RBC Sports One: Siovanija & Teusland Sporting News

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:48 pm

Welcome to the home of all domestic Siovanija & Teusland sports news!

The hub of all sport in the United Republics of Siovanija & Teusland, republiksport.st is proud to provide exclusive in-depth coverage of leagues across the country in several sports. These sports include the 3 most popular sports in the Republic, football, hockey and basketball. Hockey is a national obsession, and the Ehrenliga is its pinnacle in the country. Football also enjoys extreme popularity and the Republikaliga is followed throughout the land. Cricket is another popular sport in the country, and the new TeusBank ZZ-Meisterschaft is hoping to become one of the best domestic T20 leagues in the world.

Future posts will include season previews, results and updates regarding international competitions.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:53 pm

Republikaliga

The Siovanija and Teusland football pyramid currently consists of 3 levels, with the Republikaliga at the top. 20 teams compete for the Championship, and UICA places available, currently 1 for the Champion's Cup and 3 for the Globe Cup. Below the Republikaliga is the 2. Republikaliga, which consists of 20 teams. The third tier consists of the 3. Republikaliga. All 64 teams also compete in the President's Cup. There is also the J. Republikaliga, for youth squads.

Republikaliga History

Season I: Energija Chernovets Preview Part I Part II Part III Awards/Review
Season II: FC Teussen Stelburg Preview Part I Part II Part III Awards/Review
Season III: Olympia Borograd Preview Part I Part II Part III Awards/Review
Season IV: SW Stahlberg Preview Part I Part II Part III Awards/Review
Season V: 1912 Stelburg Preview Part I Part II Part III Awards/Review

President's Cup History

Season I: VfL Bamerntal Final
Season II: Olympia Borograd Final
Season III: SW Stahlberg Final
Season IV: TSV Marzig Final
Season V: FC Teussen Stelburg Final

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 9:29 pm

TeusBank ZZ-Meisterschaft

History

Season I (as Kricketliga): Kaiserhaven Midshipmen Season

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:27 pm

Ehrenliga

Strauss Cup Winners

Season I: Stelburg Kaisers Preview Regular Season Strauss Cup Playoffs

Strauss Cup Champions:

Stelburg Kaisers (23)
HK Olympia Borograd (16)
St. Jakob Saints (11)
Eisbaren Stelburg (10)
Kapitala Borograd (7)
HK Energija Chernovets (6)
Seelowe Marlesee (5)
Felsenkirchen Jets (4)
Kaiserhaven Knights (4)
Stahlberg Steelers (4)
Rudar Trkev (3)
Teufelsberg Devils (3)
EHC Kosmopolit (2)
Admirala Pomorie
Orlovi Stavropol

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Jan 28, 2018 6:48 pm

Republikaliga Season I: Season Preview

The United Football Association of Siovanija and Teusland (UFAST) is proud to present the first season of the new Republikaliga. Rather than competing in semi-pro regional leagues, the top club teams in Siovanija and Teusland will compete against each other for the nation's biggest football prize, the Republikaliga title. All 20 clubs will also compete with lower-division teams in the new President's Cup. The UFAST hopes that the new professional circuit will allow Siovanija and Teusland to field competitive teams at future events, and also allow club teams the chance to participate in UICA and other international competitons. The 20 teams that will contest the inaugural season of the Republikaliga are....

1912 STELBURG
Colours: Blue and white
Stadium: 1912-Stadion (31,000)
Manager: Sebastian Hengsbach

Key Player: 1912's offense runs through key centre forward Ernst Kurschner. Always a reliable target man, his form could make or break 1912 in key matches. His young striking partner, Elias Eicke, is one of several young names to keep track of in the Republikaliga this season. Also, watch out for Raphael Klopfer in the back line. He is considered to be one of the top defenders in the entire league, and a top candidate for the national team. 1912's defense is overall very solid, and matches up good work at home by also contributing to the team's offensive capabilities.
Club Identity: 1912 are a very respected side in the league. From the eastern, working-class side of Stelburg, the team have often been in the shadow of their neighbour and hated rival FC Teussen Stelburg. Derby matches between the two are always fierce. 1912 have a team that is neither too old or too young, and always provide entertainment when they play. 1912 always bring a positive, attacking approach to their matches, and are looking for a top 4 finish this season.

ENERGIJA CHERNOVETS
Colours: Green and yellow
Stadium: Energija-Arena (34,000)
Manager: Apostol Manevski

Key Player: Miro Dinev is Energija's, and possibly the Republikaliga's, best player. In the prime of his career, Energija's offense runs through him. Backing him up in the midfield is Viktor Dimitrov, a creative attacking midfielder who play flows through. Both of these players will need to be on top of their game for Energija to finish high in the table. A solid backline is led by Demitar Tsvetkov, a towering centre back who can always be counted on to win balls in the air.
Club Identity: Chernovets, the hub of the nation's nuclear energy program, has never been a football town, with poor attendance and low fan support defining storylines of several seasons. Manager Apostol Manevski has changed all of that, however, and has built Energija into a formidable club that play a fast, attacking style. Now the Energija-Arena is filled to the brim each matchday, and Energija have a real chance of challenging for a title in the first season of the Republikaliga.

FC FELSENKIRCHEN 1879
Colours: Navy and white
Stadium: Felsenkirchen Arena (35,000)
Manager: Malte Hasselhoff

Key Players: Winger Mario Pftizner is a player who Felsenkirchen expect to do great things for them this season in the Republikaliga. Capable of scoring goals from both inside and outside the box, the potential national team pick plays a leading role for the navy-whites. Johannes Mandl is a striker who can score plenty of goals, but other aspects of his game have come under question. Of course, if he scores and Felsenkirchen do well this will not matter, but if Felsenkirchen slip down the table he could face questions. Centre backs Kreisinger and Heinecke have formed a brilliant partnership and Felsenkirchen's defense appears to be in good hands.
Club Identity: Felsenkirchen, a major port city along the north coast of Teusland, are a club that seem to be perpetually almost good enough. Some years they have goalkeeping issues, some years it is the forwards, but they have not been able to put together all the pieces to make a successful title challenge yet. Fans of the Whalers hope that this year, the first season of the Republikaliga, they can finally do just that.

FC KAISERHAVEN
Colours: Blue and yellow
Stadium: Kaiserhaven-Stadion (40,000)
Manager: Norbert Korn

Key Players: Kaiserhaven are a team unlike several others in the division, with a large veteran presence in the midfield lead by Eduard Dahlke, the captain of the team. Dahlke's calm, confident style of play in the midfield and his leadership qualities add to the contribution he makes in the deep-lying playmaker role. Up front, Wolfhard Vahlen is a great target man, and requires a lot of support from his wingers. His main aid will come from Paulus Leistner, a pacey winger who can both score and assist.
Club Identity: Kaiserhaven are a tricky team to play against, both for teams above them and below. They always play with passion and leave everything on the pitch after the 90 minutes are complete, and the large home support at the Kaiserhaven-Stadion always gives them a boost in home games. Away support is also one of the best in the league, and while they probably will not win the league title they can certainly take a run at the top 4.

FC ROTMUNDE 1932
Colours: Red and black
Stadium: Rotmunde-Stadion (37,000)
Manager: Hans Frosch

Key Players: Rotmunde's defense is its biggest strength, led by young Erich Thierse at centre back. Thierse is a tall, dominating CB who can move the ball well, however he is still young and still makes some mistakes that could hold Rotmunde back. Lucas Behrmann is a quality defensive midfielder who makes a large impact on each game he is in, and up front Lennard Scheider and Max Koehler have a great partnership that Rotmunde hope will create plenty of goals this season.
Club Identity: Rotmunde is about as far east as you can go in the country of Siovanija and Teusland, located on an island off the northeast coast. There's a different culture on the island that takes its name from the main city, Rotmunde, and the fans are some of the loudest in the league. This intensifies even more when they play major rival FC Felsenkirchen 1879. Rotmunde are a side that play a balanced style, often not as willing to take risks as other more attacking teams are. A strong defensive core makes them a very hard team to score on.

FC ST. JAKOB
Colours: Red and white
Stadium: Draistadion (37,000)
Manager: Hermann Frenz

Key Players: Ole Sauer has been an icon to fans of FCSJ, and is one of the best keepers in the league. His style has influenced several younger keepers in the nation, however now his career is coming to its final years. St. Jakob have put together a solid defense in front of him led by Stefan Licht, and this side can be expected to be an impenetrable fortress at the back end. This does not, however, mean that they sacrifice offense. Manuel Horn is a player often overlooked by other team's fans, however he is always reliable up front. Leo Heiden is a young, speedy winger to watch out for as well.
Club Identity: From the biggest city in the nation, St. Jakob am der Drai, FCSJ has a large, vocal fanbase. Currently, St. Jakob are a team caught between the now and the future, and manager Frenz could quickly find himself under pressure if the team do not perform early in the season. The team need to decide whether they want to win now, or instead if they should allow older players like club legend Sauer to retire and replace them for a youth re-building process. Whatever they decide, it should be an interesting year at the Draistadion.

FC TEUSSEN STELBURG
Colours: Gold and black
Stadium: Teussens-Arena (44,000)
Manager: Kaspar Knauer

Key Players: Theodor Aberbach is the obvious key player, and still likely has a season or two of top goalscoring talent in him. However, his skills are beginning to decline with age and FC Teussen will need to replace him soon. The defense looks solid with Dietmar Kleinmann being perhaps the best left back in the league. Thorsten Kramer is a generational talent, and perhaps the future of football in Siovanija and Teusland. He can play both as a midfield playmaker, and if required can join the attacking trio and play in a manner similar to a shadow striker. The entire nation will be watching to see if his rookie season in the Republikaliga is everything it has been predicted to be.
Club Identity: FC Teussen are, well, FC Teussen. By far the most famous and popular club in Teusland, they expect each season to be challenging for the league. This adds extra incentive on other teams to beat them, especially local rival 1912 Stelburg. Another rival is Olympia Borograd, their Siovanijan counterpart. There's an added spark to that match; Borograd was chosen over Stelburg to be the capital of the united country. Teussen play an attacking, fast style that can quickly overwhelm teams. For their fans, failure is not an option, and a finish below the top 3 would be considered a disaster.

FK METROPOLA BOROGRAD
Colours: Purple and white
Stadium: Metropola-Stadion (49,000)
Manager: Daniel Manolov

Key Players: It is difficult to make a key players list for Metropola, because almost every player on the team could be argued as one of the best. Viktor Venev is one of the best keepers in the league, and in front of him stands Krum Kynev who is the best defensive centre backs in the league. It is hard to find a defense better than this, especially in the Republikaliga, a league with many attacking sides. On attack as well, Metropola's young forward trio can stand up to any other in the league, and Anton Dimitrov in particular could have a shot at winning the Golden Boot should the season go well.
Club Identity: Normally the second team in the city of Borograd, behind the more glamorous Olympia, it is fair to say that Metropola have a much better shot at the title this season than their cross-town rival. Metropola and Olympia is one of the fiercest derbies in the entire nation, and this year could be a special one for fans of the purple-whites. The club's fanbase come out of the western side of the national capital, and extends into the centre of the city. Always present at the top of things, Metropola could win it all this season.

FK ORLOVSKA BISTRICA
Colours: Blue and black
Stadium: Orlovska-Arena (35,000)
Manager: Valko Zaikov

Key Players: The key to FKOB's potential success is not one player, it is the overall strength and chemistry between the players. Orlovska Bistricia are truly a team greater than the sum of their parts. Neither one of the young strikers Bachev and Nankov will challenge any goal scoring titles this season, however having played together in youth teams from a young age make a great partnership together in front of the goal. Behind them, Vlad Radulov has the speed and strength to be a powerful winger, however his end product is not always the best. Krum Kostov leads a backline who move the ball well between each other, with pacey left back Lyubomir Dimitrov being a hope for the future.
Club Identity: FKOB are a team that have a reputation for playing boring, passive football that dates back to their time in the old Siovanijan First Division. Other teams hate coming to the cold, rainy Orlovska-Arena, which has become a home the Eagles play in with confidence. Located 2 hours south of the capital Borograd, Orlovska Bistrica have no nearby rivals, but have a competitive rivalry with Rudar Trkev.

FK POMORIE
Colours: Red and white
Stadium: Pomorie-Stadion (32,000)
Manager: Ventsislav Blitzakov

Key Player: Two words: Ivo Ilev. Ilev is the only real hope for Pomorie to fend off relegation this season in the Republikaliga. If he is able to carry them through the season outside the bottom, it would be a miracle. Gavril Kirilov is the only other source of potential hope for fans of the Pirates, if he can sort out the issues plaguing the team's defense, and otherwise it could be a long season at the Pomorie-Arena.
Club Identity: Pomorie, or Marzig depending on your language, is a city with a population split of about 56% Siovanijans and 44% Teuslanders. A city at the middle of much of the nation's history due to this fact, FK Pomorie represent the Siovanijan half of town. Their hated rivals, TSV Marzig, represent the Teuslanders. This is the toughest derby in all of the Republikaliga, and crowd trouble and violence are almost synonyms for derby day in Marzig/Pomorie. On the field, the team can have good offensive showings however are usually inconsistent on the back end, which could see them into trouble this season.

MARLESEE 97
Colours: Blue and white
Stadium: Marlebucht-Energie Arena (30,000)
Manager: Magnus Herschlag

Key Players: 97's line is led by striker Werner Schott. Once a hot prospect, he never truly reached the potential some expected of him, however, he is still a capable forward and widely loved by fans of the team. The new hope rising would be Ingolf Kruger, a goal scoring winger who joins an attacking trio with the elder Ralf Brecher and creative playmaker Yannik Lehrer. Kruger is, however, not a great carrier of the ball, and that is an aspect of his game he will need to improve on.
Club Identity: 97 are widely followed in their hometown of Marlesee, but are a team who have never truly had luck on their side. Can't-miss prospects missed, once-reliable players suddenly became unreliable when the team came near winning, and managers took the team to the top and then left for greener pastures. Now, the team are looking to avoid relegation and attempt to rebuild with youthful talents like Kruger and Romberg in the squad for a future shot at stability in the Republikaliga.

OLYMPIA BOROGRAD
Colours: Green and white
Stadium: Olympiski-Stadion (60,000)
Manager: Ludmil Strashilov

Key Players: Olympia are a squad overloaded with bright young talents. Yanko Zhelyaskov in goal, Nikola Karapetrov on defense, Valko Tinchev in the midfield and forward Krasimir Kynev. While all of these players will one day be great, and Olympia fans have much to look forward to, this year could be rough as young players figure each other and the rest of the league out. Of particular concern as well to Olympia is the lack of depth on the team; the team do not really have any impact subs on the bench that can help out.
Club Identity: If FC Teussen are the giants of Teusland, Olympia would be the giant of Siovanija. The Dragons, however, experienced a downturn of luck over the last several years. Older, veteran players have been replaced by youth and the team has a bright future. This season may not, however, go to all Olympia fans expectations, especially considering hated rivals FK Metropola have a team capable of challenging for the league title. Derby matches will have an added edge to them should Metropola be at the top, as Olympia will not want their hated rivals winning the league.

RUDAR TRKEV
Colours: Grey and red
Stadium: Trkev-Arena (25,000)
Manager: Veselin Bachev

Key Players: Evgeni Bakalov is a quality young player who can dictate the pace of Rudar's attack, and is Rudar's best player. Konstantin Kochanov can play a role on this team as well, and is in fact quite capable of scoring goals even from his central midfield role. At the back end, Iliya Karapetrov is a young player who dominates attackers with his pace and is a brilliant crosser of the ball.
Club Identity: Rudar Trkev bring a true small-town feel to the Republikaliga. The Trkev-Arena seats 25,000 and is a true old-style stadium, allowing fans to be right up close with their heroes. Trkev's hope is, as always, to avoid relegation and try to put as many points between them and the drop zone as possible. Now, with future considerations such as Bakalov and Karapetrov, the team are also looking to build a reputation as one to watch in the future.

SV PREISFELD
Colours: Black and yellow
Stadium: SV-Arena (31,000)
Manager: Walter Kippel

Key Players: Lange, Seyfried and Haber make up a dangerous attacking trio in the midfield, and Yannick Lange in particular is a strong winger who can cut inside and score, getting past defenders in the blink of an eye. Up front, Friedrich Brunke isn't the best striker in the world but does exactly what he is required to, hold up play for his counterparts and knock the ball in the net when he gets the chance. Patrik Palme is the workhorse, however, that this all depends on and his work rate is excellent, especially when required to recover the ball.
Club Identity: Preisfeld is a city most simply pass by on the highway, and is certainly not a major tourist destination. However, the small city still offers an interesting football club in SV Preisfeld and we will certainly be watching their results with interest. This team could be a surprise dark horse for the top 10, or at the same time could be hoping to avoid relegation.

STAHLWERKE (SW) STAHLBERG
Colours: Grey and black
Stadium: Stahlarbeiter-Union Arena (35,000)
Manager: Gerd Hennig

Key Players: Wulf Lemberger and Rainer Klebs have always been SW Stahlberg's best strikers, and this season manager Gerd Hennig has put them with up and coming prospect Michael Ribbeck to create a dynamic front 3. There is not much pressure on Ribbeck, he has not been widely touted as anything special. The young striker will still be hoping to make a name for himself at the front of SW's line.
Club Identity: SW Stahlberg are one of the most community-driven clubs in the Republikaliga, and are even owned by the local steel worker's union. The club have come a long way, and while this year may not be straight at the top of the table, the team from the mountains plays some of the most aggressive, all-out attacking football in the country and other teams need to be prepared for the storm they could face if they switch off for just a second. Stahlberg will be one of the most fun teams to watch in the Republikaliga, and while they may not have the most wins this season, they can only get better in the future.

TSV MARZIG
Colours: White and blue
Stadium: Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion (29,000)
Manager: Max Schillinger

Key Players: TSV Marzig run a strong attacking system, and the line is led by two very capable young strikers. Neither of them play with the flash of superstars, and Vinzenz Eichel in particular has been criticized as a 'tap-in merchant' by rival fans. However, Reichwein and Eichel form a great striking partnership on their day. The supporting cast is, however, weak and it will be a long season for TSV if the two strikers are unable to finish.
Club Identity: TSV Marzig are the other side of the Pomorie-Marzig Derby. This season, it appears as if both FK Pomorie and TSV Marzig will be in the hunt to avoid relegation, with Marzig having perhaps the slight upper hand. This should add even more fire to the hottest rivalry in the country. The team are famed for their physicality on the ball, which has won them the respect of many opposition teams. Their fans also have good relationships with many teams in the league, other than the neighbours of course.

VfB LAUNITZ
Colours: Black and white
Stadium: Launitz-Hauptstadion (29,000)
Manager: Gunter Aust

Key Players: The names to know on VfB Launitz all play at the back of the field, with Gunter Hering and Lukas Keilberth forming a defensive partnership fans of the Zebras hope will be enough to stave off relegation. With them are Lorenz Heuberger, a pacey left back, and Rupert Brahms, a strong right back who isn't afraid to foul. Hannes Brunner is another name to watch as the former centre back plays at defensive midfielder for a club who will do anything to stay in the Republikaliga.
Club Identity: It is imperative for Launitz to stay in the Republikaliga this season, and team manager Gunter Aust was brought in to do exactly that with his brand of defensive football that aims to tire and bully opposing teams throughout the match. This makes Launitz a tough away day, but for teams able to beat them an easy 6 points. The Hauptstadion will be full each weekend to give as much support as possible with the hopes of keeping the team up.

VfB MARLESEE
Colours: Blue and white
Stadium: Marlesee-Stadion
Manager: Arnold Stoiber

Key Players: If VfB Marlesee manage to remain in the Republikaliga, it would be due to several miracles. Either Reiner Jentzch or Tobias Haas would have to put in a 20+ goal campaign, something neither striker is truly capable of. Young centre backs Wulf Mayer and Valentin Sahnner will also need to play like 10-year veterans in order to stave off relegation. Marlesee should truly be re-tooling in order to come back to the top flight in 2 season.
Club Identity: The club are the smaller Marlesee club, however have a friendly relationship with Marlesee 97. The club's main rival are actually TSV Prattsee, in the 2. Republikaliga. Manager Arnold Stoiber has decided to go for an all-out attacking style in order to perhaps shock some weaker teams in the division and attempt to stay out of the basement. Should it work, a statue of Stoiber should be commissioned immediately because the side appear to be hopeless.

VfL REINBRONN
Colours:Green and black
Stadium: Hauser-Platz (25,000)
Manager: Marco Drache

Key Players: If Reinbronn stay in the top division, it'll be due to the efforts of Emanuel Gerstmann and Jocehn Strittmeier at the back. The two defenders can hope to stop the bleeding and maintain the defensive style that Reinbronn famously play. Up front, Marko Tischler is a pure target man who will score if he gets the ball in a good area; the opportunities for this could be few and far between, however.
Club Identity: Reinbronn, from a manufacturing town about halfway between Stelburg and St. Jakob, could be in tough for goals and points this season. The club have to beat the teams around and below them if they hope to stay up, and they hope to at least come 18th in order to participate in the play-off against a team from the 2. Republikaliga.

VRNOVO MESTO
Colours: Orange and blue
Stadium: Ostrovi-Arena (26,000)
Manager: Lyoben Zhalikov

Key Players: The defense. All of it. This was the fate Vrnovo chose, however, as they appear intent on parking the bus each and every game in the Republikaliga. Whether you think it's a valid tactic or not, if they manage to take points off top teams and stay in the division it will be worth it. The team are overall better than other sides in danger of the drop such as VfB Marlesee, and it remains to be seen if they will manage to stay in the top division.
Club Identity: To other fans, they are the team that wear bright orange kits and appear intent on injuring star players each game. To the home support, however, they are heroes fighting to preserve the very culture of Vrnovo and the Siovanijan southern isles. This is manifested in the loud and proud support the team receive at home and away. The only 'local' rival find themselves far away in the third division and also across a some 250km strait. The Islanders are the pride of Vrnovo, and each win is celebrated as if it were a league title.

The inaugural season of the Republikaliga kicks off soon, and republiksport.st will be here to report each and every moment.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 4:45 pm

Republikaliga Season 1: Matchdays 1-15

Matchday 1

FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–0 Vrnovo Mesto
1912 Stelburg 2–0 VfL Reinbronn
Energija Chernovets 3–2 VfB Marlesee
FC Kaiserhaven 2–1 VfB Launitz
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 TSV Marzig
FC St. Jakob 0–0 SW Stahlberg
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–3 SV Preisfeld
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 Rudar Trkev
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–3 Olympia Borograd
FK Pomorie 4–1 Marlesee 97

Opening day of the opening season of the Republikaliga had it all: high-scoring games, upsets and big wins. Felsenkirchen opened the day with an easy 2-0 win courtesy of a brace from Johannes Mandl, the defence did not have much to deal with as Vrnovo Mesto did not look a threat at all on the day. Another 2-0 win was seen at the 1912-Stadion as the Stelburg side put two quick goals past Reinbronn and never looked back. Energija Chernovets and VfB Marlesee played quite an exciting game, with Marlesee having a 2-0 lead before giving up an equalizer and winner in stoppage time, both coming off the boot of Miroslav Dinev. Kaiserhaven took an expected, professional win over Launitz 2-1 while Rotmunde and Marzig found themselves in a 1-1 draw. The defence of FC St. Jakob was able to hold back Stahlberg's offence, and the sides held each other off the scoresheet drawing 0-0. The latter part of the day saw some major upsets, with FC Teussen Stelburg left shocked at home by SV Preisfeld before Metropola Borograd were left wondering what could've been, hitting the woodwork thrice in a 1-0 loss to Rudar Trkev. Olympia Borograd blew past Orlovska Bistrica on a brace from winger Ivo Romanov, and FK Pomorie surprised the whole league with a 4-1 domination of Marlesee 97.

Matchday 2
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 Marlesee 97
Olympia Borograd 5–5 FK Pomorie
Rudar Trkev 2–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
SV Preisfeld 1–3 FK Metropola Borograd
SW Stahlberg 2–4 FC Teussen Stelburg
TSV Marzig 1–0 FC St. Jakob
VfB Launitz 0–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
VfB Marlesee 1–3 FC Kaiserhaven
VfL Reinbronn 1–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–0 1912 Stelburg

Cause for concern in Marlesee, as both clubs from the city find themselves winless in the Republikaliga, Marlesee 97 becoming victim to Vrnovo Mesto's counterattack game and VfB losing to FC Kaiserhaven at home. Both Metropola Borograd and FC Teussen Stelburg were able to get back on track with 2-goal wins, 3-1 over Preisfeld and 4-2 over Stahlberg respectively. The tie of the round, however, was undoubtedly Olympia Borograd against FK Pomorie. The match ended in a 5-5 draw, and saw Olympia Borograd take a quick 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes. Pomorie clawed back, however, and were level by the 35th minute off a free kick from Ivo Ilev. Ilev's magic continued at the end of the half as he scored again to put Pomorie up 3-2. Pomorie would end up with a 5-4 lead with 5 minutes stoppage time, but it was Krasimir Kynev at the death with the equaliser for Olympia, splitting the points. FK Pomorie continue to shock the Republikaliga, with 9 goals in their first 2 matches.

Matchday 3
1912 Stelburg 2–0 Vrnovo Mesto
Energija Chernovets 0–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 VfL Reinbronn
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–2 VfB Marlesee
FC St. Jakob 5–2 VfB Launitz
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–1 TSV Marzig
FK Metropola Borograd 0–0 SW Stahlberg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–3 SV Preisfeld
FK Pomorie 1–2 Rudar Trkev
Marlesee 97 3–2 Olympia Borograd

1912 Stelburg came out of the tunnel hungry after last week's loss to Felsenkirchen, and scored two quick goals to breeze past Vrnovo Mesto. Energija Chernovets were embarrassed at home by Felsenkirchen, who relied on second half goals from Pfitzner, Stern and Mandl just 4 minutes apart to take all three points away from home. Also of note this matchday, FC St. Jakob blasted 5 past VfB Launitz and FC Teussen Stelburg did their job at home, winning 3-1 over visiting TSV Marzig. Neither Metropola Borograd nor SW Stahlberg, who for all the talk of their offensive prowess are having trouble finding the back of the net, could score as the sides played out a 0-0 draw. FK Pomorie finally were held by Rudar Trkev who left with a solid 2-1 win. Finally, Marlesee 97 took the game to Olympia Borograd at home and it was the defender Jochen Gebauer who headed in from a 75' corner to win the match for 97.

Matchday 4
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 Olympia Borograd
Rudar Trkev 1–3 Marlesee 97
SV Preisfeld 3–2 FK Pomorie
SW Stahlberg 1–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
TSV Marzig 0–0 FK Metropola Borograd
VfB Launitz 3–6 FC Teussen Stelburg
VfB Marlesee 2–3 FC St. Jakob
VfL Reinbronn 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–3 FC Kaiserhaven
1912 Stelburg 2–2 Energija Chernovets

Playing in their own end seemingly all game, Vrnovo Mesto are very happy tonight to have taken a point off of Olympia Borograd. In the other dugout, however, questions must be asked of Olympia's performance through the first 4 games of the season and the man to answer for them must be manager Ludmil Strashilov. Across town, Metropola manager Daniel Manolov will need to answer similar questions as his side drew 0-0 with TSV Marzig, the third game in 4 his team have failed to score in. FC Teussen Stelburg played a high-octane first half to take a 4-0 lead into the dressing room, and although Launitz provided some consolation to their fans in the second half it was not enough to stop a hat-trick from Theodor Aberbach as his side went on to win 6-3. Reality is now beginning to set in for FK Pomorie, who are slipping back down the table and have lost 2 in a row, while pointless VfL Reinbronn fell to FC Rotmunde thanks to a Raimund Noffke wonder goal from outside the box.

Matchday 5
Energija Chernovets 3–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Kaiserhaven 2–3 1912 Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC St. Jakob 1–0 VfL Reinbronn
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 VfB Marlesee
FK Metropola Borograd 1–3 VfB Launitz
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–0 TSV Marzig
FK Pomorie 0–1 SW Stahlberg
Marlesee 97 5–1 SV Preisfeld
Olympia Borograd 4–3 Rudar Trkev

Chernovets refused to be stopped by Vrnovo's tight defence and it seems the formula to beat the Islanders is to score early, which Energija did with 2 in the first 20 minutes. 1912 Stelburg won a cracker 3-2 away from home over FC Kaiserhaven with Ernst Kurschner getting the match ball. FK Metropola Borograd's struggles continue in the league and they fall 3-1 at home to 17th-placed VfB Launitz. FC Teussen Stelburg had a poor day but managed to scrape out a 1-0 win thanks to blooming youngster Thorsten Kramer's 54th minute goal. Michael Ribbeck became the youngest player to score in the Republikaliga with his first of the season in a 1-0 win for Stahlberg away to Pomorie, but it seemed all goals on this matchday were saved for the the final two matches. Marlesee 97 managed a 5-1 beatdown of SV Preisfeld and Ingolf Kruger scored twice. In the final match of the weekend, Olympia Borograd striker Krasimir Kynev scored 2 and winger Georgi Lukanov also had 2 as the capital side came from 3-1 down to beat Rudar Trkev.

President's Cup First Round

The first round of the President's Cup gave clubs a break from the Republikaliga season, and also saw some quite exciting results and upsets. The first Republikaliga club to fall to lower-tier opposition was Marlesee 97 losing against FC Magesbach. It's a result that won't disappoint too many Marlesee fans as they would prefer to focus on avoiding relegation. FC St. Jakob and Olympia Borograd both avoided disaster away from home playing weaker squads. Although it took extra time to do so, FC Teussen Stelburg's youth team won a deserved victory over second-tier FC Truiselwald. FK Metropola Borograd hope that their season can be brought back on track after a 2-1 win in a derby match over Republika Borograd. Vrnovo Mesto could not fully adapt to a more attacking style and their defence suffered for it, as they fell out of the cup against FK Raketa Bukovets, who are a favourite for promotion from the 2. Republikaliga. In another tie between Republikaliga sides, FC Kaiserhaven bested Felsenkirchen 2-1 to advance in the cup. 32 sides, including 13 from the Republikaliga, advanced to the second round.

Matchday 6
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 Rudar Trkev
SV Preisfeld 0–0 Olympia Borograd
SW Stahlberg 0–0 Marlesee 97
TSV Marzig 5–2 FK Pomorie
VfB Launitz 3–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
VfB Marlesee 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd
VfL Reinbronn 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 4–4 FC St. Jakob
1912 Stelburg 2–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
Energija Chernovets 3–2 FC Kaiserhaven

A return to the Republikaliga, which had a matchday full of draws. The one worth seeing was between FC Felsenkirchen and FC St. Jakob who played out a match that was only 1-1 at halftime and saw 6 goals in the last 25 minutes for an explosive ending. FC Teussen Stelburg were held at home as VfL Reinbronn got the most unlikely point they could have imagined. Vrnovo Mesto managed to take a 1-0 win at home against Rudar Trkev, while Energija Chernovets took all three points with a tense 3-2 win over Kaiserhaven. The tie of the round by far was, however the Pomorie-Marzig Derby. Marzig drew first blood in the 8th minute from Vinzenz Eichel's boot. Eichel would have a brace by the 20th minute, and while Pomorie would score before the half Marzig took a 3-1 lead into the tunnel. 3-2 by the 85th minute, it was two late goals from Ludwig Reichwein that saw Marzig take down their hated rivals 5-2, and TSV fans flooded the pitch after to celebrate. There was a darker side to the game, however, as overall 34 arrests were made on the day.

Matchday 7
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 Energija Chernovets
FC St. Jakob 2–1 1912 Stelburg
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Metropola Borograd 3–0 VfL Reinbronn
FK Orlovska Bistrica 3–2 VfB Marlesee
FK Pomorie 2–2 VfB Launitz
Marlesee 97 1–2 TSV Marzig
Olympia Borograd 4–2 SW Stahlberg
Rudar Trkev 1–2 SV Preisfeld

Both FC Teussen and Energija Chernovets slipped up on matchday 7, with Teussen falling to current league leaders FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2-0 at home. FC St. Jakob also managed to take 3 points at home against 1912 Stelburg. FK Metropola Borograd seemed to put things right against VfL Reinbronn as they took a decisive 3-0 victory. FK Pomorie didn't seem too worn out over last week's derby loss and managed to tie against VfB Launitz to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. TSV Marzig seemed tired early as they were down 1-0 at the half against Marlesee but came back for two goals in the second half to take another win. Olympia Borograd won another high-scoring affair with a 4-2 win over Stahlberg, and SV Preisfeld finally returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Rudar.

Matchday 8
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 SV Preisfeld
SW Stahlberg 3–1 Rudar Trkev
TSV Marzig 2–1 Olympia Borograd
VfB Launitz 3–1 Marlesee 97
VfB Marlesee 3–2 FK Pomorie
VfL Reinbronn 0–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–3 FK Metropola Borograd
1912 Stelburg 2–5 FC Teussen Stelburg
Energija Chernovets 3–2 FC St. Jakob
FC Kaiserhaven 0–4 FC Rotmunde 1932

17 year old Michael Ribbeck scored a hat-trick to lead SW Stahlberg over Rudar Trkev. Ribbeck’s is a name quickly rising in status with Stahlberg fans, the hat-trick taking him up to 6 goals on the season and his overall play being well-regarded. Elsewhere, TSV Marzig have put together a nice 3 game win streak in the Republikaliga and beat out Olympia Borograd 2-1 at home. FK Metropola continue their rebound and win 3-0 for the second straight week, knocking down a good team in FC Felsenkirchen away from home. The tie of the round was the Stelburg Derby, which saw an early 2-0 lead for 1912 erased by 5 goals from Teussen in the second half, including braces from both Thorsten Kramer and Theodor Aberbach.

Matchday 9
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FC St. Jakob 2–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–3 Energija Chernovets
FK Metropola Borograd 3–2 1912 Stelburg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–5 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Pomorie 4–1 VfL Reinbronn
Marlesee 97 2–2 VfB Marlesee
Olympia Borograd 0–0 VfB Launitz
Rudar Trkev 3–4 TSV Marzig
SV Preisfeld 0–0 SW Stahlberg

The most important game of the round saw Energija Chernovets head to Stelburg to play against FC Teussen. The match was even throughout, 2-2 at half time before finishing 3-3. It was a result deserved by each team, and one of the best games in the Republikaliga this season. FK Metropola continued a great run of form and beat 1912 Stelburg coming back from 2-1 down at halftime. Felsenkirchen’s great start to the season continued with a big 5-2 win over Orlovska Bistrica, while Pomorie beat down on seemingly-dead VfL Reinbronn. Marzig’s win streak continues and takes them up to 5th place in the league.

Matchday 10
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 SW Stahlberg
TSV Marzig 2–1 SV Preisfeld
VfB Launitz 1–3 Rudar Trkev
VfB Marlesee 2–4 Olympia Borograd
VfL Reinbronn 0–0 Marlesee 97
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–0 FK Pomorie
1912 Stelburg 2–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Energija Chernovets 1–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Kaiserhaven 5–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 FC St. Jakob

Vrnovo’s style claims another victim as Stahlberg fall victim to the 0-0 draw in a great effort by Vrnovo’s defence. Marzig have managed to move up to 2nd place in the league throughout the first 10 matchdays with a 2-1 win over SV Preisfeld, and are on a rich patch of form at the moment. Their rival Pomorie lost to the league leaders Felsenkirchen who have a 2 point cushion at the top. Both Stelburg clubs lost, Teussen in a particularly exciting 5-3 match against FC Kaiserhaven and Stelburg dropping at home to Orlovska Bistrica. Metropola Borograd continued their comeback in the standings and jumped to third with a win away over Energija Chernovets.

Matchday 11
FC St. Jakob 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–3 Energija Chernovets
FK Pomorie 0–1 1912 Stelburg
Marlesee 97 2–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Olympia Borograd 2–0 VfL Reinbronn
Rudar Trkev 3–3 VfB Marlesee
SV Preisfeld 1–3 VfB Launitz
SW Stahlberg 3–4 TSV Marzig

An interesting matchday in the league, as the TSV Marzig went top of the league after they won 4-3 over SW Stahlberg. Ludwig Reichwein scored 2 goals as his great form continued, however it remains to be seen if TSV Marzig will be able to have a long reign at the top of the league. Teussen Stelburg pulled off a 4-2 win at home over Rotmunde, while Metropola’s run was stopped in a 1-1 draw with FC Kaiserhaven at home. FC Felsenkirchen dropped to 2nd in the league following a disappointing away loss to Marlesee 97.

Matchday 12
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 TSV Marzig
VfB Launitz 1–2 SW Stahlberg
VfB Marlesee 0–2 SV Preisfeld
VfL Reinbronn 1–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–2 Olympia Borograd
1912 Stelburg 0–0 Marlesee 97
Energija Chernovets 3–0 FK Pomorie
FC Kaiserhaven 3–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC St. Jakob 2–1 FC Teussen Stelburg

And Marzig’s reign, and win streak, both come to an end after they are trapped by Vrnovo Mesto. Ilian Strashilov’s last minute winner on the counter-attack allowed Felsenkirchen to regain their place at the top of the league with a 3-2 win against Olympia Borograd. Energija Chernovets took advantage of off days for both Metropola and FC Teussen Stelburg in order to move up to second in the league with a 3-0 domination of FK Pomorie.

Matchday 13
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Metropola Borograd 1–4 FC St. Jakob
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–3 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Pomorie 1–3 FC Kaiserhaven
Marlesee 97 1–1 Energija Chernovets
Olympia Borograd 1–2 1912 Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 4–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
SV Preisfeld 1–0 VfL Reinbronn
SW Stahlberg 3–2 VfB Marlesee
TSV Marzig 2–2 VfB Launitz

FC Teussen get their date with the Islanders out of the way with a 3-1 win, while at the Metropola-Stadion FC St. Jakob went top of the league with a 4-1 win over FK Metropola, seeing Ludwig Plessner score a brace in the massive away day win. 1912 Stelburg ensured that both Borograd clubs lost at home taking down Olympia 2-1. Rudar Trkev beat Felsenkirchen at home, while TSV Marzig took a point at home in a close encounter with VfB Launitz.

Matchday 14
Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 VfB Launitz
VfB Marlesee 2–2 TSV Marzig
VfL Reinbronn 1–2 SW Stahlberg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–0 SV Preisfeld
1912 Stelburg 0–1 Rudar Trkev
Energija Chernovets 3–0 Olympia Borograd
FC Kaiserhaven 4–4 Marlesee 97
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–3 FK Pomorie
FC St. Jakob 2–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–1 FK Metropola Borograd

It’s FC Felsenkirchen back on top of the league, thanks to an early Johannes Mandl goal that was defended perfectly for the rest of the match. Energija Chernovets flew past Olympia Borograd thanks to a two goal game from Miroslav Dinev and won 3-0. Kaiserhaven and Marlesee 97 played a great game with Kaiserhaven blowing 2-0 and 4-2 leads at home to see the match end 4-4. In the last tie of the weekend, Teussen Stelburg beat Metropola Borograd 2-1 in a tight affair that ended in heartbreak for Metropola as it was left back Dietmar Kleinmann that used his speed to get into the box during injury time and get a late winner for Teussen.

President’s Cup Second Round

The President’s Cup returns after round 14 of league matches, and got off to a great start for FK Orlovska Bistrica as they took down second-tier NK Vrnovo 6-0 with a hat-trick from the winger Vlad Radulov. FC Kaiserhaven were upset at home by VfL Prutseren, and Olympia Borograd escaped a scare away to VfB Truiselwald with a 1-0 win. FC Teussen Stelburg beat TSV Georg-Blocher 3-0 in an easy match, while FC St. Jakob knocked out Metropola in a 3-2 classic. Marzig, Reinbronn and Stahlberg were Republikaliga teams who took wins out of the second round, but it was 3rd division side VfL Bamerntal who were the darlings of the round, with a shocking 3-2 extra time victory over Preisfeld. 16 teams now remain in the cup, including 10 Republikaliga teams.

Matchday 15
FK Metropola Borograd 4–2 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Pomorie 2–3 FC St. Jakob
Marlesee 97 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
Olympia Borograd 4–3 FC Kaiserhaven
Rudar Trkev 1–2 Energija Chernovets
SV Preisfeld 3–4 1912 Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 2–5 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
TSV Marzig 1–3 VfL Reinbronn
VfB Launitz 0–1 VfB Marlesee

It was a big day for the teams at the top, as Metropola Borograd kicked off matchday 15 with a big 4-2 win over Vrnovo Mesto. FC Teussen Stelburg and FC St. Jakob both had 3 goals as they beat FK Orlovska Bistrica and FK Pomorie respectively. Olympia took down Kaiserhaven in yet another high-scoring affair for the green-whites. 1912 Stelburg grabbed a good win over Preisfeld although the defence looked shaky, and Felsenkirchen blew past Stahlberg 5-2. Crisis club VfL Reinbronn put 3 goals past TSV Marzig who did not look on top of their game.

Having reached matchday 15 of the campaign, let’s take a look at the league standings.

Republikaliga                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      15   10   1   4    34   23  +11    31
 2 Energija Chernovets        15    9   3   3    34   23  +11    30
 3 FC Teussen Stelburg        15    9   2   4    41   29  +12    29
 4 FC St. Jakob               15    9   2   4    32   22  +10    29
 5 TSV Marzig                 15    7   4   4    27   24   +3    25
 6 FC Kaiserhaven             15    7   3   5    33   31   +2    24
 7 FK Metropola Borograd      15    6   5   4    25   20   +5    23
 8 FC Rotmunde 1932           15    6   5   4    23   22   +1    23
 9 Olympia Borograd           15    6   4   5    32   28   +4    22
10 FK Orlovska Bistrica       15    7   1   7    27   35   −8    22
11 1912 Stelburg              15    6   3   6    25   25    0    21
12 SV Preisfeld               15    6   3   6    22   24   −2    21
13 SW Stahlberg               15    5   5   5    21   24   −3    20
14 Marlesee 97                15    4   7   4    24   23   +1    19
15 VfB Launitz                15    5   4   6    25   27   −2    19
16 Rudar Trkev                15    5   1   9    26   30   −4    16
17 Vrnovo Mesto               15    3   4   8     8   19  −11    13
18 FK Pomorie                 15    3   2  10    28   34   −6    11
19 VfB Marlesee               15    2   5   8    25   34   −9    11
20 VfL Reinbronn              15    2   2  11     8   23  −15     8

FC Felsenkirchen 1879 have been the class of the league so far, and they will certainly hope to continue that over the rest of the season. FC Teussen will be disappointed to be in third place, but know that they can still move up. Energija Chernovets have quietly put together a solid start to the season, and could be a dark horse candidate to win the league title. TSV Marzig have been a large surprise story so far and are in 5th place in the league. Another success story would be FC St. Jakob who have been top 4 quality all season. There are some teams that have not performed to expectations this season, particularly both Borograd clubs. Metropola find themselves 7th after being talked about as potential title winners, and Olympia are 9th. SW Stahlberg haven’t been able to find their boots offensively although Michael Ribbeck has put together a decent season. 1912 Stelburg also must be hoping for better fortunes in the rest of the season. At the bottom, VfL Reinbronn have only scored 8 goals and managed but 8 points and seem certain to get relegated. With them are VfB Marlesee and FK Pomorie, who have looked terrible since a good start in the first two matches. Vrnovo Mesto are another club in danger of the drop who will need to make each performance count for the rest of the season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:54 pm

Republikaliga Season I: Matchdays 16-30

Matchday 16

Vrnovo Mesto 4–3 VfB Marlesee
VfL Reinbronn 2–2 VfB Launitz
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 TSV Marzig
1912 Stelburg 4–2 SW Stahlberg
Energija Chernovets 4–3 SV Preisfeld
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–3 Olympia Borograd
FC St. Jakob 2–2 Marlesee 97
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–1 FK Pomorie
FK Metropola Borograd 4–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica

Vrnovo Mesto played a rare exciting game against VfB Marlesee, as a clash of defensive and offensive styles produced a cracker at the Ostrovi-Arena, and Stanimir Varbanov had a brace in Vrnovo’s victory. TSV Marzig went away to FC Felsenkirchen and took 3 points off a penalty goal from Ludwig Reichwein, who is having a brilliant season at the Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion. More big wins were had by 1912 Stelburg and FK Metropola Borograd, each winning 4-2. FC Teussen slipped up at home and drew with Pomorie. Miroslav Dinev had a four-goal game to see Energija Chernovets over Preisfeld 4-3 and is quietly putting together a season worthy of a Golden Boot, should Energija’s good form continue.

Matchday 17

FK Orlovska Bistrica 3–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Pomorie 1–4 FK Metropola Borograd
Marlesee 97 2–4 FC Teussen Stelburg
Olympia Borograd 2–1 FC St. Jakob
Rudar Trkev 2–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
SV Preisfeld 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
SW Stahlberg 0–1 Energija Chernovets
TSV Marzig 1–1 1912 Stelburg
VfB Launitz 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
VfB Marlesee 1–1 VfL Reinbronn

Big away days were had for FK Metropola Borograd and FC Teussen Stelburg, scoring 4 goals each and making FK Pomorie and Marlesee 97 suffer. Olympia Borograd took a 2-1 victory over FC St. Jakob in one of the best games all year, including a hotly debated no call on a potential penalty for St. Jakob in stoppage time. Energija Chernovets picked up a scrappy away win 1-0 over SW Stahlberg, while TSV Marzig welcomed 1912 Stelburg and came away with a point in an evenly-matched affair. Felsenkirchen took a much welcome away win off of VfB Launitz, and relegation candidates Reinbronn and VfB Marlesee split the prizes at the Marlesee-Stadion.

Matchday 18

Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 VfL Reinbronn
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–0 VfB Marlesee
1912 Stelburg 3–1 VfB Launitz
Energija Chernovets 3–3 TSV Marzig
FC Kaiserhaven 0–0 SW Stahlberg
FC Rotmunde 1932 4–1 SV Preisfeld
FC St. Jakob 1–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–1 Olympia Borograd
FK Metropola Borograd 3–2 Marlesee 97
FK Orlovska Bistrica 4–2 FK Pomorie

Felsenkirchen’s home win against VfB Marlesee puts them second to Energija Chernovets in the league only on goal differential. The clubs are tied on points, partially thanks to a 3-3 tie between Energija Chernovets and TSV Marzig which was a duel between leading strikers Ludwig Reichwein and Miroslav Dinev, each with a brace in the match. FC Rotmunde smashed SV Preisfeld 4-1, with Lennard Scheider having a brace in the match. FC Teussen won the National Derby 2-1 over Olympia, while Metropola Borograd were able to knock off Marlesee 97 by a 3-2 final score.

Matchday 19
FK Pomorie 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto
Marlesee 97 5–4 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Olympia Borograd 2–4 FK Metropola Borograd
Rudar Trkev 2–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
SV Preisfeld 1–0 FC St. Jakob
SW Stahlberg 3–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
TSV Marzig 1–0 FC Kaiserhaven
VfB Launitz 2–3 Energija Chernovets
VfB Marlesee 2–3 1912 Stelburg
VfL Reinbronn 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

Back to back weeks, back to back derby losses for Olympia Borograd. Losing to FC Teussen last week, the Dragons got beat out by hated rival Metropola at home in the Borograd Derby. The match saw Metropola get out to a quick 2-0 lead, and while Olympia brought the score to both 2-1 and 3-2 at points Metropola never looked truly in danger of losing. Marlesee 97 and Orlovska Bistrica played a great match that ended in a 5-4 win for the hosts thanks to Reiner Jentzch’s brace. TSV Marzig and FC Felsenkirchen both had good 1-0 wins over Kaiserhaven and Reinbronn, who are sitting last on 11 points exactly halfway through the season.

Matchday 20

Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
VfL Reinbronn 0–2 1912 Stelburg
VfB Marlesee 1–6 Energija Chernovets
VfB Launitz 2–2 FC Kaiserhaven
TSV Marzig 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
SW Stahlberg 0–2 FC St. Jakob
SV Preisfeld 2–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 0–1 FK Metropola Borograd
Olympia Borograd 2–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Marlesee 97 1–0 FK Pomorie

The story of the round has to be the reckoning VfB Marlesee received at the hands of Energija Chernovets 6-1. The game was never in doubt and Marlesee looked dead from the moment the whistle blew. There was also an upset to be found as Vrnovo caught Felsenkirchen on the counter to take three very valuable points in the relegation fight. FC Teussen slipped against SV Preisfeld again, this time taking a 2-2 draw, while both the Borograd clubs came away from the week with victories.

President’s Cup Third Round

The third round of the President’s Cup kicked off with the National Derby, and FC Teussen Stelburg delivered a beating to Olympia Borograd 5-2 away. The match was never in doubt for Teussen, and Olympia fans have lost what many considered to be a great chance at silverware for their young squad, who are currently 10th in the Republikaliga. Third-tier VfB Giesenau got past Prutseren easily, while FC St. Jakob, SW Stahlberg and 1912 Stelburg were Republikaliga sides who dispatched lower-tier opposition. TSV Marzig and VfB Marlesee played an 11-goal thriller that went to extra time before finally Ludwig Reichwein gave Marzig the win with his fourth of the game in the 116th minute. VfB Launitz also required extra time to get past SVG Bainitz, while the shock of the round was third-tier VfL Bamerntal knocking out FK Orlovska Bistrica. Bamerntal have now knocked out two Republikaliga sides, and it appears the magic of the cup is truly alive in one of the smallest teams in the entire national football pyramid.

Matchday 21

Marlesee 97 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Pomorie 3–3 Olympia Borograd
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–2 Rudar Trkev
FK Metropola Borograd 1–0 SV Preisfeld
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 SW Stahlberg
FC St. Jakob 6–4 TSV Marzig
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–0 VfB Launitz
FC Kaiserhaven 3–1 VfB Marlesee
Energija Chernovets 4–3 VfL Reinbronn
1912 Stelburg 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

FK Pomorie clawed back from 2-0 down in order to draw Olympia Borograd 3-3 at home, while FK Metropola Borograd continued their climb up the table into 3rd place thanks to a 1-0 victory over struggling SV Preisfeld. Teussen pulled off a win over SW Stahlberg, who are still sitting in 14th place in the league with large question marks over many of the side’s performances. Rotmunde and Kaiserhaven were winners of mostly uneventful matches, while 1912 Stelburg and Felsenkirchen cancelled each other out 1-1 in a tense match. FC St. Jakob’s 6-4 win over TSV Marzig was quite controversial as the visiting Marzig side had an goal ruled out for offside despite replay clearly showing the play was onside early in the match. St. Jakob took a 2-0 lead shortly after and never really had to look back as they held 4-1 and 6-2 leads before Marzig scored a few late goals to make the match seem closer than it was. Energija put in another hard-working performance at home against Reinbronn, and have quietly built a 5 point lead on top of the Republikaliga table.

Matchday 22

Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 1912 Stelburg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–1 Energija Chernovets
VfL Reinbronn 0–1 FC Kaiserhaven
VfB Marlesee 2–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
VfB Launitz 2–5 FC St. Jakob
TSV Marzig 3–4 FC Teussen Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 3–2 FK Metropola Borograd
SV Preisfeld 4–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Rudar Trkev 1–0 FK Pomorie
Olympia Borograd 2–0 Marlesee 97

Vrnovo Mesto have put together a string of results against top-ranked teams and now have an 8 point advantage on the automatic relegation places. Energija’s 5 point advantage was cut to only two, as they fell 3-1 away to Felsenkirchen and FC Teussen Stelburg put in a master class on offence against TSV Marzig. Outplayed much of the game, Teussen seemed to score every opportunity they got frustrating Marzig who did not play at all poorly. Michael Ribbeck had 2 goals as he continues to have a great season for SW Stahlberg, who defeated Metropola Borograd 3-2. Rudar Trkev put an 11 point gap between themselves and the relegation zone with a win over FK Pomorie.

Matchday 23

Olympia Borograd 2–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Marlesee 97 1–1 Rudar Trkev
FK Pomorie 1–1 SV Preisfeld
FK Orlovska Bistrica 3–1 SW Stahlberg
FK Metropola Borograd 1–0 TSV Marzig
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–2 VfB Launitz
FC St. Jakob 1–0 VfB Marlesee
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–2 VfL Reinbronn
FC Kaiserhaven 2–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Energija Chernovets 4–4 1912 Stelburg

Energija Chernovets’ 5 point advantage at the top of the table seems to be complete history now, as due to the side throwing away a 4-2 lead against 1912 Stelburg, FC Teussen Stelburg were able to equal them on 47 points each after their 3-2 home win against VfB Launitz that saw Thorsten Kramer score a brace playing in the attacking midfield. VfL Reinbronn grabbed a surprising 2-0 win over Rotmunde away from home, and the side have been playing better in recent matches. FC Kaiserhaven seem to have Felsenkirchen’s number this year, having beaten them twice in the league and also in the Cup, taking a 2-1 victory at home thanks to a brace from Paulus Leistner.

Matchday 24

Vrnovo Mesto 0–2 Energija Chernovets
1912 Stelburg 1–2 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–3 FC Rotmunde 1932
VfL Reinbronn 1–3 FC St. Jakob
VfB Marlesee 0–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
VfB Launitz 0–3 FK Metropola Borograd
TSV Marzig 3–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
SW Stahlberg 2–1 FK Pomorie
SV Preisfeld 1–1 Marlesee 97
Rudar Trkev 3–2 Olympia Borograd

Energija Chernovets took a very welcome three points in a tricky match with Vrnovo, it wasn’t until the 65th minute that Energija struck but they put the game quickly out of sight soon after with another goal in the 72nd minute. In the Northeast Coast Derby, Rotmunde bested Felsenkirchen 3-1 away from home, reversing the favour from earlier in the season. Felsenkirchen have experienced a poor run of form and find themselves 6 points off the top. Teussen and Metropola both had easy wins over relegation-threatened opposition, while Rudar Trkev managed to take all three points at home against Olympia Borograd, who find themselves 8th in the league.

Matchday 25

Rudar Trkev 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
Olympia Borograd 2–5 SV Preisfeld
Marlesee 97 4–4 SW Stahlberg
FK Pomorie 1–1 TSV Marzig
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–0 VfB Launitz
FK Metropola Borograd 2–1 VfB Marlesee
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–1 VfL Reinbronn
FC St. Jakob 1–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Rotmunde 1932 4–2 1912 Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 0–2 Energija Chernovets

Trkev have a nice win streak on their hands thanks to a 1-0 victory over Vrnovo, and are almost certainly safe for another season in the Republikaliga. Olympia Borograd’s troubles continue as they lost 5-2 against SV Preisfeld, with Preisfeld striker Friedrich Brunke earning the match ball. Marlesee 97 and SW Stahlberg played an exciting 4-4 draw, Werner Schott having two goals for the home side. Teussen Stelburg took the league lead on goals for, being even with Energija Chernovets on both points and goal difference, thanks to a 3-1 win over last place Reinbronn. Finally, in a rematch of the Pomorie-Marzig Derby, FK Pomorie managed to hold onto a 1-1 draw with their hated rivals to avoid complete embarrassment. This time around, only 6 arrests were made.

Matchday 26

Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
Energija Chernovets 0–3 FC Rotmunde 1932
1912 Stelburg 4–2 FC St. Jakob
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
VfL Reinbronn 1–3 FK Metropola Borograd
VfB Marlesee 4–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
VfB Launitz 0–1 FK Pomorie
TSV Marzig 4–5 Marlesee 97
SW Stahlberg 4–3 Olympia Borograd
SV Preisfeld 5–2 Rudar Trkev

Matchday 26 was a day of missed opportunities at the top of the table. After watching Energija Chernovets get run off the park by FC Rotmunde 3-0, Teussen Stelburg fell in a 3-2 decision against a Felsenkirchen side who seem to be on rebound after a rough patch. Metropola Borograd won, however, pulling them into a three way tie for 1st in the league on points. Another exciting match was seen at the Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion, as host Marzig lost to Marlesee 97 5-4 in a high-octane affair, Vinzenz Eichel rueing his missed penalty in the 25th minute. SV Preisfeld played another excellent match and have scored 10 in their last 2 games, winning 5-2 over Rudar Trkev.

President’s Cup Quarterfinal

VfB Launitz 1–1 TSV Marzig (1–1 AET) (2–4 pen.)
FC St. Jakob 2–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
1912 Stelburg 1–1 SW Stahlberg (3–2 AET)
VfB Giesenau 0–1 VfL Bamerntal

All football fans were excited to see the quarterfinal draw pit Bamerntal against Giesenau, as it ensured a third division side a place in the semi-final. Bamental took victory over Giesenau, and their prize is a home match against FC Teussen Stelburg, who defeated St. Jakob 3-2 in a tight affair. Bamerntal’s Gemeindepark stadium seats only 5,500, and it can be expected that a large portion of the town’s 20,000 population will be in attendance. Teussen have to be the heavy, heavy favourites but perhaps Bamerntal can pull off an upset for the ages. The other semi-final match will see TSV Marzig, who won on penalties over Launitz, take on 1912 Stelburg for a trip to the finals. The most exciting finals possibility is of course a Stelburg Derby between 1912 and Teussen, however an upset in either of those games would set the stage for a great final as well.

Matchday 27

SV Preisfeld 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Rudar Trkev 0–3 SW Stahlberg
Olympia Borograd 1–1 TSV Marzig
Marlesee 97 1–1 VfB Launitz
FK Pomorie 3–1 VfB Marlesee
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–0 VfL Reinbronn
FK Metropola Borograd 3–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–3 1912 Stelburg
FC St. Jakob 2–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–2 FC Kaiserhaven

Preisfeld are brought back down to earth and draw 1-1 with Vrnovo Mesto. TSV Marzig, fresh off an exhausting midweek Cup match, manage to grab a valuable away point against Olympia Borograd but have fallen from peaking at 1st in the league earlier in the season all the way to 13th place. FK Pomorie took three massive points against fellow relegation contender VfB Marlesee, and Pomorie have managed to climb to 16th in the division. Metropola and Felsenkirchen tied in a 3-3 draw that, for all the scoring involved was not the most exciting game of the year. Energija Chernovets capitalized on Metropola’s slip and won away to St. Jakob, putting themselves 2 points clear. The win was made even more valuable as Teussen Stelburg lost the Stelburg Derby at home to 1912. Teussen found themselves up 2-0 at the half, but Ernst Kurschner had other ideas in mind and scored a brace, adding to Josh Meckler’s header from a corner to secure the win for 1912.

Matchday 28

Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Kaiserhaven 2–3 FC St. Jakob
Energija Chernovets 1–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
1912 Stelburg 4–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
VfL Reinbronn 0–0 FK Pomorie
VfB Marlesee 2–2 Marlesee 97
VfB Launitz 2–3 Olympia Borograd
TSV Marzig 1–4 Rudar Trkev
SW Stahlberg 1–0 SV Preisfeld

1912 Stelburg continued their great momentum coming off a victory in the Stelburg Derby to take down Metropola Borograd 4-2 at home, Anton Dimitrov’s brace not being good enough for the losing side. The Marlesee Derby ended in a 2-2 draw, 97 arguably leaving the happier side, sitting 13th now with 37 points almost guaranteed safety while VfB face relegation. Elsewhere, Olympia Borograd took down VfB Launitz and Rudar Trkev smashed Marzig 4-1 away. The biggest match of the day saw FC Teussen travel to Chernovets to take on Energija in a huge match at the top of the table. While Teussen looked better for several stretches, the match was overall in Energija’s favour and it was Viktor Dimitrov’s goal in the 43rd minute that ensured their victory, and another 5 point lead at the top.

Matchday 29

SW Stahlberg 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
SV Preisfeld 3–3 TSV Marzig
Rudar Trkev 1–3 VfB Launitz
Olympia Borograd 1–0 VfB Marlesee
Marlesee 97 0–0 VfL Reinbronn
FK Pomorie 2–4 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–2 1912 Stelburg
FK Metropola Borograd 2–0 Energija Chernovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FC St. Jakob 4–1 FC Rotmunde 1932

Two tough games in two weeks appeared to be too much for Energija Chernovets to handle, as Anton Dimitrov dispatched them with a quick early brace. Dimitrov has had a brilliant season at left forward for Metropola, and could be a candidate for the Golden Boot at the end of the year. FC Teussen got back on track with a solid performance against Kaiserhaven, 1-0 probably flattered the south coast side. FC St. Jakob have put together some good results recently, and with a Leo Heiden brace saw off Rotmunde 4-1 to take them up to second in the division. Felsenkirchen haven’t had as great a go of things as they did at the start of the season, but their 4-2 win over FK Pomorie brings them to 8 points behind Energija.

Matchday 30

Vrnovo Mesto 2–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Rotmunde 1932 6–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 3–2 FK Metropola Borograd
Energija Chernovets 5–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
1912 Stelburg 5–1 FK Pomorie
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–1 Marlesee 97
VfL Reinbronn 0–1 Olympia Borograd
VfB Marlesee 0–2 Rudar Trkev
VfB Launitz 3–1 SV Preisfeld
TSV Marzig 2–2 SW Stahlberg

As quickly as St. Jakob seemed to become everyone’s dark horse pick for the title, they drop points away to Vrnovo Mesto, who for all their pragmatism (20 goals through 30 games) seem to be safe from relegation, 7 points above FK Pomorie who look completely flat, having lost by a combined score of 9-3 in their last two matches. Olympia Borograd picked up a nice win against VfL Reinbronn, who sit dead last in the division and are all but relegated. Energija inched closer to the promised land with a 5-1 home win over Orlovska Bistrica thanks to a Miroslav Dinev hat-trick. The 28 year old striker is in the form of his life and is considered by many the league’s top player this season. Another on-form striker is Michael Ribbeck, who scored a brace against Marzig to continue an extremely impressive rookie season. His main rival for young player of the year, Thorsten Kramer of Teussen, did not have a good day on the pitch as his side fell 6-2 away to Rotmunde. The Rotmunde-Stadion was rocking as Max Koehler and Vinzenz Spiess had 2 each, and Teussen were blown away completely.

With 30 matches in the books, the Republikaliga enters the final stretch of the season.

Republikaliga                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Energija Chernovets        30   19   5   6    73   50  +23    62
 2 FK Metropola Borograd      30   17   6   7    62   42  +20    57
 3 FC St. Jakob               30   18   3   9    65   46  +19    57
 4 FC Teussen Stelburg        30   17   5   8    72   56  +16    56
 5 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      30   16   4  10    54   43  +11    52
 6 1912 Stelburg              30   14   8   8    65   52  +13    50
 7 FC Rotmunde 1932           30   14   7   9    55   46   +9    49
 8 FC Kaiserhaven             30   13   8   9    53   49   +4    47
 9 Olympia Borograd           30   13   7  10    62   58   +4    46
10 SW Stahlberg               30   11   8  11    46   49   −3    41
11 FK Orlovska Bistrica       30   12   4  14    58   69  −11    40
12 Marlesee 97                30    8  15   7    52   52    0    39
13 SV Preisfeld               30   10   9  11    51   52   −1    39
14 Rudar Trkev                30   12   3  15    47   51   −4    39
15 TSV Marzig                 30    9  11  10    55   59   −4    38
16 Vrnovo Mesto               30    7   9  14    20   35  −15    30
17 VfB Launitz                30    7   7  16    45   58  −13    28
18 FK Pomorie                 30    5   8  17    45   62  −17    23
19 VfB Marlesee               30    4   7  19    43   69  −26    19
20 VfL Reinbronn              30    3   8  19    19   44  −25    17

Things are tight at the top of the table, as Energija Chernovets carry a 5 point lead into the final stretch. 4 teams feasibly could win the title, however, with Metropola Borograd, Teussen Stelburg and FC St. Jakob each in with a shout. Chernovets have the obvious advantage, and have room for an error in the final 8 matches. Metropola, Teussen and St. Jakob do not have that advantage and need to play perfect football to win. Of the three chasers, Metropola have the best form however Teussen have an easier run-in. At the other end of the table, Reinbronn appear down being 6 points back of the 18th spot and the relegation play-off, while VfB Marlesee seem to be the team that will join them in the red zone. FK Pomorie will be hoping to hold on to a play-off placement with 23 points, as they are unlikely to catch Launitz sitting on 28 points. The run-in should certainly be an exciting one as the Republikaliga reaches a sprint to the finish, with the title still in the balance.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 9:15 am

Republikaliga Season I: Matchdays 31-38

Matchday 31

TSV Marzig 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto
SW Stahlberg 2–2 VfB Launitz
SV Preisfeld 1–0 VfB Marlesee
Rudar Trkev 1–0 VfL Reinbronn
Olympia Borograd 0–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Marlesee 97 2–5 1912 Stelburg
FK Pomorie 4–4 Energija Chernovets
FK Orlovska Bistrica 3–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Metropola Borograd 4–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–0 FC St. Jakob

The run in starts here, and already the situation has changed greatly. Energija gave up a late equalizer to FK Pomorie, but really shouldn’t have been in such a close game with the relegation-tier side anyways. Miro Dinev inched closer to the Golden Boot with a brace, but it was only a point for the Chernovets side. Metropola Borograd’s Anton Dimitrov is the unsung hero of the Republikaliga and he earned the match ball in a 4-2 win over Rotmunde, while Teussen Stelburg took a hard-fought 2-0 win over St. Jakob at home.

Matchday 32

Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC St. Jakob 1–0 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Kaiserhaven 3–1 FK Pomorie
Energija Chernovets 3–1 Marlesee 97
1912 Stelburg 1–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–2 Rudar Trkev
VfL Reinbronn 4–4 SV Preisfeld
VfB Marlesee 2–5 SW Stahlberg
VfB Launitz 3–2 TSV Marzig

And while last week the title looked as if it were slipping from Energija’s hands, this week they are right back on top of things with a great performance and a great three points taken off Marlesee 97. FC St. Jakob’s 1-0 win over Metropola puts them back on track in the title race, the home win being exactly what the club needed after the loss against Teussen. Speaking of the capital club, they tripped up against a solid Vrnovo backline who held Teussen to a 0-0 draw. Another interesting match saw 1912 Stelburg and Olympia Borograd tie 1-1. A special mention also goes out to Michael Ribbeck, who scored 4 goals for SW Stahlberg to see them past VfB Marlesee, and giving him a total of 16 on the season. That is an incredible feat for the rookie who came into the league with zero expectations.

Matchday 33

VfB Launitz 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
TSV Marzig 2–1 VfB Marlesee
SW Stahlberg 1–2 VfL Reinbronn
SV Preisfeld 1–4 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Rudar Trkev 2–2 1912 Stelburg
Olympia Borograd 2–2 Energija Chernovets
Marlesee 97 0–2 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Pomorie 2–4 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–2 FC St. Jakob
FK Metropola Borograd 3–1 FC Teussen Stelburg

One of the biggest movers in the table is surprisingly VfL Reinbronn, who seem to have come alive recently and take a 2-1 away win over SW Stahlberg to move up to 19th in the league, and are only 3 points behind FK Pomorie for a place in the play-offs. Vrnovo Mesto took a rare away win off VfB Launitz, though it seems both clubs will be safe. Energija Chernovets found themselves part of a 2-2 draw away to Olympia Borograd, and knowing that at least one or both of Metropola and Teussen would drop points gave them comfort. In the end, it was Teussen that lost 3-1 away from home, seemingly putting them out of the title race. Anton Dimitrov’s brace, on the other hand, has given new hope to Metropola fans that they could still catch Energija, currently sitting 4 points above the Borograd side.

Matchday 34

Vrnovo Mesto 3–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC St. Jakob 5–4 FK Pomorie
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 Marlesee 97
FC Kaiserhaven 2–4 Olympia Borograd
Energija Chernovets 1–1 Rudar Trkev
1912 Stelburg 4–2 SV Preisfeld
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–0 SW Stahlberg
VfL Reinbronn 2–1 TSV Marzig
VfB Marlesee 2–2 VfB Launitz

Energija Chernovets have given the teams behind them several opportunities to catch up, including today’s 1-1 draw with Rudar Trkev, however they are not taking them. Metropola looked lost against Vrnovo Mesto, who shocked their opponent by scoring three in the first half before Metropola organized a futile comeback late in the game. Teussen drew at home to 11th placed Orlovska Bistrica in a match that was easily winnable. Only FC St. Jakob took a win, and even then it was a hard-fought 5-4 victory over a side in the relegation zone. VfL Reinbronn won again, and put themselves level on points with FK Pomorie, something no-one thought possible just 4 weeks ago. The team have given themselves an excellent chance to reach the relegation play-off.

Matchday 35

VfB Marlesee 2–2 Vrnovo Mesto
VfB Launitz 0–0 VfL Reinbronn
TSV Marzig 1–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
SW Stahlberg 1–1 1912 Stelburg
SV Preisfeld 0–1 Energija Chernovets
Rudar Trkev 3–2 FC Kaiserhaven
Olympia Borograd 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
Marlesee 97 0–1 FC St. Jakob
FK Pomorie 3–5 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–0 FK Metropola Borograd

All four title contenders played away matches today, however by the end of the 90 minutes it would not be wrong to say that the league leading Energija Chernovets had at least one hand on the trophy. A scrappy 1-0 win did not look pretty, but is a win a title-winning team would need at this stage in the season. St. Jakob also looked shaky but still beat Marlesee 97 1-0 to take them 4 points behind Energija. Teussen Stelburg seemed to take out all of their frustration due to their recent poor form on FK Pomorie, winning 5-3 away from home. Reinbronn’s draw against Launitz actually pushes Pomorie into the automatic relegation zone. Metropola Borograd proved unable to score against an Orlovska Bistrica team that played a tight defence, putting them into a position where they need all 9 points from the remaining games to even have a hope of winning the title. Energija need just 5 points to clinch the title in the first season of the Republikaliga.

Matchday 36

Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FK Metropola Borograd 0–0 FK Pomorie
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–0 Marlesee 97
FC St. Jakob 2–6 Olympia Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 4–2 Rudar Trkev
FC Kaiserhaven 0–2 SV Preisfeld
Energija Chernovets 1–4 SW Stahlberg
1912 Stelburg 1–1 TSV Marzig
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–1 VfB Launitz
VfL Reinbronn 3–4 VfB Marlesee

The pressure was on several teams on matchday 36, and Energija Chernovets proved unable to deal with it. They lost brutally at home 4-1 against SW Stahlberg, and there was not a sound as the Energija-Arena emptied after the match. There were plenty of sounds at the Metropola-Stadion, however, as the home side were booed off the pitch, without a win in 3 and drawing 0-0 against relegation side Pomorie. Anton Dimitrov admitted after the match that the performance was embarrassing, and apologized to the fans for the massive bottle job the side had done in the final leg of the season. FC St. Jakob appear to be out of the title race as well, dropping 6-2 at home to an energized Olympia Borograd side. Finally, Teussen Stelburg gave their fans fleeting hope with a 2-0 win over Marlesee 97 thanks to a Theodor Aberbach brace.

President’s Cup Semifinal

1912 Stelburg 1–1 TSV Marzig (2–1 AET)
VfL Bamerntal 2–1 FC Teussen Stelburg

Magic of the cup. The banner in the home end of the Gemeindepark showed the crests of the two previous Republikaliga teams Bamerntal knocked out crossed off in red, with the Teussen Stelburg crest next to it. Whether it was fear, failing to understand the workings of the tiny stadium, or some divine intervention, Teussen Stelburg looked lost on the day and paid the price for it. An early goal for the home side sent Bamerntal fans into raptures, and the Teussen players did not seem focused on the match at all afterwards. In the 65th minute, Bamerntal’s captain Leopold Simson stood over the ball for a free kick just outside the box. Of course, he scored and the third tier side led Teussen 2-0. Theodor Aberbach, subbed on in the 68th minute, would score from a corner in the 85th minute, but it was not enough. The final whistle blew, and the smallest but most passionate pitch invasion in the history of the President’s Cup was underway. VfL Bamerntal have reached the President’s Cup final. After the match, Teussen manager Kaspar Knauer looked shell-shocked as he gave the post match interview: ‘All credit to Bamerntal….they played an incredible match. It was not a good night for this football club, this is a very important trophy and I certainly hope our players were not distracted by the title chase...what more can I say? Best of luck to Bamerntal in the final.’ The other semi-final saw 1912 Stelburg get past TSV Marzig in extra time to set up the President’s Cup final between VfL Bamerntal and 1912 Stelburg. The entire nation will be watching and hoping for Bamerntal, however the safe bet is on 1912. If Bamerntal have but 90 minutes more magic in them, however, it could be the greatest moment of President’s Cup history.

Matchday 37

VfL Reinbronn 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
VfB Marlesee 3–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
VfB Launitz 1–3 1912 Stelburg
TSV Marzig 2–1 Energija Chernovets
SW Stahlberg 3–3 FC Kaiserhaven
SV Preisfeld 2–3 FC Rotmunde 1932
Rudar Trkev 1–3 FC St. Jakob
Olympia Borograd 2–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
Marlesee 97 3–4 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Pomorie 2–5 FK Orlovska Bistrica

No-one was quite sure how Teussen Stelburg would return to the Republikaliga after their disastrous night in Bamerntal midweek. They were greeted in Borograd to loud jeers from the home support, and a banner faced their tunnel reading ‘President’s Cup Finalists’ crossed out with a big red x. Tensions flared throughout the game, and when Olympia got out to a quick 1-0 lead, Teussen began racking up fouls. Teussen were level through Thorsten Kramer on the 34th minute, but entered the half down 2-1 when Nikola Karapetrov turned in a header from a corner in first half stoppage time. Theodor Aberbach brought Teussen level in the 67th minute, and in the end Rupert Holz was the hero on the day scoring in the 88th minute to give Teussen the win over their hated rival. His finger-to-mouth gesture in celebration left the Olympski-Stadion in silence as intended, and Teussen looked again the confident team they are expected to be. Metropola Borograd returned to winning ways against Marlesee 97, but even though Anton Dimitrov had another great game with a brace, it seems to be too little too late. The anger Metropola fans feel at the way their team handled the last matchdays of the season was felt even hotter considering Energija Chernovets lost away to TSV Marzig. This sets up a final day without a champion yet decided, with Chernovets on 71 points, Teussen and St. Jakob on 70, and Metropola on 68. Chernovets have the easiest match of the day, taking on VfB Launitz however their recent form could cast doubt on their ability to walk away with the title. Teussen are home to Rudar in what should be 3 points, while St. Jakob face a similar situation at home to Preisfeld. Metropola take on rival Olympia in an opportunity to erase the fan anger by winning the derby, and still theoretically have a shot at the title should each team above them slip. Their fans will be wondering, however, what could have been.

Matchday 38

Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FK Pomorie
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–2 Marlesee 97
FK Metropola Borograd 3–0 Olympia Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 5–2 Rudar Trkev
FC St. Jakob 2–1 SV Preisfeld
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Kaiserhaven 2–3 TSV Marzig
Energija Chernovets 4–3 VfB Launitz
1912 Stelburg 4–2 VfB Marlesee
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–2 VfL Reinbronn

Energija Chernovets become the first champion of the Republikaliga, thanks to a thrilling 4-3 over VfB Launitz. Energija, for all the doubts about whether they would be able to do it, never trailed in the match and always seemed in confident control. Miro Dinev’s early goal to make the score 2-0 ensured that he would take home the Golden Boot with 25 goals on the season. The title chasers each did what was required of them, Teussen winning 5-2 over Rudar and St. Jakob 2-1 over Preisfeld. Olympia lost yet another derby match, as Metropola came out inspired and took 3 quick goals to breeze past their rival. One goal was not enough for Dimitrov to steal away the Golden Boot at the last minute, however, and he ended the season on 24 goals. Vrnovo Mesto’s win over Pomorie relegated the side, and meant that VfL Reinbronn, who truly pulled off something special in the last 8 matches of the season, would go to the relegation play-off against the third placed side from the 2. Republikaliga. The first season of the Republikaliga was a huge success, with the physical, offensive style common in Siovanija and Teusland being ever-present throughout the season. Energija, despite a slow ending to the season, truly deserve their title.

Republikaliga                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Energija Chernovets        38   22   8   8    90   67  +23    74   Champions/Champion's Cup
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg        38   22   7   9    93   69  +24    73   Globe Cup
 3 FC St. Jakob               38   23   4  11    81   62  +19    73
 4 FK Metropola Borograd      38   21   8   9    78   52  +26    71
 5 1912 Stelburg              38   18  12   8    86   64  +22    66
 6 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      38   19   9  10    70   53  +17    66
 7 FC Rotmunde 1932           38   19   9  10    73   59  +14    66
 8 Olympia Borograd           38   15   9  14    77   74   +3    54
 9 FC Kaiserhaven             38   15   9  14    68   68    0    54
10 FK Orlovska Bistrica       38   15   8  15    74   80   −6    53
11 SW Stahlberg               38   13  13  12    63   61   +2    52
12 TSV Marzig                 38   12  13  13    67   71   −4    49
13 Rudar Trkev                38   14   6  18    61   70   −9    48
14 SV Preisfeld               38   12  10  16    64   70   −6    46
15 Vrnovo Mesto               38   10  13  15    28   41  −13    43
16 Marlesee 97                38    9  15  14    61   72  −11    42
17 VfB Launitz                38    8  11  19    57   73  −16    35
18 VfL Reinbronn              38    5  12  21    33   58  −25    27  Relegation Play-Off
19 FK Pomorie                 38    5  10  23    61   89  −28    25  Relegated
20 VfB Marlesee               38    5  10  23    59   91  −32    25

Chernovets have the title, but the curtain is not up on the football season just yet. The President's Cup Final, as well as season awards and lower division tables remain.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:35 am

Republikaliga Season I: Year in Review

With the end of the Republikaliga season seeing Energija Chernovets capturing their first title, it’s time to look back on some of the top performers of the season and recognize their achievements. Several awards are given out, including the Golden Boot for top scorer, Golden Ball for the league MVP, Best Forward, Defender and Keeper, Manager of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

Golden Boot
1 - Miroslav Dinev (Energija Chernovets), 25 goals
2 - Anton Dimitrov (FK Metropola Borograd), 24 goals
3 - Manuel Horn (FC St. Jakob), 22 goals
4 - Johannes Mandl (FC Felsenkirchen 1879), 21 goals
5 - Ludwig Reichwein (TSV Marzig), 20 goals
5 - Theodor Aberbach (FC Teussen Stelburg), 20 goals

With 25 goals throughout the season, Miroslav Dinev is awarded the Golden Boot.

Golden Ball

The Golden Ball, for league MVP, is decided through a vote by players and managers. The captain and manager of each team votes for a player, and the player with the most votes wins the award. This year, 3 players received votes:

1 - Miroslav Dinev (Energija Chernovets), 20 votes
2 - Viktor Dimitrov (Energija Chernovets), 13 votes
3 - Viktor Venev (FK Metropola Borograd), 7 votes

Miroslav Dinev received 20 total votes to beat out his Energija teammate Dimitrov and Metropola Borograd keeper Venev in order to take another trophy home after a great season for the star striker.

Best Players

The awards for best forward, midfielder, defender and keeper were voted on by the Siovanija and Teusland Sporting Press Association’s members.

Best Forward: Anton Dimitrov (FK Metropola Borograd)
Best Midfielder: Viktor Dimitrov (Energija Chernovets)
Best Defender: Stefan Licht (FC St. Jakob)
Best Keeper: Viktor Venev (FK Metropola Borograd)

Miro Dinev was unable to win the best forward title due to already winning the Golden Ball, and Anton Dimitrov was the clear winner of the award. Viktor Dimitrov and Viktor Venev, also MVP nominees, were easy choices while Stefan Licht led one of the best defences in the top 5 at FC St. Jakob, and looked strong all season.

Manager of the Year

Voted on by members of the United Football Association of Siovanija and Teusland

MotY: Apostol Manevski (Energija Chernovets)

Of course it would be the man who took home the title, as Manevski has really built Chernovets into a side to be reckoned with. A hero to fans of the green-yellows, it is possible he could be named manager of the national team in the future.

Young Player of the Year

This award, for players under the age of 23, is also voted by the Sporting Press Association.

YPotY: Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg)

It was a toss up between Ribbeck, who had 19 goals in 38 appearances in a stellar rookie season, and Thorsten Kramer who dominated for Teussen Stelburg in the midfield. The surprise story of Ribbeck won out, however, and the expectations will be high on him next season.

Lower League Results

We now shift our focus to the 2. Republikaliga, the Prventstovo-liga and the Teuslands Fussballliga. Going first to the second division, the season was a bit of a cakewalk for the three clubs who expected promotion. FK Vlaikograd 1896, who were generally considered a side who could have done well in the Republikaliga had they been placed there, went undefeated and had 30 wins on the season. Behind them were the two Bukovets clubs, with FK Raketa claiming the automatic promotion spot while Arsenal Bukovets will require a play-off against VfL Reinbronn to see if they will claim a spot in the Republikaliga next season.

2. Republikaliga          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FK Vlaikograd 1896      38   30   8   0    92   21  +71    98   Promoted
 2 FK Raketa Bukovets      38   31   4   3    89   22  +67    97
 3 Arsenal Bukovets        38   29   5   4    79   34  +45    92   Play-Off
 4 TSV Prattsee            38   17   9  12    58   53   +5    60
 5 FC Einheit Marnau       38   17   7  14    52   53   −1    58
 6 NK Krakovo              38   16   7  15    47   46   +1    55
 7 FC Magesbach            38   15   8  15    65   63   +2    53
 8 NK Kaskada              38   14   9  15    55   63   −8    51
 9 FC Truiselwald          38   14   8  16    57   58   −1    50
10 1884 Felsenkirchen      38   13   7  18    59   66   −7    46
11 Zvezda Vlaikograd       38   12  10  16    57   68  −11    46
12 TSV Lahnnenbruck        38   13   7  18    46   61  −15    46
13 VfL Prutseren           38   13   5  20    54   63   −9    44
14 SVG Bainitz             38   11  10  17    44   64  −20    43
15 NK Vrnovo               38   12   7  19    45   74  −29    43
16 1828 Pomen              38   12   5  21    60   78  −18    41
17 FC Giesenau             38   11   7  20    42   60  −18    40
18 NK Kraljgrad            38    8  10  20    47   63  −16    34
19 TSV Georg-Blocher       38    8  10  20    45   64  −19    34
20 Teufelsberg 97          38    8   9  21    38   57  −19    33

Teufelsberg 97 and NK Kraljgrad, as the lowest-ranking Teus and Siovanijan teams, will be relegated to the Teusslands Fussballliga and Prvenstovo-liga respectively and replaced by the champion of those divisions. In the Prvensstovo-liga, it was FC Ternau 05, a club from a Teus-speaking town near the border between Siovanija and Teusland, who captured the title thanks to a dramatic last day which saw NK Prevala throw away a chance to win the league, losing 2-1 as Ternau were only able to draw. In the Teusslands Fussballliga, Oststahlberg 08 managed to capture the league title and all-valuable promotion on goal difference over 1888 Runsen.

Prvenstovo-liga                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FC Ternau 05                     44   21   9  14    70   57  +13    72    Promoted
 2 NK Prevala                       44   20  10  14    71   59  +12    70
 3 Admiral Severno Pristajanje      44   19  11  14    63   53  +10    68
 4 FK Venkovets                     44   18  10  16    46   53   −7    64
 5 FK Kostinbrod                    44   18   8  18    56   55   +1    62
 6 NK Piran                         44   17  11  16    52   57   −5    62
 7 NK Vojnik                        44   15  15  14    57   53   +4    60
 8 NK Karjaska Gora                 44   15  14  15    57   52   +5    59
 9 Rudar Draijagrad                 44   15  12  17    63   61   +2    57
10 TSV Tarnitz                      44   14  14  16    76   84   −8    56
11 SK Republika Borograd            44   14  13  17    47   54   −7    55
12 NK Siovanska Gora                44    9  11  24    47   67  −20    38

Teuslands Fussballliga  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Oststahlberg 08          44   20  13  11    64   44  +20    73   Promoted
 2 1888 Runsen              44   21  10  13    75   63  +12    73
 3 TSV Konsford             44   20  12  12    65   57   +8    72
 4 VfL Magesbach            44   20  11  13    82   63  +19    71
 5 TSV Posenford            44   17  11  16    79   78   +1    62
 6 VfL Truhnscheid          44   16  13  15    57   58   −1    61
 7 VfL Bamerntal            44   18   7  19    64   70   −6    61
 8 VfB Truiselwald          44   16   8  20    60   74  −14    56
 9 VfB Giesenau             44   14  13  17    72   75   −3    55
10 FC Kischfeld             44   14  11  19    63   71   −8    53
11 FC Lahnnenbruck 98       44   11  13  20    56   71  −15    46
12 FC Teufelsberg           44   11  10  23    61   74  −13    43

Republikaliga Promotion-Relegation Play-Off

The play-off, between VfL Reinbronn and Arsenal Bukovets, will take place over two legs and decide which of the two sides will be in the Republikaliga next season.

Arsenal Bukovets 1-0 VfL Reinbronn
VfL Reinbronn 1-2 Arsenal Bukovets

While Reinbronn put in a great effort to reach the play-offs, picking up 10 points in their last 8 matches, it would not be enough. Arsenal Bukovets came into the play-off fresh off an incredible season in the 2. Republikaliga, and were able to get past Reinbronn at home 1-0. Reinbronn came out of the gate slow as well in the second match and fell behind 1-0 early, requiring them to score at least 3 to win due to away goals. A goal early into the second half for Reinbronn caused them to go all-out in hopes of scoring, and Arsenal would take advantage of this and put the tie to bed with an 85th minute goal. Arsenal Bukovets join rival FK Raketa Bukovets and FK Vlaikograd 1896 as 3 clubs from Siovanija join the league next season.

President's Cup Final

1912 Stelburg 2-2 VfL Bamerntal (2-2 AET, 7-8 pen.)

1912 Stelburg entered the match as heavy favourites, considering they came into the match on the tails of a solid end to the Republikaliga season and a strong performance at home against TSV Marzig in the semi-final, but it was the heavy underdogs VfL Bamerntal who walk away with all the glory of the night.

If the 1912 players felt any pressure before the game, it quickly dissipated and the side played zippy, fast football in the first few minutes. One of the first real chances of the game, Ludwig Plessner played in a nice pass to Ernst Kurschner but the striker was unable to finish, the ball sailing high over the goal mark. Bamerntal seemed shaky at first, and many thought that the magic had all been drained in their 2-1 semifinal victory over Teussen Stelburg. They eventually began to settle into the game, however, and would actually strike first in the match. In the 31st minute, Bamerntal’s left back Otto Kesler took the ball up the pitch and managed to find Bamerntal’s striker, Jurgen Rasch in the box. Rasch was faced with a simple finish and got the ball past Samuel Hartstein to make the score 1-0 for Bamerntal.

1912 would not fall apart, however, and re-started the match looking better than before. They replied almost immediately off a corner, with a brilliant ball in from Lutz Daschner meeting the head of Elias Eicke. Tension seemed to be relieved in the 1912 end of the stadium, and the silence that had overcome them just seconds before was gone. Near the end of the half, 1912 centre back Josh Meckler made a dangerous tackle on Jurgen Rasch. Bamerntal fans and players clearly wanted a red card, however Meckler was only given a yellow. The Bamerntal end, it must be noted, while not nearly as full as the 1912 end, was loud all game and watching it seemed as if the entire town of Bamerntal was out to support their blue-green heroes. The sides went into the tunnel at half-time in a 1-1 tie, with 1912 having played the better half.

1912 came out of the half again with a skip in their step, and at points it appeared that a blow-out could happen. Three times 1912 had brilliant chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the half, including hitting the post off a Ernst Kurschner strike. The leading goal would come for 1912, however, in the 62nd minute as Kurschner pulled off a brilliant maneuver to enter the box and blasted the ball past the keeper. It seemed as if the day was 1912’s, and that they would go on to become Cup winners.

Bamerntal had played a great match of football up to this point, but it was clear that the side was beginning to tire and fade. For much of the second half, it was rare for the side to get the ball over the half-way line and 1912 really should have done much better with the several chances they had to extend their lead. Bamerntal managed to keep the deficit at only 1 goal, keeping a lifeline in the match. Then, in the 83rd minute, disaster struck for 1912. Otto Kesler managed to make a run up the park and put a cross into the box for Jurgen Rasch. Before he could get to it, however, it was knocked away by the arm of Joshua Meckler, who fell to the floor. Meckler seemed to understand the consequence of what he had just done, and looked broken as he stood back up to face his second yellow card, bringing 1912 down to 10 men and giving Bamerntal a penalty. Leopold Simson placed the ball perfectly into the bottom left corner, and the sides were level 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.

In extra time, Bamerntal attempted to make early use of their man advantage, but could not really create good chances throughout the first part of the extra period. 10-man 1912 started to really press the attack against a Bamerntal side that was clearly out of gas by the second period of extra time, but they could not find a way to break through. As rain started to fall on the National Stadium, the whistle blew and the Cup final was heading for penalties.

1912 shot first, and it was Elias Eicke who put the ball home to give them a 1-0 lead in the shootout. Jurgen Rasch matched his tally, and the score remained even until midfielder Benno Mayer missed for Bamerntal. It appeared as if 1912 would have the chance to win the Cup, but with the game on his boot Sascha Backer’s penalty was saved by Siegfried Lochte, Bamerntal’s keeper. The score remained even until round 9 of the shootout. Digging deep into players who would not normally take a penalty, 1912 left back Hugo Waldow put his shot off the post, and gave the left back Kesler the chance to win the match for VfL Bamerntal. He blasted the ball past the keeper, and collapsed in triumph as Bamerntal’s fans rushed the pitch in awe of what their team had just accomplished.

The little team with a stadium of 5,500 are the President’s Cup winners, knocking off 4 Republikaliga sides en route to the championship. The party went long into the night in the streets around the National Stadium, and the streets of Bamerntal, the little town in the mountains, were also packed. It was an incredible moment, and one that is unlikely to be repeated any time soon, if ever.

1912 Stelburg Goals: Eicke 33’, Kurschner 62’ (Josh Meckler red card 83’)
VfB Bamerntal Goals: Rasch 31’, Simson 85’ (penalty)

International Qualifications

With the conclusion of the season, several teams from the Republic will take part in international football competitions against other club teams from around the world. These teams are:

Siovanija and Teusland (RST) Qualifiers:
UICA Champion's Cup: Energija Chernovets
UICA Globe Cup: FC Teussen Stelburg, FC St. Jakob, FK Metropola Borograd
Cygnus Cup/Cup Winner's Cup: VfL Bamerntal

With that, the first season of the Republikaliga and its associated competitions is in the books.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:53 pm

B-Liga Season I: Preview

Basketball is a sport that has seen a recent emergence in popularity in Siovanija and Teusland. While traditionally football and hockey are by far the largest sports in the country and enjoy wide-spread support, basketball has grown larger and larger, especially in Siovanija. With many top young talents needing a place to showcase their skills, the Basketball Association of Siovanija and Teusland (BAST) created the B-Liga, with 10 teams competing for the National Championship. Before the inaugural season, we at republiksport.st thought we'd offer you a quick overview of each team in the league, and their starting players.

BOROGRAD DRAGONS
Colours: Red and yellow
Coach: Zlatko Bunev

The Players: Pavel Vasev is the best player on an overall average Dragons team, in particular his passing skills being some of the best in the league. Vasev's supporting cast is not the strongest, however, and players like Radoslav Filipov are not getting any younger. Miroslav Tinchev is a young talent who could
be a big hope for the future, but he doesn't have all the skills just yet. Dachev and Pramatov are average players who will not be the worst players on the floor but not the best either. Overall, the Dragons have a team that isn't the worst in the league, but isn't really a play-off contender either.
The Club: The Dragons are one of the few teams in the league who are an independent club, with no ties to other sports organizations in the country. This means that they have a relatively smaller fanbase, especially compared to their cross-town rival Olympia Borograd. The fact they have fewer fans than most other teams, however, usually means their fans are more knowledgeable about the sport of basketball and are basketball fans first, making them some of the most passionate in the league.

BUKOVETS ROCKETS
Colours: Red and white
Coach: Daniel Radulov

The Players: The Rockets are an interesting squad, with a young core led by Dragan Petrov mixing with veteran presence from Martin Ilev. Petrov is certainly the one everyone will be watchingon the team, but he isn't the only top player. Dinev and Manolev are both some of the best players in their position in the B-Liga, and the Rockets certainly have a squad that can challenge for the championship. If they do, all 5 players will certainly share the credit.
The Club: Bukovets is one of the most interesting towns in the country, having once been a 'closed city' and still requiring foreign visitors to receive special permission to enter. Known for being home to much of the national military's weapons factories, including a rocket testing facility from which the team draws its name, the town has developed an identity through its sports teams. Both of the city's football clubs have been promoted to the Republikaliga, and now the B-Liga team chases down the National Championship.

ENERGIJA CHERNOVETS
Colours: Green and yellow
Coach: Stanislav Hristov

The Players: Radko Sotirov is one of the best ball handlers in the league, and Chernovets are very happy to have his services. Vasil Vitanov is another star player on this Energija side, who aren't the best team in the league but could certainly challenge for a play-off spot this season. Viktor Dimitrov surprisingly bears no relation to the Energija football side's midfielder of the same name, but he will hope that he can have the same impact for his team as his counterpart had in the Republikaliga.
The Club: The city of Chernovets is on a sports high right now after witnessing the football side of Energija win the Republikaliga and make a run into the UICA Globe Cup group stage. Support for the basketball side will be high, therefore, and they can look forward to many sell-out crowds. This is a team right on the bubble of the play-offs however, and will need all the support they can if they want to get in, especially in order to beat rivals Bukovets.

OLYMPIA BOROGRAD
Colours: Green and white
Coach: Filip Pramaratov

The Players: Olympia's basketball side is what their football side hopes of being in a few years: young stars led by talented veterans. On paper a popular choice for 'best B-Liga team,' players like Miro Petkov and Radomir Petrov are players who provide stability and leadership for the team. At the same time, Ventsislav Zhivkov is one of the youngest players in the league but already considered one of the best, and Olympia's star prospect's career could take off with a big season. Ivanov and Boichev are no slouches either, and Olympia have a very good chance of finishing the season on top.
The Club: Overshadowed by their football and hockey cousins, Olympia Borograd's basketball team could be winning over hearts and minds as they develop into a potential powerhouse. With many fans across Siovanija, owing to their name recognition, it's a bit of a surprise that Olympia's arena has never really been full. Fans of the team aren't as passionate as many others, as basketball is not usually their main priority. We'll see if that changes this season if the green-whites can make a run at the Championship.

ORLOVSKA BISTRICA RAPIDS
Colours: Blue and yellow
Coach: Marko Ivankov

The Players: Not very many bright spots on the Rapids this season, although Dragomir Strashilov could be one to watch in the future. Plamen Pironov is past his prime, and Gregor Alexandrov is a short point guard who doesn't have the tools to be one of the best in the league. It could be a long season for fans of the Rapids.
The Club: You could be forgiven for forgetting that the Rapids existed. The forgettable side hopes to have a better than expected season, but it's likely that they will finish near the bottom of the league. In the first season of the league, however, all teams should be close and upsets will be always possible. The Rapids will therefore hope that they can pull off a few upsets and make a name for themselves in the league this season.

POMORIE PIRATES
Colours: Black and red
Coach: Andrey Bachev

The Players: The Pirates have put together a surprisingly good roster, one that could easily find themselves in the playoffs should results go in their favour. Ivan Kostov is the clear star, and has some of the most visionary passing in the league. His calm, cool ability to carry the ball will benefit the Pirates in slowing down games, because the team play a more analytical style rather than fast-paced. With chemistry being an attribute of this team, the Pirates hope they can go for a National Championship this year.
The Club: Pomorie's credibility as a sports town has been marred over recent years. There are problems in the city, partially due to its past history and its Teus-Siovanijan split. Violence from fans is somewhat common, especially during any Pomorie-Marzig Derby. The Pirates won't have those problems, as the entire town of Pomorie/Marzig has seemed to rally behind the Pirates' basketball side. The success of this team could do wonders for a city with open wounds, and this squad could be the one to do it.

SIOVANSKA GORA WARRIORS
Colours: Yellow and black
Coach: Emil Manevski

The Players: Marko Paskalev is the best player on an overall weak Warriors side. His veteran experience can help them in tough games, and his extremely high levels of endurance mean he should be able to sustain his performance a little while yet, as he enters the end of his career. Past him, however, there isn't much hope for the squad. Many of the players were former top prospects the Warriors acquired who did not quite pan out, such as Radko Savov. Perhaps they can rejuvenate their careers this season, but it's more likely that the Warriors will be in the basement.
The Club: The Warriors are perhaps the biggest show in town, considering that Siovanska Gora's football side occupied the lowest place in the entire football pyramid last season. The hockey team also would claim that title, but for now all eyes are on the B-Liga. Fans will hope that the sporting misery the town has endured will be finished this season, but with the Warriors team in a poor state this year that isn't likely.

ST. JAKOB SAINTS
Colours: Purple and white
Coach: Kevin Seiden

The Players: Where to begin. The Saints are easily the worst squad in the league, and have little to no chance of finishing anywhere above 10th. That was always to be expected when St. Jakob was granted a franchise, however, and the team's inclusion is more for the purpose of developing the game in Teusland and developing some of its players. Vincent Hoffner and Helmut Pohl are players who have sky-high potential but aren't developed yet. The team won't be exciting to watch this year, or probably next year, but 5 years from now the effects could be felt.
The Club: Again, the Saints are a work-in-progress side, and that applies to the supporters as well. Having a terrible season may not draw crowds, but winning games here and there could build support in the town. Putting a team in the largest city in Teusland was meant to grow support for the game, however, and the BAST hopes that'll work as they look to eventually expand to a 20-team league with two conferences.

VLAIKOGRAD LAKERS
Colours: Blue and white
Coach: Vladimir Kostov

The Players: We're excited about this Lakers team, but it is at the same time very much a team for the future. The youngest team in the league, the Lakers are made up of highly-regarded prospects. With flashes of brilliance, they don't have all it takes to win games however and this season will likely be spent in the bottom part of the league standings. Emil Popov could develop into one of the best point guards in the league, and his team-mates are regarded as future stars in their position. Other teams should feel happy the Lakers won't be good this year, because they could dominate the B-Liga in the future.
The Club: Vlaikograd is no longer capital of Siovanija, and has been overtaken by Borograd since the end of the old Siovanijan Empire and beginning of the Republic, but it's majestic beauty makes it a huge city for tourism. Located in the centre of Siovanija's Great Lakes, the people in the town itself are known for being quite welcoming. At the arena, however, sports teams from Vlaikograd always have some of the best support in the entire country, and fans hope that the same support which saw the local football team go undefeated in the 2. Republikaliga last season will help the Lakers' young squad find success.

VRNOVO ISLANDERS
Colours: Blue and orange
Coach: Dragomir Glavchev

The Players: Vrnovo's basketball club are extremely skilled at defense, and have mastered the art of boring crowds across the country. Coach Dragomir Glavchev's system has been bought into by the players, however, and the chemistry between them ensures Vrnovo will finish high in the league this season. Whether they can win a Championship remains to be seen, but the skill of players such as Tonchev and Cristov gives them a chance to win any game they go into. Anton Cherganski is a very hot prospect, second only to perhaps Emil Popov in terms of future potential. Vrnovo have a team capable of winning the league, it is up to the players to do so on the court.
The Club: Vrnovo may be home to the most hated sports teams in the entire country; but that does not stop fans of the Islanders from supporting the team with intense passion. Vrnovo has a different culture to much of the rest of the country, and victories by any sports team are seen as victories for the region. The southernmost city in the country, located on an island, Vrnovo is also a popular tourist destination in the country.

With 10 teams ready to go, the first season of the B-Liga is set to get underway. It is widely believed that there will be a lot of parity in the league, as these players get used to each other and the competition. With 4 IUBC spots up for grabs, the National Championship on the table, and spots on the national team for the upcoming International Basketball Championships available, it's sure to be a hard-fought season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:30 pm

B-Liga Season I: Review

The first season of the B-Liga brought plenty of excitement to basketball fans across the country. It was one of the closest seasons you could hope for, in fact, with only 14 points separating first place from 9th. Of course, not every season will be as close, but this season will certainly be memorable. Vrnovo's Islanders captured the regular season thanks to stellar defense, with big man Stanislav Botev being a leading candidate for League MVP. Just behind them were the Rockets, who had the league's best point differential, and enter the play-offs as a popular pick for champions. Olympia Borograd came third, putting together an overall decent season mainly lead by Miroslav Petkov. Pomorie's Pirates snuck into the play-offs at the death, with Ivan Kostov leading the way with several huge games down the stretch. Energija and the Dragons just missed out on the play-offs, while the Warriors and Rapids both finished below .500. The Lakers will be happy with the play of their youth, doing much better than expected in the wins column, and hoping to be much better next season. Rounding out the league are the Saints, who while being the only team not to reach 30 wins, did their city proud by proving that Teuslanders can play basketball, winning for example on the last day of the season away to Vrnovo 78-69. 29 wins was much better than the less than 10 some pundits predicted. Now, the top four, already being qualified for the IUBC, will enter the play-offs to determine the first National Champion.

B-Liga                       Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
 1 Vrnovo Islanders              72   40  32  5598 5518  +80    80
 2 Bukovets Rockets              72   39  33  5737 5623 +114    78
 3 Olympia Borograd              72   39  33  5720 5631  +89    78
 4 Pomorie Pirates               72   38  34  5660 5632  +28    76
 5 Energija Chernovets           72   37  35  5720 5628  +92    74
 6 Borograd Dragons              72   37  35  5760 5743  +17    74
 7 Siovanska Gora Warriors       72   35  37  5489 5520  −31    70
 8 Vlaikograd Lakers             72   33  39  5636 5617  +19    66
 9 Orlovska Bistrica Rapids      72   33  39  5588 5791 −203    66
10 St. Jakob Saints              72   29  43  5505 5710 −205    58

Play-Offs

#1 Vrnovo Islanders vs #4 Pomorie Pirates
Vrnovo Islanders 90-69 Pomorie Pirates (VRN 1-0)
Vrnovo Islanders 68-77 Pomorie Pirates (1-1)
Pomorie Pirates 83-99 Vrnovo Islanders (VRN 2-1)
Pomorie Pirates 86-80 Vrnovo Islanders (2-2)
Vrnovo Islanders 86-88 Pomorie Pirates (POM 3-2)
Pomorie Pirates 79-88 Vrnovo Islanders (3-3)
Vrnovo Islanders 88-84 Pomorie Pirates (VRN 4-3)

And so the Islanders advance to the first National Championship finals. Vrnovo's defense, which looked so solid throughout the season conceding only 76 points per game, gave up more than that in all but one of the 7 games. Stanislav Botev, however, put in an incredible display in games six and seven to bring the team back from the brink of elimination and take them to the final. They will meet one of either Olympia Borograd or the Bukovets Rockets.

#2 Bukovets Rockets vs #3 Olympia Borograd
Bukovets Rockets 81-56 Olympia Borograd (BUK 1-0)
Bukovets Rockets 73-90 Olympia Borograd (1-1)
Olympia Borograd 84-91 Bukovets Rockets (BUK 2-1)
Olympia Borograd 63-82 Bukovets Rockets (BUK 3-1)
Bukovets Rockets 70-83 Olympia Borograd (BUK 3-2)
Olympia Borograd 75-74 Bukovets Rockets (3-3)
Bukovets Rockets 80-83 Olympia Borograd (OLY 4-3)

Joining the islanders will be Olympia Borograd, who pulled off an incredible comeback to knock off the Rockets. The first game of the series was a complete and total demolition of Olympia and the Borograd side looked dead in the water, however an incredible buzzer-beater to win game 6 at home filled the team with hope and they went on to grab an away win, Miroslav Petkov's 32 point game being stuff of legend for Olympia fans. So, the first National Championship is set: Vrnovo Islanders vs Olympia Borograd

The National Championship
Vrnovo Islanders 67-61 Olympia Borograd (VRN 1-0)
Vrnovo Islanders 76-91 Olympia Borograd (1-1)
Olympia Borograd 84-61 Vrnovo Islanders (OLY 2-1)
Olympia Borograd 82-84 Vrnovo Islanders (2-2)
Vrnovo Islanders 75-98 Olympia Borograd (OLY 3-2)
Olympia Borograd 79-73 Vrnovo Islanders (OLY 4-2)

Finals MVP: Miroslav Petkov (Olympia Borograd)

Olympia Borograd win the first National Championship! Dispatching the Islanders in 6 games, it was big away wins in games 2 and 5 that secured the series for the green-whites. Miroslav Petkov won the Finals MVP after an incredible effort not just in these games, but also the round prior. With a champion declared, it's time to look back on the season and hand out some more hardware: individual awards!

Awards

League MVP
Before awards night, there were three players in with a shout at being named League MVP. Ivan Kostov, Pomorie's point guard, Miroslav Petkov, the Olympia shooting guard and Stanimir Botev, Vrnovo's key centre. In the end it was Ivan Kostov, who lead the league in both points and assists per game, and who many consider the best player in the country, who took home the award. Interviewed afterwards, he said the award did nothing to help get over the disappointment of losing in the play-offs, and he only hoped he could lead the Pirates to a championship next season.

Coach of the Year
Vrnovo's coach Dragomir Glavchev was named the Coach of the Year this season. During the regular season, at least, Vrnovo's players really bought into his defensive style which allowed them to concede the fewest points per game in the league (76). Similar to Kostov, Glavchev said his goal now is to make the team even better and try to win the Championship next season.

Offensive/Defensive Players of the Year
Pavel Vasev of the Borograd Dragons was named the Offensive Player of the year, thanks to his incredible point-producing season, while Stanislav Botev made up for losing out on the MVP title by winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Young Player of the Year
18-year-old centre Ventsislav Zhivkov of Olympia Borograd took the title of Young Player of the Year, adding to the extremely successful season for the youngster. It'll go on the mantle right beside his medal for winning the National Championship.

All-Liga Team
PG -- Ivan Kostov (Pomorie Pirates)
SG -- Miroslav Petkov (Olympia Borograd)
SF -- Krasimir Dinev (Bukovets Rockets)
PF -- Radomir Petrov (Olympia Borograd)
C -- Stanislav Botev (Vrnovo Islanders)

It's expected that this All-Liga Team will make up the basis of the Siovanija and Teusland national team at the upcoming 25th International Basketball Championship.

With season 1 in the books, the players and teams of the B-Liga look ahead to the IBC and the IUBC tournament for club teams. Siovanija and Teusland's qualifiers will be:

Siovanija and Teusland (STL) IUBC qualifiers:
1-Olympia Borograd
2-Vrnovo Islanders
3-Bukovets Rockets

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:02 pm

Republikaliga Season II: Season Preview

The Republikaliga returns for its second campaign. There is a buzz around the league this year, with several teams participating in UICA international competitions. There are many storylines that look to be continued this season. Some questions around the league remain. For example, can Energija Chernovets defend their title? Will bigger, more historical clubs FC Teussen Stelburg and Olympia Borograd take the league title? What teams will be in the relegation battle? And of course on a more individual level, how will the national team stars and hopefuls perform? 23 players in this league come fresh off a Baptism of Fire Quarterfinals campaign, and spots on the national team for the World Cup Qualifiers will be available. Young talent like Michael Ribbeck, Thorsten Kramer and Krasimir Kynev will continue to develop. All in all, the second season of the Republikaliga cannot be missed! Here are the teams contesting the sophomore season.

1912 STELBURG
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Sebastien Hengsbach
Stadium: 1912-Stadion (31,000)

Last Season: 1912 Stelburg had a decent season in the first season of the Republikaliga, however it ended in heartbreak thanks to a penalty loss in the President’s Cup final and missing out on a UICA qualification place. The team hit a large rough patch in the middle of the season which set them back, but strung together several good results to end the season in 5th place.
This Season: Questions were asked of this team following last season’s collapse in the Cup final, and some of them have yet to be answered. They can often be overpowered by teams that play an offensive style with physicality, even though they have some of the better defenders in the league. Raphael Klopfer and Lutz Daschner in particular have a lot of quality, Daschner being an extremely pacey right back. They should be good for another top 10 finish, however, if 1912 want to do better in the future perhaps a change of system will be needed.

ARSENAL BUKOVETS
Colours: Black and red
Manager: Stanko Tanev
Stadium: Bukovets-Stadion (32,000)

Last Season: Arsenal Bukovets plied their trade in the 2. Republikaliga last season, with forward Prodan Savov leading the team in goals to help them reach third place in the league, behind local rival FK Raketa Bukovets. Arsenal’s success in the second division led them to the promotion play-off against VfL Reinbronn, where they captured victory in both legs for a 3-1 aggregate win and the all-important promotion.
This Season: Arsenal’s goal this season will be to remain in the Republikaliga, which they actually should have no trouble achieving. Stanko Tanev’s system favours offensive football, which will be a great benefit to strikers Prodan Savov and Emil Romanov. Savov, 27, could easily be a 20 goal scorer in this league, and the front line is backed up by solid play through the midfield. A finish above 15th isn’t out of the question for Arsenal this season.

ENERGIJA CHERNOVETS
Colours: Green and yellow
Manager: Apostol Manevski
Stadium: Energija-Arena (34,000)

Last Season: Chernovets were the champions of the Republikaliga last season, and hope to come in this season and pick right back up where they left off. Apostol Manevski’s attacking style of football saw them come out of many games as winners, and although they faced a scare at the end they beat out FC Teussen by 1 point to secure the title.
This Season: Chernovets will have it all to do if they hope to repeat as champions this season. In addition to the league, Energija will be participating in the UICA Champion’s Cup and possibly the Globe Cup as well. Several players on the team, such as Miroslav Dinev and Viktor Dimitrov, will also be on the national team for important World Cup Qualifiers matches. How Energija will deal with all of this added pressure will likely determine how they finish.

FC FELSENKIRCHEN 1879
Colours: Navy and white
Manager: Malte Hasselhoff
Stadium: Felsenkirchen-Arena (35,000)

Last Season: Last season, Felsenkirchen put up some inspired performances in the opening matches of the season, being top of the table after 15 matches. However, they won just 9 of their remaining 23 matches in the league and ended up finishing a disappointing 7th place. Malte Hasselhoff’s head could be on the line if Felsenkirchen do not get off to a good start this season.
This Season: We saw two distinctly different Felsenkirchen sides last season in the Republikaliga. How they do this season will likely depend on which side is the most consistently shown. The side can play fast, attacking football, or they can be quite slow in build-up and leaky on defence. This is certainly a team to watch this year if they are good, while the situation at Felsenkirchen could turn into a nightmare if they do not succeed.

FC KAISERHAVEN
Colours: Blue and yellow
Manager: Norbert Korn
Stadium: Kaiserhaven-Stadion (40,000)

Last Season: FC Kaiserhaven put in an altogether average season last year. They didn’t quite reach the expectations placed on them, namely a challenge for a top 4 position. At the same time, however, they didn’t have a bad season, ending the year in 9th place.
This Season: Kaiserhaven are another team that should be interesting to watch. Led by national team player Paulus Leistner, the season could depend on how his supporting cast does. Up front, Wolfhard Vahlen will need to score goals for this team to have any hope of success. Again, Kaiserhaven are a tricky one to predict. They could come as high as 4th, but also as low as 12th depending on how the season goes. Anything outside of that, and something has either gone quite right or quite wrong.

FC ROTMUNDE 1932
Colours: Red and black
Manager: Hans Frosch
Stadium: Rotmunde-Stadion (37,000)

Last Season: Rotmunde had one of the tightest defenses in the entire Republikaliga last season, and that allowed them finish 7th in the league. The other big reason for Rotmunde’s success was their offense. Predicted to be potentially problematic, players like Lennard Schneider (18 goals) and Max Koehler (13 goals) contributed to ensure a good campaign. Rotmunde will be hoping to improve on that this season.
This Season: Rotmunde are a club that could challenge for a move up the standings. It will be quite tough this season, but anything is possible. Best case scenario, Schneider and Koehler continue to click and the team does just as well as last year. Worst case scenario, however, both players prove to be one season wonders and the team collapse. Hans Forsch will be expected to get the best out of the redblacks, and certainly to finish above rivals Felsenkirchen.

FC ST. JAKOB
Colours: Red and white
Manager: Hermann Frenz
Stadium: Draistadion (37,000)

Last Season: FC St. Jakob blew past all reasonable expectations placed upon them, and ended the season in third place only 1 point behind champions Energija Chernovets. Ole Sauer and Stefan Licht both were chosen for the national team at the Baptism of Fire, and the defence was considered better than both Teussen and Energija, who had finished above them.
This Season: The high finish last season puts some pressure on St. Jakob this year. They have the added responsibility of the UICA Globe Cup competition, as well as looking for a repeat. Last season we wondered if a crash would come as the team stands between youth or veterans, and this year it’s even more likely. Don’t expect St. Jakob in the top 4 this year, as they will likely come back to reality this season.

FC TEUSSEN STELBURG
Colours: Gold and black
Manager: Kaspar Knauer
Stadium: Teussens-Arena (44,000)

Last Season: FC Teussen were big favourites to capture the inaugural Republikaliga title, however fell just 1 point short behind Energija Chernovets. The disappointment grew when the side bowed out of the President’s Cup semi-finals against third tier VfL Bamerntal. However, there was some good football coming out of the team, including sweeping derby matches with Olympia Borograd.
This Season: Teussen can’t be overlooked this season, and have to go in as favourites. Thorsten Kramer proved his worth his rookie season, and will be hoping to do even better on his sophomore campaign. Questions remain upfront with Theodor Aberbach aging, and this could be his last campaign as a starter. Teussen additionally have an international challenge, playing in the UICA Globe Cup. If they play up to their talent, FC Teussen have solid shot at winning the Republikaliga.

FK METROPOLA BOROGRAD
Colours: Purple and white
Manager: Daniel Manolov
Stadium: Metropola-Stadion (49,000)

Last Season: Metropola had put together quite a solid campaign over the first thirty matches last season, sitting in second place. However, things fell apart over the last 8 matches, as they drew at home to a relegated side, and came away with 4 wins in 8 matches. Just one more win would have won them the league. With solid defence and attack, led by Anton Dimitrov, Metropola will be keen to avenge last season’s failures.
This Season: Metropola put up the second best defensive record in the Republikaliga last season, with help from keeper Viktor Venev and the men in front of him, including Krum Kynev. They also had attacking support, led by Anton Dimitrov, who was the Golden Boot runner-up. Those performances give the team confidence heading into this season, as they look to build on a 4th place finish in the league. Metropola will also be participating in the UICA Globe Cup. Another top 4 finish is expected, but a run at the title would be something special.

FK ORLOVSKA BISTRICA
Colours: Blue and black
Manager: Valko Zaikov
Stadium: Orlovska-Arena (35,000)

Last Season: The Eagles found themselves directly in the middle of the league last season, placing 10th. They played some quite exciting games, including a 3-3 draw with FC Teussen away that eventually would cost the Stelburg side the league title. However, they conceded 80 goals, the most of any side that avoided relegation.
This Season: That leaky defence will be a worry for Orlovska Bistrica this season. Lyubomir Dimitrov has national team experience to his name, but has always been a more attacking-minded left back. If Bistrica ship goals, it could be a very long season at the Orlovska-Arena, and an early sack for Valko Zaikov. A decent home record will be a big help for the side, who are considered one of the most annoying in the league to face. Avoiding relegation is, as always, the goal.

FK RAKETA BUKOVETS
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Zmeyo Georgiev
Stadium: Raketa-Arena (29,000)

Last Season: Raketa Bukovets were one of the big three teams in the 2. Republikaliga last season. Raketa, Arsenal and Vlaikograd each were expected to dominate the league and run away with it. Raketa finished the year with 31 wins, in fact, good enough for second place only and a promotion to the Republikaliga. It won’t be as easy here, however, and the team will have to adjust.
This Season: Tsvetan Cristov was the leading scorer of the 2. Republikaliga last season, and he’ll have to have an excellent campaign for Raketa to remain in the league. One thing the promotion of Raketa and Arsenal creates, however, is an opportunity to see the Bukovets Derby at the highest level. Probably the second most fierce derby in the league, behind the Pomorie-Marzig Derby, both sides main goal this year will be to get one over on their foe. Raketa should avoid relegation, but it could come down to the wire.

FK VLAIKOGRAD 1896
Colours: Purple and yellow
Manager: Veselin Patanov
Stadium: Jezera-Stadion (34,000)

Last Season: FK Vlaikograd were, undoubtedly, the class of the 2. Republikaliga. They finished the season on 30 wins, with 0 defeats in the season. The unbeaten side won the second division, and truly earned their promotion. Many pundits predicted that the side would have been a top 10 team in the Republikaliga. No matter how unbalanced the competition may have been, to go unbeaten over 38 games is truly special.
This Season: The two players driving Vlaikograd’s campaign were Varban Spasov and Tihomir Delikov. Delikov finished second in scoring in the league, and has taken another year to develop and hopes to find himself high on the goalscoring charts. Spasov is another centre midfielder with an offensive spark to his game. Vlaikograd have ambitions of a top 10 finish, which is quite achievable.

MARLESEE 97
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Magnus Herschlag
Stadium: Marlebucht-Energie Arena (30,000)

Last Season: Marlesee’s goal for last season was simple, avoid relegation. 97 did that, finishing 15 points outside of the zone. While the team were never expected to be great, they won key matches that allowed them to survive. Ingolf Kruger was a player who came up big when needed, and Werner Schott’s 18 goals were another key to survival.
This Season: Marlesee fans will be hoping for their team to build upon last season’s campaign. The process of fixing the problems this team has had is underway, and the goal for now is simply to do a little better each season. Adding 5-10 more points to their total would be a goal for this team.

OLYMPIA BOROGRAD
Colours: Green and white
Manager: Ludmil Strashilov
Stadium: Olympski-Stadion (60,000)

Last Season: Last season was one to forget for the green-whites. Watching hated rivals FC Teussen and Metropola have decent seasons while Olympia never really clicked and finished in 8th, 20 points off first place, was not enjoyable. Bright spots included Ivo Romanov on the wing, and also the fact that by the end of the season it was clear that the players had begun turn the corner a little bit.
This Season: Olympia’s youth revolution is in motion, and players like Krasimir Kynev, Ivo Romanov, Yanko Zhelyasko and Nikola Karapetrov are on the verge of greatness. If one of them breaks out this year, Olympia could have a solid season. If all of them shoot to stardom at once, expect Olympia to be in the hunt for the title.

RUDAR TRKEV
Colours: Grey and red
Manager: Veselin Bachev
Stadium: Trkev-Arena (25,000)

Last Season: Rudar Trkev managed a 13th place finish in the Republikaliga last season. Evgeni Bakalov put in a solid campaign, as did several other players on the team. Rudar achieved their expectations, which as for many teams in the league was to avoid being relegated.
This Season: Manager Bachev has called on his players to perform better this season, and while many people laughed at those comments, it’s not out of the question for Rudar to move upwards. Getting 10th would be a nice goal for the season, solidifying Rudar’s place in the Republikaliga. In a league expected to see lots of turmoil in the bottom places, that would be a strong showing of stability, and would have to be led by Bakalov.

SV PREISFELD
Colours: Black and yellow
Manager: Walter Kippel
Stadium: SV-Arena (31,000)

Last Season: SV Preisfeld reached the higher end of predictions of their finish last season, managing a 14th placed finish. Friedrich Brunke scored a solid 16 goals, and he was backed up by good work from his midfield trio. Of the bottom 7 teams, Preisfeld held the best goal difference. The defence lacks consistency, however, and conceded in bunches last season.
This Season: Preisfeld will have it all to do in order to remain in the Republikaliga this season. Kippel has his hands full, and he’ll have to get the best out of a backline that isn’t getting any quicker or stronger. A solid offensive effort will be needed, or the defence to pull themselves together, to avoid a nightmare season at the SV-Arena.

SW STAHLBERG
Colours: Grey and black
Manager: Gerd Hennig
Stadium: Stahlarbeiter-Union Arena (35,000)

Last Season: No one knew quite where to place Stahlberg in terms of league position last year. It was known just how offensive the team would try to be, but they were often stifled early in the season. In fact, the defence helped them a lot, as they were the only team in the bottom half with a positive goal differential. The story of the year was, of course, 17-year old Michael Ribbeck, who came out of nowhere to win Young Player of the Year and score 19 goals.
This Season: It’s a similar style for Stahlberg this year, and fans of the team have been anxiously talking about a possible top 5 finish. The talent is certainly present, but they still have some questions to answer. Can they break down a parked bus, as they failed to do many times last year? Was Michael Ribbeck a one season wonder, or the next big thing? And, finally, will the defence hold up again this season? The answers to these questions will determine Stahlberg’s fate this year.

TSV MARZIG
Colours: White and blue
Manager: Max Schillinger
Stadium: Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion (29,000)

Last Season: TSV Marzig finished 12th in the Republikaliga, but that wasn’t really the whole story at the Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion. They defeated rivals FK Pomorie, and the away fans famously stormed the pitch on the last day of the season; Marzig won away to Kaiserhaven and Pomorie lost, relegating the enemy. Marzig also made a solid run in the President’s Cup, and were actually top of the league after 11 matches.
This Season: Vinzenz Eichel and Ludwig Reichwein were big factors behind the strong start to the season, and as their goals dried up later in the year so did the points for Marzig. It would be foolish to ignore the problems of the end of the season in favour of the good times, and Marzig do have problems to sort out. They should be good enough to remain in the league, but will need a strong effort to make a push up the table.

VFB LAUNITZ
Colours: Black and white
Manager: Gunter Aust
Stadium: Launitz-Hauptstadion (29,000)

Last Season: Launitz were able to avoid relegation by 8 points last season, something their fans were quite happy about. They were almost able to play spoiler last season, away at Chernovets on the final day of the season. Launitz came back from being 2-0 down to tie the match 3-3, but lost in the end as expected. One cause for concern for fans of Launitz would be the low goals total for the team. They scored 57 goals, third lowest in the league, and didn’t really have a great defensive effort to compliment it, conceding 73.
This Season: Launitz will be praying again to avoid relegation. They should be able to do it this year, because there are some teams worse off than they are, however it could be a struggle. The back 4 and keeper will have to be quite solid and keep balls out of the net. Games against other bottom sides are winnable, and they’ll get a big help in terms of the home crowd, one of the largest in the nation. With luck on their side, Launitz should be able to avoid the drop.

VRNOVO MESTO
Colours: Orange and blue
Manager: Lyoben Zhalikov
Stadium: Ostrovi-Arena (26,000)

Last Season: Vrnovo Mesto pulled off some quite incredible results last season to finish 15th with by far the best defensive record in the league. This included late-season results such as win over Metropola Borograd and a draw with FC Teussen. While chants of ‘Boring, boring Mesto!’ rang out across the land, their fans happily accepted the pragmatic play that kept them in the league.
This Season: If the system works, they’ll stay up. If teams have figured them out, however, it could get ugly at the Ostrovi-Arena. The team lacks a real offensive threat up front, instead relying on catching overconfident opponents off guard and striking on the counter. The side conceded only 41 goals all last season. Lyoben Zhalikov, as always wearing his tracksuit and baseball cap, seemed confident in his side in as they arrived for pre-season training. You can’t really predict Vrnovo’s results, but a finish above the relegation zone would be a success.

republiksport.st will be here to cover each and every moment of the second season of the Republikaliga. This includes all matchdays, the President's Cup and UICA competitions. Make sure to watch what is sure to be a great season of football!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:48 am

Republikaliga Season II: Matchdays 1-15

Any thirst for football was quickly quenched during the Republikaliga off-season for fans in the United Republics. The national team reached the Baptism of Fire Quarterfinals in Banija, and several sides were back in training early to prepare for their UICA qualification matches. The beginning of the season, however, was met with great excitement.

Matchday 1
Marlesee 97 4–1 TSV Marzig
FC St. Jakob 4–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 Energija Chernovets
SV Preisfeld 3–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Vrnovo Mesto 0–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Rudar Trkev 1–3 Arsenal Bukovets
SW Stahlberg 5–3 1912 Stelburg
Olympia Borograd 4–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 VfB Launitz

The season began with a bang, as the early matches began with Marlesee 97 earning a 4-1 victory over Marzig. Ingolf Kruger contributed two goals to the victory, and also assisted the other goals to complete a massive game for him. FC St. Jakob ran free at home and dismantled FC Kaiserhaven, Manuel Horn contributing a brace. Energija opened their title defence with a 1-1 draw with Rotmunde. FC Teussen Stelburg and FK Metropola Borograd both dropped their openers, surely disappointing for their fans who’d been hoping for a better start to this season. Olympia Borograd grabbed a 4-2 win, while SW Stahlberg had all systems go to start the year with a 5-3 win over 1912 Stelburg.

UICA First Preliminary Round Leg 1

UICA Champion’s Cup: First Preliminary Round
Energija Chernovets 0-0 Redemption Joshuyo (ANM)

UICA Globe Cup: First Preliminary Round
FC St. Jakob 0-1 Newport Sirens (PCR)
Galactica (PAS) 3-1 FK Metropola Borograd

The midweek international fixtures didn’t see many good results for Republikaliga teams. Energija played out a 0-0 draw at home, which still gives them a shot of winning the second leg of the tie. FC St. Jakob were beaten 1-0 at home, a result that certainly isn’t what they wanted to achieve. FK Metropola Borograd appear dead in the water, losing 3-1 away to Galactica. They did, however, score the first international goal for a Republikaliga club, coming off the boot of Stanimir Ilev.

Matchday 2
TSV Marzig 0–0 VfB Launitz
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–2 FK Metropola Borograd
1912 Stelburg 1–3 Olympia Borograd
Arsenal Bukovets 1–2 SW Stahlberg
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–2 Rudar Trkev
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–2 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Energija Chernovets 4–3 SV Preisfeld
FC Kaiserhaven 1–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
Marlesee 97 3–3 FC St. Jakob

Metropola rebounded from their midweek defeat in order to beat Felsenkirchen 2-1 away thanks to a last-minute winner from Anton Dimitrov. Their cross-town rivals also picked up a win, beating 1912 Stelburg 3-1 with a hat-trick from Krasimir Kynev. Stahlberg stayed on track, Michael Ribbeck providing the winner as they defeated newcomers Arsenal Bukovets. Teussen Stelburg struggled against Vrnovo Mesto, getting caught on the break and drawing. The tie of the round was surely Chernovets against Preisfeld, with Chernovets erasing 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to win the match. Miroslav Dinev scored two including the winner.

UICA First Preliminary Round Leg 2

UICA Champion’s Cup First Preliminary Round
Redemption Josuyo (ANM) 1-2 Energija Chernovets

UICA Globe Cup First Preliminary Round
Newport Sirens (PCR) 2-2 FC St. Jakob
FK Metropola Borograd 0-2 Galactica (PAS)

Jubilation for Chernovets, as they win away to Redemption and advance to the second round. Viktor Dimitrov scored the opener, and it was Andrey Yanev who scored the winner for them midway through the second half. Chernovets take on the New Llama Capitals in the second round. FC St. Jakob managed a draw away to Newport Sirens, and although they threatened late on never really seemed able to win the tie, dropping out of the Globe Cup. Joining them would be Metropola Borograd, who lost a 2-0 decision at home to Galactica.

Matchday 3
FC St. Jakob 4–2 TSV Marzig
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 Marlesee 97
SV Preisfeld 1–2 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–1 Energija Chernovets
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
Rudar Trkev 4–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 2–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Olympia Borograd 2–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Metropola Borograd 1–3 1912 Stelburg
VfB Launitz 3–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

Early days of course, but some clubs have reason for concern after three matchdays in the Republikaliga. FC Teussen fell away to Rudar Trkev, who have really put in some good performances this year, while Metropola Borograd lost at home as well to 1912 Stelburg. Felsenkirchen only managed a draw with Launitz, leaving them in the danger zone. On the other hand, Olympia Borograd are top of the league and unblemished, having played solid football to this point in the season.

Matchday 4
TSV Marzig 3–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
1912 Stelburg 0–0 VfB Launitz
Arsenal Bukovets 2–4 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–2 Olympia Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–0 SW Stahlberg
FK Raketa Bukovets 5–2 Rudar Trkev
Energija Chernovets 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Kaiserhaven 0–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Marlesee 97 1–2 SV Preisfeld
FC St. Jakob 3–1 FC Rotmunde 1932

It’s another loss for Felsenkirchen, and chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang around the Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion. Malte Hasselhoff still remains in his job but is certainly on the hotseat, his team with but 1 point through 4 games following a poor record at the end of last season. Metropola Borograd defeated Arsenal 4-2 away in a good result, while Olympia were held to a draw away at Vlaikograd. FC Teussen Stelburg pulled out a 2-0 win over Stahlberg, holding back the tide of one of the best offensive sides in the league. Rotmunde and Kaiserhaven were notable losers, as Energija managed a draw with Vrnovo Mesto.

UICA Second Preliminary Round Leg 1

UICA Champion’s Cup
New Llama Capitals (SLL) 3-3 Energija Chernovets

UICA Globe Cup
Nacional (VLD) 3-1 FC Teussen Stelburg

Energija Chernovets and the New Llama Capitals put on an incredible show under the lights, with Miroslav Dinev nabbing a brace and Evgeni Antonov adding a third in order to finish a 3-3 draw. The match sets up the second leg quite nicely, and Energija will be hoping for a win. Teussen Stelburg expected to lose to Valladar side Nacional, and didn’t make too much noise as they fell 3-1 away.

Matchday 5
FC Rotmunde 1932 5–2 TSV Marzig
SV Preisfeld 3–2 FC St. Jakob
FK Orlovska Bistrica 6–2 Marlesee 97
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 FC Kaiserhaven
Rudar Trkev 2–1 Energija Chernovets
SW Stahlberg 2–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
Olympia Borograd 1–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
VfB Launitz 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–2 1912 Stelburg

Several underperforming sides came out to play on matchday 5, including Rotmunde grabbing a big win over Marzig and their rivals Felsenkirchen finally getting a win, beating 1912 Stelburg 3-2 thanks to a goal from Johannes Mandl at the death. A big result saw FK Orlovska Bistrica smash Marlesee 6-2, while Rudar Trkev and SW Stahlberg each had 2-1 wins on the day. The tie of the round was the National Derby, however. Olympia had to have come in expecting a win, taking on an off-form Teussen at home, yet in the end it was the black-golds taking the spoils, with Thorsten Kramer scoring twice in the second half to propel his side to victory. FC Teussen fans are hoping that is the moment that will change their season.

UICA Second Preliminary Round Leg 2

UICA Champion’s Cup
Energija Chernovets 2-3 New Llama Capitals (SLL)

UICA Globe Cup
FC Teussen Stelburg 2-2 Nacional (VLD)

Heartbreak for Energija, as they bow out of the UICA Champion’s Cup after a 3-2 home defeat to the New Llama Capitals. They now move onto the Globe Cup stage, hoping to go deeper into international competition. Teussen put in a solid home performance to hold Nacional to a draw, but were in the end knocked out of the competition.

President’s Cup First Round

The first round of the President’s Cup kicked off this weekend, and provided several entertaining games. Rotmunde were knocked out of the cup by VfL Prutseren, as they seem to value the Republikaliga campaign more than any run in the cup. Arsenal Bukovets needed penalties to dispatch FC Kischfeld, while Olympia Borograd had no problem at all winning 3-1 over NK Kaskada. Energija Chernovets were knocked out by 1828 Pomen, a repeat of last year’s first round cup exit. Metropola Borograd and Teussen grabbed wins to move on to the second round, as did other Republikaliga clubs including Kaiserhaven, Felsenkirchen and TSV Marzig. Two lower-league ties causing interest were TSV Georg-Blocher’s destruction of VfL Truhnscheid 7-1, while last year’s winners VfL Bamerntal won’t pull off a repeat of last season, they drop out to Orlovska Bistrica by a 4-0 score.

Matchday 6
TSV Marzig 0–1 1912 Stelburg
Arsenal Bukovets 4–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Vlaikograd 1896 5–3 VfB Launitz
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–3 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Raketa Bukovets 3–4 Olympia Borograd
Energija Chernovets 3–0 SW Stahlberg
FC Kaiserhaven 3–1 Rudar Trkev
Marlesee 97 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC St. Jakob 3–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 SV Preisfeld

Felsenkirchen have lost again, falling away to Arsenal Bukovets 4-3. It was quite an exciting game, and in fact 3 matches at the weekend would finish with that same 4-3 score. FC Teussen Stelburg and Metropola Borograd played probably the most exciting of those, scoring 3 goals between them in the last 10 minutes as Metropola came from 3-1 down to make it 3-3 before Rupert Holz won the match for Teussen. Olympia Borograd beat Raketa Bukovets, while Energija Chernovets shut out Stahlberg 3-0. FC St. Jakob are top of the league thanks to their 3-2 win over surprise second place FK Orlovska Bistrica.

UICA Third Preliminary Round Leg 1

UICA Globe Cup
Energija Chernovets 2-0 Miare CosmoStars (HIN)

It’s a big win for Chernovets, as they grab two goals through Viktor Dimitrov early on and never really looked back. Not giving up an away goal is a solid result, and the second leg at Miare sees Energija have an advantage.

Matchday 7
SV Preisfeld 1–2 TSV Marzig
FK Orlovska Bistrica 4–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FC St. Jakob
Rudar Trkev 4–4 Marlesee 97
SW Stahlberg 5–5 FC Kaiserhaven
Olympia Borograd 1–2 Energija Chernovets
FK Metropola Borograd 2–3 FK Raketa Bukovets
VfB Launitz 0–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–0 FK Vlaikograd 1896
1912 Stelburg 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets

There were some interesting matches completed this weekend, which kicked off with TSV Marzig winning a vital 3 points away to Preisfeld. Rudar Trkev and Marlesee 97 played a back-and-forth 4-4 draw, which everyone thought would be the tie of the round. However, kicking off a few hours later was Stalhberg 5-5 Kaiserhaven. Michael Ribbeck and Paulus Leistner put on a show, each man scoring a hat-trick for his team. In the end, though, Kaiserhaven gave away a 5-3 lead and picked up but a point. Energija Chernovets defeated Olympia 2-1, Olympia have really slipped since their derby loss to Teussen. Speaking of Teussen, they defeated Launitz 2-0, while FK Metropola Borograd lost at home to Raketa Bukovets and find themselves 17th after seven matches. Daniel Manolov is now the odds-on favourite to be first manager sacked, moving above Malte Hasselhoff, whose Felsenkirchen side beat Vlaikograd 3-0.

UICA Third Preliminary Round Leg 2

UICA Globe Cup
Miare CosmoStars (HIN) 1-1 Energija Chernovets

Chernovets are through! Energija advance to the Play-Off rounds of the Globe Cup thanks to a 1-1 draw away to the CosmoStars, Miroslav Dinev picked up the vital goal in the first half and really put Energija fans to ease. Chernovets will take on Stein-los Turkish from Pasarga for a spot in the Globe Cup qualifying round.

Matchday 8
TSV Marzig 3–4 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–3 1912 Stelburg
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–1 VfB Launitz
Energija Chernovets 3–1 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Kaiserhaven 1–2 Olympia Borograd
Marlesee 97 5–2 SW Stahlberg
FC St. Jakob 6–3 Rudar Trkev
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
SV Preisfeld 1–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica

Rumours surrounding Max Schillinger’s future as TSV Marzig manager have only strengthened thanks to the 4-3 home loss to Arsenal, as his side sit bottom. Felsenkirchen managed a 0-0 draw with FC Teussen Stelburg, while Olympia Borograd dispatched Kaiserhaven 2-1. Energija Chernovets beat Metropola Borograd 3-1 and dominated the match. Daniel Manolov, in a post match press conference, was asked whether he thought he would be taking to the sideline for Metropola’s next match: “I don’t know,” was his uncertain reply. The hammer hasn’t fallen yet, however, and it appears he will remain for at least Matchday 9.

UICA Play-Off Round Leg 1

UICA Globe Cup
Energija Chernovets 1-1 Stein-los Turkish (PAS

It’s a neutral result for Chernovets, as they draw 1-1 with the Pasargan side. This leaves the second match up in the air, an away match that will certainly be difficult to get a result from. The Turkish also have an away goal, giving them solid positioning for the return leg.

Matchday 9
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–2 TSV Marzig
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 SV Preisfeld
Rudar Trkev 3–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
SW Stahlberg 1–1 FC St. Jakob
Olympia Borograd 2–3 Marlesee 97
FK Metropola Borograd 4–1 FC Kaiserhaven
VfB Launitz 1–1 Energija Chernovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
1912 Stelburg 1–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
Arsenal Bukovets 2–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896

Marlesee 97 have really put together a great run of form, beating first SW Stahlberg 5-2 then grabbing an away win over Olympia Borograd today. Metropola Borograd put in a very solid performance to beat FC Kaiserhaven 4-1, and pressure now may shift to Norbert Korn in the hotseat at Kaiserhaven. He will not be the first manager sacked, however, as Malte Hasselhoff has been relieved of his duties as FC Felsenkirchen 1879 manager after the 1-0 loss to Raketa Bukovets. “We thank Malte for his service to the club. Standing in as interim manager will be Ralph Kislinger, current assistant manager for the team,” read a statement from the club. FC Teussen Stelburg won the Stelburg Derby 2-1 over 1912, thanks to goals from Theodor Aberbach and Alex Geschke.

UICA Play-Off Round Leg 2

UICA Globe Cup
Stein-los Turkish (PAS) 2-2 Energija Chernovets

Chernovets have done it again, as they defeat Stein-los Turkish on away goals to advance to the qualification round. Miroslav Dinev had both goals for the side, his second being the all-valuable equalizer in the match and the second away goal which would see Energija through. While the Turkish attacked heavily late on, solid defending from Energija held true and they will advance.

Matchday 10
TSV Marzig 1–4 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–2 1912 Stelburg
Energija Chernovets 2–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Kaiserhaven 2–2 VfB Launitz
Marlesee 97 3–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC St. Jakob 2–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–2 SW Stahlberg
SV Preisfeld 0–0 Rudar Trkev
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–2 Vrnovo Mesto

FC Teussen defeated Arsenal Bukovets in a quality 3-2 contest, while 1912 Stelburg recovered from last week’s derby loss to beat Raketa Bukovets 2-1. New-look Felsenkirchen drew 2-2 away to Chernovets, while Kaiserhaven and Launitz also managed a 2-2 draw. Metropola Borograd lost again, but Daniel Manolov’s future appears secure as the board released a statement backing him. Olympia Borograd and Rotmunde were other notable losers, falling to FC St. Jakob and Marlesee 97 respectively. Marlesee have been quite a surprise team this season, and will be an interesting watch.

UICA Play-Off Round Leg 1

UICA Globe Cup
Energija Chernovets 2-0 Tir Snake Strike (CEN)

Energija have an all-important victory in leg 1 of this play-off round tie with the Tir Snake Strike. It was Detimar Tsvetkov with a header from a corner who opened the scoring, and Viktor Dimitrov found the goal off a free kick later on to secure the win for Chernovets.

Matchday 11
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 TSV Marzig
Rudar Trkev 2–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
SW Stahlberg 1–2 SV Preisfeld
Olympia Borograd 4–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Metropola Borograd 3–2 FC St. Jakob
VfB Launitz 1–0 Marlesee 97
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 4–0 FC Kaiserhaven
1912 Stelburg 1–2 Energija Chernovets
Arsenal Bukovets 3–3 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–2 FC Teussen Stelburg

Rudar Trkev have pulled off a solid string of results in the league, beating rivals Orlovska Bistrica today, and find themselves 8th in the table. Elsewhere, Olympia smashed Rotmunde 4-1 and Metropola Borograd seem to be back on track, beating FC St. Jakob 3-2. Felsenkirchen destroyed Kaiserhaven 4-0, and that’s it for Norbert Korn. He becomes the second manager in the league to be sacked, and coincidentally the result that caused it was from the team who were the first to sack a manager. Thomas Wietars has been hired as his replacement. FK Vlaikograd picked up a very solid 3-2 win over Teussen Stelburg. Meanwhile, it was the Bukovets Derby, as Arsenal and Raketa played a 3-3 thriller, Raketa coming from 3-1 down to hold their enemies to a draw.

UICA Play-Off Round Leg 2

UICA Globe Cup
Tir Snake Strike (CEN) 2-1 Energija Chernovets

Despite the loss in the match, Energija Chernovets fans have a lot to celebrate. They have, in their first attempt, qualified for the Globe Cup group stage. Andrey Bachev’s goal secured the result for Chernovets, and they have now been seeded into Group I. This group includes teams like Falourr, the Golden Eagles and Celtic Noviodunnum. It will be a tough challenge for Chernovets, but to make it this far is already something special.

Matchday 12
TSV Marzig 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Energija Chernovets 3–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Kaiserhaven 2–4 1912 Stelburg
Marlesee 97 0–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC St. Jakob 0–0 VfB Launitz
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–3 FK Metropola Borograd
SV Preisfeld 2–5 Olympia Borograd
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–4 SW Stahlberg
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 Rudar Trkev

Teussen Stelburg quickly recovered from last week’s defeat, and they beat Marzig by a 1-0 score. Energija Chernovets were also the winners, and are top of the league after 12 matchdays. Kaiserhaven lost again, their first under the new manager, while Felsenkirchen are now unbeaten in the league since sacking Hasselhoff. Rumours abound that they will offer Ralph Kislinger the permanent job if this run continues. Metropola Borograd and Olympia Borograd were both winners, over Rotmunde and Preisfeld respectively. Rotmunde will need to sort themselves out, as they actually sit 20th in the Republikaliga.

Matchday 13
Rudar Trkev 4–3 TSV Marzig
SW Stahlberg 2–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Olympia Borograd 3–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FK Metropola Borograd 6–3 SV Preisfeld
VfB Launitz 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–2 FC St. Jakob
1912 Stelburg 4–2 Marlesee 97
Arsenal Bukovets 2–3 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–2 FK Raketa Bukovets

Another week, another set of high-scoring matches. Rudar Trkev defeated TSV Marzig, who are really in relegation trouble, by a 4-3 score, while Olympia Borograd dispatched Orlovska Bistrica 3-2. Anton Dimitrov had 4 goals as Metropola crushed Preisfeld 6-3, while Rotmunde picked up a win over Launitz. Felsenkirchen defeated St. Jakob to continue their rise up the table, while FC Kaiserhaven defeated Arsenal 3-2. Energija Chernovets and FC Teussen Stelburg were other winners, 3-0 and 4-2 respectively.

Matchday 14
TSV Marzig 1–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
Energija Chernovets 2–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 4–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Marlesee 97 3–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FC St. Jakob 0–1 1912 Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
SV Preisfeld 3–1 VfB Launitz
FK Orlovska Bistrica 2–2 FK Metropola Borograd
Vrnovo Mesto 1–2 Olympia Borograd
Rudar Trkev 1–2 SW Stahlberg

Energija Chernovets and FC Teussen Stelburg managed a 2-2 draw in a match which seemed to determine who would be top of the league. At the end of the day, however, Olympia Borograd sit top thanks to their 2-1 win over Vrnovo Mesto. Kaiserhaven picked up a win, defeating FK Vlaikograd 4-3. Meanwhile, despite their poor form, Rotmunde defeated Felsenkirchen in the all-important Northeast Derby. That result seems to ensure Hans Frosch’s position is safe for now, and he’ll be thankful Max Koehler put away the winner.

President’s Cup Second Round

8 Republikaliga teams are through to the Third Round of the President’s Cup, with FC Teussen Stelburg leading the way thanks to a 3-0 victory over FC Giesenau. Kaiserhaven needed penalties to defeat FK Vlaikograd, while that city will still be represented thanks to Zvezda Vlaikograd’s upset over Raketa Bukovets. Metropola Borograd smashed NK Piran 6-2, while Olympia Borograd needed extra time to get past Felsenkirchen. The tie of the round was certainly 1884 Felsenkirchen’s 6-4 victory over FC St. Jakob. St. Jakob had led 3-0 and 4-2, but couldn’t hold on and are knocked out of the cup.

Matchday 15
SW Stahlberg 2–1 TSV Marzig
Olympia Borograd 3–2 Rudar Trkev
FK Metropola Borograd 3–2 Vrnovo Mesto
VfB Launitz 4–0 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–1 SV Preisfeld
1912 Stelburg 2–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
Arsenal Bukovets 3–1 FC St. Jakob
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–1 Marlesee 97
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–2 Energija Chernovets

SW Stahlberg defeated TSV Marzig to open the weekend, while Olympia Borograd followed itup with a 3-2 win over Rudar Trkev to stay top. That was important, because FC Teussen Stelburg defeated Kaiserhaven 2-1 thanks to goals from Thorsten Kramer and the right back Albert Weidemann. Felsenkirchen picked up another win, 3-1 over Preisfeld, while FC Rotmunde fell 2-0 to 1912 Stelburg. Energija Chernovets fall behind in the title race, having drawn 2-2 away to FK Raketa Bukovets.

With 15 matches in the books, let’s take a look at the league stadings.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Olympia Borograd           15   10   1   4    39   27  +12    31
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg        15    9   3   3    31   23   +8    30
 3 Energija Chernovets        15    7   7   1    31   20  +11    28
 4 SW Stahlberg               15    8   3   4    32   30   +2    27
 5 1912 Stelburg              15    8   2   5    29   24   +5    26
 6 FK Metropola Borograd      15    7   2   6    37   33   +4    23
 7 FC St. Jakob               15    6   3   6    33   27   +6    21
 8 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      15    6   3   6    31   26   +5    21
 9 Marlesee 97                15    6   3   6    33   34   −1    21
10 FK Orlovska Bistrica       15    6   3   6    29   30   −1    21
11 Rudar Trkev                15    6   3   6    31   34   −3    21
12 FK Vlaikograd 1896         15    5   4   6    29   31   −2    19
13 FK Raketa Bukovets         15    5   3   7    29   30   −1    18
14 Vrnovo Mesto               15    4   6   5    13   15   −2    18
15 SV Preisfeld               15    5   2   8    26   33   −7    17
16 Arsenal Bukovets           15    4   4   7    33   35   −2    16
17 VfB Launitz                15    3   7   5    18   20   −2    16
18 FC Kaiserhaven             15    4   4   7    25   36  −11    16
19 FC Rotmunde 1932           15    4   3   8    20   29   −9    15
20 TSV Marzig                 15    3   2  10    21   33  −12    11

Firstly, a quite interesting fact is that Olympia Borograd (10-1-4) in first place and FC Teussen Stelburg (9-3-3) have the exact same records that FC Felsenkirchen (10-1-4) and Energija Chernovets (9-3-3) had after 15 matches last season. Olympia are top of the league through some great offensive performances, and they are closely followed by Teussen. Energija Chernovets sit third, while SW Stahlberg and 1912 Stelburg follow them. Closer to the bottom, TSV Marzig sit last, while shockingly poor FC Rotmunde 1932 and FC Kaiserhaven sit just above them. 20 points separate first from last in the table, and the title, international qualification and relegation are still certainly up for grabs.

Debating who will win the Republikaliga this early is largely speculation, however there are 3 teams considered the most likely. Olympia Borograd are currently first, and top striker Krasimir Kynev currently leads the league in goals. The trio behind him includes Ivo Romanov and Georgi Lukonov, both putting up solid seasons. At the back end, Nikola Karapetrov has been the best defender in the league so far, and Yanko Zhelyaskov has looked solid in goal. FC Teussen Stelburg sit second, only 1 point off the top. Thorsten Kramer has been incredible for the side so far, one worry however would be that Theodor Aberbach is showing signs of aging and hasn’t been as clinical. Luckily for Teussen, Rupert Holz and Alexander Geschke have really stepped up. Aberbach will need to perform much better in the second half if Teussen are to win the league. Next up are Energija Chernovets, last season’s winner. It’s always difficult to defend a title, and the challenge is greater for Chernovets, as they have the Globe Cup to worry about as well. While they are still playing good football, at some point you have to wonder if they will simply tire out and fall back.

We’ll be back soon for coverage of the middle stages of the Republikaliga season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Apr 15, 2018 12:35 pm

Republikaliga Season II: Matchdays 16-30

Matchday 16
TSV Marzig 0–2 Energija Chernovets
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
Marlesee 97 1–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC St. Jakob 2–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–3 Arsenal Bukovets
SV Preisfeld 1–3 1912 Stelburg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Vrnovo Mesto 0–3 VfB Launitz
Rudar Trkev 2–2 FK Metropola Borograd
SW Stahlberg 3–3 Olympia Borograd

Energija Chernovets picked up a big win 2-0 away to TSV Marzig. Marzig have shown faith, however, in manager Max Schillinger, believing he will save them from relegation. FC Kaiserhaven defeated Raketa Bukovets, while FC Teussen Stelburg were defeated by Marlesee 97, who continue to impress. Felsenkirchen, Metropola and Olympia were all held to draws, 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3 respectively. Rotmunde fans have reached breaking point, and have organized a protest for the next home match against FC Teussen Stelburg. Sure to be televised nationally, they’re hoping to spark change in the club by walking out.

Matchday 17
Olympia Borograd 2–1 TSV Marzig
FK Metropola Borograd 4–3 SW Stahlberg
VfB Launitz 2–6 Rudar Trkev
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto
1912 Stelburg 1–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Arsenal Bukovets 4–2 SV Preisfeld
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–4 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–1 FC St. Jakob
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–2 Marlesee 97
Energija Chernovets 3–1 FC Kaiserhaven

Both Borograd sides were victorious today, Olympia 2-1 over Marzig and Metropola 4-3 over Stahlberg. Rudar Trkev put 6 past a struggling VfB Launitz, while Felsenkirchen and Vrnovo Mesto played a boring 0-0 draw. FC Rotmunde actually managed a massive win, 4-1 over FK Vlaikograd, yet the planned walk-out in the 18th minute will continue. Teussen Stelburg and Energija Chernovets both managed victories, over FC St. Jakob and FC Kaiserhaven respectively.

Matchday 18
TSV Marzig 4–1 FC Kaiserhaven
Marlesee 97 0–2 Energija Chernovets
FC St. Jakob 0–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
SV Preisfeld 2–0 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–1 Arsenal Bukovets
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 1912 Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 0–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
SW Stahlberg 4–1 VfB Launitz
Olympia Borograd 0–0 FK Metropola Borograd

Interesting results around the league, as TSV Marzig opened with a 4-1 win over FC Kaiserhaven. Kaiserhaven are still struggling, however Thomas Wietars has the board’s vote of confidence. Vrnovo Mesto pulled out a win over 1912 Stelburg, while Rudar Trkev and FC Felsenkirchen 1879 drew 0-0. Rotmunde fans headed for the exits at the 18th minute in protest of what they believe to be the poor state of the club this season, bringing great delight to the travelling FC Teussen support, and have called for the manager to resign as well as the board. The team on the pitch, however, came away with a 0-0 draw with Teussen Stelburg. In the Borograd Derby another 0-0 result was found, as neither side could get anything going in the match.

Matchday 19
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 TSV Marzig
VfB Launitz 1–0 Olympia Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–2 SW Stahlberg
1912 Stelburg 2–2 Rudar Trkev
Arsenal Bukovets 3–3 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Vlaikograd 1896 6–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Teussen Stelburg 7–3 SV Preisfeld
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
Energija Chernovets 3–2 FC St. Jakob
FC Kaiserhaven 2–2 Marlesee 97

Both Borograd sides, fresh off the derby, lost by 1-0 results to open the weekend, and both against lower-table opposition. Stahlberg defeated Felsenkirchen, while Arsenal Bukovets and Vrnovo Mesto played an exciting 3-3 tie. Two blowouts came about as well, as Vlaikograd defeated Orlovska Bistrica 6-2. Theodor Aberbach scored a hat-trick and Alex Geschke added a brace as Teussen defeated SV Preisfeld by a 7-3 score. Rotmunde lost away to Raketa Bukovets, while Energija Chernovets are 3 points ahead at the top thanks to their win over FC St. Jakob.

Matchday 20
TSV Marzig 3–2 Marlesee 97
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 FC St. Jakob
Energija Chernovets 2–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–1 SV Preisfeld
FC Teussen Stelburg 5–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Arsenal Bukovets 4–5 Rudar Trkev
1912 Stelburg 2–3 SW Stahlberg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–2 Olympia Borograd
VfB Launitz 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd

Wins abound for the top table sides, as Energija, Teussen and Olympia all won. Energija’s win came over a struggling Rotmunde, now bottom of the league, while Teussen knocked Orlovska Bistrica further down the table. Olympia Borograd defeated FC Felsenkirchen 2-0, while Metropola managed only a 1-1 draw with Launitz. Rudar Trkev’s 5-4 win over Arsenal Bukovets was the tie of the round, and Rudar surprisingly sit 6th in the league on 30 points. They’ll be hoping this good run of form continues the rest of the season.

President’s Cup Third Round

5 Republikaliga sides move on to the Quarterfinals of the President’s Cup after the third round results. SW Stahlberg won on penalties over FC Ternau, while Teussen Stelburg had no problems dispatching TSV Tarnitz 3-0. Rudar Trkev were knocked out by FC Magesbach, while Olympia Borograd defeated FC Kaiserhaven on penalties to secure a place in the next round. FK Metropola Borograd also won, defeating NK Vrnovo, while TSV Marzig were winners on penalties over SV Preisfeld. The biggest draw in the next round has tobe FC Teussen Stelburg against FK Metropola Borograd, while other Republikaliga sides avoided each other and will face lower-tier opposition.

UICA Globe Cup Group Stage Roundup

Matchdays 1-3
Celtic Noviodunum (NGD) 1-1 Energija Chernovets
Energija Chernovets 3-1 Falourr (EUR)
Golden Eagles (AVN) 3-0 Energija Chernovets

Chernovets have started the group stage well, going 1-1-1 in the group. This included a draw with highly regarded side Celtic Noviodunum, as well as actually grabbing a victory 3-1 over Falourr. Miroslav Dinev had 2 goals in that result, as well as one against Celtic. Energija came back to earth, however, after a 3-0 defeat to the Golden Eagles away.

Matchday 21
VfB Launitz 1–2 TSV Marzig
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Olympia Borograd 1–0 1912 Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
Rudar Trkev 3–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Vrnovo Mesto 2–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
SV Preisfeld 1–1 Energija Chernovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FC St. Jakob 1–0 Marlesee 97

TSV Marzig grabbed a vital win over VfB Launitz, who find themselves 16th in the league. Metropola Borograd and Felsenkirchen had a 1-1 draw, while Olympia Borograd grabbed a win over 1912 Stelburg 1-0, Krasimir Kynev grabbing the winner. FC Teussen Stelburg were victims of Vrnovo Mesto again, and teams cannot figure out how to break down the orange-blues. Energija Chernovets managed only a draw, 1-1 with SV Preisfeld, while FC Rotmunde 1932 managed a 3-1 win over FC Kaiserhaven to move up to 19th in the table.

Cygnus Cup Preliminary Round Leg 1
Venividicci (FID) 1-0 VfL Bamerntal

One happy side effect of Bamerntal’s victory in the President’s Cup last season would be their participation in the Cygnus Cup. The third tier side put up a brave performance, losing 1-0 against Venividicci. They are certainly looking forward to the home tie under the lights at the Gemeindepark.

Matchday 22
TSV Marzig 2–1 FC St. Jakob
Marlesee 97 3–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Kaiserhaven 2–1 SV Preisfeld
Energija Chernovets 1–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–2 Rudar Trkev
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–3 SW Stahlberg
Arsenal Bukovets 3–4 Olympia Borograd
1912 Stelburg 2–3 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–1 VfB Launitz

TSV Marzig have managed another victory, and Max Schillinger seems to have turned things around. They are out of the relegation zone and back into the Quarterfinals of the President’s Cup. FC Rotmunde lost again, 3-2 to Marlesee, and Hans Frosch was quite upset as he stormed down the tunnel. Energija Chernovets slipped up again with a draw at home to FK Orlovska Bistrica, who have slipped down the league table and are in the midst of some terrible form.

Cygnus Cup Preliminary Round Leg 2
VfL Bamerntal 1-1 Venividicci (FID)

VfL Bamerntal may be out of the Cup Winners’ Cup, but it was a night that will be remembered forever. In front of a full house of 5,500 at the Gemeindepark, Jurgen Rasch scored a 66th minute equalizer for Bamerntal, sending their fans into raptures yet again. Despite failure to repeat in the Cup, Bamerntal are playing well in the third tier and have a solid shot of being promoted.

Matchday 23
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–1 TSV Marzig
VfB Launitz 2–2 1912 Stelburg
FK Metropola Borograd 2–0 Arsenal Bukovets
Olympia Borograd 5–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
SW Stahlberg 3–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 3–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
Vrnovo Mesto 2–0 Energija Chernovets
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–2 FC Kaiserhaven
SV Preisfeld 0–0 Marlesee 97
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–5 FC St. Jakob

Draws opened up the matches for the week, with Felsenkirchen and Marzig ending 1-1 and VfB Launitz and 1912 Stelburg coming down to a 2-2 score. Both Borograd sides were victorious, Olympia by the particularly large score of 5-2 over Vlaikograd. Ivo Romanov managed a hat-trick in the match and Krasimir Kynev added a brace. Vrnovo Mesto defeated Energija Chernovets 2-0. Chernovets are a side that look tired, and find themselves 2nd, three points back of Olympia. FC Teussen Stelburg and SW Stahlberg played an exciting 3-3 draw, with Teussen coming back from 3-0 down to tie the match. Teussen still sit, however, 7 points back of first-place Olympia Borograd.

Matchday 24
TSV Marzig 3–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC St. Jakob 5–3 SV Preisfeld
Marlesee 97 1–0 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC Kaiserhaven 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Energija Chernovets 0–1 Rudar Trkev
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–2 Olympia Borograd
FK Vlaikograd 1896 4–6 FK Metropola Borograd
Arsenal Bukovets 4–3 VfB Launitz
1912 Stelburg 0–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

TSV Marzig defeated FC Rotmunde 1932, and Rotmunde really must consider relegation as a possibility this season. They have not performed well, and the board appear unwilling to sack Hans Frosch. Hated rivals Felsenkirchen, who aren’t having the best season themselves, are loving every minute of it. The biggest results of the weekend came at the top, however, as Energija Chernovets lost again, 1-0 to Rudar Trkev. The additional matches appear to be catching up to them, as they have faltered in the Globe Cup group stage as well. FC Teussen Stelburg sweep the National Derby this year, and have a massive 3-2 win over Olympia Borograd today. Theodor Aberbach scored a brace and Alex Geschke scored the winner, as Krasimir Kynev’s brace wasn’t enough. Metropola Borograd had a huge 6-4 win over Vlaikograd, Anton Dimitrov contributing a hat-trick. The Golden Boot race appears to be between the Metropola man Dimitrov and Olympia’s Kynev.

Matchday 25
1912 Stelburg 3–2 TSV Marzig
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–2 Arsenal Bukovets
VfB Launitz 3–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Metropola Borograd 3–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Olympia Borograd 4–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
SW Stahlberg 1–0 Energija Chernovets
Rudar Trkev 1–0 FC Kaiserhaven
Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 Marlesee 97
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–2 FC St. Jakob
SV Preisfeld 0–0 FC Rotmunde 1932

1912 Stelburg grabbed a win over TSV Marzig, while FC Felsenkirchen and Arsenal had a 2-2 draw. Metropola Borograd defeated FC Teussen Stelburg 3-1, actually a massive help to their rivals Olympia, who saw off Raketa with a 4-1 win. SW Stahlberg have defeated Energija Chernovets, losers of 3 in a row, and are actually 2nd in the league. Elsewhere, Rudar Trkev and Marlesee 97 were winners, while at the bottom a 0-0 draw was played out between Rotmunde and Preisfeld.

Matchday 26
TSV Marzig 2–1 SV Preisfeld
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
FC St. Jakob 2–0 Vrnovo Mesto
Marlesee 97 2–3 Rudar Trkev
FC Kaiserhaven 1–2 SW Stahlberg
Energija Chernovets 1–2 Olympia Borograd
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–2 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–0 VfB Launitz
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Arsenal Bukovets 2–1 1912 Stelburg

TSV Marzig have another win, beating Preisfeld 2-1. That was a big help to FC Rotmunde, who have beaten Orlovska Bistrica 2-1. Rotmunde have the talent to avoid relegation, and really should be much, much higher, but the toxicity surrounding the club right now could certainly negatively impact their survival bid. SW Stahlberg beat Kaiserhaven 2-1, while Olympia Borograd defeated Energija Chernovets 2-1. FC Teussen Stelburg were also winners on the day, 2-0 at home over Launitz, while Metropola Borograd managed but a draw with Raketa Bukovets.

President’s Cup Quarterfinal
Olympia Borograd 3–0 FC Magesbach
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
TSV Georg-Blocher 1–1 SW Stahlberg (3–1 AET)
1884 Felsenkirchen 0–3 TSV Marzig

3 of 4 sides in the semifinals will be from the Republikaliga, as Olympia, Teussen and Marzig are all through. Olympia had no problems with Magesbach, and neither did Marzig with Felsenkirchen. SW Stahlberg, playing a weakened squad to keep their focus on the league, reached extra time but were defeated by second-tier side TSV Georg-Blocher. Teussen Stelburg earned a 1-0 win over Metropola Borograd, and a place in the semifinals. The semi-final draw sees Teussen against Marzig, and Olympia against Georg-Blocher. That leaves the possibility for a National Derby in the final, and a chance for either Teussen or Olympia to complete a possible league and cup double.

Matchday 27
Arsenal Bukovets 2–1 TSV Marzig
1912 Stelburg 5–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
VfB Launitz 0–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Metropola Borograd 2–1 Energija Chernovets
Olympia Borograd 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
SW Stahlberg 2–1 Marlesee 97
Rudar Trkev 4–2 FC St. Jakob
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–0 SV Preisfeld

The title race remains extremely interesting after this week’s results. Olympia Borograd managed but a draw with FC Kaiserhaven, while SW Stahlberg picked up all 3 points thanks to a Michael Ribbeck double in a 2-1 win over Marlesee. FC Teussen Stelburg defeated Felsenkirchen, while Rudar Trkev grabbed another win 4-2 over FC St. Jakob. Stahlberg sit 3 behind Olympia, Rudar Trkev have to be the surprise of the season and are 4 points back, while Teussen are 5 behind on 50 points. Energija Chernovets lost again, and now find themselves in sixth place.

UICA Globe Cup Group Stage Round-Up

Matchdays 4-6
Energija Chernovets 2-3 Celtic Noviodunum (NGD)
Falourr (EUR) 2-1 Energija Chernovets
Energija Chernovets 1-2 Golden Eagles (AVN)

It wasn’t just Energija’s league form that was terrible, as they also lost 3 Globe Cup matches between matchdays 22-27. That left them with 8 straight losses in all competitions. What was even more heartbreaking for the side was that each Globe Cup loss came within a difference of 1 goal including 2 home defeats. Energija are a tired side lacking confidence right now, and the rest of the season could be rough.

Matchday 28
TSV Marzig 4–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
SV Preisfeld 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–0 Rudar Trkev
FC St. Jakob 2–2 SW Stahlberg
Marlesee 97 2–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Kaiserhaven 1–2 FK Metropola Borograd
Energija Chernovets 2–2 VfB Launitz
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–0 1912 Stelburg
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–1 Arsenal Bukovets

TSV Marzig have picked up another victory, and have really gained a good amount of points in the recent fixtures, improving from bottom after 15 matches (11 points) to 12th place on 36 points. Rudar Trkev managed only a 0-0 draw with FC Rotmunde, while SW Stahlberg also drew 2-2 with St. Jakob. Followed by an Olympia Borograd loss 2-1 against Marlesee 97, that left FC Teussen Stelburg with a chance to pick up a lot of points in the Stelburg Derby. Scoring 3 goals in the first half, they never looked back and blew past rivals 1912 Stelburg. That leaves them second, 2 points back of Olympia now.

Matchday 29
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–0 TSV Marzig
Arsenal Bukovets 3–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
1912 Stelburg 2–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–1 Energija Chernovets
VfB Launitz 3–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Metropola Borograd 5–2 Marlesee 97
Olympia Borograd 3–2 FC St. Jakob
SW Stahlberg 2–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
Rudar Trkev 1–2 SV Preisfeld
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FK Orlovska Bistrica

While it was Teussen picking up points last week, they dropped some this week. Finding themselves in a 3-3 draw with Arsenal Bukovets wasn’t the result they wanted to continue their push for the title, however it still earns them a point. Energija Chernovets lost again to Felsenkirchen, while Kaiserhaven lost to VfB Launitz. Thomas Wieters’ reign hasn’t been as fruitful as hoped, but he has set himself to the task of preparing for next season. Olympia Borograd and SW Stahlberg both picked up victories, 3-2 over St. Jakob and 2-0 over Rotmunde respectively.

Matchday 30
TSV Marzig 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–1 Rudar Trkev
SV Preisfeld 2–2 SW Stahlberg
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–1 Olympia Borograd
FC St. Jakob 3–2 FK Metropola Borograd
Marlesee 97 2–4 VfB Launitz
FC Kaiserhaven 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Energija Chernovets 4–4 1912 Stelburg
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896

A big day at both ends of the table. The result of the day was surely FC Rotmunde 1932 over Olympia Borograd 2-1. It’s a result not too surprising on paper but on this season’s form it’s a total shock. FK Metropola Borograd also lost, 3-2 against FC St. Jakob. One exciting match was Chernovets’ 4-4 draw with 1912 Stelburg, seeing 3 lead changes and 6 second half goals. In the end, however, the points were split. Teussen Stelburg grabbed an important 3 points thanks to a 4-3 win over FK Vlaikograd 1896. Vlaikograd’s Varban Spasov has quietly put together a brilliant season, and added his 13th of the season in the loss.

Having reached Matchday 30 of the league, let’s take a look at the table.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Olympia Borograd           30   18   4   8    70   49  +21    58
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg        30   17   6   7    68   50  +18    57
 3 SW Stahlberg               30   16   9   5    66   53  +13    57
 4 Rudar Trkev                30   16   7   7    65   55  +10    55
 5 FK Metropola Borograd      30   15   7   8    72   57  +15    52
 6 Energija Chernovets        30   12  11   7    54   42  +12    47
 7 1912 Stelburg              30   12   6  12    56   52   +4    42
 8 Vrnovo Mesto               30   11   9  10    26   29   −3    42
 9 FC St. Jakob               30   12   5  13    63   54   +9    41
10 Arsenal Bukovets           30   10   9  11    67   68   −1    39
11 Marlesee 97                30   11   6  13    54   61   −7    39
12 TSV Marzig                 30   12   3  15    48   55   −7    39
13 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      30    9  11  10    47   44   +3    38
14 FK Vlaikograd 1896         30   10   7  13    66   73   −7    37
15 FK Raketa Bukovets         30   10   6  14    46   52   −6    36
16 VfB Launitz                30    7  11  12    45   52   −7    32
17 FC Kaiserhaven             30    8   7  15    40   61  −21    31
18 FC Rotmunde 1932           30    8   6  16    40   53  −13    30
19 FK Orlovska Bistrica       30    8   5  17    45   60  −15    29
20 SV Preisfeld               30    7   7  16    45   63  −18    28

Up top, Olympia Borograd hold a 1 point advantage over FC Teussen Stelburg and SW Stahlberg. Krasimir Kynev is still the league leader in goals, and Olympia have been overall the most solid side. One thing holding them back is the 2 derby day losses to FC Teussen, who have really capitalized in games against their title rivals. If Teussen go on a run late in the season, there’s no reason why they can’t win the league. SW Stahlberg are also in the hunt, Michael Ribbeck proving he’s here to stay as a top striker in this league. He’ll need to really step up, however, in order for his Stahlberg side to have a shot at winning. For now, top 4 would be an incredible accomplishment after coming 11th last season. Rudar Trkev are also a shock, 3 points back of Olympia. However, they will surely have to come back to earth at some point, and are extremely unlikely to win the league. Metropola Borograd still theoretically have a shot, 6 points back now, but are also unlikely to win. Energija Chernovets really lost their way in the middle of the season, and are 11 points back. Notables in the top 10 include FC St. Jakob, 1912 Stelburg and also Vrnovo Mesto. Mesto have played some solid football this year, and for all the criticisms about their style of play have actually managed some exciting games. It appears all three promoted sides will avoid relegation this year, with Arsenal 10th, Vlaikograd 14th and Raketa 15th. At the bottom, it’s a struggle really between 5 teams. VfB Launitz on 32 points FC Kaiserhaven on 31 points, FC Rotmunde 1932 on 30 points, FK Orlovska Bistrica on 29 and in last place SV Preisfeld with 28 points. On talent alone you’d have to favour Rotmunde and Kaiserhaven to stay out of at least the play-off spots, but on talent alone you’d also likely have both in the top 10. Excitement remains both in the title chase and the relegation battle with 8 matches left in the season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Apr 15, 2018 3:11 pm

Republikaliga Season II: Matchdays 31-38

Matchday 31
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–2 TSV Marzig
FK Vlaikograd 1896 6–3 FK Raketa Bukovets
Arsenal Bukovets 6–2 Energija Chernovets
1912 Stelburg 5–5 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–2 Marlesee 97
VfB Launitz 3–4 FC St. Jakob
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
Olympia Borograd 3–3 SV Preisfeld
SW Stahlberg 3–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Rudar Trkev 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto

It’s now FC Teussen Stelburg at the top of the table. They defeated TSV Marzig 4-2 at home on the back of goals from Aberbach, Kramer, Geschke and Karl Eicher. Vlaikograd and Arsenal contributed big 6-goal games, a 6-3 win over Raketa for Vlaikograd and victory over Chernovets of Arsenal Bukovets. The scoring continued through the opening matches of the round as 1912 Stelburg and FC Kaiserhaven played out a 5-5 thriller. FC Rotmunde drew with FK Metropola Borograd, while Olympia Borograd’s draw with last-place Preisfeld saw them slide to third. SW Stahlberg’s win over FK Orlovska Bistrica saw them up to second place as well. The race for the title continues.

Matchday 32
TSV Marzig 4–2 Rudar Trkev
Vrnovo Mesto 3–4 SW Stahlberg
FK Orlovska Bistrica 3–3 Olympia Borograd
SV Preisfeld 1–0 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–0 VfB Launitz
FC St. Jakob 4–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Marlesee 97 3–1 1912 Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 0–1 Arsenal Bukovets
Energija Chernovets 1–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Raketa Bukovets 3–3 FC Teussen Stelburg

Now it’s SW Stahlberg’s turn on top, as they found a way to beat Vrnovo Mesto in one of the best games of the season. Michael Ribbeck contributed two, and Wulf Lemberger added 2 more in the win. Olympia Borograd have a second draw in as many weeks with a relegation-destined side, 3-3 with FK Orlovska Bistrica. Meanwhile, Rotmunde were 1-0 winners of VfB Launitz and FK Vlaikograd 1896 beat Energija Chernovets 2-1. In the last match of the weekend, Teussen Stelberg were held to a 3-3 draw with FK Raketa Bukovets.

Matchday 33
FK Raketa Bukovets 4–2 TSV Marzig
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 Energija Chernovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–3 FC Kaiserhaven
Arsenal Bukovets 2–2 Marlesee 97
1912 Stelburg 3–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
VfB Launitz 6–3 SV Preisfeld
FK Metropola Borograd 2–1 FK Orlovska Bistrica
Olympia Borograd 2–1 Vrnovo Mesto
SW Stahlberg 0–2 Rudar Trkev

Teussen Stelburg pulled out a character victory late over Energija Chernovets, Rupert Holz grabbing an added time winner. Elsewhere in the title hunt, Olympia Borograd defeated Vrnovo Mesto 2-1 to move into second behind Teussen. SW Stahlberg’s dreams were crushed by a 2-0 loss at home to Rudar Trkev. The big match was, however, the Northeast Derby. Felsenkirchen had a chance to hurt their rival Rotmunde’s survival chances, and did so with a 2-1 win. Chants of “Hans Frosch, we want you to stay” and “Going down, going down, going down” rang out from the Felsenkirchen end, while Rotmunde fans looked on in despair. Rotmunde are currently out of danger in 16th, but that could all easily change. Kaiserhaven are now in the relegation zone, and it’s unclear if Thomas Wietars will stay on for the next season.

Matchday 34
TSV Marzig 0–3 SW Stahlberg
Rudar Trkev 0–2 Olympia Borograd
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Orlovska Bistrica 4–0 VfB Launitz
SV Preisfeld 4–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–1 1912 Stelburg
FC St. Jakob 3–3 Arsenal Bukovets
Marlesee 97 4–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Kaiserhaven 4–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
Energija Chernovets 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets

There’s change at the top again, and Olympia Borograd are back in first place. Their 2-0 win over Rudar Trkev, with 2 goals from Ivo Romanov, sees them back into first, while SW Stahlberg are tied for first on points, second through goal differential, thanks to a 3-0 win over Marzig. FC Teussen Stelburg have it all to do in the last 4 matches, having lost 4-3 to Kaiserhaven. There is real concern at FC Rotmunde, however, who find themselves 19th. Their supporters trust are demanding a meeting with the chairman and manager Hans Frosch, and things could get ugly.

Matchday 35
Energija Chernovets 2–0 TSV Marzig
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Teussen Stelburg 5–6 Marlesee 97
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–2 FC St. Jakob
Arsenal Bukovets 1–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
1912 Stelburg 4–0 SV Preisfeld
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 5–3 FK Orlovska Bistrica
VfB Launitz 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Metropola Borograd 2–0 Rudar Trkev
Olympia Borograd 3–3 SW Stahlberg

This was a huge week of matches in the Republikaliga. At the bottom of the table, FC Rotmunde drew 1-1 with Arsenal Bukovets, moving up to 18th place and a spot in the relegation play-offs. SV Preisfeld and FK Orlovska Bistrica both lost, and appear to be heading down. At the top was where the fireworks really struck. FC Teussen’s 6-5 loss against Marlesee 97 was the highest-scoring game in Republikaliga history. Marlesee blitzed Teussen early and were 4-1 up at half-time. Teussen drew level at 4-4, but it was not enough and Marlesee took victory. That result forces Teussen to basically win all of their remaining matches for any hope of winning the title. The other big match was between Olympia Borograd and SW Stahlberg. There was huge build-up to this game which could decide the title, and comments made on both sides. Olympia manager Ludmil Strashilov drew criticism for referring to Stahlberg as ‘the Michael Ribbeck team,’ which Stahlberg manager Gerd Henning replied to by saying ‘He’s just motivated 10 of my guys to go out there and prove him wrong, and Michael’s always ready to go.’ On the day itself, Ribbeck opened scoring with the first goal, but Olympia took a 2-1 lead into half-time. Lutz von Bergen equalized for Stahlberg, but Krasimir Kynev put the Borograd side back up 3-2 with little time left. In the 90th minute at the death, however, it was Wulf Lemberger who scored a beauty to equalize for Stahlberg. This is when things went way out of control. Lemberger and Ribbeck took part in a celebration involving Ribbeck pretending to clean Lemberger’s boots directly in front of the Borograd bench, before Lemberger stared down Strashilov and gave him the finger-to-mouth gesture, silencing him in reference to his comments. Olympia’s Vladimir Kostov walked over and pushed Lemberger, who fell to the ground, before both teams players crowded the area and were quite physical. It appeared as if a brawl would break out, however Ribbeck and Krasimir Kynev appeared to have calmed their respective teams down. Lemberger and Kostov both received yellow cards, and the game continued through stoppage time. As both teams left the match and headed down the tunnel, however, tensions flared again, and punches appeared to be thrown and the teams needed to be separated. Extra police presence was needed outside the ground as well as Stahlberg fans left the stadium. All in all 14 arrests were made after the match, and a new rivalry appears to have been born.

Matchday 36
TSV Marzig 0–2 Olympia Borograd
SW Stahlberg 1–4 FK Metropola Borograd
Rudar Trkev 3–1 VfB Launitz
Vrnovo Mesto 2–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Orlovska Bistrica 0–1 1912 Stelburg
SV Preisfeld 3–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC St. Jakob 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Marlesee 97 0–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Kaiserhaven 2–5 Energija Chernovets

Olympia Borograd remain top of the league thanks to a 2-0 away win over Marzig, while their cross-town rivals did them a favour, Metropola beating Stahlberg 4-1. The youthful Stahlberg side seemed still a little rattled from last week’s events, and were missing left back Paul Schoner in the lineup after he received a 1 match ban for his actions post-game. Elsewhere, FC Rotmunde 1932 lost again and sit 19th with two matches remaining. Fans of the team have petitioned for the usual post-season meeting between the board and supporters to be moved up as soon as possible to discuss the current situation at the club. Teussen Stelburg defeated FC St. Jakob 1-0, Theodor Aberbach with the goal, and appear to be still in with a shot at winning the league.

President’s Cup Semi-Final
TSV Georg-Blocher 3–3 Olympia Borograd (3–3 AET) (3–4 pen.)
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–2 TSV Marzig

No more cup magic from the lower leagues this year, as TSV Georg-Blocher fell on penalties against Olympia Borograd. Both Borograd and Teussen Stelburg were playing youth squads due to the importance of the final two league fixtures for each side, and it was mainly due to this Teussen fell to TSV Marzig 2-0. These cup semi-finals were the first to be played at the National Stadium in Stelburg, previously they had been played at the venue of whichever club was the home team. The results set up a cup final between Olympia Borograd and TSV Marzig, Olympia chasing a possible double while Marzig would love the opportunity to play spoiler and take the cup home.

Matchday 37
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 TSV Marzig
Energija Chernovets 2–3 Marlesee 97
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Teussen Stelburg 5–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Vlaikograd 1896 3–1 SV Preisfeld
Arsenal Bukovets 1–2 FK Orlovska Bistrica
1912 Stelburg 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 5–3 Rudar Trkev
VfB Launitz 2–1 SW Stahlberg
FK Metropola Borograd 4–2 Olympia Borograd

Another big day in the Republikaliga from top to bottom. Kaiserhaven are pretty much guaranteed safety thanks to their 1-0 win over Marzig, while SV Preisfeld lost 3-1. The big result of the day saw FC Teussen Stelburg defeat FC Rotmunde 5-0. Theodor Aberbach had a brace, as did Alex Geschke, and Rotmunde find themselves last in the league with one match left. Some Rotmunde fans were left in tears at the whistle, as their historic club’s relegation seems a matter of when not if. The meeting between the chariman, manager Frosch and representatives of the supporters was finally held the day afterwards. It is not known what was discussed, however, Hans Frosch resigned from his post as Rotmunde manager just hours later. The supporters trust released a statement, saying “We do not blame Frosch for the issues at our club, however he should have been sacked many matchdays ago. He was a symptom of the larger problem with our club, the current board of directors. We know Frosch truly does care about our club, however, we need someone else to move forwards.” The club’s statement was significantly colder, only one sentence in length: “Hans Frosch has resigned his post as manager of FC Rotmunde 1932, effective immediately.” A new manager is unlikely to be appointed before the final match of the season, which Rotmunde must win to remain in the league. Instead, current assistant Timo Felder will take over under total pressure. Both SW Stahlberg and Olympia Borograd lost this week, meaning the 5-0 result has implications at both the top and bottom of the table. Olympia’s loss came in the Borograd Derby, and Metropola have seemingly denied their hated rivals the title. Teussen Stelburg now lead the league on goal difference, +25 to Olympia’s +24. This sets up a final day on which either side could come away winners.

Matchday 38
TSV Marzig 1–2 FK Metropola Borograd
Olympia Borograd 1–1 VfB Launitz
SW Stahlberg 3–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Rudar Trkev 1–2 1912 Stelburg
Vrnovo Mesto 3–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Orlovska Bistrica 1–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
SV Preisfeld 1–5 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC St. Jakob 3–3 Energija Chernovets
Marlesee 97 0–2 FC Kaiserhaven

FC Teussen Stelburg are champions! They scored 3 in the first 20 minutes of their match with Preisfeld, putting them well on their way. News that VfB Launitz actually led Olympia 1-0 in the first half was extremely well received in the stands, and the party continued in the away end of the SV-Arena, where 3000 Teussen fans sang the praises of their side. And news from that match was well received in Rotmunde. Lennard Schneider scored 2 goals in the first half to put the home side up 2-0, and when FK Vlaikograd 1896 scored in the 73rd minute to defeat Orlovska Bistrica, confirming Rotmunde had achieved an 18th place finish and therefore reached at least the relegation play-off, celebrations began. Elsewhere, Michael Ribbeck scored a brace to make a late push towards the Golden Boot on 24 goals, however Krasimir Kynev scored his 26th goal of the season to equalize for Olympia in the 64th minute, effectively winning the goalscoring title. Still, it’s disappointment for Olympia, who finish two points behind FC Teussen and therefore the title. Their sorrow was matched with the joy of Teussen fans, as the 3000 travelling supporters flowed onto the pitch to celebrate the title with their team.

With the season completed, we can now look at the final table after all 38 matchdays.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FC Teussen Stelburg        38   22   7   9    95   66  +29    73    Champions/UICA Champion's Cup
 2 Olympia Borograd           38   21   8   9    88   64  +24    71    UICA Globe Cup
 3 SW Stahlberg               38   20  10   8    84   71  +13    70    UICA Globe Cup
 4 FK Metropola Borograd      38   20   9   9    88   65  +23    69    UICA Globe Cup
 5 Rudar Trkev                38   18   8  12    76   71   +5    62
 6 1912 Stelburg              38   18   7  13    74   61  +13    61
 7 Energija Chernovets        38   15  12  11    70   59  +11    57
 8 Marlesee 97                38   16   8  14    74   76   −2    56
 9 FK Vlaikograd 1896         38   15   9  14    89   88   +1    54
10 Vrnovo Mesto               38   13  12  13    37   40   −3    51
11 FC St. Jakob               38   14   8  16    79   71   +8    50
12 Arsenal Bukovets           38   12  12  14    85   84   +1    48
13 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      38   12  11  15    63   66   −3    47
14 FK Raketa Bukovets         38   12   9  17    59   68   −9    45
15 FC Kaiserhaven             38   11  10  17    58   79  −21    43
16 TSV Marzig                 38   13   3  22    57   75  −18    42
17 VfB Launitz                38    9  13  16    59   70  −11    40
18 FC Rotmunde 1932           38   10   8  20    47   65  −18    38    Relegation Play-Offs
19 SV Preisfeld               38   10   8  20    61   88  −27    38    Relegated
20 FK Orlovska Bistrica       38   10   6  22    61   77  −16    36    Relegated

FC Teussen Stelburg are the Champions of the Republic, having come through at the end when it mattered most. All in all, there were 5 lead changes at the top in the final 8 matches, creating quite the exciting atmosphere around the league. Matches like Olympia Borograd’s 3-3 draw with SW Stahlberg will go down in the history of the league, while Teussen’s character to win their last 3 matches by a combined score of 11-1 and the league is an incredible achievement. Teussen have qualified for the UICA Champion’s Cup as well, and Olympia, Stahlberg and FK Metropola Borograd will represent the Republikaliga in the UICA Globe Cup. In 5th were Rudar Trkev, who exceeded all expectations in a season which mainly saw teams underperform. At the bottom of the table, SV Preisfeld and FK Orlovska Bistrica have been relegated automatically, while FC Rotmunde 1932 have a chance to redeem themselves in the play-off round.

While the second season of the Republikaliga is in the books, there is still much to report on, including the second and third divisions, plus the President’s Cup Final and Promotion Play-Off. In addition, season awards and a league Best XI remain to be seen.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:14 pm

Republikaliga Season II: Year in Review

Now that FC Teussen Stelburg are in the books as champions, it’s time to reflect on some of the top performances of the season and award the best. Awards include Top Goalscorer, Manager of the Year, Golden Ball, best players by position and Young Player of the Year

Golden Boot
1 - Krasimir Kynev (Olympia Borograd), 26 goals
T2 - Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg), 24 goals
T2 - Anton Dimitrov (FK Metropola Borograd), 24 goals
T3 - Miroslav Dinev (Energija Chernovets), 23 goals
T3 - Theodor Aberbach (FC Teussen Stelburg), 23 goals
T4 - Manuel Horn (FC St. Jakob), 22 goals
T4 - Ludwig Reichwein (TSV Marzig), 22 goals

The future is bright in terms of Republikaliga forwards; Kynev, Ribbeck and Dimitrov all being under the age of 23. Kynev led the way with a league-record 26 goals, and though Michael Ribbeck made a great effort late to catch him it wasn’t enough. Miroslav Dinev put up a solid 23 goals despite all Energija’s struggles, and really tried to put the team on his back near the end of the season. Theodor Aberbach struggled in the early part of the season, but put together a great run at the end to secure Teussen’s title. It could, however, be his final season in the black and gold. Ludwig Reichwein, on 22 goals, is a player who has been heavily linked with Teussen for a possible transfer.

Golden Ball
The league MVP award, or the Golden Ball, is given to the player voted most deserving through a vote of the 20 captains and 20 managers of the Republikaliga. This year, three players received votes.

1. Thorsten Kramer (FC Teussen Stelburg), 16 votes
T2. Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg), 12 votes
T2. Krasimir Kynev (Olympia Borograd), 12 votes

It’s some expected names on the list. Krasimir Kynev was golden boot winner, but his side’s failure to win the league certainly hurt his chances. Michael Ribbeck contributed greatly to SW Stahlberg’s campaign, but in the end no-one was more deserving than Thorsten Kramer. The midfielder contributed 16 goals and 14 assists to his team’s title, and played with experience beyond his years.

Best Players (Position)
The Best Players awards were voted on by members of the Siovanija and Teusland Sporting Press Association. The Golden Ball winner is ineligible for this award.

Best Forward: Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg)
Best Midfielder: Ivo Romanov (Olympia Borograd)
Best Defender: Nikola Karapetrov (Olympia Borograd)
Best Keeper: Julian Fehr (FC Teussen Stelburg)

Ribbeck takes Best Foward, the 18 year old having 24 goals to his name this season. Ivo Romanov was the best midfielder, the Olympia right winger having 18 goals and 8 assists for his side’s league campaign. Nikola Karapetrov was solid at the back all year and led the Olympia backline, taking the defender award, while Julian Fehr’s standout performance in big games saw him awarded the Best Keeper award.

Manager of the Year
The Manager of the Year award is voted on by members of the United Football Association of Siovanija and Teusland.

Manager of the Year: Veselin Bachev (Rudar Trkev)

Bachev guided his Trkev side up the league table from 13th last season all the way up to 5th this season. Rudar in fact appeared in with a shout for the title late in the season, but eventually slipped away. Either way, Bachev really got the best out of his players this season and has been rewarded for his great effort.

Young Player of the Year
This award, given to players under the age of 23, was voted on by members of the Sporting Press Association

Young Player of the Year: Varban Spasov (FK Vlaikograd 1896)

Spasov was a player who often flew under the radar this season, as his Vlaikograd season ended up in 9th position. He scored 16 goals, however, and also had 6 assists as he was deployed in a more attacking role. While perhaps unnoticed by fans of other sides, his stellar play in his first season of Republikaliga football was certainly noticed by the SPA.

Republikaliga Best XI
The Best XI were voted on and named by members of the National Supporter’s Association and its delegates at each Republikaliga club.

GK -- Julian Fehr (FC Teussen Stelburg)
LB -- Dietmar Kleinmann (FC Teussen Stelburg)
CB -- Nikola Karapetrov (Olympia Borograd)
CB -- Raphael Klopfer (1912 Stelburg)
RB -- Lutz Daschner (1912 Stelburg)
LM -- Ingolf Kruger (Marlesee 97)
CM -- Varban Spasov (FK Vlaikograd 1896)
CM -- Thorsten Kramer (FC Teussen Stelburg)
RM -- Ivo Romanov (Olympia Borograd)
CF -- Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg)
CF -- Krasimir Kynev (Olympia Borograd)

Lower League Results

The 2. Republikaliga was much more even this season, and thus it was a tight race to the wire for promotion. In the end, FC Einheit Marnau were league champions and move up to the Republikaliga. They are the first side from Teusland to earn promotion, after last season saw 3 Siovanijan clubs promoted. Following them are FK Pomorie, who will return to the Republikaliga after a 1 year absence. 1884 Felsenkirchen finished third and thus take on FC Rotmunde 1932 for a spot in the Republikaliga. At the bottom, TSV Lahnnenbruck move down to the Teuslands Fussballiga, and NK Krakovo to the Prvenstovo-liga.

2. Republikaliga       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FC Einheit Marnau       38   19   9  10    67   56  +11    66
 2 FK Pomorie              38   19   8  11    61   51  +10    65
 3 1884 Felsenkirchen      38   20   5  13    66   60   +6    65
 4 FC Giesenau             38   19   6  13    60   45  +15    63
 5 1828 Pomen              38   19   5  14    61   47  +14    62
 6 FC Magesbach            38   18   8  12    62   56   +6    62
 7 TSV Georg-Blocher       38   17  10  11    58   46  +12    61
 8 VfB Marlesee            38   16  11  11    61   52   +9    59
 9 VfL Reinbronn           38   13  14  11    60   52   +8    53
10 Zvezda Vlaikograd       38   13  11  14    55   58   −3    50
11 NK Vrnovo               38   13  11  14    52   55   −3    50
12 NK Kaskada              38   13  11  14    58   65   −7    50
13 FC Truiselwald          38   14   7  17    52   50   +2    49
14 VfL Prutseren           38   11  15  12    48   51   −3    48
15 FC Ternau 05            38   13   8  17    40   56  −16    47
16 NK Krakovo              38   11  11  16    47   53   −6    44
17 TSV Prattsee            38   11   9  18    58   64   −6    42
18 SVG Bainitz             38   11   7  20    56   64   −8    40
19 Oststahlberg 08         38    8  11  19    45   64  −19    35
20 TSV Lahnnenbruck        38    6  15  17    60   82  −22    33

In the Prvenstovo-liga, it was NK Siovanska Gora who won the league and thus promotion to the 2. Republikaliga. The team from the 8th largest city in the nation finished last in the entire pyramid last season, and their promotion is a great achievement. In the Teuslands Fussball Liga, VfL Bamerntal, who once shocked the nation with their President’s Cup victory, are champions and are promoted to the 2. Republikaliga. This will be the last season of the separate leagues, however. Fierce debate was abound about travel costs, but after the UFAST agreed to help fund the clubs in the transition period, an agreement was reached. The leagues will be combined, and from next season the 3. Republikaliga will feature the 24 teams of the third tier. The top two will be promoted, and the bottom two of the 2. Republikaliga will be relegated.

Prvenstovo-liga                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 NK Siovanska Gora                44   26   8  10    82   57  +25    86
 2 Rudar Draijagrad                 44   23   7  14    62   50  +12    76
 3 Admiral Severno Pristajanje      44   19  12  13    74   62  +12    69
 4 NK Prevala                       44   21   4  19    76   72   +4    67
 5 NK Kraljgrad                     44   19   9  16    62   69   −7    66
 6 NK Karjaska Gora                 44   19   6  19    67   66   +1    63
 7 FK Kostinbrod                    44   16  11  17    78   70   +8    59
 8 SK Republika Borograd            44   16   9  19    71   72   −1    57
 9 NK Piran                         44   14  12  18    69   74   −5    54
10 TSV Tarnitz                      44   15   8  21    54   71  −17    53
11 NK Vojnik                        44   15   7  22    72   82  −10    52
12 FK Venkovets                     44   11   7  26    59   81  −22    40

Teuslands Fussball Liga  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 VfL Bamerntal            44   21  14   9    89   59  +30    77
 2 Teufelsberg 97           44   21  11  12    75   61  +14    74
 3 VfL Truhnscheid          44   19  11  14    60   58   +2    68
 4 VfL Magesbach            44   18  13  13    69   61   +8    67
 5 VfB Giesenau             44   19   8  17    74   72   +2    65
 6 FC Teufelsberg           44   16  15  13    72   62  +10    63
 7 FC Lahnnenbruck 98       44   17  12  15    74   70   +4    63
 8 FC Kischfeld             44   15  12  17    69   77   −8    57
 9 VfB Truiselwald          44   13  12  19    67   74   −7    51
10 1888 Runsen              44   13  10  21    66   78  −12    49
11 TSV Posenford            44   13   8  23    66   78  −12    47
12 TSV Konsford             44    9  14  21    58   89  −31    41

Republikaliga Promotion-Relegation Play-Off

FC Rotmunde 1932 6-3 1884 Felsenkirchen
1884 Felsenkirchen 2-3 FC Rotmunde 1932

It’s survival then for Rotmunde, who had struggled so much this season only to climb out of the automatic relegation places on the last day of the season. In the first leg, they were down 2-1 before exploding for 5 second half goals, which all but put the tie to bed. They then took care of business away to arguably their second biggest rival, another side from Felsenkirchen. Thus, Rotmunde remain in the Republikaliga, although there is still trouble at the club. Supporters groups are looking at possible ways to either purchase the club outright or force the current owner, a businessman from St. Jakob, to be removed under UFAST regulations. All in all, the fans will be hoping this season was but a blip and that the club will return to normal next year. Timo Felder appears to be the manager the supporters back to take the club forward.

President's Cup Final

Olympia Borograd 3-3 TSV Marzig (4-3 A.E.T)

While they did not achieve the league and cup double, Olympia Borograd can be quite proud of their season as they capped it off with a victory in the President’s Cup final.

Olympia did start the match looking a little off the pace, as they were perhaps still reeling from the collapse of their league title bid. TSV Marzig thus were controlling the play early on, and looked threatening. Yannick Merz had an early drive knocked away by Yanko Zhelyaskov, and the ensuing corner was well-defender by Borograd. Olympia settled themselves down, and came into the game, but Marzig were still quite impressive early on.

Marzig’s good play was rewarded early in the match. Benedikt Tetzlaff moved up the right side of the park, and beat his man. That gave him a clear path towards the goal, and the right back got into perfect positioning for a cross. His cross was well-timed, as was the jump of Ludwig Reichwein. Reichwein’s header flew past Zhelyaskov, and Marzig led 1-0 23 minutes into the match.

Olympia wouldn’t let themselves be down for too long, however. They pulled themselves up and shortly after going down, back on level terms. Ivo Romanov made a brilliant run to get past 3 Marzig defenders, and curled a shot from outside the box. Hitting the post before bouncing in, Romanov’s solo effort was a great goal and overjoyed Olympia fans. Olympia had now equalized, and their fans could breathe a sigh of relief.

Olympia would take the lead in the final just before halftime as well. It was Romanov on the ball again, the right winger having an incredible day in the final. He chose the pass rather than a shot this time, and his ball went out front of the net. Krasimir Kynev picked it up, and the Golden Boot winner would hit the mark for his first of the game. His drive beat the keeper with power, and Olympia appeared to be in control of the match as the half-time whistle came, with a 2-1 lead.

Marzig would not be counted out, however, and fought back to open up the half. Konrad Herzberg threw the ball in to the left back Henry Loffler, who took control of the ball. Loffler made a run up the side of the park, but eventually found Kurt Hochberg in the middle of the park. Hochberg had a decent season in the Republikaliga, and looked confident as he played a great through-ball up to Ludwig Reichwein. Reichwein fired a shot on target, but it was stopped by Zhelyaskov. Marzig would have to wait a little longer for their equalizer.

It came off a set piece just outside the box. Yasen Kynev fouled Kurt Hochberg on the edge of the box, and was warned by the referee. That set up Marzig for a free kick opportunity, which Yannick Merz was eager to take. Merz, who’d looked energetic throughout the game, lined up his shot and struck it perfectly past the dive of Zhelyaskov. His tally put Marzig level on 2-2, and really put a sense of belief into the Marzig fans that they could, in fact, win the cup.

Marzig’s players on the pitch seemed to sense this as well, however, and they seemed a little too eager. Taking more risks than they perhaps should have, they lost momentum as Olympia pushed them back into their half. Marzig were a little bit lost on the pitch, and it showed. Vladimir Kostov took the ball in the centre of the park, and found Romanov on the wing. He cut apart the defensive effort ahead of him and put in a cross. The cross was a little too high for Krasimir Kynev in the box, but fell to Georgi Lukonov instead. Lukonov’s shot curled into the top corner, and Olympia were back out front 3-2.

Marzig really had to dig deep in order to get something back in this game, and it was their star man Reichwein who did it for them. He made a great run with the ball, using his size and skill to keep the ball, before driving in a shot. His first effort was saved by Yanko Zhelyaskov, and went out of play for the corner. Yannick Merz swung the ball in, and Konrad Hertzberg’s header went off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Reichwein, however, who smashed the ball in for his second of the game and Marzig’s equalizer. He quickly ran to grab the ball and bring it back to half, hoping to inspire his team to work immediately.

Neither side could get anything going in the remaining minutes, however, and the match was destined for extra time. The late afternoon sun shone over the National Stadium, and extra time began. Olympia Borograd started out with a higher pace than their opponents, and seemed more composed early on. They defended well, Nikola Karapetrov making a particularly solid tackle to keep Reichwein out of the box, and eventually began to press. The winner came in the 112th minute. Romanov got himself involved again, taking the ball into the corner before passing out front for Valko Tinchev. Tinchev was able to find Krasimir Kynev, and he powered a shot past Heinz Schutz in the Marzig goal. The remaining time passed without much challenge to Olympia’s lead from Marzig, and Olympia Borograd lifted the President’s Cup.

Green was the colour of the day, as Olympia fans filled the streets of Borograd to celebrate. It was slightly bittersweet, as their team had just missed winning a first-ever double of the league and cup. However, the team have a lot to be proud of, and fans believe that the best is yet to come for this young squad.

Olympia Borograd Goals: Ivo Romanov 31’, Krasimir Kynev 42’, Georgi Lukonov 74’, Krasimir Kynev 112’
TSV Marzig Goals: Ludwig Reichwein 23’, Yannick Merz 59’, Ludwig Reichwein 82’

International Qualification

The top 4 Republikaliga teams, as well as the President’s Cup winner, will be representing the nation in international tournaments next season. Those teams will be:

Siovanija and Teusland (STL) Qualifiers:
UICA Champion’s Cup: FC Teussen Stelburg
UICA Globe Cup: Olympia Borograd, SW Stahlberg, FK Metropola Borograd
Cygnus Cup: Olympia Borograd

The second season of the Republikaliga is officially completed.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:23 pm

Republikaliga Season III: Season Preview

Here it is, the third season of the Republikaliga! Last season saw FC Teussen Stelburg capture their first title in the new era, while Olympia Borograd experienced final-day heartbreak to lose the title. It was a tight race from start to finish, and we can only hope that this season will be just as exciting. Can Teussen defend their title, or will Olympia avenge last season's wrongs? Could title chasers SW Stahlberg or FK Metropola Borograd put up a stellar season to take it all home, or will a team like Energija Chernovets return to form and steal back the title? Teams like FC Rotmunde 1932, FC Felsenkirchen 1879 and FC Kaiserhaven, who under-performed last year, will want to step up this season and make amends with their fanbase. In addition to all this, foreign players are participating in the Republikaliga for the first time! Over 10 international players have joined Republikaliga clubs, and look to make their mark on the league. In addition, the old familiar faces such as Thorsten Kramer, Ivo Romanov, Viktor Dimitrov and Michael Ribbeck are back and ready to fire. Make sure to tune in as the Republikaliga makes a triumphant return to the pitch for its third season!

1912 STELBURG
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Sebastien Hengsbach
Stadium: 1912-Stadion (31,000)

Last Season: 1912 dropped one place in the table last season, ending up in 6th position. That was a slight disappointment for the squad, who had the third best defence in the league. Josh Meckler really grew in his role last season, and Raphael Klopfer and Lutz Daschner remained top-quality performers. One area of concern, however, was up front. Ernst Kurschner and Elias Eicke both had subpar seasons, and were the main thing separating the squad from a top 4 position.
This Season: 1912 were one of the many teams active in the international transfer market this offseason. The ins and outs came at the forward position, as Ernst Kurschner was sold to Marianopolis of the Marianne Ligue A for a fee of $1 million. To replace him, the club brought in Acronian centre forward David Jouary. Jouary, aged 19, is described as a muscular striker, an attribute that will allow him to fit into the Republikaliga well. Sebastien Hengsbach appears to be willing to spend another year developing his forward talent before making a major push for the top 4, and it could be costly. Players like Klopfer and Daschner may not want to wait 2-3 more years for UICA football, and this could be their last season at the 1912-Stadion.

ARSENAL BUKOVETS
Colours: Black and red
Manager: Stanko Tanev
Stadium: Bukovets-Stadion (32,000)

Last Season: Arsenal Bukovets survived with style their first season in the Republikaliga. The side finished 12th and racked up 48 points. Forward Prodan Savov finished the year with 21 goals, a great tally that helped the team. There are still question marks, however, surrounding the club. 84 goals were shipped last season, making them the 3rd worst defensive side in the league.
This Season: Arsenal face a similar task to that of last season, that would of course be surviving. Again, the side is quite capable of remaining in the top division, but the questions previously raised loom over the club. Prodan Savov will have to be a big contributer if Arsenal hope to remain in the division If offensive production drops, they will be in tough to stay up. They likely still will be, unless the backline can sort itself out as quickly as possible.

ENERGIJA CHERNOVETS
Colours: Green and yellow
Manager: Apostol Manevski
Stadium: Energija-Arena (34,000)

Last Season: Everything went right for Energija Chernovets, until it didn’t. The side looked virtually unbeatable for a season and a half, and were top of the table after matchday 22. In addition to that, a great run in the UICA Globe Cup was made, as the side became the first Republikaliga club to reach the group stage. It all went wrong, however, after that, including 5 losses in a row and the side ended up far off the pace in 7th. The offensive production went away for Energija when the losses began, including that run of 5 losses when the team scored but 2 goals.
This Season: Apostol Manevski made no changes to his side that once won the Republikaliga title, not adding any reinforcements through the transfer window. Amidst worries the team had been ‘figured out’, Viktor Dimitrov and Miroslav Dinev assured the media and supporters that many tricks were up the sleeve of this team. Without the addition of international football, and without the pressure that comes with being defending champions, Energija should be much better off this season. A push for top four, or even a second title, could be on for the club.

FC EINHEIT MARNAU
Colours: Red and white
Manager: Alexander Waldgren
Stadium: Marnaustadion (28,000)

Last Season: Marnau were the champions of the 2. Republikaliga last season, earning automatic promotion to the Republikaliga. It was a tight season in that division, with Marnau only having a 1 point advantage in the final table on 66 points. Part of the reason Marnau captured the title was a great offensive performance, led by forwards Heller and Seydel. Heller led the team and league in scoring, while Seydel complimented him well.
This Season: Marnau’s future largely depends on whether or not they can avoid relegation this year. Linus Segert is a player who performed well in the second division, and while he is considered a solid prospect, it remains to be seen whether he can perform in the top division. Roland Plessner as well should be one to watch. The retirement of former right midfielder and captain Gregor Schneider, who moved into a coaching role, meant that Marnau went to the international market to replace him. Banquo Chrysler is the man brought in to replace him, a Nepharim youngster known for his physicality and workrate. Avoiding the drop is the big task for manager Waldgren, as players like Segert, Plessner, Heller and Chrysler are unlikely to want to head down to the second division.

FC FELSENKIRCHEN 1879
Colours: Navy and white
Manager: Ralph Kislinger
Stadium: Felsenkirchen-Arena (35,000)

Last Season: Felsenkirchen haven’t been able to put it all together so far in the Republikaliga. In season 1, a late year collapse denied them a shot at the top 4. In season 2, the collapse was year-long, and Malte Hasselhoff was sacked after 10 matches. Despite an early surge under replacement Ralph Kislinger, the team finished in 13th place, far from top 4 contention. The offence was, simply put, not good enough, as the 63 goal campaign was far off the totals of teams higher in the table. Defensively, Felsenkirchen were not bad, but the lack of goals meant it did not matter.
This Season: Ralph Kislinger agreed to stay on board as Felsenkirchen manager, as long as the board would back him to make the changes he felt were needed in the squad. The first move Kislinger made was securing the transfer of Ferenc Kubala. The former Nepharim U21 international, Kubala is a sturdy box-to-box midfielder. He didn’t have the best of times in the Nepharim Premiership, and Felsenkirchen are hoping he can reboot his career here. Kislinger also had to deal with the move of Jurgen Stern. Stern handed in a transfer request, citing a desire to move abroad and push for more game time on the national team. Stern was eventually sold to Marianne club DKI Telecom Jets, with Felsenkirchen receiving $2 million. To replace him, the club signed up Rolf Seyfried from the relegated SV Preisfeld. This year, Felsenkirchen will hope to improve offensively in order to move back up the table.

FC KAISERHAVEN
Colours: Blue and yellow
Manager: Thomas Wietars
Stadium: Kaiserhaven-Stadion (40,000)

Last Season: Last season was one to forget for Kaiserhaven fans. The team fell down to 15th place in the league table, and Norbert Korn was sacked after 11 matches, including a 4-0 loss to fellow strugglers FC Felsenkirchen 1879. The team sat 18th after 15 matches, but new man on the touchline Thomas Wietars was able to pick the team out of danger up 3 spots. There were questions as to whether Wietars would remain the manager for this season, but the board has given him the vote of confidence.
This Season: The vote of confidence given to Wietars also included financial backing. Wietars used the support to bring in Jean-Alain Huot from Saint-Urbain in Marianne for a fee of $2.5 million. Huot has been described as a great creator on the ball, and should slot in well to a Kaiserhaven front line that includes national teamer Paulus Leistner. Another move made was picking up Herman Nieuwland, an Audioslavian youngster that is certainly one for the future. There are still some questions in the lineup, however, including whether or not Wolfhard Vahlen will be able to find his shooting boots to benefit from the creative minds behind him.

FC ROTMUNDE 1932
Colours: Red and black
Manager: Timo Felder
Stadium: Rotmunde-Stadion (37,000)

Last Season: Rotmunde were absolutely horrible last season. That’s a nice way of putting it, as the club who finished 7th their first year in the Republikaliga collapsed completely and finished in 18th position. A toxic atmosphere off the pitch, largely caused by the war between supporters and the ownership, didn’t help the team at all, and the team had the second-worst offence in the league scoring only 47 goals. At the end of the season, however, things began to look brighter for the team. Timo Felder came in for the 38th matchday, and won on the day to jump from 20th to 18th on the final day. He then guided the team to a play-off victory and avoided a disastrous relegation.
This Season: Lots have changed at Rotmunde after a whirlwind offseason. A group of investors from the town of Rotmunde Chamber of Commerce made a bid for the club, which was heavily supported by the fans of the team. The purchase went through, and talk in the halls of the Rotmunde-Stadion turned to how the team would be improved for the next season. Two big moves were made, with plenty more rumoured. The first major transfer saw capped international and former FC Teussen striker Theodor Aberbach join the club to bolster the offence. Goetxea Shimizu was the other addition to the team, the Hinodejin defender considered a top defensive prospect. He can play both centre back and defensive midfield, and Rotmunde are expecting big things of him. If both of those signings can pay off, and the rest of the lineup performs to expectations, Rotmunde will do much better than 18th.

FC ST. JAKOB
Colours: Red and white
Manager: Hermann Frenz
Stadium: Draistadion (37,000)

Last Season: Last season was a disappointing one for FC St. Jakob. Normally considered one of the top clubs in the nation, including a third place finish in season 1 of the Republikaliga, the club didn’t fare as well season 2. The team dropped to 11th place, largely because the issues surrounding the team were not dealt with when needed. The team was caught behind ageing veterans and young prospects, and thus the team suffered. Of main concern was the backline, which despite Stefan Licht’s best efforts looked a little off the pace
This Season: Hermann Franz was given the vote of confidence by the board to begin a rebuild at FC St. Jakob. He kicked it off by making some difficult decisions, including putting club legend Ole Sauer up for sale. This allowed him to promote Bernd Falkenberg from the bench, a keeper with a bright future ahead of him who Sauer had been tutoring on and off the pitch. Clearly, it is believed Falkenberg is ready for the big time now. In addition, Manuel Horn was out the door, replaced at centre forward by Erwin Bahnsen. Bahnsen was a highly-rated youth prospect who is now getting his shot in the first team. Another addition to the club was Finngarðr Sigurðrsson, who signed on to the club from Halfdansodal. The 19 year old left back will slot into the first team, and big things are expected of him. The rebuild is well and truly on, and the process has begun.

FC TEUSSEN STELBURG
Colours: Gold and black
Manager: Kaspar Knauer
Stadium: Teussens-Arena (44,000)

Last Season: FC Teussen Stelburg were Champions of the Republic last season, thanks to a splendid performance at the very end to steal the title away from Olympia Borograd. The side led the league in goals scored, with 95 to their name, while the defence was also solid, and the team held a +29 goal differential at the end of the season. Individual performances were also highly rated, as Thorsten Kramer was awarded the Golden Ball as Republikaliga MVP. In addition, players like Alex Geschke and Dietmar Kleinmann were capped often by the national team in World Cup Qualifiers, while Ernst Schoff appears on the verge of cracking the side.
This Season: Teussen chose to stay out of the international transfer market this summer, favouring the domestic market. The only position in question was at centre forward, with both the club and Theodor Aberbach deciding it would be best to move on. Aberbach was sold to Rotmunde, and Teussen dove into the market. The two big names linked with the club all summer were Ludwig Reichwein and Michael Ribbeck. Ribbeck ruled out the transfer early, stating that he hoped to continue growing his career at SW Stahlberg. Reichwein was an ongoing saga all summer, with reports placing him at Stelburg International Airport on the way to agree a transfer. It appears the player had a last-minute change of heart, however, and decided to remain at TSV Marzig for at least one more season. Teussen turned to FC St. Jakob man Manuel Horn after that, as St. Jakob look to rebuild and Horn seemingly on the market. The transfer was agreed, and Manuel Horn enters the Teussen fold. There are concerns about his age, and whether he can produce in the Republikaliga, and it will be up to him to prove the doubters wrong.

FK METROPOLA BOROGRAD
Colours: Purple and white
Manager: Daniel Manolov
Stadium: Metropola-Stadion (49,000)

Last Season: It was a strange year for Metropola Borograd last season, as they were in crisis mode throughout the early part of the season. Rumours were abound about the future of Daniel Manolov as manager, however, the team were able to pull together and save the manager’s job. The team saw mixed results throughout the middle part of the season, beating eventual champions Teussen Stelburg 3-1 at home, yet also finding themselves drawing with Launitz and losing to TSV Marzig. In the end, the side were able to finish in 4th place, which ensured them a birth in the UICA Globe Cup, and were also able to laugh as their biggest rivals Olympia were denied the title on the last day of the season.
This Season: Pressure is on Metropola this season. There are two major additions to the side, with Lyubomir Dimitrov being picked up from the relegated Orlovska Bistrica, and George t’son d’Haxli joining from Stalingrad FC in the Marianne league. Dimitrov is a top prospect at left back, capped by the national team, who could grow into a massive talent. d’Haxli is a player out of Marianne who was noted for his passing ability, but struggled with the physical game. Metropola have reportedly asked for him to spend more time training to fix this portion of his style, so that he can better adjust to the Republikaliga. In addition to the new talent coming in, Anton Dimitrov remains a first-class centre forward in this league. With him up top, Metropola have a great talent for years to come. Overall, the board will be expecting a title challenge this season, and Manolov could feel the heat if this is not achieved.

FK POMORIE
Colours: Red and white
Manager: Demitar Zherkov
Stadium: Pomorie-Arena (32,000)

Last Season: Pomorie, having been relegated in the first season of the Republikaliga, found themselves in the 2. Liga last season. They were, however, an instant success, finishing second place and thus being automatically promoted. Ivo Ilev was the star man last season, guiding the team to promotion, which they did with solid offensive and defensive records. Anatoli Svetikov was another big performer last season in between the sticks, and Pomorie will need him to come up big again in order to stay up.
This Season: It’s pretty much do-or-die for Pomorie this season. Ivo Ilev, despite the loyalty he showed the club when they were relegated and he had several contract offers, can’t be expected to stick around for another go around in the 2. Liga. Ilev is a player with the potential to reach the national team, and if he performs for Pomorie this season that could happen. Bozhidar Dimitrov will have to score for this team, and must perform better than he did way back in season 1, when he provided only 14 goals. Pomorie have a decent shot at staying up this season, but every point available must be taken. One great thing about Pomorie’s promotion is we get to see the Pomorie-Marzig Derby, which is often gives some of the best matches of the season, at least twice more.

FK RAKETA BUKOVETS
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Zmeyo Georgiev
Stadium: Raketa-Arena (29,000)

Last Season: Raketa managed to put in a performance that was good enough for them to remain in the Republikaliga. There were, however, several question marks around the team. The biggest of these had to be the inconsistency of results the team would achieve. Raketa were a team that could defeat a big club one week, then get blown out by a relegation rival the next. Tsvetan Cristov put in his share of work, and Aleksander Lukanov was a break-out performer, tallying 15 goals from the left wing. .
This Season:. If the results they picked up against big teams last season dry up, Raketa could be in great difficulty to survive. They must look to build upon their performance last season in order to stay in the top division. This year represents a big one for the team; either they will improve and become a successful mid-table side, or they regress and almost certainly get relegated. If the club goes down, look for Aleksander Lukanov to be seeking a new club come the transfer window.

FK VLAIKOGRAD 1896
Manager: Veslin Patanov
Stadium: Jezera-Stadion (34,000)
Colours: Purple and yellow

Last Season: Vlaikograd’s first season in the Republikaliga was not as special as the season in the 2. Liga had been. Of course, nothing could quite match an invincible season. Vlaikograd were a solid performing side throughout the year, and managed to finish 9th in the table. They boasted a record of 89 goals for, second in the division behind Teussen. Much of that was thanks to the work of Varban Spasov, who was described by some as the ‘Siovanijan Thorsten Kramer.’ At the same time, however, the club conceded 88 goals, tied for worst in the league. That record is something that needs to be improved as the club continue in the league..
This Season:. A few questions surround Vlaikograd this season. Was Varban Spasov just a one-season wonder, or is he another great midfielder in waiting? Can Atanas Velikov, and really the entire Vlaikograd defence corps, regain form? And the biggest one surely is how the team will deal with a sophomore slump should it come. Vlaikograd should have enough quality not to worry about relegation, but a drop-off will have to be expected.

MARLESEE 97
Colours: Blue and white
Manager: Magnus Herschlag
Stadium: Marlebucht-Energie Arena (30,000)

Last Season: Marlesee 97 saw great improvement in the second season of the Republikaliga, as they finished 8th in the table. The top 10 finish was great for the side, and Ingolf Kruger was even named in the Republikaliga Best XI. He did attract national team attention, but was not in the 23 man squad for the Cup of Harmony. Kruger and Marlesee played pretty solid football throughout the season, but one area that improvement can be found is at the back end. Marlesee were, along with Vrnovo Mesto (but do they really count?) one of only 2 sides in the top 10 with a negative goal difference. In order to push on, and potentially move up the table, this will need to be sorted. .
This Season:Marlesee’s movement in the transfer window was picking up Yannick Lange from the relegated SV Preisfeld, replacing the retiring Ralf Brecher. Brecher remains around the Marlebucht-Energie Arena, having taken on a role with the team’s under 18 squad. The addition of Lange to the front line should boost Marlesee’s firepower, as he joins Ingolf Kruger and Yannik Lehrer. One must wonder, however, if Marlesee should have attempted to pick up a defender, especially as many teams around them in the league focused on this area for addition. For Marlesee, this season will be an interesting test to see if they have a squad that could push on and reach the top 4, or if they need more pieces. .

OLYMPIA BOROGRAD
Colours: Green and white
Manager: Ludmil Strashilov
Stadium: Olympski-Stadion (60,000)

Last Season: One word could sum up Olympia’s season last year: heartbreak. A second-to-last matchday defeat to hated rivals Metropola Borograd and only managing a draw on the final day against VfB Launitz meant the green-whites were forced to watch as other hated rival FC Teussen Stelburg became Champions of the Republic. Of course, Olympia went on to become President’s Cup champions a week later, and Krasimir Kynev captured the Golden Boot with 26 goals. Still, there is only one goal in the minds of every single Olympia supporter: winning the league.
This Season: That goal also extends to the players. In an interview shortly after returning from the Cup of Harmony, Krasimir Kynev, who tallied 3 goals at the tournament, commented that “Everyone in our room is focused on only one thing. I felt sick that night we lost it, and this year we’re going to avenge that.” Olympia brought in Noë Rénault from Marianne to slot in at right back this season, and the national team player has much expectation upon him. Up front, Ivo Romanov is entering his prime now, and is arguably the best player in the Republikaliga. Krasimir Kynev sits at the top, and he’ll be again expected to bang in goals. Olympia have everything they need to take the title home, and they certainly hope this season will not end in heartbreak.

RUDAR TRKEV
Colours: Grey and red
Manager: Veselin Bachev
Stadium: Trkev-Arena (25,000)

Last Season: Even in their wildest dreams, Rudar Trkev fans would not have expected a season like the one their club experienced last year. Trkev were 5th place finishers, ending the year on 62 points. The season saw victories like the great 1-0 away win over Energija Chernovets, and despite a rough final 8 games, Trkev can be proud of the season. It was much better than anyone could have predicted, and leaves Trkev in an interesting place coming into this season. .
This Season: This side is unchanged from the team that finished 5th last year, although they can’t be expected to reach that high again. Evgeni Bakalov, who attracted lots of attention around the league, remains the focal point of the Trkev offence, and is a top quality playmaker. Around him, Radko Boichev had a decent scoring record last season, while wingers Bukharov and Antonov have to continue to perform. The backline, which shipped 71 goals last season, is led by the pair of Popov and Pingov, and has great chemistry. Manager Veselin Bachev, who was named Manager of the Year last year, is confident his squad can at least remain in the top 10.

SW STAHLBERG
Colours: Grey and black
Manager: Gerd Hennig
Stadium: Stahlarbeiter-Union Arena (35,000)

Last Season: Led by young star Michael Ribbeck, Stahlberg reached the top 4 for the first time in their history. They also put in a solid challenge for the title, but eventually finished in 3rd, 3 points off the top. Tensions overflowed during a match with Olympia Borograd, and a new rivalry could be born for this upcoming season. Stahlberg, despite their focus on offensive power, managed the fewest goals of the top 4 teams, and also conceded the most of all top 4 sides. The defence was solid overall, however, and was led mainly by Paul Schorner and Karsten Lichtwark. Top performers up front included Michael Ribbeck and Lutz von Bergen.
This Season: Stahlberg lived up to their expectations and more last year, managing to finish 3rd. This year, the goal will be to go on and attempt to win the league. It was an anxious transfer window for the team, as many rumours said that Teussen Stelburg would be looking to buy Michael Ribbeck. Ribbeck quickly came out to dispel those rumours, but they would not be stopped until the day Manuel Horn signed for Teussen. Ribbeck has made clear that Stahlberg is his club, and he wants to continue his development there. If the team cannot win trophies soon, however, he may be forced to leave. Stahlberg did make one move during the transfer period, however, picking up young Jonas Breukelen from Audioslavia on a free transfer. The centre-back will for now develop with the youth team, but could see game time during the season and is favoured as an eventual replacement for Karsten Lichtwark. For now, Stahlberg continue their rise up the table, and look to solidify themselves as a top club this season.

TSV MARZIG
Colours: White and blue
Manager: Max Schillinger
Stadium: Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion (29,000)

Last Season: Marzig had a much more difficult run of things in the Republikaliga last season, ending up in 16th place. Ludwig Reichwein had a solid year again, putting up 22 goals and really developing into a leader of this Marzig side. Despite the decline in league performance, there were still some great scenes at the Vest-Marlebucht Stadion as Marzig advanced all the way to the President’s Cup Final. It was an incredible moment as Marzig defeated Teussen Stelburg in the semifinals at the Nationalstadion to advance to the final, but it was in the end heartbreak for Marzig as they lost 4-3 after extra time. That gave supporters of the side hope that this season could be a better one, and that Ludwig Reichwein would remain at the club.
This Season: Reichwein was another centre forward who had several links with Teussen Stelburg this offseason. Panic was abound when photos of him at Stelburg International Airport began to circulate, with other blurry pictures placing him at the Teussen training ground. In the end, however, Reichwein clearly had a change of heart. He posted an update stating that he was in Stelburg visiting family, and just two weeks later Manuel Horn signed with Teussen, ending the speculation. Rumours are that Reichwein wants at least one more chance at guiding his boyhood club to a trophy, before potentially moving on. Marzig should be a club still at the bottom of the table, not really in danger of relegation but also not moving up. Look out for them to be a surprise package against big clubs or in the Cup, however.

VFB LAUNITZ
Colours: Black and white
Manager: Gunter Aust
Stadium: Launitz-Hauptstadion (29,000)

Last Season: VfB Launitz are one of those constant teams, always in the division, possibly making some noise against one of the bigger teams, but never really looking to be relegated or looking to move up the table. Last year, Launitz had some luck in that Rotmunde heavily underperformed, and they were spared a play-off match, instead finishing 17th. Launitz had many matches see draws, which was both a blessing and a curse: they could hold some better teams and take a point, while also dropping points in key matches for them.
This Season: It’s clear that the Launitz board want their side to become something more than an average team. They’ve decided to build the club up and create a bigger name for themselves, hoping to earn some results along the way. The first act in this phase was to improve from the back out, starting in goal. Republikaliga legend Ole Sauer, possibly the greatest keeper in our nation’s history, was brought in from FC St. Jakob. The 36 year old, however, doesn’t have too many seasons left in him, so an understudy was brought in. Ulf Hávarðrsson, the 18 year old keeper from Halfdansodal, was a wanted man by several clubs during the transfer window, but in the end he came to Launitz. He is expected to be the big man of the future, and should see his fair share of starts already this season. The signings will be a morale boost to this team, and we wouldn’t be shocked to see them finish midtable this season.

VRNOVO MESTO
Colours: Orange and blue
Manager: Lyoben Zhalikov
Stadium: Ostrovi-Arena (26,000)

Last Season: Mesto were a bit of a surprise package in the league last season, ending up in 10th position. We don’t have to tell you that they scored the fewest in the division while also giving up the least goals, because Vrnovo’s system is well known. Still, they managed to pick up their share of good results, such as the 2-0 win over Energija Chernovets and the 2-1 win over Teussen Stelburg. There were many good individual performances as well, and Daniel Pingov became one of the national team’s most relied upon defenders, capped 14 times during the course of World Cup Qualifiers and the Cup of Harmony. Vrnovo achieved their goal of avoiding relegation yet again, but you have to wonder if eventually the board and players will want to see more ambition from their team.
This Season: It appears that Lyuben Strashilov has considered this as he set up Vrnovo’s team for the third season of the Republikaliga. He has spoke of allowing the forwards Strashilov and Varbanov a bit more freedom up front, and encouraging his wing backs to get further forward. This was emphasized with the signing of Noboru from the Daineri league, a player whom scouts say naturally excels on the attack, but also has experience as a more defensive fullback. It should be interesting to see how Vrnovo approach the league this season, and whether or not they will be exposed.

Lower Division Previews

In the 2. Republikaliga, several teams have a decent shot at making a return to the top division. FK Orlovska Bistrica have to be the favourites for a return, as they really have enough quality to be in the Republikaliga. Obviously, however, that did not show up last season and fans of the Eagles will have to be hoping their squad can pull it together. The loss of Lyubomir Dimitrov was bad for the team, but they will be hoping his replacement, academy product Luka Soltanov, can step up right away. Bistrica have to be promotion favourites, and behind them would follow SV Preisfeld and 1884 Felsenkirchen. Preisfeld, of course, are in a similar situation as Orlovska Bistrica: having lost their best player in the offseason, yet still having enough talent to bring them back up. Meanwhile, 1884 had a great chance last season to become the third northeastern club in the Republikaliga, but were beaten by local rivals Rotmunde in the play-off. Promotion for 1884 would certainly be interesting, as they would take on rivals FC Felsenkirchen 1879 and Rotmunde for regional supremacy. Other teams in with a shout include VfL Reinbronn, who were relegated from the Republikaliga in their first season, and TSV Georg-Blocher, who have made steady improvements .

At the other end of things, the obvious candidate for relegation are Oststahlberg 08. They are the classic example of a side too good for the third division, but don’t have the talent to cut it in the second division. Other teams that could join them in the race to attempt to avoid relegation include Zvezda Vlaikograd, VfL Prutseren, and VfL Bamerntal. Yes, the cinderella team who won the President’s Cup find themselves in danger this season, and will have to perform above their level to remain in the 2. Republikaliga. Coming up to replace them from the newly-created 3. Republikaliga could be 2 or 3 of Rudar Draijagrad, NK Prevala, Teufelsberg 97 and 1888 Runsen. Of course, no one really knows how the third division will play out as the Siovanijan and Teus clubs compete with each other for the first time, and thus we might be completely off base here.

In other news from the football world, the J. Republikaliga (Jugends Republikaliga) has been created in order to have the academy teams of the 20 Republikaliga sides compete with each other. The move, which marks a departure from the previous system of regional academy leagues, or even academy teams playing against high school or university competition, was described by national team coach Alan Dzekov as ‘a great way to improve our youth development in this country. By having the youth teams compete against each other, and potentially with teams in other nations, our program can only grow stronger.’ The move is also seen as a way for teams to potentially get around the compulsory military service for 18 year olds. Hot prospects Thorsten Kramer and Michael Ribbeck were both allowed to defer the service until the end of their careers, however many young players have not been so lucky. Rumour has it the three branches of the military were asked about entering teams in the competition, and that is something that could happen in the near future. Sources in the Defence Ministry have, however, denied this idea. As for which clubs will have a chance of winning the J. Republikaliga, the clubs that traditionally have the best academies include Teussen Stelburg, Olympia Borograd, Metropola Borograd, and TSV Marzig. The first three clubs should come as no surprise, but much of Marzig’s success comes from the team’s ability to attract Teus-speaking players living in Siovanija, which have traditionally made up a large part of the team’s fanbase. Up for grabs, besides the honour of being declared Youth Champions of the Republic, is a place in the UICA Youth Cup.

The dawn of the Republikaliga season is upon us, and we at republiksport.st will be here to cover each and every minute of action!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 10:46 am

Republikaliga Season III: UICA Qualification + Matchdays 1-15

We open up with several rounds of UICA and other international tournament qualification rounds, which took place during the lead-up to the Republikaliga season.

UICA First Preliminary Round
UICA Champion’s Cup
FC Teussen Stelburg 1-0 Tout-Puissant Outremont (MRA)
Tout-Puissant Outremont 1-1 FC Teussen Stelburg

UICA Globe Cup
FK Metropola Borograd 1-2 University City SC (NFX)
University City FC 0-1 FK Metropola Borograd

Newport Sirens (PCR) 1-0 SW Stahlberg
SW Stahlberg 2-3 Newport Sirens (A.E.T)

Clubs from the Republikaliga returned to take part in the early rounds of the UICA competitions, hoping to repeat Energija Chernovets’ run to the group stage of the Globe Cup. In the first leg of ties, Metropola Borograd were defeated at home by University City SC, Anton Dimitrov’s early goal not being enough to put them ahead. SW Stahlberg also were defeated, 1-0 away to Newport Sirens. In the Champion’s Cup, however, FC Teussen Stelburg were able to open up their tie with Mariannois side Outremont with a 1-0 victory, Alex Geschke being the hero of the day with a second half goal.

In the second leg of ties, Teussen were able to see off the challenge of Outremont and advance, winning the tie on aggregate 2-1. Manuel Horn came up big for Teussen, evening the match after Outremont stole an early lead. After that, Teussen defended excellently and held on for victory away. Elsewhere, Stanimir Ilev scored to see Metropola Borograd past University City in the match but not the tie, as they lost on away goals. Michael Ribbeck and Lutz von Bergen managed goals as SW Stahlberg pushed Newport Sirens to the limit, but eventually lost the tie in extra time. That leaves FC Teussen Stelburg and Olympia Borograd as the only clubs remaining in international competition.

AOCL Preliminary Round
Rosaria United (ESH) 1-0 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Teussen Stelburg 0-2 Rosaria United (ESH)

Not really much to comment here. Teussen were outplayed and outclassed by Rosaria over two legs, and fully deserve their elimination here. Stelburg could not manage a goal in 180 minutes of football, and the question has to be if they were up for the competition. “Of course we were up for it, but they were simply better on both days,” answered manager Kasper Knauer. Teussen thus head into the next round of UICA qualification with much to prove.

UICA Second Preliminary Round
UICA Champion’s Cup
FC Teussen Stelburg 2-0 Crownsville Central (COL)
Crownsville Central 2-1 FC Teussen Stelburg

FC Teussen recovered in time for their next round of matches at the UICA Champion’s Cup, with Thorsten Kramer being the standout performer of the tie. He assisted both goals in the first leg, which were scored by Manuel Horn and Rupert Holz. Teussen were dominant in that first leg, but slipped off a bit for the second. Crownsville went up 2-0 quickly, but it was Kramer who scored from a free kick to give Teussen an all-vital goal to send them through.

Cygnus Cup Preliminary Round
Olympia Borograd 3-1 Elsbury (COL)
Elsbury 5-1 Olympia Borograd (A.E.T)

Well, that’s not what you want. Olympia did well in the first leg, with Krasimir Kynev scoring a brace and Ivo Romanov putting icing on the cake late on, as Elsbury were defeated by a 3-1 score. It all fell apart, however, in the away leg. Olympia, even after Romanov managed a 6th minute goal, fell apart and conceded 5 to send them packing from the Cup Winner’s Cup. Not the brightest day in Olympia Borograd history.

UICA Third Preliminary Round
Champion’s Cup
FC Teussen Stelburg 0-2 Tir Snake Strike (CEN)
Tir Snake Strike 3-0 FC Teussen Stelburg

Globe Cup
Olympia Borograd 0-1 Navel Sharks (WRL)
Navel Sharks 2-1 Olympia Borograd

Revenge was in the air as the Tir Snake Strike demolished Teussen Stelburg over two legs. Tir Snake, who had to be at least in the back of their minds remembering the defeat last season to other Republikaliga club Energija Chernovets, scored two early goals away and then put the tie to bed without question at home. Teussen will still be participating in the Globe Cup, however, despite the loss. Meanwhile, Olympia Borograd were put out of the Globe Cup after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to the Navel Sharks. Ivo Romanov added some consolation in the second leg, but it was simply not enough.

UICA Globe Cup Play-off Round

FC Teussen Stelburg 0-2 Tanrisal (PAS)
Tanrisal 1-3 FC Teussen Stelburg

What a comeback. Teussen looked down and out after the first leg, as Tanrisal tore them apart at home. The 2-0 scoreline flattered Teussen, and it was only solid defending in the second half that kept the gold-blacks only down 2 goals. The second leg, away to the Pasargan side, was always going to be tough, and no-one could have expected the result to come. Manuel Horn scored early, but Tanrisal were quickly able to equalize. Teussen were awarded a penalty on the 61st minute after Ernst Schoff was fouled in the box. Schoff stepped up to take, and a perfectly-aimed kick into the bottom left corner gave Teussen the 2-1 lead. Finally, with just minutes remaining in the tie, Thorten Kramer whipped in a free kick which was headed home by Oscar Fisch, giving Teussen the win. It was a great performance, one that supporters of FC Teussen Stelburg will remember for a long time. FC Teussen are now only one more round away from reaching the group stage, but they come up against tough opposition. Firstly, however, the Republikaliga season kicks off!

Matchday 1
FC Kaiserhaven 3–4 Olympia Borograd
Marlesee 97 2–4 Energija Chernovets
Rudar Trkev 1–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
VfB Launitz 2–3 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Vlaikograd 1896 4–1 FC Einheit Marnau
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–2 TSV Marzig
FC St. Jakob 2–3 SW Stahlberg
Arsenal Bukovets 4–3 FK Raketa Bukovets
1912 Stelburg 3–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Metropola Borograd 5–2 FK Pomorie

The league kicked off with several high-octane matches. Opening up the season was Olympia Borograd travelling away to FC Kaiserhaven, and it was quite the match. Kaiserhaven took a 2-0 lead early, including a wonderful goal from Ingolf Rosen early on. However, Olympia would not sit back, and Krasimir Kynev and Ivo Romanov both added braces to take Olympia 4-2 up. Paulus Leistner would add a late goal, but in the end all three points went to the visitors. Energija Chernovets appeared back in their old form, as Viktor Dimitrov was a force involved in all 4 goals. Of particular beauty was a free kick in the second half to put his team up 3-1, and he added 3 assists to his tally on the day. FC Rotmunde 1932’s campaign got off to a good start, as they appeared quite solid at the back end. It was the new man Theodor Aberbach on his debut that scored the winner late on, giving them the win over Rudar Trkev. FC Felsenkirchen 1879 came from 2-0 down to win 3-0 over Launitz, Johannes Mandl playing a major role in the victory. Elsewhere, FC Einheit Marnau and FK Pomorie were welcomed to the league with 3-goal defeats, Pomorie in particular being demolished by a Metropola Borograd who were on another level all match. Anton Dimitrov scored 4 goals and Borograd led 5-0 at halftime, before Pomorie pulled back two goals late on. Another treat on the day was the Bukovets derby, which Arsenal won in dramatic fashion. The sides traded goals through the first half, and were tied 2-2 at the break. Prodan Savov gave Arsenal the lead, before Aleksander Lukonov scored his second of the match to bring Raketa even in the 88th minute. It was Savov again, however, at the death with a long-range shot that rocketed into the top corner. Arsenal fans celebrated a famous derby victory, while Raketa fans could only watch on in horror. In other results, the defending champions opened with a 3-2 win over TSV Marzig, Ernst Schoff providing 2 goals in Teussen’s win.

UICA Globe Cup Qualifying Round Leg 1
FC Teussen Stelburg 1-1 Polaris (CEN)

Leg 1 of the tie did not exactly go the way Teussen would have wanted, as they were forced into a defensive style for most of the game. Polaris were all over the home side early, and scored in the first half to take the lead. Teussen quickly adapted, however, and played out on the counter. They defended well in order to keep the score low, and eventually caught the visiting side on the break, Thorsten Kramer providing the goal to theoretically keep Stelburg in the tie for the away leg. It will be difficult, however, to get a result.

Matchday 2
Olympia Borograd 4–2 FK Pomorie
Vrnovo Mesto 5–1 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Raketa Bukovets 3–2 1912 Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 4–1 Arsenal Bukovets
TSV Marzig 2–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Einheit Marnau 1–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–1 VfB Launitz
Energija Chernovets 0–2 Rudar Trkev
FC Kaiserhaven 4–1 Marlesee 97

Olympia Borograd opened up this round of fixtures with a convincing 4-2 victory over FK Pomorie. Pomorie are clearly having issues at the back end, having given up 9 goals in the last 2 games. In fairness, they have faced two of the biggest clubs in the division, but it is still something to worry about. Valko Tinchev, Krasimir Kynev (x2) and Vladimir Kostov were the goalscorers for Olympia. Bit of a shock result from the Ostrovi-Stadion, as the home side Vrnovo Mesto smashed Metropola Borograd 5-1. Stanimir Abramov had a great strike, curling the ball in from outside the box, while his counterpart Ilian Strashilov earned a brace. Raketa Bukovets recovered from their derby defeat last week to earn an upset over 1912 Stelburg, while Arsenal Bukovets were beaten down by SW Stahlberg. Michael Ribbeck scored two in the win, and Lutz von Bergen provided 3 assists. Ludwig Reichwein’s brace was enough to see Marzig past FC St. Jakob, while FC Einheit Marnau fell 3-1 to FC Teussen Stelburg. Manuel Horn managed two goals in Teussen’s victory. Elsewhere, it was a tight defensive contest in Rotmunde, yet in the end VfB Launitz finally found a way through, Andreas Lauer knocking in the winner at the death. Energija Chernovets were defeated as well, Rudar Trkev managing an away day upset.

UICA Globe Cup Qualifying Round Leg 2
Polaris (CEN) 2-0 FC Teussen Stelburg

Teussen’s run in the UICA Globe Cup comes to an end, as they are defeated 2-0 by Polaris away. Teussen had come out attacking early on in the match, something they were forced into by the draw in the first leg. Polaris just had too much quality on the day, however, and goals in each half ensured Teussen’s elimination.

Matchday 3
Marlesee 97 0–2 Olympia Borograd
Rudar Trkev 3–2 FC Kaiserhaven
VfB Launitz 1–1 Energija Chernovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–4 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC St. Jakob 2–1 FC Einheit Marnau
Arsenal Bukovets 2–1 TSV Marzig
1912 Stelburg 0–2 SW Stahlberg
FK Metropola Borograd 4–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Pomorie 4–1 Vrnovo Mesto

Returning to Republikaliga action, Olympia Borograd have continued their great run of results and have managed to defeat Marlesee 97 away from home. Ivo Romanov was the big performer for Olympia, with a goal and assist combo. Rudar Trkev got another win thanks to a 3-2 victory over Kaiserhaven, who are struggling to find form. VfB Launitz shared points with the visiting Energija Chernovets, Ole Sauer has clearly been a great acquisition for the Launitz side who just seem sharper in defence now. Rotmunde got a great win over Vlaikograd, as Theodor Aberbach continued his scoring record at the new club. Marius Starker also managed a goal for Rotmunde, who were a class above on the day. Teussen defeated Felsenkirchen by a 4-1 score, and Rupert Holz managed 2 goals, Thorsten Kramer and Manuel Horn adding the other goals. FC St. Jakob picked up their first win of the season, Erwin Bahnsen getting his first goal of the campaign, while FC Einheit Marnau are winless still. Banquo Chrysler’s second half goal was not enough for Marnau, and already they appear in danger. Arsenal Bukovets defeated TSV Marzig, but it was quite a boring match in all honesty. SW Stahlberg beat 1912 Stelburg away from home, Rainer Klebs and Wulf Lemberger contributing as Gerd Hennig’s side continue to play some solid football. Metropola Borograd defeated Raketa Bukovets 4-1, Anton Dimitrov nabbing a hat-trick. Dimitrov appears a man on a mission so far this season, with 7 goals already. Finally, FK Pomorie ran out 4-1 winners over Vrnovo Mesto, Ivo Ilev showing his class with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Matchday 4
Olympia Borograd 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–0 FK Pomorie
SW Stahlberg 5–1 FK Metropola Borograd
TSV Marzig 1–2 1912 Stelburg
FC Einheit Marnau 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–2 FC St. Jakob
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Energija Chernovets 0–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Kaiserhaven 2–0 VfB Launitz
Marlesee 97 1–4 Rudar Trkev

More interesting results here after Matchday 4. Olympia Borograd were held to a draw at home with Vrnovo Mesto, who have continued their fine form over from last season. Daineri wingback Noboru grabbed the goal off a last-minute counter attack to ensure Mesto picked up a point. SW Stahlberg dismantled Metropola Borograd at home, with Michael Ribbeck scoring 2, joined by Lutz von Bergen, Rainer Klebs and Ernst Felder. Metropola have been a mixed bag so far this season, and it remains to be seen whether they will pick things back up. Marnau have earned their first point of the season here, and it’s an important pick-up against fellow relegation battlers Arsenal. FC St. Jakob got a win on the road over Felsenkirchen, and it’s Erwin Bahnsen showing he can step up and perform up front at the club. Rotmunde and Teussen played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw, Theodor Aberbach getting revenge on his old club at the death to earn the point. Energija Chernovets were defeated by FK Vlaikograd, while FC Kaiserhaven picked up a solid 2-0 win over Launitz. Rudar Trkev defeated Marlesee 97 4-1, and Marlesee actually sit bottom. Surely Magnus Herschlag’s job must be in question if this poor form continues.

Matchday 5
Rudar Trkev 4–0 Olympia Borograd
VfB Launitz 0–2 Marlesee 97
FK Vlaikograd 1896 6–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–3 Energija Chernovets
FC St. Jakob 1–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
Arsenal Bukovets 1–4 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
1912 Stelburg 2–1 FC Einheit Marnau
FK Metropola Borograd 3–1 TSV Marzig
FK Pomorie 1–1 SW Stahlberg
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 FK Raketa Bukovets

Lots to go over here. Rudar Trkev have run a masterclass on Olympia Borograd, taking down the capital side 4-0. Evgeni Bakalov ran the show, contributing a goal and two assists to the statline. Olympia looked a step off all day, and they paid a heavy price. Marlesee picked up a victory, 2-0 away to Launitz, which should keep Herschlag safe - for now. It was a disastrous day for FC Kaiserhaven, as they were annihilated 6-1 away to Vlaikograd. Vlaikograd’s Tihomir Delikov had the game of his life, scoring a first-half hat-trick. Atanas Velikov was a force down the right side, storming up and down the pitch to create chances. The highly-billed clash of champions took place at the Teussens-Arena, with Energija Chernovets running out winners over Teussen. Thorsten Kramer gave the hosts an early lead, but his national team-mate Viktor Dimitrov was the real star of the day. His beautiful free kick to even up the score before playing in a brilliant pass for Miro Dinev were particular highlights, and Dragomir Nikolov added some stoppage time insurance. Rotmunde seem to be over the struggles of last season, as they put in a great performance in order to defeat FC St. Jakob. Goetxea Shimizu and Erich Thierse have made a wonderful pairing at centre back, and the backline is much better for it. Felsenkirchen ran rampant over Arsenal Bukovets, Rolf Seyfried grabbing two goals in the win. David Jouary scored a brace in 1912’s 2-1 victory over FC Einheit Marnau, while Stanimir Ilev also had a brace for Metropola Borograd as they blew past Marzig 3-1.

President’s Cup Round I

Running through how some of the bigger clubs fared in this round, Energija Chernovets won on penalties over Felsenkirchen, Miroslav Dinev (who else?) putting away the decisive penalty. SW Stahlberg also earned a victory, 2-1 over third tier Republika Borograd. 1912 Stelburg also won on penalties, over TSV Prattsee. FC Teussen Stelburg and holders Olympia Borograd were both winners, 3-1 and 4-1 respectively. Finally, FC St. Jakob came out of their first round tie with FK Metropola Borograd victors with Leo Heiden grabbing both goals. Other matches of interest include FC Truiselwald knocking out VfB Launitz, and also former champion VfL Bamerntal were 2-1 winners over Oststahlberg 08. Second-round ties include FC St. Jakob against Olympia Borograd, and VfL Bamerntal against FC Teussen Stelburg. That one will be one to watch, as Teussen seek revenge for the disaster of two seasons ago.

Matchday 6
Olympia Borograd 0–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
SW Stahlberg 4–1 Vrnovo Mesto
TSV Marzig 4–0 FK Pomorie
FC Einheit Marnau 4–4 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–0 1912 Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–0 Arsenal Bukovets
Energija Chernovets 2–1 FC St. Jakob
FC Kaiserhaven 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Marlesee 97 1–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Rudar Trkev 2–0 VfB Launitz

Olympia Borograd have not quite recovered from their 4-0 drubbing last week, and it shows as Raketa Bukovets are able to defeat them, Chavdar Nakov scoring early being the only real action in that one. Stahlberg have taken down Vrnovo Mesto here, Michael Ribbeck scoring two quick goals to put Stahlberg ahead and they never looked back. A great match at the Marnaustadion, as FC Einheit Marnau and FK Metropola Borograd played out a 4-4 draw. Marnau went out to a quick 2-0 lead, before Metropola went up 3-2 with just 10 minutes on the clock. A flurry of activity in that time period ended with Manfred Seydel slotting home an equalizer in stoppage time for Marnau. Energija Chernovets made it past FC St. Jakob with a 2-1 victory, Miroslav Dinev bagging the winner early in the second half. Teussen were victorious over Kaiserhaven, while Marlesee drew with Vlaikograd. All eyes, however, were on the first Pomorie-Marzig Derby in 2 seasons. For fans of TSV Marzig, it was an incredible day, while Pomorie supporters will want to hide away. Vinzenz Eichel opened up the scoring on the 13th minute with a great shot into the lower right corner, while Ludwig Reichwein added another for Marzig before the end of the half. In the second half, it was Gavril Kirilov committing a cynical foul to put Pomorie down to 10 men, and Marzig would take advantage with Reichwein and Kurt Hochberg scoring to give Marzig a famous 4-0 win over their hated rivals. A pitch invasion followed, and fans partied long into the night. Tensions in the city, however, continued to flare, and 13 people were taken to the hospital with injuries before the match and 45 were arrested.

Matchday 7
VfB Launitz 1–2 Olympia Borograd
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 Marlesee 97
FC St. Jakob 4–1 FC Kaiserhaven
Arsenal Bukovets 0–5 Energija Chernovets
1912 Stelburg 2–4 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Pomorie 3–0 FC Einheit Marnau
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 TSV Marzig
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–7 SW Stahlberg

Olympia Borograd seem to be in a bit better shape now but they still struggled to get past Launitz, only winning thanks to a late winner from Krasimir Kynev from distance to give his side all three points. Vlaikograd were winners over Rudar Trkev in a hard-fought match, Tihomir Delikov bagging the winner, while it was a similar site over at the Teussens-Arena. Ernst Schoff’s free kick was the only separation between Teussen and Marlesee, as Teussen grabbed all three points. Marlesee fans must be concerned based on their team’s early results, and the club currently sit 19th. FC St. Jakob have blown past Kaiserhaven at home, with Leo Heiden and Erwin Bahnsen each scoring second-half goals to ensure the win. Jean-Alain Huot’s goal was no consolation for Kaiserhaven, and just a year after sacking Norbert Korn, Thomas Wietars faces similar questions about his ability to lead the club forward. Energija Chernovets faced no competition as they took down Arsenal 5-0, Miroslav Dinev earned a hat-trick in that one. The most exciting game of the round was surely Rotmunde-1912, with Elias Eicke’s two first half goals not being enough as his club collapsed afterwards, allowing Rotmunde forwards Aberbach and Koehler the opportunity to score. Each grabbed one, Aberbach’s being the winner. Metropola Borograd have lost at home to Felsenkirchen, and they have really failed to perform early in this season. Anton Dimitrov is one of the few players on that team performing to expectations so far. One other match of note, SW Stahlberg ran a clinic on Raketa Bukovets, smashing them 7-0, including 5 first half goals. It was 3 for Ribbeck, 2 for Rainer Klebs, and 1 each for Lemberger and Wentzel in a huge win for Stahlberg, that sees them on top of the table.

Matchday 8
Olympia Borograd 0–0 SW Stahlberg
TSV Marzig 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Einheit Marnau 1–3 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 6–3 FK Pomorie
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–1 FK Metropola Borograd
Energija Chernovets 0–0 1912 Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 Arsenal Bukovets
Marlesee 97 0–0 FC St. Jakob
Rudar Trkev 1–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
VfB Launitz 2–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896

The first game up on the weekend was Olympia Borograd and SW Stahlberg, the first match-up between the two since their controversial end of season clash last year. In that match, a 3-3 draw, tempers flared and punches were thrown between the players on the field and the fans in the stands. This time, the Stahlberg boys rolled into the capital escorted by police forces, and fans were kept as far away from each other as possible. The match was a gritty affair that ended 0-0 without much trouble, and young stars Kynev and Ribbeck appeared to be quite friendly with each other, a good sign for fans of the national team. After all the excitement of last week’s matches, the league was bound for some boring results, and there were in fact 3 0-0 draws. FC Einheit Marnau are still winless and sit bottom of the table, while VfB Launitz grabbed a great victory over FK Vlaikograd 1896, Launitz’ winner coming in stoppage time. The match-up between FC Felsenkirchen 1879 and FK Pomorie was full of goals, with scores of 4-2 at half time and 6-3 at full time. Johannes Mandl scored twice, while Pomorie man Ivo Ilev had all three goals for the losing side. Rotmunde were victorious over Metropola Borograd by a 3-1 score, and pressure is increasing on Metropola boss Daniel Manolov, whose side sit 12th, far off a title challenge.

Matchday 9
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–4 Olympia Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–2 VfB Launitz
FC St. Jakob 3–1 Rudar Trkev
Arsenal Bukovets 1–1 Marlesee 97
1912 Stelburg 3–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Metropola Borograd 5–5 Energija Chernovets
FK Pomorie 0–4 FC Rotmunde 1932
Vrnovo Mesto 2–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–2 FC Einheit Marnau
SW Stahlberg 6–3 TSV Marzig

The week opened with Olympia Borograd dispatching Vlaikograd by a 4-0 scoreline, Olympia truly dominated in this one and faced no real challenge. Ivo Romanov opened the scoring in the 8th minute, and he was joined by Krasimir Kynev, Valko Tinchev and Viktor Kostov to pour on the pain away. VfB Launitz had a memorable day, defeating Teussen away from home. Alex Geschke scored early on for Teussen, and the home side appeared well on their way to victory. However, Viktor Ehlers quickly pulled one back for Launitz, and it was in fact the black-whites running rings around some of the Teussen stars on the day. Forward Andreas Lauer would score later in the second half to give Launitz the lead, and there was last-minute drama as Teussen were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. However, Manuel Horn’s shot was saved by Ole Sauer, and Launitz won the day. FC St. Jakob defeated Rudar Trkev, while 1912 Stelburg blew past Kaiserhaven thanks to two goals from David Jouary. The wildest match of the round was certainly Metropola Borograd and Energija Chernovets drawing 5-5 at the Metropola-Stadion. Metropola took an early 2-0 lead through Anton Dimitrov, but Energija Chernovets clawed back into the game and goals from Miroslav Dinev, Evgeni Antonov and Viktor Dimitrov saw the visitors take a 3-2 half-time lead. In the 85th minute the score was 4-4, before Anton Dimitrov scored for his hat-trick and put his team seemingly in the driver’s seat. However, Miroslav Dinev would not stay quiet here, and he scored just moments later to ensure the draw. It was wins for Rotmunde, who have really shown their quality this season, Vrnovo Mesto and Stahlberg, while FC Einheit Marnau earned their first victory of the season thanks to a late goal from Banquo Chrysler.

Matchday 10
Olympia Borograd 6–3 TSV Marzig
FC Einheit Marnau 0–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 4–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–2 Vrnovo Mesto
Energija Chernovets 0–1 FK Pomorie
FC Kaiserhaven 3–3 FK Metropola Borograd
Marlesee 97 3–3 1912 Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 0–1 Arsenal Bukovets
VfB Launitz 2–2 FC St. Jakob
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–5 FC Teussen Stelburg

It’s back-to-back 6-3 defeats for TSV Marzig on the road, losing last week at Stahlberg and this week at the Olimpski-Stadion. Krasimir Kynev had a brace on the day, as did Ivo Romanov, while Ludwig Reichwein saved his side total embarrassment with two late goals to bring the scoreline from 6-1 to 6-3. SW Stahlberg defeated Einheit Marnau away from home thanks to Wulf Lemberger’s 57th minute goal, while FC Felsenkirchen 1879 recovered from last week’s defeat to smash Raketa Bukovets. Raketa have not looked promising at all in recent results, and could be relegated from the division if this sort of performance continues. It was a wonderful match between Rotmunde and Vrnovo Mesto, as Mesto employed an attacking style unlike anything we’ve seen from them before, and a Theodor Aberbach header for Rotmunde was not enough as Ilian Strashilov scored twice for Vrnovo in the win. Ivo Ilev’s free kick goal in the 24th minute was the only scoring at the Energija-Arena as Chernovets were dispatched by Pomorie, while FK Metropola Borograd found themselves in another high-scoring draw, 3-3 this time with Kaiserhaven. Jean-Alain Huot provided three assists as Paulus Leistner, Ingolf Rosen and Wolfhard Vahlen scored for Kaiserhaven to earn the point. Another 3-3 draw saw Marlesee 97 and 1912 Stelburg end with a point each. FK Vlaikograd 1896 have not had an easy run of things recently, and have been beaten back-to-back weeks 4-0 and 5-1 by Olympia Borograd and, today, Teussen Stelburg. Manuel Horn was quick to avenge his penalty miss last week and had a goal in the 3rd minute, but the main scorer on the day was Ernst Schoff, the midfielder earning a rare hat-trick on the day.

Matchday 11
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–5 Olympia Borograd
FC St. Jakob 5–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 VfB Launitz
1912 Stelburg 2–2 Rudar Trkev
FK Metropola Borograd 4–0 Marlesee 97
FK Pomorie 3–1 FC Kaiserhaven
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 Energija Chernovets
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–3 FC Rotmunde 1932
SW Stahlberg 0–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
TSV Marzig 0–0 FC Einheit Marnau

It was quite the spectacle to open the week of matches at the Teussens-Arena, as Olympia Borograd came out of the gate hungry for revenge over Teussen and showed it all match. Ivo Romanov and Krasimir Kynev scored in the first 10 minutes of the game, and before half-time it was 3-0 thanks to a Nikola Karapetrov header. Teussen looked absolutely stunned coming off at half-time, and things wouldn’t get any easier in the second half. Noë Rénault’s cross found the head of a rising Krasimir Kynev to put the guests up 4-0, and Ivo Romanov completed the scoring late on off a free kick. 5 of the best for Olympia, and that victory is a result that will live on long in the hearts of their supporters. VfB Launitz had a great defensive performance to see off Arsenal Bukovets, and it was in fact Ulf Hávarðrsson earning the win and clean sheet in his debut in the Launitz goal, Ole Sauer’s understudy coming good in game one. FK Metropola Borograd improved from their recent poor form and smashed a struggling Marlesee 97 4-0, there are still questions surrounding the team, however. Elsewhere, league leaders SW Stahlberg were held to a 0-0 draw at home against Felsenkirchen, while TSV Marzig and Einheit Marnau played out one of the most boring matches you’ll see this season, another 0-0 draw.

Matchday 12
Olympia Borograd 1–1 FC Einheit Marnau
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 TSV Marzig
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 SW Stahlberg
Energija Chernovets 1–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Kaiserhaven 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Marlesee 97 1–0 FK Pomorie
Rudar Trkev 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd
VfB Launitz 2–1 1912 Stelburg
FK Vlaikograd 1896 2–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–4 FC St. Jakob

Lots of lower-scoring matches this week, a break from the high-flying encounters we have seen recently, and that started as Einheit Marnau were able to hold Olympia Borograd to a 1-1 draw away from home. Krasimir Kynev’s early goal was not enough for Borograd to hold on with, as Arno Heller would equalize for Marnau late on. It was also the late show in Felsenkirchen, as Ludwig Reichwein scored in the 83rd minute for TSV Marzig to give them an away day victory. In a battle between two of the top teams in the league going into the match, Rotmunde (3rd) were able to defend exceptionally well to hold Stahlberg to only one goal, with Michael Ribbeck and Theodor Aberbach trading first-half strikes for their teams. The Rotmunde defensive pairing of Goetxea Shimizu and Erich Thierse has been a revelation for the team, and fans of the side must be incredibly relieved as they have seemingly avoided a repeat of last year’s debacle. Energija Chernovets lost at home 2-1 to Raketa Bukovets, while FK Metropola Borograd were held to a draw at home by Rudar Trkev. Each of those clubs are currently underperforming and in the bottom half of the table, and you have to wonder if Daniel Manolov and even Chernovets legend Apostol Manevski’s jobs could be in question. FC Teussen Stelburg still appeared a little off the pace this week after last week’s annihilation at the hands of hated rivals Olympia Borograd, and it was FC St. Jakob, another rival, ready to take advantage of that as they blew open the scoring in the first half, Erwin Bahnsen, Leo Heiden and Klemens Hartleben giving them a 3-0 advantage. Teussen would pull one back, but in the end they lost 4-1.

Matchday 13
FC St. Jakob 1–5 Olympia Borograd
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
1912 Stelburg 0–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Metropola Borograd 6–0 VfB Launitz
FK Pomorie 3–1 Rudar Trkev
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 Marlesee 97
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–7 FC Kaiserhaven
SW Stahlberg 0–1 Energija Chernovets
TSV Marzig 1–5 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Einheit Marnau 7–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

Several crazy matches to be found on matchweek 13, a week that kicked off with Olympia Borograd smashing FC St. Jakob 5-1. Erwin Bahnsen actually scored first in the match to give St. Jakob the 1-0 lead, but that would not be near enough to keep Olympia down: Georgi Lukonov scored 2 goals, Valko Tinchev added a pair of his own, and Krasimir Kynev also scored in the win. FC Teussen Stelburg managed to pull themselves together and avoid further embarrassment, defeating Arsenal Bukovets 1-0 thanks to a goal from Thorsten Kramer. FK Metropola Borograd demolished VfB Launitz 6-0, with Anton Dimitrov scoring four goals, and fans of the club will have to be hoping they have now turned the corner and will push on from here. Vrnovo Mesto have defeated Marlesee 97, and Magnus Herschlag is definitely in the hot seat now, his job at risk. Raketa Bukovets were demolished by Kaiserhaven, who saw a brace from Nicholas Riegel plus goals from the front four of Leistner, Huot, Rosen and Vahlen for a 7-1 drubbing of the relegation contenders. Energija Chernovets earned a hard-fought win over SW Stahlberg, Miroslav Dinev converting a first-half penalty to earn all three points. FC Rotmunde 1932 were big winners over TSV Marzig, with Theodor Aberbach, Goetxea Shimizu, Max Koehler and Vinzenz Spiess (2) each having goals in the win. Finally, it was FC Einheit Marnau who demolished Felsenkirchen in the biggest upset of the week, another 7-1 victory. Felsenkirchen were shocking at the back end, and their lone goal came through Ferenc Kubala’s first of the season.

Matchday 14
Olympia Borograd 3–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–0 FC Einheit Marnau
Energija Chernovets 2–1 TSV Marzig
FC Kaiserhaven 1–3 SW Stahlberg
Marlesee 97 2–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
Rudar Trkev 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
VfB Launitz 2–0 FK Pomorie
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–7 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–4 1912 Stelburg
FC St. Jakob 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets

Down 1-0 at half-time, Olympia Borograd were able to quickly rally in the second half, with Krasimir Kynev’s brace and Valko Tinchev adding a late goal to ensure Olympia defeated Felsenkirchen 3-1. FC Rotmunde 1932 were in some ways outclassed by Marnau at home, but excellent defensive work plus a brilliant header by Theodor Aberbach off a corner ensured that Rotmunde would pick up 3 points and stay only 1 point back of league leaders Stahlberg, who found themselves 3-1 winners over FC Kaiserhaven, Michael Ribbeck contributing a hat-trick in the win. Marlesee 97 defeat Raketa Bukovets, taking themselves out of the relegation zone. Of course, pressure still remains on the team to pick up their performance levels, and rumours abound that Marlesee have approached free agent manager Helmut Essen about taking over the job. VfB Launitz have managed a victory over Pomorie 2-0, Andreas Lauer scoring a brace in the win which saw Launitz look wonderful in both attack and defence. FK Metropola Borograd have beaten their opponents 13-0 over the last two weeks, including today’s 7-0 demolition of Vlaikograd, and are up to 6th in the league, a huge improvement on recent results. 6th is still not acceptable, however, for a side who expect to be challenging for the title. Energija Chernovets were also winners, 2-1 over TSV Marzig, with Miroslav Dinev and Evgeni Antonov scoring for the winners. It was another horrible derby day for Teussen Stelburg, as cross-city rival 1912 Stelburg beat them 4-0. David Jouary and Elias Eicke each had goals, and the Teussen players need to take a long look within themselves in order to break out of this slump. Rumour has it that they’ve called a players-only meeting ahead of the upcoming President’s Cup tie to sort out the problems with the team in recent weeks.

President’s Cup Second Round

Two upsets from this round of the Cup, with FC Ternau 05 knocking out Rudar Trkev and VfL Reinbronn taking down FK Pomorie. FC Einheit Marnau needed extra time, but Linus Segert was the 113th minute hero as they defeated NK Prevala. SW Stahlberg also went to extra time against TSV Georg-Blocher, but in the end the Stahlberg squad that included several younger players earned the victory, Johann Strauss scoring the winning goal. FK Orlovska Bistrica defeated TSV Posenford, while in other lower-league match-ups, NK Vrnovo and FC Giesenau were victorious. Vrnovo Mesto had enough in them to knock out 1912 Stelburg away from home, while Energija Chernovets advanced thanks to a 2-0 win over Admiral Severno Pristajanje, Viktor Dimitrov scoring each goal. FC Kaiserhaven defeated Teufelsberg 97 5-1 to advance to the Third Round, and at the Draistadion, FC St. Jakob were beaten 2-0 by Olympia Borograd thanks to goals from Ivo Romanov and Krasimir Kynev. In a rematch of one of the most memorable games in President’s Cup history, the semifinal between VfL Bamerntal and FC Teussen Stelburg at the Gemeindepark which saw Bamerntal win 2-1 en route to their historic President’s Cup win, it was this time FC Teussen Stelburg avenging that past failure thanks to a goal from Manuel Horn. Overall, 10 Republikaliga sides are through to the Third Round, but that number will surely shrink as many have been drawn against each other in the next round. FC Kaiserhaven take on Energija Chernovets, SW Stahlberg take on Marlesee 97, FC Einheit Marnau will play FK Vlaikograd 1896 and Olympia Borograd visit FK Raketa Bukovets. FC Teussen have the easiest draw of the round, a home tie with FC Giesenau, while Vrnovo Mesto visit FK Orlovska Bistrica.

Matchday 15
Arsenal Bukovets 0–6 Olympia Borograd
1912 Stelburg 1–1 FC St. Jakob
FK Metropola Borograd 1–5 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Pomorie 4–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 VfB Launitz
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–1 Rudar Trkev
SW Stahlberg 2–3 Marlesee 97
TSV Marzig 5–3 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Einheit Marnau 1–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–2 FC Rotmunde 1932

Arsenal Bukovets, who are themselves facing relegation danger, have been utterly outclassed here. Olympia Borograd ran circles around them for 90 straight minutes, and Ivo Romanov has added two goals to his tally for the year. Other scorers were Krasimir Kynev, Viktor Kostov, Valko Tinchev and Noë Rénault. That ensured the 6-0 victory on the day, sending Olympia into first position in the league. 1912 Stelburg and FC St. Jakob played out a 1-1 draw, while FC Teussen Stelburg have a major win over Metropola Borograd. Thorsten Kramer scored 2 goals in the first half, Manuel Horn added another goal, and Ernst Schoff and Rupert Holz were other scorers in the win, while it was George t’son d’Haxli on target for Metropola in the heavy loss. That result doesn’t help Daniel Manolov’s job security, as despite huge victories leading up to the match it still appears as if Metropola are off the pace of the other big clubs. Marlesee 97 earned a very important away win over SW Stahlberg, with Ingolf Kruger scoring twice and Yannick Lange adding the late winner in a 3-2 win. Energija Chernovets dispatched FC Einheit Marnau 3-1 thanks to two goals from Miroslav Dinev, and in the Northeast Derby, Felsenkirchen and Rotmunde played out a 2-2 draw. Johannes Mandl had two first half goals and it looked as though Felsenkirchen would be victorious. However, Theodor Aberbach clawed one back just minutes into the second half, and Raimund Noffke would eventually equalize thanks to a great strike that hit the crossbar before going in. Thus, it was all even in this all-important derby day fixture, and the bragging rights will seemingly go to the winner of the match-up later this year at the Rotmunde-Stadion.

With 15 matches in the books, it’s now time to take a look at the Republikaliga table and also have a look down into the lower and youth leagues.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Olympia Borograd           15   10   3   2    43   18  +25    33
 2 SW Stahlberg               15    9   4   2    39   15  +24    31
 3 FC Rotmunde 1932           15    9   4   2    33   17  +16    31
 4 FC Teussen Stelburg        15    9   1   5    30   26   +4    28
 5 Vrnovo Mesto               15    8   4   3    22   19   +3    28
 6 Energija Chernovets        15    7   3   5    27   19   +8    24
 7 FK Metropola Borograd      15    6   4   5    46   36  +10    22
 8 FC St. Jakob               15    6   4   5    29   26   +3    22
 9 Rudar Trkev                15    6   3   6    24   20   +4    21
10 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      15    6   3   6    28   28    0    21
11 VfB Launitz                15    6   3   6    17   24   −7    21
12 1912 Stelburg              15    5   5   5    25   20   +5    20
13 FK Pomorie                 15    6   1   8    26   32   −6    19
14 FK Vlaikograd 1896         15    6   1   8    25   38  −13    19
15 TSV Marzig                 15    5   1   9    26   33   −7    16
16 Marlesee 97                15    4   4   7    17   28  −11    16
17 FC Kaiserhaven             15    4   1  10    29   38   −9    13
18 Arsenal Bukovets           15    3   4   8    13   31  −18    13
19 FK Raketa Bukovets         15    4   1  10    17   39  −22    13
20 FC Einheit Marnau          15    2   4   9    21   30   −9    10

At the top of the table it’s Olympia Borograd, who are on an incredible run of form including a 5-0 win over FC Teussen Stelburg, and have scored 43 goals so far through their 15 matches. Ivo Romanov has been the best performer on the team and so far the entire league, and could be called the best player in the Republikaliga. Krasimir Kynev also has had a great campaign so far, and Olympia certainly hope to push on and win their first title in the Republikaliga era. Behind them are SW Stahlberg, who are really firing on all cylinders as well so far despite a slight drop-off recently. Even with this offensive focus, the club have the best defensive record of the top 5. Stahlberg will be hoping they can make this their year, and bring home the title. Behind them are FC Rotmunde 1932 in third, who could be dark horse candidates for the title but in all likelihood will experience a slight drop and finish in the top 6. FC Teussen Stelburg, despite horrible losses to Olympia, 1912 Stelburg and FC St. Jakob, are still 4th only 5 points back of first place, and certainly have the quality to bring home the title. Energija Chernovets and FK Metropola Borograd sit 6th and 7th respectively, and both have to be hoping their fortunes will improve over the next 23 matches. Underperformers in the league include Marlesee 97 and FC Kaiserhaven, who also have to hope they will pick up their performances and climb up towards the top 10. For Kaiserhaven it is a major worry, as surely another underperforming season will mean Paulus Leistner, Ingolf Rosen and offseason addition Jean-Alain Huot will need some serious convincing to remain with the team. At the very bottom, Arsenal Bukovets, FK Raketa Bukovets and FC Einheit Marnau have to favourites to fill the 3 lowest spots, the question remains as to whether any of those teams can pull themselves out of danger or even reach 18th in order to at least have the play-off to try and remain in the top division.

With the first 15 matches of the Republikaliga season in the books, there is much to be excited for in the remaining portion of the season. Republiksport.st will have full coverage of the rest of this dramatic season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:46 pm

Republikaliga Season III: Matchdays 16-30

Matchday 16
Olympia Borograd 1–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
Energija Chernovets 2–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 FC Einheit Marnau
Marlesee 97 2–3 TSV Marzig
Rudar Trkev 0–0 SW Stahlberg
VfB Launitz 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–2 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Teussen Stelburg 3–1 FK Pomorie
FC St. Jakob 1–0 FK Metropola Borograd
Arsenal Bukovets 2–4 1912 Stelburg

In a matchup between first and third in the division, the spoils were shared at the Olimpski-Stadion in the match between Rotmunde and Olympia Borograd. Rotmunde scored first, going ahead through a Vinzenz Spiess goal in the 26th minute. Olympia would recover quickly, however, and it was Krasimir Kynev smashing away a shot just on the edge of half-time to even the score. The rest of the match was mainly a midfield battle, and neither side was able to edge the other as they ended with the 1-1 draw. Chernovets, with goals from Dinev and Andrey Yanev, defeat Felsenkirchen in order to keep up some recent good from, Apostol Manevski’s men have really turned things around recently in the table. It’s a win for Kaiserhaven on the day as well, Jean-Alain Huot scoring off a free kick to give his team 3 points in the win. Teussen were able to defeat FK Pomorie without too much challenge, Thorsten Kramer had a goal and also assisted Manuel Horn’s match winner, Rupert Holz provided insurance for the defending champions. Ivo Ilev was the scorer for Pomorie. Elsewhere, it was a Stefan Licht goal off a corner that saw FC St. Jakob earn a home victory over Metropola Borograd, sending St. Jakob into 7th place while Metropola now sit 10th.

Matchday 17
1912 Stelburg 1–6 Olympia Borograd
FK Metropola Borograd 1–3 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Pomorie 0–2 FC St. Jakob
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–2 FK Vlaikograd 1896
SW Stahlberg 1–1 VfB Launitz
TSV Marzig 1–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Einheit Marnau 1–0 Marlesee 97
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 Energija Chernovets

Olympia Borograd have it in them to demolish 1912 Stelburg, and they appear to be en route to winning the title. It was a performance full of fighting spirit from Olympia, who never let up in the match and ensured that their performance levels stayed consistent throughout despite being 4-1 up at the halftime break. FC Teussen Stelburg and Vrnovo Mesto played out a 1-1 draw, Vrnovo have in recent years been a bit of a struggle for Teussen to play. In fact, Teussen have only beat Vrnovo once in the Republikaliga era, all the way back in season 1. SW Stahlberg were also held to a 1-1 draw, VfB Launitz putting in a solid defensive shift to earn themselves a point. Felsenkirchen have lost against a Kaiserhaven side that have gained some form over the past weeks, while Rotmunde’s 1-1 draw with Energija Chernovets was a wonderful match for the observer, and featured strong defensive performances. Elsewhere, pressure is on for Daniel Manolov at the helm of FK Metropola Borograd as they lose to Arsenal Bukovets 3-1, even Anton Dimitrov’s goal may not be enough to save Manolov’s job if Metropola do not improve on their current 10th place standing soon.

Matchday 18
Olympia Borograd 4–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Kaiserhaven 2–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
Marlesee 97 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Rudar Trkev 2–2 FC Einheit Marnau
VfB Launitz 1–2 TSV Marzig
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC St. Jakob 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 FK Pomorie
1912 Stelburg 8–1 FK Metropola Borograd

It was an instant classic at the Olimpski-Stadion, as Olympia Borograd defeated Energija Chernovets 4-3. An early goal from Viktor Dimitrov saw Energija go up 1-0, before Ivo Romanov evened the score through a 30th minute free kick. Just before half-time, Krasimir Kynev would send Olympia into the lead with a great shot from inside the box. Energija would claw back into the game shortly into the second half, however, with two quick goals from Petar Ivanov and Miroslav Venev. With Chernovets up 3-2, Olympia were forced into desperate action, and they pushed forward hard. The equalizer came off the boot of Ivo Romanov, who curled in a stunning shot from outside the box for one of the best goals of the season. Finally, with just minutes left, Krasimir Kynev was fouled inside the box, and he cooly converted the resulting penalty. That gave Olympia the 4-3 lead and victory, sending them 5 points clear at the top of the table. There were a few less exciting matches as well at the weekend, including a Rupert Holz winner for Teussen over Raketa Bukovets and SW Stahlberg being held to a 1-1 draw with Vlaikograd. The final match of the round, however, saw the end of an era for FK Metropola Borograd: after 2 and a half seasons in charge, Daniel Manolov was sacked as manager following the devastating 8-1 defeat against 1912 Stelburg. 1912 led 6-0 at the half, thanks to an outstanding offensive display from Elias Eicke (3 goals) and Ludwig Plessner (2 goals). David Jouary would add two second half goals to make the final scoreline 8-1. Manolov was quite emotional in the post-match press conference, recognizing that his time at the club was certainly over. Assistant Ivo Radic will take over as caretaker while the club searches for a new man for the job.

Matchday 19
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 Olympia Borograd
FK Pomorie 1–1 1912 Stelburg
Vrnovo Mesto 2–0 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–3 FC St. Jakob
SW Stahlberg 1–3 FC Teussen Stelburg
TSV Marzig 1–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Einheit Marnau 0–2 VfB Launitz
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–1 Marlesee 97
Energija Chernovets 1–3 FC Kaiserhaven

Metropola Borograd managed to pull themselves together in time for the Borograd Derby matchup with Olympia, it really wasn’t the most interesting of matches between the two sides. Both goals came in the first half and it appeared as if each team was satisfied with taking a point from the game; Metropola not looking for further embarrassment and Olympia content to avoid defeat to their biggest rivals. In a match between two teams each chasing the title, it was FC Teussen Stelburg who came out on top over SW Stahlberg by a 3-1 score. Two first half goals from Teussen put them in control of the game, and despite a late goal by Lutz von Bergen, Teussen picked up all three points. FC Rotmunde 1932 defeated Marlesee 97 at home, Marlesee have just not clicked yet in the league and they sit 17th. Rotmunde, meanwhile, are firing forward on all cylinders now and seem a completely different team than they were just a year ago. Energija Chernovets were beaten by FC Kaiserhaven at home, Kaiserhaven have beaten some big teams recently and seem as if they are finally putting things together.

Matchday 20
Olympia Borograd 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
Energija Chernovets 8–1 Marlesee 97
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–0 Rudar Trkev
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 2–0 VfB Launitz
FC Einheit Marnau 1–0 FK Vlaikograd 1896
TSV Marzig 2–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
SW Stahlberg 2–7 FC St. Jakob
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–2 Arsenal Bukovets
Vrnovo Mesto 0–0 1912 Stelburg
FK Pomorie 1–6 FK Metropola Borograd

Some quite incredible results here, we open with Energija Chernovets’ 8-1 victory over Marlesee 97. Miroslav Dinev had 3 goals, while Viktor Dimitrov and Petar Ivanov had 2 goals each. Evgeni Antonov was scored the 8th goal for Energija on the day, and Marlesee were absolutely demolished. Manager Magnus Herschlag tendered his resignation immediately after the match, and he will be replaced at the club by Helmut Essen. An exciting match also in Marzig, where the hosts matched up with FC Teussen Stelburg. Ludwig Reichwein scored two goals, while for Teussen the scorers were Manuel Horn and Oscar Fisch. There was late drama too as Teussen were denied a penalty in stoppage time, later review showed that perhaps the referee made the wrong decision. FC St. Jakob knocked 7 past SW Stahlberg, who have lost two in a row at home now and have dropped to 6th in the table. St. Jakob’s Leo Heiden was the hero of the day with a hat-trick. Elsewhere, Metropola Borograd took out all their recent frustration on FK Pomorie, with Stanimir Ilev, Anton Dimitrov and Yasen Svetkov having 2 goals each in the 6-1 victory.

President’s Cup Third Round

FC Kaiserhaven, fielding a strong team for the fixture, defeated Energija Chernovets easily 4-1 at home, with Paulus Leistner finding the back of the net thrice. SW Stahlberg didn’t face too much of a challenge from Marlesee 97, while a Banquo Chrysler extra time goal ensured FC Einheit Marnau would reach the Quarterfinals of the competition. FC Teussen Stelburg faced a tough challenge from FC Giesenau, and actually trailed 2-0 in the match before a late rally ensured they would move on. Olympia Borograd easily dispatched FK Raketa Bukovets, while VfL Reinbronn and NK Vrnovo are the only clubs playing at a level below the Republikaliga that have reached the Quarterfinals. That round will see some interesting match-ups, as the National Derby between FC Teussen Stelburg and Olympia Borograd has been drawn, as has the Vrnovo Derby of Vrnovo Mesto vs NK Vrnovo, played for the first time in the modern era. Elsewhere, SW Stahlberg will take on FC Einheit Marnau and VfL Reinbronn play FC Kaiserhaven.

Matchday 21
FK Pomorie 1–4 Olympia Borograd
FK Metropola Borograd 2–0 Vrnovo Mesto
1912 Stelburg 3–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 SW Stahlberg
FC St. Jakob 1–1 TSV Marzig
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–3 FC Einheit Marnau
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
VfB Launitz 3–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
Rudar Trkev 2–0 Energija Chernovets
Marlesee 97 0–1 FC Kaiserhaven

Wins all around for the Borograd sides this weekend, with Olympia taking a 4-1 win over FK Pomorie back home to celebrate. A stellar performance from Ivo Romanov ensured that Olympia sit 6 points ahead on top of the league, where they are followed by FC Rotmunde 1932. Rotmunde were beaten by VfB Launitz, however, with a Erich Thierse own goal being the killing blow for the northeastern side. There were upsets far and wide as well this weekend, with FC Einheit Marnau roaring into new life with a 3-1 victory over Teussen away from home. The win takes Marnau up to 17th in the table, and they will surely hope to keep moving upwards after this and avoid relegation. Rudar Trkev were also victorious over Energija Chernovets, by a 2-0 score, and Energija need to fix their recent poor form. Marlesee 97, having lost at home to Kaiserhaven, now sit 19th and their fans are dreading talk of possible relegation.

Matchday 22
Olympia Borograd 4–0 Marlesee 97
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 Rudar Trkev
Energija Chernovets 1–1 VfB Launitz
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–4 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Einheit Marnau 2–2 FC St. Jakob
TSV Marzig 1–0 Arsenal Bukovets
SW Stahlberg 3–1 1912 Stelburg
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FK Pomorie

It’s another huge defeat for Marlesee 97, as they faced off against Olympia Borograd who are on a totally different level compared to the rest of the league right now. They have not lost since matchweek 6, and players like Krasimir Kynev, Ivo Romanov, Yanko Zhelyaskov and Nikita Karapetrov are in the form of their careers. There were problems for the other challengers in the title race, however, with Rotmunde being humbled 4-0 at home by FK Vlaikograd 1896. Tihomir Delikov had a brace in the match, and Rotmunde now sit 5th in the league. FC Teussen Stelburg could not find a way past the tight defending of Felsenkirchen, leaving them in 3rd place 8 points off the top. SW Stahlberg’s win over 1912 Stelburg also sees them 8 points off Olympia, but due to goal differential they sit 2nd. Vrnovo Mesto have been the shock of the season so far, winning again against FK Pomorie, and actually find themselves 4th place despite having scored only 29 goals.

Matchday 23
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 Olympia Borograd
FK Pomorie 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
FK Metropola Borograd 1–3 SW Stahlberg
1912 Stelburg 9–3 TSV Marzig
Arsenal Bukovets 1–1 FC Einheit Marnau
FC St. Jakob 0–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–4 Energija Chernovets
VfB Launitz 1–0 FC Kaiserhaven
Rudar Trkev 1–0 Marlesee 97

Vrnovo Mesto have finally handed Olympia Borograd their third defeat of the season, in a close encounter that saw Mesto’s goal come off a second half counter attack. SW Stahlberg managed to get back on track with a 3-1 win over Metropola Borograd, a great second half goal by Michael Ribbeck really put them on their way in the match and Stahlberg never looked back afterwards. A new record has also been set in the Republikaliga, with 1912 Stelburg’s 9-3 win over TSV Marzig becoming the highest-scoring match in league history. Ludwig Reichwein scored a hat-trick for Marzig, but it could not compete with the 4 goal performance of Stefan Hoffman, who was joined on the score sheet by Elias Eicke (x2), David Jouary, Lutz Daschner and Josh Meckler. A truly historic day for 1912. Rotmunde came away from the Teussens-Arena with a great 1-0 win, Theodor Aberbach again getting revenge on his old club with the winning goal from a corner. Energija Chernovets won out 4-1 over Vlaikograd, with Miro Dinev scoring a penalty in the first minute of play to give his team the lead, while VfB Launitz were victorious over Kaiserhaven. Elsewhere, Rudar Trkev defeated Marlesee 97 1-0, and Marlesee manager Helmut Essen has told supporters of the team to “Keep up your support, stay with us, and I promise you, we will remain in this league. We will not be relegated.” Marlesee fans will certainly hope that is true, as they currently sit 19th.

Matchday 24
Olympia Borograd 3–0 Rudar Trkev
Marlesee 97 1–0 VfB Launitz
FC Kaiserhaven 3–3 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Energija Chernovets 0–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Rotmunde 1932 2–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–0 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Einheit Marnau 1–4 1912 Stelburg
TSV Marzig 0–4 FK Metropola Borograd
SW Stahlberg 0–1 FK Pomorie
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto

Olympia return to winning ways, and don’t seem to be put off the pace at all by last week’s loss to Vrnovo Mesto. Helmut Essen promised Marlesee wins, and they got one this week thanks to a 1-0 win over VfB Launitz. In an interesting matchup in Chernovets, the home side were beaten by a great Ernst Schoff free kick in the 65th minute to give FC Teussen all three points away. Rotmunde were victorious over St. Jakob, and the result sees them up to 2nd in the table. FK Metropola Borograd continued their recent pick-up in form and smashed TSV Marzig away 4-0, while FK Pomorie managed a shock away win over SW Stahlberg. Raketa Bukovets picked up a rare win at home over Vrnovo Mesto, however they still sit 20th in the table and are the odds-on favourite for relegation.

Matchday 25
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–3 Olympia Borograd
Vrnovo Mesto 1–4 SW Stahlberg
FK Pomorie 0–3 TSV Marzig
FK Metropola Borograd 3–0 FC Einheit Marnau
1912 Stelburg 2–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Arsenal Bukovets 1–7 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC St. Jakob 1–4 Energija Chernovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 0–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–2 Marlesee 97
VfB Launitz 2–0 Rudar Trkev

Olympia Borograd roar to a second 3-0 win in as many weeks, this time beating bottom feeders Raketa Bukovets.SW Stahlberg sent Vrnovo Mesto to another defeat, as they opened up the floodgates in the second half to score 4 goals and come back from 1-0 down for the victory. FK Metropola Borograd have another win here over Einheit Marnau, Anton Dimitrov having a hat-trick in the win. Dimitrov has really taken it upon himself to pick up Metropola’s form, and he is atop the Republikaliga goalscoring charts at this point in the season. Another blowout was found as FC Rotmunde 1932 took down Arsenal Bukovets 7-1 away from home. It was an incredible sight as Rotmunde did much of the damage in the first 25 minutes, the score being 5-0 at that point. FC Teussen Stelburg’s title hopes faded a bit more this week as well, as they could not find a way past the defence of Kaiserhaven. Kaiserhaven actually had a chance to steal the result away late, but Paulus Leistner could not finish the chance. It was another festive weekend as well for TSV Marzig supporters, as they were once again victorious in the Pomorie-Marzig Derby. Marzig have just been a class above Pomorie in the meetings this season, and Ludwig Reichwein’s 30th minute penalty opened up the scoring. Yannick Merz and Kurt Hochberg provided the insurance goals as Marzig fans proudly sang “The city is ours,” and taunted their relegation-threatened rivals.

Matchday 26
Olympia Borograd 1–3 VfB Launitz
Rudar Trkev 3–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
Marlesee 97 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
FC Kaiserhaven 1–2 FC St. Jakob
Energija Chernovets 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–5 1912 Stelburg
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Einheit Marnau 2–1 FK Pomorie
TSV Marzig 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
SW Stahlberg 3–5 FK Raketa Bukovets

VfB Launitz have managed a large upset here, and it seems that that is the story of the week for clubs playing against title contenders. FC Teussen Stelburg were held to a solitary point against Marlesee 97, who are unbeaten since Helmut Essen’s safety guarantee. FC Rotmunde 1932 had the benefit of watching all their rivals play before them but it seems as if the added pressure negatively affected them. 1912 Stelburg pumped 3 first half goals past keeper Gregor Lehmann, and Rotmunde were never really in the game. FC Einheit Marnau gained a valuable three points over FK Pomorie thanks to an incredible late comeback. Down 1-0 in the 80th minute, a Manfred Seydel goal followed by a Linus Segert free kick gave Marnau the win. Finally, 20th placed Raketa Bukovets shocked SW Stahlberg by taking a 5-3 win away from the Stahlarbeiter-Union Arena.

President’s Cup Quarterfinal
Olympia Borograd 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg (1–1 AET) (5–6 pen.)
FC Einheit Marnau 2–4 SW Stahlberg
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 NK Vrnovo
VfL Reinbronn 2–0 FC Kaiserhaven

3 Republikaliga sides are through to the semifinals, and there was some incredible excitement to be found in some of these quarterfinal ties. VfL Reinbronn pulled off a great upset over FC Kaiserhaven, who will be quite upset not to have won here. This would have been a great chance for them at a trophy, however now it is VfL Reinbronn looking to see if they can find some more cup magic in the later rounds. There was an exciting match at the Marnaustadion, that saw SW Stahlberg up 2-0 at halftime before the hosts clawed themselves back into the game quickly to even the score at 2. It was all for naught, however, and Lutz von Bergen and Wolf Lemberger scored two goals late on to secure a place in the semifinal for Stahlberg. Finally, the National Derby saw Teussen Stelburg avenge the earlier 5-0 defeat to Olympia Borograd. Krasimir Kynev scored the first goal of the game off a penalty in the 65th minute, but it wasn’t long before Ernst Schoff evened the score off a beautiful shot that beat Yanko Zhelyaskov to the bottom right corner. The game was destined for extra time, and even during that period nothing could be solved. That left this historic clash of national titans to be determined through penalties. Each team’s first 5 shooters were able to score, and it seemed as if the shootout could be endless. Now, however, the less likely to shoot players had to come up, those who perhaps didn’t expect to be used in the shootout. Olympia’s Yasen Kynev, a centre back, stepped up for the sixth shot for his team. He was as confident as one could be in this situation, but unfortunately his penalty was blocked by the dive of Julian Fehr. That left Karl Eicher for Teussen, and he would not be denied as he blasted the ball into the top right corner. It was a perfect penalty, and Teussen move on to the semifinals. That round will see FC Teussen Stelburg vs VfL Reinbronn, and SW Stahlberg vs Vrnovo Mesto, all at the Nationalstadion, for places in the President’s Cup Final.

Matchday 27
SW Stahlberg 1–3 Olympia Borograd
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–0 TSV Marzig
Vrnovo Mesto 2–2 FC Einheit Marnau
FK Pomorie 0–4 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
FK Metropola Borograd 3–0 FC Rotmunde 1932
1912 Stelburg 1–1 Energija Chernovets
Arsenal Bukovets 4–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FC St. Jakob 0–1 Marlesee 97
FC Teussen Stelburg 2–0 Rudar Trkev
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–3 VfB Launitz

We open up with a match with major consequences for the title chase, as Olympia Borograd have travelled to Stahlberg and taken all three points. It was another victory for Olympia in a long, long run of near-perfect form which sees them at the top of the league, and heavy favourites for the title. Raketa Bukovets earned themselves a valuable three points in the relegation race, and fellow survival-hunters FC Einheit Marnau managed a draw with Vrnovo Mesto to keep themselves a step ahead of the rest. FK Metropola Borograd have turned the corner now but it’s certainly too little, too late for them in terms of winning anything this season. Anton Dimitrov scored a penalty and George t’son d’Haxli added his 5th and 6th goals of the season to give Metropola the win over a usually better Rotmunde side. 1912 Stelburg and Energija Chernovets played out a 1-1 draw which wasn’t too exciting, while FC Teussen Stelburg took down Rudar Trkev at home to remain above water in the title race.

Matchday 28
Olympia Borograd 2–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
VfB Launitz 1–1 FC Teussen Stelburg
Rudar Trkev 4–5 FC St. Jakob
Marlesee 97 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FC Kaiserhaven 3–0 1912 Stelburg
Energija Chernovets 1–3 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 FK Pomorie
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Einheit Marnau 2-0 FK Raketa Bukovets
TSV Marzig 1–1 SW Stahlberg

Yet another win for Olympia Borograd, as Krasimir Kynev and Ivo Romanov rescue them in the last 10 minutes with goals to provide a 2-1 victory over Vlaikograd. FC Teussen Stelburg fell further behind in the race, drawing with a tactically perfect VfB Launitz side that held the defending champions to only a Manuel Horn header to even the score. FC Kaiserhaven took another victory, Paulus Leistner having an impact on all three goals as they blew past 1912 Stelburg, while it was FK Metropola Borograd with a win that has major implications on the race for UICA qualification, defeating Energija Chernovets 3-1. FC Einheit Marnau had a massive victory over Raketa Bukovets, one that sees them safe for now. Elsewhere, SW Stahlberg’s hopes of a title fell further away as they drew with TSV Marzig, Michael Ribbeck and Ludwig Reichwein trading goals in the match.

Matchday 29
TSV Marzig 0–5 Olympia Borograd
SW Stahlberg 1–1 FC Einheit Marnau
FK Raketa Bukovets 3–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Vrnovo Mesto 3–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Pomorie 2–4 Energija Chernovets
FK Metropola Borograd 1–0 FC Kaiserhaven
1912 Stelburg 3–0 Marlesee 97
Arsenal Bukovets 0–0 Rudar Trkev
FC St. Jakob 1–2 VfB Launitz
FC Teussen Stelburg 4–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896

Who can stop Olympia Borograd? The champions in waiting are running away with the title this year, and have smashed TSV Marzig 5-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table. SW Stahlberg scraped a draw out of their encounter with Marnau. That Marnau side have put together a decent patch of form recently, and it will be very helpful in their bid to avoid relegation. However, competitor FK Raketa Bukovets managed a victory over Felsenkirchen that boosts chances of safety for them as well. Elsewhere, Vrnovo Mesto continue a nice climb up the table with a 3-2 win over Rotmunde, in a match that saw Ilian Strashilov free at last to score goals, and he contributed a hat-trick on the day. Energija Chernovets got a nice 4-2 win over Pomorie, while it was another win for Metropola Borograd, sneaking out a late goal to give them a 1-0 win over a Kaiserhaven side that can be rightfully disappointed with that result. FC St. Jakob did not put in a very good performance this week, and they lost to a resilient VfB Launitz who find themselves firmly in the top 10. A Teussen win over Vlaikograd keeps them second, but the gap between them and Olympia Borograd is an incredible 11 points.

Matchday 30
Olympia Borograd 0–5 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–0 FC St. Jakob
VfB Launitz 1–0 Arsenal Bukovets
Rudar Trkev 3–3 1912 Stelburg
Marlesee 97 1–1 FK Metropola Borograd
FC Kaiserhaven 1–2 FK Pomorie
Energija Chernovets 1–4 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Rotmunde 1932 4–1 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Einheit Marnau 3–6 TSV Marzig

Apparently, FC Teussen Stelburg can stop Olympia Borograd. This week, at least. Getting sweet, sweet revenge for Olympia’s 5-0 drubbing of Teussen earlier this season, Thorsten Kramer, Manuel Horn, Rupert Holz, Ernst Schoff and Karl Eicher were all on target for the visitors as they cruised to a 5-0 victory. That puts Teussen only 8 back of Olympia. Elsewhere, there were a decent amount of draws, including FC St. Jakob and Vlaikograd’s bore 0-0 result. Vrnovo Mesto defeated Energija Chernovets away from home, and Chernovets’ hopes of a UICA place are all but dashed as they sit 11th. SW Stahlberg also lost, and their poor form lately has them in 7th place. It was a great day out as well at the Marnaustadion, as TSV Marzig put 5 past Einheit in the first half before the hosts attempted a late comeback. Banquo Chrysler’s free kick goal and Vinzenz Eichel’s 3rd minute strike were particularly pretty goals, but in the end Marzig take all 3 points.

Now, let's take a look at the Republikaliga table after 30 matches, and with only 8 left to play.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Olympia Borograd        30   19   6   5    81   37  +44    63
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg     30   16   7   7    55   38  +17    55
 3 Vrnovo Mesto            30   15   9   6    42   35   +7    54
 4 FC Rotmunde 1932        30   15   7   8    61   43  +18    52
 5 VfB Launitz             30   15   6   9    39   37   +2    51
 6 FK Metropola Borograd   30   14   7   9    75   56  +19    49
 7 SW Stahlberg            30   13   9   8    62   44  +18    48
 8 1912 Stelburg           30   12  10   8    70   48  +22    46
 9 FC Felsenkirchen 1879   30   13   7  10    48   39   +9    46
10 FC St. Jakob            30   12   8  10    55   48   +7    44
11 Energija Chernovets     30   12   7  11    59   45  +14    43
12 FC Kaiserhaven          30   11   4  15    48   53   −5    37
13 TSV Marzig              30   11   4  15    50   67  −17    37
14 Rudar Trkev             30    9   8  13    39   43   −4    35
15 FK Pomorie              30   10   3  17    39   64  −25    33
16 FK Vlaikograd 1896      30    9   4  17    45   66  −21    31
17 FC Einheit Marnau       30    7   9  14    42   56  −14    30
18 Marlesee 97             30    7   7  16    28   57  −29    28
19 Arsenal Bukovets        30    6   8  16    28   57  −29    26
20 FK Raketa Bukovets      30    8   2  20    34   67  −33    26

Olympia Borograd have a hand on the trophy already at this stage, and it's clear that they are highly motivated. Last season's heartbreak appears behind them, as even despite the 5-0 loss to Teussen Stelburg they remain 8 points up. Ivo Romanov has been the absolute MVP of this team, picking up points on his own and being a constant threat. Whether he is giving the ball off to star forward Krasimir Kynev or having a go himself (16 goals so far shows he is no stranger to the back of the net), Romanov has been key for Borograd. Olympia Borograd will almost certainly set the record for most points in a Republikaliga season, and with 24 on the board one must wonder if they could even break 80 points. FC Teussen Stelburg follow them, and they have to be ruing their missed opportunities this season. Many matches they have drawn or lost when they had clear-cut chances to win. Manuel Horn in particular has not been all Teussen wanted him to be, and they have to be considering making another big play for Ludwig Reichwein or Michael Ribbeck this summer. While it is quite unlikely that Teussen will catch Olympia this season, they are still active in the President's Cup, and could take home that trophy for the first time. Vrnovo Mesto are overachieving in third place, they will likely drop back down the table as time goes on but it is clear that they are a team better than they look. Perhaps it is finally time for them to drop their incredibly pragmatic tactics and adapt to the main style of the Republikaliga. At the same time, however, the system isn't broken, so why fix it? The chase for UICA competition continues, with its main competitors being FC Rotmunde 1932, FK Metropola Borograd, SW Stahlberg, and 1912 Stelburg. VfB Launitz are also in with a shout, but like Vrnovo, have overachieved to reach 5th. Any 2 of the four could make it, with Rotmunde certainly having the best chance as of right now. Metropola have had a real upturn in form recently while Stahlberg have dropped off, they both have work cut out for them if they want to reach the Globe Cup. Lower down the table, 5 teams appear to be in relegation trouble: FK Raketa Bukovets, Arsenal Bukovets, Marlesee 97, FC Einheit Marnau and FK Vlaikograd 1896. Vlaikograd should really be fine, they’ve simply had a bit of a tricky stretch of games recently but should pick it up in the last 8. Arsenal and Raketa appear to be relegated, with not much fight from either side in recent weeks besides Raketa’s win over Felsenkirchen. The battle for total safety or a place in the play-off will come down to Marlesee 97 and Einheit Marnau, then, and Marlesee should have the quality to pull themselves together.

So much remains to be decided in these last 8 weeks of the season, and republiksport.st will have complete coverage of all events surrounding this Republikaliga season.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:29 pm

Republikaliga Season III: Matchdays 31-38

Matchday 31
FC Einheit Marnau 0–3 Olympia Borograd
TSV Marzig 2–0 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
SW Stahlberg 3–1 FC Rotmunde 1932
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–4 Energija Chernovets
Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Pomorie 1–0 Marlesee 97
FK Metropola Borograd 1–1 Rudar Trkev
1912 Stelburg 1–0 VfB Launitz
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FC St. Jakob 1–3 FC Teussen Stelburg

And Olympia inch ever closer to the Republikaliga title. An early goal from Krasimir Kynev sent them on their way, and FC Einheit Marnau had no answer as Ivo Romanov found the back of the net twice in the second half to ensure the 3-0 win. TSV Marzig’s Vinzenz Eichel was the hero of the day, scoring twice for his team in the 2-0 win over FC Felsenkirchen 1879. A clash of teams near the top of the table involved SW Stahlberg and FC Rotmunde 1932. At the end of the day, however, Wulf Lemberger’s brace, added to by a late goal from Rainer Klebs ensured a 3-1 win for Stahlberg. Elsewhere, Energija Chernovets grabbed a big win over Raketa Bukovets, Rudar Trkev held Metropola Borograd to a draw, and FC Teussen Stelburg took a 3-1 away win over FC St. Jakob in an important match with large implications for the table.

Matchday 32
Olympia Borograd 1–0 FC St. Jakob
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–1 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Vlaikograd 1896 0–4 1912 Stelburg
VfB Launitz 1–0 FK Metropola Borograd
Rudar Trkev 1–2 FK Pomorie
Marlesee 97 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
Energija Chernovets 0–3 SW Stahlberg
FC Rotmunde 1932 3–0 TSV Marzig
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–4 FC Einheit Marnau

Several important games on Matchday 32, the first being Olympia Borograd continuing their splendid run by defeating FC St. Jakob 1-0 at home. Georgi Lukonov had the winner, a 43rd minute goal that was all it would take for Olympia to grab all three points. They defended well in the second half, and St. Jakob had no answers. Pressure was now on FC Teussen Stelburg, and they seemed unable to handle it. Emil Romanov scored in the 8th minute for Arsenal Bukovets, and while Thorsten Kramer’s late free kick goal would salvage a point, surely the race is over now. A combination of 9 points won by Olympia and dropped by Teussen is all it will take for the championship to head to the capital. SW Stahlberg were victorious over Energija Chernovets, while FC Rotmunde 1932 defeated TSV Marzig 3-0. FC Einheit Marnau had a major win over Felsenkirchen, Banquo Chrysler and Linus Segert splitting the goals in that one. The result means that Marnau have given themselves the best possible chance at avoiding relegation.

Matchday 33
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Einheit Marnau 1–2 FC Rotmunde 1932
TSV Marzig 0–0 Energija Chernovets
SW Stahlberg 1–1 FC Kaiserhaven
FK Raketa Bukovets 0–1 Marlesee 97
Vrnovo Mesto 1–1 Rudar Trkev
FK Pomorie 0–3 VfB Launitz
FK Metropola Borograd 9–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
1912 Stelburg 3–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
Arsenal Bukovets 0–4 FC St. Jakob

One more win. That’s all it will take for Olympia Borograd, as they see off FC Felsenkirchen 1879 with a 1-0 win thanks to Krasimir Kynev. Felsenkirchen have struggled as of late, and have now lost 3 straight. Elsewhere, TSV Marzig held Energija Chernovets to a 0-0 draw, neither side having much to offer on the day in terms of attack. Marlesee 97 picked up a win over Raketa Bukovets, who are all but relegated now, while Arsenal Bukovets are also in danger thanks to a 4-0 loss to FC St. Jakob. In an incredibly important Stelburg Derby, it was 1912 who came away as victors for the second time this season. Even better for 1912 fans, the result means that FC Teussen Stelburg are now all but guaranteed to not win the league title. David Jouary had two goals and his partner up top Elias Eicke scored a 76th minute penalty to ensure the win. Next week, Olympia Borograd are at home against Arsenal Bukovets, and celebration could be on the cards as they have a chance to win the title.

Matchday 34
Olympia Borograd 4–0 Arsenal Bukovets
FC St. Jakob 1–1 1912 Stelburg
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 FK Metropola Borograd
FK Vlaikograd 1896 5–0 FK Pomorie
VfB Launitz 0–0 Vrnovo Mesto
Rudar Trkev 2–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
Marlesee 97 0–1 SW Stahlberg
FC Kaiserhaven 1–0 TSV Marzig
Energija Chernovets 4–0 FC Einheit Marnau
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879

Olympia Borograd are champions! The boys in green and white didn’t seem to feel any pressure to grab a result on the day, and thanks to goals from Yevgeni Antonov, Valko Tinchev, Vladimir Kostov and Ivo Romanov, they blew past Arsenal for a 4-0 victory. Captain Vladimir Kostov lifted the Republikaliga trophy following the match. Olympia’s triumph is the first time that the Republikaliga title has not come down to the final matchday, and means that they will receive a guard of honour from their remaining opponents, including bitter rivals FK Metropola Borograd. Metropola lost on the day to FC Teussen Stelburg, making the day even worse for the purple half of the capital. Energija Chernovets picked up a win over Einheit Marnau, which heats up the race for UICA qualification as Metropola, Energija, 1912, Rotmunde and Stahlberg fight for the last two places.

Matchday 35
FC Rotmunde 1932 1–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 0–3 Energija Chernovets
FC Einheit Marnau 1–2 FC Kaiserhaven
TSV Marzig 2–2 Marlesee 97
SW Stahlberg 4–0 Rudar Trkev
FK Raketa Bukovets 2–1 VfB Launitz
Vrnovo Mesto 0–1 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Pomorie 4–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
FK Metropola Borograd 5–2 FC St. Jakob
1912 Stelburg 2–0 Arsenal Bukovets

Important away win for Energija Chernovets, defeating FC Felsenkirchen 1879 3-0, while SW Stahlberg smashed Rudar Trkev 4-0. Rotmunde managed a draw with an Olympia side who seemed off the pace thanks to a week of parties. FK Pomorie grabbed a famous win over Teussen Stelburg, 4-2 with Ivo Ilev managing a hat-trick. Another exciting game was found as FK Metropola Borograd defeated FC St. Jakob 5-2. Anton Dimitrov appears to have decided that he wants to win the Golden Boot, and his 4 goals in this game take him to 27 on the year. His competition would be Krasimir Kynev, sitting on 28 goals, and Michael Ribbeck on 24. Elsewhere, 1912 Stelburg put a nail in Arsenal’s Republikaliga coffin, winning 2-0 on the day.

Matchday 36
Olympia Borograd 3–1 1912 Stelburg
Arsenal Bukovets 0–5 FK Metropola Borograd
FC St. Jakob 4–1 FK Pomorie
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 Vrnovo Mesto
FK Vlaikograd 1896 4–0 FK Raketa Bukovets
VfB Launitz 1–4 SW Stahlberg
Rudar Trkev 4–1 TSV Marzig
Marlesee 97 3–2 FC Einheit Marnau
FC Kaiserhaven 1–1 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Energija Chernovets 3–1 FC Rotmunde 1932

The champions defeat 1912 Stelburg 3-1 at home, Ivo Romanov grabbing two goals in the win to take him up to 20 on the season. The winger has been absolutely one of the best players on his team and in the league, and will surely see some individual trophies come his way in addition to the league title this season. Anton Dimitrov’s march continues, he scored a hat-trick in today’s match to give him 30 goals on the season as Metropola Borograd demolished Arsenal Bukovets 5-0. FC Teussen Stelburg managed to defeat Vrnovo Mesto by a score of 1-0, while SW Stahlberg grabbed a win over VfB Launitz by a 4-1 score. Energija Chernovets won a very important game over FC Rotmunde 1932 by a score of 3-1, which is certainly helpful for their goal of returning to UICA competition.

President’s Cup Semi-Final
VfL Reinbronn 1–2 FC Teussen Stelburg
Vrnovo Mesto 2–3 SW Stahlberg

Two very close matches at the Nationalstadion, but in the end the favourites would win out in each. VfL Reinbronn and Teussen was level at 1-1 for most of the match, but an 83rd minute strike by Ernst Schoff ensured that the gold-blacks would be through to the President’s Cup Final for the first time. Elsewhere, Michael Ribbeck scored twice and Lutz von Bergen added a late winner as SW Stahlberg beat Vrnovo Mesto 3-2. That means that the President’s Cup Final will take place between Teussen and Stahlberg, in an interesting match-up. The most historic club in this nation’s football history, FC Teussen Stelburg, will take on the up-and-coming SW Stahlberg side that have turned into a top team in recent years. National team stars Thorsten Kramer and Michael Ribbeck will be on opposite sides of this must-see Cup final.

Matchday 37
Energija Chernovets 3–1 Olympia Borograd
FC Rotmunde 1932 0–0 FC Kaiserhaven
FC Felsenkirchen 1879 1–0 Marlesee 97
FC Einheit Marnau 3–3 Rudar Trkev
TSV Marzig 4–1 VfB Launitz
SW Stahlberg 0–0 FK Vlaikograd 1896
FK Raketa Bukovets 1–0 FC Teussen Stelburg
Vrnovo Mesto 1–0 FC St. Jakob
FK Pomorie 1–2 Arsenal Bukovets
FK Metropola Borograd 0–1 1912 Stelburg

Several interesting results today, which means that the final day of this Republikaliga season still leaves much to be decided. Energija Chernovets grabbed a win over Olympia Borograd 3-1, and they have really picked up their form in the last 10 or so matches to be back near the UICA spots. 1912 Stelburg’s important win over Metropola Borograd leaves them 4th place, while the combination of SW Stahlberg’s draw with Vlaikograd and Raketa Bukovets’ shock win over Teussen Stelburg leaves Stahlberg second, and Teussen third. It also has implications at the bottom of the table. Despite Arsenal’s victory over Pomorie, they will be relegated, while Einheit Marnau (34 points) and FK Raketa Bukovets (33 points) will play to avoid automatic relegation. Marnau visit Launitz while Raketa Bukovets travel to FC St. Jakob, two tricky away games on the last day for these teams. At the top, the race for UICA qualification has 5 teams fighting for fourth place. Only one place is available to each of these teams. 1912 Stelburg sit on 62 points, followed by Rotmunde with 61. Then, Metropola Borograd, Energija Chernovets and Vrnovo Mesto sit on 59 points. Due to Vrnovo’s goal differential situation, they can be ruled out (unless, of course, an absolute miracle happens.) 1912 have the easiest game, at home to FK Pomorie, while Rotmunde travel to Marlesee 97. Metropola Borograd face Olympia Borograd in the Derby, while Energija Chernovets travel to FC Kaiserhaven. Only one team, of course, will walk away with a top four position.

Matchday 38
Olympia Borograd 5–1 FK Metropola Borograd
1912 Stelburg 0-2 FK Pomorie
Arsenal Bukovets 0–1 Vrnovo Mesto
FC St. Jakob 3–2 FK Raketa Bukovets
FC Teussen Stelburg 1–0 SW Stahlberg
FK Vlaikograd 1896 1–1 TSV Marzig
VfB Launitz 0–3 FC Einheit Marnau
Rudar Trkev 0–2 FC Felsenkirchen 1879
Marlesee 97 1-0 FC Rotmunde 1932
FC Kaiserhaven 0–4 Energija Chernovets

What a final day. We start with the Borograd Derby, where tensions flared both on and off the pitch. Metropola fans were loudly protesting during the pre-game guard of honour for the champions, and threw all sorts of cans, garbage and even coins at the Olympia players. This delayed kickoff by a few minutes, and the police struggled to contain the Metropola fans. On the pitch, Olympia simply outclassed Metropola on the day. A 5 goal display was only met by Anton Dimitrov’s 31st of the season, which gave him the Golden Boot, but could not stop the Olympia machine. There was lots of crowd troubles during and after the game, and it will be remembered as one of the most violent Borograd Derbies in the modern era. Elsewhere, FC Einheit Marnau cruised past VfB Launitz 3-0 to put themselves into the relegation play-off, which will be played against the third placed team in the 2. Republikaliga. At the top, it was perhaps the most unlikely result possible to qualify for the final UICA place: a 4-0 win for Energija Chernovets, in addition to 1912 Stelburg’s collapse against Pomorie, Rotmunde losing to Marlesee and of course the Borograd Derby result, means that Energija finish fourth in the league. Finally, FC Teussen Stelburg defeated SW Stahlberg 1-0 in a preview of next week’s Cup Final, that saw them achieve a second place finish.

Republikaliga             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Olympia Borograd        38   25   7   6   100   43  +57    82     Champions/UICA Champion's Cup
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg     38   20   8  10    64   48  +16    68     UICA Globe Cup
 3 SW Stahlberg            38   18  11   9    78   48  +30    65
 4 Energija Chernovets     38   18   8  12    80   50  +30    62
 5 1912 Stelburg           38   17  11  10    83   54  +29    62
 6 Vrnovo Mesto            38   17  11  10    45   40   +5    62
 7 FC Rotmunde 1932        38   17  10  11    70   53  +17    61
 8 FK Metropola Borograd   38   17   8  13    96   68  +28    59
 9 VfB Launitz             38   17   7  14    46   51   −5    58
10 FC St. Jakob            38   15   9  14    70   62   +8    54
11 FC Felsenkirchen 1879   38   15   9  14    53   51   +2    54
12 FC Kaiserhaven          38   15   7  16    55   60   −5    52
13 TSV Marzig              38   13   7  18    60   79  −19    46
14 FK Vlaikograd 1896      38   13   6  19    58   80  −22    45
15 FK Pomorie              38   14   3  21    50   81  −31    45
16 Rudar Trkev             38   10  12  16    51   59   −8    42
17 Marlesee 97             38   11   8  19    36   64  −28    41
18 FC Einheit Marnau       38    9  10  19    56   73  −17    37     Play-Off
19 FK Raketa Bukovets      38   10   3  25    41   83  −42    33     Relegation
20 Arsenal Bukovets        38    7   9  22    31   76  −45    30

As already known, Olympia Borograd are Champions of the Republic! They’ve done it with a league all-time record 82 points, with 25 wins to their name. It’s an incredible season for them, and now the focus turns to defending their title. Leading the chasers are FC Teussen Stelburg, who had a poor season by their standards, and are now looking to make some changes in the offseason. A centre forward remains the position of need; Manuel Horn did not always live up to the hopes Teussen had for him. Commonly linked targets include Michael Ribbeck and Ludwig Reichwein, but it’s still an unknown as to who will wear the number 9 shirt for Teussen next season. SW Stahlberg are third, followed by Energija Chernovets in fourth, rounding out the international qualifiers. At the bottom, FK Raketa Bukovets and Arsenal Bukovets are relegated back down to the 2. Republikaliga, while FC Einheit Marnau will play the play-off to determine their league for next season.

While the third season of the Republikaliga is complete, there is still much more to be determined: player awards, lower division results, the President’s Cup Final and the Play-Off. Stay tuned for more coverage right here at republiksport.st!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:06 pm

Republikaliga Season III: Season in Review

With Olympia Borograd being crowned Republikaliga champions, let’s take a look back on the season that was, and see the awards, President’s Cup final, and the race for promotion.

Golden Boot
1 - Anton Dimitrov (FK Metropola Borograd), 31 goals
2 - Krasimir Kynev (Olympia Borograd), 29 goals
3 - Michael Ribbeck (SW Stahlberg), 26 goals
4 - Miroslav Dinev (Energija Chernovets), 25 goals
5 - Ludwig Reichwein (TSV Marzig), 22 goals

It was an extremely high scoring season in the Republikaliga this year, and that shows through the Golden Boot race. Miroslav Dinev’s 25 goals, the same amount he scored while winning the Golden Boot in season 1, was good only for fourth place. Anton Dimitrov becomes the first player to score over 30 goals in a season during the Republikaliga campaign, ending on 31. Krasimir Kynev was close behind at 29.

Golden Ball

The league Golden Ball award, given to the league’s most valuable player, is voted on by the 20 captains and 20 managers of the Republikaliga. This year, 4 players received votes:

1 - Ivo Romanov (Olympia Borograd), 21 votes
T2 - Thorsten Kramer (FC Teussen Stelburg), 8 votes
T2 - Anton Dimitrov (FK Metropola Borograd), 8 votes
3 - Krasimir Kynev (Olympia Borograd), 3 votes

Ivo Romanov is awarded the Golden Ball. The Olympia winger had a wonderful season, scoring 21 goals and adding 11 assists to his name. He was a force at all times on the pitch, and was a massive part in Olympia’s record-setting title win. Romanov signed a new contract with Olympia before the season, but there is still worry that he could leave in the transfer window. Olympia, who would be incredibly weakened if he were to leave, will spend much of the summer convincing him his future lies in Borograd.

Manager of the Year

The Manager of the Year Award is voted on by members of the United Football Association of Siovanija and Teusland.

Best Manager: Gerd Hennig (SW Stahlberg)

Hennig is the man to credit with SW Stahlberg’s rise in recent years. He has developed several young players through the club into the first team, such as the young phenom Michael Ribbeck, and encouraged fast, attacking football that has made Stahlberg exciting to watch. Adored by the fans, it remains to be seen whether a Stahlberg manager will finally be backed in the transfer market: the club chairman, Daniel Hahne, is notoriously stingy.

Young Player of the Year

The Young Player of the Year Award is voted on by members of the Sporting Press Association.

YPotY: Leo Heiden (FC St. Jakob)

Despite a 10th place finish in the league this season, FC St. Jakob fans have much to be excited about. Several of their young players really pushed on and gave good performances this season, and Leo Heiden led the way. 13 goals for him on the year, and he also formed a good partnership with forward Erwin Bahnsen. FCSJ certainly have a lot of potential.

Republikaliga Best XI

The Best XI was voted on by members of the National Supporter’s Association.

GK -- Julian Fehr -- FC Teussen Stelburg
LB -- Dietmar Kleinmann -- FC Teussen Stelburg
CB -- Nikola Karapetrov -- Olympia Borograd
CB -- Raphael Klopfer -- 1912 Stelburg
RB -- Lutz Daschner -- 1912 Stelburg
LM -- Lutz von Bergen -- SW Stahlberg
CM -- Viktor Kostov -- Olympia Borograd
CM -- Thorsten Kramer -- FC Teussen Stelburg
RM -- Ivo Romanov -- Olympia Borograd
CF -- Anton Dimitrov -- FK Metropola Borograd
CF -- Krasimir Kynev -- Olympia Borograd

Lower Divisions

(Note: These results are not the same as those originally posted in Part I of the season)
In the 2. Republikaliga, SV Preisfeld recovered from early season woes to earn promotion straight back to the Republikaliga as champions. Preisfeld will look different upon their return next season; manager Walter Kippel choosing to promote several young players to fill the roles of players who left after the relegation. Also coming up are 1828 Pomen. Pomen claim to be the oldest football club in the nation, as the name suggests. The small-town charm that they bring to the top division will be welcome, and they are a team that could draw a lot of support from neutral fans. Both Preisfeld and Pomen had incredible performances over the last half of the season to secure their promotion. Heading to the play-off will be TSV Georg-Blocher, that second team from Kaiserhaven, and they will take on FC Einheit Marnau for a spot in the Republikaliga. On the bottom end of things, NK Kaskada and Oststahlberg 08 were simply not good enough to remain in the division, and they will be relegated to the 3. Republikaliga.

2. Republikaliga         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 SV Preisfeld              38   22   7   9    48   32  +16    73
 2 1828 Pomen                38   20  10   8    49   27  +22    70
 3 TSV Georg-Blocher         38   19  10   9    49   31  +18    67
 4 FK Orlovska Bistrica      38   19   9  10    50   30  +20    66
 5 VfB Marlesee              38   17   8  13    38   32   +6    59
 6 NK Siovanska Gora         38   17   7  14    42   43   −1    58
 7 VfL Prutseren             38   16   9  13    41   38   +3    57
 8 FC Ternau 05              38   17   5  16    40   40    0    56
 9 VfL Reinbronn             38   14  13  11    47   38   +9    55
10 NK Vrnovo                 38   14  13  11    39   31   +8    55
11 VfL Bamerntal             38   14  11  13    40   34   +6    53
12 1884 Felsenkirchen        38   15   8  15    36   35   +1    53
13 TSV Prattsee              38   14   9  15    37   38   −1    51
14 FC Giesenau               38   12  12  14    34   41   −7    48
15 SVG Bainitz               38   12   9  17    36   46  −10    45
16 FC Magesbach              38   10  13  15    38   43   −5    43
17 Zvezda Vlaikograd         38   11   9  18    31   45  −14    42
18 FC Truiselwald            38    9   9  20    24   45  −21    36
19 Oststahlberg 08           38    8   7  23    30   55  −25    31
20 NK Kaskada                38    8   6  24    28   53  −25    30

In the 3. Republikaliga, the two teams coming up out of the division are FK Venkovets and Rudar Draijagrad. Both those teams seemed to have a different class to them compared with the rest of the league, and will now move up to the 2. Republikaliga. It will be tough for them to remain in that division, and both teams only hope they will be good enough to stay up. Rudar Draijagrad are probably the best suited for this task, their ownership has made clear it is willing to do whatever it takes to turn them into a team that could compete for promotion to the Republikaliga in the future.

3. Republikaliga                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 FK Venkovets                     46   27  13   6    66   35  +31    94
 2 Rudar Draijagrad                 46   25  13   8    81   36  +45    88
 3 TSV Lahnnenbruck                 46   24  11  11    67   47  +20    83
 4 Teufelsberg 97                   46   23  13  10    66   43  +23    82
 5 NK Prevala                       46   20  12  14    51   40  +11    72
 6 SK Republika Borograd            46   18  15  13    49   44   +5    69
 7 VfB Truiselwald                  46   18  14  14    49   41   +8    68
 8 TSV Posenford                    46   18  13  15    47   40   +7    67
 9 FC Kischfeld                     46   17  14  15    48   44   +4    65
10 1888 Runsen                      46   15  19  12    56   43  +13    64
11 TSV Konsford                     46   17  12  17    50   50    0    63
12 NK Vojnik                        46   15  17  14    49   50   −1    62
13 NK Karjaska Gora                 46   15  15  16    43   42   +1    60
14 VfL Truhnscheid                  46   14  17  15    45   47   −2    59
15 FC Lahnnenbruck 98               46   14  16  16    52   48   +4    58
16 VfB Giesenau                     46   17   7  22    44   54  −10    58
17 FC Teufelsberg                   46   13  13  20    43   59  −16    52
18 NK Krakovo                       46   14  10  22    47   66  −19    52
19 VfL Magesbach                    46   14   8  24    46   72  −26    50
20 FK Kostinbrod                    46   14   8  24    35   61  −26    50
21 Admiral Severno Pristajanje      46    9  20  17    49   55   −6    47
22 NK Piran                         46   13   8  25    46   65  −19    47
23 NK Kraljgrad                     46   11  14  21    42   61  −19    47
24 TSV Tarnitz                      46   11  10  25    39   67  −28    43

The best team in the J. Republikaliga this season was TSV Marzig, and they become first champions of the J. Republikaliga. This was a team built well at the front, scoring the most goals of any team in the division with 61. Leading the way up front was the partnership of Horst Hackl, who lead the team with 23 goals, and Takashi Matsumoto, who contributed 20 of his own. Even at the back Marzig was strong, giving up only 27 goals across the season, and centre back Kasper Martz played a big part in that. Following them was FC Teussen Stelburg, who had the best defence in the divison and conceded only 26 goals. Karl-Heinz Jager, that prospect who is one of the highest-rated ever in our nation’s history, had a great season, and will likely crack the Teussen senior squad next season. The defender looked confident on the ball, and has an incredible sense of positional awareness for his age. Rounding out the top 4 were FC St. Jakob and FK Metropola Borograd. St. Jakob have put a lot of money into youth development in recent years, and and are very happy to see it paying off. Several players on that team could make the move to the first team squad next season, including winger Simon Kradecker, and the youth team’s creative force Giorgos Dimitriou. Metropola, led by their two brightest young talents Goran Ivancic (CM) and Luka Ambroz (RB) can also look forward to the future at their club.

J. Republikaliga          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 TSV Marzig                 38   25   7   6    61   27  +34    82
 2 FC Teussen Stelburg        38   22   9   7    49   26  +23    75
 3 FC St. Jakob               38   20   7  11    47   35  +12    67
 4 FK Metropola Borograd       38   18  11   9    51   36  +15    65
 5 FC Felsenkirchen 1879      38   19   7  12    44   39   +5    64
 6 SW Stahlberg               38   17   8  13    41   30  +11    59
 7 Olympia Borograd           38   17   7  14    42   40   +2    58
 8 Energija Chernovets        38   14  11  13    49   54   −5    53
 9 Vrnovo Mesto               38   13  13  12    34   34    0    52
10 1912 Stelburg              38   14   9  15    42   46   −4    51
11 FC Kaiserhaven             38   16   3  19    34   38   −4    51
12 VfB Launitz                38   15   5  18    42   51   −9    50
13 FK Vlaikograd 1896         38   13   9  16    47   50   −3    48
14 FK Pomorie                 38    9  19  10    38   41   −3    46
15 FC Rotmunde 1932           38   10  13  15    44   41   +3    43
16 FC Einheit Marnau          38    9  13  16    29   36   −7    40
17 Rudar Trkev                38    9  13  16    38   49  −11    40
18 Marlesee 97                38    9  12  17    35   43   −8    39
19 FK Raketa Bukovets         38    9  10  19    32   49  −17    37
20 Arsenal Bukovets           38    4  10  24    25   59  −34    22

Republikaliga Promotion-Relegation Play-Off

TSV Georg-Blocher 0-3 FC Einheit Marnau
FC Einheit Marnau 1-1 TSV Georg-Blocher

FC Einheit Marnau have earned another season in the Republikaliga, thanks to their 4-1 aggregate win over TSV Georg-Blocher. Marnau travelled to the home of Die Entdecker in the first leg, and put on a wonderful show as they scored three times in the first half. Linus Segert grabbed two goals himself, and Arno Heller scored on a 15th minute penalty as Marnau took a stranglehold lead over the tie. Back at home, all Marnau had to do was see out the match and remain calm, and they did exactly that. Banquo Chrysler’s 36th minute goal basically guaranteed the result, and he was mobbed by Marnau fans in the home end afterwards. Georg-Blocher would get a late consolation goal, but in the end it’s FC Einheit Marnau who are winners. So, going up to the Republikaliga: SV Preisfeld and 1828 Pomen, while going down are Arsenal Bukovets and FK Raketa Bukovets.

President's Cup Final

SW Stahlberg 4-2 FC Teussen Stelburg

On a star-studded evening at the Nationalstadion, SW Stahlberg captured the President’s Cup in a 4-2 win over FC Teussen Stelburg.

“Any time you get a chance to play in the cup final it’s special, and obviously we’d like to take our chance here and show how much we’ve developed,” commented Stahlberg manager Gerd Hennig before the game. Hennig’s side have become challengers in recent years, with young striker Michael Ribbeck leading the way, and today’s Cup Final gave them a chance to lift an important trophy. On the other hand, Teussen had an opportunity to get something out of this season which saw them finish a distant second to rivals Olympia Borograd. Both teams were up for the Cup Final, and it looked to be a spirited affair.

Stahlberg entered the match in the 4-3-3 formation they have developed over the past few years, Michael Ribbeck up front with Wulf Lemberger and Rainer Klebs playing off his wings. Lutz von Bergen, who has become one of the best wingers in the Republikaliga, was another name to be watched on the team sheet. For Teussen, Kasper Knauer’s side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Manuel Horn up front looking for some possible redemption after his disappointing season, with Ernst Schoff part of an attacking midfielder trio with Rupert Holz and Alexander Geschke. Behind them, Thorsten Kramer sat in central midfield, with fellow national team player Dietmar Kleinmann at left back. The anthems sung, the players on the pitch, the match began.

Exciting play opened the match, as both teams went back and forth at each other. It was clear that neither wanted to make a mistake, but at the same time each was willing to press forward. Stahlberg’s extreme attacking style meant they moved forward quickly and fired a lot of shots at the goal of Julian Fehr, but Teussen were at the same time able to quickly counter and regroup. First blood in this one would eventually go to Teussen. Dietmar Kleinmann rushed up the left side of the pitch in attack, eventually playing the ball off to Alex Geschke. Geschke used his skill to get closer to the box, before turning and firing a shot on goal. David Beck saved the shot in the Stahlberg goal, but Thorsten Kramer, playing in an advanced role now, was able to pounce on the rebound and knock home Teussen’s first of the game.

Stahlberg would recover quickly, however, and it would not be too long before the equalizing goal came. Lutz von Bergen controlled the ball at the half-line, then played a pass off to meet the run of Paul Schoner, who pushed forwards before whipping a cross into the box. His ball met the head of Wulf Lemberger, who was able to turn it goalwards for Stahlberg’s first of the match, making the score 1-1. The grey-blacks would not stop their, either. Minutes later, Siegfried Kipping brought the ball forwards and played a through ball for Michael Ribbeck. Ribbeck, however, was tripped up by Niels Kronthaler as he moved forwards, and a penalty was awarded. Despite protests from Teussen that it should have been a free kick, the referee was unwavered. Post-match review showed that the referee did not make the correct call. Michael Ribbeck stepped up, cool and collected, and slotted away his penalty into the top left corner to give Stahlberg the 2-1 lead.

Before half-time, however, Teussen would put themselves back on level terms. A quick counter-attacking play allowed them to grab a goal, with Karl Eicher stealing the ball in midfield off the boot of Andreas Wentzel. Eicher quickly found Thorsten Kramer, who made a beautiful pass forwards for Ernst Schoff. Schoff turned, and found his options wide open ahead of him. The pass went right to Rupert Holz, who cut towards goal. He could not be stopped, it seemed, and in the end he fired a shot that blew past David Beck and straight into the Stahlberg goal. 2-2 now, and the stage was set for a second half that would be decisive in this match.

It was clear, however, coming out for the second half that whatever Gerd Hennig had said in the Stahlberg dressing room, it had worked. Stahlberg looked to be a completely different side, flying around the pitch and winning nearly every single ball. Teussen, who did not play poorly in the second half at all, were barely holding on against the relentless waves of attack. Stahlberg’s breakthrough came in the 54th minute. Rainer Klebs held the ball, and saw Michael Ribbeck get free into space just at the top of the box. Ribbeck received the pass, then curled a shot that beat Julian Fehr to the right corner and gave Stahlberg a 3-2 lead.

In the 75th minute, Stahlberg gained some insurance through a beautiful strike from Andreas Wentzel. A shot came in from Wulf Lemberger, and his attempt was punched away by Julian Fehr in the Teussen goal. The punch came outside the box, and Wentzel met it with a half-volley that shot into the net, giving Stahlberg a 4-2 lead on the day. That was all it would take, and SW Stahlberg lift their first President’s Cup.

Fans of Die Bergleute partied long into the night, both in the streets around the Nationalstadion and in the city of Stahlberg, high up in the mountains. Stahlberg fans will be hoping this is the first of many trophies for their squad, and are certainly looking forward to next season.

International Qualification

The top 4 Republikaliga teams, as well as the President’s Cup winner, will be representing the nation in international tournaments next season. In addition, the champions of the J. Republikaliga will represent the nation at the Youth Cup.Those teams will be:

Siovanija and Teusland (STL) Qualifiers:
UICA Champion’s Cup: Olympia Borograd
UICA Globe Cup: FC Teussen Stelburg, SW Stahlberg, Energija Chernovets
Cygnus Cup/Cup Winner’s Cup: SW Stahlberg
AOCL: Olympia Borograd
UICA Youth Cup: TSV Marzig

And with that, the third season of the Republikaliga is complete.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:24 pm

Score!

Siovanija and Teusland’s Premier Football Magazine

Transfer Window: Live Blog

Transfer season is here again, and Republikaliga clubs are expected to be more active than ever in signing and selling players. In this live blog, we’ll keep Republikaliga fans across our nation and the multiverse updated on what your favourite club is doing. This space will aggregate media from other links/official club sources to give you an up-to-date picture on the state of the window. These sources will be divided into four tiers, listed as follows:

Tier 1: Official club communiques, player holding up the shirt/scarf
Tier 2: Trusted journalists/media linked to clubs
Tier 3: Regular media
Tier 4: Online ITK, tracking of flights, hairdressers, the player’s cousin’s roommate, etc.

Without further ado, let’s get right into the action of this important transfer window.

Live Blog

Update 1: 1912 Stelburg are ready to splash the cash this offseason and bring in ‘at least two players,’ according to the Stelburger Zeitung. It’s rumoured that another midfielder to partner recent addition Adrian Tremblay-Fillon and a forward are wanted. (Tier 2)

Update 2: Olympia Borograd winger Ivo Romanov has rejected the club’s final offer of a new contract, and has officially requested a transfer in order to continue growing his career abroad. In a statement, Olympia thanked Romanov for his years of success and service, and wished him the best of luck in the future. Interest in Romanov is believed to come from clubs in Brenecia, Banija and Eura. (Tier 1)

Update 3: It appears Oscar Fisch is on his way out the door at FC Teussen Stelburg, according to the Stelburger Zeitung. The strong centre-back will no longer have a place in the first XI due to the rapid development of wonderkid Karl-Heinz Jager, who is expected to earn a call to the senior national team soon. Interest in Fisch so far from abroad has come from Qusmo, while other Republikaliga clubs may be interested as well. (Tier 2)

Update 4: Youthful centreback Lozen Pironev joined Apox’s Wye United for $1 million tolars, leaving Energija Chernovets in a difficult situation. The Chernovets Daily reports that the club are expected to be looking for a centre back during the transfer window, as they hope to return to the top of the table this year. (Tier 2)

Update 5: National team goalkeeper Anatoli Sveteikov appears to be leaving FK Pomorie this transfer window, with clubs from Cosumar, Brenecia and Qusmo all interested in his signature, according to the Marziger Volkszeitung. (Tier 3)

Update 6: What of the national team’s youngest stars? Thorsten Kramer appears set to remain at FC Teussen Stelburg, the midfielder loving life at his boyhood club. In an interview with Score!, Kramer stated that while he may indeed move abroad someday, right now he is focused entirely on Teussen. Michael Ribbeck is also understood to want ‘at least 2’ more runs at the league title with SW Stahlberg before moving on. The 19 year old is unlikely to stay forever, though. (Tier 2)

Update 7: FC Teussen Stelburg are interested in signing a centre forward, claim Der St. Jakob Presse. Manuel Horn’s time at the club could be coming to an end if these rumours are true, and players linked include Michael Ribbeck and Ludwig Reichwein. With Ribbeck currently off the market, it appears the club will again turn to Reichwein who will be faced with a tough decision to leave his hometown club TSV Marzig. (Tier 3)

Update 8: Schottic midfielder John Ferry could be on his way to SW Stahlberg, reports the Stelburger Zeitung. Ferry, capped thrice by his nation, which won World Cup 80 before dropping out of the international scene, would be a massive addition for a Stahlberg side who need midfield presence. Updates as they come in. (Tier 2)

Update 9: Nepharim winger Cezary Helmuth has become Rudar Trkev’s first signing of the transfer window. Helmuth, described as a fearless and direct winger, has a lot of pace but is still a work in progress. Helmuth joins the club on a free transfer. Rudar Trkev’s social media announced the move, saying: ”We are pleased to welcome Cezary Helmuth to the club on a free transfer. #WelcomeCezary" Fans of Trkev seemed quite happy with the move, expecting Helmuth to slot directly into the first XI at the club.(Tier 1)

Update 10: Reports in the Borograd Sentinel state that Brenecian champions and UICA Globe Cup runners-up Rozelle have made a bid for Ivo Romanov. The bid, worth $4 million tolars, would see Romanov join up with a Saints squad that won the A-League with 66 points. Romanov is reportedly keen on the move, and Olympia Borograd will not stand in his way. (Tier 2)

Update 11: It looks as if John Ferry will be playing football in Stahlberg next season after all. The signing would be a massive coup for Stahlberg, with Ferry being named amongst the Galacticos listing of best players in the world. He also won the Pasargan league title with Baskita FC. One fan met Ferry at Stahlberg International Airport, and posted the encounter to social media: ”I’ve just met John Ferry at SIA! We’re gonna win the league for sure now!”. Stahlberg fans will certainly be hoping that is true. (Tier 4)

Update 12: Ivo Romanov might not be the only player moving to Brenecia this transfer window, as club Southern Star, 7th-place finishers in the A-League, have put in a bid for Anatoli Sveteikov. The goalkeeper is said to be torn between leaving his hometown club and moving abroad, but is leaning ‘60-40’ to a move, sources close to the Marziger Volkszeitung report. (Tier 2)

Update 13: Mytanar prospect Dino Rasic could be on his way to the Draistadion, if Der St. Jakob Presse’s latest reporting is to be believed. The 18 year old central defender has reportedly been bid on by FC St. Jakob, with a rumoured fee of $100,000 tolars being the fee. Rasic is described as a ball-playing defender, which suits both the Republikaliga and St. Jakob well. (Tier 2)

Update 14: FK Metropola Borograd have made a bid on Vilitan World Cup-winning centre back Kwuimekki Hentetii, according to the Borograd Sentinel. It is a very, very ambitious move by the club, as Hentetii has attracted the interest of clubs in Nephara and Cosumar as well. Metropola will be hoping they can win over the 32 year old, however, who would instantly become one of the best defenders in the Republikaliga. It likely won’t work, but if it does it could be special. (Tier 2)

Update 15: Dino Rasic has officially joined FC St. Jakob. Just hours after the rumour was first reported, Der St. Jakob Presse broke news that St. Jakob and Akademija had made rapid progress on a deal. Now, it’s official, and Rasic has been pictured in the red kit of the Saints. ”Proud to welcome Mytanar centre back Dino Rasic to the Draistadion. The 18 year old joins us from Akademija for a fee of $100,000 tolars. Buy a season ticket today, and watch #TheFutureNow”, announced the club’s social media. (Tier 1)

Update 16: 1912 Stelburg are rumoured to have developed strong interest in Mytanar midfielder Jasno Odonelec. Odonelec, currently playing for Clichy-sur-Bois in the Prahecquois league, is rumoured to be apprehensive about leaving his boyhood club. Stelburg manager Sebastien Hengsbach is rumoured to be ‘crazy’ about the player, believing he would be absolutely perfect for the club’s system. It’s believed that in the coming days 1912 will embark on a massive push to attempt to convince the player to make a new home in Stelburg, according to the Stelburger Zeitung. (Tier 2)

Update 17: Reports in the Stelburger Zeitung seem to indicate that there could be a bidding war for Ivo Romanov’s signature. Mytanar club Ararat have registered their interest in the player, and the rumour is that the $6 million tolar bid has made Olympia’s bosses very happy. Ararat were Mytanar league title winners last season, losing only 3 matches in the league. Brenecian club Rozelle is understood to be Romanov’s first choice, however Ararat are certainly a solid option for the national team winger. (Tier 3)

Update 18: Elsewhere, Olympia are preparing for life without Romanov, and have registered a bid for captain of Qasden’s national team Icarus Darsten according to the Borograd Sentinel. The 24 year old midfielder would be a great addition to Olympia’s squad, slotting in beside Vladimir Kostov. Olympia are also rumoured to be looking at left wingers and right wingers as they seek to overhaul the offensive line with Romanov’s departure. (Tier 2)

Update 19: It’s official, John Ferry has signed for SW Stahlberg on a free transfer. “This has the potential to be the signing of the summer in the Republikaliga, and Stahlberg have managed to get him for free. Incredible,” commented one excited Stahlberg fan. The move was announced on Stahlberg’s social media pages late this afternoon: "Beyond pleased to welcome John Ferry to the club. John brings world-class talent and championship experience to Stahlberg. Come down to the Stahlarbeiter-Union-Arena at 1 o’clock tomorrow to give him a proper welcome!" (Tier 1)

Update 20: Another signing to announce. FK Vlaikograd 1896 have signed young Pasargan winger Bendegúz Kádár on a free transfer. Kádár, 18, has been described as a very strong and tall player who loves to get forward. In other words, perfect for the Republikaliga. Vlaikograd could have a gem here, and they’ll give him lots of time to develop with appearances off the bench this upcoming season. The club announced the transfer online, saying ”Bendegúz Kádár joins the Vlaikograd family today, coming to us on a free transfer. Welcome!” (Tier 1)

Update 21: Euran club Workers Union have made a $5 million tolar bid for Ivo Romanov, claim the Borograd Sentinel. Olympia are keeping their promise to Romanov by accepting all bids that come in above their valuation of $4 million tolars, which so far has been 3 clubs. Workers Union finished 17th in the Euraleague last season, but are reportedly making several moves this offseason that could see them rise up the standings. (Tier 2)

Update 22: Transfer season is a game, and 1912 Stelburg are attempting to play it as best they can in pursuit of Jasno Odonelec. Stelburg’s star man Raphael Klopfer was interviewed in the Stelburg Sonne today, and spoke about the Mytanar man: “We (the national team) played against him in a friendly match, and you can tell he’s got a lot of talent. We want to win the league this year, and it’s players like him that help you do that. I don’t want to get into any trouble or anything, haha, but Jasno if you’re reading this, Stelburg’s a wonderful city!” (Tier 3)

Update 23: The Kaiserhaven Observer understands that FC Kaiserhaven have made a bid on 22 year old Brenecian striker Niall Bremner. Bremner, currently of Westpike United, is valued at around $4 million tolars, and Kaiserhaven reportedly see the player as their top choice for the position. The club, which features national team player Paulus Leistner and Marianne playmaker Jean-Alain Huot, hope that Bremner can help lead them to UICA football. (Tier 2)

Update 24: A picture posted on social media seems to show Ivo Romanov in the Esportivan departures section of Borograd Milan Dimitrov International Airport. The blurry photo was posted late last night, and seems to indicate that Romanov is very close to finalizing a move to Brenecian club Rozelle. Olympia fan reaction was disappointed but understanding, with one fan’s opinion summing it up: ”I think we all knew this day would come, but we’re still very sad to see him go. Ivo will always be welcome back at the Olimpski-Stadion.” (Tier 4)

Update 25: VfB Launitz have completed the signing of young Audioslavian midfielder Ruud Winsemius. The 19 year old central midfielder can expect to be given his fair share of football at the Launitz Hauptstadion, and Launitz fans appear quite enthusiastic about the signing. VfB Launitz are clearly hoping he can follow the path of Jonas Breukelen, who was named to the Audioslavian World Cup squad after joining SW Stahlberg last season. (Tier 1)

Update 26: The Borograd Sentinal reports that FK Metropola Borograd have made a bid on 23-year-old defensive midfielder Jerat-Jonto Jan. Jerat-Jonto has been capped once for Qusmo at the international level, and they are reportedly a fearless, physical midfielder. Metropola’s new manager Sretan Ivanov reportedly holds them in the highest esteem for these qualities, and sees them as a top target for the club this offseason. Whether Metropola can secure Jerat-Jonto's signature remains to be seen, but it would certainly be a big signing for the capital club. (Tier 2)

Update 27: Sources close to club Energija Chernovets report the club have made a bid on 22 year old Cosumarite winger Richard Pearce. Pearce, once named Young Player of the Year in the Euraleague, is quite an ambitious target for the club. Energija are believed to be trying ‘as hard as possible’ to convince Pearce that a move to the Republikaliga would be right, amidst interest from Euran clubs amongst others. Energija’s proposal is rumoured to be based around giving Pearce the ability to become a star in a budding league. The club are hoping to convince him that the path to his bright future begins in Chernovets. (Tier 2)

Update 28: Chernovets aren’t the only club chasing big-name foreign talent. 1912 Stelburg are rumoured to be sending representatives to the nation of Prahecq to meet with representatives of Jasno Odonelec. Word came out yesterday that 1912 had brought club star, captain and national team member Raphael Klopfer and new signing Kelssek international Adrian Tremblay-Fillon together as part of a video presentation made for Odonelec. The presentation, which hasn’t been leaked to the public, is said to contain details about Stelburg as a city, and inform Odonelec of the chance to become a Republikaliga star, a club hero, and potentially help guide 1912 to their first title. Still, 1912 face many challenges to making the transfer. Odonelec is reluctant to leave his hometown club of Clichy, and interest in the budding star has come from clubs in Eura and Cosumar. (Tier 2)

Update 29: Oscar Fisch has reportedly received an ‘uptick of interest’ over the past 24 hours, reports the Stelburger Zeitung. Bay Road FC, a club from Blaneu, are reported to have made a $1.25 million tolar bid on the player. Bay Road finished 3rd in the Blaneu football league last season, qualifying them for Globe Cup football. FC Teussen Stelburg are willing to sell the player, and Fisch is reportedly ‘torn’ on his future. (Tier 2)

Update 30: Reports say that FC Teussen Stelburg’s pursuit of TSV Marzig and national team forward Ludwig Reichwein has stepped up in recent days, but Reichwein is still ‘unlikely to leave’ according to the Marziger Volkszeitung. If he does not move, reports are that Teussen will give Manuel Horn another year in the gold and black to prove he was worth the transfer. (Tier 2)

Update 31: It’s official. Ivo Romanov has joined Brenecian title-winners Rozelle, completing a transfer worth $4 million tolars away from Olympia Borograd. In a statement, Romanov thanked Olympia’s fans for their support, and wished the club all the best. He added that it would not be impossible for him to return to the Olimpski-Stadion later on in his career. All of us here at Score!, and really all football fans from Siovanija and Teusland in general, wish Ivo the best of luck in Brenecia!(Tier 1)

Update 32: Oscar Fisch has received an offer from Qusmo’s KF Lilnam, the transfer reportedly being worth $1.5 million tolars. Fisch is still said to be ‘torn’ between trying to find a move inside the Republikaliga or abroad, with Lilnam and Blaneu’s Bay Road FC the top contenders for his signature. (Tier 2)

Update 33: Anatoli Sveteikov has also received an offer from a Pug Qusmyra club, with KF Vlonz rumoured to be interested in his signature. Sveteikov is said to be taking things slowly as he considers all the options available to him, with hometown club FK Pomorie reportedly making a push to keep him. At the same time, rumours remain of a bid from an unnamed Republikaliga side. (Tier 2)

Update 34: How is the courtship of Jasno Odonelec by 1912 Stelburg coming along? Both camps are keeping quiet about the situation, and little is known of what progress Stelburg may or may not be making. 1912’s manager Sebastian Hengsbach was asked about the Mytanar international in a press conference earlier today, and said this: “I figured this would be a question….look, he’s a great player, and would help us immensely with our goal this season. I can’t promise you he’ll be in the blue and white next year, but I can promise we’ll try….we want to win the league, and it’s players like that you want to sign to do so.” Hengsbach is clearly hoping that making his admiration of the player public will work out for the best; 1912 fans hope so as well. (Tier 2)

Update 35: And what of the other big-name transfer rumour involving a Republikaliga club? Energija Chernovets are still hot on the trail of Richard Pearce, the Cosumarite winger valued at around $4 million tolars by the club. Chernovets manager Apostol Manevski reportedly considers Pearce to be ‘the key’ to taking the club back to the very top of the Republikaliga. Miroslav Dinev, skipper for both club and country and Republikaliga Golden Boot and Ball winner, was also drawn into the story today. At a press conference after training, he was asked his opinion on the young Pearce. “Again, I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way, but he’s a very talented player with a very bright future. Any club will be lucky to have him, and if it’s us, I would be very, very happy.” Chernovets have reportedly sent a delegation to meet with Pearce’s team to discuss their vision for how the player would fit into the club, and really try to sell him on coming. (Tier 2)

Update 36: Olympia Borograd are now preparing to live life without Ivo Romanov. They’ve made a $7 million tolar bid on Banijan left winger Gitonga Kahara, and are hopeful they can bring him to the club. Kahara, who has played in two World Cups for Banija and is 5th in all-time goal scoring for his country, would be a player that would have a massive impact on the club and league. Rumour has it the man likes a party, but if Olympia manager Ludmil Strashilov, notoriously thorough in his research, wants him that is clearly not a problem. This is still a team that has national team players Krasimir Kynev, Vladimir Kostov and Yanko Zhelyaskov in its lineup. If Olympia’s transfer window goes as planned, they could be even scarier next season. (Tier 2)

Update 37: There’s been a press conference called at the Nationalstadion for 1:00pm tomorrow by the Siovanija and Teusland Football Association. Rumour has it that the next manager of the Siovanija and Teusland national football team will be announced, after former manager Alan Dzekov resigned following Cup of Harmony 73. The team had been on a 10-game winless streak at the end of the tournament, and fans had criticized the football on display under Dzekov during the end of World Cup Qualifiers and the CoH. One rumour states that Apoxian Gavin Hughes, who has managed the Apox national team as well as clubs Mandon United and Urbanista, could take over. Hughes is described as an analytical, thoughtful manager who would bring a lot of experience to the Goldhorns. He is known to prefer a 4-4-2 formation, and brings a balanced offensive approach. (Tier 2)

Update 38: An era has ended at FC St. Jakob. Dennis Brotzmann, the national team midfielder, leaves the club for Herzegovina City FC in Banija for a reported fee of $2.5 million tolars. HZCFC are one of Banija’s largest and most successful clubs, and Brotzmann hopes to make an immediate impact. (Tier 1)

Update 39: 19 year old Vrnovo Mesto youth product Vidyo Avramov is also heading to the Banijan Soccer League. He’ll join up with the Herzegovina Phoenix for a fee of $1 million tolars. The speedy winger is expected to be in the Siovanija and Teusland squad for the Di Bradini Cup, and is being ‘heavily scouted’ by the senior team for the future. (Tier 1)

Update 40: The Southwestern AO exchange doesn’t only flow one way, either. Two Banijans are coming to the Republikaliga. 25 year old Kabir Jobateh, who was in the Banijan Di Bradini Cup bronze-medal winning squad, joins FC Kaiserhaven for a $2.5 million tolar fee. At the same time, FC Rotmunde 1932, who saw club legend Marius Starker’s time at the club end this window, have picked up Nwabudike Ugonna to replace him. The 20 year old is expected to slot straight into the Rotmunde team, and the club hope he can live up to Starker’s legacy. (Tier 1)

Update 41: Gavin Hughes has been officially confirmed as manager of Siovanija and Teusland’s national football team starting with the upcoming AOCAF tournament. The manager gave a press conference at the Nationalstadion today, alongside new STFA President Lyubomir Saitsev and national team captain Miroslav Dinev. Dinev commented on the new boss, saying: “Having spoken with him already, I think he’s going to help us accomplish great things. He brings a lot of experience to the team, and some of the other lads I’ve spoken to are buzzing.” (Tier 1)

Update 42: Fans of Olympia Borograd are buzzing tonight, as the transfer of Qasden national team captain Icarus Darsten to their club was confirmed. The 24 year old Darsten, described as a powerful midfielder and a natural midfielder, will play alongside national team strongman Vladimir Kostov. Olympia’s midfield may now be the best in the league, with SW Stahlberg and FC Teussen Stelburg following close behind. (Tier 1)

Update 43: ‘Jasno-watch’ is officially on in the blue half of Stelburg. Reports in the last 48 hours suggest that Jasno Odonelec is ‘very close’ to completing his transfer to 1912 Stelburg. 1912’s social media post telling fans ‘Don’t sleep tonight…..’ was quite cryptic, and has led some fans to believe an announcement is imminent. One supporters’ group has even arranged for a camp-out outside the stadium to wait for the announcement. (Tier 2)

Update 44: Oscar Fisch today completed his move from FC Teussen Stelburg to KF Lilnim in Qusmo. Teussen released a lengthy statement thanking Fisch for his years of service to the club, and wished him all the best in the future. Fisch took to social media to thank the club, saying he’d ‘always consider Stelburg my home’. He added that he looked forward to the next step in his journey. (Tier 1)

Update 45: It’s all going a bit mad here in Stelburg. Raphael Klopfer and Adrian Tremblay-Fillon stopped in at the fan camp-out after training today, and were inevitably bombarded with questions as to the status of Odonelec. “I think you’re going to be very happy,” was all Klopfer would say. (Tier 4)

Update 46: We asked one fan outside the 1912-Stadion to sum up just why the whole fanbase seemed to be going mad over the summer dealings: “Well, it’s just….finally, we feel like we’re going to compete. 1912 Stelburg has always been that club that’s just a little bigger than most, but not on the same tier as like Olympia and Teussen. It means so much to the fans, we don’t necessarily come from the richest parts of town, and 1912 is just a huge part of our lives. When we got Adrian (Tremblay-Fillon), we knew times were changing…...if we get Jasno, it’s going to be crazy. They represent a new hope, one that we haven’t had for a long time. You’re seeing that manifest itself here now.” (Tier 4)

Update 46: We asked one fan outside the 1912-Stadion to sum up just why the whole fanbase seemed to be going mad over the summer dealings: “Well, it’s just….finally, we feel like we’re going to compete. 1912 Stelburg has always been that club that’s just a little bigger than most, but not on the same tier as like Olympia and Teussen. It means so much to the fans, we don’t necessarily come from the richest parts of town, and 1912 is just a huge part of our lives. When we got Adrian (Tremblay-Fillon), we knew times were changing…...if we get Jasno, it’s going to be crazy. They represent a new hope, one that we haven’t had for a long time. You’re seeing that manifest itself here now.” (Tier 2)

Update 47: There is reported interest from clubs in Vilita and Turori in national team goalkeeper Yanko Zhelyaskov and midfielder Varban Spasov. Kionao Locals are the club in question for Zhelyaskov, while interest in Spasov comes from Turoki United. Spasov is said to be ‘eager’ to make the move, looking to break through in the national team by moving to the Vilitan league. Zhelyaskov, however, is a bit more apprehensive. It’s rumoured he is ‘torn’ between leaving Olympia Borograd, who can expect a lot of success in coming years, and joining the Locals. (Tier 2)

Update 48: The countdown is on in Stelburg. Word has spread around outside the stadium that a the 1912 Stelburg private plane is currently on its way from Prahecq and will be landing at Stelburg International Airport around 11:00pm this evening. The party could go long into the night in Stelburg. (Tier 4)

Update 49: They won’t be waiting much longer now. On social media, 1912 Stelburg have informed fans of a ‘special celebration’ taking place outside the stadium tonight. This was also broadcast over a loudspeaker outside, and met with massive cheers. (Tier 1)

Update 50: We’re here at Stelburg International, where the 1912 Stelburg private jet has just landed. We weren’t able to get up close to the plane, but watched from a distance as its passengers exited the plane and entered several cars. The convoy drove off in the direction of West Stelburg, particularly the Marzahn district in which the 1912-Stadion is located. We are minutes away now surely. (Tier 3)

Update 51: So, what does the Odonelec transfer mean in a football sense? Remember how a few updates ago, we discussed how the competition was largely between Olympia Borograd, SW Stahlberg and FC Teussen Stelburg for which team had the best midfield in the division? 1912 are now firmly in that conversation, perhaps even at the top of it. Adding that to what was an already-strong defence, 1912 Stelburg are one of the strongest teams in the Republikaliga. They will be a title challenger certainly, and it would not be a surprise at all to see them win it all. Year 1 may be a bit ambitious for that goal, however, and what 1912 fans should focus on is that they will have a team capable of winning for years to come. (Opinion)

Update 52: The cars have arrived at the 1912-Stadion, and with all business taken care of, it's finally time.They’re announcing the squad now, going through all the numbers from 1-23. However, number 10 has been skipped - being saved for the end. Here it is now: ‘and number 10, the newest star of 1912 Stelburg and the Republikaliga, Jasno Odonelec!’ The crowd erupts. This is what they’ve been waiting for. There’s already a massive line at the club shop to purchase his kit, and the new advertising banner has been dropped in front of the stadium: Raphael Klopfer, Lutz Daschner, Adrian Tremblay-Fillon and Jasno Odonelec, each wearing the blue and white, with the writing Unsere Helden: Our Heroes. (Tier 1)

Update 53: Official details of the transfer are coming out now: Odonelec to 1912, but he’ll finish out his obligations at hometown club Clichy in the Prahecquois league before the new Republikaliga season. That will see him miss a few weeks’ worth of preseason, but his manager is not worried: “He’ll fit in just fine.” The rumoured fee paid to Clichy is estimate to be above $10 million tolars, but an official fee has not been made available. (Tier 1)

Update 54: We’re sure all you non-1912 fans are sick of hearing about all the moves they have made this summer. The debate is raging now over what the biggest move of the offseason has been so far: 1912’s double swoop for Tremblay-Fillon and Odonelec, SW Stahlberg’s acquisition of John Ferry, or Olympia Borograd’s move for Icarus Darsten. The international window slams shut soon, and it is unlikely that Republikaliga clubs will be making many more purchases on that front. There are still some players that could move, however, such as Yanko Zhelyaskov, Varban Spasov and Anatoli Sveteikov. Additionally, domestic transfers are still in the works, such as Teussen’s search for a striker, and rumours linking Raketa Bukovets winger Aleksander Lukonov with Olympia Borograd. It’s certainly not all over for the Republikaliga this transfer window, and we’ll continue to bring you all the relevant information. (Opinion)

More transfer news is on the way!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:34 pm

Ehrenliga Season Preview

Following Siovanija and Teusland’s strong performances on the international stage in the World Cup of Hockey, the Ehrenliga has attracted more and more attention. Already the most popular sports league in the nation in terms of television ratings, the National Championship finals at the end of the year are usually the most-watched event in the nation. And so, the Ehrenliga is proud to present its latest season and hopefully see its teams participate in international competition. There is, of course, the Hockey Champion’s League, and rumours have been abound that some Ehrenliga clubs are interested in inviting foreign teams to participate in smaller invitational tournaments. Attention is raised further towards the league at home because this will be its 100th season, and there are several celebrations planned for that anniversary. Here are the 18 clubs competing in this centennial season of the Ehrenliga, listed with some of 2-3 of their best players and a quick review of their chances in this season.

ADMIRALA POMORIE
Colours: Blue and white
Key Players: Razvigor Tsvetanov (RW), Bojidar Ivankov (D), Ruslan Ivanov (G)
Team Info: Admirala Pomorie will be one of the most-watched teams in the EL this season, and they are perhaps the most talented. Razvigor Tsvetanov is the best goal-scorer in the league, while the forward core around him is also up there with the best in the league. On defence, Bojidar Ivankov is the biggest name player, while Ruslan Ivanov is the league’s best goalie in net. Admirala have all the potential to win the Strauss Cup as National Champions this season.

EHC KOSMOPOLIT
Colours: Gold and blue
Key Players: Dieter Hennig (D), Lukas Kistler (LW)
Team Info: Kosmopolit are a team that have always been middle-of-the-pack, and will more than likely continue that reality this season. Dieter Hennig is a solid defensive defenceman who has always been counted on by Kosmopolit, while Lukas Kistler has a lot of potential to develop at his age. Still, it’s likely Kosmopolit will be on the bubble for play-off contention this season.

EISBAREN STELBURG
Colours: White and blue
Key Players: Volker Seiden (G), Erhard Lasker (C)
Team Info: Eisbaren are a team who certainly have the potential to make some waves in the EL this season. Volker Seiden has developed into perhaps the best young netminder in the league, and his play will be a major factor if they are to make the play-offs. Erhard Lasker has certainly made a name for himself as a great two-way forward, and has a definite chance of being named to the national team in the future. Look for Eisbaren to be in the playoffs, but perhaps not as one of the top seeds.

FELSENKIRCHEN JETS
Colours: Red and white
Key Players: Jurgen Wald (RW), Niclas Engel (D)
Team Info: The Jets are one of those teams that are difficult to predict. If players like the previously mentioned Wald and Engel have strong seasons, they could be a team set for a play-off performance and perhaps even a run at the Strauss Cup. If things start going wrong, however, it could be tough for the Jets to reach the postseason.

HK ENERGIJA CHERNOVETS
Colours: Green and yellow
Key Players: Assen Kirilov (RW), Ivalo Manolev (D)
Team Info: It’s going to be a tough season for Energija Chernovets. Kirilov and Manolev are the clear best players on the team, but are still young and need time to develop in the EL. They aren’t going to make the playoffs, and there’s every chance in the world they could be near the bottom of the league table at the end of this season.

HK OLYMPIA BOROGRAD
Colours: Green and white
Key Players: Gero Radulov (C), Veselin Filipov (LW), Grozdan Adamov (RW)
Team Info: Olympia have perhaps the best top line in the whole EL, with Gero Radulov being one of the game’s top centres, and Veselin Filipov and Grozdan Adamov beside him capable of scoring whenever they have the puck. Radulov is also a solid two-way player and great for special teams. This Olympia Borograd team has a real chance at winning the Strauss Cup, and should be expected to be one of the best teams in the league.

HK RUDAR TRKEV
Colours: Green and blue
Key Players: Ventseslav Valchev (G), Zhelyasko Ivanov (D)
Team Info: Rudar Trkev won the Strauss Cup a few seasons ago with star players Valchev and Ivanov playing key roles, but it looks as if the team’s window for winning has passed. With Valchev’s contract up at the end of this year, don’t be surprised if he is traded for future considerations, while Ivanov as well could be seeing his time at Trkev come to an end.

KAISERHAVEN KNIGHTS
Colours: Black and white
Key Players: Wolfram Holz (C), Fabio Adler (D)
Team Info: The Knights are a team known mostly for their inconsistency. Wolfram Holz is a top, top player, and he has been the star of this Knights team for a long time. However, the names behind him aren’t as bright, and though Fabio Adler is a capable defender Kaiserhaven’s big question is how far their depth can take them.

KAPITALA BOROGRAD
Colours: Purple and white
Key Players: Mihael Gavrilov (RW), Devisil Valikov (D)
Team Info: Very much Borograd’s second team, Kapitala are seemingly the eternal bridesmaids. A new era of talent is on the way, however, and veteran captain Mihael Gavrilov will be counted on to guide the next generation of Kapitala forwards. Whether that can turn them into a more consistent playoff team, however, remains to be seen.

ORLOVI STAVROPOL
Colours: Black and gold
Key Players: Lyoben Filipov (C) , Jure Renko (LW)
Team Info: Stavropol is the smallest city represented in the Ehrenliga, but it has one of the proudest hockey traditions of all. Orlovi were a dominant force in amateur and junior hockey for a long time, and still clubs from the city are at the forefront of those levels of hockey. At the ultimate level, however, Orlovi Stavropol have not found the same success. One-time Strauss Cup champions, the team is hoping a younger generation built around players like Lyoben Filipov and Jure Renko, both highly touted prospects, will lead to to success.

PINGUINE TERNAU
Colours: Yellow and white
Key Players: Christian Haselberger (RW), Martin Otto (LW)
Team Info: The Penguins are an interesting team. No star player, really, and several years of average play mean they don’t really have too many budding young talents either. They are a team greater than the sum of their parts, however, and players like Haselberger and Otto are always threats. Don’t be shocked if Ternau makes the playoffs, and if underestimated they certainly have a chance at an upset.

RAKETA BUKOVETS
Colours: Red and white
Key Players: Enyo Nankov (C), Bogomil Ilev (D)
Team Info: Raketa are another team that will be exciting to watch, although their results may not be the best. The youth revolution in the Ehrenliga is led at Bukovets by Bogomil Ilev, a very big and physical defender. Enyo Nankov is still the main man in the forward core, however, and Raketa’s success runs through him.

SEELOWE MARLESEE
Colours: Blue and white
Key Players: Jorg Gottschall (D), Frank Heider (LW), Timo Schlager (C)
Team Info: Seelowe Marlesee are one of the best clubs in the Ehrenliga right now, and they have some of the brightest young talent in the league at their disposal. Jorg Gottschall is constantly in contention for the league’s best defender, while Frank Heider has become a goalscoring force on the left wing. Timo Schlager, only 20, has quickly become the team’s number 1 centre. Still, there are questions surrounding this team. Seelowe have traditionally done well in the regular season, and choked in the playoffs. Will this year be different?

ST. JAKOB SAINTS
Colours: White and purple
Key Players: Gunter Pfenning (C), Timo Horn (D), Leon Seidel (LW)
Team Info: The Saints are coming near the end of their contention window, but are still poised to have a strong season. Gunter Pfenning has been and will be for his whole career the leader of this team; he’s the best player in the Ehrenliga right now and perhaps its history. Timo Horn is the big man on defence, while Leon Seidel put up 35 goals last season. St. Jakob, with 2 Strauss Cups in the Pfenning era, will be hoping to add at least one more.

STAHLBERG STEELERS
Colours: Grey and black
Key Players: Fabian Auer (D), Frank Hessler (RW)
Team Info: Stahlberg will be challenging for a play-off spot this year, and are hoping that Fabian Auer can keep up his strong performances and lead them to the promised land. At the same time, Auer is out of contract after this season, and if the season goes wrong could become trade bait. Reaching the play-offs is very important for keeping players like Auer and Hessler on this team.

STELBURG KAISERS
Colours: Gold and black
Key Players: Wolfram Spiegel (RW), Lothar Scherer (D), Gregor Herder (D)
Team Info: The Stelburg Kaisers are the most successful team in the history of the Ehrenliga, having won 22 Strauss Cups. This Kaisers’ team is as good as any, too, with Wolfram Spiegel having topped the goal scoring charts 3 times throughout his career and the Scherer-Herder pairing being perhaps the league’s best. The Kaisers are always a threat to win the Cup, and this year is no different.

TEUFELSBERG DEVILS
Colours: Red and white
Key Players: Alex Schnyder (LW), Koloman Schwarzmann (D)
Team Info: The Devils have become one of the better teams in the league in recent years, with stars like Schnyder and Schwarzmann leading the way. Alex Schnyder has perhaps the best wrist shot in the league, and that combined with Schwarzmann’s howitzer of a shot from the point gives the Devils one of the best power plays in the league. The Devils should be a playoff team, but whether they can go all the way remains to be seen.

VRNOVO ISLANDERS
Colours: Blue and orange
Key Players: Nikifor Dimitrov (G), Petar Manevski (LW)
Team Info: A long year is in store for the Islanders and their fans. This is their weakest squad in years, and the club are hoping to attain a high draft choice to fix the problems with their team. Nikifor Dimitrov is capable of stealing a few games, and he could be a coveted asset come trade deadline time for teams in the playoffs without solid goaltending.

Hockey in Siovanija and Teusland is incredibly popular, and a certain part of it has become absolutely enshrined in the national culture. That would be, of course, the RBC’s broadcasting every Saturday of Hockey Night in Siovanija and Teusland. HNST, as it is commonly referred to, usually airs 3 games on national television: a 4:00 opener, the 7:00 primetime ‘main event’, and a 10:00 late game. The program’s theme song, opening montages, and personalities have become known to all. Certainly the best-known HNST personality is Oskar Kirsche, known for his taste in suits, love of dogs, and favouring an offensive, highly physical brand of hockey. Controversial, Kirsche appears during the first intermission of the primetime game to give his thoughts. HNST also features well-known insiders and former players and coaches to give the best quality analysis. Saturday night broadcasts of HNST are usually the top-rated television program in the nation for that timeslot.

The Ehrenliga season features 68 games, and at the conclusion of the season the top 8 teams qualify for the Strauss Cup playoffs. A series of best-of-7 matches ensues before a champion is crowned. The Strauss Cup is named after Konrad Strauss, who donated the championship trophy to the league before its first season. It is the most recognized trophy in the nation, and each player gets his name engraved on the cup. Historically, the Stelburg Kaisers have been the most dominant team, while HK Olympia Borograd and the St. Jakob Saints also have several championships.

The dawn of the new season is here, and we can’t wait for puck drop! Stay tuned for Hockey Night in Siovanija and Teusland!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 10:19 am

Ehrenliga Regular Season

The nationally-broadcast Saturday games will be featured here, all 20 editions of the program under the spotlight. Of course, these are not all the games played in the season, but the standings will give a clear picture of the total performances. The games will be listed in order, with game 1 being the 4:00, game 2 the 7:00 and game 3 the late game. The early game usually features teams not seen as often, while the primetime and later games usually feature the biggest teams. We’ll also check in with the league standings occasionally, the All-Star game and the Trade Deadline.

Hockey Night: Week 1

St. Jakob Saints 3-1 Raketa Bukovets
Admirala Pomorie 6-5 Stahlberg Steelers (OT)
Felsenkirchen Jets 4-0 Pinguine Ternau

Opening night’s lead game saw Gunter Pfenning score two third period goals to break the tie with Raketa Bukovets at home to give his Saints side the victory. The best game of the night was certainly Admirala Pomorie defeating the Steelers 6-5 in overtime, Razvigor Tsvetanov having a 4 point night. The Steelers fought hard to take the game that far, but it’s tough to beat Admirala in 3-on-3 overtime. The late game was a bit of a let-down, with Felsenkirchen lighting up Ternau 4-0, Jurgen Wald managing to get in on 3 of those goals in a good night for the Jets. Elsewhere, Olympia defeated Chernovets 1-0 and the Vrnovo Islanders’ managed an upset, defeating the Stelburg Kaisers 3-1.

Hockey Night: Week 2

EHC Kosmopolit 1-2 Raketa Bukovets (OT)
Admirala Pomorie 7-3 St. Jakob Saints
HK Energija Chernovets 0-1 Stelburg Kaisers

EHC Kosmopolit’s Lukas Kistler evened the game in the last minute of play, but it wasn’t enough to get the win as Raketa proved to be too strong in overtime, Bogomil Ilev getting the winning marker. The primetime game saw Admirala Pomorie dismantle the Saints at home, with Razvigor Tsvetanov having a hat-trick in the first period as Admirala led 6-0 after two. St. Jakob recovered some dignity in the third period, but it was not a good night for the Saints and Pomorie sit atop the standings. Later on, a Wolfram Spiegel power play goal in the first period was enough for the Kaisers to get past Energija Chernovets.

Hockey Night: Week 3

Eisbaren Stelburg 1-4 HK Olympia Borograd
Stelburg Kaisers 6-3 Pinguine Ternau
St. Jakob Saints 3-0 HK Energija Chernovets

Not the best of games for Eisbaren Stelburg, but it was never going to be easy going against Olympia Borograd. Veselin Filipov scored two on the night, and despite Erhard Lasker’s early third period goal to make it 2-1, Olympia would close the game in the third. The Stelburg Kaisers poured goals onto Pinguine Ternau, with Wolfram Spiegel adding two to his collection for the season. The Kaisers’ power play scored 3 goals, and it was a parade to the box for Pinguine. In the late game, St. Jakob played a clean game and beat Energija Chernovets without much question.

Hockey Night: Week 4

Stahlberg Steelers 3-5 Seelowe Marlesee
Stelburg Kaisers 7-3 HK Olympia Borograd
Admirala Pomorie 1-7 HK Energija Chernovets

First national broadcast of the year for Seelowe Marlesee, and they made it count with Frank Heider scoring a winning goal with just 45 seconds remaining before rookie Markus Ehn added his first Ehrenliga goal with an empty net tally shortly after, as Marlesee defeated the Stahlberg Steelers. The biggest rivalry in the Ehrenliga was also on display, but it was the Stelburg Kaisers’ night all the way as they scored 4 goals in the second period to distance themselves from Olympia Borograd. It was a night of high scoring games all around, with Energija Chernovets picking up their 3rd win of the season with a demolition of Admirala Pomorie. Assen Kirilov was the first star on the night, with 5 points total in the big win.

Hockey Night: Week 5

Orlovi Stavropol 0-1 EHC Kosmopolit
HK Olympia Borograd 2-1 St. Jakob Saints (OT)
Stahlberg Steelers 2-1 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)

Quite an exciting night here. Orlovi Stavropol and EHC Kosmopolit played a game that saw great performances from both goaltenders, Stavropol’s Iliya Hristov making 55 saves. That wasn’t enough, however, and Kosmopolit found a way through on the power play in the second period to give them the win. In the spotlight, Olympia Borograd and the Saints cancelled each other out with goals in the first period, before Grozdan Adamov scored a very, very pretty winner in overtime on a breakaway. Later on, the Steelers beat the Kaisers in overtime, Fabian Auer grabbing the winner in a very physical contest.

Hockey Night: Week 6

Pinguine Ternau 6-5 EHC Kosmopolit (OT)
HK Olympia Borograd 0-1 Admirala Pomorie
Eisbaren Stelburg 3-1 St. Jakob Saints

The early game saw lots of fireworks, with Pinguine Ternau stealing away a 6-5 overtime victory over EHC Kosmopolit. Ternau found themselves down 4-2 going into the third period, but put up a massive effort to send the game to overtime and win it in that period. Admirala Pomorie got a goal from Lyutskan Azamov in the second period that was enough for them to get an important win over Olympia Borograd, while Eisbaren Stelburg relied on an Erhard Lasker hat-trick to defeat St. Jakob 3-1.

Hockey Night: Week 7

Felsenkirchen Jets 0-1 Teufelsberg Devils
Admirala Pomorie 2-1 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Orlovi Stavropol 1-0 HK Olympia Borograd

The Teufelsberg Devils had a dominant performance over the Jets tonight, and truthfully the score could have been much, much more. A great performance from Jets goaltender Jakob Wolf, however, made sure that Alex Schnyder’s second period power play tally was the only scoring in the game as the Devils got the win. Razvigor Tsvetanov had both goals as Admirala Pomorie beat the Stelburg Kaisers in a great game overall, Tsvetanov’s overtime winner being one of the best goals you will see all season. Finally, Orlovi Stavropol managed a surprise win over Olympia Borograd, Manush Vanko getting the winner for the home side in a third period that saw a furious pace as each side attempted to get the win.

Hockey Night: Week 8

HK Olympia Borograd 0-7 Teufelsberg Devils
St. Jakob Saints 3-1 Admirala Pomorie
Seelowe Marlesee 0-1 Pinguine Ternau (OT)

No-one could have expected the early result here, as the Teufelsberg Devils absolutely demolished Olympia Borograd 7-0 to kick off Saturday night. Alex Schnyder scored 4 goals to move into the league lead with 18 through 22 games, 2 of them coming on the power play. Later on, Gunter Pfenning’s second period goal put St. Jakob ahead of Pomorie and they would never look back, winning the primetime contest 3-1. League leaders Seelowe Marlesee hosted Pinguine Ternau, and it was Martin Otto who scored the winner in overtime for the away team as they looked strong.

Hockey Night: Week 9

Kapitala Borograd 4-3 Kaiserhaven Knights (OT)
Stelburg Kaisers 5-0 Teufelsberg Devils
Eisbaren Stelburg 1-2 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)

Kapitala Borograd came back from 2-0 down in the third period in a see-saw fight to the finish, before Mihael Gavrilov showed his quality in overtime with a great shot after getting a breakaway chance. The Kaisers and Devils faced off, but you have to wonder if the Devils knew the game was on: they were down 4-0 by the end of the first period. A clinic by the Kaisers, however, and it is a valuable win for them. Finally, Seelowe Marlesee defeated Eisbaren Stelburg away from home in overtime, Timo Schlager getting the winner for the team tied for first in the league.

Hockey Night: Week 10

HK Rudar Trkev 5-10 Seelowe Marlesee
St. Jakob Saints 1-4 HK Olympia Borograd
Stelburg Kaisers 0-1 Stahlberg Steelers

One of the craziest games in the Ehrenliga’s history, as Rudar Trkev and Seelowe Marlesee combined for 15 goals. 3-2 for Trkev after the first, then 7-4 Marlesee after the second, the away side eventually reached double digits thanks to a last-minute power play goal from Jorg Gottschall. 10-5 the final as Marlesee pick up another win. Olympia Borograd were big winners over St. Jakob as well, with Olympia’s top line playing a key role in each goal. Veselin Filipov scored 2, while his linemates Adamov and Radulov each had one. Later on, Stahlberg defeated the Stelburg Kaisers 1-0, thanks to a goal from Frank Hessler in the second period.

Hockey Night: Week 11

Orlovi Stavropol 2-1 Pinguine Ternau (OT)
St. Jakob Saints 1-0 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Admirala Pomorie 1-5 Eisbaren Stelburg

Orlovi Stavropol grab a big win over Pinguine Ternau in overtime, Jure Renko getting the winner off a one-timer from a crisp pass from Lyoben Filipov. Gunter Pfenning came out on top in a defensive battle between the Saints and Kaisers, his goal also coming in overtime to give St. Jakob the win over their rivals from Stelburg. One half of Stelburg was happy on the night, though, because Eisbaren Stelburg ran rampant over Admirala Pomorie. Admirala took an early 1-0 lead, but Eisbaren quickly recovered and centre Erhard Lasker managed a three point night.

At the mid-way point of the season, let’s take a look at the Ehrenliga standings.

Ehrenliga                  Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Admirala Pomorie            34   19   9    82   56  +26    44
 2 St. Jakob Saints            34   18  10    82   58  +24    42
 3 Eisbaren Stelburg           34   16   8    67   47  +20    42
 4 Stelburg Kaisers            34   16  12    78   56  +22    38
 5 HK Olympia Borograd         34   17  13    80   59  +21    38
 6 Kapitala Borograd           34   16  13    60   53   +7    37
 7 Seelowe Marlesee            34   16  13    63   61   +2    37
 8 Teufelsberg Devils          34   14  14    59   57   +2    34
 9 Pinguine Ternau             34   12  12    64   76  −12    34
10 HK Rudar Trkev              34   14  15    72   72    0    33
11 Stahlberg Steelers          34   12  13    65   70   −5    33
12 Felsenkirchen Jets          34   13  14    50   58   −8    33
13 Kaiserhaven Knights         34   12  14    54   65  −11    32
14 Orlovi Stavropol            34   10  12    52   66  −14    32
15 Vrnovo Islanders            34   14  17    60   66   −6    31
16 Raketa Bukovets             34   11  16    62   79  −17    29
17 EHC Kosmopolit              34    9  20    60   82  −22    23
18 HK Energija Chernovets      34    9  23    51   80  −29    20

Admirala Pomorie are top of the standings so far, they’ve managed some good wins so far in the season and the team will be hoping to continue that performance in the second half. Following them up are the St. Jakob Saints, Gunter Pfenning so far a leading candidate for MVP. Eisbaren Stelburg, the Stelburg Kaisers and Olympia Borograd are next in the table, each of those teams also playing well through the first 34 games. Other current play-off teams are Kapitala Borograd, Seelowe Marlesee and the Teufelsberg Devils. At the same time, Pinguine Ternau, Rudar Trkev and the Stahlberg Steelers are just on the bubble, with Felsenkirchen Jets, Orlovi Stavropol and the Kaiserhaven Knights not far behind them. The play-off race is certainly still on, as is the race for top of the standings. HK Energija Chernovets and EHC Kosmopolit are in the basement, and don’t look likely to move out.

All-Star Break

Each year at the halfway point of the season, an All-Star game is held. The teams are made up of players from the Republic of Siovanija competing against those from the Republic of Teusland, and the game is hosted in rotating arenas around the country. This is not a for fun game, as the players are competing for national pride and bragging rights. This year, the game was held at Borograd’s Olimpski-Ledarena, home of HK Olympia Borograd

Siovanija 5-3 Teusland

And so the team from Siovanija earns this year’s All-Star game victory. Razvigor Tsvetanov and Gunter Pfenning were the stars of their teams, Tsvetanov with 2 goals and 2 assists while Pfenning had a goal and 2 assists. Mihael Gavrilov was the man who scored the winning goal for Siovanija, while Veselin Filipov added an empty netter to make the score 5-3. The Siovanijan fans in Borograd were understandably quite happy with the result.

Hockey Night: Week 12

Eisbaren Stelburg 1-0 Orlovi Stavropol
Stelburg Kaisers 1-3 EHC Kosmopolit
St. Jakob Saints 3-0 Vrnovo Islanders

Eisbaren Stelburg got another win and moved to the top of the league after 38 games played, Valentin Doss getting the winner for them. Later on, EHC Kosmopolit got a surprise win over the Kaisers, with Lukas Kistler managing two goals in the second period to seal the victory. Finally, Gunter Pfenning got three assists as the St. Jakob Saints vanquished the Vrnovo Islanders 3-0.

Hockey Night: Week 13

Admirala Pomorie 4-3 Kapitala Borograd (OT)
HK Olympia Borograd 3-1 Seelowe Marlesee
Teufelsberg Devils 0-1 Eisbaren Stelburg

It’s an important win for Admirala Pomorie in the early game, Bojidar Ivankov firing in the winner from the point in overtime to give them the win backing up Razvigor Tsvetanov’s two goals in the game. Olympia Borograd and Seelowe Marlesee played an important clash of top teams, and in the end it was Olympia that came out on top in a hectic third period that saw all 4 of the game’s goals come in the final 10 minutes. The late game saw Eisbaren Stelburg strengthen their hold at the top with a win over the Devils, with Vincent Haspel scoring a power play marker in the second period to ensure the win.

Hockey Night: Week 14

Felsenkirchen Jets 2-1 Kaiserhaven Knights (OT)
Pinguine Ternau 7-3 Admirala Pomorie
HK Olympia Borograd 3-1 St. Jakob Saints

The Jets prevail in overtime over the Knights, with Jurgen Wald grabbing an important winner for the home side in the playoff race. The Jets now sit 7th in the standings, 3 points ahead of Ternau who weer in action against Pomorie. It was a big win for the Penguins, who beat up on Admirala in a 7-3 romp. Christian Haselberger scored 2 goals and set up another 2 in the win, earning first star honours on the night. In the late game, Olympia Borograd grabbed another important win over St. Jakob, Veselin Filipov’s two goal performance a large factor in the win.

Hockey Night: Week 15

Teufelsberg Devils 3-1 HK Energija Chernovets
Stelburg Kaisers 1-0 St. Jakob Saints (OT)
Eisbaren Stelburg 1-2 Admirala Pomorie (OT)

Alex Schnyder scored a hat-trick as the Devils managed to beat Energija Chernovets by a 3-1 score, an important two points for the club in the play-off race; they now sit 8th. The Kaisers and Saints played a game dominated by goaltenders, Kaisers’ netminder David Wagner making 45 saves in the shutout. Ultimately, however, the Kaisers would prevail in overtime, Wolfram Spiegel scoring his 35th of the season in the extra frame. Later on, Admirala Pomorie also required overtime to beat league leaders Eisbaren Stelburg, and it was a shot from Bojidar Ivankov deflected by Razvigor Tsvetanov that gave them the win.

Hockey Night: Week 16

Felsenkirchen Jets 5-4 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)
Pinguine Ternau 0-3 HK Olympia Borograd
Vrnovo Islanders 8-7 St. Jakob Saints (OT)

A very exciting night of hockey in Siovanija and Teusland. First, Felsenkirchen and Marlesee played a barnburner, 4-4 after regulation before Jurgen Wald clutched another winning goal in overtime. HK Olympia Borograd didn’t really have any trouble from Pinguine Ternau, beating them 3-0. Then, Vrnovo Islanders and the St. Jakob Saints exploded for 15 goals total, including 5 in the third period. Gunter Pfenning had 6 points, but the Saints lost in overtime as Petar Manevski scored the eighth goal for Vrnovo and the winner.

Hockey Night: Week 17

Kapitala Borograd 1-2 Admirala Pomorie (OT)
Seelowe Marlesee 5-0 HK Olympia Borograd
Stelburg Kaisers 5-1 Felsenkirchen Jets

The opener was a fun game, with Admirala Pomorie and Kapitala Borograd going back and forth, one goal a piece heading into overtime. The 3-on-3 period was one of the best you’ll see this season, with an extremely quick pace to the game, but in the end it was Razvigor Tsvetanov scoring his 40th of the season to get the win for Admirala Pomorie. With 10 games left, there’s still a chance Tsvetanov can reach 50 goals this season. Seelowe Marlesee stay first thanks to their win over HK Olympia Borograd, and it was actually rookie Clemens Weber who did the most damage on the night, a goal and 3 assists. Later on, the Kaisers had a fairly easy game against the Jets, scoring 3 in the first period and never looking back as they cruised to a 5-1 win.

Hockey Night: Week 18

Admirala Pomorie 5-0 Orlovi Stavropol
Stelburg Kaisers 3-4 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)
St. Jakob Saints 3-1 Pinguine Ternau

Orlovi Stavropol were no match for Admirala Pomorie, and the big 5-0 win sees Admirala regain some ground on the teams ahead of them, namely HK Olympia Borograd who they are now level on points with. The Kaisers and Seelowe played a great game in Stelburg, Wolfram Spiegel having 2 goals in the game. In the end, however, it was Seelowe who came out on top and Timo Schlager who scored the winning goal just 17 seconds into the overtime period. Later on, Gunter Pfenning got his 80th point of the season with an assist in the second period, and that was part of St. Jakob’s harmless 3-1 win over the Penguins.

Hockey Night: Week 19

Eisbaren Stelburg 3-0 HK Rudar Trkev
Seelowe Marlesee 3-5 St. Jakob Saints
Teufelsberg Devils 5-3 Admirala Pomorie

Eisbaren Stelburg have been able to earn points when it matters this season, and defeat Rudar Trkev in a game that wasn’t really ever in doubt. Later on, the Saints defeat Marlesee 5-3, Gunter Pfenning scoring the winning goal for St. Jakob while Frank Heider had 2 for Marlesee. Admirala Pomorie’s poor run in the second half of the season continues, and it was a rough game that saw the team rack up 32 penalty minutes. You can’t do that against the Devils, and Alex Schnyder and the Teufelsberg power play took full advantage, 3 of their goals coming with the man advantage. 3 games left in the season now, and it looks as if the play-off picture is set. There’s still a race for the final slots, however, with the Devils, Penguins, Knights and Steelers all looking to claim the 7th and 8th seeds.

Hockey Night: Week 20

Admirala Pomorie 1-0 Eisbaren Stelburg (OT)
St. Jakob Saints 0-3 Stelburg Kaisers
HK Rudar Trkev 7-5 Raketa Bukovets

The last day of regular season hockey, and we saw some good teams face-off in the battle for playoff seeding and the playoff race. Admirala Pomorie beat Eisbaren Stelburg in overtime, Razvigor Tsvetanov getting his 45th of the season to cap off the year. The Kaisers defeated the Saints 3-0, and that will be a good setup as the teams will face-off in the first round of the playoffs. Later on, Rudar Trkev and Raketa Bukovets did not disappoint, exploding for 12 goals between them with Rudar scoring 4 in the third period in order to win 7-5.

With the conclusion of the Ehrenliga season, it’s time to take a look at the league standings.

Ehrenliga                  Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Seelowe Marlesee            68   39  21   157  113  +44    86       Avramov Bowl
 2 Eisbaren Stelburg           68   33  21   144  124  +20    80
 3 HK Olympia Borograd         68   36  25   152  115  +37    79
 4 Stelburg Kaisers            68   32  25   161  122  +39    75
 5 St. Jakob Saints            68   31  25   155  125  +30    74
 6 Admirala Pomorie            68   31  28   148  137  +11    71
 7 Teufelsberg Devils          68   29  28   145  126  +19    69
 8 Pinguine Ternau             68   27  26   134  149  −15    69       Play-offs
 9 Stahlberg Steelers          68   24  24   117  119   −2    68
10 Orlovi Stavropol            68   25  25   112  133  −21    68
11 Kaiserhaven Knights         68   26  28   118  117   +1    66
12 Kapitala Borograd           68   26  31   121  126   −5    63
13 Felsenkirchen Jets          68   23  28   120  140  −20    63
14 HK Rudar Trkev              68   26  31   130  160  −30    63
15 Vrnovo Islanders            68   25  34   115  148  −33    59
16 EHC Kosmopolit              68   23  33   113  130  −17    58
17 Raketa Bukovets             68   22  33   133  162  −29    57
18 HK Energija Chernovets      68   24  36   111  140  −29    56

So, Seelowe Marlesee win the Avramov Bowl as regular season champions. The play-off matchups are set, and we’ll get you a full preview on those shortly. First, however, we’re going to take a look at the season awards.

League MVP

Gunter Pfenning (St. Jakob Saints)
Razvigor Tsvetanov (Admirala Pomorie)
Timo Schlager (Seelowe Marlesee)

Top Goalscorer

Razvigor Tsetanov, 45 (Admirala Pomorie)
Wolfram Spiegel, 41 (Stelburg Kaisers)
Alexander Schnyder, 40 (Teufelsberg Devils)

Top Pointscorer

Gunter Pfenning, 92 (St. Jakob Saints)
Timo Schlager, 81 (Seelowe Marlesee)
Razvigor Tsvetanov, 72 (Admirala Pomorie)

Best Defenceman

Jorg Gottschall (Seelowe Marlesee)
Gregor Herder (Stelburg Kaisers)
Bojidar Ivankov (Admirala Pomorie)

Best Goaltender

Ruslan Ivanov (Admirala Pomorie)
Volker Seiden (Eisbaren Stelburg)
David Wagner (Stelburg Kaisers)

Hockey Night in Siovanija and Teusland Play-off Preview with Oskar Kirsche

The Strauss Cup Play-offs are always the biggest event of the season for Hockey Night in Siovanija and Teusland, and every year on the eve of their beginning, Oskar Kirsche and his co-host Ronald Mensing have a play-off preview show. Here’s Kirsche’s thoughts on each of the opening round play-off series.

#1 Seelowe Marlesee vs #8 Pinguine Ternau

Look, Marlesee are obviously a very good team, no question about it. You’ve got Timo Schlager and Frank Heider, two of the finest players in the league here. But they can’t overlook Ternau, I tell ya. I love how Pinguine plays hockey, they play tough, they play hard. That Christian Haselberger, he’s a beauty. Leads the team in goals and hits! What a player. I think Seelowe will beat them, they should beat them, but Pinguine will definitely be a challenge.

#2 Eisbaren Stelburg vs #7 Teufelsberg Devils

Ok, everyone knows I love Eisbaren, I coached them for 6 years, played my one Ehrenliga game for them. So I’ll try to be fair here. This is a two seed against a seven seed, but I honestly think this could be the series with most potential for an upset. Eisbaren need Volker Seiden to be incredible here, and while he certainly can do that, it’s going to be tough. Teufelsberg have a great offence, great power play, this is going to be a great series.

#3 HK Olympia Borograd vs #6 Admirala Pomorie

There was something missing from Admirala in the second half of the season, they were top of the league and started playing a bit scared. Don’t want to get hurt, don’t want to take penalties. That’s not how you finish first, and that’s how Admirala slipped all the way to sixth. Now, they have to play Olympia, with one of the best top lines in the league. If Admirala turn up for the play-offs, I think they can win for sure, but Olympia will be ready as well for sure.

#4 Stelburg Kaisers vs #5 St. Jakob Saints

I’m looking forward to this one, I tell ya. The Kaisers and Saints always play good games, and you’ve got Gunter Pfenning looking for his third Cup, the Kaisers looking for their 23rd total. It’s the play-offs, it’s the Kaisers and the Saints, you can’t get much better than that! I’m not going to make any predictions here, I just want to see some good hockey.

We are all excited here at Hockey Night for the Ehrenliga play-offs, and we’ll bring you full results from the Strauss Cup Play-offs shortly!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:25 pm

Ehrenliga Playoffs

The play-offs are always the biggest event of the year for Siovanija and Teusland’s many hockey fans. Hockey Night in Siovanija and Teusland brings out the old blue suits to wear, the most famous theme song of the program is used, there are games every night, and Oskar Kirsche appears every other night and he and Ronald Mensing travel to the games. This year’s play-offs should be interesting, as all 8 teams have a very good shot at winning the Strauss Cup. Let’s get started with Round 1.

Strauss Cup Playoffs Round One

#1 Seelowe Marlesee vs #8 Pinguine Ternau

Seelowe Marlesee 3-1 Pinguine Ternau
Seelowe Marlesee 3-1 Pinguine Ternau
Pinguine Ternau 5-1 Seelowe Marlesee
Pinguine Ternau 0-1 Seelowe Marlesee
Seelowe Marlesee 0-1 Pinguine Ternau
Pinguine Ternau 0-1 Seelowe Marlesee

Seelowe Marlesee win series 4-2

Seelowe Marlesee jumped out to an early 2-0 series lead with a pair of 3-1 wins at home, Frank Heider being the dominant force in both of those games. The Penguins grabbed a win in game 3 in style, scoring 3 first period goals before winning 5-1 overall. Seelowe recovered, however, and the performance of goaltender Steffan Umlauf was incredible: he gave up only 1 goal in the final three games. At the same time, Seelowe’s offence was missing in those final games, but they hung on to win the series in 6 games, Frank Heider scoring the series-winning goal with 6 minutes to play in the third period.

#2 Eisbaren Stelburg vs #7 Teufelsberg Devils

Eisbaren Stelburg 1-2 Teufelsberg Devils (OT)
Eisbaren Stelburg 1-5 Teufelsberg Devils
Teufelsberg Devils 2-1 Eisbaren Stelburg
Teufelsberg Devils 3-2 Eisbaren Stelburg

Teufelsberg Devils win series 4-0

Get the brooms out. The Teufelsberg Devils swept number 2 seed Eisbaren Stelburg, though it was for the most part a close series. Game 1 went to overtime, with Kolomann Schwarzmann getting the winner off a booming shot from the point in overtime. Game two saw the Devils explode in the second period, Alex Schnyder managing 3 goals in the 5-1 win. Then, Teufelsberg closed out the series at home with 2 one-goal wins, allowing them to advance to the second round.

#3 HK Olympia Borograd vs #6 Admirala Pomorie

HK Olympia Borograd 3-5 Admirala Pomorie
HK Olympia Borograd 1-2 Admirala Pomorie (OT)
Admirala Pomorie 1-7 HK Olympia Borograd
Admirala Pomroie 4-3 HK Olympia Borograd (OT)
HK Olympia Borograd 2-1 Admirala Pomorie
Admirala Pomorie 4-2 HK Olympia Borograd

Admirala Pomorie win series 4-2

A great series overall, and Admirala Pomorie get the win over Olympia Borograd in 6 games. Game one saw a showdown between Veselin Filipov and Razvigor Tsvetanov, each player scoring 2 goals in the game. Tsvetanov’s supporting cast was better in the game, however, and Amirala won 5-3. Game two saw Tsvetanov score 2 more goals for Admirala, including the winner in the second overtime period to win the game. Olympia Borograd wouldn’t stay quiet, however, and exploded for 7 goals in game 3 to earn back a game in the series. However, Tsvetanov returned to form in game 4, scoring the overtime winner for his 5th of the play-offs. Olympia Borograd got a win at home in game 5, but Admirala Pomorie were too much to handle in game 6 and took the game 4-2 and advance to the second round.

#4 Stelburg Kaisers vs #5 St. Jakob Saints

Stelburg Kaisers 1-0 St. Jakob Saints
Stelburg Kaisers 1-0 St. Jakob Saints (OT)
St. Jakob Saints 1-0 Stelburg Kaisers
St. Jakob Saints 1-0 Stelburg Kaisers
Stelburg Kaisers 8-3 St. Jakob Saints
St. Jakob Saints 2-1 Stelburg Kaisers
Stelburg Kaisers 3-0 St. Jakob Saints

Stelburg Kaisers win series 4-3

What a series. This will be remembered as an all-time classic, and the goaltenders can be thanked for that certainly. Stelburg’s David Wagner gave up only 7 goals in the series, and shut out the Saints 3 times, including a 60 save performance in game two that went to double overtime. After the opening four games saw only 4 goals and a tied series, the Kaisers came out ready to play in game 5 and earned an 8-3 victory that saw Wolfram Spiegel score 4 goals. Despite losing game 6 away, the Kaisers wouldn’t be denied in game 7 and advance to the second round.

Strauss Cup Playoffs Round Two

#1 Seelowe Marlesee vs #7 Teufelsberg Devils

Seelowe Marlesee 5-0 Teufelsberg Devils
Seelowe Marlesee 1-0 Teufelsberg Devils
Teufelsberg Devils 2-0 Seelowe Marlesee
Teufelsberg Devils 0-1 Seelowe Marlesee
Seelowe Marlesee 3-5 Teufelsberg Devils
Teufelsberg Devils 3-0 Seelowe Marlesee
Seelowe Marlesee 5-4 Teufelsberg Devils (OT)

Seelowe Marlesee win series 4-3

A great series here between Seelowe and the Devils. Seelowe raced out to a quick 2-0 series lead thanks to a huge 5-0 victory in game one, and a Frank Heider powerplay goal in game two. But Teufelsberg weren’t down and out yet, even after going down 3-1 in the series. Game 5 was a 5-3 win for the Devils, and they followed it up with a 3-0 win at home in game 6. That set up a great Game 7, each team holding a lead and then throwing it away before heading to winner-take-all overtime. Marlesee’s newest hero became Emil Wilhelm, who scored with just 35 seconds remaining in the first overtime period to send Seelowe Marlesee to the Strauss Cup Final.

#4 Stelburg Kaisers vs #6 Admirala Pomorie

Stelburg Kaisers 1-0 Admirala Pomorie
Stelburg Kaisers 2-1 Admirala Pomorie (OT)
Admirala Pomorie 1-0 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Admirala Pomorie 1-5 Stelburg Kaisers
Stelburg Kaisers 1-5 Admirala Pomorie
Admirala Pomorie 0-5 Stelburg Kaisers

Stelburg Kaisers win series 4-2

It was always going to be a fun series between the Kaisers and Pomorie, and everyone got what they wanted to see here. The Kaisers went 2-0 up early thanks to an overtime win in game two and a David Wagner shutout in game one, but Admirala Pomorie’s victory in game three overtime made the series closer. The Kaisers destroyed Pomorie in game four, however, to take a 3-1 series lead. Razvigor Tsvetanov had been quiet all series, but he opened up in game 5 and scored a hat-trick as Admirala returned the favour to defeat the Kaisers 5-1. In game 6, however, Stelburg were simply better, Wolfram Spiegel scoring 2 goals and David Wagner keeping Tsvetanov and Admirala quiet with a shutout in the 5-0 win. So, the Stelburg Kaisers advance to the Strauss Cup Final.

Strauss Cup Final

This should be a great series. Seelowe Marlesee came first in the regular season but have overall looked shaky in these playoffs so far. They didn’t look convincing despite beating Pinguine Ternau in round 1, and allowed the Teufelsberg Devils to push a game 7 despite being up 3-1. Marlesee’s best performer so far has been Frank Heider, who has scored 8 goals through the playoffs so far. The Stelburg Kaisers have been the best team in these play-offs so far, dispatching both Gunter Pfenning’s St. Jakob Saints and Razvigor Tsvetanov’s Admirala Pomorie. While everyone has played well for the Kaisers, goaltender David Wagner has been on another level. He’s posted an 8-6 record, with 5 shutouts and 2 overtime victories. Now, it’s time to find out who will win the Strauss Cup.

Seelowe Marlesee vs Stelburg Kaisers

Seelowe Marlesee 1-0 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Seelowe Marlesee 2-1 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Stelburg Kaisers 4-3 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)
Stelburg Kaisers 1-2 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)
Seelowe Marlesee 1-2 Stelburg Kaisers (OT)
Stelburg Kaisers 4-3 Seelowe Marlesee (OT)
Seelowe Marlesee 0-6 Stelburg Kaisers

Stelburg Kaisers win series and Strauss Cup 4-3

Incredible. 6 overtime games in the final, the Kaisers erase a 3-1 series deficit to force a game 7, then absolutely demolish Seelowe Marlesee in that game to claim the Strauss Cup. Game one saw Frank Heider score the winner in overtime, while game two’s hero for Marlesee was Itzo Zhelev. Game 3 saw the Kaisers take the overtime victory, with Wolfram Spiegel scoring his second of the game just 20 seconds into the extra period for the Kaisers to win. Games 4 and 5 saw David Wagner play some incredible hockey, basically carrying the Kaisers through each game. Of course, game 4 was lost 2-1 in overtime, but game 5 saw an improved performance from the Kaisers to win that one 2-1. That forced a game 6 at the Stelburger Eispalast, which the Kaisers won after a third period shootout that saw the teams head to overtime again. Lothar Scherer blasted in the winner with a drive from the point in overtime, and sent the Strauss Cup Final to game 7. It was a night to forget for Seelowe, who seemed simply exhausted from the previous 6 games that included an entire game and a half extra worth of overtime. Wolfram Spiegel scored 2, and the Kaisers just kept going to win 6-0, earning David Wagner his 6th shutout of the postseason.

Playoff Awards

Strauss Cup Champion: Stelburg Kaisers
Stoyan Kirilov Trophy (Playoff MVP): David Wagner (G, Stelburg Kaisers) 12-8 record, 6 shutouts. Wagner played 20 great games of hockey, and that’s what you need from a goaltender to win the Strauss Cup. Those 20 games included 9 overtime games, with Wagner winning 5 of them. Wagner wins the playoff MVP, and will be long remembered in Kaisers’ lore as the man who backstopped them to the 23rd Cup.

International Qualification

Ehrenliga teams will also participate in the Hockey Champion’s League this season. 4 teams will be submitted, each of these being the play-off semifinalists.

Siovanija and Teusland (STL) Qualifiers:
Stelburg Kaisers - Strauss Cup Champions
Seelowe Marlesee - Strauss Cup Runners-Up
Admirala Pomorie - Playoff Semifinalist
Teufelsberg Devils - Playoff Semifinalist

The offseason is coming up now, and the Entry Draft and free agent periods with it. So, we’ll be back next season with full coverage of the Ehrenliga from start to finish!

RBC Sports One: Siovanija & Teusland Sporting News

RBC Sports One: Siovanija & Teusland Sporting News

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