Polaris (Ceni) 1-2 RGS Athletic
The first proper round of the Copa de Campeones comes around, with only 8 teams left in contention. RGS Athletic meet a familiar foe at this stage of competition, as they travel to Ceni to play Polaris, the team that knocked them out of the Champions Cup at the start of the season. The last time this match occurred, RGS had lost 1-0 in the second leg away to Polaris after a 2-2 home draw. This time, it was a different story, as RGS adapted to the visitor’s style of play and had the early running, sealed by Tia Drenas in the 18th minute with a diving header. The gap was widened before half time by Osbaldo Bevan, before Polaris pulled a lifeline goal back in the second half.
Pontifucia United 1-4 Royal Jam FC
Walston Brook Albion 1-0 Seniors FC
Indionion Athletic 0-2 Monksville United
VLC FC 3-1 Half Boy FC
Nile Bridge 1-3 Olympia FC
RGS Athletic 2-1 Tuntingone FC
FM Town 5-1 Copper Communists SC
Norrion Rovers 1-0 Seaton Town
RGS keep up their unbeaten league run, and stay top of the table with a 2-1 win over Tuntingone FC, with Kenyon Lacroix scoring the winner. Norrion Rovers stay in hot pursuit after a narrow victory over Seaton Town, with Olympia and VLC both refusing to drop points either. The same goes for the three teams chasing VLC and the fourth Globe Cup spot - in fact, FM Town moving into 8th ahead of Tuntingone, Seaton and Copper Communists is the only real movement this week, which means that the top half of the table all won their games against the bottom half of the table this week. Neat little fact there for you.
Half Boy FC 1-3 Eletti Valligiani (Audioslavia)
The last 8 beckons in this magical run in international competition for Half Boy, as they host Audioslavian side Eletti Valligiani in the quarter-finals of the SBCC. It’s not a nice match for the home side however, as the visitors quickly run out a 2 goal lead in the first half. Half Boy do manage to nick a lucky goal back, but Eletti re-stamped their authority on the tie by adding a third goal in stoppage time. The outlook is bleak in the return leg for Half Boy.
Seniors FC 2-2 Pontifucia United
Monksville United 0-2 Royal Jam FC
Half Boy FC 0-1 Walston Brook Albion
Olympia FC 5-1 Indionion Athletic
Tuntingone FC 0-0 VLC FC
Copper Communists SC 3-1 Nile Bridge
Seaton Town 1-2 RGS Athletic
Norrion Rovers 3-1 FM Town
RGS’ run for the record-breaking unbeaten league season looks a little fragile, as they barely escape a defeat at the hands of Seaton Town - substitutes Kenyon Lacroix and Aaron Abdul both grab goals in the last 5 minutes to turn the match around for the league leaders. Olympia and Norrion keep the pressure up, as they comfortably win their matches against Indionion and FM Town, but VLC falter in their chase of the Champions Cup spot, as they are held to a 0-0 draw in Lodgertia by Tuntingone. Which is good news for the teams behind them, with Walston Brook now three points off the Globe Cup spot after a narrow win over relegation-threatened Half Boy. Royal Jam are a point further off as they finally put a halt to the Monksville juggernaut that registered 7 wins in 8. At the bottom, Seniors move out of the relegation zone on goal difference as they fight Pontifucia to a 2-2 draw - with 8 games to play, Pontifucia are 7 points from safety whilst Half Boy are rooted to the bottom of the table 9 points from safety - however, their much worse goal differences could well count for an extra point.
RGS Athletic 2-2 Polaris (AGG: 4-3)
RGS host Polaris in a pulsating second leg of the quarter-finals in the Copa de Campeones, with RGS defending a 2-1 away victory. The last time Polaris visited King Iqbal II Stadium, they battled out a 2-2 draw in the first leg, before winning in the return leg. This time, the match went much more the way of the Cenians for the majority of the match, as they raced into a 2-0 lead within the first half hour - putting them in a commanding position. It was one they threw away however, as RGS clawed one back in first half stoppage time after Ante Ivanec poked home a corner. In the second half, neither side wanted to give an inch, and it very much looked like extra time was on the cards until Daniel Keeble fired RGS into the semifinals with a free kick from 29 yards out.
Pontifucia United 2-1 Monksville United
Seniors FC 0-1 Half Boy FC
Royal Jam FC 0-0 Olympia FC
Walston Brook Albion 1-0 Tuntingone FC
Indionion Athletic 3-2 Copper Communists SC
VLC FC 1-1 Seaton Town
Nile Bridge 3-2 Norrion Rovers
RGS Athletic 7-0 FM Town
If they looked jittery last weekend, it certainly wasn’t the case this week; RGS capitalise on results elsewhere with the now-traditional walloping of FM Town at the King Iqbal II Stadium - this time it’s a 7-0 scorcher. And this was helped by the early point dropping of Olympia and Norrion Rovers, with Olympia being held on the road by a stubborn and frustrated Royal Jam side, whilst Norrion were shocked on the road by a stunning comeback victory from Nile Bridge. The sides in the relegation battle seem to have realised the situation they’re in as well - bottom of the table Half Boy secured a vital away win against rivals Seniors FC, closing the gap between the two to 6 points, with Seniors falling back into the bottom three after the Nile Bridge win. Indionion matched Nile Bridge’s result blow-for-blow, as they came back from a goal down to beat Copper Communists, whilst Pontifucia are now 4 points from safety after they surprisingly outclassed a Monksville side that actually played well. The race for the Globe Cup is heating up, as VLC can only find themselves drawing again, this time at home to Seaton Town, whilst Walston Brook cut the gap down to a single point after beating Tuntingone in a narrow match.
Eletti Valligiani 0-0 Half Boy FC (AGG: 3-1)
A miracle was required by Half Boy coming into the second leg, trailing by two and with three away goals against them, as they travelled to Audioslavia. However, it wasn’t the free-flowing attacking affair that the first leg was; Eletti Valligiani were perfectly content to sit back and defend the lead they had, blocking off any and all attacks. Try as they might, the closest Half Boy came to a goal was a couple of clashed with the woodwork, but in the end, the hosts prevailed, knocking Half Boy out and ending Eastfielder participation in UICA competition for this season.
Half Boy FC 1-2 Pontifucia United
Olympia FC 3-1 Monksville United
Tuntingone FC 2-0 Seniors FC
Copper Communists SC 0-1 Royal Jam FC
Seaton Town 0-0 Walston Brook Albion
Norrion Rovers 4-0 Indionion Athletic
FM Town 0-1 VLC FC
RGS Athletic 1-1 Nile Bridge
The RGS steamroller hits a bump in the tracks as Nile Bridge come to New Lodger City, and fight valiantly for a somewhat undeserved draw, defending a smash-and-grab goal for the majority of the match. That gives Norrion a chance to regain lost ground, and they do so with aplomb against Indionion Athletic, winning 4-0. Olympia do the same, as they inflict Monksville United’s third consecutive defeat. VLC stave off Walston Brook’s challenge with a narrow win over FM Town, helped tremendously by Seaton taking points from Albion. Royal Jam move to a point behind Albion after their win over Copper Communists. At the bottom, Half Boy are hit with a huge loss in the bottom-of-the-table clash with fellow struggler Pontifucia United, which sees them move to a point behind Seniors, who lost to Tuntingone, and just 4 from safety; Half Boy FC are languishing at the bottom 9 points from safety, with 18 to play for.
Thawmont Rovers (T4) 0-3 RGS Athletic (T1)
Nile Bridge (T1) 0-2 Sunburbia FC (T2)
Just two matches separate these four sides from a date with cup glory in the Memorial Stadium, with Thawmont Rovers harbouring dreams of a magical upset to book their place there. Unfortunately, RGS actually turn up, and the Premier League leaders simply blow away the fourth tier side on their home ground - one would think a 3-0 away win would decide the tie. The other semi-final saw Nile Bridge host Second Division side Sunburbia, but the minnows have a shock in store for the Premier League relegation battlers, as two goals either side of half-time gives them a crucial 2-0 away win.
Pontifucia United 1-6 Olympia FC
Half Boy FC 1-4 Tuntingone FC
Monksville United 0-0 Copper Communists SC
Seniors FC 0-2 Seaton Town
Royal Jam FC 1-0 Norrion Rovers
Walston Brook Albion 0-1 FM Town
Indionion Athletic 1-2 RGS Athletic
VLC FC 0-1 Nile Bridge
Of course, Norrion just had to blow their chance for a title challenge. Having clawed their way back to 2 points behind, Norrion travel to the underwhelming Royal Jam team, but is it the hosts who dominate on the day, and an excellent defensive display sees them win 1-0, courtesy of von Kraus. RGS take the chance to extend their lead, and that they do in a tight affair against Indionion, and are now only 5 games from finishing the season unbeaten. Olympia boost their goal difference in style with a 6-1 away demolition of Pontifucia, whilst Half Boy are also crushed at home. Seniors FC also join the losing party in the bottom three, whilst Nile Bridge build a gap to the bottom with a surprise away win in Vorgan Park against VLC. Walston Brook are unable to capitalise, however, as they are beaten at home by FM Town - they fall to 6th as Royal Jam overtake them.
Tuntingone FC 3-1 Pontifucia United
Copper Communists SC 0-4 Olympia FC
Seaton Town 1-0 Half Boy FC
Norrion Rovers 0-1 Monksville United
FM Town 4-0 Seniors FC
RGS Athletic 1-1 Royal Jam FC
Nile Bridge 1-0 Walston Brook Albion
VLC FC 1-0 Indionion Athletic
The slow march to the title for RGS is giving the other teams a chance to catch up - RGS draw with Royal Jam at home in a tight match to make it 26 matches unbeaten, but Olympia take that chance and demolish Copper Communists on the road to move within 2 points of the title. Meanwhile, Norrion seem to have bottled their title challenge for sure, as they lose 1-0 to Monksville United thanks to a Patience Chrysanthopoulos goal, leaving Rovers 6 points off the title with 4 games to go. VLC grab a vital win against Indionion to push themselves 3 clear of challenging Royal Jam - both will be praying for an RGS cup victory so that the Globe Cup place drops to the league. Walston Brook now have an outside hope of qualifying, as a 1-0 loss to Nile Bridge sees them 6 points behind VLC. At the bottom, Nile Bridge look like they confirmed safety with that win, moving to ten points clear of Seniors with 12 to play for, as the four teams below them all lost - Half Boy could be relegated next weekend if Indionion get a better result than they do.
RGS Athletic (T1) 5-1 Thawmont Rovers (T4) (AGG: 8-1)
Sunburbia FC (T2) 7-1 Nile Bridge (T1) (AGG: 9-1)
And so the second leg of the semi-finals. RGS Athletic kick proceedings off with what is really a foregone conclusion appetizer - coming back from Finsentra with a 3-0 away win, the unbeaten Premier League leaders host Athletic Finsentra with an academic performance that sees them demolish the fourth tier side 5-1, with youngsters per Elouan and Girard-Vaillancourt both getting on the scoresheet to give RGS a first cup final in 6 years. The other semi-final was the feature show of the midweek clashes, as Nile Bridge travelled to Sunburbia to try and overturn a 2-0 home loss from the first leg. What happened shocked pretty much everybody in the country, not least the Nile Bridge players and fans themselves - Sunburbia came out of the doors firing on all cylinders, and within 20 minutes were 3-0 up (5-0 on aggregate), and cruising to the final. Nile Bridge pulled back a consolation goal before half time, but the second half was more of the same, as Sunburbia same out with no mercy in their hearts, and put the Nile Bridge defence to sword once again, putting another 4 past them to complete the Bridgetown side’s Taeshan’ing.
Pontifucia United 1-6 Copper Communists SC
Tuntingone FC 2-0 Seaton Town
Olympia FC 2-1 Norrion Rovers
Half Boy FC 2-1 FM Town
Monksville United 1-7 RGS Athletic
Seniors FC 3-1 Nile Bridge
Royal Jam FC 1-0 VLC FC
Walston Brook Albion 1-1 Indionion Athletic
Just three matches to go. RGS rack up a 27th match unbeaten, and recording the second big Taeshan’ing of the week, as they travel to Monksville and beat United 7-1 in an impressive display of power. The big match of the day saw Olympia take on Norrion, in a match that could potentially have handed the title to RGS in all but maths; in the end, Norrion were knocked out of the title race as Olympia won 2-1 to stay just 2 points behind RGS, who need to be careful as they could end up as the first team with an unbeaten season, and not win the title. The other big match of the day sees Royal Jam finally enter the top four, albeit on goal difference, as they beat VLC in a tight defensive match - Walston Brook’s hopes of a top four or even top five finish are dashed by a draw with Indionion. Speaking of which, that draw meant that Half Boy needed a draw or better with FM Town to keep a mathematical chance of survival alive - and that they did, beating them 2-1 at home. Pontifucia United on the other hand were humiliated 6-1 at home by Copper Communists, keeping them 5 points from safety, whilst Seniors could yet pull a late escape off as a vital win over Nile Bridge sees them move to just a point off Indionion and safety.
Seaton Town 1-1 Pontifucia United
Norrion Rovers 2-0 Copper Communists SC
FM Town 2-1 Tuntingone FC
RGS Athletic 4-3 Olympia FC
Nile Bridge 3-2 Half Boy FC
VLC FC 1-1 Monksville United
Indionion Athletic 0-0 Seniors FC
Walston Brook Albion 0-0 Royal Jam FC
Three games between RGS and an unbeaten season. Against second placed Olympia, third place Norrion, and midtable Copper Communists. And the first of them goes the way of the defending champions, as Olympia travel to RGS looking to take the league advantage, but the RGS attack holds firm, outscoring the opposition in a display of piss-poor defending, finishing 4-3 to RGS, who now move 5 points clear. A win against Copper Communists next weekend, and they’ve won the title. Norrion look forlornly at what could have been after their tremendous start to the season, but have to settle for third with a 2-0 win against Copper Communists, still 4 points behind Olympia. Royal Jam travelled to Walston Brook, with another defensive display on the cards, and it, predictably, finished 0-0, giving VLC the chance to move back into fourth, but they blow it against Monksville United with a 1-1 home draw. At the bottom, Half Boy FC are the first team to be relegated, after they lose 3-2 on the road to Nile Bridge, despite a valiant effort to come back from 2-0 down. Indionion and Seniors face off in a crucial battle in the run-in to survival, but neither side comes out on top, leaving the single point gap between the two. Pontifucia are now looking desperate, as they are pegged back to a 1-1 draw against Seaton which leaves them 5 points from safety with 6 to play for.
CA Paulinthal (Pasarga) 2-4 RGS Athletic
And so, onto the last international competition of the season. RGS Athletic are in the last four of Rushmore’s elite (and currently only) club competition, facing off against the Pasargan giants of CA Paulinthal. And it’s a shock to the system for most people, as RGS come away from Paulinthal with a surprise 4-2 victory, looking in good shape to get to the final with a Tia Drenas brace.
Pontifucia United 0-1 Norrion Rovers
Seaton Town 0-1 FM Town
Copper Communists SC 4-2 RGS Athletic
Tuntingone FC 1-0 Nile Bridge
Olympia FC 3-0 VLC FC
Half Boy FC 0-3 Indionion Athletic
Monksville United 2-0 Walston Brook Albion
Seniors FC 1-1 Royal Jam FC
It’s finally happened! RGS have finally lost a game! And what a time to lose as well, with the title and a place in the history books on the line! 28 games unbeaten, and having just beaten Olympia FC and CA Paulinthal in a seven day period, RGS travel to Copper City to try and wrap up the title with a win, and keep their unbeaten streak going, but the hosts shock everyone by scoring three quick-fire goals to cancel out the opener, winning 4-2 in the end. And there’s a big lifeline for Olympia to grab onto, which they do so kindly with a 3-0 demolition of VLC, and securing Champions Cup football in the process, much to the dismay of Norrion Rovers who had hoped to narrow the gap after their earlier win against Pontifucia, a result that sees Pontifucia United relegated to the Second Division. Royal Jam take the chance from VLC’s dropped points, but are held to an away draw by Seniors. It’s enough to keep them up this weekend, after Indionion’s easy victory against already relegated Half Boy.
RGS Athletic 2-4 CA Paulinthal (FT AGG: 6-6; AET: 7-8)
And so the second leg of RGS’ second semi-final, in a bid to win a triple crown this season. They came back from Pasarga with a 4-2 win; a 2 goal advantage and 4 away goals should be enough right? Unfortunately, CA Paulinthal were out to get revenge after that humiliation, and quickly took the aggregate lea by half-time at 3-0. RGS responded in the second half, Osbaldo Bevan and Glen Soria both grabbing goals to put RGS back into the aggregate lead at 6-5. But the fairytale wasn’t to be, and the visitors levelled the aggregate score at 6-6, and the highly unlikely full time scores meant that extra time needed to be played. Another three goals were scored there as well, but this time CA Paulinthal made sure that they would be the ones advancing to the final, scoring the opening extra time goal, and then despite conceding the equaliser, added a redundant second for the fun of it. CA Paulinthal through, RGS out.
FM Town 3-1 Pontifucia United
RGS Athletic 1-0 Norrion Rovers
Nile Bridge 1-0 Seaton Town
VLC FC 1-1 Copper Communists SC
Indionion Athletic 1-0 Tuntingone FC
Walston Brook Albion 0-1 Olympia FC
Royal Jam FC 1-0 Half Boy FC
Seniors FC 2-1 Monksville United
8 matches kicking off at the same time. Three things to be decided: RGS vs Olympia for the title, where Olympia need a win and a second consecutive RGS loss to win the title; Royal Jam vs VLC for the 4th place Globe Cup spot (a battle which could be redundant by next weekend), where Royal Jam need to match or better VLC’s result, having the single point and decent goal difference advantage; the final battle is for survival in the top flight between Indionion and Seniors, with Seniors needing a win, an Indionion loss, and an 8 goal differential swing to survive.
Little happened at the top in the first half hour, but an important goal was scored in the VLC match, as Copper Communists took the lead, which meant that Royal Jam were fourth regardless. Soon after however, the title race kicked off - Samantha King grabbed a goal for Olympia against Walston Brook, taking them level on points with RGS but lacking massively on goal difference. The relegation battle soon followed, as Seniors took the lead against Monksville, but Indionion drawing was enough for them. Shortly before half time however, RGS struck back; Tia Drenas, reliable as always, popped up in the right place at the right time and fired the ball under Gavin Mintson. RGS in the driving seat in the title race.
Come the second half, Malenna von Kraus ensured that VLC wouldn’t pose a threat, heading in a great cross from a free kick to open the scoring against relegated Half Boy. Indionion sealed their own survival moments before the hour mark when Oswaldo Gardiner scrambled the ball home to take the lead against Tuntingone. Seniors meanwhile doubled their lead, pointless as it was as long as Indionion weren’t losing, but were pegged back 10 minutes later when Monksville pulled one back. VLC managed to pull a goal back as Arne Jonsson scored a worldie, but to little avail, as Royal Jam had the upper hand. In the end, RGS held off Norrion to win their 30th title, whilst Royal Jam qualified for the Globe Cup after their win over Half Boy. At the bottom however, it is sad news for Seniors FC, who are relegated from the top flight, making it all three promoted teams that are sent back down.
ICEL Premier League
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 RGS Athletic 30 20 9 1 97 30 +67 69 Champions/CdC/CC
2 Olympia FC 30 21 4 5 71 29 +42 67 CC
3 Norrion Rovers 30 19 3 8 55 23 +32 60 Globe Cup
4 Royal Jam FC 30 15 9 6 40 17 +23 54 Globe Cup
5 VLC FC 30 14 9 7 35 22 +13 51
6 Walston Brook Albion 30 13 6 11 24 22 +2 45
7 Tuntingone FC 30 11 9 10 38 29 +9 42
8 FM Town 30 13 3 14 49 52 −3 42
9 Monksville United 30 11 9 10 29 35 −6 42
10 Copper Communists SC 30 9 9 12 48 53 −5 36
11 Nile Bridge 30 11 2 17 36 59 −23 35
12 Seaton Town 30 8 10 12 38 43 −5 34
13 Indionion Athletic 30 8 6 16 38 59 −21 30
14 Seniors FC 30 7 6 17 23 51 −28 27 Relegated
15 Pontifucia United 30 5 4 21 29 82 −53 19 Relegated
16 Half Boy FC 30 4 4 22 20 64 −44 16 Relegated