World Cup 80 • EqueStar • Roleplay Thread

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Commonwealth soar to second
by Oliver Stanley
The Post Soccer Correspondent

Commonwealth 2-1 Darmen

Belle Haven--It's certainly early days, but the Baker Park National Team can at least lay claim to second position in Group 6 until the next round of matches, after their come from behind victory here at Sportsman's Park.

Both sides started brightly, as the visitors looked to get untracked following their matchday 1 loss at South Toronto, and the chances began to appear early; Zachariah Butler finding Felix Lucanus with a well placed ball, but the Darmen captain was just off target. Then Juanito Stafford moved into the box and slipped a pass Marcellinus Winton, but Dean Heller's quick thinking saw Winton have to double clutch before shooting, which gave Heller time to muscle Winton off the ball.

At the other end, Erica Shaw picked up where she left off in the Baptism of Fire with excellent vision and placement to break runners into open spaces behind the defense; Naroun Patel blazed over from 22 yards, and 5 minutes after, Tony Santos should've broken the deadlock after Shaw sent him in 1 v 1 on RB Ritchie Porsche, but the Asbury Park winger's shot just clipped the outside of the far post.

The sides remained fairly even in possession, and each keeper was forced to make 1 save. But Darmen finally put the first tally on the board in the 39th minute when Butler and Lucanus worked a tidy series of passes near the top of the box, and Butler feeding the final ball to Craig Blackwood, who one timed the ball past Scott Hartline and the 3,500 supporters in green & white housed in the Bank End erupted.

The sides went to the dressing rooms both feeling as there was more in the game than just a single score.

On the restart, BP upped their passing tempo and began to press forward more than they had in the first half or even in the previous match. Santos repeatedly forced Stafford into poor decisons, while Hafiz Igiekhume slowly began to get the measure of Mordecai Ó Cuilinn on the right side. Patel and Shaw swapped positions at the interval, with Shaw now in the supporting role behind Jackie Thomas and Ali Salih. The change in style paid off on 57 minutes when Patel took a pass from Igiekhume and drove into the Darmen area, laying off at the last second to Shaw, who put her shot into the top near corner, and it was 1-1.

It was Darmen's turn to answer and they set up Lucanus again with a great chance, but Hartline got a glove to it, and on the ensuing corner Darmen thought they had gotten the go-ahead, but Mr Bao, the referee from The Sherpa Empire, blew for a foul by Blackwood on Heller.

Baker Park made a change when Alex Sandoval came on for Thomas with 20 minutes left, and then DiPietro replaced Patel 6 minutes after. Sandoval's pace in closing down on LB Jean Virgo surprised the defender and a slightly underhit ball fell into space where Igiekhume pounced on it and saw Shaw breaking free, but at the last second the V&A man lifted the pass to an unmarked Salih at the back post and he only had to tap it across the line. It was 2-1 on 79 minutes and home crowd wasa sensing a famous victory.

Darmen pushed forward looking to equalize, and had three real scoring chances; Hartline making another fingertip save on a shot Lucanus, Butler just over the bar from 21 yards out and Ó Cuilinn finding Winton, who was unlucky when his shot deflected off Blackwood and wide.

Tyler Messer came on for Igiekhume and took up a spot in front of the back three while DiPietro shifted to the wing and Shaw dropping back to the center of midfield. A largely quiet but steady Matt Villareal and Santos were able to hold the ball in the attacking third on the left, Shaw in close support and the match ground to a halt. Most of the 37,845 in attendance went home happy, but the away supporters surely must be worried about their side after 2 defeats.

The Commonwealth's next round of matches will see them travel to the surprise side of the opening 2 days, Great Chota, followed by a visit from South Covello, ranked 4th and currently with full points after 2 rounds.

by **Qusmo** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:25 pm

Qusmo National Team dominant in Beepee

“Yes! Yes! Oh, wow, yes!”

The words of national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban say it all today, as the Qusmi’y are in raptures with their most recent performance: a 4-0 thrashing of Beepee in Fuzpon Qusma’s first match abroad.

“I can’t say enough about how amazing our players were today. It really was like a dream, almost,” gushed Avarn-Oxolt after the match. “We were clean, crisp, & laser-focused throughout the whole ninety minutes. We controlled it from start to finish. It was truly a fantastic match.”

Just like in the World Cup opener against Wolves Clans, Qusmo started strong; they kept Beepee from ever really threatening in the hosts’ final third in the first fifteen minutes, & the visitors had begun to probe the Beepeean defense by that point. After a few trying runs were taken care of by Beepee, an Ilinx-Vulav Ixi through ball found striker Xilit-Zaxac Yol, who calmly slotted it past the keeper to claim first blood in the nineteenth minute.

The Qusmi’y did not let up from there, as they continued to put pressure on the Beepeeans. Qusmo kept making runs, & Beepee kept looking like it was playing from its back foot. Striker Rilan-Jerat Nev thought they had scored Qusmo’s second goal of the match in the thirty-second minute, but their goal was disallowed for a clear offside.

After that, Beepee started to gain some momentum, as they were able to finally get dangerous crosses into the box; centrebacks Cunix-Betva Tla & Yelto-Alfan Ono were each able to make one important clearance each to keep Xynat-Evela Cuf from having to work too hard between the posts, however. After Yelto-Alfan got the ball out, it was passed to right midfielder Forzu-Ralox Kal. Forzu-Ralox then executed a cross to Xilit-Zaxac, who beat the defender who was marking them to score a brace on a header in the forty-fourth minute.

This seemed to completely crush the spirits of the host crowd; just before half, their team was finally showing a spark & had a chance to equalize, but instead a Qusma counterattack put their side down two goals to nil - & this was their first World Cup qualifier match in Pinewoods Stadium, on the heels of their side nearly pulling a point away from a trip to multiversal powerhouses Ceni.

“It really seemed to take the air out of them,” offered the manager when asked about it. “After that, the home crowd just did not seem to be in it. I think that second goal was really momentous for us, because that eased the pressure on us, both from the scoreline & from the Beepeean fans. At the time, though, I was worried that Beepee would come out for the second half more motivated than ever; that’s why I tried to make sure our players would match that fire when we went in for team talks at half.”

Match that fire they did, as Qusmo came out roaring. In the fifty-first minute, centre-back Cunix-Betva Tla made a standing tackle on oncoming Beepeean striker Carlo Bannan, then dribbled nearly to midfield before passing it to left midfielder Kynda-Sevet Pec, who used breakneck speed to crash the box. The Beepeean defense wasn’t quite ready for the attack to come so soon, & they scrambled to cover Kynda-Sevet. In the confusion, two defenders went to mark the Qusmi, which left space for a simple pass to Xilit-Zaxac Yol, who didn’t even take a touch before burying a shot into the back of the net in the fifty-fourth minute.

It was 3-0, & Xilit-Zaxac had scored every goal of the match. While they were celebrating the first hat trick in Qusma history, the manager signalled for substitutes to start warming up, & the crowd went completely silent. Everyone in attendance at Pinewoods Stadium had seemed to arrive at a single conclusion: The game, for all intents & purposes, was already over.

“Look, at that point, we’ve got a 3-0 lead,” explained Avarn-Oxolt. “Maybe we might have squeezed one more goal out of there, the way we were playing, had I left the squad in a little longer, but I wanted to make sure that our best players would be fresh for matches that really mattered. We have sixteen more matches to go, & this was just the first of nine trips to opposing stadia around the multiverse. We need all the rest we can get.”

With that, Avarn-Oxolt called for a triple substitution in the sixty-fifth minute. Left back Jralv-Yamaj Mal replaced their KF Atlant teammate & national team centreback Lucex-Ilinx Opu, fellow Atlant fullback Nirlo-Betva Uzo came on to play on the right side of the defense in relief of captain & centre midfielder Ilinx-Kepex Zev, & poacher Paliv-Xilit Max replaced Xilit-Zaxac Yol, the hero of the match.

“Xilit-Zaxac played magically today. Whatever they were called to do, wherever on the pitch they were at, whichever situation they were put in, they did precisely what they had to to give our squad the best shot of winning as they could. Everyone gave a fantastic effort, but Xilit-Zaxac’s, in particular, really was one to remember,” Avarn-Oxolt proclaimed. “Again, I didn’t substitute anyone off because they were playing poorly; on the contrary, they were all doing so well, & I want to make sure they continue to do that well down the road in our qualifying campaign, too.”

Before heading off, Ilinx-Kepex Zev handed the captain’s armband off to vice captain & centreback Cunix-Betva Tla, who was entrusted simply with preserving a 3-0 lead with twenty-five minutes plus stoppage time remaining. With the extra player in defense, Qusmo settled into a 4-4-2 diamond, a formation it had not used previously in the qualification campaign, for the rest of the match.

The last half hour did not produce a bevy of highlights, as most players on both sides realized that they likely were not going to change the outcome of a Qusma victory. The one memorable moment was found in the seventy-eighth minute, as Pavliv-Xilit Max, the substitute of the player with the hat trick, scored on a free kick from twenty-five yards out.

Francois Shep, the Beepeean goalkeeper, clearly thought the ball would be heading for the near post, & they cheated there; unfortunately for Beepee, however, this shifted their momentum such that they were unable to react in time to save the shot, which was actually curled toward the far post.

Pinewoods Stadium was already very quiet, & it didn’t grow any louder after that. As some of the 72 000 fans in attendance started to head for the parking lot, the teams played out the final ten minutes & then headed for the locker room, one side ecstatic & the other dejected.

“Look, we’ve had an absolutely phenomenal first two matches,” commented Avarn-Oxolt. “Now we’ve got to capitalize on this momentum & find a way to win against Gopnikea in Qanz. In order to make sure we don’t squander this result, we need to make sure that we take all three points from that match. Let’s hope we keep this wonderful ride going one more match day. Let’s take it one match day at a time.”

When reminded that they had set a goal of seven points in the first three matches, Avarn-Oxolt laughed. “Yeah, I guess I ought to practice what I preach. But as for the seven point goal, that’s out the window. That was with a draw in mind here in Beepee. The goal was always to win both of our first two home matches. That’s still our goal. If that means the goal is to sit on nine points after our first three matches, then I guess that’s our goal.”

Avarn-Oxolt was then asked to comment on the Group 11 standings, which saw Qusmo second behind Ceni, tied on points & goal differential but behind on goals scored, & which awarded Beepee sole possession of last place based on goals scored. “I’ll address Beepee first. The Bulldozers are a good team. We played better than them today, & they were unlucky enough to draw Ceni in their opening match - but Beepee held them scoreless into the eighty-eighth minute. They’ll be ascending the table in short order.”

“As for us, look, we’ve only played two matches; we have sixteen left to go. It’d be great if these standings mattered right now, but the fact is, they really don’t. All that counts is what the table reads after match day eighteen, not match day two. With that said, I’ll look forward to seeing you all back in Qanz for match day three - & hopefully we’ll be discussing another Qusma victory afterwards, too.”

Beepee 0-4 Qusmo
Pinewoods Stadium, Norfolk Pinewoods, Beepee
Xilit-Zaxac 19’, 44’, 54’
Pavliv-Xilit 78’
Cards: None
Injuries: None
Substitutions:
65’ Jralv-Yamaj Mal for Lucex-Ilinx Opu
65’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo for Ilinx-Kepex Zev
65’ Paliv-Xilit Max for Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Quick notes for Gopnikea match:
Qusmo will be using the same Starting XI & reserves as against Wolves Clans & Beepee.
Qusmo will be sporting its first-choice kits, which are red & gold.

by **Main Nation Ministry** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:02 pm

The Tide

After what felt like a day or two stranded in the middle of desert full of wet sand, the remaining soldiers who were still alive or confirmed to be not dead or worse ended up huddled around each other, as the sand was sticking to their clothes. "So..We're !@#$!$." Bruce stated to the others, as Henry was staring off at the clouds, thinking another drone will come. "Henry, stop waiting. They aren't coming.", a soldier said at Henry's direction. "Hang on, we're on an island right? Should we try to find a coast?" Henry reasoned.

"Several of us already got lost. There no map or anything that would help us. Like I said. We're !@$!@$." Bruce said. "I don't know! I ain't dying away from home! I have my combat knife still! I will look for a coast or anything that might aid us! And don't bother trying to stop me!" Henry took off running in a straight line, where several men started yelling at him to come back. However, Henry has already ran over a dune, having several soldiers lose track of him. Others simply didn't want to get lost.

Henry, who's pace is now at a jog looked around in the empty desert. If an island would be in the middle of nowhere, there need to be at least a logical rule that surrounds the area. That was when Henry noticed that the desert started to form a rim, as he kept walking in the same direction. By now, the footsteps he left behind started to vanish from whatever was controlling the sand. Henry approached the rim. It was like a ledge of sand made from natural causes. It was no obstacle, as Henry used his upper body strength to lift himself over the rim...

Tumbling down into dry sand. Henry immediately noticed the change in the environment that was already established. He had a theory. If the desert he was in had wet sand, then the coastline where the water would have contact with the sand would be dry. That was when he noticed a couple of cans. Empty cans. And... "A dress?", Henry looked at a neatly tailored made dress that was laying on the sand. Multiple objects were laying around in the dry sand. Some clothes of variety and a pipe to smoke from. A toy telephone.

The main point of interest was a bottle full of liquid. Henry ran over to pick it up to open it. He smelled the contents of the bottle. Brandy. Smells like fruit. Mostly of strawberries or was that cherry? He took a swig. Then, he heard a noise. It noticed inhuman, yet it was clearly a mammal. A bump in the sand became larger and larger, heading towards Henry's direction. He immediately had his knife in one hand and the bottle in the other. Two paws emerged from the sand. A cougar-like creature rose from the sand, like a predator. "Come on!" Henry took a defensive position.

"Her"

A lone schoolgirl walked by the government building in Victory Square, taking a brief glance though concentrated on something inside it. Acting like it's nothing, she continued to walk by.

Meanwhile, the Leader was busy checking the Truth News on one of the propaganda channels on the HDTV. A news ticker scrolled a message over, while a Breaking News segment showed the house of a political candidate from the puppet government. "Controversial Candidate Killed In Accident, Authorities Assures Public". The Leader smiled a bit. Now, all that was needed was trying to find a cure. And perhaps the mess that the nation was currently in would vanish.

by **Ceni** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:26 pm

OOC: If you want more context to this RP, reading the Zane, Sascha, and Leo Vignettes from the DBC thread might be helpful.

In a Vanorian hotel room, adorned with still lifes, I stare at my flashlight and click my pen. The beside clock rings twelve tinny times: midnight. A voice meanders its way from the other bed: my groggy teammate. "Some of us are trying to sleep, Sahara," moans Bella Ozuar. "Can't that letter or story or whatever wait until tomorrow?"

"Can't one be pensive at -" I glance at the clock - "twelve oh two in the morning?" Only two minutes have gone by? That's lame. This makes me frustrated. The shrink says writing will make me less frustrated. Life's cruel irony.

"Curfew's a thing for a reason, you know," Bella continues. "To keep jerks like you from keeping us all awake all night. Now that's not good for team morale, is it?"

"Relax, Bella," I say. "Team morale's always shot. Losing will do that to you. Now we have nothing to lose, because we already lost!"

"Shut up and go to bed," she grumbles, turning to the other side of her bed to avoid my flashlight's glare. I ignore her repeated entreaties and keep the light on. My diary takes shape. The team shrink says that diaries and journals help the brain move away from tough experiences. Who the fuck cares about what those losers have to say? I write that. "This is a stupid idea." I pause to think: why am I even doing this right now if it's so stupid?

Eventually, I close the diary and fall asleep. I know the shrink will say my entries lack a certain... length. As if she's counting words. I hear myself retorting: what do words matter if I get all my feelings out in just a few? Will you grade me on the word count of my diary entries?

In the morning, as we pack for our flight home, I throw my diary into my backpack. Untouched, it sits there for weeks until the day before my appointment with that psycho psychologist, Dr. Katherion. She'll want to see it, so I get it out. Flipping through its lined parchment pages, I realize that it has more writing in other scrawls besides my own. Dr. Katherion meant it to give catharsis to me, but it has seemingly brought catharsis to others as well.

A flash of lightning casts new light on the backdrop of storms and clouds outside the window. Memory returns, with a sepia tinge. I see myself sitting at a restaurant booth, some months ago. It's in... Valanora. I pass the diary around. "My idiot shrink says I need to fill this up. You bozos want to help me?" They do not take my insult lightly, but six others take up my offer. Avi. Iain. Zane. Sascha. Leo. Marco. I see them writing. With their own distinctive loops and curls, each makes their own indelible contribution in the tender pages of my diary, pouring out their fears and worries. Earnest, their vignettes give me a photograph into the lives of the team, as if looking through Alice's looking glass. Now Dr. Katherion can - I'm thinking about that shrink again! Dammit.

The sepia memory fading, Lake Cenial Park beckons. Something implores me to take the diary with me. On the subway, I read through it again. Avi's entry, the first one, strikes me the hardest. What raw emotion channeled onto paper! What agony he must feel - waiting for another chance to prove himself, only to fall a step shorter!

Suddenly, the subway's stentorian voice - and the rush of denizens out the doors - surprises me. "Lake Cenial Park," it intones. Crap. I'd better get off, or risk a trip to the deep inner workings of the subway system. Impulsively, I send a text on our DBC group chat. "Near - the - Japanese - garden," I type out. "Want to join?" I know half of the recipients will respond with a curt refusal on the grounds of presence in another country altogether. The Mercedinian schedule jibes with ours, so Iain will most certainly miss our little get-together. I don't remember the Schottic league schedule - will Avi be around to join me? I wander around the park, waiting for responses. Soon, I feel the exhilarating buzz of my phone in my pocket. Good news: Marco can join us. Bad news: Sascha, stuck in Port Christopher, can't make it in person. But the three dots in the conversation give me some hope. The subsequent message renews it: he can Skype when everyone else arrives. I soon find out that Zane and Leo will also join me in this verdant patch of green in the midst of these gray, blocky buildings on this unclouded day.

I wait. A booted figure, clad in jeans, saunters across my field of vision. A ten-gallon hat hides his hair, sunglasses hide his eyes. He fiddles with the top button of his checkered shirt, snapping and unsnapping it. I focus on his boots, clomping across the sidewalk. My eyes involuntarily draw themselves to his inordinately large belt buckle, but it has become too occluded to notice many details. What a chap! I start imagining... er, inappropriate things.

Just as I begin to think that Mr. Cowboy is on his way to somewhere else, he turns around and sits down. "Sahara! Good to see you again!" I don't recognize him for a bit, and the confusion on my face impels him to doff his hat and sunglasses. The vibrant blue eyes and short black hair of Zane Kirchner emerge from his disguise. I raise my eyebrows. "Why the getup?"

"You know the answer perfectly well. I told you all that I would dress up like this once to show off the dress, of how I used to live. Now is a perfect time." I try to imagine him mounted on a horse, riding into the sunset after saving a trainload of pampered socialites from a band of roving Indians. Zane fits the bill, I admit to myself.

"So. How does it feel to be in the outfit again?" I say, giving him another once-over.

"I forgot how good it feels to snap all these buttons together, to tighten this belt, to have this hat on my head. I also forgot how annoying boots are. So it has its good parts and bad parts, I guess." Anticipating my next question, he says he doesn't miss his old cowboy lifestyle. "In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have done it so much. Football is so much better than the rodeo."

"Well, I think you look hot like this." I give him a peck on the cheek. He flinches, seemingly unwilling to accept my romantic attention.

"I am hot," he finally says. "It's what? Eighty degrees? Jeans and a button-down shirt don't come with built-in air conditioners."

"Thank you, Mr. Literal," I reply sarcastically. "How's the season going at Strat City?"

Zane fiddles with his hat, turning it around in his hands. Before he replies, he puts it on. "It's going fine." The usual teen answer. "We made it to the Globe Cup group stages. That's pretty decent."

"Much better than Olympic. We crashed out in the first round, to a nobody." I roll my eyes. My hair, silk sheets, flutters in the wind.

"That really is too bad." Zane hugs me. His belt buckle, as cold as Arctic ice, rubs against my exposed abdomen. His shirt sleeves, made of my grandmother's flannel sheets, brush against my exposed arms. His hat nudges the top of my head. My hair rises on its ends as his touch warms me. My heart beats faster than a set of taiko drums. In his arms, I feel at home.

"It's okay," I say, my heart already in paradise. Meanwhile, Leo and Marco, already chatting to each other, arrive. They look the same: black training pants, obscuring long white socks emerging into red Nikes, red Cenian football pullovers. Zane hugs the two, one at time. I Skype Sascha as he asked me to: our small group has coalesced.

"Did you ever decide about Kramer, Sascha?" I ask after exchanging the usual pleasantries.

His face turns crimson. "I guess you read my entry in your diary. Huh." I nod my head. "Well, I should have expected that. It's your diary."

"And what happened to Kramer?" I prompt him.

"I actually found a solution. I told Jaina I got rid of him, but I stashed him at my parents' place. I turned a no-win situation into a two-win situation."

"Not bad for a cretin like yourself." I laugh at my own joke. "What about the two of you?" I say, turning to Marco and Leo. Both had confessed some sort of issues in their diary entries: Leo with his mental health, Marco with his parents.

The goalkeeper, tall as a tree and thin as a rod, shrugs. "Breaks are never easy. Since the Terranean League's on offseason and I didn't get called up for the Cenian national team, I guess I have a break imposed on me, from above. Sometimes the hand of God can come in to shape your life."

"So you're no longer stressed out?" I ask, inviting him to sit down next to me.

He takes up my offer. "Of course I'm stressed out! I do hope that I'll be less stressed out, of course, though."

"And Marco? Everything going alright with your parents?"

Marco, his hair evoking Vantablack paint, joins me and Leo. "What can a child who left his parents at age thirteen say? To say the least, our relationship's testy. I'm not sure my mother has forgiven me for robbing her of all these years with her." A small hint of a Latino accent emerges from the tip of his tongue, sitting in the middle of an olive-colored head topped with jet-black hair.

A wolf amidst a pack of sheep, Zane sits down on the bench and crosses his legs. The stenciled pattern on the side of his boots becomes obvious, and I find it interesting how he wears them, his Wranglers covering his boots' stovepipe. We sit for a while, chatting and musing on the future of our football careers. It soon becomes clear that all of our trains are on different routes, all heading to Destinations Unknown. That's okay: as a famous sportsperson, Arthur Ashe, once said, "Success is a journey, not a destination." As long as we figure out how to take that journey, everything will turn out alright.

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:18 pm

STELBURGER ZEITUNG

LATE EDITION -- SPORTS

GOLDHORNS GRAB WIN IN HOME OPENER

On a warm, bright afternoon at the Nationalstadion, Siovanija and Teusland earned a 2-1 victory over Luz de Libertados and St Esther.

It was a nightmare matchup for commentators, who could be forgiven for being out of breath a few minutes in. In terms of word count, the visiting side would have the advantage 6-3 over the Goldhorns. Luz de Libertados and St Esther were a relatively unknown side coming into the tournament, not holding a world ranking. However, they performed well in their first match, only falling 3-2 against Abristan, and the Goldhorns would need to be on top of their game to win.

All signs indicated that Siovanija and Teusland would come out flying for the match. They’d grabbed a splendid 4-0 win to open up qualifiers, the biggest for the team to date, over Aji No Moto away. Coming back home, then, was expected to make things a little easier, and perhaps the Goldhorns were a bit complacent beforehand. “We want to take care of business out there, it’s our first chance to play in front of the home crowd and we’d like to give the supporters a good result,” said Ivo Romanov, who grabbed a brace in the opener.

Apostol Manevski’s starting XI had but one change from the one that took on Aji No Moto, with Dennis Brotzmann taking Evgeni Antonov’s place on the team sheet. “Evgeni played well in that match, and he’ll get his chances, but I’d like to see what Dennis has on offer today. He’ll bring a lot to this lineup,” declared the manager. With the lineups locked in, pre-match preparation complete, it was time to take to the field at home for the first time.

The Nationalstadion was buzzing as it awaited kick-off. The stadium was filled to the brim, and it’s likely the attendance was much higher than the 75,000 capacity. The stands were full of people, and crowds waited outside to watch the match on television. Black and gold were the colours of the day, and national flags were seen constantly. It was truly an electric atmosphere, culminating in a rousing rendition of the national anthem by the supporters and players. The whistle blew, and the match was underway.

While the incredible atmosphere certainly lifted the players, it also put a lot of pressure upon them. Luz de Libertados and St Esther (let’s call them ‘the visitors’) sensed nerves early on, and really sought to capitalize on it. They looked really solid at the back, turning away early Goldhorn attempts to enter the box and create chances. Paulus Leistner in particular was left frustrated early on, as he couldn’t seem to find a way past his man.

The ability of the visitors to keep the Goldhorns out created problems for Siovanija and Teusland, especially when getting caught on the counter. Several times in the opening minutes, the visitors surged forwards, and certainly had the first real chance of the game. Unglada Germana sped down the wing, and the Goldhorns worked hard to get back on defence. Germana managed a pass into the centre forward Mesa Ombayan, but the shot went off the upright and out of play for a goal kick. That was an early scare, and you got the sense that eventually the Goldhorns would pay if they didn’t make adjustments.

Just a few minutes after Ombayan’s first chance, Luz de Libertados and St Esther came forwards again. Ivo Romanov lost possession on the attack, and thus the visitors were able to come forward in numbers. Stefan Licht attempted to make a last-ditch tackle to stop the advance, but it failed and Mesa Ombayan was able to make good on the initial miss. The shot was high, into the top right corner, beating Viktor Venev and silencing the Nationalstadion. This was certainly not part of the game plan, and the players on the field seemed a little shocked.

There was some fear in the stands after that goal, and rightfully so. The Goldhorns needed a spark, something to get them into the game. Lutz Daschner picked up the ball in his own end, and started making a run up the pitch. He played a pass into the middle for Thorsten Kramer, the midfielder giving it off to his partner Brotzmann. Brotzmann’s ball went over to the wing, finding Paulus Leistner. Leistner made a short run, before sending the pass in for Miroslav Dinev. Dinev’s shot was a rocket, destined for the back of the goal, and there was nothing the keeper could do about it. Suddenly, the Nationalstadion was alive again, and what had moments ago been looks of fear had turned into nods of confidence on the pitch.

Still, the Luz de Libertados and St Esther defenders were putting on a brilliant display, and they held off the Goldhorns for the rest of the first half. That was despite some solid attacking play from the hosts, who saw Ivo Romanov, Miro Dinev and Thorsten Kramer all have good chances stymied. Thus, when the whistle blew for halftime and the sides headed down the tunnel, the score was 1-1.

The Goldhorns made one change at the half, replacing Brotzmann with Evgeni Antonov. This was a tactical shift mainly, because Brotzmann had a solid first half. However, Antonov is much more of an attacking player, while Brotzmann more of the anchor. The change gave another creative player to the Goldhorns’ offence, and showed intent to win the match.

Again the Goldhorns came forwards in the second half, but still they were halted. Darren Sofia was having quite the match, as was centre back Isabella Urueasa. Scouting reports that Luz de Libertados and St Esther had great team chemistry proved true, as they always appeared to be in sync with each other. It was clear that it would take either a moment of individual brilliance, or a temporary lapse in concentration to win the game for the Goldhorns.

By the 60th minute, however, Luz de Libertados and St Esther had ceased to be a threat on the counter. They were running out of energy, and needed to use all of it to secure the draw and a valuable point. It was time to make another change to the side, and thus Theodor Aberbach was brought on to replace Stefan Licht. Licht had had a solid day overall, despite his error on the goal, and left to applause. Aberbach received a very warm welcome from the home support, a hometown player making his appearance.

Aberbach was brought on because of his strength as a target man, and the strategy of the Goldhorns seemed to be using width to their advantage to put balls in for Aberbach to get on the end of. A good header was stopped by a diving effort from the keeper, but just minutes later, finally, opportunity arose for the Goldhorns. Thorsten Kramer played the ball up for Ivo Romanov, and his shot deflected off Aran Felipe and out of play for the corner.

Romanov rushed over to take the corner, not wanting to give Luz de Libertados and St Esther too much time to set up the defence. His plan worked. A momentary lapse left Raphael Klopfer uncovered, and his header was on target. It took a reaction save from Emilie Nmibia in the goal to keep the ball out, but unluckily for the visitors it fell to Theodor Aberbach. The big man would not be stopped, firing the shot past the keeper for his 3rd international goal, giving the Goldhorns a 2-1 lead.

Relief was the mood of the day after that goal, as there was a sense the mission had been accomplished. The Goldhorns continued to press forwards, and the defenders hung on still. They tried as best they could to push forwards, but they simply didn’t have enough fuel in the tank to manage an equalizer. The introduction of Detimar Tsvetkov in place of Thorsten Kramer in the 82nd minute added another defensive presence to the pitch, and the game ended without incident.

The players hung around afterwards, saluting the fans and thanking them for the great display of support. Theodor Aberbach spoke to the media after the match: “We’re glad to get the win today, we weren’t at our best the whole match but I think that’s just nerves. We’re 2-0, which is a great start, but we know that there’s a lot of hard games coming up.” Apostol Manevski also spoke to the media, and seemed to echo Aberbach’s comments: “We’re very, very happy to come away with 3 points here. This is not an easy group at all, especially for our first time in the World Cup Qualifiers. There are winnable games and games where we really don’t have a chance, to be honest. If we can do well in those winnable games, I’m happy.”

The upcoming matches for Siovanija and Teusland pits the squad against Garifunya and Mriin. Those are both matches against higher-rated opposition, and aren’t likely to result in victories for the Goldhorns. One interesting thing to watch, is that the Republikaliga season will have begun in time for the matches, meaning the squad could see several changes in time for that match. Some players to watch are Krasimir Kynev, the Olympia Borograd forward, and Alexander Geschke, the Teussen Stelburg left winger. Either could break into the squad in time for the next set of matches.

A 2-0 start to the Qualifiers is a great record, something the Goldhorns can be quite proud of. The Zeitung will continue to bring coverage of the 80th World Cup Qualification rounds.

Siovanija and Teusland 2-1 Luz de Libertadors and St Esther

Siovanija and Teusland XI (4-2-3-1): Venev; Kleinmann, Licht (Aberbach 63’), Klopfer, Daschner; Kramer (Tsvetikov 82’), Brotzmann (Antonov 46’); Leistner, V. Dimitrov, Romanov; Dinev
Goals: Miroslav Dinev 27’, Theodor Aberbach 72’

by **Drawkland** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:45 pm

The Independents Cup, huh? What a trip. The situation there was simple. Free Republics had seen what we can do, and they countered it. Easily. Early in the game I found a gap, and I took advantage of it. Credit to my teammates for giving me the chance. Really, after that, there wasn't much we could do. The game was simply not going to happen in our favor. They knew what to do and they executed. Shame on us for not adjusting to it.

I don't want to blame Michael for that. It's not his fault that he didn't know how to adjust correctly. That's something that happens really well at Lexington. Scotty Marston, he's a really talented manager. He knows how to make adjustments, how to gameplan. You don't fluke into a Globe Cup victory. You don't fluke into a Super Cup victory either. You don't fluke into winning a Copa de Campeones. You don't fluke into winning the 9th-best league in the multiverse multiple times, nor do you fluke into becoming the 9th best team in the multiverse, especially when you play the 1st-best team in the multiverse twice a season.

And you sure as hell don't fluke into winning a Golden Ball twice. Every player on our team plays a little differently. I firmly believe that everybody on our team is a great player. Who the "best player" is, if there even is one, is impossible to really define. I mean, statistically, I take the cake. Nobody on the team has the amount of accolades that I do. But there's so much more to this game than accolades.

I was lucky to get a chance on this team. I'm lucky to play this game at all, really. If it weren't for a day at summer camp with some friends where we played a casual game of soccer, I probably wouldn't even like this sport, much like watch or play it. But after that short window into the world of footy, I fell in love. And of course I was bad. I had never really played any sport before. Being benched as a freshman on our high school team was tough, but I knew I could do better. I practiced day and night, finding out moves and footwork and flashy tricks on my own. I watched the greats of the game. I watched Ellzidan a lot. I watched Talla, that was when she was just budding into a star in the league. I watched Iana Synder. I watched Kazia Savage. All of them, great players. As a junior and senior, Katie Madison and Corrie Archer exploded onto the scene. I wanted to be them. So I did what they did.

I was fortunate enough to be scouted by the relatively local Jaffro Storm in my senior year, and they took me right out of high school. It's kinda a taboo in Drawkland to not play in college, but I didn't really know what else to do with my life. All I cared about, all I really care about now, is being the best I can be at this game. And playing the pros is the best way to do it. Luckily for me, Michael Starre watched me play 3 times a year right in front of his eyes, because of the divisional rivalry between the Storm and his Lights. And he saw what I could do. And he gave me a chance.

Playing in purple was fun, but playing in the red in black of my nation, playing in front of millions the multiverse around in the Baptism of Fire, that was something I could get used to doing. I wanted to hang onto that chance as much as I could. I played my ass off, simple as that. I almost won Goal of the Tournament. We almost won the tournament. I used to not be able to shake the feeling that I could've somehow changed the result of that semifinal against Amnarei-asud, that somehow, I could've saved the team and we could've gone all the way. But I learned an important lesson that day. Something that people say all the time, but never really think about. "You can't win them all."

That's so true. When I was transferred abroad to the Lexington Victory, I jumped at the chance. People don't really think of New Gelderland when they think of soccer superpowers, but I could tell. I watched UICA matches. I watched the Terranean League. I could tell from way back then that it was the place to be. And it payed off. Now I'm, according to sports analysts, the best player in that league. It's an honor to be there. I'm just glad I've had my chance.

Now my goal is simply to win. Win, win, win. It might not be this Cup, it might not be next Cup, it may not even be in my career here on the Kick Corps. It will be someday, though. And anything I can do to help this team, this organization, this nation, to that ultimate goal, I will do. Unless it was illegal, of course. Duh.

Anyway, with Ellzidan gone, I'm not sure how we're gonna do. I'm sure we can still produce. This game against Silver Beach proved that. You can blame the Independents Cup on her. I've heard some girls talking about it in the locker rooms, in the hotels. Katie especially. Cocky Katie indeed. But I don't think Ellzidan lost us that match. It could only be a team effort to lose a game in such a spectacularly futile fashion. I'm responsible. Katie's responsible. Lana is responsible. Michael is responsible. Nobody is off the hook for that.

What I'm worried about here is not what Ellzidan did on the field, but off it. There's no denying she's a force of nature on the field (probably literally), but off the field, she was the glue that held us together. We all come from a million backgrounds, and have very different preferences and play styles, but Ellzidan found away to have us play off each other like we're a hive mind. We know how to win games with each other, and Ellzidan knew how to make sure we stayed together effectively.

With her gone, it's only a matter of time before we start to become unhinged. I know we all have the skill to pull another qualifying run, especially with this group we're in. It's just a question on if that skill will be used correct. I think it was Ellzidan who said once that the finest sword in the hands of a madman is nothing more than a shiny twig, while even a small hunk of metal in the hands of a master swordsman is the deadliest weapon in the land. Right now we have the finest sword in the land ... but I'm afraid we'll succumb to madness. That's what I'm worried about for this run.

As for the Free Republics? They sure studied up on the tape, they knew what to expect. But now I know what to expect. We know what to expect. I, for one, will not be making the same mistakes twice. This team will not be making the same mistakes twice. Fool me once, shame on you. I will not be fooled twice.

"The Kick Corps have started the World Cup campaign with a bang. After an opening victory on the road against Aggrey-Fynn Land, the ladies in black and red returned home a week later to play fellow Sonnelians Silver Beach in the first home tilt of qualifying. Playing in the traditional home arena of Drawk City Stadium to a packed house, the Corps delivered with a 3-0 clean sheet victory.

Despite questions about her ability to reliably start at Center Mid for the Corps, Kaitlyn Axelson lit up the scoreboard first with a goal in the 18th minute. Mandy Thompson scored right before halftime at the 43rd minute, and Corrie Archer closed out the night with a header in the 73rd minute. While the Corps were only playing the 256th-ranked team, a 3-0 home victory to start off the home side of qualifying is a good thing no matter how you spin it.

Next weekend, the Kick Corps will be traveling across the straight to Al-Qurija, nestled right with Juvencus. This is a huge advantage, as the players will be staying and practicing at home all week in preparation and simply flying across the Oreme Ocean to Suntae a day before the match. Even as an away match held in Al-Qurija's Petro Mohammed Stadium, the home-field advantage for Drawkland will still be high, as social media is already abuzz with fans planning to take weekend trips to the desert nation.

Reports have come in recently on the finding of a new strain of space drawks floating in lunar orbits of Sonnel. Once a genetic experiment released into the "wild" of space, the Space Drawk has thrived out of captivity and is a great success for Drawkian genetic scientists. The previously unknown and untagged flock of drawks in orbit is further proof of the sustainability and legitimacy of the species ...

by **Acronius** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:47 pm

Keep a Weather Eye on the Horizon
Promising opening in the 80th World Cup Qualifiers sparks new hope for qualification
James E. Sudlow (@SudlowUP)
^{27/04/2018, 02:50 | Lionsgate, Acronius}

^{SHARE THIS}

ACRONIUS 5 - 0 AUSTENESIA

AST - 4-4-2 D
GK - Trent Barclay
LB - Jarvis Walters
CB - Esau Kennedy
CB - Trevor Farnsworth
RB - William Bersh (C)
CDM - Trey Ferd
CM - George MacIllnard
CM - Robin Ferguson
CAM - Ezra Wardens
ST - Joeffrey Jones
ST - Lyle Nugent

ACR - 4-2-3-1
GK - Marc de Brassaï
LB - Paul Althusse
CB - Pierre Paulois
CB - Louis Maçon
RB - Dimitri Péguy
DM - Marin Trésor (C)
DM - Ryan Chimneys
LAM - Antoine le Kervelec
CAM - André Traëger
RAM - Shin Kra
CF - David Pascale

Goalscorers
le Kervelec - 13', 45+1'
Traëger - 24'
Trésor - 59'
Pascale - 88'
None

LIONSGATE, ACRONIUS - Following much skepticism and criticism from all over the Free Union, Acronius' national football team has actually put up a commendable performance in their first two games in the World Cup 80 qualifiers, contrary to expectations. While true that the Blue Boys' first game ended in a loss, one must consider the circumstances - a thus far untested, semi-reformed national team under unfamiliar management was able to hold back Farfadillis - the third highest-ranked team in the multiverse - on their own pitch, even managing to squeeze a 2-3 lead before regrettably conceding two goals after the 88th minute to allow the hosts a 4-3 steal. Despite the frustrating slip-up, analysts and pundits on both sides mostly agreed that Acronius fully deserved a win, and there were many who considered the Blue Boys' admirable performance a small victory in and of itself. The Acronians carried their disciplined game plan into their following fixture against Austenesia - and further weakened any straggling accusations of their incompetence as they dismantled the newcomers 5-0 at Union Park.

The match showcased a surprisingly fluid playing style fielded by the Acronians, heavily rooted in short passes and through balls which got the better of the away side as early as the 13th minute, when Antoine le Kervelec broke the ice with his first goal so far in the qualification campaign, a fiery roof-hitter fired from a very inconveniently tight angle on the left side of the Austenesian goal. "The Bullet", as they call him, struck again in first half stoppage time, this time making an incredible weaving run past Austenesian defenders William Bersh and Esau Kennedy before managing to slot the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Trent Barclay with a 20-yard sitter - but only after center-man André Traëger managed a powerful, commanding header goal from a corner in the 24th minute. Noticeably absent from much of the action up front was the golden boy of offensive Acronian football and the team's main goal-provider, David Pascale, who seemed uncharacteristically lost amid the game around him.

The second half kicked off to a mellower start than its predecessor, but a harsh tackle from Austenesia's Trey Ferd on Shin Kra got things going again, as Marin Trésor, Acronius' dead-ball expert, managed a 34-yard curling goal from the ensuing free kick, much to the delight of the home crowd and the team captain's colleagues on the pitch. 4-0 down with another half-hour to go, the visitors were understandably downtrodden and their performance suffered as a result, as ball possession underwent unequivocal Acronian domination from that point forward. The Blue Boys continued on with their same tiki-takaesque doctrine, finding a few breakthroughs although goalkeeper Trent Barclay was able to deal with more attempts for a fifth goal, but finally cracked in the 88th minute by the doing of David Pascale, the usual suspect. In a sudden change of form, the 24-year old managed a crafty dribble past Esau Kennedy via a long Ryan Chimneys pass, before making use of André Traëger to one-two Trevor Farnsworth, finishing with a carefully calculated toe-poke which found itself on the better side of the goal line after a generous bounce off the upright.

The stands erupted into cheers as the final whistle blew, confirming Acronius' first batch of points in Group 13, where they currently sit in 5th place, behind Ko-oren in fourth, New Gazi in third, Farfadillis in second, and a surprise Octinstinean squad, which has managed to stay in first place following the events of matchday 2. The Blue Boys' next challenge lies in 237th-ranked Stegosauristan, a mysterious team currently placed in 8th position in Group 13. Though a seemingly trivial encounter for the Blue Boys, austerity must remain an imperative for the Acronians, as they have suffered embarrassing losses against teams like this in similar fashion in previous editions of the World Cup Qualifiers. Picking up those three points from Stegosauristan will be crucial if Acronius seriously intends to clinch one of the top three spots in Group 13. From what we've seen so far of them, the national team is looking rigid enough, with a strong game plan and solid tactics, although main man David Pascale and 19 year-old Shin Kra seem to have been lacking a little form in the two previous games. It remains to be seen if the latter, whose inclusion on the team came as a shock to just about everyone, has the talent and the resilience to truly fit the mold of a national team starter.

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Comments [ --COMMENTS-- ] | E-mail

521 comments

Cole Merivale · 2 minutes ago
Massimiliano Abdullahi seems to know what he's doing... but it's probably to early to say.
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Zack Hill · 7 minutes ago
This is more like it.
642 up · 15 down
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Conrad Schumacher · 9 minutes ago
Pascale will come around - it's normal for players to experience a little burnout and have one or two bad games.
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by **The Sherpa Empire** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 1:06 am

~~~~~~֎--An Interview with Jai Mauryan‭--֎~~~~~~

‭Interviewer: So let's talk about what just happened. That was a pretty intense game.

‭Mauryan: Yeah, we were really playing together well. We didn't pull off a win, but I think that just goes to show how tough the competition is here, and how good of a team Ko-oren put out there. I mean, we've got a good team and we gave it everything we've got, but they want to win too, you know? Shubhashish had a good day -- I think it did him good to get away from all the gossip about his ex-wife -- but Ko-oren's offense really kept the pressure on us. It would have been nice to win, but I don't think we have anything to apologize for.

‭Interviewer: I think the Dragon King of Tibet might disagree with you. I heard he paid you a visit?

‭Mauryan: Augh... Yeah, I wasn't expecting that. I don't know if I should feel honored that he thought I was worth his time or scared that he's going to bite my head off, but that was definitely a surprise.

‭Interviewer: Yeah, it's not everyday you meet a dragon, right? So you guys are 7th place in your group right now. Do you think you still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup proper?

‭Mauryan: We're certainly going to try, and I think we do have a chance. The way the schedule worked out, we started off with a couple of tough match-ups, but there's still time to turn things around.

‭Interviewer: Your next game is at home against Cathaldonia. Any thoughts on what we can expect there?

‭Mauryan: Well, I don't know much about Cathaldonia, but that might be a good thing. When there's a team everyone has heard of, there's usually a reason why everyone has heard of them. You know what I mean? We've just got to stay focused and play together as a team, and hopefully we can pick up a win. I'm from Kathmandu, so of course I'm looking forward to going home. I always love playing there in front of the hometown fans.

‭Interviewer: Of course. Good luck and thanks for you time. We'll be rooting for you.

----֎-֎-֎----‭

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 1:36 am

2024-25 Fleftic Premier League Preview, Part One
2024-25 Fleftic Premier League Preview, Part Two
2024-25 Fleftic Ladies' Premier League Preview, Part One
2024-25 Fleftic Ladies' Premier League Preview, Part Two

We finally come to the third and final part of our 2024-25 Fleftic Ladies' Premier League Preview. Only four more teams to go, and then finally we're off to the season itself! However, there's still some rendering issues with the text boxes in between the rosters, and somehow only my table position predictions are being rendered. Oh, well. Maybe this will get cleared up in time for the season review itself.

Sarvusdalamoive Ladies

Prediction: Ninth

Sporting Ceneisis Women

Prediction: Second

Uthilmir United AFC

Prediction: Eleventh

Xemlice Rovers Ladies

Prediction: Sixth

And that does it for the preview of the 2024-25 Fleftic Ladies' Premier League season! This time tomorrow, we are now going to review the season matchday by matchday. That should be exciting, shouldn't it?

CRESCENT NEWS NETWORK
SPORTS CHANNEL - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
ABANHFLEFT • PRIDNESTROVIA • OONTAZ DERT LI NG • COPPER CUPRUM • TRENDSTART • FHULGHAMOUS PENINSULA

WORLD CUP 80 QUALIFIERS: ABANHFLEFT VS SEVMENIKA
By Malik Qazizadah

The Abanhfleft women's national football team in tears following their shock defeat against Sevmenika in the World Cup 80 qualifiers. (Courtesy of Crescent News Network Sports Channel/Andros Tasasa)

REYES, DORFDIFVING - Abanhfleft's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals suffered a potentially fatal blow as the Lady Revolutionaries suffered a shock defeat at the hands of unranked and unidentified team Sevmenika, with Miriam Hannibal turning what would eventually be the game-winning goal into the back of her own net.

Goals from Chelsea Stuart and Allison Torres had seen the Lady Revolutionaries take a two-goal lead within thirty minutes, both goals coming from open play and patient build-up on the part of the Fleftics as the people of Reyes saw the women's national football team play at the Wladyslaw Szymborski Stadium for the first time since the Samahang Futbol ng Abanhfleft became a member of NSWC.

Both Alexandra Rousseau and and Lillian Prescott had chances to increase the Fleftics' lead against Sevmenika even more but both of them saw their shots roll just wide of the posts. Conversely, Sevmenika were unable to muster any form of attack against the Fleftic goal in the first 45 minutes, thus giving the impression that the Lady Revolutionaries had this game in the bag.

The match then turned into the proverbial "game of two halves" when Sevmenika began dominating the game early in the second half. The early introduction of Karen Villegas into the side did little to stem the tide and Sevmenika finally got their just rewards as their forward player broke through the Fleftic defense and slotted past the rushing Victoria Carter.

Sevmenika then equalized after their central midfielder scored directly from a free kick conceded by Claire Osgood, and at this point, Sevmenika always looked more likely to score the next goal.

Heinrich Wurzmann brought on Amanda Warren and Miriam Hannibal to shore up the Fleftic defense, but it would be Hannibal who would be responsible for handing the Lady Revolutionaries their first defeat in the current World Cup qualifying campaign. While trying to defend against a probing Sevmenikan offense, Hannibal prodded the ball into her own net with Carter not being able to react to the goalbound ball in time.

Abanhfleft women's national team manager Heinrich Wurzmann: This defeat is disappointing in all sorts of ways

Abanhfleft women's national team manager Heinrich Wurzmann: "This defeat stings. It's so disappointing in a myriad number of ways. This was a completely preventable defeat. All we had to do was to keep ourselves solid defensively. And we maybe could have had more chances to really put the game to bed with a few more goals. But the opponents clawed their way back to equal terms, and I commend then for that. But the own goal, that was completely unfortunate on our part. It is extremely disappointing from our perspective. We shouldn't have lost this game, but we did. This is not the performance that our fans expect to see."

  ABANHFLEFT 2 - 3 SEVMENIKA
STUART (18')       FORWARD (57')
TORRES (29')       CENTER-MID (69')
                   HANNIBAL (86' og)

ABANHFLEFT
GK: 1 Carter
RB: 2 Osgood █ (Warren █ - 70')
CB: 4 Jackson █ (Hannibal - 79')
LB: 3 Valentine
RM: 5 Maynard
LM: 6 Choi
RW: 7 Prescott
CAM: 10 Torres
LW: 8 Singh
RS: 9 Stuart
LS: 11 Rousseau (Villegas - 55')

MATCH STATS
Possession
Abanhfleft: 57%
Sevmenika: 43%
Shots
Abanhfleft: 13 (8 on target)
Sevmenika: 4 (2 on target)
Corners
Abanhfleft: 7
Sevmenika: 2
Fouls
Abanhfleft: 20
Sevmenika: 8

by **Loynn** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 2:23 am

LBC Sports 1

Matchday 1

Matchday 2

Loynn Victory Marred By Injury

Lynchberg 1 (Sands OG 2') - 2 Loynn (Nash 7' (p.), 68')

Loynn got off to another shaky start today against the unranked Lynchberg team, and their lack of confidence really showed when a botched clearance from Sands led to an own goal just two minutes into the game. Cameras were fixed on the sidelines to watch Day throw every ounce of energy into motivating the players to actually play some football. His red-faced antics seemed to work though, with Leavitt and Overgard leading the charge trying to break down the Lychberg defence. Things were starting to look better for Loynn, but a disgusting challenge from an unnamed Lynchberg defender left Watson with a broken ankle, ending his part in Loynn's campaign. Tonight's ref was actually watching the game however, and a penalty was awarded to Loynn. Nash took to the spot and with a powerful shot he sent the ball flying off the woodwork into the back of the net. Watson's injury meant that Loynn's attack had slowed down somewhat, with Coutts occupying a more defensive role than his counterpart, but what he lacked in attacking plays he made up for with precise tackles.

During the 2nd half, Lynchberg looked like they wanted to close up shop and were happy to let the game finish as a draw. Their defensive plays frustrated the Lads, and led to several incidents between players on both sides, and eventually their anger resulted in yellow cards for both Waterson and Coutts. Day eventually managed to calm the players down and with their new found focus they broke down Lynchberg's defence and Nash's winning goal finally came, bringing an end to Loynn's victory drought.

Team Ratings:

Subs I/O: Coutts <--> Watson (6), Stringer <--> Winks (60), Karmann <--> Waterson

Nash had an incredible game today, scoring two goals and missing the target only once.
Winks had an average game, he made some good passes before being taken off after 65 minutes.
Watson's injury means he will be out for the rest of the World Cup.

by **Nephara** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 2:51 am

Nephara 2 - 0 Audioslavia
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Tsattalios; 2 - Rafford (18 - Brymora 67'), 5 - Konoval, 22 - Bruyne, 3 - Lohengrin; 4 - Rowland (23 - Chilmark 81'), 8 - Klein; 7 - Szalai, 21 - Gosforth (c), 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke (17 - Stavanger 72')
Goals: Gosforth 31', Strongbow 89'

From a young age, Rowena Strongbow had known one immutable truth - numbers were not to be trusted.
She wasn't a natural student. Creative, certainly. Probably bright. But not one for the academic side of, well, school. English wasn't too hard to deal with, all she had to do was talk - and she loved to talk - and write down her thoughts, but numbers? Numbers were slippery. So she went without them as much as possible, and every day came down to the time she'd spend with the ball at her feet, able to tune out the rest of the world.
You wanted to know a number you couldn't trust? 45. That, allegedly, was Audioslavia's rank. Sure, it wasn't exactly a vintage Bulls outfit, but did that matter? They'd won the World Cup with less. And, more importantly, they were... Audioslavia. Relentless, determined, vicious bastards on their day, who took their chances. Nephara had learned a lot from them over the years.
And they had Roddy Fraser. There was just something about Fraser, about the way he finished his chances. Something that made 'unnatural' not quite seem hyperbolic.
Anyway. It didn't matter. 45th rank? Third seed? All bullshit.
They marched out, belted out the anthems and got down to it.

It was a brutal, ugly, drag-down and scrap in the mud affair. Audioslavia sat back with a back five, additionally sheltered by Vincente Dupont. Creativity was not something they had in their locker - were they to score, it would be out of physicality and determination. That was Nephara's main edge - Gosforth and Strongbow had to find a way to unpick that defence.
A lot of pressure on Strongbow's lean, muscular shoulders.
The eyes of the world were watching them, and the ranks of green and black and white and claret slammed into one another from the start. Rafford got the first caution of the game just three minutes in, raking her studs down Robertson's calf, and was answered by a brutal challenge four minutes later from Boiteux. Nephara had the ball in the net nine minutes in, Strongbow's corner met powerfully by Hawke, but it was disallowed on the reasonable basis that Szalai had Al... Altzi... the Audioslavian number 6 in a headlock.
That more or less set the tone for a game where two nations, two footballing cultures on fairly good terms utterly mashed one another.
But the thing with sliding into challenges, going for the physical option time after time was this - it left holes. If Robert Smith was busy trying to murder Strongbow, it meant he wasn't taking his place in the line, and if Strongbow could just flick it forward into promising space moments before being clattered-
She tumbled, and shouted, and fell, clutching her shin. He hadn't even come for the ball! He'd barely even tried to stop her moving it forward! It wasn't even a professional foul!
But she half-rose, calling for the referee, and the cry died in her throat as she watched Gosforth running powerfully for it, holding back van den Brink with a long, muscular arm and giving himself the space to have a dig on the edge of the box, Smith helplessly behind the play, and find the bottom corner firing across Calixto.
The best revenge was a goal. But 1-0 wasn't a scoreline she could trust... and assist or not, she hadn't yet made a mark of her own.

The dynamic shifted - after all, Dragan Kryznjak's men could scarcely sit on their 1-0 deficit. Borjon did his best to rise to the occasion, making his mark felt with pace, power and hard, direct running, not the best or most composed passer but, hell, capable of getting past his man and taking a shot. Fortunately, Tsattalios proved equal to his efforts, time and again. Once, he managed to find Kuznetsov's run (a run enabled, as the cameras picked up, by Kuznetsov kneeing Konoval in the balls) only for him to be denied by a spectacular, inch-perfect covering challenge from Bruyne. Bruyne should have put them level, too, another brilliant set piece finding him at the far post but he sent his header wide. Brandon glared from the technical area. Fraser rattled the post with a snapshot, and Strongbow blinked, getting a strong, unnerving feeling of deja vu she couldn't place that was soon overshadowed by his howl of anguish. But at the end of the half there was still a feeling of a chance wasted. Monica Rowland, who never had apologised for the way she'd shouted Strongbow down during the Goldleague season, found her with an excellent long ball. She raced past Davidson and flicked a brilliant cross perfectly into the path of Estrella Hawke, who leapt, angled her head and sent it...
... straight at Calixto.

She would not be denied forever, though. Even as the game slipped into a holding pattern in the second half, the Slavs seemed to lose a bit of their drive, get frustrated at the Cormorants' tight, nippy marking, and the permissive (intimidated?) refereeing that enabled it. Kuznetsov shanked a shot wide enough it went out for a throw-in, punched himself in the head in frustration and inadvertently caused a concussion, causing Oljer to be thrown on in his stead. Fazio came on, too, then the wingback Iacovelli on the left... but none could make the difference. Monica Rowland stood tall tonight. She would not be brought low, not in her own backyard, and the way she took the ball cleanly and clinically away from the opponents like a tall, early-blooming bully might whisk a hat away from a small, weak nerd made even Michael Brandon on the touchline feel nostalgic.
And Robertson was tiring. Strongbow knew it. So did Robertson, and he was holding back a little more, trying to give himself the space to compensate for Strongbow's forward runs. But when Rusalka Klein, late in the game, took the ball, looked up at her options... Strongbow screamed for the ball.
"RUSA! RUSA!"
Klein glanced at her, only just managed to avoid Dupont scything through her ankles and instead switched the play to Adnan Szalai down the right, rushed by the tackle. Strongbow could have screamed or thrown a tantrum - her run was perfectly placed! Her wingback was tiring! But that wasn't how she went. She ran forward anyway, trusting in her teammates to get the job done.
Maybe another winger besides Szalai might have put the ball in the corner and just stuck there, too. He had the muscle for it, he could keep them occupied for minutes on end if he had to. But that wasn't him, either, and he charged forward, forced Smith back before cutting ruthlessly inside him and smashing a shot at goal with his left. Van den Brink got his leg in the way, ricocheted the ball off the post with Calixto stranded, and Iacovelli managed to desperately redirect his run and scuff the ball away... as far as Gosforth, who chipped towards the hulking forward Stavanger but this time Calixto was there, just punching the ball away and almost clambering over the striker to do so, but then the ball fell... kindly.
Strongbow was already running, and she slowed her run just in time, the left leg flicked out...
... and then it was 2-0.
Now those - those were numbers she trusted!

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 2
Goalkeepers: 1 - Apostolos Tsattalios (Falourr, EUR), 12 - Gideon Fletcher (AFC Treason), 20 - Hesterine Mercator (Tihon Tide, CMT)
Defenders: 2 - Leona Rafford (Crisisbless), 3 - Sieglinde Lohengrin (Crisisbless), 5 - Dieter Konoval (KT Moreazerua, AUD), 6 - Ryan Theuer (Falourr, EUR), 18 - Ryan Theuer (Falourr, EUR), 19 - Marcin Close (Brinemouth), 22 - Trajan Bruyne (Mallox, COS)
Midfielders: 4 - Monica Rowland (Bastion, EUR), 7 - Monako Saroszi (Ulsa, EUR), 8 - Rusalka Klein (Crawford City FC, COS), 11 - Rowena Strongbow (Avenida Leal, FFD), 13 - Ishtar Fanaiyan (Eastweald, COS), 14 - Chimera Moxham (Port Patrick United, SCT), 15 - Tawny Shone (Sabrefell Moths), 16 - Marisha Staunton (Crisisbless), 21 - Konrad Gosforth (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD, c), 23 - Laura Carrow (Marionville, SCT)
Forwards: 9 - Estrella Hawke (Starling), 10 - Nevaeh Cathar (Avenida Leal, FFD), 17 - Aristide Metzger (AFC Treason)

SCHEDULE
Lisander 1 - 2 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Audioslavia @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Tinhampton vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Dalmat @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Frozen Forest vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Cereal Isle @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Flardania vs. Nephara
Dance 2 Revolution vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Kopyk @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Nephara vs. Lisander @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Audioslavia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Tinhampton @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Dalmat vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Frozen Forest @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Cereal Isle vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Flardania @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara vs. Dance 2 Revolution @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Kopyk vs. Nephara

by **Brenecia** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 3:29 am

Lochario 0 - 2 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1) 20 - Hartigan; 2 - Marquess, 5 - Beath, 18 - Varney (22 - Linvoy 78'), 3 - Quill; 4 - Gryphon (c); 7 - Crowther (15 - Garrard 62'), 21 - Case (14 - Ruskin 71'), 13 - Wheeler, 11 - Ashbrown; 10 - Carrick
Goal: Carrick 28', Ashbrown 34'

By Vesuvia Carrick's book, a goal was a goal was a goal. It was the same size, at every level of the game, and for anyone with a gift for finding the right spaces of it? The sky was the limit.
Granted, an international cap was beyond her expectations, mostly because she didn't know she was Brenecian through her paternal grandfather until, oh, three weeks ago? Sure, she could have turned them down, but she'd have been mad to. When she didn't allow herself to be drawn into her own ego, she had to admit she had little chance of making a real impact with Nephara. Especially as, at 23 years old, she was only just getting ready for her first Premiership minutes...
"Look," Jim Reid had told her over the phone in a reassuringly weary tone, "of course you don't give a rat's arse about Brenecia now. But it's not what it's about. Sure, there might be some controversy at first. Some people are gonna say you're only here because you couldn't break into the Cormorants."
"I am only here because I probably can't break into the Cormorants," Carrick had to admit.
"And that might well be the case! And they'll try and bring you down, on both sides of the river. Maybe they'll say I should only focus on actual Brenecians, too. Maybe they have a point. But you saw the last CE results, Carrick."
"Yeah," she lied. She looked them up later on. They'd been hilarious.
"And you know I need goals. Brenecia needs goals."
"Everyone needs goals."
"Sure. And I reckon you've got them. At any level."
So that was her hooked, her buttons most certainly pressed. Reid had been an old hand at shifting international allegiances to obscure blue countries. It showed.

Anyway, there hadn't been much of an issue with Carrick's ethnicity, since a lot of Brenecia's best and brightest over the years hadn't actually been Brenecian. There was some scepticism over her record, and that record exclusively being at First Division level, a slightly inferior standard to Brenecia's actual league. And maybe they had a point there.
There was only one way to shut them up.
She hadn't been brought on against New Lusitania. That had been Bremner's chance, a chance he'd let slip through his fingers and explode on the ground before being hooked for Griffin Riordan, a proven quantity. A proven one-in-three quantity. Carrick knew she was in with a real chance here, and she knew Reid was thinking along the same lines when she got the nod to start against Lochario the next match.
It was, on the whole, a quiet game for her. Sure, she ran hard, but even she had to admit she didn't offer the hold-up play of pretty much anyone else Brenecia could call up. South Laithland back home played a 4-4-2 and relied almost entirely on her and Esteban Bentzen up front for goals. Here there was more responsibility, and she had to try and focus on feeding those behind her, dropping deep when necessary, holding the ball up for the wingers Ashbrown and Crowther. Maybe it wasn't all about the goals, the finishing. Maybe it would be different.
But for one, glorious moment. It wasn't late on, it wasn't particularly narrative, it wasn't even particularly pretty... but it all fit together. She was drifting off the shoulder of Daquir, but heard a call from Wheeler and a ball arrowing towards her. She shot back towards it, and everything happened so quickly and she started to respect the pace of the players she was working with even as the options seemed overwhelming, but almost running on pure instinct she flicked the ball down the left flank where Ashbrown already shuttled down with terrifying pace. Her first touch was heavy but the second was a low, fierce cross that Uimlich managed to get a foot on, and it bounced awkwardly in the box.
Daquir hesitated.
Carrick did not.
She ran ahead of him, cushioned the ball onto the ground, turned in a flash and whipped the ball into the net from a narrow angle. And she screamed a war-cry, grabbed the ball from the net and ran it back, as the small knot of away supporters chanted her name for the first time.
This was what she brought. This was what she had to offer. The rest? The rest would come... but it could wait.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 2
Goalkeepers: 1 - Mathis Woodgate (Spartangrad, EUR), 12 - Rostyn Calhoun (Barbury Town, APX), 20 - Aidan Hartigan (Metropolis Alligators, VLD)
Defenders: 2 - Brun Carrack (Bengtsmark IF, BYN), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Chadwick Beath (Blue Coast 1981, PCR), 6 - Niko Szubanski (1830 Cathair, AUD), 18 - Cheney Heneghan (Ernesse Stahl, BYN), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Westpike United), 22 - Garwyn Varney (Soldarian FC, VAL)
Midfielders: 4 - Catherine Gryphon (Starling, NPH, c), 7 - Brae Crowther (Chenoworth Harriers, NPH), 8 - Meghan Hartsdown (Kings Park, SCT), 11 - Tiferet Ashbrown (Kings Park, SCT), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Elsie Drover (OAS Royal FC, COS), 15 - Cu Roi Garrard (Rene Skae, FFD), 16 - Keohane (Ramusok United, COS), 21 - Falcon Case (Goodfeather FC, NPH), 23 - Catsidhe Alweather (Eastal Lunar, VIL)
Forwards: 9 - Griffin Riordan (Klyde, COS), 10 - Vesuvia Carrick (South Laithland, NPH), 17 - Fox Charnwood (Hellinic-Rouge, PAS)

SCHEDULE
Brenecia 2 - 1 New Lusitania
Lochario 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Indusse
Juvencus vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Olastor
Sargossa vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Stetzra
Brenecia vs. North NSW
Tobiasia vs. Brenecia
New Lusitania vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Lochario
Indusse vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Juvencus
Olastor vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Sargossa
Stetzra vs. Brenecia
North NSW vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Tobiasia

by **Schottia** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 4:09 am

Enrico Hanson-Conavacio

Part Three.

Guardian Angel.

Schottic Heaven

'What are ye doing ye eejit?' There was a whoosh, and rush of air as the ghost of Derek Hanson was pulled back in to Schottic Heaven, away from the world of the living. 'What on earth were ye actually going to do?' The spirit of the Reverend Hamish Murray pushed his friend up against a pearly white Doric column.

'Get off.' Mr Hanson barked, both irritated at his treatment and embarrassed at getting caught. 'I was just oot for a wee stroll.' He lied, dusting down the front of his silk tunic.

'What? For a wee stroll in the land of the living?' Murray had gotten to know Derek Hanson quite well in the years since his death, and saw exactly what his friend was up to. 'I checked the rota earlier, it's not your night on haunting duties.' Murray had been a hard-nosed, fire and brimstone preacher in his lifetime, and while death had mellowed him somewhat, he still had no time for fools. Murray had died in the late nineteenth century after an allergic reaction to a bee sting, and had met his fair share of chancers, both in life and after-life.

'Bloody... ... Look!' Mr Hanson spat, pointing to the gap in the clouds, which lead down to the mortal realm. 'I'm not going to sit up here and watch my lassie making a fool of herself with another bloody man. She's married, does that not mean anything to you?' Although he wouldn't have admitted it then and there, the fact that Claire had been speaking with a former Handon United captain was the main source of his irritation.

'Look who ye're bloody speaking to!' Murray nodded his head sharply in the other direction, as he made back up the white cobblestone path. I was a Kirk o' Schottia minister for fifty years, do ye not think I know a thing or two aboot marriage.' He trusted that his friend would follow him. There was the prospect of alcohol at the top of the hill, and now that he had been rumbled, nothing for him at the entrance to the portal. 'Whatever yer lassie's thinking of doing, you appearing as a watery figure in a mirror isn't going to change it.'

Half way along the path there was a quiet jetty of white wood, and beautiful hand-carved moorings. The two spirits climbed into a swan-shaped barge - Mr Hanson's face, all the time, as hard as a church door - as they sailed along the river of whisky that took them to Schottic heaven proper. Murray folded his arms in front of him as they passed under an ornate mother-of-pearl bridge, with elaborate sliver handrails. 'Ye can sulk all ye like Derek, but ye know ye're in the wrong.'

Mr Hanson pretended to be focused a loose tunic thread.

'Ye've got to let the living live.' Murray's eyes were fixed forward as the stream flowed into a canal, which took them past rows of columned houses, boulevards, and orchards where trees hung with sumptuous fruit. 'Ye'll end up getting stuck down there - I tell ye. Do ye not remember what happened to wee Davy?'

'Aye... I mind well enough.' Mr Hanson answered angrily, before Murray could repeat the story. Davy McColgan was the spirit of a farm labourer from the 1960s, who'd died after he'd taken a nap in a field and was run over by a combine harvester. According to Murray, he'd become some obsessed with his wife's new relationship that he'd started spending more time haunting her bedroom than he had in Schottic Heaven. As a result, his spirit had become attached to the land of the living, and was forced to walk the Earth as a ghost forever more.

Mr Hanson and Murray shuffled along the bench of the swan, as a couple of angels got on at the next stop, one carrying a large harp, the other a set of bagpipes. There was plenty of room onboard, but it didn't stop Mr Hanson grinding his teeth in disapproval.

'Pleasant evening...' Said Erahmeel, the angel with the harp, in a bid to break the tension. 'At least it's stayed fair.'

'Aye.' Grunted Mr Hanson, pretending the harp's presence was more of a hassle than it really was.

'Where are you boys headed?' Asked Murray (obviously inaccurately, given the fact that angels were androgynous). 'Just oot for a bit of fresh air.'

'No, Reverend,' answered Haniel, Erahmeel's bagpipes wielding companion. 'We are actually on our way to the concert hall for a performance.' The fact that Murray was a man of the cloth always seemed to afford him more respect in angelic circles. 'You know the choir is always looking for new members,' Haniel added. 'You and Mr Hanson would be most welcome to come along and enrol– ? '

Mr Hanson didn't even dignify the suggestion with an answer; he was desperate now for their stop so they could get off.

'You have a wonderful, barrel-like chest Mr Hanson.' Erahmeel put in. 'You would be a great addition to our celestial chorus...' The angel spoke with an ethereal quiver, almost like the sound of a bow dragged carefully across violin strings.

'No. No thank you Erahmeel.' The curt reply was the best Mr Hanson could do in his current mood. 'I'll just keep myself to myself if ye don't mind.' Finally they came to their stop, and just in the nick of time, as it appeared a host of concert going spirits were about to embark.

'Well do let us know if you change your mind Mr Hanson, Reverend, we are always on the look out...'

Mr Hanson shook his head and adjusted his tunic as he and Murray made their way along the boulevard towards the pub. 'Sanctimonious prick.' He muttered, and while Murray wasn't over the moon with the use of language, he conceded his friend was probably right. 'The way that cunt rambles on, sometimes I wonder if this is actually Hell!'

by **Cassadaigua** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:02 am

It was about a week that Taylor Wilson had the meet and greet with Jessica Curran and the entire national team. School had been off for a weeks vacation, so on the next Monday, she was excited to show off the class everything that she had done. Friends had assembled, talking a little bit about the road loss to Mattijana, but mostly about the home game against Crystalline Caverns now that they had an opportunity.

One of the boys in the class was showing her friends some pictures that he took from the game while using one of the computers in the classroom.

“That’s the game against Crystalline Caverns?” Taylor asked the boy named Nathan.

“Yeah, we went to the game, it was pretty cool but I wish they would have won.” Nathan replied.

“How can you even see anything?” Taylor replied, noting that Nathan and his family must have been seated in one of the upper rows of the upper deck for the game, so the pictures he took of the game were not really all that great. Taylor reached into her pocket, pulled out her modern state of the art smartphone that was recently released just a few months ago. “Look at MY pictures of the game.”, she said, with a strong emphasis on the word “my” as she began to show the friends pictures of the game, which were much better from her near center field, six rows up seats, and then from the VIP meet and greet after the match. All of her friends, and all other classmates were excited to see all of the pictures of the players she got at the VIP experience, the autographs, and all of the other benefits that came from the event, such as the personalized autographed Jessica Curran game worn jersey she was given. When it was asked about how she was able to do this, she mentioned the post-game VIP experience that was $799 per person. Everyone was gathered around her, except from Nathan, who quietly closed out the page of his own pictures, turned off the computer, and walked to his seat, with no one noticing.

The teacher, Mrs. Bradford, walked in, took a notice to how Nathan was sitting by himself, and told the students to take their seats, and the day of school began. The teacher asked what everyone was doing, out of curiosity, more then anything else, and Taylor Wilson let them know, and even invited the teacher to come over so she could show her the picture of the Curran jersey. “That’s awesome!” the Mrs. Bradford replied, and the day of class began.

Nathan was normally a good student, but could not focus on this day. “Why does Taylor get to do everything.” He thought. “Why does she get all these nice things, from the nice smartphone she has when his parents can barely afford their own, let alone get him a phone.” Whenever he thought he could do something nice, there was always a Taylor around who had to do it so much better. His parents saved up to be able to afford the seats at Concord Heights Stadium that they were able to get, and he had a great time. They did it for him, it was an expense that maybe they shouldn't have taken on, but they did it anyway, just to get those seats. He liked his pictures, they were his. But no, he was completely forgotten about when Taylor came around and started showing off everything she had, the fact that her family could spend over three grand on the VIP experience, let alone the higher ticket prices, and of course the expensive phone that no eight year old really needs unless their parents can freely throw money around.

“Nate?” “Nate?” He suddenly heard the teacher say. He had been daydreaming, thinking about how spoiled kids like Taylor Wilson were, and not on anything the teacher was saying. He heard the class beginning to giggle. “Number twelve? Nate?” Mrs. Bradford asked and he didn’t even know what number twelve she was talking about. This was awkward, and the teacher knew this was very out of character, so she was certainly not out to embarrass him. Amid the silence and the giggles, Nate overheard the whisper that really sounded like Taylor to one of her friends, “Must’ve been the air from those high seats still affecting him,” followed by a giggle. Mrs. Bradford did not hear that comment, and since she knew this was not like Nate, she simply told him what number twelve she was referencing, but told him she wanted to talk to him before recess later in the day.

At that time, Mrs. Bradford asked, “Nate, are you ok? Is something bothering you?”

Nathan wasn’t sure if he should say something, “No I am just not feeling all that great I guess, I am sorry for not paying attention like I should have been.”

Mrs. Bradford replied, “I forgive you. No reason to put you in more trouble. Cheer up, I know you like soccer, and it was tough to watch the team lose against Mattijana, but they will come back. I hope! Or maybe we overdrew our luck bank account with the Bank of Margaret in last qualifying.”

Nathan tried to smile, “Yeah, I guess I could see that game good when I watched it on TV.” Mrs. Bradford, not really knowing what he was meaning by that comment, nodded her head and allowed Nathan to go outside and join the rest of the class for recess. The rest of the day was pretty normal.

At home, Nathan’s parents waited for the bus to drop him off. “How was your day?”, that same question every parent asks their kid, would be asked once again.

“I hate school. Why do some kids get to have everything?” he asked his mom.

That was going to be a tough one to answer.

by **The Macabees** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:31 am

PART IIIA
I, II

Anter didn't stick around for the team pub celebration this time around. He didn't know why the team was celebrating anyways. They had only drawn. He supposed that they had drawn against a pretty good team that probably should have beat them but, still, a draw is a draw. Deciding all that was stupid, Anter left for home after the game, where he fell asleep for a few hours.

He woke up later, quite groggy. Whatever daylight had been left had now retreated into night. Anter felt like closing his eyes again, but forced himself to get up. Coach had given them the day off tomorrow and tonight all of Fedala was partying. Even Enrik Nestor, that arrogant, well-sculptured bastard would be out...probably with Ilyna. No, no he had to stop thinking of her. He got himself up and out of bed, stepped in the shower, and put on a pair of jeans with a short-sleeved pineapple pattern dress shirt. A quick spray of cologne, the one he had just recently ordered, and Anter was ready to hit the streets.

He dialed his co-worker Anton. "Hey buddy, I'm headed your way. No, I do not have a bottle of alcohol with me. What? I'm supposed to bring one? When did you tell me that? No, I don't think you ever said that. No. No, definitely not. Whatever, I'll pass by a corner store to pick one up."

Putting the phone back in his pocket, he walked to the Kondes metro station and took it to Tentra. There was a liquor store right out of the metro station's western exit near Anton's flat. He picked out the cheapest bottle of vodka on the shelf and then walked the rest of the way to Anton's building. He buzzed the gate phone. "I'm here."

Anton was down five minutes later. "Alright, my man, let's go."

A light on the circuit board turned on for a brief moment and then flickered out. An algorithm conducted its operations quietely as not a soul thought of its existence. It imported numbers, formulated custom metrics, and computed weights that defined Anter Jora's life.

It noted his purchase of Ŗ3 vodka at 10:30 hours. The data came from the credit card provider, a member of the Highpoint Data Clearance Technologies clearinghouse association.

It also tracked his metro route. First he went to Tentra, then down to the Volada neighborhood. The algorithm ran this against a dynamic multi-variate regression that matched Anter with others who exhibited similar patterns of behavior. It then made assumptions of other interests Anter might have, given the interests of the others with similar patterns. Finally, it corroborated these assumptions with other data points, other moments of Anter's life. The regressions continued, several of them at once, others came right after, it was perpetual.

Then something happened. It was like the algorithm had stopped working for a second. Just a brief second, perhaps not even that much. When the algorithm continued computating something had changed. In all those 0s and 1s it would be hard to say what exactly that change was. Still, something felt...off.

On an electrical impulse, the algorithm fired off a message.

They jumped off the metro lifts at the Oneka station in the cavernous Volada neighborhood. Something vibrated lightly in Anter's ear. A neuro fired in his mind, making an association between the vibration and an emotion of excitement. A video clip played through his contact lenses. A beautiful woman spoke with a soft, velvety voice. " Hi there, Anter. I love your outfit, did that pick that out for yourself? It's hard to find a man with taste these days. Anyway, I'm glad I caught you. Oh my god! I haven't even introduced myself."

Anter arched an eyebrow. "You haven't."

"I'm Helena! Enrik gave me your number," she said.

"Enrik? Why would he give you my number? How the hell did he even get my number?" he asked.

"Oh, Ilyna gave it to him," she said, smiling. This Helena girl was cute. "Don't worry, I'm harmless. I figured you'd be out on a night like this, celebrating the game, looking for some fun after what I'm sure has been a stressful week. Why don't you come over to Thrill. I'm here with some friends. We're just hanging out, you know, waiting for something fun to happen."

Something tickled his brain. "Let me talk to—"

"See you soon, Anter," she said, cutting him off.

"Let's go to Thrill," said Anter. Hey, desperate is desperate. "I've heard good things about it."

Anton had just apparently finished watching a video message too, for it took him some time to realize he was being asked a question. "Uh, where? Oh yes, Thrill. Actually, they're having an open bar right now. They just sent me the promotion. You must have gotten the same message right? Let's check it out. Free alcohol is free alcohol."

"Yeaaa...that promotion." Anter wasn't sure they needed more alcohol, having finished that bottle he had bought. But whatever reason Anton needed to go to Thrill was good by him, because there waiting for him was Helena. A mysterious woman, she was. And bold. Enrik and Ilyna must have said good things for him. Ugh! He couldn't believe that Ilyna — Ilyna of all people! — was trying to set him up. Whatever. He'd take it. He was desperate. It was a fifteen-minute walk to Thrill through narrow city streets. Down here, below the surface, there were no cars, only sidewalks and most could only hold four men abreast at most. Only the principle pedestrian arteries were larger, those enough to fit an imperial procession if the emperor ever deigned himself to visit Fedala's underworld. Thrill was on a minor road, tucked between taller apartment buildings. It shook and boomed with music.

When they approached the front doors, a bouncer with shoulders as wide as a broadsword outstretched his arm and told them to halt. "Anter?" he asked.

"Uh...yes?" said Anter.

"Right with me, sir," replied the bouncer. "Welcome to Thrill."

"Helena, is she here?" asked Anter, eagerly.

"Helena? Yea, she's here," answered the bouncer with his deep voice. "First, the White Bear wants to meet you. He's been waiting for you."

To be continued...

by **Juvencus** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:32 am

Juvencus 4-0 Olastor

GLI ATTACCANTI POWER THROUGH OLASTOR WITH A MARTELL HATTRICK

The squad couldn't contain its excitement against a weakened Olastor team

Olastor XI:
No information given

Juvencus XI:
GK:Taddeo Bulgari
CB:Dudu Madeiros
CB:Nicolò Bassi(Subbed off for Valerio Scarpa, 58')
CB:Amaury Félix
CDM:Nino Russo(Assist 68')
CDM:Filipe Rodrigues(Assists 26', 31')
RM:Hugo Grec
LM:Angelino Alberighi
RF:Demetro Laterza
LF:Joaquim Martell(Goals 26', 31', 45+1')
CF:Santo Silvestri(Goal 68')(Subbed off for Brunella Tafani, 80')

The gli attaccanti will be heading to the Sargossa game for matchday 3 with their heads up after pummeling through a disoriented and weakened Olastor squad with an unbelievable Martell first half-hattrick.

It was obvious early on that the gli attaccanti were in the game to win it, after an Olastor midfielder held on to the ball for too long and with an Alberighi interception the counter-attack was a quick one, as he passed through 2 defenders from the left side only for his cross not to be capitalised by Silvestri. Another missed chance by Silvestri followed, signalling pressure to the Olastor players, who afterwards started making a lot of passing errors, especially in the midfield, being unable to pierce through to the Juvencus side of the pitch. A smart Martell took advantadge of this and called for the players to try intercepting as many passes as they can to put as much pressure as they could to the Olastor players, it clearly worked as a Rodrigues interception followed into a deep cross inside the Olastor area was quickly capitalised by Martell, scoring his first goal for the cycle, making it 1-0. Soon after, the same scnario took place, a half-way interception by Rodrigues was again, capitalised by Martell, giving a 2-0 advantadge for the gli attaccanti. And while it all seemed to be a half-time 2-0 advantadge in favor of Juvencus, here comes Martell once more, intercepting the ball himself and dribbling through 2 defenders before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper's head, basically securing the game here and there. 3-0 was the scoreline at half-time.

The second half saw a pretty much tamed gli attaccanti, with no pressure in the early stages of the half, other than being extremely possessive and attempting to intimidate the Olastor players in order for them to be even worse than they were in the first half, which worked later on after Russo managed to dribble through a midfielder and with a through-ball was able to find Silvestri who scored the fourth one for the gli attaccanti. The team was also very close to scoring a fifth goal however both Silvestri and his substitute Tafani were shut down quite easily from the Olastor defenders. In the 87th minute, the Olastor squad managed to get to the Juvencus side of the stadium, but their forward was unable to capitalise on the opportunity to score a goal, the score was 4-0 at full-time which boosts Juvencus to 3rd place, below Brenecia as well as our rivals, Tobiasia but also boosts the players' confidence come the Sargossa game, which will be played at the Independienté, Sargossa's biggest stadium.

by **The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:54 am

Our coach was very dissapointed after the match with Brenecia which we lost 0-2.The coach said that our team wasn't good at the defence and didn't even wanted to play a good game.We've managed to get 2 goals through our goalkeeper in a 6 minute time!!! That's a SHAME!!!
O.Payud will have his debut in a match against North New South Wales changed with Ayadad.We hope that we will not lose today and maybe even bring victory:)

by **Ko-oren** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:19 am

The National Team - Analysis and Captaincy

The Dragonflies have lined up twice in the World Cup qualifiers so far - both times with Analor Avalor as skipper. Aviara was deemed too bold, Dalton too bashful, Beaulieu too far removed from the rest of the team, as a striker. Avalor seems a perfect captain, one experienced midfielder in the middle of a young defence, midfield and, let's be honest, a fairly young group of forwards as well. They line up as a familiar 5-3-2, but many of the defensive security has gone. Instead of playing 5-3-2 to limit the opponent's shots on goal to 0 (not the amount of goals conceded, that's already expected to stay at zero), this is a 5-3-2 to build in at least some sort of defensive structure in a young team. You can expect that a knock will impact this group mentally a lot more than before. And with that, let's stop talking about the past so much. This is a new group, and if they stay together for a while, we're looking at an extremely talented and experienced group of players, two or three World Cups down the line. Let's look at how this team behaves.

Aviara is doing as expected: some great saves, but some howlers in this game against the Sherpas as well. With any other goalie of his caliber, it still might have turned out 3-3, but it wouldn't have been the same goals scored as now. On top of that, Aviara is facing many more shots on goal than last campaign, which also explains how Ko-oren conceded four goals in the first two games. That hasn't happened in a while - usually, after the end of qualifying, Ko-oren would have conceded no more than 10 goals in total. We're almost halfway to 10 after just two games.

Dalton and Yamaoka play much the same as previously. They have been part of this team for a while, and especially Dalton can be an asset for the team offensively as well, often creating a four-man midfield in possession. Yamaoka is struggling to provide the same kind of support in attack, which means that Dalton's left wing is a much more popular place for attacks to start compared to Yamaoka's right flank. Then again, Yamaoka is improving, and the three-man midfield is starting to acknowledge that sometimes, support and pressure will come from the right instead of the left. This duo is solid.

Then the middle of the defence. Benjamin is the only player who has more than 10 international matches under his belt, and that at the age of 21. Lampshire and Linderood are new to the team, and it shows. These three should be forming the heart of the team, where the ball is won and counterattacks begin. Instead, we see that mistimed runs break offside traps, giving away two goalkeeper-to-beat chances on average per game. The Sherpas used both of these opportunities to score, turning a 3-1 win into a 3-3 'where-did-it-go-wrong'. This unit will have to improve, if only because the defence is the rock that the Dragonflies have been built on for decades, and it simply hurts to see that pride crumbling further with every game. It's some thing to rely on a 21-year-old to carry and lead your central defence. Furthermore, analysis shows that opponents have figured out how to stretch a 5-man defence so thinly that you can easily slice through it. Five defenders. Stretching so thin that it's easy to put a quick winger behind them regularly. This one is on the coach more than the players, though.

The midfield feels solid. Yokota and Avalor form a defensively-minded line of two in front of the defence, alike in their tendencies. Both have great endurance that keeps them as box-to-box midfielders all game, still with enough energy by the end of the game that they'll make the same good decisions as early in the game. In possession, they both make decent decisions, but take a little long to set up an attack. Dalton and Yamaoka are both better at this, and any dangerous situation will usually start from the wing rather than the centre. Longchambon, then, the lone attacking midfielder, though young, is proving himself to be a fine pivot for offensive structures. He picks his position well, can pick out the strikers, and can find space in between defence and midfield.

The forwards, Wouters and Beaulieu, aren't new to the team, and form the oldest unit in the team (average age: 26). They have to do with the scraps given to them by the midfield, and so far have little trouble with that. Their efficiency, as often with Ko-orenite strikers, is through the roof, scoring 6 goals so far - which is also pretty unique after two games.

It's clear that Juliasterinthen has a job in front of him now. With an even younger team than last year, it seems that he's got the core of the next wave of Ko-oren's national team together. This cycle should be perfect to build on that, but is he able to do that? His choice of captain seems solid, but will it be enough to propel this team back into the World Cup?

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:31 am

STL - Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana | stl.ls | in ENGLISH
SPORT
80th World Cup Qualifying - "EqueStar"

SIMPLY ATROCIOUS - Matchday 2 Review: New Lusitania X North New South Wales
from Estádio do Algarve, Algarve.

The team left Brenecia optimistic, however with a few players unavailable due to injuries in training, or indisposal, the team had to change from the one at Rozelle's Kingsgarden. Dalot hurt himself in training so was ruled out, and substituted by Figueredo which wasn't too OK himself considering he'd just come out of injury. Lopes was given a chance in front of the net, as Belém's star Bernardo Vinha played in CAM subbing Bruno Silva for the occasion.
As for the fans, both home and away were enjoying a sudden heat wave which allowed everyone to enjoy themselves in the beaches of the Algarvian Coast, before the match near the province capital. A packed house as usual for the Seleção, 37,620 in all, out of the 38,000 available for that match. Hopes were high after the first matchday, but was it enough?

STARTING 11s

NEW LUSITANIA
GK António Lopes
LB R.Guerreiros
CB Tomás Figueredo
RB Cédric (Sub - Fontaínhas 73')
CDM R.Nevais
LM J.Mário
CM Bruno Fernando
RM: Francisco Gama
CAM Bernardo Vinha (G - 64', Sub - Breu 82')
LW: D.Jota (Podence 73')
RW G.Martins

NORTH NEW SOUTH WALES - Team not disclosed to Media outlets.

MATCH REVIEW
Quite simply, a terrible match. A messy duel between both sides left New Lusitania trailing by 1-0 at halftime, a surprise goal in the 29th minute by the austral team's winger. The second half was worse, with an immediate strike by the lone forward making it 0-2, one-on-one, proving why although old, Patrice is still Goalkeeper Number 1. Bernardo Vinha puts the ball into the net by just nudging the ball, after a cross by Gama lands perfectly at his feet, pulling it back to 2-1. Two subs at 73' with Podence and Fontaínhas coming in for Jota and Cedric, respectively, and Vinha later on which gave him his own round of applause for the goal. In the end, Figueiredo risking it all to make sure the ball didn't go into the net, he almost got it out, if only a fraction of a second earlier. It was a terrible show from the home side, whilst it was an impressive feat from the away side showing they have more than meets the eye. To be honest, it was fair why the team got booed off after that terrible show.
Victor Santa Cruz didn't say much, only that he will keep the fight for possible qualification, blaming today's poor performance on the heat and the massive unpreparedness some had due to sudden injuries and indisposals he had, althoughthey were poor excuses. Fighting for qualification might turn out hard, being the only team without a point after 2 matches in the group, and only one in 17 out of 150 teams in qualifying... the match in Tobiasia might make it 3 games, and we might start kissing goodbye to the World Cup dream

THE VERDICT
A poor show left it hard to decide who actually played well for the Selecção, after plenty of mistakes were made from most. Gama kept showing how he's a major game supplier, becoming a Target Man. Fernando gave a decent performance, and Vinha showed he's got pace and finishing, but no finesse whatsoever. It was a shame to see youngsters Podence and Breu have so little time and come on at that time, they played nicely.

NEXT TIME join us on from the Ark, live on STL1, it's TOBIASIA X NEW LUSITANIA from 20:30 ... LIVE!
(Other Matches: Group 3: Sargossa X Brenecia [20:30][STL Sport 1], Group 7 - Eura X Nova Anglicana [18:00][STL Sport 2], Group 8 - Soltseed X Qaden [18:00] [STL Sport 3], plus more on the RED BUTTON)

----MMXVIII ---- STL in association with FLF------

by **Tobiasia** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:25 am

Stetzra 2–4 Tobiasia

Tobiasia blasted away Stetzra today with a solid win away to stay top of the group.

The match began slowly, but Sally Urtup was the catalyst for the first goal with a sweeping run along the right before a pass to Ryans who finished the goal cleanly without mistake to make it 1-0 in the 16th minute.

Minutes later, the Stetzrasians worked their way into the Tobiasian defence but a brilliant tackle from young Katrina Zeya launched the ball up to Ryans, who funnelled the ball to Eastgate who passed to Philips. He’d gone partially unnoticed prior to this moment, but with his charismatic skill he worked round two defenders to score the second goal of the match.

Just before half time, however, Stetzra came back with after a free kick left the defence blown away by the lucky strike. However the team seemed remarkably unfazed going back into the game, using the flanks again to pincer the defence and outpace the slower Stetzran defence. Before long (49’) Philips powered a cross to Uzele who volleyed the close range ball into the goal to make it 3-1.

The match continued slowly, with Harvey Miranda coming on for Ryans and Yun again for Eastgate. At around 80’, the pace increased again, with a wonderful run and strike from Philips just hitting the bar and bouncing out for a goal kick. The team weren’t too disappointed, however, and maintained composure during a tricky free kick position as Lithgow knocked up a cross to Urtup who headed it straight into the goal.

The match seemed over then, and it was the last nail in the coffin for the Stetzrans, but they kept playing and managed to exploit an awful pass by Goldsmith to claim another goal and make the score 4-2.

So another match ends with a win, albeit closer than some pundits expected.

Our view
The attackers are dominating the play and being forced to score a lot of goals to make up for a very disappointing defence. On one hand, Ryans, Uzele and Philips in particular must be praised for a brilliant two matches with 8 goals in total scored, and Sheffield’s attacking training has really paid off. However, the defence is being left down to just Zeya and Goldsmith who, although world class, cannot cope with a heavy attack on their own. Frank Woods needs to join the defence properly and play back, or face substitution, and the outer midfielders need to push back when needed, as the current wingers are performing brilliantly without too much support, and possession needs to be prioritised. Otherwise, when we face a team with a stronger striking power we will not be able to cope.

Looking ahead to the match against Luistiana, we must demand a good result from Sheffield and the players, especially at home. They’re not a terrible team, although they haven’t yet got a point that’s mainly been down to luck, and they need to do well in this game.

Highscorers
•Fraser Philips: 3
•Rosa Uzele: 2
•Lee Ryans: 1
•Harry Lithgow: 1
•Sally Urtup: 1

Most assists
•Flint Eastgate: 2
•Harry Lithgow: 1
•Lee Ryans: 1
•Sally Urtup: 1
•Paul Goldsmith: 1
•Rosa Uzele: 1
•Fraser Philips: 1

by **Filindostan** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:39 am

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FOOTBALL: WORLD CUP 80 QUALIFIERS
21st minute applause turns awry as Colunberra gets away with spoils shared

SAN MARCO - It was a disappointing evening for the Pula Garudas as they failed to get all three points in their opening home match against 282nd ranked Colunberra.

In a night that honored the contributions of deceased defender Enzo Matienzo to Filindostani football, the hosts were reduced to ten players when Alex Jampang got his marching order for impeding one of Colunberra's attackers after his oversight at the end of the 21st minute applause for the ex-Perodos defender caused him to carelessly lose the ball. His foul inside the box was adjudged to be the last player between the forward and the goal, and the referee decided to give the lanky defender an early bath, and, of course, a penalty to the visiting team. When applause turned to boos, luckily, the opponents failed to convert the penalty kick, and kept the score level pegging at 0-0.

Willy Gurnawan was on the backfoot early on, as he was forced to put Domo to right back and substituted Fizzy, who got a rare start under the tactician, for young defender Kartio Weici. The Perokojak defender was called into action when the visitors forced a rare mistake from King TIsang, keeping them from scoring in the sequence of play. However, their stand didn't last long, and conceded the first goal of the game in the 42nd minute.

The coach gambled at the start of the second half, bringing on Leomarie for Yakob, putting Domo back to right midfield, and giving Bochog the second half start replacing Yish, leaving him with no more substitutions to use for the rest of the half. It partially paid off - on a sequence of plays where Bochog was left open, the picture perfect pass from the New Llama Capitals midfielder (King) had the ball found its way to the clutching feet of the Fortunas forward, and scoring a classic poacher's goal in the 68th minute. Both sides pressed for the win, but neither one had the edge in a disappointing night for the FIlindostani fans.

There was however, a good night for the fans and family of Enzo. Right after the post-match conference during Filindostan's 1-0 victory over Razenthuria, assistant manager Vicky Toledo told media outlets that they will retire Enzo's #21 jersey from the national team. The pre-match ceremony had the Filindostanis wear identical home kits with the defender's #21 on it, and presented two framed kits of Enzo - one in Perodos colors and one in national colors. The two kits will be put in the Underpass Sports Museum just near the national stadium.

The draw left Filindostan with 4 points from two matches, and are currently on third place at the Group 14 standings. They will be on the road once again to face current joint group leaders Nethertopia, who beat 95X and Razenthuria on their first two matches. Valanora looks to be running away with the group victory, thanks to a 7-0 spanking of Euran Oceania Territories. Bochog currently tops the scoring list for Filindostan, having scored the team's two goals in the qualifying process as a substitute. Maybe that would convince Willy to give him a starting position in the next match.

by **Newmanistan** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:56 am

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS EARN FIRST WIN IN A LONG TIME

by Brianne Henry,

The Rockets have officially won in qualifying before they have lost, taking a 1-0 decision on the road in North Dajao, in a match that probably only people from the two involved nations cared about. The win puts Newmanistan third in the group, meaning they would qualify for the playoff if it ended now. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go so we cannot freeze time, and this will likely be the only day we can make that comment (since the next match is against Kita-Hinode), so we might as well get that pointless observation out of the way now. The 1-0 win is nothing that’s going to get the rest of the group worried about us, but its better to win, then lose.

Even though we have not heard much from the North Dajao press, and that the nation chooses to go with the secret roster strategy, there was still an impressive amount of spectators at this stadium, though I can’t remember what they called it. The home crowd had a lot to cheer for early, as in the 11th minute, one of their forwards was awarded a penalty kick for an apparent hand ball in the box by Cody Hall. While the call seemed a little cheesy for the most loyal of Rockets fans, by letter of the rule, it was the proper call. However the kick would become a failed attempt when Sergio Lopez guessed properly, and was able to knock the shot aside. Lopez said after that match that it wasn’t really a guess, “He kind of telegraphed it,” he said in an interview, “Maybe it was intention and hoped I would think he was faking me on something, but I have faced tougher penalty kicks at home. It was a clear read for me, not a guess.” The failed opportunity took a lot of life out of the crowd, and the Rockets proceeded to take control of the match. After several opportunities looked like they might result in a goal, the sky blue finally got the break through on a pretty passing play between Chase Lassiter and Robert Webster. Webster, the veteran member of the Southport Tigers beat the keeper to his right, and put Newmanistan on the board in the 34th minute.

There would be no other goals in this match, but the Rockets did continue to carry the play, and had more chances to extend the lead. For the most part, however, their focus was on defense, and they were able to keep the home side without a chance that really made our fans panic at home. North Dajao fans wanted a red card on Cody Hall in the 73rd minute for an aggressive tackle, and “accidental” step on their forwards hand afterwards, but the referee would only show the yellow. That’s something to keep in mind going forward in regards to Hall, but probably the referee believed the acting job that the hand step was by accident. We’ve seen enough of Hall to know that it was not. Cody was substituted out of the match six minutes later, and said of the incident, “Fans didn’t think I should of got a yellow, and I agree. A bit of an exaggeration to book me at all, but I’ll live with it.”

Back at home, the World Cup is drawing a level of interest that is surprising many, as the road game drew a 27.1 rating share, putting it along the lines of our qualifying efforts from long ago. These results are making it seem like the right decision was made to play these games, but this isn’t anything new. This generation of fans has simply not lived through all the aggravation of the failed qualification attempts. This World Cup has no expectation of qualification, so our fans will just enjoy the games, but when the expectations get higher, it remains to be seen if they would continue to watch and accept failures. That all is very much contingent on whether or not the Empire continues to attempt to qualify, or if this Cup is a “one-off”. With the fan support right now, one has to be optimistic. Up next is Kita-Hinode in Tundra Falls. They are a nation that does indeed expect to qualify and it will be an interesting measuring stick to see just how far we have to climb before we can make a nation like that be worried about dropping points to us. On any given day, anything can happen, but obviously, the Rockets are a considerable underdog for the match.

by **Eura** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:01 am

emplor.eur/main/sport/football
STUNNING COMEBACK AS EURANS CHALLENGE CRITICS
Second half reaction to Ainsworth rallying call unravels Apox
Report by our Euran international team correspondent Paul Falmer

EURA – 4
Underwood 50, 65
Armstrong 52
D Sharp 80

APOX – 1
L Palmisano 17

Dion Underwood scored twice in Bastion as Eura overcame a half time deficit to beat Apox heavily in driving rain.

Conditions were grim at Bastion Arena after a mechanical failure in the roof overnight meant it had to stay open during a period of torrential rain. It was only a narrow decision that averted the match being postponed. Making wholesale changes from the shambolic defeat to Ashkam, Eura fielded a full strength side against Apox, who faced Eura in qualifying for the previous World Cup and have always been dangerous opponents. On paper they are Eura’s main rival in the group for qualification although the result against Ashkam and the presence of several other threatening teams means nothing can be taken for granted. The deadly Palmisano brothers were both starting after all.

In contrast to the farcical opening of the previous qualifier Eura started strongly and with real intent. Underwood and Anthony Townsend tested the goalkeeper early on with well hit but down the middle shots. Oscar Coltrane then made the Apoxian shotstopper a bit harder with a curling effort from 20 yards that required an acrobatic palm away to nullify. Eura were thoroughly on top and should have been comfortably ahead. Yet again however they were set to suffer for the forwards profligacy. An innocent looking James Palmisano free kick from 35 yards came through the mass of players in the box where younger brother Lucan was waiting to reactively divert the ball past Robert Griffin on the slippery grass. Eura struggled to regain their momentum, in fact they were lucky not to go further behind when a clumsy John Leach challenge foul in the box went unpunished.

At half time journalists in the tunnel reported what was described as a “fountain of rage and arguing going off” in the dressing room. This was eventually replaced by a single player talking, and then a more unified roar. Among reports that manager Steve Thompson had lost his dressing room we spoke to an inside source and asked him if that was true. “Nonsense!” he declared emphatically. “There was an argument between senior players and Tommo quietly decided to get Frank Ainsworth to intervene, talk to the players on their level. It was clever. If Tommo had done it he'd just be fluffing egos and rewarding childish behaviour with a response. So Frankie reminded them what was what, told them to get their act together. They sharpened up.” How much of this story is true, we don't know. What we do know is that the team looked like a completely different side from the first kick of the second half.

Having only a 0-1 lead to defend Apox were reluctant to sit back but soon faced little choice as Eura surged into their half. The breakthrough was rapid. Townsend beat a man with brilliant footwork in the 50th minute and had the audacity to follow it up with a chipped ball into the box. It was well placed but lacked power so Liam Armstrong had to head it down rather than on target, to the grateful feet of Underwood to score from the edge of the six yard box. Eura regained the ball from kick off almost immediately and hit the post within a minute – Tom Robson from an angle – then scored again within two, Robson working in from the left and cutting the ball back for Armstrong to score brilliantly, placing a clean shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Eura had turned the game on its head in minutes and now Apox were under pressure to equalise, allowing Eura to sit back and counter. Robson was brought off for the pacier Rhys Griffiths for this purpose, while Apox brought on another forward and went all out.

The away side didn't go down without a fight. They had several solid efforts kept out by the hands of Griffin and an omnipresent Ainsworth. However a mistake from James Palmisano, normally their most reliable player, would finish any chances of a comeback. Eura sat deep for a set piece causing much discomfort among the home fans who much preferred the dynamic, attacking Eura of the first ten minutes of the second half. Apox hesitated in search of an opening and were punished as John Talbot dispossessed a sluggish Palmisano on the edge of the box and set up Coltrane to launch the ball forty yards from barely outside of his own box. Underwood was away like a rocket no-one could stop him running clear to fire home in front of an adoring crowd. Apox faltered and Eura saw the game out. There was even time for Dean Sharp to net a simple header off the bench to make it four. The comeback was one to remember for Eura although Thompson and his players will need to learn lessons from the calamity that almost unfolded instead. The players who didn't play will have to work much harder too to get back in the side soon.

by **Barunia** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:02 am

Buckley & Brown's Travel Guide to Havenia, Barunia

Introduction
The Socialist Federation of Barunia is an archipelago nation located in the Southern Ocean. Barunia has had human occupation since the 16th century, and has been colonised by both Spanish settlers and the British. The country consists of fours states: Havenia, West Barunia, Marion, and Tildos, and one territory, the Northern Isles. As a tourist destination, Barunia has many sights and attractions for the interested traveller. From sunlit beaches and wilderness trails to more adventurous pursuits such as caving and extreme sports. The eastern most state of Barunia island, the largest island in the archipelago, is Havenia, and contains the nation's capital of Porthaven. There is much to do in the capital, but also further afield in the cities of Dropshort and Waybridge, and along the southern coast, as well as inland.

Getting there
Travel to Barunia via plane is usually through Porthaven International Airport. The main carrier is Blue Sky Air, formerly Baruniair, which is the national airline. Flights leave twice daily to regional areas, and less frequently to other destinations. Alternatively, Tildos State International Airport is a smaller airport on Tildos Island to the north that services regional travel. Cruise lines also dock regularly at Docklands Cruise Terminal in Porthaven's harbour.

Currency
Barunia's national currency is the tilda (Ŧ). Check the exchange rate for when you travel, but as a general rule the tilda sits between 1.5 and 2 $NSD. The tilda has a sub-unit called pence, with 1 tilda equalling 100 pence.
Most places in Barunia will only accept tildas, so you will need to find an exchange. Exchanges can be found in all international airports and harbours, as well as in the commercial centres of the major cities. The use of eftpos is widespread, and visitors should have no trouble paying with card. Bear in mind that not all forms of foreign cards may be accepted, and some cards may incur a surcharge.

Language
English is the official language of Barunia. Barunians use a form of English called Barunian English, which will be more familiar to speakers of UK English than American English. Spanish is also a national language, visitors will also find that most Barunians understand conversational Spanish, although they may struggle with more complex words. As a rule, unless you are in the far north of the country, it is better to converse in English if you can, as that is more widely spoken in the states of Havenia, West Barunia, and Marion.

Arriving in Havenia - Porthaven International Airport
Porthaven International Airport has three terminals, named Terminals A, B, and C. Terminal C is also known as the Domestic Terminal, and only services flights from within Barunia. Terminal C is located in a separate building to the international terminals A and B. A shuttle bus is provided for passengers taking connecting flights, passengers should follow the signs. Both international terminals feature shopping centres where visitors can purchase food and duty-free goods before moving through to customs (See section 'Customs Law' for more information on what can and can't be brought into Barunia). Travellers should allow at least half an hour to clear customs.
Public transport options from Terminals A and B are public buses, two routes (128 and 129) stop at the terminal and lead into the city centre. Also there is an underground rail station, known locally as the 'Underground' that is located under the airport. The airport station is located on a spur line that connects to the Eastern Line. For more information on Havenia's underground network, see the section 'Havenia - Public Transport'. Travellers can also hail a taxi (cab) from the ranks outside, however taxis are expensive, with charges ranging from 3 to 5 tildas per kilometre. Cars are also available for hire - see the section 'Road Rules' for more information. Car hire starts at around Ŧ200 per day.

Customs Law
Barunia's isolation means that the nation has a unique ecosystem, and the government has introduced stringent controls to protect it. The importation of many foodstuffs is forbidden. As a general rule, food that is processed, professionally packaged, and has its ingredients clearly listed is generally allowed. Fresh fruit, vegetables and plants, meat products, and dairy products are not allowed and will be seized. Barunia also has a complete ban on narcotics, weapons, and explosives, which will not be allowed in the country. Cigarettes and cigars are also not allowable, although loose-leaf tobacco and rolling papers are permitted.

Road Rules
If you want to drive in Barunia, you will need to have held a driver's licence for at least four years from a country listed on the International Drivers Approved Country List. The list can be found at www.transport.gov.bu/international/approvedlist. If you choose to drive in Barunia, there are some useful things to remember:
* Barunians drive on the left
* Speeds are listed in kilometres per hour
* Max speed is 120km/h, speed on unmarked roads is 60km/h
* Always give way to the right
* It is an offence to not give way to an emergency vehicle, when the vehicle's lights and sirens are on.
* Headlights must be used in low-light conditions, such as heavy rain, overcast conditions, fog or mist.
Speed cameras are used in Barunia, as well as other forms of video surveillance. Fines can be hefty, so it of recommended that drivers stick to the rules.

by **Aji No Moto** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:43 am

Companies in Aji No Moto are gearing up for a multitude of sponsorship bids for the 80th World Cup in the next few months.

There were rumors of automobile giant Kissan dipping their toes to international football - months after their motorsports division participated in both the WGPC and NSSCRA. Before the possible bid, they were only sponsoring local football in Serizawa and their Birdy club. With the rumors of the Sugiyama clan supporting Ajian sports, it is also looking likely that they will put up a sponsorship bid for the upcoming World Cup. What would be they bidding with is a great mystery given that they could have multiple avenues to get the sponsorship money flow to the organization of the World Cup Committee.

Another company making noises in sponsorship is Aji Air. Supporting KISMO on both their open wheel and stock car operations, the flag carrier of Aji No Moto is planning to support the national team in their travels to various nations for their qualifying campaign, which includes Siovanija and Teusland, Chromatika, Mriin, and Cosneolta among others via charter flights, with possibility of lucky fans flying with the team to different destinations. It has been confirmed on one of their press conferences that the company will be submitting a National Supporters bid in a few weeks to show their support to the national team.

So far, many more are planning to support the team via the sponsorships route. However, the performance of the national team in recent times will have cause of concern for the investors.

The Golden Hawks are bereft of points from their first two matches at the Aji No Moto Stadium. A four-nil drubbing at the hands of Siovanija and Teusland followed by a 1-0 defeat against Garifunya have left Shouji Takayama with a lot to do if they want to catch up and realize their dream. They face Cosneolta in their first away match of their qualifying campaign, and it will look like that Aji Air will be having two charter flights to Cosneolta to transport the team and the fans wanting to watch the game live. The flag carrier will use their flagship Daijobu DX770, a twin jet long-haul airplane (OOC: equivalent to B787-9) to transport the team and the fans to Cosneolta.

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