Trolleborg 1 - 2 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 1 - Farrell; 2 - Broxham (18 - Lonergan 81'), 5 - Horgan, 6 - Mathers, 3 - Quill (c); 8 - Matheson (21 - Parker 67'), 23 - Fallon, 13 - Wheeler; 7 - Cheney, 10 - Ciogach (17 - Lindauer 72'), 16 - Fletcher
Goals: Matheson 17', Fletcher 36'
Brenecia 2 - 1 Crystalline Caverns
(4-3-3) 12 - Cairncross; 18 - Lonergan, 5 - Horgan (22 - Beath 84'), 6 - Mathers, 3 - Quill (c); 8 - Matheson, 4 - Locke, 13 - Wheeler (14 - Ruskin 70'); 7 - Cheney, 10 - Ciogach, 11 - Keynes (16 - Fletcher 58')
Goals: Cheney 20', Ciogach 44'
All we 1-2 see is consistency: Patriots clinch qualification after series of narrow wins
Diarmuid Henderson
Easy as 1-2-three times. Wins over Abanhfleft, Trolleborg and Crystalline Caverns confirmed the Patriots' progress to the World Cup, as while Abanhfleft can still theoretically make up the nine-point deficit, they cannot address the head-to-head tiebreaker that Creidne Lindauer's last-ditch winner secured for the Patriots.
It has been about par. Nothing to get excited about, but the job is done and with plenty of leeway to spare. Had the format included playoffs, then there would be significant regret in, for example, failing to score in Busukama, or failing to beat Terre at either attempt. But there are no playoffs, and can be no major grievances with how things have turned out.
Brelk-Xeral Erv has continued their steady work in charge, building on victory in the Campionato with a rejuvenation of the playing stocks that must count as fairly revolutionary by their standards. They've largely been content to leave well enough alone since the massive overhaul they made as soon as they took charge, but blooding the likes of Fallon, Lonergan and Parker will pay off. Arguably, it already has.
So upon reaching the World Cup, what are the team's expectations? Much depends on the draw. No longer can Brenecia back itself to break its way out of any group the formula could spit out, though realistically this wasn't the nation's level for long. It's likely they enter as third seeds. Dangerous ones, with nouveau-riche pedigree, but unseeded.
Brenecia's ideal tactic is to counter-attack, and they have the weapons to deal damage up front. Kara Ciogach is the name that springs instantly to mind but the star of the qualification cycle has actually been Lauren Cheney, surely bound for foreign shores sooner rather than later. With Quill not getting any younger and Wheeler never quite finding consistency, Cheney is the ace of the team. Her pace, her drive, her vision and her ruthlessness make her the one to watch.
But there will be a limit to any side overly reliant on a single player, and this was exposed when she was kept quiet in Busukama. Did Brenecia seriously look to threaten at any stage of that game, a couple strikes from Wheeler aside? But there is depth up front, and most fortunately at striker, where whirlwind Lindauer and freight train Niall Bremner both got on the scoresheet against Abanhfleft. When called upon, they stood up.
Midfield currently looms as the weak point of the side. Wheeler, Fallon and Matheson appear to be those currently in favour, but all have asterisks to their names. They play in the probable top three leagues, but not at the top echelon; Matheson and to a lesser degree Fallon are fighting for their places even there. Against top-level sides, it is probably a good trade for the Patriots to just smash it long and rely on their forwards against the opposing back line, nice and simple, and that's likely to some degree what Brelk-Xeral will order.
Brenecia's back line is sturdy enough on paper, but it's been a long time since the last clean sheet and that should be a concern. Cass Farrell does what she can, of course, and will be invaluable come the big occasion; had Brenecia held out that little bit longer to steal a point in Banija, it would have been down to her. Garrett Horgan is peerless so long as he's not forced to turn or sprint, while Broxham has run hot and cold this cycle.
What more is to be learned from the last three matches? Brelk-Xeral being themself, they are unlikely to suddenly rush in a bevy of new blood, or look to rest their talent. Rather, the emphasis will be on building chemistry, confidence and momentum going into the big occasion. Nobody will be pencilling in the Patriots to go deep into the World Cup, but then, few had them as champions in 80, either. We shall see.
BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 10
Goalkeepers: 1 - Cass Farrell (Northern Union), 12 - Opal Cairncross (Marketville, EUR), 20 - Scanlan Pritchard (Marque)
Defenders: 2 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Garrett Horgan (Northern Union), 6 - Keane Mathers (Northern Stallions), 18 - Sorcha Lonergan (Northern Union), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Crystal Fair HC, CRY), 22 - Chadwick Beath (CA Paulinthal, PAS)
Midfielders: 4 - Keziah Locke (Duke of the North, PAS), 8 - Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, EUR), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Claire Ruskin (Kingsgrove), 21 - Riona Parker (Galatica, PAS), 23 - Ronan Fallon (Newrook City, NPH)
Forwards: 7 - Lauren Cheney (Kingsgrove), 9 - Niall Bremner (Unioneers, EUR), 10 - Kara Ciogach (Lajuno, EUR), 11 - Cathal Keynes (Lajuno, EUR), 15 - Cail Coghlan (Pikemouth), 16 - Ceridwen Fletcher (North Hall), 17 - Creidne Lindauer (Kingsgrove)
SCHEDULE
Atlantic Republic 1 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 1 Terre Septentrionale
Casta Marina 0 - 5 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 2 Banija
Abanhfleft 2 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 0 Trolleborg
Crystalline Caverns 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 3 - 1 Brigantii
Sarzonia 1 - 3 Brenecia
[Bye]
Brenecia 3 - 2 Sherpa Empire
Brenecia 6 - 2 Atlantic Republic
Terre Septentrionale 3 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 4 - 1 Casta Marina
Banija 1 - 0 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Abanhfleft
Trolleborg 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Crystalline Caverns
Brigantii vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Sarzonia
[Bye]
Sherpa Empire vs. Brenecia