Jinja City FC & Istria City FC create separation at the top as league looks likely to come down to the wire
Standings after Matchday 32
Team Name Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Jinja City FC 32 22 7 3 63 24 +39 73
2 Istria City FC 32 22 6 4 67 19 +48 72
3 Busukuma Athletic Club 32 20 4 8 79 40 +39 64
4 Hoima Warriors 32 19 7 6 58 30 +28 64
5 Herzegovina City FC 32 18 6 8 48 23 +25 60
6 Herzegovina Phoenix 32 18 6 8 50 31 +19 60
7 Kitara AA 32 13 11 8 32 27 +5 50
8 Bunyoro RSC 32 14 7 11 45 39 +6 49
9 Busembe Timberwolves 32 13 7 12 37 38 −1 46
10 Umbazi Metropolitan SC 32 14 3 15 37 41 −4 45
11 Isipongo Flash 32 9 11 12 40 41 −1 38
12 Mynda SC 32 10 8 14 40 45 −5 38
13 Rukunbi FC 32 9 7 16 31 51 −20 34
14 Lwanga Lions 32 8 9 15 31 51 −20 33
15 Askatasuna FC 32 9 5 18 35 47 −12 32
16 Aissa United FC 32 8 8 16 46 61 −15 32
17 Bwubanza City SC 32 6 12 14 36 48 −12 30
18 Busukuma Force 32 6 9 17 30 57 −27 27
19 Lakiska SC 32 7 4 21 34 75 −41 25
20 Dukuma SC 32 3 7 22 27 78 −51 16
Individual Matchdays
The shine started to come off a little on the Herzegovina Phoenix, as they finally fell after winning 6 games in a row, losing 1-0 away from home to Bunyoro RSC. Bunyoro RSC, who got off to a sizzling start but then struggled, was at the beginning of the season what the Phoenix are now- a squad that is decidedly average, finishing in the top half but nothing more, but then going on a hot streak, getting a few upsets, and getting some attention.
That was the nightcap game. Elsewhere, four members of the Super 5 clubs won, as the Hoima Warriors were the only ones to succumb to the pressure of their opponents, as they could not manage to break down a tough Rukunbi FC defense away from home. Istria City FC's 3-1 victory away from home was significant in the fact that Girma Asmelash had his first career hat trick. Not a majorly significant matchday, but still- another step towards the end of the tunnel.
It was not the best week for the Super 5 clubs, who were all playing non Super 5 clubs. While Istria City FC and Herzegovina City FC both had relatively simple 2-0 wins at home, the Hoima warriors struggled to a 1-0 victory at home, needing an 82nd minute goal from Wenceslaw, the Cosumarite defender, on a header off of a corner kick. Their strikers could not break down the Force, but it took a goal from the big bodied Wenceslaw to break the deadlock there.
Jinja City FC struggled to a scoreless home draw with Kitara AA. Kitara AA have had an interesting season so far. They've averaged exactly one goal per game, but their defense is better than their offense. They play close, tight and physical, not blowing anybody out of the water, but not being blown out either. With 23 year old goalkeeper Sago Nagatomo having an excellent season between the sticks, this is a team capable of playing with anybody.
Lin Moon had a wonderstrike to secure his squad's 1-0 win over Mynda Soccer Club. He chested a ball from approximately 25 yards out, and rocketed a volley into the upper right hand corner. The stadium exploded as he sprinted into the stands for a raucous celebration for what could have been the goal of the year. Elsewhere across teh league, the Hoima Warriors took care of business, breaking down Kitara AA away from home for a 1-0 win, while Istria City FC was upset by Umbazi Metropolitan SC, who won 2-0 at home against the league leaders. Demetro Laterza, the Juvencus forward who just won the Cup of Harmony and who has had a quiet season, had a first half double as they seemed to shock their opponents at the kickoff and then pack it in the back.
In the biggest game of the day, Busukuma Athletic Club defeated Herzegovina City FC by a score of 1-0. The Capitol club had this great victory over the two-time defending league champs, as Saah Desta scored the game winner in the 52nd minute. The ageless wonder at striker is continuing to have a career year at age 36, as Busukuma Athletic Club looks to race towards an UICA spot in their manager's final season.
A week of two Super 5 matchups! In the afternoon time slot, Busukuma Athetic Club won a Super 5 matchup for the second straight week, as they won 1-0 once again, but this time, away from home against Istria City FC, who suffered their second straight loss in league play. 29 year old Schottian defender Oliver Scott delivered the blow this time, scoring in the 33rd minute off of a punishing counter-attack, while the back line was able to hold for the remainder of the match.
In the nightcap, Jinja City FC won a thrilling match with the Hoima Warriors, as they won by a score of 2-1 against the Hoima Warriors. This was a big game for Hoima, to announce that after two seasons away, they would be back in competition for UICA spots. Jinja City FC, on the other hand, had different ideas. Devontan striker Noah Lamont Hill scored the opener, and while Julian Turner responded, it was Tokpah Ba who scored the match winner. Another big win for the team chasing a league title.
Matchday 29! With no big matchups, there was another big upset, as Herzegovina City FC fell to Rukunbi FC, becoming once again yet another victim of giant slaying. Amanuel Bsrat scored the game's lone goal for Rukunbi FC, scoring in the 33rd minute. Super 5 clubs took care of business elsewhere, as the Warriors won 3-0, Jinja City FC won 2-0, Busukuma Athletic Club won 3-1, and Istria City FC put up a shocking 6 goals in Lakiska, as they stampeded through the Islands side.
Dukuma SC also had just their 3rd win of the season, as they defeated Bunyoro RSC by a score of 2-0. Ivanildo, the Amazonestan winger, scored twice, while Dukuma SC celebrated their third win. While they are on track for their 3rd last place finish in the last 5 seasons, and their 5th straight season of finishing in the bottom 3, this win was a good win. Everything came together, the defense held, and they could hold their heads high.
Another Istria City derby! Won, yet again, by Istria City FC, who used two early goals to cruise to a 2-0 victory over Rukunbi FC in that derby. Elsewhere across the league, Busukuma Athletic Club won by the same score, away to the Phoenix, when Ansu Cisse and Toyuwa Sall each scored once for the visitors. Herzegovina City FC was able to win, cruising to an easy 3-0 win over the Busukuma Force, while Jinja City FC won 1-0 away fro home against Bwubanza City SC, and the Hoima Warriors winning 2-0 away from home against the Lwanga Lions. This meant that all the member of the 'Super 5' won this weekend.
A couple of revelations came from Busukuma Athletic Club today as well. Marbue Okeke, the 35 year old captain, has announced that he will retire from the sport at the end of the season. Now, of course, all eyes are on Saah Desta. Many thought that he would retire after this season as well, but with the year he's having, he could choose to play one more season. He will be 37 next season, so we'll have to wait and see on what he decides.
This was not a good day to be a member of the Super 5. In the early timeslot, both the Hoima Warriors and Jinja City FC had home draws. Phineas Antwell, the Cosumarite winger for Bwubanza City SC, scored a late equalizer in Hoima as it looked like the Warriors would have an easy 1-0 win. In Jinja City, Timberwolves captain Julio Leal scored the opener, and though the Warriors quickly responded, they ended up splitting the spoils at 1-1. Busukuma Athletic Club then lost by a score of 3-1 on their home field to Bunyoro RSC, who have long been forgotten about since their sizzling start.
The only two wins from the Super 5 clubs this weeend were Istria City FC winning 3-0 away to the Busukuma Force, while Herzegovina City FC won 1-0 away to Kitara AA. Which means, that from the Super 5 clubs, they won both of their away matches this weekend, but could manage only 2 points from 3 matches at home. An interesting statistic, but what can you do against a team of veterans like Bunyoro RSC? Nathaniel Yisake & co. are not going to be intimidated by any environment, and they will be extremely happy with this result.
And matchday 32! Jinja City FC, in a big game with the two-time defending champs, took all three points from this game when Noah Lamont Hill converted a penalty in the 63rd minute. Elsewhere across the league, Istria City FC took care of business, winning 2-0, while the Hoima Warriors won 3-1 away from home. Busukuma Athletic Club was once again upset, as they lost 2-1 away from home to a mid-table side.
Now looking at the table. Jinja City FC have 73 points, while Istria City FC are one point behind at 72 points. Then, of course, there is the first gap. Busukuma Athletic Club and the Hoima Warriors are level at 64 points for 3rd and 4th respectively, where Busukuma Athletic Club edges out the Hoima Warriors on goal difference, having a +39 goal difference compared to the Warriors +28 goal difference, thanks to their league leading 79 goals. Right behind them, the two Herzegovina clubs are tied at 60 points a piece, though Herzegovina City FC has the advantage in goal difference, +25 to +19. Then there is a 10 point gap between 6th place Phoenix and 7th place Kitara AA.
So, with only 6 games left, we know who will be in the top 6. Do we know the order? No. But we know a few things. For one, barring an epic collapse, we know that Istria City FC and Jinja City FC will be playing in UICA play. While they could still be caught by the Warriors or Busukuma Athletic Club, that is unlikely, and for them to be caught by either Herzegovina club is close to impossible with this little time left. So pencil them in both to be on the tube next summer.
What else do we know? Dukuma SC will likely finish last place. Down 6 points with 6 games to go, it will be a tall task for them to get the 7 points required to pass their Busogan rivals, let alone Lakiska SC even getting any points at all making that task so much harder.
RBSA Cup Semifnals- Herzegovina City FC win Herzegovina Derby emphatically while late Saah Desta goal sends Istria City FC to first ever RBSA Cup Final
Semifinals
Herzegovina City FC 4–1 Herzegovina Phoenix
Istria City 3–2 Jinja City FC
And we are down to two! We had a pair of exciting matchups for this semifinal draw- the Herzegovina derby, where both teams are level on points in the league after 32 games, and a matchup betwen the clear cut top two teams in the league, played at Istria City. We were in for two very hyped matchups between teams close in the standings, and especially a rivalry match to boot.
The first game was Herzegovina City FC against the Herzegovina Phoenix, played at the home field of Herzegovina City FC. The two-time defending league champions reasserted their dominance in Herzegovina City, as they defeated the Phoenix by a score of 4-1. Aaron Aiza scored on a free kick in the 22nd minute, and he scored in open play on a counter-attack in the 41st minute for the hosts to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Herzegovina CIty FC were not done. Both Ennis Leishman & Guillermo Madruga scored before the 70th minute mark, while Chase Pershing scored in the 79th minute to put the Phoenix on the board. Kolt Freegan said that this match was 'personal' afterwards. "While we havent' had as much league success as we would like, know this- we are the best team in this city. The Phoenix will not surpass us, and we will finish ahead of them in the league while winning this tournament."
The other matchup was hyped up because of the seasons these two clubs were having. Jinja City FC and Istria City FC, seperated at the top of the table by a measly point, while the next closest club was 8 points away. This match lived up to its billing. Lin Moon scored a 24th minute goal to give Jinja City FC a 1-0 lead, though Yitebarke scored in the 44th minute to level the game at 1.
The second half was intense as well. Jinja City FC took the lead once again, as Maximiliane Purcell tripped over his own feet trying to cover Noah Lamont hill on a corner kick, who was all alone and head the ball into the back of the net to give his squad a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute. However, Purcell made up for his mistake, as Maximiliane Purcell scored on a header in the 72nd on a corner kick to tie the game at 2. The Istria City FC was getting into it, and they exploded when 36 year old captain Gregory Hatzis scored the winner in the 79th minute. They won, 3-2, and will be in the Final.
The Final will be Istria City FC against Herzegovina City FC. A rendition of the traditional rivalry between the City of Istria and Herzegovina City generally in sports, as Istria is Banija's largest city while Herzegovina City is the regional capitol and Banija's oldest city. This is best personified in the fierce rivalry between Loyola-Istria and Northern Moravica in the NSCF, but it will take center stage for one week at the Stadium of the Restoration. As Moravican fans of both teams go down to the capitol for that matchups in 8 weeks time, we'll see which team is most prepared to win that tournament.