system's top tier, will have to fight their way back up from the bottom. It'll be a difficult challenge.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:56 pm

Llamanean Baseball League - Season LXXXII

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 New Llama Wizards             34    25    9    164   110   +54     25
 2 Apple Valley Vipers           34    24   10    150   120   +30     24
 3 Talahita Tigers               34    23   11    167   115   +52     23
 4 South Bryant Chariots         34    21   13    141   123   +18     21
 5 City of Dinschria             34    20   14    174   144   +30     20
 6 BC Northern Emerald           34    20   14    177   153   +24     20
 7 Vargas City Lions             34    19   15    175   151   +24     19
 8 New Sälzholm Knights          34    19   15    143   149    −6     19
 9 Penbrooke Warriors            34    18   16    164   137   +27     18
10 Emerald City Greens           34    17   17    145   133   +12     17
11 Rogers Whitecaps              34    17   17    142   147    −5     17
12 BC Rogers                     34    17   17    141   149    −8     17
13 Nandaozhou Sharks             34    16   18    164   153   +11     16
14 New Llama Cyclones            34    16   18    146   135   +11     16
15 Kyrinson Twin Pines           34    16   18    149   156    −7     16
16 Xingcheng Renaissnace         34    16   18    120   137   −17     16
17 Mendel Mets                   34    15   19    134   147   −13     15
18 Peninsulara Kingfishers       34    14   20    145   145     0     14
19 Denison Patriots              34    14   20    140   148    −8     14
20 Nikcoro Dolphins              34    14   20    137   146    −9     14
21 South Falls Athletic          34    14   20    121   152   −31     14
22 Derrierton Surge              34    12   22    127   196   −69     12
23 McKenzie Lynx                 34    11   23    120   166   −46     11
24 East Llama Athletic           34    10   24    102   176   −74     10

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 Talahita Tigers               69    47   22    353   239  +114     47
 2 Apple Valley Vipers           69    45   24    328   250   +78     45
 3 New Llama Wizards             69    43   26    316   261   +55     43
 4 South Bryant Chariots         69    41   28    302   254   +48     41
 5 Nandaozhou Sharks             69    40   29    324   288   +36     40
 6 Rogers Whitecaps              69    40   29    312   289   +23     40
 7 BC Rogers                     69    40   29    320   309   +11     40
 8 Vargas City Lions             69    38   31    331   286   +45     38
 9 Nikcoro Dolphins              69    37   32    295   251   +44     37
10 BC Northern Emerald           69    37   32    330   292   +38     37
11 City of Dinschria             69    37   32    327   291   +36     37
12 New Llama Cyclones            69    36   33    295   266   +29     36
13 South Falls Athletic          69    35   34    279   280    −1     35
14 New Sälzholm Knights          69    35   34    310   323   −13     35
15 Emerald City Greens           69    33   36    277   274    +3     33
16 Kyrinson Twin Pines           69    33   36    305   311    −6     33
17 Penbrooke Warriors            69    32   37    316   321    −5     32
18 Xingcheng Renaissnace         69    32   37    297   334   −37     32
19 Mendel Mets                   69    30   39    271   324   −53     30
20 Denison Patriots              69    26   43    281   327   −46     26
21 Peninsulara Kingfishers       69    25   44    274   320   −46     25
22 McKenzie Lynx                 69    23   46    266   326   −60     23
23 East Llama Athletic           69    22   47    201   352  −151     22
24 Derrierton Surge              69    21   48    250   392  −142     21

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 New Llama Wizards            100    65   35    462   380   +82     65
 2 Talahita Tigers              100    62   38    508   365  +143     62
 3 South Bryant Chariots        100    62   38    463   379   +84     62
 4 Apple Valley Vipers          100    62   38    455   375   +80     62
 5 BC Northern Emerald          100    56   44    468   414   +54     56
 6 Nikcoro Dolphins             100    55   45    427   377   +50     55
 7 City of Dinschria            100    54   46    481   414   +67     54
 8 Vargas City Lions            100    54   46    465   417   +48     54
 9 Nandaozhou Sharks            100    54   46    469   433   +36     54
10 BC Rogers                    100    53   47    438   434    +4     53
11 Rogers Whitecaps             100    52   48    404   423   −19     52
12 New Llama Cyclones           100    51   49    413   371   +42     51
13 South Falls Athletic         100    50   50    418   410    +8     50
14 New Sälzholm Knights         100    50   50    441   441     0     50
15 Xingcheng Renaissnace        100    49   51    428   451   −23     49
16 Emerald City Greens          100    48   52    410   422   −12     48
17 Penbrooke Warriors           100    47   53    448   463   −15     47
18 Kyrinson Twin Pines          100    46   54    435   454   −19     46
19 Mendel Mets                  100    45   55    386   462   −76     45
20 Denison Patriots             100    44   56    405   460   −55     44
21 Peninsulara Kingfishers      100    40   60    395   454   −59     40
22 McKenzie Lynx                100    35   65    394   481   −87     35
23 Derrierton Surge             100    35   65    398   534  −136     35
24 East Llama Athletic          100    31   69    309   506  −197     31

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 South Bryant Chariots        131    81   50    621   498  +123     81
 2 Apple Valley Vipers          131    81   50    582   488   +94     81
 3 New Llama Wizards            131    79   52    610   511   +99     79
 4 Nandaozhou Sharks            131    77   54    597   520   +77     77
 5 Talahita Tigers              131    76   55    614   468  +146     76
 6 Vargas City Lions            131    74   57    626   533   +93     74
 7 BC Northern Emerald          131    73   58    589   567   +22     73
 8 Nikcoro Dolphins             131    71   60    559   489   +70     71
 9 City of Dinschria            131    70   61    603   530   +73     70
10 New Llama Cyclones           131    70   61    532   475   +57     70
11 Rogers Whitecaps             131    67   64    525   562   −37     67
12 Emerald City Greens          131    66   65    541   542    −1     66
13 Xingcheng Renaissnace        131    65   66    555   593   −38     65
14 South Falls Athletic         131    64   67    549   559   −10     64
15 New Sälzholm Knights         131    64   67    565   576   −11     64
16 BC Rogers                    131    64   67    561   620   −59     64
17 Denison Patriots             131    60   71    551   565   −14     60
18 Kyrinson Twin Pines          131    60   71    558   576   −18     60
19 Penbrooke Warriors           131    60   71    569   610   −41     60
20 Peninsulara Kingfishers      131    58   73    526   572   −46     58
21 Mendel Mets                  131    55   76    508   627  −119     55
22 McKenzie Lynx                131    47   84    524   624  −100     47
23 Derrierton Surge             131    45   86    496   657  −161     45
24 East Llama Athletic          131    45   86    451   650  −199     45

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 South Bryant Chariots        137    85   52    639   511  +128     85
 2 Apple Valley Vipers          137    85   52    614   509  +105     85
 3 New Llama Wizards            137    82   55    628   530   +98     82
 4 Talahita Tigers              137    81   56    639   483  +156     81
 5 Nandaozhou Sharks            137    80   57    621   549   +72     80
 6 Vargas City Lions            137    78   59    644   552   +92     78
 7 City of Dinschria            137    74   63    626   545   +81     74
 8 Nikcoro Dolphins             137    74   63    578   507   +71     74
 9 New Llama Cyclones           137    74   63    559   499   +60     74
10 BC Northern Emerald          137    74   63    605   591   +14     74
11 Emerald City Greens          137    69   68    562   557    +5     69
12 New Sälzholm Knights         137    68   69    598   601    −3     68
13 Rogers Whitecaps             137    68   69    549   597   −48     68
14 BC Rogers                    137    68   69    581   637   −56     68
15 South Falls Athletic         137    67   70    570   579    −9     67
16 Xingcheng Renaissnace        137    67   70    585   626   −41     67
17 Kyrinson Twin Pines          137    64   73    579   594   −15     64
18 Denison Patriots             137    62   75    566   581   −15     62
19 Penbrooke Warriors           137    62   75    587   639   −52     62
20 Peninsulara Kingfishers      137    58   79    543   600   −57     58
21 Mendel Mets                  137    58   79    535   657  −122     58
22 McKenzie Lynx                137    49   88    551   655  −104     49
23 Derrierton Surge             137    49   88    519   680  −161     49
24 East Llama Athletic          137    48   89    471   670  −199     48

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 Apple Valley Vipers          138    86   52    619   512  +107     86
 2 South Bryant Chariots        138    85   53    645   518  +127     85
 3 New Llama Wizards            138    83   55    635   536   +99     83
 4 Talahita Tigers              138    81   57    645   491  +154     81 Qualification to President's Cup
 5 Nandaozhou Sharks            138    81   57    625   552   +73     81
 6 Vargas City Lions            138    79   59    652   558   +94     79
 7 City of Dinschria            138    75   63    635   550   +85     75
 8 Nikcoro Dolphins             138    75   63    584   511   +73     75
 9 New Llama Cyclones           138    74   64    562   503   +59     74
10 BC Northern Emerald          138    74   64    605   594   +11     74
11 Emerald City Greens          138    70   68    569   563    +6     70
12 Rogers Whitecaps             138    69   69    554   600   −46     69 Playoff for President's Cup Berth
13 BC Rogers                    138    69   69    584   637   −53     69
14 New Sälzholm Knights         138    68   70    601   606    −5     68
15 South Falls Athletic         138    67   71    574   585   −11     67
16 Xingcheng Renaissnace        138    67   71    588   631   −43     67
17 Kyrinson Twin Pines          138    64   74    580   597   −17     64
18 Penbrooke Warriors           138    63   75    596   642   −46     63
19 Denison Patriots             138    62   76    571   590   −19     62
20 Peninsulara Kingfishers      138    59   79    550   603   −53     59
21 Mendel Mets                  138    58   80    538   666  −128     58
22 Derrierton Surge             138    50   88    522   681  −159     50
23 McKenzie Lynx                138    49   89    557   662  −105     49
24 East Llama Athletic          138    48   90    474   677  −203     48

(12) Rogers Whitecaps         0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0  2
(5) Nandaozhou Sharks         0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2  3

W - Zheng (19-7), L - Arroyo (13-10)

(11) Emerald City Greens      0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0  5
(6) Vargas City Lions         1 5 0 2 1 0 2 0 X 11

W - Stevens (15-8), L - Letonien (9-7)

(10) BC Northern Emerald      0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
(7) City of Dinschria         2 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 X  7

W - Burr (15-8), L - Fletcher (8-8)

(9) New Llama Cyclones        0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1  3
(8) Nikcoro Dolphins          0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  2

W - Wu (16-9), L - Morgan (17-6)

(4) Talahita Tigers            0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0  5
(5) Nandaozhou Sharks          0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  3

W - Herrera (15-9), L - Zheng (19-8)

(5) Nandaozhou Sharks          0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0  3
(4) Talahita Tigers            0 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 X  6

W - Bryant (18-8), L - Xu (13-13)

(1) Apple Valley Vipers        1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2
(9) New Llama Cyclones         3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 X  6

W - Wu (16-9), L - Ford (12-7)

(9) New Llama Cyclones         0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0  3
(1) Apple Valley Vipers        0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 X  4

W - Bourgeois (13-11), L - Vasquez (5-1)

(1) Apple Valley Vipers      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
(9) New Llama Cyclones       0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 X  3
W - Atkins (12-8), L - Gudjohnsen (11-12)

(2) South Bryant Chariots      0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  1
(7) City of Dinschria          0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 X  2

W - Burr (16-8), L - Mirzayev (11-10)

(7) City of Dinschria          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1  3
(2) South Bryant Chariots      0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
W - Bendtner (15-10), L - Fleming (9-8)

(3) New Llama Wizards          0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1  4
(6) Vargas City Lions          0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0  3

W - Florentssen (16-10), L - Oliver (15-12)

(6) Vargas City Lions          0 1 0 1 5 1 3 0 1 12
(3) New Llama Wizards          1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0  2

W - Molina (14-11), L - Wan (5-8)

(3) New Llama Wizards        0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 2  7
(6) Vargas City Lions        0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0  2

W - Johnson (12-12), L - Gomes (10-7)

(9) New Llama Cyclones vs. (4) Talahita Tigers
(9) New Llama Cyclones 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
(4) Talahita Tigers 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 5
W - Wright (2-3), L - Curran (3-3)

(9) New Llama Cyclones 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 1 8
(4) Talahita Tigers 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
W - Vasquez (6-1), L - Bryant (18-9)

(4) Talahita Tigers         0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1  3
(9) New Llama Cyclones      0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  2
W - Wright (3-3), L - Mortensen (2-5)

(4) Talahita Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
(9) New Llama Cyclones 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
W - Herrera (16-9), L - Wu (16-10)

(7) City of Dinschria vs. (3) New Llama Wizards
(7) City of Dinschria 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4
(3) New Llama Wizards 0 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 X 6
W - Florentssen (17-10), L - Burr (16-9)

(7) City of Dinschria 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 8
(3) New Llama Wizards 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 5
W - Bendtner (16-10), L - Wan (5-9)

(3) New Llama Wizards 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
(7) City of Dinschria 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 X 3
W - Kerr (15-12), L - Johnson (12-13)

(3) New Llama Wizards 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 4
(7) City of Dinschria 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3
W - Florentssen (18-10), L - Ray (3-6)

(7) City of Dinschria 0 3 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 7
(3) New Llama Wizards 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
W - Bendtner (17-10), L - Wan (5-10)

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINAL:
(4) Talahita Tigers [SP: Lucien Vasquez (6-1, 1.58 ERA)] vs. (7) City of Dinschria (SP: Jacob Burr [16-9, 3.08 ERA])

(7) City of Dinschria      0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0  3
(4) Talahita Tigers        0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2

City of Dinschria are the Season LXXXII President's Cup champions!

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:57 pm

SEASON V PREVIEW

Eight teams, seven cities, twenty-one matchdays, one champion. Back for a fifth season, and ready to reach even greater heights, the SuperLleague has returned.

Updates:

The LFA would like to welcome four new teams - Månebjerg Athletic, Kyrinson Cosmos, Baixio City, and Xingcheng Renaissance. The former two will play in the NorthLleague and the latter two in the SouthLleague.
With these changes, both the NorthLleague and the SouthLleague are composed of eight teams, and will therefore switch to the same three-legged round robin used by the top two tiers.
The league pyramid now consists of thirty-two teams, leading to a change in the SuperCup format: starting Season VI, there will now be no byes; every team will play in the first round of the SuperCup.
New changes to the league's financial regulations in effect for Seasons 5 and 6 will encourage spending on star foreign players, but efforts to encourage the development of domestic-based youth players have been strengthened as well.

AFC RUBY

Manager: Justine Sigurdsson (-2); Stadium: Falls Field, Ruby Falls (28,500); Colors: Ruby and Silver; Formation: 4-4-2

GK: Erika Blanton (#01, 29), Emily Kouzmanoff (#13, 22)
Defense: Jane Walden (#02, 28), Jonathan Mason (#05, 24), Chris Myers-Briggs (#03, 25), Madeline Warwick (#16, 24), Emmanuel Saint Marcel (#14, 19, SEM), Emerick Rademacher (#26, 27), Jace Killian-Walton (#27, 20)
Midfield: Cameron Petridis (#10, 27), Cosimo Poole (#17, 25, COS), Damian Conagher (#18, 34, NPH), Michael Kennedy [C] (#08, 31), Konrad Foster (#27, 33, NPH), Page Bailey (#15, 34, BRE), Michael Castro (#38, 27), Olivia Hawke (#25, 23)
Forward: Deon Partell (#07, 31, SEM), Immanuel Petrarch (#11, 28), Alfonse Gerard (#20, 28), Liam Dahl (#22, 24, PAS)

In: Erika Blanton (GK, 29, Emerald City Harmony, $750k), Olivia Hawke (MF, 23, Kyrinson Twin Pines, $100k), Jonathan Mason (DF, 24, Corbin City Islanders, $500k), Emerick Rademacher (DF, 27, Bronte Athletik, $250k)
Out: Everett Seymour (CB, 32, Emerald City Harmony, $1.5m), Marcelo Ferreira (DF, 34, Easthaven Centurion, free), Claudia Kelly (GK, BRE, 36, released), Felix Prowse (ST, BRE, 36, released), Cassandra Costell (CB, NPH, 35, released)

This could be AFC Ruby’s most challenging season yet, and their streak of four consecutive Globe Cup appearances is in serious jeopardy. This offseason was a very important one for the western side as a number of positions needed strengthening, but Ruby would soon take another path. The transfer window didn’t exactly get off to a great start, as longtime manager David Russell retired and Ruby’s rivals in Emerald City signed star center-back Everett Seymour. Things only got worse as starting goalkeeper Claudia Kelly and key defenders Marcelo Ferreira and Cassandra Costell left the team, and new manager Justine Sigurdsson’s first task was to repair a broken defense. The signings of Blanton, Mason, and Rademacher are a solution to this, but it’s unknown how Sigurdsson’s new-look squad will perform.

Past versions of AFC Ruby have relied on defensive solidity to overcome offensive weakness, but this edition might not even have that. Erika Blanton is a quality keeper, but her aggression doesn’t really fit the team’s style and she’s struggled to play consistently in the past. In front of her, Chris Myers-Briggs is solid but playing out of position, Jonathan Mason is young, talented and marketable with a record of SecondLleague success - but completely unproven in the first tier, and Walden and Warwick are just okay. In front of this fragile defense lies an attack that - like last year - might not have what it takes to keep them competitive against the likes of Harmony and the New Llama teams. Petridis, Foster and Kennedy are hard-working but uncreative wingers, while Conagher is solid but defensive-minded, which leaves Cosimo Poole as the sole creative outlet in a team of defensive players and counterattack specialists. Up front, Partell and Petrarch are quality players, but will they get enough service for that to matter?

Justine Sigurdsson has added a bit of flair to the team’s counterattacking tactics, but with so many losses in terms of personnel, it might not turn out to matter. This team is never entertaining to watch, but they’ve always been there to consistently place fourth of eight. This year, though, with Globe Cup and SuperLleague football? They might not even get there. PREDICTION: SIXTH.

BSC VARGAS

Manager: Evan Powell (+1); Stadium: Centennial Field (52,000), Vargas; Colors: Green and Yellow; Formation: 4-4-2

GK: Ishtar Curran (#12, 21, ISK), Conor Matthewson (#01, 37)
Defense: Lithe Bronwyne (#14, 22, NPH), Sandor Constantinescu (#05, 30), Kurt Reichart (#13, 32), Troy Bradlee (#17, 25), Erik Gunnarsson (#03, 33), Scott Sonnett (#02, 34, BRE), Jessica Myers (#25, 31)
Midfield: Markus Klein [C] (#28, 30), Ariadne Eldridge (#06, 23, NPH), Jason Petrovic (#08, 25), Meghan Rasmussen (#30, 22), Richard Mendelsohn (#15, 26), Richard Harrison (#16, 29, NPH), Christine Valdevic (#17, 29)
Forward: Uerlisson (#10, 30, MTH), Hansi Westerlow (#07, 28, NPH), Harry Robertson (#09, 34, NPH), Jake Wesley (#20, 27)

In: Jake Wesley (ST, 27, Emerald City Harmony, $300k), Christine Valdevic (MF, 29, New Llama Stars, $150k), Ishtar Curran (GK, 21, Lokomotiv Iskanabad, $1m), Kurt Reichart (CB, 32, Francisca Orient, $1m), Richard Harrison (CM, 29, Greygate, free), Lithe Bronwyne (LB, 22, Sutcroft, free), Hansi Westerlow (ST, 28, Starling, $5m)
Out: Jeff Martinsen (DF, 32, Easthaven Centurion, $100k), Derek Santos (ST, 25, Zazrak Athletic, $150k), Anna Chiswell (MF, 23, return from loan), Rebecca Boumediene (GK, 28, released), Franz Christensen (ST, 28, Corbin City Islanders, $100k)

Vargas have new investors in the form of technology conglomerate Ouranos, and their influence is already showing, as BSC have a heavily improved stadium, seven new players, flashy new facilities, and a lot more money. Evan Powell has spent wisely, and this balanced, dangerous Vargas side could easily take a Globe Cup spot. It all starts in the back, where the back line has definitely improved. Sandor Constantinescu and Llamanean international and former A-League standout Kurt Reichart will protect new signing and Iskandrian international Ishtar Curran (or the ever-reliable Conor Matthewson). Meanwhile, fullbacks Bronwyne and Bradlee are younger, quicker attacking talents who should excel in Powell’s high-pressing tactics.

The midfield has been left untouched (ignoring for the moment the signing of solid Nepharim backup Richard Harrison, who many think will take Petrovic’s starting spot soon), and it’s easy to see why - it’s absolutely solid. Jason Petrovic and Markus Klein are the team’s main sources of inspiration, Eldridge is a clean, hard-working defensive-midfielder, and Meghan Rasmussen is pacy, strong, and a potential source of goals and solid crosses from the right wing. All four are experienced and reliable, and although none of them are big names, they fit the system very well.

Up front, Uerlisson is a former Matthewsianian international who’s shown flashes of brilliance in a SuperLleague career marked by inconsistency - but if he can put it all together, like he came close to last season, Vargas will be very dangerous. And his partner, Hansi Westerlow, might not be the best of finishers, but he’s an athletic, diligent forward who fits perfectly into the system. If they can both play like they did last season, BSC will be in very good shape.

Not that they already aren’t. Because for the first time in a few years, BSC Vargas are dangerous again - and hope is coming back to the former footballing hotbed. The Globe Cup places are no longer a goal for this team, but an expectation. Expect them to reach it.

PREDICTION: FOURTH.

EASTHAVEN CENTURION

Manager: Annabeth Kudlowski (-1.5); Stadium: Hoffmann Field (16,000), Haven City; Colors: Sky Blue and Gold; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Jens Gudjohnsen (#01, 23), Angelina Fletcher (#12, 30)
Defense: Jason Karjalainen (#02, 27), Elisa Lundin (#03, 22), Avery Leonard (#05, 29), Michael Erasmus (#06, 30), Jeff Martinsen (#16, 32), Matt Beeler (#25, 19), Marcelo Ferreira (#50, 34)
Midfield: Caroline Nowakowski [C] (#08, 27), Damian Bao (#06, 21), Gudjon Letonien (#45, 25), Michael Partridge (#17, 29), Silas Matheus (#18, 21)
Forward: Kelpie Whiteforest (#11, 32, NPH), Isabella Shi (#20, 21), Carson Frazier (#07, 22), Kyle Hamming (#09, 32), Harrison Cruz (#21, 27)

In: Jens Gudjohnsen (GK, 23, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, $350k), Damian Bao (MF, 21, Anmen Athletic, $2m), Gudjon Letonien (MF, 25, Emerald City Harmony, $300k), Jeff Martinsen (DF, 32, BSC Vargas, $100k), Elisa Lundin (DF, 22, Dinamo Visånd, loan), Marcelo Ferreira (DF, 34, AFC Ruby, free), Kelpie Whiteforest (LM/LW, 32, Kyrinson Twin Pines, $300k)
Out: Marcus Rose (GK, 34, 1940 Asure, $50k), Sterling Rutherford (ST, 29, Southfeld Wanderers, $100k), Eric Hemingway (MF, 30, Olympic East, $100k), Sergio Valverde (FW, 29, New Llama Capitals, $200k)

Tiny Easthaven will need a miracle to stay up. But Former Rogers City goalie Annabeth Kudlowski, fresh off her second consecutive promotion, and the new-look roster she’s built, centered around the next generation of Llamanean talents, could be just the miracle they need. The board were wise enough to realize that significant investment would be needed if Easthaven wanted to play a second season in the SuperLleague, and Kudlowski spent the resulting cash injection well enough to build a balanced, complete roster. As one might expect, Centurion runs hard and defends constantly (including from the front), but they’re also capable of creating danger on the attack, making them more difficult to play than your usual newly-promoted side.

It all starts at the back, where new signing and former Llamanean U21 Jens Gudjohnsen will be given a trial by fire in his first SuperLleague season. But he does have protection - fellow U21 Elisa Lundin and fearless team leader Avery Leonard form a surprisingly-solid center-back pairing, although Karjalainen and Erasmus are dubiously SuperLleague-quality - if they do falter, Marcelo Ferreira is a more proven quantity.

The midfield has been seriously bolstered with the addition of national-team starter Damian Bao. There’s a lot of hype surrounding Bao’s arrival in the SuperLleague, and it’s easy to see why - he’s hard-working, a quick thinker, and he has a brilliant passing touch, making him an ideal counterattacking midfielder. At his side, captain Caroline Nowakowski complements Bao perfectly with her positioning, athleticism, and leadership, forming what could be a severely underrated midfield. Drifting in front of the two in a more free attacking role is the unproven but talented Gudjon Letonien, who could prove an inspired pickup for Kudlowski.

Up front are a trio of hard-pressing, athletic forwards. Isabella Shi, another Llamanean U21, is the centerpiece of the attack, and is well-known for her brilliant finishing and limitless energy. Flanking her are a pair of more conservative, straightforward wingers, the Nepharim Whiteforest and Carson Frazier, and both are well-proven at this level. The attack should work flawlessly all season long, although they’ll miss winger Valverde deeply with none of the backups really suited to this level.

In the end, Annabeth Kudlowski’s Centurion undoubtedly has the quality to stay up if their first team stays healthy all season. But will it? PREDICTION: SEVENTH.

EMERALD CITY HARMONY
Manager: Erik Anderssen (0); Stadium: Schunemann Park (44,000), Emerald Springs; Colors: Green and Black; Formation: 3-5-2
GK: Marcos Santana (#12, 19), Erin Donalbain (#13, 18)
Defense: Emily Gustav (#14, 19), Everett Seymour (#03, 31, COS), Ephraim Wagner (#02, 28), Henrick Davenport (#05, 36, NPH), Kristztina Berky (#06, 18, PAS), Tim Ferraro (#16, 26)
Midfield: Willard Banks (#11, 30, HSZ), Marin Trésor (#06, 20, ACR), Trevor Fournier [C] (#10, 23), Justin Koehler (#08, 28), Francesca Abel (#39, 25), Kurtis Mann (#21, 26), Tobias Ebenezer (#32, 22), Petra Wladecki (#34, 29)
Forward: Mursill Lubiflor (#09, 29, COS), Dorian Fletchclair (#20, 26, NPH), Nego do Jordel (#21, 17, MTH), Emma Berdych (#25, 19)

In: Tobias Ebenezer (MF, 22, return from loan), Costa Barros (ST, 23, return from loan), Everett Seymour (DF, 31, Emerald City Harmony, $1.5m), Dorian Fletchclair (ST, 26, Coret Hawks, $2.5m), Petra Wladecki (LW/RW, 29, free agent)
Out: Ellie Hanger (CB, 21, COS, return from loan), Gudjon Letonien (MF, 24, Easthaven Centurion, $300k), Erika Blanton (GK, 29, AFC Ruby, $750k), Jake Wesley (ST, 27, BSC Vargas, $300k), Costa Barros (ST, 24, Los-Juantos Coastal, $250k), Megan Thurmond (MF/FW, 21, Dinamo Visånd, $2.5m)
***
Harmony have been expected to win by pundits basically every SuperLleague so far, and it’s not hard to see why - the high-profile sales of Johannes Sindelaar and Marco Saint Paul basically gave Erik Anderssen the ability to build on top of a team that had just won consecutive league titles. But since Season II, Harmony have gone silent, limping to second- and third-place finishes and struggling with injury. But this time, it seems like they’re truly back. The signings of Everett Seymour and Dorian Fletchclair improved Anderssen’s squad dramatically, and if Harmony can catch a break with injuries, they’ll be expected to win the league.

Past Harmony squads have been strongest at the back, but that might no longer be true. Marcos Santana is a great young shot-stopper and distributor, but having two teenagers be your first- and second-choice goalkeepers might not be the best idea. At least he has adequate cover - Gustav, new signing Everett Seymour, and Wagner are all amongst the best center-backs in SuperLleague. On the wings, Francesca Abel is the national-team starting right back for a reason, while the Hasznian Banks has done an excellent job in a more advanced position.

It’s the midfield that really holds Anderssen’s possession-based, defensive-minded system together. Acronian Marin Trésor and former Olympic East midfielder Justin Koehler are an excellent pair of central midfielders, capable of tracking back but also gifted with passing touches that can rival any other SuperLleague midfielder’s. And between the two is an even rarer talent in Trevor Fournier. His struggles with injuries are well-known, but if he can return to his original form, Harmony will benefit from his playmaking and shooting. If he can’t, it’ll be Kurtis Mann, less of a scoring threat but a more deep-lying playmaker, to fill in.

Up front, Mursill Lubiflor is a tenacious, direct striker who’s one of the best goalscorers in the league, and she’ll have even more help now in former Coret striker Dorian Fletchclair, a quick-running, free-thinking striker who can find in Lubiflor the finishing touch he so desperately needs. They should be the best partnership in the nation this season, adding a fierce attacking threat to the top of a dangerous lineup.

Once again, Harmony look like the title favorites, and once again, anything else - even a third straight cup win - would be a disappointment. But this year, they’re even heavier favorites than usual. Expect them to win the league. PREDICTION: FIRST.

LOS-JUANTOS COASTAL
Manager: Leonidas de la Cruz (+2.5); Stadium: Tenacity Park (40,000), Peninsulera City; Colors: Scarlet and Gold; Formation: 3-4-3

GK: Felix Shaw (#01, 31, TSA), Aranha (#12, 22, USI)
Defense: Kris Suarez (#03, 28) [C], Zhang Luofang (#02, 25, YZH), Dominik Ciernik (#05, 21, NOV), Ava Florentin (#16, 29), Adrian Pitt (#24, 21, TRV)
Midfield: Cheney Ralston (#13, 31, NPH), Vanessa Booker (#06, 31, NPH), Petra Suleimann (#05, 27), Sergey Kuznetsov (#36, 17), Jake Appel (#18, 29), Caroline Jensen (#17, 29), Jan Caulson (#02, 32, NPH)
Forward: Alexandre Russo (#18, 30), Guto (#09, 30, USI), Alice Møller (#10, 23), Roman Pierce (#11, 31), Pavel Kilalurak (#20, 25, ABI), Costa Barros (#31, 24, USI)

In: Ava Florentin (DF, 29, New Llama Stars, $700k), Zhang Luofang (DF, 25, SC Jiangdong, $1m), Costa Barros (ST, 24, Emerald City Harmony, $250k)
Out: Ryan Zhou (MF/FW, 32, New Llama Stars, $400k), Jonathan Rhoderick (MF, 37, AFC NWG, free), Evangelista Sandoval (RB, 29, New Llama Stars, $675k), Matthew Hull-Benson (MF, 31, Nandaozhou Sharks, free), Lilou Reid (ST, 19, New Llama Capitals, $2.25m)

So this is it for Leo de la Cruz, one way or another. If the hot-headed Hicañan can’t deliver the Globe Cup appearance that he promised four seasons ago, he’ll be sacked. Perhaps cognizant of this, de la Cruz has completely overhauled his team’s system, selling five players and molding his starting 11 into a 3-4-3. And he seemed to be doing a pretty good job of it, forming a reasonably good formation while selling enough players to keep the team financially solid...until Capitals came out of nowhere and stole Lilou Reid. Now, they seem the obvious choice to go down. But never underestimate the motivational ability of Leo de la Cruz - unless the rumors of him losing the players are true, in which case they’re going down.

Felix Shaw is solid at the back, if that actually matters, while the trio of Suarez, newly-signed Zhang, and Ciernik wouldn’t be that bad under a manager capable of providing coherent defensive tactics. Ava Florentin is worth mentioning just because de la Cruz decided to throw $700k at Stars - starting right-back Sandoval went to New Llama for less - for the backup center-back. Meanwhile, Booker and Suleimann are solid midfielders flanked by two hard-running wingbacks in Ralston and Kuznetsov. Up front, though, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Attacking is theoretically the specialty of any Leo de la Cruz team, but how Coastal intend to do that with Guto - who de la Cruz reportedly hates - flanked by the lazy Russo and inconsistent Møller is anyone’s guess. If they can get things together, this would actually be a pretty good team. They probably won’t. PREDICTION: EIGHTH.

NANDAOZHOU SHARKS
Manager: Cristiano Barros (+1.5); Stadium: Bayside Park (23,500), Xinggang; Colors: Navy and White; Formation: 3-4-3

GK: Emily Johanssen (#01, 27), Christian Wictorsson (#12, 31)
Defense: Iskar Serket (#15, 20, ISK), Immanuel Sorensen (#03, 30), Grettis Gjallskald (#14, 37, COS), Michael Pereira (#02, 27), Brad Okugo (#16, 23, USI)
Midfield: Cory Henry (#24, 33, NOV), Michael Guthrie (#07, 24), Elizabeth Bellard (#08, 23, NPH), Jake Pedersen (#17, 22), Cecille Petrovic (#13, 19, EFL), Justin Yin (#18, 26), Matthew Hull-Benson (#36, 31)
Forward: Adria Sigurorzson (#17, 31), Jack Muskerry (#09, 26, NPH), Chelsea Yao [C] (#10, 28), Alyssa Marcusson (#21, 26), Rafael Constantin (#20, 30)

In: Matthew Hull-Benson (MF, 31, Los-Juantos Coastal, free), Jake Pedersen (DF, 22, Kyrinson Twin Pines, $750k), Cecille Petrovic (DF, 19, Kyrinson Twin Pines, $500k), Grettis Gjallskald (CB, 37, Gallant Cross, free), Cory Henry (LB, 33, Rozelle, free), Iskar Serket (DF, 20, Lokomotiv Iskanabad, $1m)
Out: Jason Bradstreet (DF, 28, Warwick Palace, $100k), Jared Lund (ST, 31, SC NIkcoro, $75k), Sigurd Herleksson (MF, 26, New Llama Stars, $300k), Diego Kloosterman (CB, 20, released)

Cristiano Barros knew that the only thing holding Nandaozhou from UICA football was the defense, and improving the “3” and “4” 3-4-3 that Jonathan Gonsalves brought to the club was made the club’s top priority over the summer. And although the board hasn’t been known for spending in the past - a trend that they only mildly rebuked over the summer - there’s definitely been a lot of improvement in the back, with no less than five new defenders heading to Bayside Park. The future is bright for a surprisingly well-built Sharks side, and this could easily be their year.

Past iterations of the Sharks all started up front, and although the defense has improved considerably, the attack is still the strength of this team. And it’s not hard to see why - Nepharim Jack Muskerry has developed into one of the league’s best strikers, and athletic captain Chelsea Yao might even be the better finisher, and former wing-back Adria Sigurorzson remains a nightmare for defenses to contain due to her pace and agility, even if she still struggles with end product. There’s a ton of depth here too, with Marcusson and Constantin both former starters willing to accept a diminished role.

There’s depth - and a solidity that previous iterations lacked - in the midfield, too. Anglican national team wingback Cory Henry was a fantastic signing for a team that could use some veteran leadership and a two-way talent at left-back. Meanwhile, U21 starter Jake Pedersen will fill in admirably on the other side, with Cecille Petrovic more than capable of backing up either. In the center, deep-lying playmaker Guthrie is inexorably moving towards his first cap for the Tigers, while the Nepharim Bellard is a clean, classy holding-midfielder who works well with her midfield partner. The more free-flowing Justin Yin and the versatile Matthew Hull-Benson back them up well, creating a surprisingly well-built and well-rounded midfield.

The defense, as ever, could use improvement, but things are looking up here as well. Emily Johanssen is a strong shot-stopper and fearless leader, and the Sharks have five talented and diverse center-backs all capable of putting in a solid shift. Serket is a hot-tempered, physical center-back with a lot of talent, the cool, composed Sorensen the Sharks’ best defender last season, and Gjallskald - despite being, well, thirty-seven years old - a skilled, physically imposing center-back who is absolutely SuperLleague-quality. It’s not perfect - and the Sharks will still concede a ton of goals with their high-flying attacking style - but they’re finally balanced - and dangerous - enough to make the Globe Cup - if they can get past BSC. PREDICTION: FIFTH.

NEW LLAMA CAPITALS
Manager: Curtis Chen (+3.25), Stadium: Tyler Rocke Memorial Field (37,500), New Llama City; Colors: Blue and Silver; Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Kosovare Fairweather (#13, 25, NPH), Marcus Siegrist (#01, 31)
Defense: Eloisa Primavera (#14, 21, TAU), Ellis Holloway (#15, 28, HSZ), Catarina Soler (#16, 25, AFT), Wu Haiwen (#03, 23), Corey Dunbar (#02, 28), Wictor Henriksen (#05, 33)
Midfield: Schuyler Rutledge (#10, 31), Ethan Candelario [C] (#08, 33), Nemanja Volkhov (#07, 29), Anna Walquist (#17, 31), Christian Whetham (#18, 32), Helen Appelrath (#27, 24, SCT)
Forward: Madison Rojas (#20, 25), Lilou Reid (#09, 19, SCT), Edward Korsky (#32, 29), Sergio Valverde (#21, 29), Kristopher Matheus (#32, 24)

In: Sergio Valverde (FW, 29, Easthaven Centurion, $200k), Lilou Reid (ST, 19, Los-Juantos Coastal, $2.25m), Helen Appelrath (CM, 24, AS Mezina, Free), Kosovare Fairweather (GK, 25, Belgrave, $3.5m)
Out: Jenna Marquette-Dunsinane (GK, 24, Hussards, free), Guto (ST, 30, Los-Juantos Coastal, $1m), Petra Wladecki (FW, 29, released)

Curtis Chen has finally delivered a title to Tyler Rocke, and he hasn’t been willing to stand pat. In goal, Siegrist has been replaced by Nepharim modern goalkeeper Fairweather - a fantastic distributor and shot-stopper whose weaknesses Chen hopes will be neutralized by the team around her. It’s a reasonable expectation - the physical Soler, who used to serve in the Fleftic air force, and the well-rounded Holloway should be able to protect her fairly well, and Primavera and Wu, despite their attacking talents, are both solid defenders. Combined with Fairweather’s impressive distribution and the ball-playing abilities of the fullbacks and midfield, the Capitals could be the best attacking team in the league.

What really makes Chen confident that could work, however, is the Capitals’ midfield. Llamanean national team starter Ethan Candelario is clearly the best of the bunch, but all three are massive talents at their positions. Candelario is the best holding midfielder in the league, a strong defender and ball-winner with some playmaking talent as well. Nemanja Volkhov is a genuine terror at either end of the field, and his speed and stamina make him an ever-present figure in any match. Schuyler Rutledge isn’t the defender or tackler that either of his teammates are - but what he is is a talented number-ten whose introduction instantly improved the team’s attack last season. With Whetham, Walquist, and technically astute Appelrath on the bench, this is a very impressive group of players for Chen to experiment with.

Up front, Lilou Reid’s purchase sent the entire fanbase into euphoria, and despite Guto’s goalscoring record last season before he was sent back to Coastal, it’s easy to see why: the Schottian U21 has been destroying opposing defenses since her introduction, and in an attack-minded system like Curtis Chen’s, she’ll have the backup she needs to become an even more prolific goal-scorer. On her right will be breakout star Edward Korsky, while on her left will be the ever-reliable Madison Rojas - two solid, technical wingers who will be whipping in an endless variety of passes for Reid to pounce or just cutting in themselves.

Chen’s team is as attack-minded and dangerous as ever, and he’s significantly improved a side that already won a title. But will it be enough? PREDICTION: SECOND.

NEW LLAMA STARS
Manager: Trevor Duncan (+2); Stadium: The C (50,000), New Llama City; Colors: Green and White; Formation: 4-2-1-3 / 4-2-3-1

GK: Sebastian Nielsen (#01, 35, ACR), Renaud Fournier (#13, 28, COS)
Defense: Evangelista Sandoval (#30, 29), Michael Gunning (#14, 29), Eden Finley (#03, 30, BRE), Malachi Rosewood (#05, 31, NPH), Lily McKinnely (#15, 20, SCT), Stern Chaucer (#18, 33, NPH), Markus Vokes (#35, 19)
Midfield: Lux Siravoi (#08, 20, ASU), Stefan Rinaldi (#10, 22), Ryan Carmichael (#06, 29), Kris Ziegler (#27, 20), Sigurd Herleksson (#60, 26)
Forwards: Dejana Petersen (#11, 25, NPH), Francis Mandelbrot [C] (#09, 30), Annalisa Sigurdsson (#07, 23), Ryan Zhou (#21, 32), Caitlyn Gunning (#22, 22), Sebastian Romero (#18, 28)

In: Ryan Zhou (MF/FW, 32, Los-Juantos Coastal, $400k), Renaud Fournier (GK, 28, Kyrinson Twin Pines, $500k), Reagan Fleming (CB, 19, return from loan), Evangelista Sandoval (RB, 29, Los-Juantos Coastal, $675k), Sigurd Herleksson (MF, 26, Nandaozhou Sharks, $300k), Lux Siravoi (CM, 20, Aznavour OSC, $1.25m), Lily McKinnely (CB, 20, Portus Central, free), Malachi Rosewood (RB, 31, Brinemouth, $2m), Dejana Petersen (LW, 25, Belgrave, $3m)
Out: Juniad Moussa (FW, 19, Southfeld Wanderers, Loan), Vincent Minaya (GK, 28, Olympic East, loan), Mark Sorensen (MF, 32, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, $150k), Ava Florentin (DF, 29, Los-Juantos Coastal, $700k), Carsten Vincent (ST/RW, 22, Northern Stallions, $3.5m), Reagan Fleming (CB, 19, Olympic Nassau Bay, $1m), Aysu Damjana (LB, 25, Vermillion Rage, $5m)

Trevor Duncan’s first season with the team was something of a transitional period, and as such a third-place finish wasn’t too far from expectations. Still, improvements to the squad were expected. Unfortunately, Carsten Vincent and Reagan Fleming had been pushing for an exit for quite a long time, and their sales were sad but somewhat inevitable. But they absolutely made the squad weaker, as did the exits of spark-plug midfielder Mark Sorensen, depth defender Ava Florentin, and...well, easily the best player on the team and Chromatik national-team starter Aysu Damjana.

So Duncan had the somewhat-grand task of not just replacing the significant departures, but improving his team as well. And he spent a lot towards that task, as the former national-team legend spent a combined eight million dollars on eight players - a lot in such a small league. The likes of Evangelista Sandoval, Lux Siravoi, Malachi Rosewood, and Dejana Petersen will be expected to integrate into the starting lineup immediately, making this another year of transition, but the reward if things work out will be a league title.

Acronian veteran Nielsen at the back (and Fournier backing him up) will be supported by a solid if somewhat disjointed back four. Sandoval, Gunning, Finley, and Rosewood are all solid on their own - especially the latter two - but the back line looked shaky in preseason, with the former two often bombing forwards unnecessarily and not tracking back, although there's hope things will solidify soon. If not, the experienced Chaucer and young talents McKinnely and Vokes should be able to make up for it - but despite the quality of its right side defense could definitely be a team weakness, especially with injuries. However, the midfield should do an excellent job shielding them. Lux Siravoi only spent a year in the Askari Union's top flight, but it was enough for her to win a Silver Ball and a league title - the classy, technical holding midfielder will fit right in alongside the more physical and defense-minded Ryan Carmichael and behind midfield maestro Rinaldi.

What really makes this team dangerous, though, is the four-man attack. Dejana Petersen and Annalisa Sigurdsson are both technical but direct wingers who can do a lot on the ball, although neither is exceptionally prolific of a scorer in open play (Sigurdsson’s free kicks are something else, though). Between them, Francis Mandelbrot isn’t particularly athletic or technical, but he’s led the league in goals enough times to show his worth to this team as a poacher. The three of them plus Rinaldi’s brilliant passing will be beautiful to watch.

But will it be enough? There’s been a lot of changes, but this remains a side in transition that just lost its best player. They’ll challenge for the league title. But some early shakiness may be enough to lose it. PREDICTION: THIRD.

SuperLleague Expected Finish:

1. Emerald City Harmony
2. New Llama Capitals
3. New Llama Stars
4. BSC Vargas
5. Nandaozhou Sharks
6. AFC Ruby
7. Easthaven Centurion
8. Los-Juantos Coastal

SecondLleague Expected Finish:

1. Olympic East
2. 1940 Asure
3. Wheathampton Warriors
4. Corbin City Islanders
5. Warwick Palace
6. Kyrinson Twin Pines
7. Svenssonfjord Dynamo
8. Southfeld Wanderers

NorthLleague Expected Finish

1. SC Apple Valley
2. AFC Dunsinane
3. Sherbrooke United
4. Månebjerg Athletic
5. Derrierton City
6. Southlake United
7. Kyrinson Cosmos
8. New Llama Generals

SouthLleague Expected Finish
1. SC Nikcoro
2. South Bryant Athletic
3. Talahita Tigers
4. Xingcheng Renaissance
5. FC Mendel
6. Westbridge Diamonds
7. Baixio City
8. SC Hazel

by **Super-Llamaland** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:25 pm

SEASON V RECAP

Despite failing to qualify for UICA football, just like...basically every other Llamanean team, Emerald City Harmony were dominant in the first half of the season, opening with a seven-game unbeaten streak (failing to defeat only the Capitals) and scoring twenty-three goals in their first seven matches behind the attacking trio of Mursill Lubiflor, Dorian Fletchclair, and a finally healthy Trevor Fournier. But the biggest surprise of the early SuperLleague was undoubtedly BSC Vargas. Everyone expected Evan Powell’s team to improve significantly, but Vargas’ nineteen points in their first eight games - including a win over the Capitals and Emerald City’s first loss of the season - exceeded even the most diehard fans’ expectations.

The two New Llama sides, Capitals and Stars, had gotten off to decent starts and occupied the Globe Cup spots a third of the way through the season, but the season had still been disappointing for fans - particularly those of Trevor Duncan’s Stars. The offense was fine, and on defense Michael Gunning had impressed, but a few minor injuries to Malachi Rosewood sapped the team’s fullback depth, and combined with Evangelista Sandoval being absolutely terrible, it showed as the Stars conceded fourteen in their first seven.

But Sandoval, Gunning, Finley, and Markus Vokes could at least take heart that they weren’t Los-Juantos Coastal, who remained pointless until the ninth game of the season. Conceding twenty-four games in nine matches usually isn’t the sign of a team who has things together, and this stayed true as despite the individual talent of Ciernik and Zhang, things just weren’t staying together. The Coastal offense went quiet too, scoring just four times over that same time span as Leo de la Cruz’s 3-4-3 choked all the danger out of them. Although the board tried to get de la Cruz to resign, not wanting to take the financial hit of firing the handsomely-paid manager, it took until a 7-0 defeat by Harmony in the final two months of the season - with the team’s relegation now inevitable - before he would quit.

By the midway point of the season, things had separated into two distinct races - one for the title, between Emerald City (23 points) and BSC Vargas (22), and one for the remaining two Globe Cup spots, between Chelsea Yao-led Nandaozhou (17), Capitals (17), Stars (17), and the surprisingly solid Easthaven Centurion (15). Meanwhile, the bottom two seemed destined to be Ruby (11) and Coastal (2), with Justine Sigurdsson trying and failing to wake up her sluggish attack and Leo de la Cruz giving up on the season.

As for the SuperCup, the quarterfinals saw familiar faces Capitals, BSC, and Nandaozhou (who had edged out Harmony in a thrilling 8-7 penalty shootout the previous round) advance...alongside second-tier Svenssonfjord Dynamo (who would be relegated to the third tier at the end of the season), who successfully parked the bus against the Stars for 120 minutes before former Stars keeper Vincent Minaya saved two penalties and knocked the cup favorites out. Plucky Svenssonfjord then took a commanding 4-0 lead against Nandaozhou in the semifinals before giving two back - still, with a two-goal lead, it looked as if the SuperCup might have its first non-SuperLleague winner. Two weeks later, Sharks won 5-2 and advanced to the finals.

Injuries to Markus Klein, Jake Wesley, and Sandor Constantinescu crippled BSC Vargas, who lost to Capitals, drew with Stars, and inexplicably allowed Los-Juantos to put four past them - dropping them into third place behind a surging Capitals side. With Nandaozhou and Easthaven both just three points behind Vargas and in much better form, even the Globe Cup was at risk for the embattled Evan Powell.

But for Los-Juantos, everything that was at risk had already been lost. Casual fans began tuning in to watch their matches, however - Coastal were threatening to break the all-time record for fewest points in a season, currently held by SC Nikcoro’s seven in the inaugural season of SuperLleague. Coastal would have to go winless over their final seven games to do so, but that was something they were more than capable of doing.

On the opposite end of the table, Emerald City and the New Llama Capitals had entered an improbable title race. Both teams slipped on MD15, with a late Isabella Shi penalty stealing two points from Curtis Chen’s side and Harmony finding themselves unable to penetrate a resilient BSC Vargas. Both teams slipped again on MD16, but this time the New Llama club performed just slightly better, narrowing the gap between them to two points. And with a 2-1 victory over Emerald City on MD16, it was Stars to improbably sneak back into the conversation as well, with a reinvigorated BSC Vargas just one point behind!

Of the four teams, New Llama Stars would be the first to fall out of the title race, somehow losing 2-0 at home to AFC Ruby before letting their crosstown rivals to get the better of them in a 3-1 loss to Capitals. But BSC continued to gain ground, pulling into a tie with Capitals just two behind Emerald City with three games to play. With Nandaozhou and Easthaven staying close, Stars weren’t even in the Globe Cup spots after MD18!

Centurion and Stars scored vital wins on MD19, but most viewers were looking at Los-Juantos - where a frustrated, angry Coastal side, now freed of Leo de la Cruz, had gone up 4-1 against Capitals. Emerald City, disappointed after failing to score against Justine Sigurdsson’s AFC Ruby, now had the opportunity to open up a three-point lead on everyone else with just two more matches to play. But, still up 5-3 in the eighty-seventh minute, Los-Juantos imploded once again, with Lilou Reid scoring three late goals to keep the worst season ever alive - as well as, more relevantly, Capitals’ title hopes.

MD20 pitted Capitals and Harmony - now level on points - against each other with the season on the line. Fans across the nation tuned in...and were left disappointed as the two drew without a single goal scored. Suddenly, after a 3-0 win over Vargas sunk BSC to sixth place (albeit in a three-way tie with Nandaozhou and Easthaven), Stars were just a point back of the title and punched their ticket to UICA football - leaving Sharks, Centurion, and Vargas (all tied!) to battle out for the remaining Globe Cup spot alone.

On the final matchday, New Llama Stars did their job, scoring two late goals to overcome Isabella Shi’s early one and break Easthaven fans’ hearts. But Harmony did theirs, similarly crushing Nandaozhou’s Globe Cup aspirations and Stars’ title hopes with a dominant 3-0 victory. It would all be up to the Capitals, and for eighty-five minutes, it looked as if Harmony would be champions - and Stars unlikely runners-up - as they couldn’t find their way past organized, defensive AFC Ruby. But a late Ethan Candelario header was enough to get them the three points - ensuring that Harmony and Capitals would play a two-legged playoff to decide the champion of SuperLleague Season 5.

An intense final day came to a fitting conclusion. Alice Møller’s early scissor kick goal gave Coastal fans hope that they might avoid the title of worst SuperLleague team in history. And Los-Juantos’ defense held Vargas off for half an hour! Alas, it would be Hansi Westerlow to beat Felix Shaw at his near post right before halftime. And, as it became increasingly clear that Coastal would not be getting three points, and as the home fans’ boos grew louder and louder, frustration got the better of the players, with Møller, Zhang, and Suarez all getting sent off while a confused BSC accepted the draw and clinched their first UICA qualification in team history.

So it would be Harmony and Capitals to battle things out. The first leg, at Schunemann Park, was goalless and tense for most of the game - Dorian Fletchclair put Harmony fans on their feet with a magnificent goal in the seventy-fourth minute, but Capitals managed to salvage a draw and an away goal with Lilou Reid’s late finish.

It would all come down to Capitals’ home leg. Shockingly, injuries to Kosovare Fairweather and Marcus Siegrist meant that the capital club would be forced to start U21 keeper Matt Pershing. This went about as well as expected, with Harmony scoring five first-half goals en route to a 8-3 rout and their third SuperLleague title. Four days later, Capitals lost the cup final too - with Nandaozhou finally getting some silverware with a 2-1 win in extra time, the final goal scored by - you guessed it - Chelsea Yao.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Emerald City Harmony      21   11   5   5    43   17  +26    38 CHAMPIONS, CC
2 New Llama Capitals        21   11   5   5    36   24  +12    38 GC
3 New Llama Stars           21   11   4   6    42   32  +10    37 GC
4 BSC Vargas                21    9   5   7    22   27   −5    32 GC
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    9   4   8    42   35   +7    31
6 Easthaven Centurion       21    8   7   6    22   23   −1    31
7 AFC Ruby                  21    5   5  11    19   28   −9    20
8 Los-Juantos Coastal       21    1   3  17    22   62  −40     6 R

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF
Emerald City Harmony 1–1 New Llama Capitals
New Llama Capitals 3-8 Emerald City Harmony (4-9 agg)

RELEGATION PLAYOFF
AFC Ruby 2–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
Los-Juantos Coastal 1–2 AFC Ruby (2-4 agg)

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 1940 Asure                 21   13   3   5    26   13  +13    42 P, SBCC
2 Wheathampton Warriors      21   10   4   7    15   12   +3    34 SBCC
3 Olympic East               21    8   6   7    28   23   +5    30 SBCC
4 Corbin City Islanders      21    8   6   7    11   13   −2    30
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo       21    6   9   6    12   11   +1    27 R
6 Southfeld Wanderers        21    6   6   9    14   17   −3    24
7 Warwick Palace             21    7   3  11    11   21  −10    24
8 Kyrinson Twin Pines        21    5   5  11    10   17   −7    20 R

PROMOTION PLAYOFF
1940 Asure 3-1 Wheathampton Warriors
Wheathampton Warriors 0-0 1940 Asure (1-3 agg)

NorthLleague              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 AFC Dunsinane              21   14   6   1   29    6  +23    48 P
2 Kyrinson Cosmos            21   10   7  4    40   22  +18    37 P
3 SC Apple Valley            21   10   6   5    22   11  +11    36
4 Månebjerg Athletic         21    8   5   8    15   18   −3    29
5 Sherbrooke United          21    6   6   9    10   17   −7    24
6 Derrierton City            21    6   5  10    12   24  −12    23
7 Southlake United           21    6   2  13     8   21  −13    20
8 New Llama Generals         21    3   5  13    13   30  −17    14

SouthLleague              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 South Bryant Athletic      21   12   6   3    43   25  +18    42
2 SC Nikcoro                 21   11   6   4    51   27  +24    39
3 Xingcheng Renaissance      21   12   3   6    47   31  +16    39
4 Westbridge Diamonds        21   11   2   8    51   33  +18    35
5 Talahita Tigers            21   10   5   6    36   20  +16    35
6 FC Mendel                  21    5   2  14    17   40  −23    17
7 Baixio City                21    3   6  12    21   41  −20    15
8 SC Hazel                   21    3   4  14    28   77  −49    13

SECONDLLEAGUE PROMOTION PLAYOFFS
Svenssonfjord Dynamo 0–2 Kyrinson Cosmos
Kyrinson Cosmos 1–2 Svenssonfjord Dynamo (3-2 agg)

Warwick Palace 2–1 South Bryant Athletic
South Bryant Athletic 2–1 Warwick Palace (2-3 AET) (3-5 agg)

All-League XI - Fairweather (NLC); Gustav (ECH), Wagner (ECH), Gunning (NLS), Abel (ECH); Bao (HVC), Fournier (ECH), Guthrie (NDZ); Yao (NDZ); Lubiflor (ECH), Fletchclair (ECH)

Honorable Mentions - GK Nielsen (NLS), DF Seymour (ECH), DF Reichart (BSV), MF Rutledge (NLC), MF Rinaldi (NLS), ST Muskerry (NDZ), ST Reid (LJA)

Golden Boot
1. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH) - 17
2. Chelsea Yao (NDZ) - 15
3. Lilou Reid (NLC) - 14
4. Dorian Fletchclair (ECH) - 13
5. Francis Mandelbrot (NLS) - 13

Most Assists
1. Trevor Fournier (ECH) - 17
2. Schuyler Rutledge (NLC) - 15
3. Michael Guthrie (NDZ) - 14

Debutant of the Year

1. Dorian Fletchclair (ECH)
2. Damian Bao (HVC)
3. Lux Siravoi (NLS)

Best Manager

1. Evan Powell (BSV)
2. Erik Anderssen (ECH)
3. Annabeth Kudlowski (HVC)

Oliver Trophy

1. Chelsea Yao (NDZ)
2. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH)
3. Damian Bao (HVC)
4. Trevor Fournier (ECH)
5. Lilou Reid (NLC)
6. Emily Gustav (ECH)
7. Kosovare Fairweather (NLC)

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:09 pm

Llamanean Baseball League - Season LXXXIII

Llamanean Baseball League    Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 City of Dinschria            138    81   57    661   534  +127    243 Schunemann Shield
 2 Vargas City Lions            138    81   57    645   567   +78    243
 3 Xingcheng Renaissnace        138    79   59    646   544  +102    237
 4 Peninsulara Kingfishers      138    75   63    570   565    +5    225 President's Cup Qualification
 5 New Llama Cyclones           138    74   64    622   541   +81    222
 6 Rogers Whitecaps             138    74   64    623   564   +59    222
 7 Kyrinson Twin Pines          138    74   64    605   576   +29    222
 8 BC Rogers                    138    74   64    583   633   −50    222
 9 Talahita Tigers              138    73   65    622   564   +58    219
10 South Bryant Chariots        138    73   65    652   598   +54    219
11 Mendel Mets                  138    72   66    627   632    −5    216
12 BC Northern Emerald          138    71   67    604   601    +3    213 PC Playoff Qualification
13 South Falls Athletic         138    70   68    592   564   +28    210
14 Penbrooke Warriors           138    68   70    584   620   −36    204
15 Apple Valley Vipers          138    67   71    604   626   −22    201
16 Denison Patriots             138    67   71    592   631   −39    201
17 New Llama Wizards            138    66   72    622   589   +33    198
18 East Llama Athletic          138    65   73    546   595   −49    195
19 Emerald City Greens          138    62   76    515   585   −70    186
20 Nandaozhou Sharks            138    62   76    576   669   −93    186
21 Derrierton Surge             138    59   79    586   643   −57    177
22 New Sälzholm Knights         138    58   80    538   576   −38    174
23 McKenzie Lynx                138    56   82    521   617   −96    168
24 Nikcoro Dolphins             138    55   83    531   633  −102    165

MVP: RF Lucien Russo (Vargas City Lions)
HENRIKSSON AWARD (Cy Young): SP Natalie Wu (New Llama Cyclones)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: SP Genevieve Strauss (Mendel Mets)

President's Cup Playoff:

BC Northern Emerald (12)        0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 1  5
New Llama Cyclones (5)          0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 X  6
W - Wu (18-9), L - Fletcher (13-6)

Talahita Tigers (9)             1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0  4
BC Rogers (8)                   0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
W - Vasquez (20-5), L - Santamaría (12-9)

Mendel Mets (11)                0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 1  5
Rogers Whitecaps (6)            0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0  3
W - Strauss (16-3), L - Arroyo (14-12)

South Bryant Chariots (10)      1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 2  6
Kyrinson Twin Pines (7)         1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1  5
W - Mirzayev (15-10), L - Green (12-7)

PRESIDENT'S CUP - QUARTERFINALS

Q1: City of Dinschria (1) vs. Talahita Tigers

Talahita Tigers (9)              0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1  5
City of Dinschria (1)            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
W - Vasquez (21-5), L - Burr (17-12)
City of Dinschria (1)            0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0  6
Talahita Tigers (9)              1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  3
W - Bendtner (9-3), L - Davies (12-9)
Talahita Tigers (9)              0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
City of Dinschria (1)            0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 X  3
W - Henrique (12-8), L - Wellesley (10-11)

Q2: (4) Peninsulara Kingfishers vs. (5) New Llama Cyclones

New Llama Cyclones (5)           0 2 2 0 0 4 1 0 0  9
Peninsulara Kingfishers (4)      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
W - Wu (19-9), L - Gudmundsson (9-8)
Peninsulara Kingfishers (4)      0 0 4 4 0 0 0 1 0  9
New Llama Cyclones (5)           0 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 1  7
W - Iglesias (8-6), L - Atkins (16-9)
New Llama Cyclones (5)           2 0 0 2 4 1 0 2 1 12
Peninsulara Kingfishers (4)      1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
W - Quinlan (18-8), L - Correa (5-10)

Q3: (2) Vargas City Lions vs. (10) South Bryant Chariots

South Bryant Chariots (10)       0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0  3
Vargas City Lions (2)            0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4  7
W - Molina (17-12), L - Mirzayev (15-11)
Vargas City Lions (2)            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
South Bryant Chariots (10)       0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 X  3
W - Salamanca (12-5), L - Oliver (8-7)
South Bryant Chariots (10)       1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Vargas City Lions (2)            1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X  3
W - Gomes (11-6), L - Karlsson (10-7)

Q4: (3) Xingcheng Renaissance vs. (11) Mendel Mets

Mendel Mets (11)                 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0  5
Xingcheng Renaissance (3)        0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0  3
W - Strauss (17-3), L - Lin (12-9)
Xingcheng Renaissance (3)        2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0  5
Mendel Mets (11)                 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1  6
W - Cooper (3-2), L - Hanigan (1-3)

PRESIDENT'S CUP - SEMIFINALS

S1: (1) City of Dinschria vs. (5) New Llama Cyclones

New Llama Cyclones (5)      0 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0  6
City of Dinschria (1)       0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0  2
W - Wu (20-9), L - Burr (17-13)
City of Dinschria (1)       0 0 0 0 4 5 0 0 0  9
New Llama Cyclones (5)      0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1  4
W - Bendtner (10-3), L - Atkins (16-10)
New Llama Cyclones (5)      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0  3
City of Dinschria (1)       0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
W - Quinlan (19-8), L - Gonsalves (1-2)
City of Dinschria (1)       0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0  3
New Llama Cyclones (5)      0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 X  6
W - Wu (21-9), L - Burr (17-14)

S2: (2) Vargas City Lions vs. (11) Mendel Mets

Mendel Mets (11)            0 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0  6
Vargas City Lions (2)       0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0  2
W - Strauss (18-3), L - Molina (17-13)
Vargas City Lions (2)       0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  2
Mendel Mets (11)            0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 X  4
W - Priebus (11-5), L - Oliver (8-8)
Mendel Mets (11)            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
Vargas City Lions (2)       1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X  1
W - Gomes (12-6), L - Hawking (8-9)
Vargas City Lions (2)       2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0  4
Mendel Mets (11)            0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  1
W - Molina (18-14), L - Strauss (18-4)
Mendel Mets (11)            0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0  4
Vargas City Lions (2)       0 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 X  6
W - Oliver (9-8), L - Priebus (11-6)

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINAL:
(2) Vargas City Lions [SP: Kyle Molina (17-13, 3.28 ERA)] vs. (5) New Llama Cyclones [SP: Natalie Wu (22-9, 2.85 ERA)]

New Llama Cyclones (5)      0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0  3
Vargas City Lions (2)       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0

New Llama Cyclones are the Season LXXXII President's Cup champions!

by **Super-Llamaland** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 2:21 pm

SEASON VI PREVIEW

Three tiers, thirty-two teams, six seasons. Super-Llamaland's premier club football competitions are back.

1940 ASURE

Manager: Tobyn Clearwater (+2.75); Stadium: Peninsulara Field (26,000); Colors: Gold and White; Last Season: 1st, SecondLleague

GK: Michael Lin [C] (#1, 21), Marcus Rose (#12, 35)
Defense: Jasmine Gonsalves (#2, 29), Michael Wen (#3, 31), Gordon Pershing (#14, 33), Ezekiel Fletcher (#5, 23), Max McRae (#15, 20, AUD), Dominik Ciernik (#17, 21, NOV)
Midfield: Yohan Elias (#10, 28, C), Renato Pereira (#8, 21), Emily Kang (#6, 32), Drew Michaels (#19, 20, DUN), Page Bailey (#27, 36, BRE)
Forward: Jacob Christensen (#7, 27), Arthur Velasquez (#9, 21), Justin Santana (#11, 30), Petra Wladecki (#34, 30), Michael Beeler (#99, 22)
Expected Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Lin; Gonsalves, Wen, Ciernik, Fletcher; Elias, Pereira, Kang; Christensen, Beeler, Santana

In: Max McRae (DF, 20, free agent), Dominik Ciernik (CB, 21, Los-Juantos Coastal, free), Drew Michaels (CM, 20, Stevenson United, free), Page Bailey (CDM, 36, free agent), Michael Beeler (ST, 22, SC Hazel, $50k), Petra Wladecki (RW, Emerald City Harmony, $500k), Dominik Ciernik (CB, Los-Juantos Coastal, free)

Asure did what they narrowly failed to do a season ago - finally win a hard-fought promotion to the top flight. With Coastal’s relegation, 1940 have therefore become the only Peninsulara club in SuperLleague - and, if they can stay up, this will go down as one of the best seasons in the club’s history. Unfortunately, the sudden death of beloved manager Aramis Alonso and his replacement with the insipid Tobyn Clearwater make this rather unlikely. And a dreadful transfer window, the biggest prizes of which were a declining Wladecki, unproven Ciernik, and ex-con and third-tier flop Michael Beeler, has only made survival more difficult.

A very athletic club, Asure play dynamic attacking football - although what they gain in raw power, pace, and creativity they lose from their carelessness and lack of discipline. Grizzled captain Elias, veteran Kang, and the exciting prospect Renato Pereira form a great midfield both capable of making plays and driving forwards themselves - although aside from Kang, they could do better defensively. Up front, Christensen and Santana are athletic wingers with flair but without end product, while Beeler is a massive wild card with the talent to go far but, perhaps, not the drive. Wladecki and Velasquez provide solid attacking depth, although there’s considerably less behind the midfield.

However, with the exception of young shot-stopper Michael Lin, the defense is a massive liability. Wen and Pershing are both not at this level, while Fletcher is far too reckless and prone to fouling and Gonsalves oft-injured and very attack-minded. The former Royals goalkeeper will have a lot of work to do this season. As will all of Asure - but it likely won’t be enough. PREDICTION: EIGHTH

AFC RUBY

Manager: Justine Sigurdsson (-3.5); Stadium: Falls Field, Ruby Falls (28,500); Colors: Ruby and Silver

GK: Erika Blanton (#1, 30), Emily Kouzmanoff (#13, 23)
Defense: Jane Walden (#2, 29), Jonathan Mason (#5, 25), Chris Myers-Briggs (#3, 26), Madeline Warwick (#16, 25), Emmanuel Saint Marcel (#14, 20, SEM), Emerick Rademacher (#26, 28), Jace Killian-Walton (#27, 21)
Midfield: Cameron Petridis (#10, 28), Cosimo Poole (#17, 26, COS), Michael Castro (#38, 28), Michael Kennedy [C] (#8, 32), Gerwyn Clarke (#18, 24, NPH), Olivia Hawke (#25, 24)
Forward: Christa Cruz (#9, 32, ANG), Immanuel Petrarch (#11, 29), Alfonse Gerard (#20, 29), Liam Dahl (#22, 25, PAS)
Expected Starting Lineup (4-4-1-1): Kouzmanoff; Warwick, Mason, Killian-Walton, Myers-Briggs; Petridis, Poole, Clarke, Kennedy; Petrarch; Cruz

In: Gerwyn Clarke (CM, 24, West Brinemouth, free), Christa Cruz (ST, 32, Vermillion Rage, free)
Out: Deon Partell (32, ST, Mansestra, $1m), Konrad Foster (LM, 35, released), Damian Conagher (CM, 36, released), Page Bailey (CM, 36, released)

Justine Sigurdsson has gone on record saying that she wants to return the club to their early SuperLleague days, and her moves certainly reflect that. With a season in the bag and another transfer window to shape her squad, the young manager has turned Ruby into even more of a defensive-minded, counterattacking machine. They are, like the AFC Ruby that won the first SuperCup, built from a solid defensive core. Emily Kouzmanoff may not have the talent of Blanton, but her distribution, leadership, and consistency make her a better fit to start. In front of her, Sigurdsson has unearthed two diamonds in Jonathan Mason and Jace Killian-Walton, who form a solid, young, and cheap center-back pairing and allow the Tigers’ Myers-Briggs to shift to a more natural position of fullback.

The four-man midfield is similarly defense-oriented, although newly-signed Gerwyn Clarke and the hard-working Cosumarite Poole are a little more attacking than one might expect. On the wings, Sigurdsson’s had Kennedy and Petridis continue to drop back, although both are still expected to contribute with their pace and creativity on the counter. A solid idea in theory, although Kennedy’s decline may challenge it this season. Up front, Immanuel Petrarch is a pacy, dynamic false-nine who might prove vital to Ruby’s attack, while the newly-signed Cruz, a strong finisher, will also help Ruby capitalize on their counters. Overall, although there could be more depth, Sigurdsson has created a very solid squad. Will it be enough to return to their glory days? PREDICTION: SIXTH.

BSC VARGAS

Manager: Evan Powell (+1); Stadium: Centennial Field (52,000), Vargas; Colors: Green and Yellow

GK: Ishtar Curran (#12, 22, ISK), Conor Matthewson (#1, 38)
Defense: Lithe Bronwyne (#14, 23, NPH), Sandor Constantinescu (#5, 31), Kurt Reichart (#13, 33), Troy Bradlee (#17, 26), Hokuto Mizumoto (#2, 21, HIN), Erik Gunnarsson (#3, 34), Jessica Myers (#25, 32)
Midfield: Markus Klein [C] (#28, 31), Ariadne Eldridge (#6, 25, NPH), Jason Petrovic (#8, 26), Alice Møller (#10, 31), Meghan Rasmussen (#30, 23), Richard Mendelsohn (#15, 27), Christine Valdevic (#17, 30)
Forward: Hansi Westerlow (#7, 30, NPH), Harry Robertson (#9, 36, NPH), Jake Wesley (#20, 28)
Expected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Curran; Bronwyne, Constantinescu, Reichart, Bradlee; Eldridge, Petrovic; Klein, Møller, Rasmussen; Westerlow

In: Alice Møller (CAM, 31, Los-Juantos Coastal, $1m), Hokuto Mizumoto (CB/DM, 21, Imperial Forces Academy, free)
Out: Richard Harrison (CM, 31, Sainati Bohemien, free), Uerlisson (ST, 31, Hinode Shiranui, free), Scott Sonnett (CB, 36, released)

BSC Vargas are genuinely dangerous - and a dark horse to win the title this season. Evan Powell’s rise from the second tier to the heady heights of fourth place and Globe Cup qualification has been as remarkable as it was unexpected, but the ex-Tiger has worked wonders with this side - with the help of generous investment from the owners. Now, Vargas are far from the stolid, defensive team that were promoted a few seasons ago. Powell has molded his team into a dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation, strong on both ends of the pitch, that can genuinely fight with the league’s top teams. However, he’s gambled significantly on his new attacking midfielder - million-dollar signing Alice Møller has shown flashes of brilliance over five seasons with Los-Juantos, but if she can’t put it all together under Powell’s tutelage, Vargas attackers are in for a rough time.

Still, this team still has retained parts of its defensive-minded mindset that served them so well a few seasons ago. Iskandrian international, former partisan fighter, and flashy shot-stopper Ishtar Curran is an excellent keeper, and her backup, the veteran Conor Matthewson, is easily the best backup keeper in the league right now. In front of her, Powell has kept together a solid, serviceable back four, with young, attacking talents Bronwyne and Bradlee flanking a capable pair of sturdy, physical center-backs in Kurt Reichart and Sandor Constantinescu. International-class signing Hokuto Mizumoto is much more exciting, especially in terms of his passing, although he’s expected to start the season out on the bench. In front of the defense, clean, technical Ariadne Eldridge provides further support as a defensive midfielder, while Jason Petrovic is an excellent passer from the back.

Up front, though, is where Powell decided to make his changes - considering how Vargas scored the second-least goals in the league last season, they’ll likely be warmly welcomed by fans. With striker Uerlisson, a fan favorite but undoubtedly starting to decline, heading out, the strike partnership has become lone striker Hansi Westerlow up top. The Nepharim is athletic, diligent, and excellent at pressuring the defense, although an often-wayward touch make him an interesting choice for a lone striker. Luckily, he’ll have plenty of support - Møller is a gifted playmaker when motivated, and Markus Klein and Meghan Rasmussen are spark plugs on the wings. Overall, Evan Powell has a balanced, deep, dangerous roster. The Globe Cup spots are a minimum; a top-three finish is the expectation in Vargas. PREDICTION: FOURTH.

EASTHAVEN CENTURION

Manager: Annabeth Kudlowski (-1.5); Stadium: Hoffmann Field (16,000), Haven City; Colors: Sky Blue and Gold
GK: Jens Gudjohnsen (#1, 24), Angelina Fletcher (#12, 31)
Defense: Jason Karjalainen (#2, 28), Elisa Lundin (#3, 23), Avery Leonard (#5, 30), Michael Erasmus (#6, 31), Matt Beeler (#25, 19), Shule Turgötten (#26, 20, COS), Marcelo Ferreira (#50, 34)
Midfield: Caroline Nowakowski [C] (#8, 28), Damian Bao (#6, 22), Gudjon Letonien (#45, 26), Michael Partridge (#17, 30), Silas Matheus (#18, 22)
Forward: Kelpie Whiteforest (#11, 33, NPH), Isabella Shi (#20, 22), Carson Frazier (#7, 23), Kyle Hamming (#9, 33), Adria Sigurorzson (#21, 32)
Expected Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Gudjohnsen; Karjalainen, Lundin, Leonard, Turgötten; Nowakowski, Bao, Matheus; Sigurorzson, Shi, Frazier

In: Adria Sigurorzson (LW, 32, Nandaozhou Sharks, $300k), Shule Turgötten (RB, 20, Black Diamond Osterhaut, free)
Out: Harrison Cruz (LW/RW, 27, Riverkey, free), Jeff Martinsen (RB, 32, released)

Annabeth Kudlowski continues to make slight improvements to a Centurion team that held their own in their first top-flight season in club history, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about Easthaven this season. But, despite all the hype surrounding their signings from enthusiastic fans, Adria Sigurorzson is a powerful but limited winger who turns thirty-three in a few weeks, and talented attacking fullback Shule Turgötten, well...despite being their projected starting right-back, she’s never played above the fourth tier of the Cosumarite league pyramid. It’s hard not to like this hardworking Centurion side and the tiny city they represent, and if everyone stays healthy, their continued top-flight survival will not be threatened.

But Kudlowski’s side, although arguably the best she could do on a very small budget, is still limited. Easthaven struggled to even score a goal per game last season, and it’s clear that they lack creativity up front. Adria Sigurorzson is a direct winger whose game consists of running past people and whipping crosses in, Carson Frazier has creative potential but has a tendency to completely disappear when his team needs him the most, and former prodigy Isabella Shi has been forced to adapt to the harsh life of a poacher who gets no service. Behind them, Damian Bao is a strong passer but not as good of a playmaker, and although Letonien is on paper an attacking midfielder, he hasn’t proven himself good enough to start. Ironically, the team’s best source of inspiration might be the young Turgötten - but she shouldn’t be relied on to provide everything by herself.

But Easthaven are defensively and hard-working enough to overcome a deficit of talent. Jens Gudjohnsen is incredibly underrated as a shot-stopper and defensive leader, Lundin, Karjalainen, and Leonard have both proven themselves capable at this level, and Nowakowski and the young Silas Matheus are both incredibly hard-working, diligent, defensive-minded midfielders. Athletic national-team starter Damian Bao remains the linchpin of the midfield, however, with the passing, strength, and athleticism necessary to be a true box-to-box midfielder. If everything works out, they’ll stay up. But if the offense doesn’t fix itself, last year might have been the best-case scenario. PREDICTION: SEVENTH.

EMERALD CITY HARMONY

Manager: Erik Anderssen (+2); Stadium: Schunemann Park (44,000), Emerald Springs; Colors: Green and Black
GK: Marcos Santana (#12, 20), Cardinal Murrough (#1, 27, NPH)
Defense: Everett Seymour (#3, 32, COS), Ephraim Wagner (#2, 29), Henrick Davenport (#5, 37, NPH), Kristztina Berky (#16, 19, PAS), Tim Ferraro (#26, 27), Roque Buendía (#35, 18, FFD)
Midfield: Marin Trésor (#6, 21, ACR), Trevor Fournier [C] (#10, 24), Justin Koehler (#8, 29), Kurtis Mann (#21, 27), Heather Gerrard (#25, 30, NPH), Tobias Ebenezer (#32, 23), Kris Strasburg (#50, 31)
Forward: Mursill Lubiflor (#9, 30, COS), Dorian Fletchclair (#20, 27, NPH), Nego do Jordel (#21, 18, MTH), Emma Berdych (#25, 20)
Projected Starting Lineup (3-5-2): Santana; Ferraro, Wagner, Seymour; Gerrard, Mann, Trésor, Fournier, Strasburg; Lubiflor, Fletchclair

In: Cardinal Murrough (GK, 26, AFC Shale, free), Heather Gerrard (LB, 30, Goodfeather FC, free), Kris Strasburg (RB, 31, London FC, free), Roque Buendía (LB, 18, free agent)
Out: Emily Gustav (LCB, 19, Viztourzys Kolektyvinis, $2m), Willard Banks (LM, 30, Beaches FC, free), Erin Donalbain (GK, 20, Everfree Forest HC, $1.75m), Francesca Abel (RB, 25, Diamondqueen, $1m), Petra Wladecki (RW, 30, 1940 Asure, $500k)

Has Erik Anderssen lost the plot? While the defending champions brought in four new players this season, they also had to replace five, and Anderssen’s new-look lineup looks very strange compared to his starting elevens of past seasons. While past iterations of Harmony focused on playing out from the back and earning and holding onto early leads - and Anderssen’s roster construction reflected that - this season will be very different.

The departure of four key defenders - backup keeper Erin Donalbain, left-back Willard Banks, right-back Francesca Abel, and center-back Emily Gustav - stunned Harmony fans, and although Anderssen brought in new players, it’s worth wondering if the rush to get replacements has hurt the squad significantly. Commanding goalkeeper Cardinal Murrough and stocky, athletic Heather Gerrard are both solid signings, but Kris Strasburg at right-back is something Harmony fans never thought they’d have to see. And the lack of any replacement at all for Gustav (“Ferraro’s return from injury will be like a new signing,” Anderssen noted of the underperforming center-back) is definitely concerning. The result? A defense that, while serviceable, will be nowhere near past Harmony defenses - especially due to the recent season-ending injury of Justin Koehler.

The attack, on the other hand, is actually looking like the best part of Harmony right now. While Marin Trésor struggles to keep the defense together, Kurtis Mann and Trevor Fournier will both continue to be the dominant playmakers that they’ve shown themselves to be - although it’s unclear how exactly the two will play together, with Mann previously being injury insurance for Fournier. Up front, meanwhile, Lubiflor and Fletchclair continue to be two of the league’s best strikers. But, without the defensive stability that national-teamers Gustav and Abel and key cogs Donalbain and Banks brought to the defense, will it be enough? PREDICTION: THIRD.

NANDAOZHOU SHARKS

Manager: Cristiano Barros (+1.5); Stadium: Bayside Park (23,500), Xinggang; Colors: Navy and White

GK: Emily Johanssen (#1, 29), Christian Wictorsson (#12, 32)
Defense: Iskar Serket (#15, 21, ISK), Immanuel Sorensen (#3, 31), Tamarus Dixon (#5, 30, COS), Michael Pereira (#2, 28), Brad Okugo (#16, 24, USI)
Midfield: Cory Henry (#24, 34, NOV), Michael Guthrie (#7, 25), Elizabeth Bellard (#8, 25, NPH), Jake Pedersen (#17, 23), Cecille Petrovic (#13, 20, EFL), Jason Santana (#16, 31), Justin Yin (#18, 27), Matthew Hull-Benson (#36, 32)
Forward: Jack Muskerry (#9, 28, NPH), Chelsea Yao [C] (#10, 29), Alyssa Marcusson (#21, 27), Rafael Constantin (#20, 31)
Expected Starting Lineup (3-5-2): Johanssen; Serket, Dixon, Sorensen; Henry, Guthrie, Santana, Bellard, Pedersen; Muskerry, Yao

[i]In: Tamarus Dixon (CB, 30, Keenan Athletic, free), Jason Santana (CM, 31, FC Rosaria, $1m)
Out: Adria Sigurorzson (LW, 32, Easthaven Centurion, $300k), Grettis Gjallskald (CB, 38, retired)

Exciting times for Sharks fans, who have proven themselves capable of contesting for the Globe Cup spots and comfortably staying up. But they just haven’t been able to make the final step up - quite literally, as Nandaozhou have finished fifth three seasons in a row since their first promotion. Still, once again, Sharks fans will believe this is the season they can do it. With the arrival of Tamarus Dixon from Cosumar, it appears that Nandaozhou finally has a capable back five that can be relied on not to bleed goals. Serket and Dixon are both quality international defenders, although Serket is a bit too physical for Cristiano Barros’ tastes, and Immanuel Sorensen has improved drastically at Nandaozhou. The wingbacks, previously glorified wingers, are now Anglican international Cory Henry and young talent Jake Pedersen - both of whom are more than capable of helping out defensively and providing width on the attack.

In the midfield, Jason Santana is a massive signing for Sharks, who reportedly beat out both New Llama clubs to his signature, and his passing touch and vision in midfield will be greatly appreciated. With playmaking Michael Guthrie and defensive-minded Elizabeth Bellard flanking him, Santana will be the heart of an excellent midfield this season, both capable of staying back and feeding the two strikers.

And what a danger those two strikers have become. Chelsea Yao was awarded the Oliver Trophy last season, and with her deft touch, eye for goal, and unstoppable skill and athleticism, it’s not difficult to see why. She’ll continue to be more of a support-striker for Nepharim finisher Jack Muskerry, but it won’t stop her from getting goals. Muskerry, who scored fifteen goals two season ago (second-best in the league), remains a supremely underrated goalscorer who complements the flashy Yao well. You have to feel for Sharks - constantly finishing fifth can’t be good for team morale. But they continue to fight together, overachieve in the cup, and challenge the top teams. Will this be the season they take it to the next level? PREDICTION: FIFTH.

NEW LLAMA CAPITALS

Manager: Timo Sorben [COS] (+2.5), Stadium: Tyler Rocke Memorial Field (37,500), New Llama City; Colors: Blue and Silver
GK: Kosovare Fairweather (#13, 27, NPH), Marcus Siegrist (#1, 32)
Defense: Eloisa Primavera (#14, 22, TAU), Ellis Holloway (#15, 29, HSZ), The Bruce (#3, 28, COS), Catarina Soler (#16, 26, AFT), Wu Haiwen (#5, 24), Corey Dunbar (#2, 29), Ruye Pentakota (#25, 18, COS), Megan Lindelöf (#26, 23)
Midfield: Schuyler Rutledge [C] (#10, 32), Nemanja Volkhov (#7, 30), King Tisang (#8, 24, FIL), Helen Appelrath (#27, 25, SCT), Xavier Beraza (#28, 23, AUD)
Forward: Lilou Reid (#9, 20, SCT), Edward Korsky (#32, 30), Sergio Valverde (#21, 30), Kristopher Matheus (#32, 25)
Expected Starting Lineup (3-5-2 / 5-3-2): Fairweather; Holloway, The Bruce, Soler; Primavera, Rutledge, Volkhov, Tisang, Wu; Reid, Korsky

In: King Tisang (CM, 24, Venividicci, $5m), The Bruce (CB/SW, 28, Muirford Athletic, $2m), Ruye Pentakota (CB, 18, Westalon High School), Xavier Beraza (MF, 23, Free Agent), Megan Lindelöf (DF, 23, New Llama Generals, $150k)
Out: Wictor Henriksen (CB, 34, Kyrinson Cosmos, $100k), Ethan Candelario (CM, 34, Crystal Fair HC, free), Christian Whetham (CM, 33, released), Anna Walquist (CM, 32, Svenssonfjord Dynamo, $100k)

While Capitals fans were elated to finish the season tied for first and a two-game playoff away from winning a second SuperLleague title under Curtis Chen, the playoff itself was a disaster, as Capitals collapsed and conceded eight goals in the second leg. As expected, the board has reacted strongly to such news - and new manager Timo Sorben was allowed to spend over seven million on five different players in order to better the team. Sorben’s arrival itself came as a surprise - Curtis Chen having resigned to focus on his role as national team assistant manager - but the young Cosumarite, recently retired from his playing career, should hold his own in his first season.

Capitals conceded the third-least goals in the league last season, a stunning development for a team that had previously relied on scoring mountains of goals to win, and with Kosovare Fairweather continuing to improve, it looks like that level of performance will continue. Fairweather is a fantastic shot-stopper and distributor whose only weakness in the air, although in front of her, impossibly strong, dreadlocked The Bruce should provide some aerial support. The new signing out of Osarius will combine well with skilled, experienced Hasznian Ellis Holloway and young, athletic Catarina Soler in a back three, while Primavera and Wu are both brilliant two-way players.

However, while the defense is the best it’s ever been, the attack is still what makes Capitals great. Schuyler Rutledge, Nemanja Volkhov, and five-million-dollar signing King Tisang is by far the league’s best midfield, with the creativity and skill of Rutledge, the pace, passing touch, and engine-room intensity of Volkhov, and the fiery competitiveness, passing, and set-piece mastery of King combining perfectly. And up top, while Schottic phenom Lilou Reid continues to score goals, Edward Korsky will add even more venom and creativity to the attack. Things are looking up in the capital city - Capitals fans shouldn’t be surprised if the SuperLleague Cup comes back to Tyler Rocke this season. PREDICTION: FIRST.

NEW LLAMA STARS

Manager: Trevor Duncan (+2); Stadium: The C (50,000), New Llama City; Colors: Green and White

GK: Sebastian Nielsen (#1, 36, ACR), Renaud Fournier (#13, 29, COS)
Defense: Evangelista Sandoval (#30, 30), Michael Gunning (#14, 30), Eden Finley (#3, 32, BRE), Malachi Rosewood (#5, 33, NPH), Lily McKinnely (#15, 21, SCT), Markus Vokes (#35, 20), Seth Calderón (#36, 23)
Midfield: Lux Siravoi (#8, 21, ASU), Stefan Rinaldi (#10, 23), Ryan Carmichael (#6, 30), Kris Ziegler (#27, 21), Sigurd Herleksson (#60, 27)
Forwards: Dejana Petersen (#11, 27, NPH), Francis Mandelbrot [C] (#9, 31), Annalisa Sigurdsson (#7, 24), Caitlyn Gunning (#22, 23), Sebastian Romero (#18, 29)
Expected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nielsen; Vokes, M. Gunning, Finley, Rosewood; Siravoi, Carmichael; Petersen, Rinaldi, Sigurdsson; Mandelbrot

In: Seth Calderón (CB, 23, Gallant Cross, $1m)
Out: Stern Chaucer (CB, 35, released), Ryan Zhou (CAM, 33, Los-Juantos Coastal, free)

Stars and Capitals both came just short of winning the title last season, but while Capitals brought in five new players to compensate, Trevor Duncan has mostly kept quiet. While the departures of an aging Stern Chaucer and ineffective Ryan Zhou, as well as the return of Seth Calderón from the A-League, surprised no-one, Duncan’s inaction has been a little confusing. But, with a team that finished just one point off of the title with a new manager, perhaps the former NT star saw no need to improve drastically.

One could see why - Duncan already boasts a great starting eleven with few weaknesses. These can mostly be found in the defense - although Sebastian Nielsen remains an excellent goalkeeper, Malachi Rosewood a solid right-back, and Eden Finley an excellent center-back, center-back Michael Gunning remains prone to completely disappearing from matches, while neither young Markus Vokes nor Evangelista Sandoval inspire any sort of confidence at left-back. While midfielder Ryan Carmichael should help solidify the back line, Stars fans are right to be a little anxious about how many goals Duncan’s men could ship this season.

Still, this is a very dangerous attacking team. Lux Siravoi and Stefan Rinaldi are brilliant, creative midfielders, one a more defensive number eight and the other a free-floating number ten. Flanking Rinaldi are the recently-called-up Annalisa Sigurdsson, a creative, incisive presence on the right wing, and Nepharim veteran and strong attacker Dejana Petersen. And Francis Mandelbrot up top remains a very good goal-scorer. If things go right, the Stars have the talent to win it all despite their defensive troubles. But they’ll have a lot of competition, and their inaction during the window has done them no favors. PREDICTION: SECOND.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:03 pm

MDs 1-4

The first day of matches is fairly uneventful - although Justine Sigurdsson's Ruby orchestrate the sole upset, new signing Christa Cruz scoring the winner off of a Petrarch cross. The second matchday is...considerably more interesting. Capitals are frustrated by a lack of success on the international front, and opt to take it out on newly-promoted Asure. Eleven goals later (a stunning five of those from Schottic superstar Lilou Reid), Tobyn Clearwater has resigned and Asure are in crisis. Aside from the 11-0 thrashing in New Llama City, the first few matchdays are generally uneventful, and the top four - Capitals, Stars, Vargas, and Harmony - are exactly what you'd expect, AFC Ruby cooling down after a hot start that also saw them draw Harmony in Schunemann. '

There's also a definite lack of matches between the "Big 3" early on, although fans are treated to Stars-Harmony on the fourth week of matches. At home and with a newly-reinforced defense (featuring Seth Calderón on for the ineffective Gunning), Stars score early via Mandelbrot and stymie Erik Anderssen's men for the next seventy minutes. Things go from bad to worse for the defending champions when Marin Trésor goes down injured. Luckily, Anderssen has the depth to change formations to a 3-4-3 with do Jordel supporting his two strikers - but, instead, he opts to bring in the teenaged Berky to play out of position, which basically ends his chances of a comeback.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals         4    4   0   0    15    1  +14    12
2 New Llama Stars            4    4   0   0     7    1   +6    12
3 BSC Vargas                 4    3   0   1     4    2   +2     9
4 Emerald City Harmony       4    2   1   1     8    7   +1     7
5 AFC Ruby                   4    1   1   2     4    5   −1     4
6 Easthaven Centurion        4    1   0   3     3    5   −2     3
7 Nandaozhou Sharks          4    0   0   4     6   10   −4     0
8 1940 Asure                 4    0   0   4     1   17  −16     0

Sixteen matches involving every single professional club in the nation, but despite the definite potential for an upset, just one top-flight team - Ruby - is knocked out by a lower-division team. 1940 Asure, who are...basically a SecondLleague club already, are the lone SuperLleague casualty, and although a brace from Arthur Velasquez and a stunning long-range effort from Emily Kang give them a three-nil lead, Asure collapse defensively and ship five to a rampant Yao (two goals, two assists) and Muskerry (three and one). Meanwhile, Capitals - who already look like title favorites - are shockingly taken to penalties by lower-flight Talahita Tigers, who get there not by parking the bus, but by thrice equalizing within five minutes of a Capitals goal. Unfortunately for the would-be Cinderellas, after nine consecutive scored penalties, Kosovare Fairweather makes a brilliant leaping effort and tips the tenth over the crossbar, securing Capitals' progression onwards.

MDs 5-7

Asure, now led by previous assistant-manager Justin Vucevic, are now widely expected to go down, with many betting agencies already paying those who bet on them to drop back to SecondLleague. It's not hard to see why, even though they'll still be in the relegation playoff (and they're just seven points from safety with fourteen matches to play) - they're absolutely terrible, and after seven matches, they still haven't gotten themselves a point.

At the opposite end of the table? Timo Sorben's Capitals are flying high, with seven wins in seven matches. While one might expect this to be fueled by another offensive explosion, Sorben has also done an unbelievable job organizing the defense - who have conceded a single goal in seven matches. Stars are five points back, four tightly-packed midtable clubs behind them. Leading that pack? None other than Justine Sigurdsson and AFC Ruby, who, buoyed by a strong defense and just enough attack to get by, managed to draw Stars and defeat Asure and Easthaven to earn themselves third place. Opposite them are a massively disappointing Nandaozhou, who have conceded more than any non-Asure team - but the club favorite Fifth Place Trophy is still well within reach.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals         7    7   0   0    18    1  +17    21
2 New Llama Stars            7    5   1   1    12    3   +9    16
3 AFC Ruby                   7    3   2   2     6    5   +1    11
4 BSC Vargas                 7    3   1   3     5    5    0    10
5 Emerald City Harmony       7    2   3   2     9    9    0     9
6 Nandaozhou Sharks          7    2   1   4    13   13    0     7
7 Easthaven Centurion        7    1   2   4     3    6   −3     5
8 1940 Asure                 7    0   0   7     5   29  −24     0

SuperCup Round 2
Westbridge Diamonds 0–1 Olympic East
SC Apple Valley 1–2 Warwick Palace
New Llama Capitals 5–1 Southlake United
New Llama Stars 2–1 Kyrinson Cosmos
Easthaven Centurion 2–1 BSC Vargas
Los-Juantos Coastal 5–2 Baixio City
SC Nikcoro 1–4 Nandaozhou Sharks
Corbin City Islanders 2–0 Emerald City Harmony

An already-disappointing season for Harmony just got much, much worse. Away to second-tier Corbin City shouldn't be much of a challenge for someone of Harmony's caliber, but you still have to try against them. And Erik Anderssen, by starting an entirely-rotated starting eleven, definitely did not do that. The result? An early goal, a late own goal off of the torrid Tim Ferraro, and a crippling blow to Harmony's trophy hunt. Meanwhile, plucky Easthaven upset Vargas with a late Isabella Shi winner, booking their ticket to the last eight, meaning that just four top-flight teams remain.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:21 pm

MDs 8-11

The unthinkable has happened - Asure have a point! And not only that, they've beaten a collapsing Harmony in Emerald City - one-nil - to earn their first points of the young season in style! Erik Anderssen, now three points out of the UICA places and fourteen points behind Capitals with half of the season done, is starting to face more than a bit of pressure - but he should be able to turn things around, to an extent.

Meanwhile, Capitals have finally dropped points - drawing with a resurgent Ruby before losing one-nil to the rapidly-improving Sharks (who are now just two points behind Harmony for fifth place) - but Stars have as well, and rookie manager Timo Sorben remains five points ahead of second place in the title race. When Capitals smash Asure 5-2 for their ninth straight win, the other major factor in Capitals' resurgence - Lilou Reid - picks up a second hat-trick of the season. With twelve goals in eleven matches, she's the favorite for this season's Oliver Trophy and the Golden Boot. BSC Vargas nearly join the two capital clubs in the race - but a loss to Ruby (one-nil, of course, it's a Justine Sigurdsson club) ensures that AFC remain tied for third and BSC remain nine points out of first.

Meanwhile, Marin Trésor is back, but Harmony's injury luck continues as both Fournier and Wagner are gone. With Tim Ferraro incapable of defending and two key players missing, Krisztina Berky, Henrick Davenport, and midfielder Tobias Ebenezer are now pressed into service in the starting lineup. The problem? Berky's nineteen, Davenport thirty-seven, and Ebenezer nowhere near Harmony quality. Erik Anderssen is not having a good time. It could be worse - although they've improved a little, Easthaven have massively regressed since last season, with just six goals to their name (five from Isabella Shi) - and although Asure will keep them up this season, the Season VII outlook is not good.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        11    9   1   1    25    5  +20    28
2 New Llama Stars           11    7   2   2    17    5  +12    23
3 BSC Vargas                11    5   2   4    11    7   +4    17
4 AFC Ruby                  11    4   5   2    11    9   +2    17
5 Emerald City Harmony      11    3   5   3    12   12    0    14
6 Nandaozhou Sharks         11    3   3   5    17   19   −2    12
7 Easthaven Centurion       11    2   2   7     6   12   −6     8
8 1940 Asure                11    1   0  10     8   38  −30     3

MDs 12-14

The floodgates have opened, and Capitals are starting to seriously slip. A 2-1 home loss to Harmony, even the shambles that Erik Anderssen has on his hands this season, isn't the end of the world, but Trevor Duncan's Stars have taken full advantage of Capitals' slip to pull within two points of the league leaders. They had the chance to take the league lead, too - but a last-second equalizer from the clutch Lilou Reid (her fifteenth goal of the season - absolutely unbelievable from the young striker) kept the "other" capital club narrowly ahead. And a resolute one-nil win against third-place Vargas kept them in the mix.

Harmony went in the other direction after the win over Timo Sorben's eleven, though - a two-one loss to Vargas was followed by a stunning upset at the hands of Easthaven. And with just seven matches to play, the defending champions are in sixth place and three points from a relegation playoff. The league has been lost, international glory slipped away a long time ago, and they were knocked out of the cup by a SecondLleague team. Has Erik Anderssen hit rock bottom? With a surging Easthaven just three points behind them, we're not quite sure.

Speaking of Easthaven - after Annabeth Kudlowski managed a mere five points from her first seven matches of the season, Centurion have a much-improved nine from the second. Could safety be on the horizon for the young club? If Isabella Shi (now with a comically-disproportionate seven of Easthaven's eight goals this season) maintains her form, maybe. Although it's hard to see them outperforming Sharks or Harmony over the rest of the season unless Anderssen collapses further.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        14   10   2   2    29    9  +20    32
2 New Llama Stars           14    9   3   2    23    8  +15    30
3 BSC Vargas                14    6   2   6    13   10   +3    20
4 AFC Ruby                  14    5   5   4    13   12   +1    20
5 Nandaozhou Sharks         14    5   3   6    23   23    0    18
6 Emerald City Harmony      14    4   5   5    15   16   −1    17
7 Easthaven Centurion       14    4   2   8     8   13   −5    14
8 1940 Asure                14    2   0  12    14   47  −33     6

SuperCup - Quarterfinals

New Llama Stars 3–1 Los-Juantos Coastal
Easthaven Centurion 2–2 Nandaozhou Sharks (3–3 AET) (5–4 pen.)
Corbin City Islanders 0–3 Warwick Palace
New Llama Capitals 1–3 Olympic East

The Capitals-Olympic quarterfinal matchup looked to be a straightforward one-nil New Llama win with just fifteen minutes to play. But young striker Jeremy Faulkner has other plans, converting a penalty to equalize, silencing Tyler Rocke with a beautiful volley in stoppage time to take the lead, and rubbing salt into the wound with a stunning rabona to finish off Capitals, three-one. Stars' three-one win is a far more straightforward affair, while Warwick Palace, who have basically given up on their SecondLleague campaign, pound Islanders into oblivion. In Haven City, Sharks take an early two-nil lead off of a Muskerry brace. It doesn't last long, with Isabella Shi notching three more goals and scoring the winning penalty to keep Centurion in the cup alongside New Llama Stars...and SecondLleague teams Palace and Olympic.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:57 pm

MDs 15-18

Things are starting to heat up, especially in terms of the race to fourth. Capitals inexplicably dropped points to Jeremy Vucevic's 1940 Asure, who - despite looking much better recently, have still shipped fifty-five goals this season, but Stars had their share of hiccups as well, drawing Sharks and getting thrashed three-nil by Hansi Westerlow's Vargas. Vargas themselves also managed to gift 1940 three extra points - although Vucevic won't be needing them, having already booked their tickets for the relegation playoff. Still, wins over Ruby and Centurion have basically ensured that they will be playing Globe Cup football next season, and Evan Powell's men will still see third place as a decent enough finish. In fact, the top three are nearly finalized, and it'll take some serious slip-ups for Capitals, Stars, or Vargas to lose their position.

Fourth through seventh are much, much more interesting, with the four "midtable" teams contriving to eliminate nearly all space between them. Of Sharks (23 points, +1 GD), Harmony (23, -1), Easthaven (23, -2), and Ruby (21, -2), though, only one team can qualify for Globe Cup football and a top-half finish. Will it be the inconsistent but always-dangerous Sharks, who thrashed Harmony five-one before shipping four to Capitals? The struggling defending champions, who have seen Fournier and Trésor return from injury but still have conceded more goals than any other Emerald City team in club history - and also just lost Everett Seymour to suspension? Surging underdogs Easthaven, who have defeated both Capitals and Stars in the past month but still have to balance their league goals with their SuperCup campaign - and who have no attacking threats outside of Isabella Shi? Or counter-attacking, disciplined Ruby, who have zero goals and just one point from their last four matches (the disappearance of Christa Cruz's goal-scoring form, previously the most dangerous part of AFC's attack, a key contributor)?

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        18   12   3   3    35   12  +23    39
2 New Llama Stars           18   10   4   4    30   18  +12    34
3 BSC Vargas                18    9   2   7    19   12   +7    29
4 Nandaozhou Sharks         18    6   5   7    30   29   +1    23
5 Emerald City Harmony      18    6   5   7    25   26   −1    23
6 Easthaven Centurion       18    7   2   9    13   15   −2    23
7 AFC Ruby                  18    5   6   7    13   15   −2    21
8 1940 Asure                18    3   1  14    17   55  −38    10

SuperCup - Semifinals (First Leg)

Olympic East 1–0 New Llama Stars
Easthaven Centurion 2–1 Warwick Palace

Stars are prioritizing the league, and it shows as a heavily-rotated lineup is contained by Olympic East for eighty-five minutes before New Llama City's Public Enemy #1, Jeremy Faulkner, finds the net again. Meanwhile, Easthaven give up a fluke own goal early, but show excellent resilience in shutting down Warwick Palace for the next eighty-five minutes while Isabella Shi shoots her team back into the game. The night's hero is not Shi, however, but the unlikely Shule Turgötten. The young right-back will be glad she ignored Kudlowski's protests to run up the right flank on her own, cut inside, and score a miraculous solo goal to win the game for Easthaven.

MDs 19-20

The league is clinched on MD19. Stars do everything they can, Mandelbrot scoring an early goal and Trevor Duncan's men coming away with a one-nil win, but it's not enough. Capitals go down two goals early to Harmony - and with Stars their next opponent, there remains some hope. But, once again, Emerald City collapses defensively without Wagner or Seymour, and goals from Reid, Volkhov, and Tisang (off of a brilliantly-placed free-kick, one of five free-kick goals for the midfielder this season) seal the game - and the league. Meanwhile, Sharks, who are seriously finding their form now, thrash Vargas three-nil, while Easthaven puts a crucial five points between them and Ruby with a late Isabella Shi goal.

Stars - Capitals is a dead rubber on MD20, but many fans still tune in nonetheless. They...probably had better options than watching a 0-0 draw. Sharks and Centurion both have a chance to consolidate their control over fourth place - a three-point lead could be crucial heading into the final matches of the season. Alas, after Turgötten scores her third goal of the season running up the wing, a late Yao equalizer ensures that there will be a tie for fourth heading into the last day. Now knowing that a win would keep them alive, Ruby and Harmony seriously bring it to their matches, Harmony overcoming a hardened Vargas side while Ruby thrashed Asure four-two. Harmony stay alive, but at a cost for Evan Powell - BSC Vargas is no longer assured UICA football if Sharks and Centurion win and they lose. There are now five teams fighting for two UICA spots.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        20   13   4   3    38   14  +24    43
2 New Llama Stars           20   11   5   4    31   18  +13    38
3 BSC Vargas                20    9   2   9    19   16   +3    29
4 Nandaozhou Sharks         20    7   6   7    34   30   +4    27
5 Easthaven Centurion       20    8   3   9    15   16   −1    27
6 Emerald City Harmony      20    7   5   8    28   29   −1    26
7 AFC Ruby                  20    6   6   8    17   18   −1    24
8 1940 Asure                20    3   1  16    19   60  −41    10

SuperCup - Semifinals (Second Leg)
New Llama Stars 2-1 Olympic East (2-2a agg)
Warwick Palace 1-1 Easthaven Centurion (2-3 agg)

Stars recover from the disaster that was the first leg, but although they manage two early goals, it's once again Jeremy Faulkner who ends a New Llama City club's season. Meanwhile, Centurion need only a draw or a 1-0 win to advance, and play accordingly - after Frazier's early goal, they sit back, absorb pressure, and advance to a finals where they will be the favorites. Globe Cup football and a SuperCup championship? It's entirely possible for Kudlowski's team now.

by **Super-Llamaland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:10 pm

MD21

AFC Ruby 0–1 New Llama Stars
Nandaozhou Sharks 6–0 1940 Asure
Emerald City Harmony 3–1 Easthaven Centurion
New Llama Capitals 1–0 BSC Vargas

All four matches kick off at once for the first time in SuperLleague history. Sharks know they need to beat Asure, and play accordingly - smashing them into oblivion with five first-half goals to ensure Globe Cup qualification for the first time in club history. Players are hugging in the tunnel at half-time, and although Cristiano Barros wants to impress on them that UICA football isn't confirmed yet...they're playing Asure. What's going to happen?

Meanwhile, Stars and Capitals have both leapt to early leads over Ruby and BSC Vargas. Ruby know they're eliminated from UICA contention by halftime, as neither Sharks nor Vargas can be caught up to, but a Ruby win and Centurion loss could at least ensure their safety. Meanwhile, Vargas are now praying that Centurion lose to Harmony. It certainly seems possible, with a finally full-strength Emerald City side up two-one at the half, but no lead is safe in this new era of Emerald City football - especially since a Sharks win has eliminated them from UICA contention. If nothing changes - season 6 will be the first time Emerald City fail to qualify for international competition, and the first time Nandaozhou does qualify.

And, although there are more goals, nothing does. Frustration in Emerald City, jubilation in Nandaozhou, relief in Vargas City, resignation in Ruby - but nothing can top the pride of New Llama Capitals, who, under Timo Sorben, have their second championship.

Promotion-Relegation Playoff

1940 Asure 1-1 AFC Ruby
AFC Ruby 6-0 1940 Asure

Ruby Falls fans are anxious at the prospect of another relegation playoff, even if it is to 1940 Asure. Although Arthur Velasquez goes down injured, forcing Vucevic to start human train wreck Michael Beeler up top, the away support in Asure Village are still tense. An early own-goal from Jace Killian-Walton doesn't help.

But Ruby have faced tougher challenges than breaking down a historically-bad defense over two matches. Christa Cruz finally scores (for the first time in two months), ensuring that a home win will keep Ruby in the top flight. She then scores four more in the second leg - all within twenty minutes of kickoff - as Ruby pummel Asure back to the second division.

1940 Asure is relegated (1-7 agg)

SuperCup Final
Olympic East (4-4-2): Cooper; Henry, Olafson, Ren, Lin; Sandberg, Rasmussen, McAllister, Santana [C]; Ticheli, Faulkner
Easthaven Centurion (4-3-3): Fletcher; Karjalainen, Lundin, Leonard, Turgötten; Nowakowski [C], Bao, Letonien; Sigurorzson, Shi, Frazier

Olympic East 0–2 Easthaven Centurion
Shi 47’, Whiteforest 85’

Easthaven couldn't clinch a spot in the Globe Cup next season, but they could at least win their first domestic trophy as a massive consolation. Meanwhile, Olympic East - who have already earned their promotion back to SuperLleague - will hope to end a dream season with some more silverware. Things get dicey early on, as after a few controversial offside calls, brilliant striker Jeremy Faulkner is sent off for shoving a referee over. With their main attacking threat out, Olympic try to sit back and keep things scoreless. Isabella Shi has other plans, scoring a penalty won by scintillating fullback prospect Shule Turgötten before setting up Nepharim winger Kelpie Whiteforest for a cup-clinching second goal.

SuperLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 New Llama Capitals        21   14   4   3    39   14  +25    46 CHAMPIONS
2 New Llama Stars           21   12   5   4    32   18  +14    41
3 Nandaozhou Sharks         21    8   6   7    40   30  +10    30
4 BSC Vargas                21    9   2  10    19   17   +2    29 GC
5 Emerald City Harmony      21    8   5   8    31   30   +1    29
6 Easthaven Centurion       21    8   3  10    16   19   −3    27 Cygnus Cup
7 AFC Ruby                  21    6   6   9    17   19   −2    24
8 1940 Asure                21    3   1  17    19   66  −47    10 R

Golden Boot:
1. Lilou Reid [NLC] - 22*
2. Jack Muskerry [NDZ] - 16
3. Francis Mandelbrot [NLS] - 14
*SuperLleague Record

Most Assists:
1. Stefan Rinaldi [NLS] - 15
2. Jason Santana [NDZ] - 13
3. King Tisang [NLC] - 12

Johan Lindberg Award:
1. Lilou Reid (SCT)
2. Mursill Lubiflor (ECH)
3. King Tisang (FIL)

Manager of the Year:
1. Timo Sorben (NLC)
2. Cristiano Barros (NDZ)
3. Evan Powell (BSV)

Oliver Trophy:
1. Lilou Reid [NLC]
2. Jason Santana [NDZ]
3. Annalisa Sigurdsson [NLS]
4. Jack Muskerry [NDZ]
5. King Tisang [NLC]
6. Chelsea Yao [NDZ]
7. Mursill Lubiflor [ECH]

Team of the Season (4-3-3):
GK: Kosovare Fairweather (NLC)
LB: Eloisa Primavera (NLC)
CB: Kurt Reichart (BSV)
CB: The Bruce (NLC)
RB: Chris Myers-Briggs (RBY)
CM: Jason Santana (NDZ)
CM: Stefan Rinaldi (NLS)
CM: King Tisang (NLC)
LW: Annalisa Sigurdsson (NLS)
ST: Lilou Reid (NLC)
RW: Chelsea Yao (NDZ)
Reserves: GK Jens Gudjohnsen (HVC), Eden Finley (NLC), Damian Bao (HVC), Ryan Carmichael (NLS), Mursill Lubiflor (ECH), Hansi Westerlow (BSV), Jack Muskerry (NDZ)

SecondLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Olympic East               21   16   4   1    40    8  +32    52 P
2 Wheathampton Warriors      21   14   4   3    28   11  +17    46 SBCC
3 Corbin City Islanders      21    8   5   8    19   21   −2    29 SBCC
4 Los-Juantos Coastal        21    8   4   9    32   31   +1    28
5 Kyrinson Cosmos            21    7   5   9    28   23   +5    26
6 Southfeld Wanderers        21    7   1  13    17   20   −3    22
7 Warwick Palace             21    6   2  13    14   47  −33    20 R
8 AFC Dunsinane              21    5   1  15    13   30  −17    16 R

NorthLleague             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sherbrooke United         21    9   9   3    26   22   +4    36 P
2 SC Apple Valley           21    8   8   5    18   12   +6    32
3 Månebjerg Athletic        21    9   4   8    27   19   +8    31
4 Southlake United          21    7   9   5    13    9   +4    30
5 Svenssonfjord Dynamo      21    8   4   9    20   19   +1    28
6 Kyrinson Twin Pines       21    7   5   9    16   20   −4    26
7 Derrierton City           21    6   6   9    12   22  −10    24
8 New Llama Silver          21    5   5  11    24   33   −9    20

SouthLleague              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Xingcheng Renaissance      21   13   3   5    63   25  +38    42 P
2 South Bryant Athletic      21   12   5   4    52   22  +30    41
3 SC Nikcoro                 21   11   4   6    57   31  +26    37
4 Talahita Tigers            21   10   6   5    44   36   +8    36
5 FC Mendel                  21   10   3   8    41   35   +6    33
6 Baixio City                21    5   4  12    31   54  −23    19
7 Westbridge Diamonds        21    4   3  14    22   48  −26    15
8 SC Hazel                   21    3   4  14    19   78  −59    13

by **Super-Llamaland** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 1:08 pm

Llamanean Baseball League - Season LXXXIV

Llamanean Baseball League      Pld     W    L     RF    RA    RD    Pts 
 1 City of Dinschria            138    88   50    770   567  +203    264 Schunemann Shield
 2 New Llama Cyclones           138    83   55    704   506  +198    249
 3 South Falls Athletic         138    78   60    638   519  +119    234
 4 New Llama Wizards            138    78   60    647   545  +102    234 President's Cup Qualification
 5 Xingcheng Renaissance        138    74   64    645   569   +76    222
 6 Apple Valley Vipers          138    73   65    658   581   +77    219
 7 Kyrinson Twin Pines          138    71   67    616   588   +28    213
 8 Vargas City Lions            138    71   67    566   598   −32    213
 9 Mendel Mets                  138    70   68    625   574   +51    210
10 Talahita Tigers              138    69   69    639   600   +39    207
11 South Bryant Chariots        138    69   69    576   541   +35    207
12 Denison Patriots             138    69   69    618   625    −7    207 PC Playoff Qualification
13 Nikcoro Dolphins             138    67   71    621   631   −10    201
14 East Llama Athletic          138    67   71    577   637   −60    201
15 BC Rogers                    138    66   72    582   605   −23    198
16 Penbrooke Warriors           138    66   72    597   621   −24    198
17 Emerald City Greens          138    65   73    642   678   −36    195
18 Nandaozhou Sharks            138    65   73    551   627   −76    195
19 Derrierton Surge             138    64   74    549   588   −39    192
20 Rogers Whitecaps             138    62   76    588   676   −88    186
21 McKenzie Lynx                138    62   76    487   626  −139    186
22 BC Northern Emerald          138    61   77    553   643   −90    183
23 New Sälzholm Knights         138    61   77    524   656  −132    183
24 Peninsulara Kingfishers      138    57   81    533   705  −172    171

MVP: CF Jeff Fitzhugh (New Llama Cyclones)
HENRIKSSON AWARD (BEST PITCHER): August Bendtner (City of Dinschria)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: C Michael Kepler (Nikcoro Dolphins)

PRESIDENT'S CUP PLAYOFF

(12) Denison Patriots           0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1  5
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance       0 1 4 0 1 0 0 1 X  7
W - Lin (16-10), L - Karlsson (17-8)
(11) South Bryant Chariots      1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2  6
(6) Apple Valley Vipers         0 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 2  8
W - Arroyo (18-8), L - Mirzayev (3-8)
(10) Talahita Tigers            0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 0  5
(7) Kyrinson Twin Pines         1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3
W - Vasquez (18-6), L - Heller (3-1)
(9) Mendel Mets                 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0  4
(8) Vargas City Lions           0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 1  5
W - Novak (3-5), L - Cheng (2-2)

PRESIDENT'S CUP QUARTERFINALS

(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0  3
(4) New Llama Wizards          0 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 X  7
W - Erikssen (16-12), L - Lin (16-11)
(4) New Llama Wizards          0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0  4
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 1  5
W - Looper (7-4), L - Kurzawa (2-3)
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
(4) New Llama Wizards          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
W - Zhu (12-5), L - Reynolds (10-14)

(6) Apple Valley Vipers        0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0  4
(3) South Falls Athletic       1 1 0 0 0 5 1 1 X  9
W - Garibaldi (15-8), L - Gudjohnsen (14-12)
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
(6) Apple Valley Vipers        1 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 X 11
W- Arroyo (19-8), L - Costa (14-7)
(6) Apple Valley Vipers        0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0  4
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 X  6
W - Phillips (12-7), L - Ford (10-9)

(10) Talahita Tigers           0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0  5
(2) New Llama Cyclones         0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0  2
W - Herrera (15-6), L - Wu (17-7)
(2) New Llama Cyclones         0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1  3
(10) Talahita Tigers           1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  2
W - Brennaman (5-2), L - Shvey (2-3)
(10) Talahita Tigers           1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0  3
(2) New Llama Cyclones         2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1  4
W - Gonzalez (1-0), L - Shvey (2-4)

(8) Vargas City Lions          2 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 1  8
(1) City of Dinschria          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
W - Wagner (17-8), L - Bendtner (21-6)
(1) City of Dinschria          3 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0  6
(8) Vargas City Lions          0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0  4
W - Kerry (10-8), L - Molina (16-11)
(8) Vargas City Lions          4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  6
(1) City of Dinschria          0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X  0
W - Maddon (12-8), L - Burr (5-12)

PRESIDENT'S CUP SEMIFINALS

(8) Vargas City Lions          0 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0  5
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3  8
W - Hendricks (3-5), L - Cabaye (5-1)
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
(8) Vargas City Lions          0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 X  5
W - Wagner (18-8), L - Lin (16-12)
(8) Vargas City Lions          0 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 0  6
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
W - Molina (17-11), L - Ryan (13-8)
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0  5
(8) Vargas City Lions          1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
W - Zhu (13-5), L - Maddon (12-9)
(8) Vargas City Lions          0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0  5
(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 X  6
[i]W - Lin (17-12), L - Wagner (18-9)

(3) South Falls Athletic       0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0  5
(2) New Llama Cyclones         0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1  4
[i]W - Garibaldi (16-8), L - Kaplan (8-5)
(2) New Llama Cyclones         5 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 10
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0
W - Wu (18-7), L - Costa (14-8)
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2  5
(2) New Llama Cyclones         1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2  4
W - Fletcher (1-1), L - Quinlan (16-9)
(2) New Llama Cyclones         0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0  4
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
W - Atkins (16-10), L - Garibaldi (16-9)
(3) South Falls Athletic       0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  2
(2) New Llama Cyclones         8 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 X  9
W - Wu (19-7), L - Costa (14-9)

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINAL:
(2) New Llama Cyclones [SP: Natalie Wu (19-7, 2.97 ERA)] vs. (5) Xingcheng Renaissance [SP: Carson Lin (17-12, 3.30 ERA)]

(5) Xingcheng Renaissance      0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  2
(2) New Llama Cyclones         0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 X  3

New Llama Cyclones are the Season LXXXIV President's Cup champions!

Llamanean Domestic Newswires

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