AOCAF Cup LV - Everything Thread

[Mriin]

Editor's note: Opinions expressed are those of the character, not the user, and are a misguided attempt at humor.

Defecating Daffodil presents: Mriin, AO's Two-Hooved Chucklepony

[Osarius]

Excerpt from an open letter from "The Grassroots Coach", published on OSN.net

There is something reminiscent of Jermain Lewis in Brent Steele. Not the winning, but the strong aversion to defeat. Brent Steele's Firebirds do not have the same overall quality and ruthless ability to finish off a game, it seems; often succumbing to late equalisers, or early lapses that set them on the back foot. Things of that nature. In many ways, it would appear they have an inherent lack of discipline, in fact -- which every Osarian fan over a certain age is fully aware that Jermain Lewis would never have tolerated -- but they have a limit to that indiscipline. During Steele's tenure, Osarius have not often tasted defeat, though many of their draws perhaps felt similar.

This new Osarius, that bends and sways with the winds of both fortune and misfortune, is in stark contrast to the Osariuses of prior years. Under di Corradi, there was a single-minded pursuit of entertaining attacking football. Under Montblanc, technical excellence was the supreme. Under Sahota, it was the determination to produce something greater than the sum of one's parts. The list goes on... of course, under Jermain Lewis, it was only victory that mattered. Brent Steele seems to have taken a tiered approach. First and foremost, don't lose. This fear-based approach goes against every tenet of coaching philosophy I have ever seen in Osarius. It was said to be the reason the national team was labelled "chokers" in the years before Jermain Lewis instilled his same obsessive drive in the team and spurred them to hunt for a win in every single game. Now we are embracing it.

To call this a backward step is an understatement. We are actively witnessing the reversal of some sixty years of progress. If by some miracle, Steele's team prevails over Cosumar tomorrow, it will only serve to reinforce the flawed notion that this is the right way to move forward. We are witnessing this struggle on how exactly progress should look not just in football, but in domestic politics, too. The growth of the nation of Cobrio has been met with broadly two reactions. One reaction is to embrace, an optimistic view of what lies ahead for our nation. The other is fearful and openly hopes to see Cobrio crumble. Neither is entirely correct, but if forced to choose, I side with hope.

My mentor when I was younger once told me that "Politicians have only two products to sell you: hope and fear. When they start peddling fear, it's usually not a good sign." I think this applies to many scenarios. Including our national team, as dramatic as that might sound. Some of you will read this and see a crazy person, scared of shadows and loud noises that nobody else sees or hears. But remember, I'm a grassroots coach. I'm on the front lines of our battle to get back to the top. I'm helping to develop the players that will, in some years, lead us there. So who is better placed than someone like me, to see everything that is going wrong?

Many of you will call me unpatriotic, or some similar term for what I am about to say. But I believe wholeheartedly that it is necessary. Tomorrow, I hope we lose. And that the OFA re-thinks our involvement in international competition until we figure out what we, as Osarians, stand for in football. What makes us different? What makes us who we are? What took us to the top of the multiverse for five glorious years? Because I'm almost one hundred percent certain that it wasn't fear.

[Chromatika]

Moments of the Off-season
3. Hermaeus Mora

"We would love to have you join us, Mr. Mora, as we strive toward bigger and better pastures. The League is getting stronger, and so must we; we believe that you could be an integral part to our efforts. You know how to get a hold of us when you make up your mind."

For the hundredth time, Hermaeus Mora put down his phone, mulling over the words in the message. The lanky Chromatik sat at his desk, having just come out of the shower after a long workout. There was no true offseason in his game. No, not when he had places to be and things to do. Life was too short to not live it to the fullest.

Which was precisely why he couldn't understand the reason behind Aleksandr Ivanovich's taking him off the market. Sure, the offseason had seen a lot of Chromatik talent leave - the departure of Xi Xe and Olimpia Vidal had been a bit of a shock for most pundits and players alike. Yes, the league was starting to bring more and more great players in - Pearson, Blessed, Martine-Burns. But he wanted more out of his career, especially when things were starting to really take off.

It wasn't that he had anything personal against Anomalies Football Club. They had given him his first opportunity to play and make a difference, and his success with the club had landed him an opportunity to play for the Chromatik National Team in the last qualifying cycle.

But... Ambition was a bitch, wasn't it? With the team that Tihon had, the resurgence of Myana, and Felswyr and Lhor doing their damnedest to catch up...

He dialed a number on his phone, and started a move that would enrage a club, divide a city, and make the season even more interesting than anyone thought possible.

---

Euran Oceania Territories 2-3 Chromatika
Chromatika: Andisori '69, '73, '88
AOCAF 55 Group Stage Match 3
Lineup: Williams; Ilya - Stef - Damjana; Thorben - Hellion - Mora - Liam; Rien (C) - Gail - Xe. Subs: Andisori -> Gail '62, Niro -> Xe '75, Kelly -> Thorben '82
An insertion of Andisori and Niro at halftime proved to be the saving grace for the Chromatiks as Keira Andisori scored a hat trick in a span of twenty minutes to help the Chromatiks survive Euran Oceania Territories and set up a date with Starblaydia.

They will need to play a lot better if they are to make it further... As they should.

Onward and beyond!

[Vilita and Turori]

Vilita & Turori [7] - [2] Nuovo Serone

AOCAF 55 :: The Equestrian States :: The Vilita & Turori Eel Cat Things could have taken the easy path in their final group stage matchup against the groups bottom side Nuovo Serone, but they did not. Having already ensured passage to the Round of 16 and nothing in particular to play for against a side many expected would be a class below the highly talented Vilita & Turori team, it would not have been surprising to see some changes in the lineup. Perhaps a debut for goalkeeper Vernasa Sanamun or some changes in the field positions. For the most part, however, the Eel Cat Things remained unchanged, signalling clearly their intent to take seriously their attempt for their first AOCAF title in 12 cycles.

With World Cup 77 breakout star Mako Canopii in net, World player of the year shortlisted midfielder Polaox Torerun eading the playmaking - the only real concession in the starting lineup came up top with Eastal Lunar youngster Nii'arala Milaaso getting the start.

The Eel Cat Things started fast but it wasn't the attack that got the ball rolling. Instead it was Iskara Daii defender Ibekira Ajhabekk who headed the Jungle Cats into the lead 9 minutes into the match. It was a lead that Vilita & Turori would never give up, building quickly on their advantage. Another goal from Ajhabekk as well as goals from Fishtii Blikala, Cywrenta Vlintejni and Tenziki Kulakao put the Eel-Cat things up 5-0 at the half.

The second half was a more even affair as Vilita & Turori took their foot off the pedal slightly allowing Nuovo Serone a chance to gain some consolation goals as momentos to take back to their homeland in rememberance of their failed AOCAF campaign.

For Vilita & Turori the 7-2 victory was one of their largest in recent memory and would give them tons of momentum going into a Round of 16 clash against Qasden - the very same Qasden team that the Eel-Cat Things had already defeated 2-1 on Matchday 2 of the Group Stage.

After the group stage the Eel-Cat things have seen a balance in their goalscoring contributions with Fishtii Blikala, Linvoi Warazal, Tenziki Kulakao, Inbekira Ajhabekk and Cywrenta Vlintejni all share the team lead with two goals a piece. Purapal Eskiyy, Va'a-Rio Kiwavyn and Jirak Trikala trail with a single goal meaning that Vilita & Turori are in the strange position of having more players having scored two goals than they have players who have scored a single goal thus far.

Perhaps the stage is set for a 3-goal performance in the Round of 16 against Qasden with goals from Purapal Eskiyy, Va'a-Rio Kiwavyn and Jirak Trikala? It was the most difficult match for the Eel Cat Things during the Group Stage and the two-time Cup of Harmony champions will be no pushover. The Eel-Cat things are going to be looking to avenge a disappointing early defeat to Eshan in AOCAF LIVe in Tropicorp by taking down Qasden in the Round of 16.

:: Vilita & Turori Goalscorers :: :: 9' Inbekira Ajhabekk :: 15' Fishtii Blikala :: 30' Inbekira Ajhabekk :: 36' Cywrenta Vlintejni :: 39' Tenziki Kulakao :: 49' Jirak Trikala :: 83' Cywrenta Vlintejni

:: Vilita & Turori Statistics :: :: Possession: 67% :: Shots on Target: 15 :: Corner Kicks: 24

:: Nuovo Serone Statistics :: :: Possession: 33% :: Shots on Target: 8 :: Corner Kicks: 5

---

Vilita & Turori Eel Cat Things Lineup v. Nuovo Serone ::
[GK] Mako Canopii, [D.] Mileke Drokasorna, [D.] Jirak Trikala, [D.] Jirijii Januaa, [D.] Inbekira Ajhabekk, [ML] Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [MC] Jurzen Devmiko, [MC] Polaox Torerun, [MR] Cywrenta Vlintejni, [FC] Nii'arala Milaaso, [FC] Fishtii Blikala
BENCH::
[FC] Linvoi Warazil, [FC] Tenziki Kulakao, [M] Kudii Davasarii, [M] Mbdiai Akarenaa, [U ] Meldi'ita Mungwaii, [D] Biliki Rona'atu'i, [GK] Vernasa Sanamun

---

[Valanora]

Valanora Times
Of New Beginnings

The process of adapting to the Calling is taking its toll on Valanora in many shapes and forms, including the national team, though one would hardly be able to tell with how the Marauders have been playing in the Equestrian States in the AOCAF. With an opening matchday win against fellow Southwestern nation in Farfadillis, yes the same Farfadillis that thoroughly humiliated the Marauders during the World Cup, was a great start to the campaign and gave this band of players a bit of revenge and sense of pride. That loss in the Finals was nearly the worst loss that the Marauders had ever had in their over a century long history of participating in international competitions and to then turn the tables on the Farves here in the AOCAF was something of a relief for the squad, whom are almost all consisting of the same team that played in the Finals last month. It may have also been something that was a little too heady for the side, as they showed a bit of a flaw in the following match when Ko-oren nearly stole the points for the Marauders, but an Espy va Drake strike and several stops by the young keeper of Sean Smørdal enabled the Marauders to get their second win out of two and secure their advancement into the next round.

It was in the last match of the group stage that the Marauders finally looked like the number one ranked team in the region that they are supposed to be, with the side thoroughly moving over Aji No Moto in their new red and white hooped away kit, along with the new home kits which were both provided to the Marauders before the start of the tournament from the Starblaydi kitmakers of Ediraf. Laborious Hawk, Fionn Lynch, and Allandren Fresco all got the goals and Smørdal got his second clean sheet, justifying the heavy amount of interest in him from foriegn clubs that are looking to poach the youngster off United before the start of the domestic season next month. With Macron Abbott already solidly entrenched as the number one keeper at the Rockers, it very well may be possible that the young national team keeper will be on his way out of United, though if he keeps up with this sort of performances, it may be for one of the world's better clubs rather than just whatever club is willing to gurantee him the number one keeper position.

Smørdal is just one of many new Vanorian internationals that are garnering international attention, as this time of transition continues, and we come to grips that it will be quite awhile before the Elven population ever returns to that what it was before this happening, if it ever does happen again. The dwarves are starting to make themselves more known and even the reclusive dragon kin are venturing forth from their secluded communities to make themselves more known, though the exact details of their population size remains quite a mystery despite their more integrated existence into the rest of Vanorian society. That being said, it is humans who now make up the majority of Valanora's population and they are the ones of which the foreign clubs are taking the most interest in, though much of Arrosia remains in dissaray in terms of governmental structure, with Sabine and Caddonia having to take that mantle upon themselves. Ironic given that just four years ago they were the dependents and Arrosia the protectors, now it seems like the roles are reversed, which is even evident in the current iteration of the national teams kits.

Focusing back on the national team, they will now be going up against Tomikosan in the Round of Sixteen, an unfamiliar opponent for the squad and one that most of those in the Eternal Empire do not know much about. On paper, the Marauders collection of dual nationals, the few remaining national team elves, and youth products look to be more than a match for their opposition regardless, with Tomikosan having only made it into the Round of Sixteen as the best third placed squad and not as one of the top two teams in their group. The Marauders will have a bit of work to do though, with Tomikosan having a potentially potent defensive structure to have to crack, having only conceded twice in the group stage, though their offensive prowess was somewhat lacking. The likes of Laborious Hawk, Espy va Drake, and Allandren Fresco though should have the chemistry and bit of magic to get through this hurdle, though the difficulty greatly increases in the next round, as if they do advance, they will either be facing the growing rival of Farfadillis or traditional regional power of 95X in the Quarterfinals.

[Tropicorp]

Techies Team up with Cocoabo in Knockout Rounds Once again

AOCAF 55; The Equestrian states :: After sweeping Group C with a flawless 3-0-0 record with seven goals scored and none conceded, it seems evident that the Cocoabo Integration Experiment is going well for the Tropicorp team of Scientists, Researchers and Engineers. The experiment started during AOCAF LIVe in Tropicorp and continues in the Equestrian States as more data looks to be collected. It was originally thought that the 4th place finish by the Techie-bo's in Tropicorp was an anomaly - something that could not be repeated away from the friendly confines of Tropicorp Park.

That notion may be gone now however considering victories over the Euran Oceania Territories, Melbergia and particularly over perennial underachievers Chromatika have propelled Tropicorp to the top of the overall table and as serious contenders heading into AOCAF LV's knockout rounds.

Tropicorp are still balancing the desire to collect useful scientific desire with the pride that has come with improving their performances at the AOCAF Cup and the corresponding boost to both morale and productivity that good performances at the AOCAF result in for the Tropicorp workforce. In six all-time AOCAF appearances, the Tropicorp team have twice failed to advance from the Group Stage, once advanced to a play in game against Iskandervale which they lost, still eliminating them prior to the Round of 16, and twice the Tropicorp Techies have not only advanced to the Round of 16, but won that match up before being eliminated in the Quarter Finals. During AOCAF LIVe, however, Tropicorp looked nearly unstoppable; until, of course, they were stopped - by Eshan in the Semi-Final.

It was a forgivable moment when the Techi-bo's lost to five time World Champion Valanora in the third place playoff but the Techies and the Cocoabo could still hold their heads high as they set the record for the all time best performance by a Tropicorp entry.

Now the march starts over and the opposition is Yesopalitha - a nation that is just a shadow of its former self and who barely snuck into the knockout round despite a 1-1 draw with Mriin on the final matchday of group play.

Tropicorp with the Techies and the Cocoabo will be in an unusual position as favorites to win their Round of 16 matchup and advance along to the Quarter Final stage.

Tournament	Win	Draw	Loss	Goals	Goals Against	End Result	Notable Events
AOCAF 49	1	0	3	1	6	5th in Group A	Lost 0-1 to Vilita & Turori
AOCAF 50	1	1	2	7	9	3rd in Group A	Lost Playoff to Iskandervale (1-2 AET)
AOCAF 51	4	1	1	11	10	2nd in Group A Lost 3-1 to Valanora in Quarter Final	Defeated Farfadillis 3-2 Won First Knockout Round Match (2-1 over Chromatika)
AOCAF 52	2	0	2	3	3	1st in Group Y Lost 2-1 to Krytenia in Quarter Final
AOCAF 53	1	2	2	9	9	4th in Island Group	Lost 1-3 to Vilita & Turori
AOCAF 54	4	1	2	12	8	1st in Group 4th Place Overall	Lost 0-1 to Eshan in Semi-Final

[Qasden]

Qads Top Demot; Advance a Sigh of Relief

---

MANECHESTER, EQUESTRIAN STATES
by Ester T

---

The battle may have been won, but the war, oh the war has just begun.

Two nights ago in Manechester, the Qasden Vans commenced a match with their throats on the line. Following a draw to Nuovo Serone and a loss to Vilita & Turori, the Blue-Reds we’re in desperate need of something to keep their merchandise selling. In order to do so, they had to win their last matchup, the one against the Dynamo of Demot.

Now, the Demot team, contrary to their nickname, was a rather dull squad, with their only luster being their prolonged influence in Atlantian Oceania. This tournament alone, they had only gained 2 more points than us, courtesy of a nice win over Nuevo Serone. Against the Eel-Cat Things, however, they equally did not fair well. So for them, a Qad draw or loss would seal the deal for their progression.

But that just so happened to not be the case

With a strong defensive movement led by Chariot Hero and a total of 3 goals scored on our behalf (Munson, Foster, and Xandreas), the Qasden Vans were strong enough to oust the Dynamo, 3-1, and qualify for the knockouts. Among the most hardcore fans, the victory in particular was nothing short than a sigh of relief from avoiding regional embarrassment. But of course, things are only gonna get harder from now on.

With 4 points, the Vans were placed in the 14th seed, the lowest of the runner-ups. Furthermore, their first opponent, the 3-seed, just so happened to be none other than, you guessed it, Vilita and Turori!

As we shared a group with them, we have firsthand experience at their brute strength in the competition, defeating all 3 opponents with relative ease. The only team that had given them a challenge so far was us, the 2 time Cup of Harmony champions, a term overused by their media. While our first encounter was a bust, this occasion is sure to be different. While we have never defeated the realm known as Vilita, Turori’s a nation we have had tons of experience against, displayed by our wins and defeats against them in the WCC.

Currently, the Feasties’ Multiversal Catering Prediction Tables tell of a 70% chance of adversarian victory. Will Qasden’s bets go with the bandwagon? Or will the tables be turned? Stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for our live postgame report in Cloudsdale, Equestrian States!

[Eshan]

Letters Never Sent

It is curious thing to dream of your own death.

It is a curiouser thing considering the peculiar nature of the day, a day filled with a powerful fragrance of smoke and mercury in dark corners, an eerie note precluding such a dream of complexity that bore the resounding mark of the infinite certainty of mortality. A situation which we loathe to consider the thought of when in reality we should be acknowledging how death is the only certainty with which we may orient our lives around and conduct our business with regards to.

He remembered the man behind the counter in the bookstore who held an orange in one hand and handed back coins that were cold to the touch. A stare that lingered, a look beyond eyes, intruding into the uncomfortable solitude that exists as our consciousness and the voice in our head, the ultimate manifestation of a tortured and lonely mind.

He toured the streets, the back of his being alive with colors that seemed to bend and melt into an incomprehensible blend of pigment, the air smelling of mud while a young girl with sweat on her brow chased a ball that bounced with a sound that seemed to occupy a prominent point in space, shattering the murmuring noise of conversation and life in a lightly populated city square and standing alone with the permanence of time, falling into itself with so many reverberations until the bounces of the ball came to a stop. A man in a coat bent down and handed it to her and went on his way.

Sitting in a park, a desperate of reclusive solitude in the ocean of heresy that is the city. Clouds passed, morphing into indescribable shapes as the wind kissed his wrists and planted roses along his heart and down his spine, a splash of love bleeding from the blood of one who experiences a love gone unheeded, an angry black slash of cold dead flesh on the heart.

His eye focused on the precipitation in the air, the molecules of water parting from the motion of his hand as he sliced through the air, watching a million glistening diamonds crash onto the ground with the force of a nuclear bomb.

The world melted into a surreal state as the rosy fingers of the setting sun draped across the sky, a dreamlike picture that served to send people into a trance not unlike the standing madness of the Insomnia plague that had come many years ago, when the city was nothing but a collection of adobe houses, built on the bank of a clear water river that ran on giant polished eggs, which were white like ancient eggs of a forgotten beast. He saw his face in a puddle, an image sitting beyond the reflection of the mask that stared back, boring into his soul. A newspaper, his face, a change from a collection of professionals named Myrmidon in Ceni to another such guild of experts who called themselves KT Moreazerua from the slavias of Audio. An article sat next to it, his name, Marco, again mentioned along ten other men who had been born within the same collection of imaginary lines on a map. 11 men against those from another collection of lines named Banija.

He ate his dinner out, a meal of flesh and blood cut in front of him, a knife slicing across a heated surface that was lit from above by a giant magnifying glass, behind which sat suspended a large calderon that had the visual property of being a dull red as if heated from within by a burning substance. He inquired to the nature of the calderons and how the chef’s station was lighted. “Why, they contain the distilled power of liquid sun rays.”

He walked home, an aurora of electricity hung above the ground like a mist, static clinging to shoes and pants, a cold wind that streaked through hair bearing on it the smell of ozone while the mindless hum of light posts buzzed loudly, silencing all other noise save those few birds who chirped in the distance.

He slept, tortured. The scent of citrus invaded his head as he felt cold water drown him, a gallon jug of his warm blood poured on his body, the horror of teeth pulled from his mouth, but beneath the beating of a sea of life and pain and death and resurrection, beneath it all was the ever pounding pressure that served as the breaking source of his psychological schisming, a scream the erupted not from his lungs, but from the very pores of his body, his spirit and will and flesh and being split into pieces under the inescapable, unrelenting, all encompassing crushing pain of the women, who else could it have ever possibly been but her, the women who he held in his heart of cholera, that secret we share with ourselves as the one we live our existence for.

She stood before him, a broken man with a cut from which a single drop of blood stood suspended and ready to fall, she stood before him with the only sound coming from his heart as it rattled back into life at the sight of her eyes and the curious smell of ash that always accompanied her.

She closed the gap between them, standing tantalizingly close with only a couple of inches separating their lips. Hers parted slowly and he felt an agonizing sense of longing and eternal solitude as she spoke with the indecipherable twin sincerity of one who is delusional and of an angel delivering the will of the almighty creator unto the world.

“It was Wednesday.”

He fell into a darkness, not of black, but of the complete absence of color, a place where time and space and being and light and life all cease to exist and serve simply as rain drops on a pond.

A gasp, he felt his pupils dilate as he stared at the grass in front of him. He staggered to his knees, an act that passed over the course of 1093 years in the way that time can be both instant and infinite in the manner only a dream will allow.

A goal was in front of him, a shattered stadium behind, a giant hole blown in the stand allowing for a view beyond the night into a city beyond, long abandoned and with the buildings all painted black. A fog mixed with heavy yet scant smoke to brush the periphery of his blurred vision with dancing figures.

A ball rolled from behind him, coming to a stop a few paces before him. He turned with a methodical calmness to see nothing behind him, the end of the image dropping off into the incomprehensible inky black nothingness of space.

He labored over to the ball, swinging his leg at it. His foot connected. The ball rolled into the net at the speed of a snail before both ball and goal dissolved, with the stadium slowly melting into the ground while the city disappeared under a snow composed of all absorbing black crystals.

The image faded like a polaroid in reverse as life and death ceased to exist, what it meant to be and not to be became as relevant as drawing a line in the ever shifting sands in a desert. Existence itself blinked in and out of existence to the beat of the slow pulse of a universe that lived before and would live beyond.

He lay naked on a patch of cool dirt as the universe cooled before him and the slow formation of stars and planets began, watching the process of time unfold before him, time itself a life with a birth and a death.

He closed his eyes, an act that drew the breath from his lungs.

He went to sleep.

[Banija]

OOC: What is a Katikkiro? What is a Kabaka? What in the world does Lukiiko mean? Refer to the spoiler in my signature for English language translations of Banijan political terms!

In shocking election, former Mynda SC owner Matthis Mutebi becomes Katikkiro via a coalition government with the Christian Patriots League


Matthais Mutebi(left with green sash) swears in as Banija's Head of Government

BUSUKUMA- The Banijan political scene has been shocker after shocker for the past few months. From the RTC Corruption scandal, shaking down both major parties to their very cores, with top leadership implicated from both the People's Protection Movement and the Free Justice Party, who between them, have led every single government in Banija since our nation's independence. But could it really happen? Could an openly far-right party, that felt the need to break off from the Christian Patriots League, of all parties, win an election in Banija.

The answer, of course, was yes. They went from worst to first. While in the last election, they won 18 seats, just barely enough to be an officially recognized caucus within the Lukiiko(minimum of 15 members required), they have now, behind the charismatic billionaire Matthias Mutebi, won 170 seats, marking the first time in the history of Banija that a party other than the People's Protection Movement and the Free Justice Party won the most seats in an election. Of course, there are 500 members of the Lukiiko, and neither major party would work with them, right?

But the scandal ran deep. Throughout the election cycle, Matthias Mutebi picked on politics as usual, with Banijan politicans in bed with the Regional Transit Corporation, a Banijan company headquartered in Rosaria, Eshan. Mutebi aggressively pushed his platform about cleaning up politics, saying that all convicted politicians would 'rot in jail and in hell', and though he was criticized by democracy rights activists for threatening to jail his political opponents, nobody cared. Of course, while promising to clean up politics, who was his #1 target? Banijan emigrants.

The issue of Banijan emigration has always been bubbling under the surface of Banijan politics, and Mutebi burst it wide open. He openly said that the brain drain was the reason that Banija was the 'poorest country in Atlantian Oceania', and those who left needed to support their country. He had a number of controversial proposals, including stripping those of dual citizenship whose first citizenship was Banijan, and then also got the citizenship of another country.

Of course, he could not govern by himself. 170 seats in a 500 member Lukiiko is not nearly enough to govern, but the Kabaka had to invite him to form a government. The Christian Patriots League was another big winner. They more than doubled their representation in this body, with 102 members of their caucus. Of course, they seemed natural partners, with a combined 272 seats between them, more than enough to provide a stable majority. They had fairly quick negotiations, and with that, Mutebi is the Katikkiro and retired four star General Kutubo Marenah is the Deputy Katikkiro.

We'll see if this government truly means business when they get into the business of governing. Matthias Mutebi, who is in office despite his fraud conviction, has plenty of politicians to go after. Who knows how his term will end? Regardless, it's going to be quite the eventful 5 year term in office with this guy at the helm...

Election Results
Defiance Coalition- 170 seats, 29.2% of the vote
Collective Resistance Union- 130 seats, 23% of the vote
Christian Patriots League- 102 seats, 21.7% of the vote
People's Protection Movement- 64 seats, 13% of the vote
Free Justice party- 34 seats, 9% of the ote

AOCAF Roundup:
Banija went down 1-0 in the first half, but goals after the break from Kiggwe Mavuto, Chibuzo Afolayan, and Toyuwa Okafor clinched a 3-1 win for the Banijans over Oontaz, meaning that they'd have 6 points and, against all odds, reach the knockout stages. Banija was thought to be one of the first teams out of the knockout stages, but an excellent performance against Oontaz in the second half, where they simply kept the pressure up on their opponents, was enough to clinch an automatic berth in the knockout stages.

And who do they play? Once again, Eshan. A team Banija is very familiar with, splitting the spoils during World Cup Qualifying, with each time winning at home, and then, of course, the 5-1 shellacking at the hands of Eshan in the group stages. Of course, now they have a rematch, with the winner moving on. Eshan's defeat of Banija, for all practical hopes, ended our chances at qualifying for the World Cup Finals. Eshan's defeat of Banija prevented us from winning this group. And now, they have the opportunity to KO us from the AOCAF?

Randolf Cherry says that the team 'relishes' this opportunity. "The 5-1 debacle is behind us- we need to show that we have learned from that game, even though it was only a few matches ago. That game is irrelevant, as the winner now will move onto the quarterfinals, and that is all that matters. They have star players, especially stud Marco van Ciavatinni, who is truly one of the best players in the multiverse. But of course, this team is united in purpose. We came back from that shellacking and won our next game, a must-win, do or die against Oontaz. This team can surprise people at this tournament, and those who are writing us off because of what's on paper- this is why they play the games. The game isn't over until the fat lady sings, and I will expect 90 minutes of high energy, free-flowing football from the boys in green."

It will be a tough game. Will be 5-1 again? I highly doubt it. But there is a talent gap that, on a neutral field, may be too much to overcome. We expect the favorites to win a close one. Banija will play respectably, but a pair of late goals from Marco van Ciavatinni will be the difference between Eshan racing forward to the final 8, while Banija finishes their first ever AOCAF with an early knockout stage exit.

[Equestrian States]

Annihilation: Ponies Absolutely Crush Warriors
by Steve McNotapony

Anthor 3-8 Equestrian States
at Grand Regal Stadium in Canterlot, Equestrian States
Attendance: 87,362

Jennifer McKenzie '4 (N. Stark)
Pristina Shine '13 (Cloudchaser)
Apple Cobbler '25 (Cloudchaser)
Pristina Shine '32 (A. Molovi)
Jennifer McKenzie '43 (T. Padmore)
Gentle Breeze '45+1 (R. Taylor)
Pristina Shine '56 (Rainbow Blitz)
Rainbow Blitz '61 (Pristina Shine)
Pristina Shine '63 (B. Hamilton)
Wither '68 (A. Aiza)
Anthony Black '90+2 (Unassisted)

CANTERLOT - Well, that was a thing.

The Equestrians just needed a draw from their final group stage match against Anthor to officially clinch their spot in the second round of the AOCAF Cup, but instead utterly humiliated their Anthoran opponents and put on one of the most electric displays of offensive hoofball that Equestrian fans have ever seen. It didn't start off great, with Anthor taking a 4th minute lead on Jennifer McKenzie's arguably-offside strike that stood despite Equestrian protests, but the Ponies rallied and put their frustration to good use, systematically eviscerating the Anthoran defense over the next half-hour to build a 3-1 lead. The Warriors pulled one back with just a few minutes left in the first half, but on the final play of the half it was the Ponies that scored an absolutely crushing blow, goalkeeper Gentle Breeze scoring off a last-second corner kick after having been pushed forward to give the Equestrians an extra pony in the box.

The second half was even worse for the Anthorans, as the Ponies scored a remarkable four goals in a 12 minute span, Pristina Shine completing her second hat trick in three matches to bring her tournament total to seven. After Wither completed the rout in the 68th minute, the Ponies clearly hadn't just eased off the gas but had put the metaphorical car in neutral and were cruising through the final 20 minutes without even feigning an attempt at scoring. In stoppage time, Anthoran substitute Anthony Black scored a marvelous but utterly meaningless consolation goal that brought the final score to 8-3, a result that was surprisingly generous to the Warriors considering how completely dominated they'd been by the hosts.

  Group A                    Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts        Match Day 3 Results:
1  Equestrian States        3   3  0  0   13   3 +10    9   Q     Starblaydia 5–0 Somecoldwetislands 
2  Starblaydia              3   2  0  1    9   2  +7    6   Q    @ Royal Equestria Stadium in Canterlot
3  Anthor                   3   1  0  2    7  13  −6    3         Anthor 3–8 Equestrian States 
4  Somecoldwetislands       3   0  0  3    1  12 −11    0        @ Grand Regal Stadium in Canterlot

With their demolition of Anthor, the Ponies have captured the top seed in the knockout rounds, meaning the Equestrian States will take on Mriin in the second round, who narrowly escaped the group stage and will face a tough task in taking on the in-form hosts on their home turf. Though the Ponies' historically have done poorly in knockout matches, fans will hope that this is the beginning of a new era for the national team that has come tantalizingly close time and time again.

[Equestrian States]

AOCAF Cup LV
Round of 16 Results

Equestrian States 2–1 Mriin
(Scorinated by Valladares)

Starblaydia 0–2 Chromatika

Tropicorp 2–2 Yesopalitha (3–2 AET)

Cosumar 3–2 Osarius

Valanora 4–2 Tomikosan

95X 1–2 Farfadillis

Vilita & Turori 4–4 Qasden (4–5 AET)

Eshan 4–4 Banija (4–4 AET) (3–4 pen.)

---

Quarterfinal Matchups

Equestrian States vs. Chromatika
at Star Stadium (cap. 59,250) in Canterlot

Tropicorp vs. Cosumar
at Apple Orchard Park (cap. 52,680) in Appleoosa

Valanora vs. Farfadillis
at Shady Grove (cap. 43,650) in Whitetail

Qasden vs. Banija
at Wild Grounds (cap. 56,500) in Everfree

[Banija]

Banija wins wild classic in a shootout to stun match favorites Eshan and advance to the quarterfinals


Goalkeeper Delbin Kasekende cries after his save of the final Eshan penalty kick sends Banija to AOCAF quarterfinals

MANEHATTAN- While there were a few people who believed that Banija could get to the Round of 16, nobody believed that Banija could get to the Round of 8. This tournament is an extremely tough tournament- loads of talent, tons of local rivalries, and one of the reasons why Banija switched was to allow themselves to raise their level of play. In their first entry into the AOCAF, most people predicted they could finish third in their group, though a few predicted a second place finish. Pundits believed that, either Banija would barely miss out on the knockout stages, or Banija would barely make it and then get eliminated at the first knockout game. That would have been a successful tournament for Banija, making the knockout stages in their first go at this tournament.

And then, of course, who was Banija drawn with? Eshan, who is quickly becoming a rival of the Kadongo Kamu. Eshan's 4-2 victory over Banija in Rosaria, towards the end of qualifying, was the final nail in the coffin for Banija world cup qualification hopes, as it made it all but impossible for Banija, or, indeed, anybody else, to be able to catch Eshan and get the group's final spot in the World Cup Finals. And then these two teams were drawn together in group play, where Eshan dominated Banija, going 5-0 up before an extremely late goal allowed Banija to get SOMETHING on the scoreboard, but the point remained- Eshan was better than Banija.

And with this rematch, so soon, everyone had written off Banija. To be frank, even we had. But the Kadongo Kamu believed that they could beat Eshan, and that they simply came out far too flat in their group stage match. They felt that they needed to redeem themselves after that performance, to show that they could compete with the big boys of Atlantian Oceania. And how did they respond? Only with an instant classic between Banija and Eshan, where the two teams could not seperate themselves at all.

This was always going to be a forward looking, attacking game. Banija always comes out and tries to take it to their opponents, even when, on paper, Banija simply doesn't have the stuff required to climb all the way back up. Eshan took the game to their opponents first. Star attacking midfielder Artemis Montanari was always going to draw first blood. He was leading the attack, and going forward, and he scored on a strike from 22 yards, to give his team a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. It was a stunning strike, in the upper right hand corner, and Eshan took yet another early lead against Banija.

It didn't take long for Eshan to strike again. Defensive Midfielder Samper Markovic, an imposing 6'1, fed the ball down the sideline to winger Magnum Cerelius, who got the ball in the corner. He was able to beat both Berihu Abeselome and captain George Wangolo on the dribble, where he passed the ball centrally towards Montanari. Montanari passed it right back to him, and he simply eased the ball into the back of the net to give his side a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute. It looked like this game, just as their group stage matchup, was getting away from Banija.

The Kadongo Kamu, though, knew that they had to dig deep. They could not simply get run off of the field twice by the same team in the same tournament- a poor taste would be in their mouths, even if making the knockout stages was an accomplishment in and of itself. This team did exactly that. Who did they turn to in this moment of crisis? Their veteran leadership. The 32 year old John Tewedros struck first, to put Banija back into the game. Wangolo headed in a corner kick, but hit the crossbar, and the ball bounced to the feet of Tewedros, who put it into the back of the net in the 42nd minute to give Eshan a 2-1 halftime lead.

Banija was not done. They wanted to go out and try to win this game. Next, they look toward their all-time leading scorer and Banijan legend, Kiggwe Mavuto. Back for one more World Cup cycle, to try and finally get this team to the World Cup Finals, the 32 year old free agent made a name for himself. When Okafor was fouled in the 54th minute, it was Mavuto who stepped up to take the free kick, and Mavuto who buried it into the back of the net, to tie the game at 2. Banija had the momentum, and the Banijan fans were in a frenzy.

Banija then stepped forward to go for the kill, to go for the win. The killer instinct from this team has grown during this tournament, and it was on full display for that short, 10 minute period. Okafor scored on a penalty in the 61st to give his team a 3-2 lead, and then he scored again on a counter-attack in the 63rd minute to give his team a 4-2 lead. Eshan looked shell shocked. The same team who finished second in the last edition of this tournament, was suddenly getting run off the field by the Kadongo Kamu.

Eshan, however, had a few tricks up their sleeve. Namely, one of the world's best players, Marco van Ciavatinni. The man is almost unstoppable, and he was too much for the Banijan backline. van Ciavatinni scored in the 72nd minute, and he added another in the 88th, to tie this game at 4. Eshan had come here on a mission, to finish what they had started in the last tournament, and they were not simply going to let a team like Banija roll over them.

They could not separate themselves after extra time, and they went to penalty kicks. Banija, of course, went first in penalty kicks. Mavuto stepped up to take the first penalty, and he skied it. Eshan then converted theirs. Okafor buried his second, while Eshan buried their second. Afolayan buried his third, while Eshan missed their third, making Kasekende guess the wrong way but hitting the post. Ansu Cisse, who was in the game for Sia Fall, buried our fourth, while Eshan made their fourth. 3-3 after 4, meaning each one was do or die. Isaac Georgiadis stepped up to make Banija's 5th penalty, and Delbin Kasekende saved Eshan's 5th penalty, to give Banija a 4-4 AET (4-3) victory over Eshan and a spot in the quarterfinals.

After the upset was clinched, it was pandemonium. Delbin Kasekende celebrated his save, while Banijans ran around wildly, celebrating their shock upset victory over a top 5 nation in Atlantian Oceania. It was a night to remember. Randolf Cherry was paraded around, men were crying. It was a massive victory for the Banijans, even as it was likely the end of the road in this tournament. The fact that it came against Eshan, too, who eliminated this team from World Cup Qualifying, and destroyed them in group play, made it that much sweeter. They are now in the quarterfinals, and the tournament is absolutely a whopping success.

Of course, there are still games to be played. Banija's next opponent is their neighbor in the Glorious Southwest, Qasden. Qasden opens as early favorites, especially as Banija seems to be emotionally spent after their celebrations beating Eshan. They will travel to the city of Everfree, and Banija will have to put up a fight against Qasden. Anything is possible, but we believe that our run in this tournament will come to an end against Qasden, and Banija will fall by a score of 3-1.

[Cosumar]

"The Wedding of Cormak Lethbridge and Gabriella Antonio" (Part 2)
Continued from here.

Cormak was yanked out of his memories by Gabriella, only a few feet away now, beginning to slip on her bridal train on the steps leading up to the marble altar. As if in slow-motion, he envisioned her falling backward, panic filling her eyes, seconds away from certain injury...

...Before he knew what he was doing, Cormak's innate protective nature sprung him into action. With a sweeping motion, he surged forward and caught his fiancee in his arms just before her back hit the stairs behind her. Not even her father beside her had had time to react! Cormak looked down at Gabriella, the back of her head cradled in his bare hand, amazed by what he had just done.

"Cor-" Gabriella whispered, looking at him through her veil with a mixture of shock and immense gratitude.

"Just a goalkeeper's instincts, m'lady," he replied with a wink, heaving her back on her feet. "Always gotta be saving things."

The audience, which had been momentarily transfixed, burst into a spattering of stunned applause at the surprising display of devotion (and reflexes).

"Now YOU know exactly how we felt every time we gave the ball away in midfield and Mr. Brigadier over here bailed us out with a save!!!" longtime Coret Hawk Alyss Montague called out, cupping her hands around her mouth for maximum volume and throwing in a few loud whistles.

The tension in the room (and Gabriella's embarrassment) melted away at Alyss' joke, and the bride-to-be flashed her friend an appreciative smile as she took her place hand-in-hand across from Cormak on the altar. Gabriella's father offered a nod of thanks and took his place behind the couple, next to best man Athanasios Nikolaidis.

Cormak looked from the figures behind him to all the supportive faces in the audience, surveying the scene one last time.

On the bride's side, under a Chromatik banner, there was Alyss and Keira Andisori, mild annoyance at her girlfriend's loud antics still etched on her face. There was Meagan Kelly and her baby, already sporting a Turori tan, asleep on her shoulder. There was Lisa Amos looking like a proud mother, Silian Parker already tearing up and Luke Aart heading a row full of Chromatika NT teammates. On the groom's side, under a Cosumarite banner, there was Cormak's former coach and mentor Corey Simmons Jr. with both Simmons Sr. and Simmons III in tow. Other old FC Kaldukosic teammates like Bennett Perkins and Tamer Yilmaz also showed up to support. Aziz Senturk, his best buddy from way back in his teenage years at the Nomad Brotherhood, was even was there to flash him a trademark toothy grin and thumbs-up. His foster parents from Kaldukosic too. All six of them. Cormak may have found new family and friends in Chromatika, but that didn't mean he had to leave behind his old ones. This wedding truly represented a beautiful unification of two long-isolated nations. Heck, even Jenny McDonald made the long trip from Schottia to lend some exotic Tyran flair, sipping a club soda in the back.

Cormak closed his eyes and seared the scene, all the faces, into his memory. All he felt was an overwhelming sense of happiness. He'd found what he'd always been searching for at last... true Home.

He and Gabriella's playing careers might be winding to a close, and for a long time he would've thought that meant his life would be all downhill from there. But now, he felt only that this was the beginning of his life. Marrying Gabriella was like being born again. Today marked the start of a new chapter. The first day of the rest of his life with her.

At last, he slowly opened his eyes and turned them back towards Gabriella. In her eyes, he saw the exact same dream. They didn't even need to say vows. Everything they needed to say was silently communicated in that moment. Whatever should happen, through storms or dark abyss, they would always find home in each other.

"I do!" Gabriella blurted out hurriedly, eliciting some good-natured laughs from the audience.

"Not just yet, dearie," a hobbled old judge chuckled as he stepped forward, comically short standing between the two athletic specimens.

The actual recitations soon began and, thirty minutes later it was official, the Chromatik and Cosumarite sides of the aisle merging together as one in celebration.

All was right with the world in Northeastern AO.


...


It was 10:31 p.m. on his wedding night and Cormak Lethbridge was sitting on a plush mint-green bed the size of a swimming pool with a bottomless basket of gourmet Crab Rangoons watching Chromatik college soccer on mute. He and Gabriella had the Deluxe Honeymoon Suite at Chromatik City's finest hotel for the night, courtesy of Marlow Edge once again. It was one of those beds that was so ridiculously soft that you literally sank into it, and the rangoons from room service were heavenly. If only someone would score in this damn Felswyr State vs. CCCU match.

Oh yeah, and if only his blushing bride hadn't crashed the INSTANT they put their bags down. Ha. She'd giggled like a little girl when she got to check in as Mrs. Cormak Lethbridge, but the day full of stresses, surprises and social pleasantries had really taken it out of her.

Cormak caressed her shoulder as it gently rose and fell with the back of his hand, dipped another rangoon in cheese with his other and popped it in his mouth. Mmm. Wedding night to remember, eh?

Suddenly, "Stand By Me", the Coret supporters' song, started playing loudly from his phone on the bedside table. Oh yeah. His new ringtone.

He grabbed it and answered quickly so as not to wake Gabriella.

"Hello?"

"Cormak! Good to hear your voice, son. It's Alexander Pearce."

"Oh!" Cormak started, casting the rangoons to the side, turning off the match and sitting up straight. "Always a pleasure to hear from you, sir."

"The pleasure is mine. I know it's after hours. But you know me, always working late. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."

"Actually, sir, it's my wedding night."

"...Shit. I completely forgot that today was the big day. My apologies once again that I wasn't able to make it. How does it feel to now be the second-best goalkeeper in your household?"

Cormak groaned internally, remembering Gabriella's emergency goalkeeping heroics against Cosumar in World Cup 75 while he sat on the bench.

"Heh. Believe me, sir, I got plenty of those taunts from all her Chromatika teammates all day."

"Wait, what are you doing answering the phone right now? Get back to your wife!"

"It's alright, sir. We can talk. Gabriella's asleep and I can't even wake her up when I try to."

"Typical. You'd be surprised how many weddings nights end up exactly like yours."

"All good with me, sir. We'll have plenty of time for romance on our honeymoon. I think she's always wanted to visit the Equestrian States. She has some fascination with the Everfree Forest."

"You might want to pick a different destination. You two can take long strolls through the Everfree Forest and whatnot while you're there for the AOCAF."

"You mean..."

"That's right. This is your call-up notice. And I want you to be my starting goalkeeper for our defense of the cup."

Cormak sat up even straighter and found himself already filling with determination for the task. If there was one thing he loved almost as much as Gabriella, it was international duty. Having been stuck behind a legend like Jakk Winterfyll his whole career, he'd learned to savor these opportunities.

"It would be an absolute honor, sir. Swearing on my mother's honor, all three of them, I will not let you nor the Fiefdom down. But what about Jakk?"

"Now when was the last time Old Man Winterfyll left his hut for anything but a World Cup? Like three cycles now?"

"Fair point. Brigadier Lethbridge at your service, then!"

"I'm glad to hear it. And congratulations on the big day. All the best to you and Gabriella.

"That means a lot to me, sir, thank you."

"See you reporting for duty in two months, Brigadier."

Cormak hung up the phone and slowly put it back on the bedside table with a satisfied sigh. Starting in goal with expectations higher than ever before for an AOCAF would be no easy task, but these were the moments he lived for.

Cormak looked over at the innocent shape of Gabriella asleep on top of the sheets beside him. He knew she would be there with a front-and-center seat to support him in one of the defining tournaments of his career. And, for the first time, it would be as his wife. As he drifted into sleep, images of sleeping Gabriella, memories of their wedding and visions of AOCAF glory blurred together in beautiful, dreamy harmony.

This truly was the best day of his life.

---

Mriin 2-4 Cosumar
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 1
Tidesson 5', Svensson 12', Tidesson 18', Targaryen 36'
Assisted by Serafino, Wolff, Valgard, Serafino
Subs: Lechjakr, Yilmaz, Royannais


Yesopalitha 3-4 Cosumar
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 2
Valgard 1', Tidesson 16', Wolff 31', Svensson 82'
Assisted by Sibučić, Sibučić, Svensson, None
Subs: Tapp, Royannais, Chisenhall


Cosumar 1-0 Soltsteed
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 3
Valgard 1'
Assisted by Sibučić
Subs: Simmons III, Tapp, Zeale-Riddick


Cosumar 3-2 Osarius
AOCAF Round of 16, Diamond Park, Stalliongrad
Na'Kale 3', Serafino 39', Serafino 71'
Assisted by Sibučić, Sibučić, Targaryen
Subs: Tapp, Royannais, Chisenhall


Tropicorp vs. Cosumar
AOCAF Quarterfinals, Apple Orchard Park, Appleoosa

Goal-Scorers Tally (12 GF)
Bryger Tidesson (3)
Peter Svensson (2)
Romikk Valgard (2)
Bellerophon Serafino (2)
Ragnar Targaryen (1)
Kurt Wolff (1)
Bacary Na'Kale (1)

Assists Tally
Isla Sibučić (5)
Bellerophon Serafino (2)
Kurt Wolff (1)
Romikk Valgard (1)
Peter Svensson (1)
Ragnar Targaryen (1)

Reserves Appearances Tally
Warren Royannais (3)
Denton Tapp (3)
Mortimer Chisenhall (2)
Berk Lechjakr (1)
Tamer Yilmaz (1)
Corey Simmons III (1)
Vega Zeale-Riddick (1)

[Chromatika]

Moments of the Off-season
4. Benjamin Nyao

"Final boarding call for Flight Z594 nonstop to Ramusok," came the voice from the loudspeaker.

As the stewards and stewardesses started to close up the boarding gate, a well-dressed man in his early fifties, just a touch of graying in his hair and trimmed beard, came sprinting toward them, wildly waving with a passport in one hand and a ticket on the other. This was one Benjamin Nyao, once proud manager of the Deprí Lanar Red Hawks.

"Sorry, got held up in f'cking bloody traffic. Here's the ticket and the passport, don't leave without me!" stammered Nyao, slamming both items on the kiosk. The stewards managed to calm him down, process his information, and waive him through.

As he sat down in First Class - the Nepharim Premiership did know how to take care of its own - and the plane started to taxi for departure, he looked back at the last month of his life.

The most recent season had started out well enough - but didn't they always? With the signing of Jovanović and Roberts, the Red Hawks had thought they had found the perfect complements to Ariane Gallagher. They had been third after eleven games, sixth after seventeen. Then, though, the team had fallen to ninth... And in the Premier Division 2, they had even fallen lower... And eventually gotten themselves relegated.

Everyone had left. Ariane Gallagher to Marque, Iwan Roberts to Makosile United, Vojnomir Jovanović to Hellenic Rouge. And he had gotten the ax. Of course, he had expected it - even if he had led this team to unprecedented heights, it was customary for a Manager to go down with his ship. He wasn't bitter or angry. Just disappointed.

A day ago, though, Parrhesia United called, and he of all people became the second Chromatik Manager of the Nepharim Premiership behind Lisa Amos at Starling.

Parrhesia was in a rough shape - after they lost Chromatik winger Jazmin Dragana to Brinemouth, the team had finished a dismal nineteenth. It would be a hell of a job just to keep the team from sinking altogether. He thought, though, that with his personality and drive, he would do all right. At least well enough to make Parrhesia's interest in him justified.

Well, his Mom and his charges had always said that he had enough self-confidence for everyone. Now it was time to see if that was justified.

Cursing the fact that Chromatika still lacked direct flights to anywhere but Quebec and Cosumar, he settled in for the long journey ahead...

---

Starblaydia 0-2 Chromatika
Chromatika: Niro '22, Andisori '59
AOCAF Round of Sixteen
Lineup: Ria; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Sybill - Montague - Dragana; Victoriane - Andisori - Niro. Subs: Damjana -> Ellen '59, Stef -> Aart '72, Gail -> Andisori 84

Righting the ship, Mia Ria was able to contain the Starblaydii and two timely strikes from Andisori and Niro ended up being the difference.

Next up? Oh, just the hosts.

[Farfadillis]

The Kamikaze
A site dedicated to Farf football

National Team Section

AOCAF Cup Performance Review
submitted two months ago

The AOCAF Cup has always been a generous competition for Farfadillis. While we had notoriously struggled to get past the quarterfinals of the World Cup until its 77th edition, by that point we'd already won our two regional titles. How ironic, then, that we seem to have had a downturn in form in the competition just as we've managed to become one of the best teams in the Multiverse. It is true that we reached the final two editions ago, but that was relying on a lot of luck and a sense of Rulandese nationalist pride that can't really be reproduced. Other than that edition, we've been fairly average ever since winning AOCAF Cup 48.

... and that doesn't seem to be about to change, if I'm completely honest. Yes, we are in the quarterfinals, and that's reasonably good, but we've not been performing at our best. It's true that the team has changed quite a bit since World Cup 79, especially because two of its most important players in Monrazón and Jevdjevic-Hadsic retired from international football. Tíbürçìó has also decided to bench Trejo Maes in a bid to give Ezequiel Marchiondo some international experience. Ezequiel's got insane potential, but rushing him like this perhaps hasn't been the gaffer's sharpest decision. Anyway, let's recap:

Farfadillis   3-5      Valanora
Êns                  15'   10'                 Hawk
Êns                  20'   28'             va Drake
Meier                70'   31'                 Hawk
                           62'               Fresco
                           78'             va Drake

If you want to summarize how much our form has dwindled, just look at this match. Matches between Farfadillis and Valanora might very well be the most anticipated international matches of this era. They end up being goal fests almost every time. But still, entertaining as it was, this match gave us very good reasons to worry. Just one year ago, Çíânflöné tore apart Valanora's defense as we put six past them. The final 6-3 scoreline did end up being a bit too flattering, but we had clearly been the better team. Roles were completely reversed this time around. An early Êns brace gave us a short-lived lead that we failed to maintain. At the end of the day, the hero quarter proved too much for us once again. The team did not show its usual offensive dominance, with Sasca and, more worryingly, Wínrôuge seeming almost invisible.

Farfadillis   5-4   Aji No Moto
Êns                  21'   11'           Shigemitsu
Sasca                30'   40'           Shigemitsu
Sasca                34'   50'              Kikkawa
Êns                  60'   88'           Shigemitsu
Çíânflöné            75'                           

We may have won our second match, but it was a bit of a close shave. We should be beating teams like Aji No Moto more comfortably, especially if our chances of making it out of the group rely on it, like this time around. Fortunately, Groaré came back to life for this game and showed Tíbürçìó that Jevdjevic-Hadsic's retirement shouldn't worry him too much. He assisted all three of the ther goals. Overall, a truly inspired performance. Let's hope he can play similarly well against Valanora this time around...

The most worrying part about this match was our defense, though. Marchiondo, Básá and Söh all made mistakes that lead to goals. They were also very disorganized. Shigemitsu's not a world class striker or anything, but he completely tore us apart anyway. The harsh truth that we Farves should face is that our brand of offensive football will continue to kill our chances to achieve great things if we choose to identify with it to the point of neglecting defense.

Ko-oren       2-3   Farfadillis
Wouters              22'   44'             Wínrôuge
Beaulieu             81'   55'             Eleonóra
                           73'           Nonhagatte

Another must-win that we won, but also another must-win that we could've lost. To be fair, Ko-oren have always proved very tough for us. However, the difference in quality is bigger nowadays than it used to be. Wouters made the most of another Süns Söh mistake - what is happening to him? - and gave us all a bit of a scare. Thankfully, Fôrté finally showed up for this game, scoring a solo goal as the first half was coming to an end, then assisting Eleonóra and Nonhagatte for their goals. The Eura-based winger also had a very good game, which was a huge relief. He certainly hadn't looked one bit like the current best player in the Euran league.

95X           1-2   Farfadillis
Riverforest          84'   30'                 Básá
                           52'            Çíânflöné

Finally, our round of sixteen game proved a big challenge, perhaps more understandably. We also beat them by just one goal in the World Cup. This time around, both defenses were more solid... or perhaps both attacks were less inspired. Still, at the end of the day, we came out on top, which is the most important thing. Mârtín Básá scored his first international goal after a great collective play that reminded us that this team really can play some good football. In the second half, the explosive Wínrôuge-Çíânflöné cousins combined in a moment of magic to put us two ahead. Riverforest scored a header when the match was about to come to an end. We really suffered the last few minutes. However, we were probably the better team at the end of the day. If we continue to get better, we might beat the Vanorians in the upcoming rematch.

The Vanorians are the favorites, obviously, but you can't really count us out. Both teams are of very similar quality, with the Vanorians having their better form going for them. However, if this team's best version shows up tomorrow, I think not only that we could win, but that we should win. If we crash out, we will at least have gone out against one of the best teams in the region, I guess. Nowadays, for better or worse, that's very little consolation, though.

[Valanora]

"Some are starting to call this match a rivalry you know, between the Farves and ourselves with the amount of times that we have played one another in the last decade and the Farves getting a few fair amount of results to contend with Vanorian dominance. Last month with that ugly showing in the Finals, they showed their strength, but then our own Marauders bared their teeth and took a bite out of that inflating ego of theirs in the first match of the group stage. Now here we are set to do battle once more in the Quarterfinals, with the winner of the match having one of the easiest paths to the Final itself in recent memory, with the winner of Qasden and Banija being the prize for winning this match of two offensive juggernauts."

"Çíânflöné is the heart of that team, even if the Farf media would have you believe otherwise, when the United striker is in form and getting service, the Farves play as if they one of the best teams in the world, and truly they are these days. Everyone in Raynor City appreciates and knows just how good Çíânflöné really is, with the lad having been playing in the capital for over a year now and have brought the Rockers back to prominent contention in the ICCs despite the dip of form of the Premiership as a whole. Though it really should be no surprise, he was bred of good stock as far as Farves go I have been told, with his father and cousin both good in the game as well, then the cultivation at one of the world's premier clubs, it was only natural that he would become one of the most dominant strikers of the day when he is on his game. While the defense was able to manage him two weeks ago at the start of the tournament, we all saw haw he blitzed through the defense last month in the Finals and the ability to control the press of his attack will be of the utmost importance if the Marauders wish to thrust themselves into the semifinals."

"It is an awfully good showing for the Southwest as a whole though, with their guranteed to be two members of the subregion in the Semifinals thanks to the draw, with either ourselves or Farfadillis, while Qasden and Banija ensure the other spot. There in fact may be three teams from the subregion in the Semifinals if the hosts themselves can overcome a Chromtika side that had severe trouble with just the likes of the Euran Overseas Territories, who do not even have the access to their homelands best footballers, which would have otherwise made face for the struggle that they Chromtiks had against what is supposed to have been lesser competition. Still, they did manage to defeat Starblaydia, and though the Purple Peril may yet not be the world power that they once were when they were RAWRCRUSHing through tournaments to earn those five stars blazened across their crest, any defeat of the Starblaydi has to be earned and hard fought, and for that you have to give Chromtika a little bit of respect. It would be a great feat tough to have three of the final four be from our subregion and finally get all the boasting from Calania and the Northeast to quiet down for a bit."

"It would be quite a feat but I think that little blip against the EOT was just the Chromatiks taking their foot off the gas a little too early and was a good wake up call for one of the best teams both in the region and the world, though you can say that about a lot of the teams in the tournament. So many of the best teams in the world make their home here in Atlantian Oceania, it is one of the reason why one of the popular monikers of the region is that it is The Region of Champions, with the region as a whole boasting the most World Cup titles by far compared to any of the other sporting regions across the footballing landscape. Some may argue that winning the AOCAF or winning the AOCL is in fact a more difficult task than winning the greater inclusive tournaments of the same make, given the level of exceptional play that has been engrained into the tradition of the region. You can't go more than two miles in any nation without running into an elite sportman or sportswoman of some sort, it is a proud tradition for this region to be constantly striving for and achieving success."

"Which all comes down to legacies and histories, which will be on the line in this Quarterfinal tie. Çíânflöné is no longer a young lad and there is no telling just how much time that he might still have with the Farf national team, it is now or never for the striker to cement his own legacy and winning another match against the Marauders and helping propel Farfadillis to a potential Final would definitely be something of note. However, the Marauders are looking to craft a new identity, even if the hero quartet is still the driving force behind the squad, and all the new faces and factors in the national team are looking to make their marks, to show that they can live up to the legacy that the elves that were their forebears and standards. Valanora is synonymous with excellence across much of the sporting world and the question is will it remain that way with the elves gone and the humans and other humanoids now having to fill the gaps left behind. Winning one over a rival and getting themselves to a position where another title would be quite within reach would be that starting step to erase the doubt and instead instill great confidence that all that was Valanora did not leave with the elves."

[Qasden]

Eel-Cats Stunned; Qads Push to New Heights

---

CLOUDSDALE, EQUESTRIAN STATES
by Huron B

---

Dear sweet mama cheese nips, we actually did it!

Following a dramatic matchup in Manechester, resulting in the Qads nudging through to the knock-outs, the Vans were thrown into a pot in order to be seeded into a bracket. With only 4 points, we weren't too shocked to be placed 14th, or last among the runner-ups. With such a seed, the Blue-Reds were bound to play one of the tournament's 5 undefeated teams right away. So, with the brackets in favor of playing the 3rd seed, we were matched up against none other that the gosh darn Eel-Cat Things.

As many of y'all already know, the Vilita & Turori National Team had previously dominated the field in Group G via a clean 3 wins. With initial victories over Demot and Qasden, the turquoise and brown squad finished off their amazing run with a powerful 7-2 victory over the group newbies, Nuovo Serone. So it's safe to say that, well, we tried, and many people seemed to be ok with that.

Apart from Coach Merritt, apparently.

Continuing into our match in Cloudsdale, the prospects of the game seemed imminently towards Vilitan Victory. Yet somehow, the match was much closer than anyone could imagine. First and most importantly, the match at Sky-High Coliseum was an absolute goalfest. Even as one side pulled ahead, the other side seemed to retaliate with even more power. Goals from Foster, Bostun, and Xandreas gave the Vans an epic total of 4 points by the end of regulation, matching perfectly with the opposition's score. As we entered extra time, the weight of all the finger nails bitten off of nervous fans began to fuel our team to an extent, allowing Foster to assist off a cross bar hit by Icarus Darsten to score the golden goal of the match, sealing our first ever knockout win in the AOCAF tournament.

The streets of T.V. City went absolutely wild in comparison to its silence only 120 minutes prior to the final whistle. Streets were flooded with booze and confetti, more love was made than anyone after Qasden's 2nd Cup of Harmony title, and even the Prince himself managed to throw a fit of excitement. With such a victory, the Qads were able to pick off the second-ranked team in all of the region, opening a gash for others to potentially take the title (or ease it for Valanora, to say the least). For once, the Vans are able to access the quarter finals of the tournament, where they will face another mysterious foe...Banija.

The Kingdom of Banija has made a presence in the region after successfully becoming the latest member of the Glorious Southwest. Like TQ, the Banijan squad clinched their way into the knockouts, finishing only 3 seeds above us. In the Round of 16, they were paired with the reigning regional runner-ups, Eshan, making them an obvious underdog. Despite this, the Kadongo Kamu were able to take the Echani team to penalties after ending regulation with a goalfest similar to ours before clinching the W in penalties, suppressing a potential beast in the games.

So what does this match mean for Qasden? Well, by taking a look at the bracket, the remaining 4 teams on our half of the tournament all happen to derive from the Glorious Southwest, an interesting yet unsurprising aesthetic. The winner of the Banija-Qasden match up will take on the winner of Valanora and Farfadillis for a spot in the AOCAF Finals, one of the most coveted positions in multiversal football.

Can Qasden defeat Banija for a chance to reach the AOCAF semi-finals? Or will the Vans be knocked away from the dreams in Everfree? All that and more are to come later, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for our postgame report, live from the horseshoe factories of the Equestrian States!

[Equestrian States]

Wither's Brace Sends Ponies to Quarterfinals
by Steve McNotapony

Equestrian States 2-1 Mriin
at Royal Equestria Stadium in Canterlot, Equestrian States
Attendance: 102,419
Scoring:
Solara Vol '13 (M. Polandre)
Wither '57 (Rainbow Blitz)
Wither '75 (B. Hamilton)

CANTERLOT - The 55th AOCAF Cup has been a break-out tournament for Equestrian striker Pristina Shine, as the unicorn forward looks to prove her talents merit the title of 'world-class', scoring seven goals in the Ponies' first three games. However, the Equestrian States boasts more than one talented striker, and last night it was Wither's turn in the spotlight as the thestral lifted the Equestrians past Mriin and into the quarterfinals against Chromatika.

After falling behind early for the second consecutive match thanks to a wonderful strike from Solara Vol, the Ponies seemed to be in trouble as the Mriinians typically had Pristina Shine covered by at least two defenders. Fortunately, this opened up opportunities for the Equestrians' other attackers, and in the second half Wither made the Satyrs pay, equalizing in the 57th minute after Rainbow Blitz threaded a perfect through ball and was buried in the back of the net. Eighteen minutes later, Brix Hamilton put a cross into the box and Wither rose above everypony else to give the Ponies the lead and send Royal Equestria Stadium into a frenzy.

Next up for the Equestrian States is Chromatika, the 7th-ranked team in the multiverse and the 3rd-ranked team in Atlantian Oceania. The Ponies will doubtlessly be massive underdogs in this match despite boasting home-field advantage and will have to put together an excellent performance if they're to have any chance of reaching the semifinals.

[Starblaydia]

World Cup 78 Part One: Takeaway | Two: Duchess | Three: Fidget | Four: Torque | Five: Omen | Six: Leap | Seven: Screams | Eight: Iota | Nine: Death | Ten: Wrong | Eleven: Happy | Twelve: Together | Thirteen: Sweat | Fourteen: Taken | Di Bradini Cup 41 Part Fifteen: Stunned | World Cup 79 Part Sixteen: Fame | Seventeen: Weird | Eighteen: Sheep | Nineteen: Grave | Twenty: Gather | AOCAF Cup 55 Part Twenty-One Device

He stepped into his old house, flooded with the sights, sounds, smells and emotions of so many years before. There's something that happens in your soul when you come home, something deep inside your inner core that is instantly at peace when surrounded by the familiar. You instinctively know the distances between furniture, the sound your steps will make, how your voice will echo through a certain space, and how it simply feels to be in this place, without needing to experience it.

Simeone Di Bradini hadn't been back to his old house in the leafy suburbs of Jhanna for thirty or forty years - or was it more? He couldn't remember. Everything was clean, everything was neat, he'd always ensured that, so it would be as fresh as the day he'd left it. It didn't look lived in, of course. It had barely looked lived in even before he'd been 'reborn' as a construct of the Dreamed Realm. Back then, some two centuries before, his schedule as Starblaydia's most famous footballer had rarely left him in his home, especially his with his extended excursions abroad to the likes of The Belmore Family and Vilita. By modern standards it was garishly vintage - gaudy and tasteless to the point of ridicule, but Simeone was still attuned to two hundred and fifty year old fashions, and besides, it was his house.

As his steps echoed on the floor as he walked down the corridor, past the kitchen and into his lounge, where the thick, dark curtains that kept the room in inky blackness automatically swung wide open, bathing the room in the cold blue light of the morning from the floor to ceiling windows. He stood and looked out of the window, seeing how the view had changed, how the trees had grown and the buildings developed. He considered sitting down in the chair, like it was some sort of old habit, but decided that was a silly idea. He'd never had that habit in the first place, and he'd only sit there for five or six seconds before getting up and doing something else. Instead, almost instinctively, he went to turn on the tv. The huge wide black mirror on the wall dominated the room, as it was supposed to in order to fill his lounge with the highest quality in football audio and visuals, whether real or via whatever the latest video game was.

He reached over for the remote - voice commands were a little too reminiscent of the far flung future of science fiction he'd experienced a couple of times - but stopped. Underneath the sleek, black remote control was a folded piece of paper. It was lined, ripped out from a journal or notepad, and the fold was way off, like it had been done in a hurry and not attempted to be fixed. He picked up the remote, thought about hitting the power button, but instead picked up the paper. He placed the remote back down on the side table exactly where it had been left, and opened the paper.

Simeone,

I know that to anyone else this would be weird, but your and my definitions of weird are on a whole other scale, so please hear me out.

The first and only time we met was at a draw for the World Cup. You shook my hand, and something weird happened - it gave me a vision. This was not the weird thing, as I have visions all the time, and they always come true (it's why I was so good at being a goalkeeper; I knew what was going to happen before it happened, most of the time).

This vision was strange. It was you and me fighting evil. There was gold involved, and loud music, and lots of other visions came to me at the same time, which never happened before or since. And I was young in the vision, in my prime. Now I'm old, and I can't be the person I was in that vision. And so it didn't come true. Which never happens.

You're reading this now. I know this part will be true, whenever 'now' is because you always look the same, but I've seen you read it. To find the evil you need to open your computer and find the good. I don't know what you see, or what it means, but the evil is right there, next to you and the good. I don't know what you'll see, but you'll know when you see it.

Gather that team. You'll know what to do, I'm sure of it.

Lucas Cable

Simeone did find the letter strange, it was true, but then again strange is a relative term for him. A goalkeeper who had visions? All in a day's work when life in the Dreamed Realm was the norm. But a Mundy keeper who had a vision of him fighting evil, now that was different, and interesting, and definitely strange. So Simeone went over to his computer, one that would again be a relic by modern standards, but then again so was he, and turned it on. As it booted up quietly, he wondered what the message was pointing to, 'the evil is right there, next to you and the good'. So his first thought would be to find himself.

He searched. And searched. And searched. Nothing obvious came up, nothing caught his eye particularly, and nothing was there spelling 'Evil' at him in big red blinking letters. Maybe the internet wasn't the answer? Simeone figured it might be something actually on his computer, so he searched some more, but this time amongst his own files.

At some point in his past, he'd decided that he should try keep a record of all his public appearances and what goes out into the media. It was his own little vanity project, full of magazine covers, article snippets and paparazzi shots that got released into the world. He clicked on the folders, browsed the images, and took himself down memory lane. Back to the time when he wore white and purple, wore red for his club team, before there were any more than two Di Bradinis - him and his younger brother Robb, now dead some hundred and fifty years and more - back to when Tiberius Starblayde ruled the land. Now there was a good man, a benevolent ruler who put Starblaydia where it belonged in the world, put it among the top tier of nations in the world, into the one percent. He lingered on the photos of him with Tiberius Starblayde. For a long time it had seemed that they'd been the public face of the nation, the two most famous faces in their fields. Tiberius, as Lord-Protector, dominated the political sphere of Atlantian Oceania, while Simeone came to represent Starblaydia as it climbed the world rankings, even if he had been slowing down and not playing any more for his country. They could all still name him. He'd never stopped being famous, but now Tiberius was long gone and there was Korra Starblayde.

Korra Starblayde.

Korra Fucking Starblayde. Right there.

He zoomed in. 'Lord-Protector Tiberius Starblayde and his council with national team player Simeone Di Bradini before the national team travels to play in the 18th World Cup Finals,' said the caption. Includes UN Ambassador Mackey, and Director of the Inquisition, Lady Viannor.

But that was Korra Starblayde. Same face, same smile, same hair, same build. How could they be the same? Simeone needed to call Ázëwyn.

[Equestrian States]

AOCAF Cup LV
Quarterfinals Results

Equestrian States 0–3 Chromatika
(Scorinated by Quebec)

Tropicorp 2–4 Cosumar

Valanora 2–0 Farfadillis

Qasden 3–2 Banija

---

Quarterfinal Matchups

Chromatika vs. Cosumar
at Elements Stadium (cap. 48,750) in Ponyville

Valanora vs. Qasden
at Sky-High Coliseum (cap. 65,000) in Cloudsdale

[Chromatika]

Moments of the Off-season
5. Valence Ilya

It was a breezy day in Ramusok when Valence Ilya met Sandra Sybill at Forest of Lamneth. The sun was peeking through the clouds, but there was nary a bird due to the cutting wind. There she stood, in a hoodie and sweatpants looking like a passerby; her figure always seemed appealing to him, though, reminding him of how much of a boyhood crush he had had on her when he was a teenager. Now, they were good friends, if that was the correct term. She was more of an older sister and mentor to him, and they were acutely fond of each other in a way that surpassed words. He was glad that the relationship had turned out this way; knowing Sandra now, he'd have had no chance if he'd pursued her romantically. Not with her personality, her ambition, and her goals.

It was days like this when he was absolutely glad that he had left Chromatika years ago to pursue a career in Cosumar. AC Holmenkollen was a bit of a stretch in the Harlighet Ligen - the club was a bit too small to actually contend, but a bit too good to stay for too many years in the Sekundar Ligen - but it'd been his toe in the water. He hadn't been the greatest abroad in the Project +90 youth leagues; it had been a minor miracle that he was able to play in Cosumar at all. AC Holmenkollen had taken a risk on him, and he had repaid them with two solid seasons - though the team hadn't been able to stay afloat, and was now facing a year in the Sekundar Ligen.

Sandra had been with him, every step of the way. Whether it be facing him on the pitch twice per season as part of Real Azuris or talking with him on the phone, offering him encouragement whenever he needed it, she had been more present in his life than his cousin, Severin, ever could. Partially, Ceni was too far away, and partially, he and Severin were too alike. Both right backs of stature, both strongly opinionated. The major difference lay in that he preferred to keep it inside and let his actions do the talking for him while his cousin was bit more of a talker. No, Sandra was better. They were both in Cosumar, and although she was on an island for most of the time during the season, they had moments when they could meet, like this.

A look of annoyance flashed across Sandra's face as Valence stood, thinking. Sometimes, the kid thought too much.

"What's eating you?" she asked him, prodding.

"When you decided to stay with Azuris, what was the defining factor?" he inquired. She looked at him quizzically. He had been one of the first she'd told when she decided to remain at Real Azuris despite their below-average season. In fact, he had helped her make that decision by talking through it - or really, just listening to her rant until she had come to a conclusion herself. It wouldn't make any sense for him to recount that, unless...

She'd heard rumors, of course. Perhaps they were true?

"Varezzi sold me that I still had a place in the plan for the Azuris' future, and that she couldn't think of anyone else to fit the job. Besides, Andrew and Bryger are like younger brothers to me. I couldn't leave them with at least one more try at returning to glory. What's eating you, 'Lence?" she asked back.

"Oh, it's just... I got a call from Theresa Riether the other day..." Valence started before Sandra interrupted him.

"So it is true! That's great! Eastweald is a tough nut to crack, but you'd do really well there! What's she ask?" Sandra blurted. He raised a hand for her to take a breath and let him continue.

"She said that she thought I would fit the Wood Elves well. Sorenson is getting a bit old, and they want insurance for the future. They didn't like that the title returned to the 'Weald, but to the wrong squad, you know? I'd play off the bench for a year, and then probably take over the starting role," he answered.

She chuckled at that. Besides Azuris' gaffe and Cassandra City FC doing rather well (bless Ki's heart), and the fact that Jillian finally got her good season in Pelethas, the story of the season had been the two clubs from the 'Weald battling it out to the end. Mallox had won it, to the surprise of many. It was a sore point for Eastweald fans.

"Yeah, if you were to go to Eastweald, that'd be something to strive after. Get after Mallox. Man, what a steal you must be for Reither. I bet they're dying for you to say yes. What do you think Lotuda will say?" answered Sybill.

"Not the type to hold an aspiring player back. She knows that I can't stay here during the formative years of my career. Do you think I should do it?" was his reply.

She patted him on the back. Such young age to face such pressure. But then, football was all about pressure. And how you were either killed by it, or molded into a fine weapon. She thought of Erika Morningstar and Severin Ilya, about how they, like her, were in their thirties. They would need new faces and youth soon. Valence had already shown from limited appearances that he had the skills, they just had to be nurtured. She knew that Eastweald would be the right place for it, even if it meant she would have to face him with even tougher opposition.

"Absolutely," she replied, her face adamant, "Love it for you. Hate it for my team. Love it even more for Chromatika."

He turned and gave her a quick hug before picking up his phone.

He was, for all means and purposes, headed to Eastweald. He would miss Holmenkollen - the small city underdog atmosphere, the peace and quiet that let him contemplate life's comings and goings. He understood why many pundits in Cosumarite football called Holmenkollen a great place to start for a defender. However, it was time to move on, to grow, to test himself further.

He pressed the "call back" key to Riether's number. It rang three times, and then a female Nepharim voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Ms. Riether. It's Ilya. I've come to a decision."

---

Equestrian States 0-3 Chromatika
Chromatika: Kelly '14, Andisori '62, Victoriane '88
AOCAF Quarterfinals
Lineup: Ria; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Sybill - Montague - Dragana; Victoriane - Andisori - Niro. Subs: Damjana -> Ellen '48, Thorben -> Kelly '72, Gail -> Andisori '81

In front of thousands of fans cheering for their home team, the Chromatiks were ruthless in their dismantling of the Ponies as particularly the midfield showed up to play, leading to a three-nil victory. It's no secret that the typical way to beat the Ponies is to come out of the gate early and overwhelm them. Chromatika did that in the first fifteen minutes, leading to Meagan Kelly's dipping midrange shot that caught out Gentle Breeze in the fourteenth.

What sets Chromatika apart from most teams in the world, though, is the speed and finesse that the players possess. Sure, they might not be the tallest nor the biggest, but if there's a squad of humans that can contend with four-legged ponies for the full ninety, it might be Chromatika.

Keira Andisori continued her stellar tournament with a short rebound shot, and then Kaytlyn Victoriane put the game away when the Ponies were all-out attacking at the end.

The result, coupled with Cosumar's 4-2 dispatching of Tropicorp, sets up yet another matchup between the Chromatiks and the Cosumarites. Besides both being situated in Northeast Atlantian Oceania, the two nations have met in numerous big matchups over the years, the latest of which was a Cosumarite win en route to Cosumar's first AOCAF victory. Although the matchup has gotten spicier with Gabriella Antonio and Cormak Lethbridge's marriage, Chromatika will look to enact revenge and continue on with one of the foremost rivalries in not just AO but the world.

Parker is expected to stay in the Chromatik 3-4-3, though there is speculation that he may switch to the 3-5-2 if needed to break through the back four of the Cosumarites. Inserting Hellion for Niro and having Victoriane and Andisori play as true strikers with Dragana and Kelly in the wings has worked in the past. If the squad has a rough time with the back seven of Cosumar, that formation may be called into action.

The other semifinal sees a young Qad team try to become the latest to overcome the regional giant that is Valanora. The Vanorians seem to be neigh unstoppable, having defeated their budding rivals, the Farves, twice in this tournament. An upset win by Qasden would help the winner of Cosumar-Chromatika have a much easier time in the Championship, but that is not expected.

Which NE AO nation will prevail? Which nation of the Great Southwest will meet them?

[Valanora]

Valanora Times
Taming The Cats

Boy, for a match that was anticipated to produce goals galore, that the matchup between the Marauders and Farves came out with just a pair of goals is surprising to say the least, especially after the previous two matchups between the two squads having at least five goals scored in the game. All the same, it is a victory that has been hard fought and won for for those in the Eternal Empire, though knocking out another member of the Southwest is not something that the Marauders will be quite happy about. Though that will be the task to do once more in the Semifinals, with Valanora facing off against the surprise semifinalists of Qasden, after they narrowly avoided the upset bug by Banija in their own quarterfinal tie. Unfortunately the Southwest's magic can only go so far, with the hosts failing to record a goal, much less take the Chromatiks to the task, and so instead it will be a matchup of quite stout teams in the other semifinal, and whoever does emerge from the Cosumar-Chromatika tie will have to feel like they have earned their place in the Final and might even be the favorite for the Final itself.

For the Marauders, it was a great start to their match against their would be rivals in Farfadillis, with Ilglerdiriel Lithvathar scoring in the first minute, after the Marauders had taken the kick off, with va Drake and Hawk quickly advancing the ball forward. The winger would then find the other winger rushing in from her half of the field on the backpost with a pinpoint cross and all Lithvathar had to do was chest it down and one touch it in the waiting net to the explosion of applause from the large amount of traveling fans that the Marauders had brought, with the Equestrian States being just a short ferry trip away from Coral Bay or Ibini, as the nation is just to the northwest of mainland Arrosia. A very convenient local for the amount of Vanorians who would want to go watch the new Marauders side in the person, who would otherwise not really have a chance at getting tickets to one of the normal national team matches that are played in Capri at the Hatire Memorial.

Faeron Soldarian seemed to be particularly geared up for this match with the Farves and was constantly falling back to try and keep Çíânflöné from finding his feet in the match, while the the defenders were making sure to keep the other Farf attackers at bay. Perla Sierra showed why she was given the captaincy at the Hammers with the way she was able to very effectively put the Farves out of position and out of possession with what seemed like ease. There were at times where you felt like you were watching a team that knew that all the eyes of an entire empire where upon it, that they very ideas that made up that empire seemed to be riding on the fortunes of the team on this foreign soil. This hodgepodge of dual nationals, mercenaries, former fringe players, and the hero quartet seemed to be the perfect representation of Valanora as it is right now, a group of people of all sorts that have come from a variety of different backgrounds, upbringings, and even talent levels, yet all together coming forward as one to move into whatever might yet be on the horizon. The midfield was entirely dominated by the Vanorian skill, the Farf attack brushed aside, and the Vanorian attack dangerous at times, until Fresco finally got the insurance goal in the seventy-fourth minute to ice the game with the way the rest of the side was playing.

Now comes the challenge of Qasden and what the Cats might have to bring, as they are facing down a pair of historic markers for themselves, the chance for their first AOCAF Final, as well as their first ever result against the Marauders. Relatively still new to the arena that is international football, in fact making their debut into that ring in one of the AOCAFs that was hosted in the Eternal Empire, Qasden have quickly risen to something of a decent power in the region and even in the international game. That power has not come without stumble and like many teams that have come up against the Vanorians across the decades, have failed to find a streak of success against our side, but oh what a time it would be for them to finally leap that hurdle given all that has transpired in Valanora over the last two years. Yet if the power of the Farves was not enough to overcome this group of players, then I am not sure that the Cats have it in them, especially with the fortitude and will that the squad seems to be exuding as a whole right now, with all the hopes and dreams of an Eternal Empire still resting upon them. That hope has not been let down yet, I believe it will continue to be held up, if naught through the sheer will of one Laborious Hawk alone.

[Qasden]

Qasden Slips by Banija; Climbs to Semis

---

EVERFREE, EQUESTRIAN STATES
by Dexter C

---

And we all thought #TheTimeIsMeow was awesome, now look at us.

Not too long ago, 32 Qasdonian players, accompanied by staff and the media, were shipped of to the Equestrian States to compete in their 5th AOCAF tournament, the oldest regional championship in the existence of the multiverse. Joined by Vilita & Turori, Nuovo Serone, and Demot in Group G, TQ was able to escape the initial stages busted and bruised going into the knockouts. Without much time to breathe, our boys and girl were put into intense training quickly to prepare for an epic rematch against the Eel-Cat Things. After one thriller of a regulation, the Vans were forced into extra time, a period that saw our Onyx Foster squeak in the golden goal that picked off one of the strongest teams in the competition.

Following one of the most celebrated victories in QAFA history, the Vans traveled to Everfree to take on another dark horse in the competition, Banija. Now, the Banijans are a team that has existed much longer than the Qads in every field apart from AOCAF, where they started in Tropicorp. The Kadongo Kamu didn't catch much of Qad viewers' attention until the Round of 16, where the green and orange nudged past the previous runner-ups, Eshan. While some were slightly concerned about the new adversary, the wave of post-VilTur nationalism still surged through much of the population, suppressing any doubts that the Vans will triumph.

Going into the match at Wild Grounds, Jon Merritt and Zachary Sols studied the playing field that was live in front of them in order to break the Banijan code of strategy. Kiggwe Mavuto, a strong ace for the opponent squad, shined brightly in the first half, scoring twice as many goals as the Qads' Jerry Bostun. In the second half, the excellent keepermanship of Macron Abbott, combined with the productive offense kept the Blue-Reds in the fighting spirit. Around 60 minutes in, Mr. Xandreas got involved on the scoreboard by giving the Qads the tying point, and a goal by Owais Lumiere 7 minutes later ultimately sealed the deal for the Qads to progress.

Fans back in Qasden and abroad were overwhelmed with the belief that the Vans had reached the Semi-Finals of Atlantian Oceania's greatest sporting show. Heck, even a few trees were burned in the celebration riots. As the flag was moved one more step on the Hopesman Bracket in Anmy Square, the overjoyous feeling immediately turned ominous at the sight of their next opponent, Valanora.

Now, let's face the facts for a sec here. The Qasden Vans and Valanora Marauders have had a one-sided past, with pretty much every encounter resulting in Vanorian victory, no matter the sport. One of the most winning associations in the WC and AO, the Eternal Kingdom stormed through the infant stages of AOCAF LV in tremendous force, finishing with an undefeated record and a matchup against Tomikosan. Destroying them with ease, Valanora then proceeded to take on a regional rival, Farfadillis, in which they also destroyed.

Which brings us back to Cloudsdale.

Should the Qads win magically, they will travel to Canterlot(?) to take on the winner of Chromatika/Cosumar in the AOCAF LV championship. A loss, while heartbreaking, will still take them to the AOCAF LV 3rd Place Playoff. So can the Vans upset the Marauders in one of the most historical tournaments yet? Or will they succumb to their skills just before the title? All that and more is to be found out, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for our postgame report of the AOCAF LV Semi-Final in Cloudsdale!

[Cosumar]

Cosumar romp Tropicorp to set up high-stakes Chromatika rematch
Lethbridge: simultaneous honeymoon with ex-Chromatik star Antonio "not a distraction"

A year after winning Cosumar's first AOCAF, Alexander Pearce continues to raise the bar for the program in regional competition.

The run two years ago was magical - full of luck, dramatic finishes and plucky grit - but many of the matches were far from what you would call "complete performances". Remember the Demot loss and the Iskandervale scare? Here in AOCAF LV, the Vanquishers have looked much more convincing in the role of ascending regional powers. By coming alive in the second half to dispatch Tropicorp 4-2 last night, the Vanquishers extended their perfect record in the tournament and consolidated the Fiefdom's second consecutive (and just second-ever) trip to the AOCAF semifinals.

Ragnar Targaryen put the Cosumarites ahead early in the first half, running onto a nice ball down the line from right back Tevreness Bale before finishing from a narrow angle in the box. The Dragonshirts were playing good stuff at a brisk pace at Apple Orchard Park, looking assured of victory with Bellerophon Serafino and Romikk Valgard twice going close early on and Cormak Lethbridge in goal every bit as much of a spectator as Gabriella Antonio (bizarrely also sighted in a Dragonshirt).

However, the Brigadier was forced into a big moment just before half time when Kurt Wolff tripped a Cocoabo in the corner of the box to surrender a somewhat fortuitous penalty, which was converted successfully. Ten minutes into the second half, another Cocoabo pounced on a mishit Wolff clearance to strike to the top corner. The defending champions suddenly found themselves down 2-1, and briefly looked at risk of a shocking exit. Thankfully, they continued to play with the confidence and poise of a defending champion. It seemed only a matter of time before the goals would come.

Eventually, they did. Three of them. Stig Söderquist tallied a rare goal in the 68th minute, putting a Bryger Tidesson shot back across the line that had slammed off the crossbar. The equalizer opened the floodgates, and soon, substitute winger Tamer Yilmaz and the thunderous head of Peter Svensson had struck (both assisted by an electric Saltorius Splitt on his international debut) to open up a 4-2 lead that rewarded their early dominance and later resilience.

This performance is further evidence that the Cosumar that was 0-for-5 in AOCAF quarterfinals appearances under Farris Crowley and Gethin Ramsey is a relic of regional history now, leaving us with a sense that there are no limits to what the future might hold for the new standard-bearers of the Northeast. Back-to-back AOCAF titles? Why not?

...Well, there might be one reason why not. And they just so happen to be the opponent now standing between us and the AOCAF Final.

Chromatika. A team that would also very much like to lay claim to that "new standard-bearers of the Northeast" title.

Since flaming to life in AOCAF 50, the burgeoning rivalry between our two long-isolated nations of the extreme northeast has burned brighter and brighter. The last meeting saw Pearce's crew best the Chromatik 2-1 on a 110th minute winner in extra time, en route to the AOCAF LIV title. That quarterfinal victory swung the rivalry ever-so-slightly in Cosumar's favor after the debacle of World Cup 75. Now, the stakes are raised. With Cosumar and Chromatika meeting in a semifinal for the first time, Silian Parker's team will be desperate to swing that balance back in their favor.

Yet, while things have never been more divisive between the northeastern neighbors on the pitch, the well-documented romance between Cosumar goalkeeper Lethbridge and ex-Chromatika striker Antonio has drawn the two sides closer together off of it. Several prominent members of both teams were seen celebrating together before, during and after the Lethbridge-Antonio wedding two months ago.

Gabriella Antonio has even been photographed here in Equestrian States with BOTH semifinalist teams, sparking controversy in both countries. Some Chromatiks are questioning her true allegiances now. Some Cosumarites speculate that starting goalkeeper Lethbridge might be treating the AOCAF as a honeymoon rather than a serious competition. While Lethbridge has insisted that he is "dialed in", the criticism will come down hard if he makes a mistake in the semifinal.

Like a political marriage to unite rival tribes or ancient kingdoms, it will be interesting to see how these personal storylines involving AO's favorite star-crossed footballers will weave together as this semifinal's events unfold.

Will it soften the rivalry or only fan the flames of enmity? Will Cosumar make their second AOCAF Final? Will Gabriella Antonio wear a Cosumar or a Chromatika shirt? Be sure to tune in to the action at Elements Stadium in Ponyville tonight to find out the answers to these pressing questions.

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Mriin 2-4 Cosumar
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 1
Tidesson 5', Svensson 12', Tidesson 18', Targaryen 36'
Assisted by Serafino, Wolff, Valgard, Serafino
Subs: Lechjakr, Yilmaz, Royannais


Yesopalitha 3-4 Cosumar
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 2
Valgard 1', Tidesson 16', Wolff 31', Svensson 82'
Assisted by Sibučić, Sibučić, Svensson, None
Subs: Tapp, Royannais, Chisenhall


Cosumar 1-0 Soltsteed
AOCAF Group D, Matchday 3
Valgard 1'
Assisted by Sibučić
Subs: Simmons III, Tapp, Zeale-Riddick


Cosumar 3-2 Osarius
AOCAF Round of 16, Diamond Park, Stalliongrad
Na'Kale 3', Serafino 39', Serafino 71'
Assisted by Sibučić, Sibučić, Targaryen
Subs: Tapp, Royannais, Chisenhall


Tropicorp 2-4 Cosumar
AOCAF Quarterfinal, Apple Orchard Park, Appleoosa
Targaryen 12', Söderquist 68', Yilmaz 86', Svensson 90+2'
Assisted by Bale, Tidesson, Saltorius, Saltorius
Subs: Yilmaz, Saltorius, Zeale-Riddick


Chromatika vs. Cosumar
AOCAF Semifinal, Elements Stadium, Ponyville

Goal-Scorers Tally (16 GF)
Bryger Tidesson (3)
Peter Svensson (3)
Romikk Valgard (2)
Bellerophon Serafino (2)
Ragnar Targaryen (2)
Kurt Wolff (1)
Bacary Na'Kale (1)
Stig Söderquist (1)
Tamer Yilmaz (1)

Assists Tally
Isla Sibučić (5)
Bellerophon Serafino (2)
Saltorius Splitt (2)
Kurt Wolff (1)
Romikk Valgard (1)
Peter Svensson (1)
Ragnar Targaryen (1)
Tevreness Bale (1)
Bryger Tidesson (1)

Reserves Appearances Tally
Warren Royannais (3)
Denton Tapp (3)
Mortimer Chisenhall (2)
Tamer Yilmaz (2)
Vega Zeale-Riddick (2)
Berk Lechjakr (1)
Corey Simmons III (1)
Saltorius Splitt (1)

[Equestrian States]

AOCAF Cup LV
Semifinals Results

Chromatika 3–3 Cosumar (5–3 AET)

Valanora 1–1 Qasden (2–2 AET) (3–1 pen.)

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AOCAF Cup LV Final

Chromatika vs. Valanora
at Royal Equestria Stadium (cap. 98,625) in Canterlot

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Third Place Playoff

Cosumar vs. Qasden
at Grand Regal Stadium (cap. 81,955) in Canterlot