Barbury, Apox
Campionato Esportiva 23 Matchday 3
Group D Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Fhulghamous Peninsula 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6
2 The Golden Lotus 2 1 0 1 1 4 −3 3
3 Filindostan 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
4 Saint Dennis 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
It was a do-or-die match for the Pula Garuda, who are facing The Golden Lotus for a spot in the Round of 16, and anything other than a win will put them out of the group stages for the very first time since the Filindos entered the regional competition when the tournament was hosted in Mattijana. After sneaking into the knockout rounds which ended in a penalty shootout loss against the hosts, the team clad in red went into the Fhulghamous Peninsula, winning virtually every match, getting revenge at Mattijana at the semifinals, before losing in another penalty shootout against the Hinodejins. They followed it up with a third place finish at the Dragon Nest in The Golden Lotus, today's opponents.
Twilight Striker called up the 23 players from her World Cup 81 qualifying squad, with the below making it to the plane to Apox:
Goalkeepers (3): Gerry, Tonyo, Abram
Defenders (7): Mila Khalifa, Casimir, Leomarie, Graci, Dina Satyawan [c], Kartio, Alex Jampang
Midfielders (8): MMM, Damaris, Domo, Hasna, Yakob, King, Mohd Safri, Siharto
Forwards (5): Bochog, Yish, Ina, Bienvenido, Lizzie
The Equestrian manager went to her youngsters for Matchday 1 against Saint Dennis, starting Tonyo at goal; Casimir, Graci, and Kartio at the back; MMM, Hasna, Mohd Safri, and Damaris as its midfield, and the partnership of Ina, Bienvenido, and Lizzie. Mila Khalifa, Siharto, and Yish were subbed in at the second half, but none of the Filindostani players were able to score a single goal. This drew criticism from the fans, as they felt that the Filindos underestimated their opponents and failed to convert their chances to goals... which proved a bit costly in their next match.
Changes had to be made, and she relied on her most used 11 in the WC81 qualifiers against Fhulghamous Peninsula, with their opponents scoring first at the 34th minute. Yish was able to equalize - however, she picked up an injury that would keep her out for the rest of the tournament and was replaced by Bienvenido. Leomarie and Domo made their substitute appearances, hoping to score the winning goal that would put them atop Group D, however, a late goal by the CE21 co-hosts put the Filindos in trouble, and secured the winners a spot in the round of 16.
In an unprecedented move, she dropped Gerry in favor of the younger Tonyo, as the former's mistake allowed the second goal to happen. That, and Lizzie's insertion to the starting 11 were the only other change in the starting eleven against The Golden Lotus. The Filindos have another match in Barbury, and their familiarity of the field should have given them advantage over their opponents. However, chances were low and dry in the first half, with the team settling for a goalless half time.
The first substitution came before the start of the second half, with Hasna replacing Damaris, and Bochog sitting in favor of Ina. They hoped their early substitutions would inject like into their faltering Campionato hopes, but to no avail. Siharto was the last substitution in the 71st minute, replacing King, however, a late goal ensured Filindostan's elimination from the tournament.
It's probably back to the drawing board for Twilight Striker. Most scenarios would have her sacked by the federation, but the latter still had faith that she will be the one to lead the Pula Garuda to its first World Cup finals appearance...
Starblaydia 1–1 FilindostanTonyo (8)
Kartio (6.5) -- Dina Satyawan [c](6) -- Casimir (7)
Juanda (5.5) -- Yakob (7) -- King (6.5) -- Mohd Safri (6) -- Damaris (6.5)
Yish (6) -- Shai (7.5)
Subs used: Dekker (6) for Kartio (65')
MMM (6.5) for Juanda (76')
Ina (-) for Yish (88')
Stadii Di Bradini, Jhanna, Starblaydia
Scorers: Shai 24' :: Cole 39'
Filindostan's quest for a first World Cup Finals appearance have commenced in the home of the five-time world champions, Starblaydia, and the Pula Garuda left Stadii Di Bradini with the spoils shared, which will benefit the 45th ranked team rather than the number 17 in the multiverse.
It's always pleasing to see the entire squad of the hosts perform the Raiigar prior to the match, which the Filindostani team believed the players performed to perfection. This seemed to give the Starblaydi the energy they had for the first few minutes as right away, Tonyo was tested by a curling shot by youngster Sutter McCloud, who people believe will be the 'next big thing' for the hosts. It was the visitors though who drew first blood, courtesy of a poacher's shot from Shai after her former club teammate, Yish, provided her with a perfect one-two to beat the defending Tupu Alofa and slot her shot past the charging Amari Ollarion in the 24th minute.
Filindostan pushed for a second goal afterwards, and were unlucky to not score again when Yakob's piledriver was sent crashing to the bar, with Ollarion at full-stretch. The Filindos were pushing so hard, they seemed to forget to defend a well-oiled Starblaydi attack, that culminated to an Aaron Cole goal to level the tie after 35th minute, with his shot curled away from Tonyo, and into the top left corner. Both sides pushed to break the deadlock, but Twilight Striker was the happier of the two managers as half time came, and the sides level at 1-1.
Tonyo and Ollarion were both called into action saving a flurry of shots from the forwards early in the second half, with Viola Capodanno pulling the strings at the Starblaydia midfield, and the duo of King and Mohd Safri managing to make the ends meet for the visitors. The tide of the possession turned to the hosts, as slowly, Filindostan started running out of steam, and ideas late in the match, and Ázëwyn Fëanáro's side almost took all three points, as substitute Mercy Kaufman beat Filindostan's offside trap and almost scoring the winning goal, but the linesman raised his flag up for offside, her shot anyway saved by the dependable keeper from Fortunas, who took the reins from regular goalkeeper Gerry.
In the end, both sides have to contend with a point each to sit at the middle of Group 14, with the other matches ending in one team taking the victory. Filindostan travel next to the Marshupov Arena in Peeto to face Esportivan nation Polkopia, who managed to avoid an upset at North Quadana, a 1-0 win for the team who narrowly missed last edition's World Cup finals losing to Apox in the qualifying playoff. Starblaydia meanwhile travel to Stade de la République in Romainbourg to face Omerica, who won their opening match against The Sherpa Empire, 4-3.
Schedule - 1st half of WC82Q
MD1: at Starblaydia - Jhanna (Stadii Di Bradini) - Draw, 1-1
MD2: at Polkopia - Peeto (Marshupov Arena)
MD3: vs Omerica - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD4: at Cassadaigua - Concord Heights (Concord Heights Stadium)
MD5: vs Abristan - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD6: at North Quadana - to be announced
MD7: vs Tiiwark - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD8: at Britaen - to be announced
MD9: vs The Sherpa Empire - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
