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by Mapletish » Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:09 pm
by Qusmo » Mon Jul 09, 2018 7:11 pm
by Abanhfleft » Tue Jul 10, 2018 7:02 am
COMMONWEALTH OF BAKER PARK 1 - 2 ABANHFLEFT
WESTMORELAND (6') McGINNIS (51' pen)
BAKAYOKO (90+3')
by The South Falls » Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:17 am
by Savojarna » Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:11 pm
by Mercedini » Tue Jul 10, 2018 1:54 pm
FINAL SCOREDBC | R16TAESHAN 1
Torres 18'
MERCEDINI 3
Kavlan 10', Spartoni 62', Domacenti 85'Ibini, Valanora
by Qusmo » Tue Jul 10, 2018 9:20 pm
What do you think of our team now?
Do you want to reconsider your picks after you did so poorly in the first round?
Qusmo v. Mapletish
Aranfield Bridge, Everlin, Valanora
Qusmo - 4-2 (a.e.t.) win v. Neo-Romanum in Round of Sixteen - 2nd in Group D (6 points v. Cosumar, Chromatika, & Alpine Union; 4-4, ±0) - Did not enter Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Round of Sixteen in Cup of Harmony 72 - 83rd-ranked senior team
Mapletish - 4-3 win v. Equestrian States in Round of Sixteen - 2nd in Group C (6 points v. Savojarna, Cassadaigua, & the South Falls; 3-3, ±0) - Did not enter Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Did not enter World Cup 80 Qualifying - Unranked senior team
We have heard criticism from viewers all across the country after we picked Neo-Romanum over Qusmo - especially after Qusmo won to advance to this point. Thus, it would be a really easy decision to avoid that again & simply pick Qusmo. Unfortunately, however, it’s not that easy. Qusmo & their opponent, Mapletish, are both very good teams - & they both have a very similar profile at this tournament. Tactically, they’re led by two young managers, born five years apart, whose highest level of previous coaching experience was at a major domestic club’s youth academy, & who have been focussing on winning in the midfield. For Mapletish, that manifests itself by putting five players in midfield; for Qusmo, it shows by sacrificing some defensive support in order to fit four senior national team players in the centre of the pitch. Looking at results, these teams finished second in their respective groups on six points - two wins & one loss. They conceded as many goals as they scored, & both numbers were low: four for Qusmo & only three for Savojarna. However, in the Round of Sixteen, both teams unseated a group winner in a high-scoring match; for Qusmo, it was 4-2 after extra time, while for Mapletish, it only took ninety minutes to rack up a 4-3 score. For all we know, we could see a similar offensive explosion at Aranfield Bridge. Will we see Qusmi’y Juzuna or the Buio'Dzz in the Di Bradini Cup semifinal? It seems almost too close to call - which, of course, means we have to go with Qusmo & hope we’re not wrong again.
Prediction: Qusmo
Savojarna v. Kita-Hinode
Donna Cathedral, Mar Sara, Valanora
Savojarna - 2-1 win v. Benin-Togo in Round of Sixteen - 1st in Group C (7 points v. Mapletish, Cassadaigua, & the South Falls; 8-3, +5) - Group Stage in Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Group Stage in World Cup 80 - 28th-ranked senior team
Kita-Hinode - 3-0 win v. Cosumar in Round of Sixteen - 2nd in Group A (6 points v. Neo-Romanum, Anthor, & Ethane; 7-5, +2) - Semifinals in Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Semifinals in Cup of Harmony 72 - 40th-ranked senior team
When we were previewing a projected matchup between these two, we said that “despite a tough challenge, Kita-Hinode seems the favourite to advance to the semifinals for the third consecutive year, dating back to their reemergence on the U21 scene with the Di Bradini 41 championship.” Not much has changed in our analysis since then. Kita-Hinode had a thoroughly convincing win in the Round of Sixteen, as they walloped Cosumar to a 3-0 score. Benin-Togo is a tougher team than most would probably think at first blush, but Savojarna was only able to net two against a defense that conceded more in the group stage than any team not named the South Falls, & the 2-1 score was tighter than it should have been. It would take a notable dip in form for Kita-Hinode or a remarkable uptick in quality for Savojarna to prevent the oft-semifinalists from making it to the last four again.
Prediction: Kita-Hinode
Mercedini v. Semarland
The Battleground, Raynor City, Valanora
Mercedini - 3-1 win v. Taeshan in Round of Sixteen 2nd in Group H (6 points v. Pasarga, North Prarie, & Greater Vakolicci Haven; 3-1, +2) - Group Stage in Di Bradini Cup 42 - Round of Sixteen in Sporting World Cup 6 - Champions of Cup of Harmony 72 - 26th-ranked senior team
Semarland - 3-0 (a.e.t.) win v. Razenthuria in Round of Sixteen - 1st in Group F (6 points v. Abanhfleft, Blaneu, & Starblaydia; 6-4, +2) - Did not enter Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Did not enter World Cup 80 Qualifying - 127th-ranked senior team
When previewing this matchup as a hypothetical, we noted that the Semars were attempting “to recreate the same story as Kita-Hinode two editions ago; unfortunately for them, however, we think Mercedini will get their first trip to the semifinals in the same edition as their first trip to the quarterfinals.” Again, Round of Sixteen results seem to point in the same direction. Mercedini may have conceded a goal, but the Eaglets had a great match against former Di Bradini Cup champions. On the other hand, although they got going in extra time, Semarland could not score a single goal against Razenthuria in ninety minutes - & that was a matchup in which they were heavily favoured. It’s entirely possible that Semarland is unable to find the back of the net again after an hour & a half of quarterfinal play, though a second chance would not be likely. Mercedini has been a stingy team defensively throughout this tournament; they conceded the joint-fewest in the group stage, & no team has conceded fewer throughout the entire tournament, including those which have only played three matches. However, Mercedini has also found its stride offensively, which could prove a lethal combination - precisely what is needed for the Eaglets to earn a historic first trip to the Di Bradini Cup semifinals.
Prediction: Mercedini
Abanhfleft v. Pasarga
Hatire Memorial, Capri, Valanora
Abanhfleft - 2-1 win v. Baker Park in Round of Sixteen - 2nd in Group F (5 points v. Semarland, Blaneu, & Starblaydia; 2-1, +1) - Round of Sixteen in Di Bradini Cup 42 - Group Stage in Sporting World Cup 6 - Group Stage in World Cup 80 - 24th-ranked senior team
Pasarga - 3-2 win v. Routcher in Round of Sixteen - 1st in Group H (9 points v. Mercedini, North Prarie, & Greater Vakolicci Haven; 8-2, +6) - Champions of Di Bradini Cup 42 - Did not enter Sporting World Cup 6 - Round of Sixteen in World Cup 80 - 11th-ranked senior team
When we looked ahead to possible quarterfinal matches, we guessed that “once again, Abanhfleft’s knockout match would likely be the most-hyped of the round, as they take a long-standing blood feud with Pasarga to the quarterfinals. It will be a high-octane match, but we think that Abanhfleft will finally be able to triumph over their rivals.” Here’s why. Pasarga had a great group stage, as one of only three teams to take the maximum nine points from the group stage (& the only one left in the quarterfinals) & the only one to have a +6 goal differential in the group stage; however, they did not perform to those standards in the Round of Sixteen. Partly due to some dropoff we anticipated, & partly due to some good play by their opponent, Pasarga only got by Routcher by a 3-2 score. On the other hand, though Abanhfleft only advanced past Baker Park 2-1 on a stoppage time winner, Baker Park represents a step up in quality from Routcher; thus, we rank it as the better performance. While Pasarga has dipped in form to start the knockouts, Abanhfleft has played strongly, & they have all kinds of motivation on their side, after excruciating & highly controversial losses in Di Bradini Cup 36 & 42 - the latter on penalties in last year’s Round of Sixteen. That even sparked calls in Abanhfleft for a boycott of the tournament, but here they meet again - & this time, we think that the Fleftics will get the last laugh.
Prediction: Abanhfleft
by Valanora » Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:40 am
by Mapletish » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:56 am
by Mercedini » Thu Jul 12, 2018 2:15 pm
FINAL SCORE (AET)DBC | QFMERCEDINI 5
Nilevian 31', 35' (P), Spartoni 58', 75', Vacek 114'
SEMARLAND 4
Moss 8', Makeise 20', 26', 80Raynor City, Valanora
by Abanhfleft » Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:43 pm
ABANHFLEFT 3 - 2 PASARGA
McGINNIS (44') HORVAT (12')
ROOS (67') MAKAI (85')
MAGOMEDOVA (72')
by Valanora » Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:50 pm
by Mapletish » Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:37 am
by Abanhfleft » Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:40 am
by Valanora » Sat Jul 14, 2018 11:02 pm
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