Copa Rushmori XXX- Everything Thread (FINAL Posted!)

[Cassadaigua]

It's cutoff time for the round of 16!

Round of 16:

Nephara 4–2 Cassadaigua (scorinated by Newmanistan)

Ceni 3–0 Qusmo

Sarrbia 0–3 Pridnestrovia

Valladares 3–1 Olastor

Savojarna 1–1 Yuezhou (1–1 AET) (5–4 pen.)

Eura 6–2 Thibaea

Pasarga 0–1 Darmen

Eastfield Lodge 0–0 Sargossa (0–0 AET) (3–4 pen.)


Quarterfinals:

Nephara vs Ceni @ Concord Heights
Valladares vs Pridnestrovia @ New Lakeland
Savojarna vs Eura @ Starksville
Darmen vs Sargossa @ Rutland

[Nephara]

Nephara 4 - 2 Cassadaigua
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 2 - Rafford, 5 - Konoval (vc), 6 - Bruyne, 3 - Lohengrin; 4 - Rowland (23 - Misidjan 71'), 8 - Klein; 7 - Fanaiyan (13 - Saroszi 80'), 21 - Gosforth (c, 14 - Moxham 28'), 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke
Goals: Gosforth 12', Hawke 45', Moxham 79', Saroszi 86'

Some people were believers in order. Michael Brandon was one such.
Brandon had made a career, as a player, out of coolly and efficiently seizing possession, then handing it off to someone who had a dynamic edge. He was a player that neutrals had either overlooked or fawned over to prove how intellectual and contrary to the hivemind they were.
So it was as a manager, presented with a fractious, divided Nepharim dressing room. He told them to jump. In came players who would ask "how high?" Out went players like Penumbra Amokachi or Vedran Tarashaj who would ask "why?" or, worse, "when are we going to the pub?" He managed to bend a few strong egos over to his way of thinking; Leona Rafford, and eventually Malachite Scharner. The rest, he had little time for. He believed in an order, and enforced it.
So it was with the game plan. Attack fast and hard down any side, but at the core of the attacking unit was Konrad Gosforth. Sure, he played in Farfadillis, but he was a player who knew that the demands of Ma Alameome were far different to the demands of the national team. It helped that, unlike most playmakers, he was a meaty physical presence, too. He'd held off Mattison, taken a ball from Rowland on the chest, turned his mark, shot the ball down the wing to Strongbow who'd returned the favour with a high cross. He rose highest, and crashed home a header. Just as planned, more or less.
Seven minutes later, though, the Dagans were level. Brenner had cut inside Rafford, then split the other defenders with an incisive pass. An unbalanced Bruyne airswung. Breanne Rothers hammered home the leveller.
Still, the plan would work, he knew it. They looked dangerous, if not quite dominant, and the goal was coming. Just had to keep faith.
So it kind of threw those plans out of joint when Gosforth, the captain and goalscorer and most important player, went down after stretching for a loose ball... and stayed down.

Some people revel in chaos. Chimera Moxham was one such.
Like most Nepharim footballers - like most footballers worldwide - she'd come from humble beginnings, set apart in the Treason estates for her ability with the ball. Her mind was sharp, though her tongue and her elbows were sharper. She'd almost been thrown out of the academy after turning up blind drunk to training. She was fifteen.
There was legitimate concern within the academy they'd have to cut her loose, but at some stage Moxham just... changed. Realised that she could either squander everything in search of the next party, or she could focus on her ambitions and aim to be one of the world's richest and most famous footballers. Eventually, it was she who left Treason, demanding first-team football and a system that would accommodate her.
She was one of the more obscure players on the Nepharim roster, and the Dagans could have been forgiven for not really knowing who she was. She'd dominated in Buyan and had a strong, if patchy, start to her time in the SPL, a time that was about to be put to an end as the league's financial bubble burst. Mostly she was just annoying as she struggled for fluency in the game, thrown into the thick of things early on as the Dagans managed to assert control over the game. She could only watch on as the hosts took the lead, Caitlyn Mayer with a powerful strike that slammed down off the underside of the bar and into the net, exploding the stadium in a hail of pink and noise. Mostly though she was just nipping here, probing there, shooting high or wide, and sidling close to players during free kicks to say helpful things like "What kind of name is Shelby, anyway?"
But on the stroke of half-time, she came alive. Lohengrin rolled a pass her way, and she trotted placidly towards it, conscious of Mattison on her back- then rolled the ball to Klein and, with a sudden, vicious turn of pace, was gone. Klein hit it long, she raised a foot to take it back, cut back across a lunging Curran, spring past the encroaching Curran and Enriquez and cut it across to Estrella Hawke, also running full pelt forward, who hammered an ungainly strike into the net.

Moxham was alive and, no matter how much the Dagans might wish it, not about to go away. The hosts had acquitted themselves well, and had honestly probably shaded the first half... but in a game of systems, it was Moxham who found herself free, time and time again, always finding space and combining fluidly with those around her. Nephara's order almost seemed... not so much to collapse of break down, rather to become fluid. At one point, Leona Rafford somehow became their furthest man forward, and Strongbow found her with an unerring pass from the right flank. Rafford's subsequent shot was terrible, but that wasn't the point - the point was that chaos now reigned.
And who better to break through it than Moxham herself?
It was a very Nepharim goal that finally gave the Cormorants the lead. Lohengrin threw in to Strongbow, who volleyed a cross into the box. It bounced once, uncertainly, and both Hawke and the Dagan defenders stood frozen in time... as Moxham came bursting in and volleyed home a shot that just kept rising... into the top corner of the net. And stayed there, until Speller threw her water bottle at it to dislodge it.
The Dagans pressed hard to pull the goal back, and came close to doing just that. Bruyne was having a shaky day, and shanked a clearance straight to the substitute Castellano, who suddenly had all the time and space in the world to fire low, hard and unerring, but down went Swoboda with almost unnerving pace as he threw himself at it, managed to palm it away. And, after he saved a strike from Mayer that just went too close to him, he released Rafford down the right flank, who hit Moxham with a long ball, and as the Dagans struggled to get back and cover, she set up substitute Monako Saroszi to hammer home the clincher.

So that was it, then. The hosts were out, but with their heads held high. The Cormorants marched on to a Ceni side that had made worryingly short work of a promising Qusmo outfit after easing through their group with three wins.
Gosforth, it emerged, had strained some ligaments. It wasn't going to put his club career in immediate risk, but it did mean he was out for the rest of the tournament.
But at least Brandon had a new order in waiting, champing at the bit for another go at new opposition.

[Darmen]

Facing the Wanderers of Pasarga is never an easy task. In the past three years, the All Greens had faced the Pasargans a total of four times, each team winning a single match each and two matches ending in draws. The meeting between the two teams during the 30th Copa Rushmori in Cassadaigua was another tough slug fest between the two rivals, this time ending in victory for the Darmenis.

Felix Lucanus and Craig Blackwood, spurred on by Colin Russell's late goal in the match against Crystalline Caverns and threats of losing their spots in the starting XI, finally put together a performance reflective of their talents. Almost from the opening whistle to the end of the match, Thorsten Gerber was put under tremendous pressure, facing shot after shot. While possession was relatively equal, 52%-48% in favor of Darmen, the All Greens made more effective use of the possession, out shooting Pasarga by 24-6. Gerber played excellently for the Wanderers, making a total of 13 saves.

Unfortunately for him, 13 saves was one short of the total needed to send the match to extra time. While Blackwood was frustrated that all five of his shots on goal had been denied by Gerber, Lucanus was still calm as the match entered stoppage time. Three minutes were added by the referee, but Lucanus would only need the first to score the winning goal for the All Greens. A relatively low cross from Jean Virgo, finding himself in an uncharacteristically forward position, skipped across the box. Christopher Fosse got a foot to the ball, but rather than clearing it, the ball hopped upwards to the perfect elevation for Lucanus to make contact with it with his head. After his so far excellent performance, most Pasargan fans in the stands weren't worried, expecting Gerber to make the easy save. But he didn't, hesitating just long enough to be late to the shot. Getting a singular finger to it, Gerber redirected the ball into the goalpost, but a kind bounce saw the ball go in for the All Greens.

The All Greens celebrated the victory in their usual style: cautious optimism. Their next opponents were the Corsairs of Sargossa. Just like the Wanderers, the Sargossans were a tough bunch to play against, and a team Darmen hadn't had success against in recent years. The only two matches in recent years had occurred during qualification for World Cup 78, Darmen drawing the away match, but losing by a single goal in Brham. They would certainly be a challenging Quarterfinal opponent.

[Sargossa]

JV: ‘Welcome back to SargoSport 1, your home for live Copa Rushmori action. Business is picking up, sixteen teams remain, it’s time for the knockout rounds. For Sargossa it’s a return to the knockout stages following a dreadful showing two years ago, in which the Corsairs finished bottom of their group. And after something of a stumble in this group stage this fixture serves as an opportunity to remind the doyens of Rushmori football that Sargossa is not a spent force just yet. Standing in the way is Eastfield Lodge, the tournament’s fifth seeds and a side that has looked relatively untroubled so far. The Corsairs have never beaten Eastfield Lodge. Today would be a good day to rewrite a bit of history. Right now over on SargoSport 2 we’ve got live action from Brattleboro as two former champions clash. It’s Pasarga against Darmen. And on the blue button service there’s your choice of all six other knockout matches. All of Rushmore's finest can be found right here.

‘But now it’s that time. Once again live from the port city of Starksville, it’s Sargossa versus Eastfield Lodge. Sargossa, looking to reach a first quarter final in five tournaments, Eastfield Lodge hoping to continue to establish themselves as a force in this competition. Taking you through all the action it’s Matías Montiel and first Carlos Acuña. Good afternoon gentlemen.’

CA: ‘Good afternoon Javi. Good afternoon everybody. Welcome back to Starksville here on the east coast of Cassadaigua. This city has become something of a home away from home for Sargossa’s travelling support in this tournament. It’s the third time in four matches that the Corsairs have taken to the pitch here, the two previous fixtures bringing slightly differing results. There was the confidence boosting victory over Thibaea on the opening day and then that battling defeat to Nephara in round two. This time it’s Eastfield Lodge who provide the opposition, a nation against whom Sargossa has a poor historic record. Does that factor into this contest Matías?’

MM: ‘Not even a little bit. Good evening everybody. No, not at all. Look at the historic context to the two previous encounters. A Sargossan B-Team lost at the Draggonnii Inviyatii decades ago and a transitional side lost in the opening game of the fourteenth Copa Rushmori. That was the last meeting between the nations. So much time has elapsed since then to make those previous results entirely irrelevant.’

CA: ‘We’ve reached the knockout rounds of this tournament, which always adds another layer to the pressure. How do you think Rodrigo Defederico and his side will handle that?’

MM: ‘I think they’ll cope with it just fine. Admittedly it’s been a little while since we saw a Sargossan side in a knockout match but things are going pretty well right now. We’ve seen three successive World Cup qualifications. There was that win over Cosumar over in The Equestrian States. That was a first World Cup Finals victory for quite some time, so that was a monkey off the back. And the world ranking is now 21, which is not too far off the nation’s highest ever ranking. So it’s pretty good right now. Talking of ranks, Eastfield Lodge are the fifth seeds here while Sargossa sits in thirteenth. So they do go into this fixture as favourites, with the accompanying pressure that brings.’

CA: ‘The players are out and Rodrigo Defederico takes his place in the dugout. There was some question marks about that happening, after he was sent to the stands against Rou Scotan. For which he has received a hefty fine but the disciplinary panel stopped short of a touchline ban. So he’s ready, the team’s appear to be ready so here are the lineups. First, Eastfield Lodge…’



MM: ‘It’s a 4-3-3- system for Eastfield Lodge and this is how we believe they’ll start out. But in their group games this attacking unit of five have shown themselves to be pretty fluid in their positional play. The front three pose an obvious goal threat but behind them the partnership of The Doctor, as enigmatic a character as you’ll find in this tournament, and Malenna von Kraus provide a creative hub that will need to be shutdown. In the centre Hugh Ilyess will combine protection duties with an ability to dictate the tempo. There’s danger all over the pitch.’

CA: ‘How dangerous remains to be seen. Here’s Sargossa…’



MM: ‘Two enforced changes for Sargossa. Espina and Guerrero are suspended following red cards against Rou Scotan so in come Camargo and Vazquez. Camargo slots straight into the back three, that’s a straight swap, but Luís Vazquez is a more defensive option than Sergio Espina. Bustamanté or even Amaro would have been more creative options so the coach is obviously weary of the Eastfield Lodge midfield strength. There’s also a tactical switch on the left, with Germán Montero in for Alfredo Valenzuela. Again that is a defensive option brought into the midfield. I think we can expect to see a slightly less expansive attitude from the Corsairs today.’

CA: ‘As is often the case when tournaments reach the latter stages. Now we are mere moments away from kickoff, it’s time for the national anthems. Starting with the national anthem of Sargossa…’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘… crunching challenge from Vazquez. And the ball runs for Vecino who plays it forward. Here’s Marí. They’re backing off him and OH! He has a crack from twenty five yards and Harvey palms it away.’

MM: ‘Good effort from Marí. There was so little back lift in the shot. It could have taken the keeper by surprise but Harvey was the equal of it. And what a good challenge on Ilyess. They’re clearly trying to unsettle the deep laying playmaker by given him no time on the ball at all.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘Rathun and von Kraus exchange passes. Here is von Kraus, lays it forward for Tirs Rathun again. And the cross! It’s wide! Tia Drenas throwing herself at the cross but not quite getting the connection she wanted.’

MM: ‘Good move down that left hand side for Eastfield Lodge. The cross just a had a little too much zip for Drenas to execute her header with any kind of precision.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘Zevallos is gaining some traction for Sargossa down this flank. He’s up against Siddique. Great feet! He’s left the fallback in the dust. Edge of the box! And . . oh . . . it flashes right across the face of the goal. No one could get a touch. And a good chance goes begging.’

MM: ‘Really good play from Alonzo there. Once again he’s looks to be a potent threat down that flank. He just needed one of his teammates to have made the gamble and got into the six yard box.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘And that’s the whistle for halftime. Unsurprisingly it hasn’t been a spectacle of attacking football. A couple of chances for either side but it’s been more a game of perspiration than inspiration so far.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘Another great block from Vazquez. He’s really justifying his inclusion today. Malenna von Kraus had Eskama Nagi streaking away into space on the right but the attempted ball thudded into the leg of the sliding Vazquez. Great anticipation from the Sportivo Cordova man.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘But Marí wins it back for Sargossa. He has Cáceres in front of him. But the attempted pass is snuffed out by the telescopic leg of Emely Towers. She plays her club football for Tanrisal in Pasarga and you can see why on this performance.’

MM: ‘She’s having a great game. And again you saw there just how deep Miguel Marí is dropping to try and get some hold of the match. It’s almost like a midfield five at the moment.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘Freekick given. It’s about twenty yards out, just to the right of the Sargossan goal. Hugh Ilyess stands on one side of it, Malenna von Kraus on the other. It is von Kraus! Oh! Half the ground thought it was in! The net rippled but it was the side netting.’

MM: ‘I must admit I was one of those who thought it was in. A great effort from the midfielder. She got it up and over the wall beautifully but the direction narrowly let the effort down. Ríos was just as much a spectator as those in the stand.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘The second half is drifting away. The ball is spending an awful lot of time bogged down in the midfield. There’s not been a lot of openings for either side in this second forty five minutes and extra time is looking increasingly likely.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘And there is the whistle. Ninety minutes of football has been unable to separate these two nations. A brief break and we go again. Cagey stuff here in Starksville.’

* * * * * * * * * *

MM: ‘That was certainly the best chance of this extra time period. A rare slip from Towers gifting Cáceres the opportunity. He probably had more time than he realised, he could have taken a touch. But the first time effort was a good one and Korbin Harvey did well to turn it behind the post.’

CA: ‘Corner. Swung in by Zevallos. And Vegas! What a chance! What a save! Sebastían Vegas raising highest but directed his header straight at Harvey. Either side and it would have been a goal but the reflexes of the Duke of the North stopper keeps the score level.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘What a ball that is. What a ball! Is this the moment?! Drenas! Wide! Tia Drenas, with only Ríos to beat slides the effort wide. What a chance for Eastfield Lodge. But it goes begging.’

MM: ‘Oh wow. It was a wonderful pass from the Doctor, picking out Tia Drenas who had timed her run to perfection. But that right there is the pressure of tournament football. If this were a domestic fixture you’d have put your house on Drenas burying that. But she hasn’t.’

CA: ‘No she hasn’t and that could well have been the last chance of this match. We have less than a minute of the extra time remaining and Ríos is not exactly rushing over this goal kick. It looks inevitable now. How are your nerves? We’re heading to penalties.’

* * * * * * * * * *

CA: ‘It looks as though Eastfield Lodge have won the coin toss and have elected to open this shootout. Ríos settles himself in the goal. It’s going to be Malenna von Kraus to open the account. A short run up . . . but a fine finish. She waited for the keeper to commit and just stroked it into the opposite corner. Great start for Eastfield Lodge.’

MM: ‘She really kept her cool there, waiting until the very last second before commiting. Just what you want from your opening penalty taker.’

CA: ‘Germán Montero strides forward for Sargossa. The Dínamo Maturín man is not perhaps the obvious choice but it’s all about who wants to take one. Montero. Left footed. Hits the post! Low and hard from Montero. He beat Harvey all ends up but that post stood firm. It’s advantage Eastfield Lodge.’

MM: ‘We’ve seen it so often back home, coaches reversing their five penalty taker so that the fifth choice goes first and the first choice is held until last. It’s a gamble and, as we’ve just seen, it can backfire.’

CA: ‘Tia Drenas now. She missed a great chance in extra time to take her nation through. Can she make amends here? She can! Cool finish. Ríos went the right way but the placement was just too good. Eastfield Lodge consolidate their lead.

‘Alonzo Zevallos. He had a good game but that counts for little now. It’s all about this spotkick. Sargossa yet to register. Can Zevallos change that? He can! High into the roof of the net. The Corsairs are off the mark.’

MM: ‘What a good penalty that was. There really was no room for error and Alonzo rose to the occasion magnificently.’

CA: ‘Here comes Hugh Ilyess. The Euran based midfielder is so normally the tempo setter for this side. He was in good form in the group stages but Vazquez and Vecino gave him very little time to breathe in this encounter. It’s another short run up. But Ríos is equal to it! He delayed his dive and the ball thudded into his chest and bounced clear.’

MM: ‘Those short run ups look fine when the penalty is scored but horrendous when you miss.’

CA: ‘But Eastfield Lodge are still ahead in this shootout. Matías Cáceres now. He’s had a quiet game but now all the focus is on him. Cáceres! Levels it up! It’s two-two in the shootout.’

‘Hamaad Siddique is next up for Eastfield Lodge. We’re right back where we started, with the sides at deadlock. Siddique, with his nation’s fourth penalty. Siddique! And it’s saved! Carlos Ríos makes the save! He guessed right and got a strong hand to it. It’s a second miss for Eastfield Lodge.’

MM: ‘Take a bow Carlos Ríos. What an important save. It was at a good height for him but he still had to keep it out and he did just that.’

CA: ‘On we go. Miguel Marí. An accomplished penalty taker domestically but this is a whole different situation here. To put Sargossa in front for the first time in this shootout. It’s Marí! Oh, cool as you like!’

MM: ‘What pressure?! In to the top corner it goes. No goalkeeper in the world is saving that one.’

CA: ‘This is going to be a pressure kick for Eastfield Lodge. And who better for such pressure than The Doctor? He simply must score. The Doctor. It’s in! Another terrific penalty and their captain hauls Eastfield Lodge back from the brink. Temporarily at least.’

MM: ‘A carbon copy of Marí’s penalty. Simply unsaveable. And he did exactly what he had to do. He forces Sargossa to take their fifth penalty.’

CA: ‘And this is exactly why Rodrigo Defederico made his gamble with the penalty takers. The fifth penalty for Sargossa will be taken by their first choice penalty taker. It’s the captain, Alejandro Vecino. He’s already scored one penalty in this tournament, in the group win over Thibaea, but this is an entirely different scenario. He steadies himself. Vecino! VECINO! No subtlety there, it was all power. And it billows the back of the net. Sargossa are going to the quarter finals! For the first time in five tournaments the Corsairs are into the last eight. And who would have predicted that?’






SSM | Sargossan State Media
International Edition - Sport



Then There Were Eight


Blanco Borrayo reports;

Up and down the country, at big screens in stadiums, at fan parks, in pubs and bars or just in living rooms a nation celebrated the sweet agony that only comes from a penalty shootout victory. And a particularly dramatic end to what had been, in truth, a largely uninteresting match. Not that anyone cared. The ends, in international football, tend to justify the means. And it was something of a surprising end in a competition that has been a little predicable thus far.

Elsewhere in Cassadaigua the Concord Heights crowd were treated to an unusually exciting knockout round encounter between the hosts and Nephara. In front of a raucous home crowd the Dagans put up a spirited fight but it was the class of the Cormorants that told in the end, coming through 4 – 2. There was no such drama for Ceni, who breezed passed talented newcomers Qusmo. But this Qusmo side have won plenty of admirers and will surely be back in two years much stronger for the experience. Pridnestrovia too barely broke a sweat, dispatching a poor Sarrbia effort 3 – 0 in Grande Mountain. The holders too have advanced, rolling over Olastor 3 – 1. Savojarna and Yuezhou fought each other to a standstill in New Lakeland. They couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes of play and a single missed penalty was enough to see Savojarna through. But there was no such issue for Eura, as they stuck six passed Thibaea. And surprise of the day went to the All-Greens of Darmen, who narrowly edged out third seeds, and one of the tournament favourites, Pasarga in Brattleboro.

So the expected Eastfield Lodge against Pasarga quarter final will instead be Sargossa versus Darmen. And if that looks familiar it’s probably because we’ve met before, a large number of times. I feel some stats coming on. Who wants stats? Tough, you’re getting stats.

Sargossa v Darmen
Previous Meetings: 16
Overall Record: P 16 W 8 D 5 L 3 GF 32 GA 27 GD +5

Sargossa 1 – 2 Darmen
Copa Rushmori VIII, Group Stage (Astograth)
Darmen 3 – 3 Sargossa
Copa Rushmori XII, Group Stage (Darmen)
Darmen 1 – 2 Sargossa
World Cup 60, Friendly (Darmen)
Darmen 2 – 2 Sargossa
World Cup 63, Friendly (Darmen)
Sargossa 2 – 4 Darmen
Copa Rushmori XIII, Final (Ancharmunn)
Sargossa 3 – 3 Darmen
(4 – 3 pens)
Copa Rushmori XIV, Quarter Final (Taeshan)
Darmen 3 – 2 Sargossa
World Cup 65, Friendly (Darmen)
Sargossa 2 – 1 Darmen
Copa Rushmori XV, Group Stage (Saugeais)
Sargossa 1 – 0 Darmen
Copa Rushmori XV, Semi Final (Saugeais)
Sargossa 1 – 1 Darmen
World Cup 66, Finals Group Stage, (Audioslavia)
Sargossa 3 – 3 Darmen
Copa Rushmori XVII, Group Stage (Ossidiacqua)
Darmen 2 – 1 Sargossa
World Cup 68, Friendly (Darmen)
Darmen 2 – 3 Sargossa
Copa Rushmori XX, Group Stage (Darmen)
Sargossa 3 – 0 Darmen
Copa Rushmori XX, Semi Final (Valladares)
Sargossa 1 – 1 Darmen
World Cup 78, Qualification Group Stage, (Sargossa)
Darmen 0 – 1 Sargossa
World Cup 78, Qualification Group Stage, (Darmen)

The All-Greens of Darmen are Sargossa’s most persistent foe. But, with just three defeats in the previous sixteen fixtures, the historic record is very much weighted in the Corsairs’ favour. But one of those three defeats happened to occur in the biggest fixture of all between the nations, the final of the thirteenth Copa Rushmori in Ancharmunn. Since then Sargossa have gained some measure of revenge in a quarter final and a couple of semi finals. But any number of knockout round wins isn’t going to bring back that trophy. The Corsairs may have had their measure historically but The All-Greens will be full of confidence following the Felix Lucanus inspired win over mighty Pasarga. Now they will be gunning for Olde Rushmore’s other representative.

Elsewhere the fans in Concord Heights are being spoiled, with a mouth-watering tie between Nephara and Ceni next up for them. Both sides have looked pretty imperious so far and the winner of this match must be considered a huge contender for the trophy itself. Ceni are looking to exit the international arena on a high but the Cormorants have never struck us as the sentimental types. The holders, Valladares, have enjoyed a relatively untroubled passage into the last eight. And their run is unlikely to be halted by Pridnestrovia. Savojarna have endued an altogether trickier route, the reward for which will be a pasting by the Eurans.

Expected Semi-Final Lineup
Nephara v Valladares
Eura v ????????

[Cassadaigua]

Quarterfinal cutoff time!

Nephara 1–0 Ceni

Valladares 0–0 Pridnestrovia (1–0 AET)

Savojarna 1–4 Eura

Darmen 1–2 Sargossa

Semifinals:
Nephara vs Valladares @ Concord Heights
Eura vs Sargossa @ Brattleboro

[Sargossa]

Rutland, Cassadaigua

It was an odd choice by the organising committee to place a quarter final match in one of the host’s smallest venues. At least five of the other stadia used in this tournament had a larger capacity than the stadium in Rutland but it was Rutland that did indeed get the nod. Still, it made it feel quite cosy. And it was a familiar venue for Sargossa’s players and fans, the Corsairs having faced Rou Scotan here in the group stages. Back then Sargossan fans had outnumbered their counterparts quite significantly, today it was a much more even split. Roughly twenty thousand from both Sargossa and Darmen had filed through the turnstiles, creating a colourful mosaic of vast swaths of dark blue and green.

It was into that cauldron of noise that twenty-two players walked out, a place in the final four of the Copa Rushmori up for grabs. Both nations had scored upset wins in their previous matches and knew what an opportunity this presented. They stood in a line as first ‘The Black Bear’ was piped throughout the arena, followed by the far brassier ‘Sargossa Unite’. A coin was tossed, ends were chosen, Felix Lucanus shook hands with Alejandro Vecino and the formalities were complete.

The All-Greens had disposed of Pasarga in the previous round, a result that ruined accumulators the length and breadth of Rushmore, and they now had Oygruppen’s only other representative firmly in their sights. They were sharp, they were lively, they were first to every loose ball and midway through the half they got their just reward. Lucanus had been the hero against The Wanderers and he was again influential here. It was the captain’s powerful header that was clawed away by Carlos Ríos, only to be fired back into the net by his strike partner Craig Blackwood. The green half of the stadium erupted in cheers. In his executive box state president Tor Tong Lee punched the air, he more than most knew that goal scoring feeling all too well. Darmen led.

After a halftime teamtalk that featured language that could best be described as ‘rustic’ came a substitution that would later be described as ‘inspired’. Sergio Espina, unable to get any kind of grip on the match, was withdrawn and the mercurial Rafael Bustamanté was introduced. It took seven minutes for the El Nacional starlet to pick out Iván Mayoral in the box with a delicate chipped cross, allowing the big striker to plant a beautifully placed header beyond Hyman Campo and into the net.

The goal was greeted with understandable delight among the travelling hordes from Oygruppen. They roared, they cheered and they sang. Oh how they sang. In fact it’s their singing that has sparked one of the nation’s more unusual musical renaissances. Fifty years previously, to celebrate Sargossa’s first Copa Rushmori triumph at the fifth edition of the tournament, a little known local musician wrote a ditty that had some brief popularity before disappearing again into obscurity. That was until one social media user stumbled across the tune, entitled ‘When We’re Winnin’ Copas’ and shared it among his friends, who shared it among their friends, who shared it among their friends. And so on. Inexplicably the twee, yet catchy, tune ballooned in popularity and has been adopted by Sargossa’s armies of supporters. Much to the delight of the song’s creator Jorge Fontás, who last picked up his ukulele and performed it to three dozen people at a village fair in Santa Rosa forty-eight years ago. Jorge, now in his eighties, was a guest of the FFS for the second round match with Eastfield Lodge and got to hear his tune belted out in person. And after the equaliser against Darmen he would have heard another loud rendition.

It’s been a while but it’s come back
Past results made the mood go black
But we’re gonna give that mood the sack
When we’re winnin’ Copas

Hey team, are you hearing me?
I told my missus last Thursdee
That I love you more than I love she
When we’re winnin’ Copas

They got a Starblaydi coach for you.
He’s not as dreamy as Jaime Kuu
But he knows just what he ‘as to do
When we’re winnin’ Copas.

The defence has overcome their fears
The midfield’s going through the gears
The opposition fans in tears
When we’re winnin’ Copas

The girls think he’s oh-so fine
Our big and strapping number nine
I’d rather have his job than mine
When we’re winnin’ Copas

I say, and not just for myself
Something we want more than wealth
Is a trophy for that ruddy shelf
When we’re winnin’ Copas

Wanderers, Nethertopes, them Big Blues
They want to walk a mile in our shoes
As through the competition we cruise
When we’re winnin’ Copas

Pocoans and Saugeais standing tall
But they say that pride comes before the fall
Because we’re just gonna beat ‘em all
When we’re winnin’ Copas

As a people there’s none more phonier
And now we’ve gone and made ‘em moanier
Down there in Somewhereistonia
When we’re winnin’ Copas

Hey team can you hear us roar?
We need some more champagne to pour
Now we’re the champion of all Rushmore
When we’re winnin’ Copas
When we’re winnin’ Copas
When we’re winnin’ Copas

Whether it was the inspirational effect of this particular tune or more the effect of a devilishly whipped corner into a penalty area packed with Sargossa’s plethora of six footers we will never know. What we do know is that giant centreback Sebastián Vegas was unstoppable in the air and powered Bustamanté’s corner into the net with a bullet of a header. Shutting up shop was the name of the game after that, with midfield battler Alejandro Victorino brought into the centre and Fabián Parra introduced into what became a back six. Possession was surrendered to the All-Greens, who huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way through the imposing dark blue wall now arrayed before them.

The referee’s whistle was greeted by the majority of players dropping to the turf, albeit in slightly different states of emotion. But there was no overblown celebration from coach Rodrigo Defederico, who immediately made a beeline for opposite number Godefroy Abascal. The two coaches embraced before heading to the pitch to join their respective players. The Darmenis saluted their supporters, as they said goodbye to their Copa chances for another tournament, while the Corsairs celebrated, thoughts of their next test temporarily put aside. And it’s quite the test too. The Euran’s are massive favourites, having topped their qualifying group quite comfortably and then scoring a mere ten goals in the knockout stages, a 4 – 1 win over Savojarna the latest trouncing they’ve handed out. The Terranean giants are rarely short of confidence and their recent form will have done nothing to dampen that spirit. But Eura and Sargossa have met twice before in the knockout stages of Copas past, with the Corsairs triumphing on both occasions. There was a penalty shootout win at Copa Eighteen and a magnificent extra time victory in the final of the twentieth edition of the tournament. So maybe, just maybe, this one will be closer than expected.





(OOC: A George Formby parody seemed a natural accompaniment to previous Barry Manilow and Edgar Allan Poe efforts. For anyone interested the general tune, as kindly demonstrated by comic Frank Skinner, can be found here.)

[Nephara]

Nephara 1 - 0 Ceni
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 2 - Rafford (18 - Kielseng 83'), 5 - Konoval (c), 22 - Steelhenge, 19 - Vicelich; 4 - Rowland, 8 - Klein (15 - Rosenthal 67'); 7 - Fanaiyan, 14 - Moxham, 11 - Strongbow (16 - Aspenwood 77'); 9 - Hawke
Goal: Rowland 75' pen

Konrad Gosforth was their guy, for the penalty spot.
Konrad Gosforth was also injured. Lohengrin had been rested, because, well, she was 30 now, and playing a very physically intense position. That had paid off, because Vicelich had been excellent this match, shuttling down the flank and shutting down del Toro at every opportunity.
The rumours were that this might be Ceni's swansong on the international stage for the forseeable future. It could be discouraging, sometimes, the way great nations could just vanish from world football, close themselves away forever, contentto withdraw back into the wilderness. At least Ceni were one of the lucky few who could say they'd left a lasting impression.
The outset was that basically every neutral in the stadium wanted Ceni to win. Nephara weren't exactly well-loved at the best of times, and this was not the best of times. Especially in a match where they'd seemingly been more fixated on shutting Ceni down than starting attacks themselves, because they had. Moxham was struggling to assert herself in Kymeri's pocket, Hawke's radar had been off, and while their wingers had thrived in the space behind Onasi and del Toro, they'd failed to break down a tight, disciplined back three.
Until now, when Strongbow had cut inside at a breakneck pace and Guri, wrongfooted, had clumsily hacked her down at the shins.
Now they had a penalty, and a shortage of experienced heads. And just as the players looked questioningly back at Michael Brandon...
... Monica Rowland strode up from midfield, picked the ball out of Strongbow's hands and planted it on the spot.
Well, alright, then.
Rolwand hadn't scored a goal for Nephara before, which was kind of a point against her. She hadn't taken a competitive penalty in her life. But she was someone who would kick down a child's sandcastle if it was in the way of her career, someone with no concept of mercy.
It's not that Rowland didn't care about Ceni's final bow for the forseeable future. It's that she felt, in her cold-blooded way, that she should be the one to bring it to an end.
The whistle blew, and she struck the ball hard into the bottom corner. People would remember Ceni fondly, and hope for their return. They had won the hearts of the people. But the final score would record; Nephara had won the day.

[Cassadaigua]

Cutoff time for the semifinals!

Nephara 1–0 Valladares

Eura 1–1 Sargossa (1–1 AET) (2–3 pen.)



3rd Place (Scorinated Tuesday)

Valladares vs Eura @ Grande Mountain


COPA RUSHMORI XXX FINAL (Scorinated Wednesday)

Nephara vs Sargossa @ Concord Heights

[Eura]

OOC - Had no idea I missed the cutoff...bugger! Third place playoff RP it is.

emplor.eur/main/sport/football
EURA ROMP TO SEMIS AGAINST SAVOJARNA
Underwood overcomes knock to put smile on face of Belgrave with two goals
Report by our Euran international team correspondent Isabel Haynes

SAVOJARNA - 1
Hoyberg 53

EURA - 4
Underwood 31, 68
Armstrong 45+2
Townsend 87 (pen)

A potentially uncomfortable tie against Savojarna was won by a clinical Euran performance in Starksville, Cassadaigua, which starred Dion Underwood and Anthony Townsend at their best to progress Eura to the next round.

In line with many of our predictions, the close call in the group stage against Darmen has proved to be a turning point for Daniel Belgrave's leadership of the Euran team to date. An unconvincing victory against Euran Oceania Territories in a friendly followed by a dire goalless draw against Crystalline Caverns in the first group game could have been the start of a very distressing story that appeared set to continue with a 1-1 draw against Darmen imminent as the clock ticked down. Oscar Coltrane's late injection of a rare piece of sublime quality into the game had spared Belgrave a lot of very awkward questions. Eura then went on to beat Cassadaigua in the final game to top the group and looked far more comfortable in their approach than they had in the game prior, carefully handling the hosts attacking vigour before delivering two gut-punch goals before half time - Underwood and Townsend the offenders - before seeing out a second half in which the hosts put up a hard fight but failed to draw level, scoring only a consolation. Facing Thibaea in the next round gave Eura the opportunity against a theoretically weaker opponent to rotate their side. Although a couple of goals were shipped the other way, Eura dealt out a comprehensive blow to their opponents and walked away with a 6-2 win, Holmes taking two, and one for each of Jones, Griffiths, Robson and Gravesen.

The brief run of form that had revived Eura led them into a quarter final against Savojarna, a tough opponent with whom Eura drew at the most recent World Cup in a group stage. Much had been made of the political situation between the two countries by the Savojar's national media ahead of that game but little in the way of political-themed disturbances came to pass. This game had a similar atmosphere, febrile but not quite as hostile as some might have wished for, although both masses of fans did contain some rather charged banners, including a Euran flag with a not so subtle hint towards Eura's recent struggles against a fascist enemy. Politics aside, what would really matter on the day was attitudes on the pitch. Both sides were fired up and looking forward to the prospect of making it into the last four. For Savojarna it would be an unprecedented triumph and for Eura it would be the crossing of a vital hurdle towards repeating past success. However the Euran coach Belgrave had two advantages over his counterpart Arnulf Viljansson. It was no secret that his side had better quality in depth and in the starting eleven, but the other advantage was one that doesn't become obvious until a game gets under way; an effective and specific tactical plan for the situation that Viljansson could not replicate.

In summary the Savojar's played to their common strengths and did not change their system at all ahead of the game. This was an understandable leap of faith given the progress the side had made. Their tactical system and discipline deserves a good deal of respect from any side. It is equally possible that Savojarna would have lost heavily had they tried to be clever with the Euran's as well. Nevertheless in hindsight Viljansson's players would have benefited from a more tailored approach rather than playing it straight. By way of contrast Eura made two changes as Ben Hall came in at left back and Anthony Townsend was dropped for the pacier Harrison Burns. Their opponents could be expected to use their physical strength and strong attacking options from fullback and on the wing to make Eura's typical wing play less effective by pressing it out wide, and attacking with direct passing on the counter with the help of a pacey midfield. Belgrave therefore decided Eura would play narrower and deeper than usual and selected Hall over Fox to counter Mikhail Jashkin with his combination of speed and physicality. Burns, on the opposite wing from Coltrane, would be needed to counter once Eura seized possession and keep up with the inhuman pace of Underwood up front. Eura's strategy was effective from the first few minutes of the game as Savojarna were forced to come out more than they had desired. Euran defenders and midfielders frequently seized possession and looked dangerous every time they carried the ball forward.

Perttu Karjanen cut a frustrated figure up front for his team as he gradually became totally isolated by John Leach and Harvey Blake. Karjanen would threaten Eura with a rasping shot briefly in the 27th minute but shortly afterwards Eura's patience in looking for counter attacking opportunities paid off. Another awkward ball during a Savojar attacking phase fell on Leach's chest. He was able to spread the ball out to Burns who latched on to the ball forward and surged forward down the right. His run was matched by Underwood who picked the perfect moment to launch a final sprint as centrebacks Simon Omark and Denis Metanov made the fatal mistake of slowing down to align and catch the Euran offside. Burns pass came as Underwood remained level with the defenders. Leaving Omark and Metanov in his dust Underwood burst into the box and poked the ball past the lumbering but unfortunate Anders Jarnstrom. Jarnstrom prevented a second goal by Underwood minutes later with a powerful save down to his right side. He made a couple more decent saves during a spell of Euran dominance which ended with heartbreak for Savojarna on half time. Omark clipped Coltrane's heels on the edge of the box allowing the midfielder the opportunity of a free kick. Instead of shooting this close to the wall he took the risk of a deceptive pass to the left of the wall. Liam Armstrong was waiting to receive the ball, push into the box and curl a mesmerising effort past Jarnstrom who could do nothing but berate his defenders for their sluggishness.

In the second half the trailing side switched to a more conventional 4-4-2 which, at first, Eura had some difficulty dealing with. The enourmously tall substitute forward Dominik Ryberg could see that there was happy hunting to be had in Eura's box, somewhere in the spot left in Eura's defensive aerial ability by Frank Ainsworth's retirement. However Ryberg had little to do with the goal that threatened a comeback, a fearsome low effort from 25 yards by creative talisman Niklas Hoyberg. It skidded along the grass through a crowded box and left Robert Griffin with little time or opportunity to get down and save it. Sensing trouble Belgrave made a double substitution right away, bringing off the unusually ineffective Coltrane for Rhys Griffiths and hauling off one of the central midfielders, Alex Wyatt, in return for the introduction of the massive Lofty Jones. Jones was brought on not just because of his notorious attacking threat in the air but also because he would show himself to be a strong counter against the aerial prowess of Ryberg for the rest of the match. It was Underwood's magic off a Jones attacking intervention that would put Eura out of reach. Eura cleared a corner out to Jones who rose far above two nearby opposing players to head it powerfully down and forward into space. Underwood raced through and pounced, snatching the ball away from Metanov just inside his own half and breaking through on goal. Underwood finished in the sublime and typical style that he has so often previously. The turn the game had taken was harsh on Savojarna but Belgrave and his players were being rewarded for their hard work, tactical discipline and clinical finishing. Anthony Townsend's late penalty after he came off the bench for Underwood only added further confirmation that this was a deserved win and the passing of a difficult test.

[Nephara]

Nephara 1 - 0 Valladares
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 18 - Kielseng, 5 - Konoval (c, 6 - Bruyne 81'), 22 - Steelhenge, 3 - Lohengrin (vc); 23 - Misidjan, 8 - Klein (15 - Rosenthal 63'); 7 - Fanaiyan (13 - Saroszi 74'), 14 - Moxham, 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke
Goal: Hawke 29'

THE HERALD
MICHAEL BRANDON HAS DEFINED THE CORMORANTS IDENTITY
Catheline Stockinger

The Nepharim side that won the World Cup was not what we think of, then or today, as a truly Nepharim side.

That isn't such a bad thing. Until very recently, the Cormorants identity was toxic. Had they been weighed down by the one signature of Nepharim identity of the period, the fear of losing masquerading as a love of winning, they would never have come close to the title. Nepharim sides who actually played like Nepharim had capped out at the quarterfinals, time after time.

Theresa Riether had scraped the bottom. She no longer had room for fear, so she told her side to play freely, without the burden of expectation. Over a decade of crushing expectation, a cloud I myself played under during my international career, was lifted from their shoulders. They played accordingly, firing their way to a World Cup title that no subsequent Nepharim side has really come close to.

A lot of writers have talked about how the side has changed since then, and most of them have no idea what they're talking about. The philosophy of winning at any cost is a fine one. The need for white-line fever, for intensity, is genuine. But the reason Gethin Ramsey's siege mentality worked was because they genuinely were underdogs who were doubted by everyone. And if they did fail, so what? It was expected of them. That got them to the World Cup, and has done no favours since his departure.

Reinhard Shale decided that the best thing to do was to immediately put this pressure back on his team. Suddenly, the Cormorants played within themselves again, so determined on getting the result at any cost that they failed to get results at all. There may never be an explanation for how Amethyst Fegelein failed so catastrophically, and I am not going to claim to have one.

Michael Brandon, too, knew what it was like to play under that burden. But you watch this side play and you realise what makes them different. They don't fear defeat because they don't fear anything. They don't have a siege mentality because they don't care what anyone else thinks. Nobody in that camp is going to read this article because nobody in that camp cares about washed-up failures of the past.

They play with confidence, and vigour. They play with relentless physicality, not with reckless violence. They are not afraid to adapt, to dominate the ball when they must, to take advantage of their personnel. Victory is no longer an ideal in its own right, but the natural consequence of playing ruthless, clinical, winning football. Whether they need to open up, like against Sargossa and Cassadaigua, or keep tight and contained to beat Ceni and Valladares, they will do what they have to to get over the line. Just like in that manic summer of the 74 cycle.

This is the new Nephara. Let us hope whoever comes next does not cast this identity aside.

Catheline Stockinger is a recently-retired footballer with 92 caps and 7 goals for the Nepharim national team.

[Cassadaigua]

Finishing 3rd. Not as enviable as finishing first, but not too bad, either. Let's find out our third place team after this cutoff!

3rd Place:
Valladares 2–2 Eura (2–3 AET)

Tomorrow, we'll have a champion!

[Sargossa]

Brattleboro, Cassadaigua


Were this a movie this would be the part where they’d be a sequence of very quick cuts. From the ball. To the player. To various points in the crowd. Faces would be etched in varying stages of anguish, spectators watching through their fingers if they could watch at all. There would be the obligatory shots of attractive women, just through being attractive women, intercut with the equally obligatory crying children, weeping into their Spartangrad replica shirts. Cut away to interior shots of varying public places and domiciles at either end of Rushmore. Families, friends, co-workers or even strangers, glued to screens across the length and breadth of two of the region’s most populous nations. Cut back to a stadium in Cassadaigua. The coaches look upon the scene before them, their respective sides teetering on slightly different brinks. Some of their players can barely watch the enfolding drama. Finally, we centre upon Sargossan captain Alejandro Vecino. He’s looking off into the middle distance. Perhaps reminiscing about his time spent as a child on some grim farmstead, where in the winter his grandfather would teach him how to protect the family’s meagre flock of sheep from wolves. By nailing them in the face with a football from twelve yards. Perhaps not. The ball is on the spot. Here’s the run-up. Here’s the strike!

But how did we get to this point?

Semi finals are rarely classics, that’s just the reality of it. So the sixty four thousand strong crowd in Brattleboro were probably not anticipating a festival of silky tiki-taka. And their expectations were met. Cagey was probably the most suitable adjective to use. For the third match in succession Sargossa were unchanged, with converted wing backs Zevallos and Montero deployed on the wings and the towering Vegas as one of the back three. The personnel were the same but the attitude was nowhere near as gung-ho. Montero and Zevallos, mindful of the much vaunted Euran wing play, were operating much deeper. As was Miguel Marí. Consequently the 3-4-3 was looking much more like a 5-3-2. Attacking play was less than free flowing from the Corsairs and the Eurans, deprived of attacks to actually counter, looked increasingly unsure as the first half grew into a turgid midfield battle.

The Euran side that emerged for the second half had perhaps been reminded by coach Daniel Belgrave that they were the second seeds, had finished in the top three six times in the last ten tournaments and were a huge favourite to win a third title. So maybe play like it. The half started with much greater endeavour, but evidently not endeavour enough for the coach who made a double change ten minutes in. Alex Wyatt and Anthony Townsend went off, with Lofty Jones and Josh Holmes were added to the fray in what was now a 4-3-3 system. It was a bold move from the tactician and, having made the change, Eura promptly conceded the goal. Sebastían Vegas, who broke Darmeni hearts in the quarters, was up to his old tricks. The Ciudad Soluca centreback rose imperiously to power home Alonzo Zevallos’ corner and edge the Corsairs in front.

The Eurans were stung into action. Suddenly their passing was crisp, their play was fluid and their focus was firmly on dragging themselves back into the fixture. They attacked in waves, their new front three starting to move the Sargossan defence around. Carlos Ríos was suddenly a busy man, denying Coltrane and Holmes in quick succession. The pressure was building, the equaliser was inevitable. And it came from a wonderful piece of individual play from substitute Josh Holmes. The Revolutionaries forward showed real quickness of feet and tremendous close control tie the Sargossan defence in knots. Suddenly he found a bit of time, a bit of space and the ball at his feet inside the penalty area. His coach, the crowd, an entire nation roared at him to shoot. Instead, with unselfishness that could warrant an ascension to sainthood, Holmes turned and laid the ball on a plate for Dion Underwood to slide it into the corner.

The sides were right back where they started and unsurprisingly, given the stakes, the caginess returned. Chances were again at a premium and they would remain that way as the match, just as the previous two fixtures between the nations had, went into extra time. And, as so often the case, the extra time period offered very little. Underwood had the best chance, his dipping drive well parried by Ríos, but with a grim inevitably the match went to penalties.

It’s amazing what can prove the difference between success and failure on the pitch. The slight slip from Liam Armstrong as he struck his penalty was one of those factors you just can’t legislate for. His strike clattered off the bar to give the Eurans the worst possible start. Helpfully a sympathetic Sergio Espina struck a weak effort that Griffin blocked with ease. Coltrane opened the Euran account before Zevallos missed Sargossa’s second. And when Underwood put the Eurans two up with their opponents yet to register it was looking grim. But Cáceres kept his cool to get the Corsairs off the mark before Jayden Fox missed Eura’s fourth effort. From two down Sargossa were on the cusp of levelling, which Marí did with aplomb. The pressure was swinging again and truly told as the trailing leg of Ríos kept out Lofty Jones’ penalty. Which brings us to the point mentioned above.

Alejandro Vecino, captain of Sargossa. He’d already scored twice from the spot in this tournament. Once in the routine group win over Thibaea and then the shootout penalty that dumped Eastfield Lodge out of the competition. Those two strikes had gone high and hard. This one, as the stadium sucked in a collective breath, went low and hard. Griffin guessed right but the placement was just too good, brushing his fingertips as it arrowed into the bottom corner. One nation roared in triumph, another dropped to its knees. For the first time in twenty long years Sargossa were going to the Final of the Copa Rushmori.

History had suggested that this outcome had been inevitable. Sargossa simply don’t lose Copa semi-finals. That’s eight wins from eight now. The conversion rate in finals is slightly less impressive, three victories in seven so far. Standing between the Corsairs and a fourth regional title is the nation that has replaced the Polarians as the side we really would rather avoid, thank you very much. Nephara. The Corsairs haven’t triumphed over the Cormorants since the second round of qualifying for World Cup 66 and have already been beaten by Nephara in this very competition, 2 – 1 in the group stage. But the final is a different kettle of fish. Previous results count for naught. In each of the last three rounds Sargossa have dumped out a former champion. They just need one last big push.

[Cassadaigua]

This is it! The final cutoff for the Copa Rushmori! I would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to host this competition, it was a pleasure to have all of you in Cassadaigua. Now, let's get a champion!

Nephara 3–1 Sargossa

Congratulations to our champions!