Unbeaten now since that disappointing loss to Natanians and Nosts, the Bulls travel to Sajnur with the road to qualification a little clearer, but no less difficult.
Audioslavians had expected this match to be to decide which of the two teams would claim second place, but a run of bad form before Sajnur’s unexpected defeat to Muradil mathematically eliminated the Sajnurans from contention for a place at next year’s World Cup. It is only Astograth and New Lusitania a little behind who can surpass the Bulls now.
Sajnur, seeded third in the group, are at a low ebb. In front of a fervent home support they will be desperate to salvage some pride from what has been a forgettable qualification series for the boys in purple.
Rickson Marañón is expected to return for Audioslavia, providing some much needed flair in the final third. Patterick has shown no intention of moving to a formation that contains within it a striker, a forward or indeed any sense of joy or ambition. With only lower or mid-tier teams to come after Sajnur (including Jeckland and N&N, who both beat the Bulls in the first round of games), Patterick may see a draw as a good result, regardless of whether or not Astograth can take a win in a similarly tricky away tie against Natanians and Nosts.
The Astograthians are looming behind us like a big loomy thing. All is left for Audioslavia is to chuckle nervously and hope the bus takes us all the way to Mriin.
Said bus has now been confirmed to be stopping in Kjeligsted for Audioslavia’s final home game of qualifying. The one-time change of stadium, from the Arena Kirola, Audioslavia’s home from cycles 66 to present, to the 1927 Arena, home of the Bulls for cycles 59 to 65, is for two reasons. Firstly to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Kjeligsted’s unification with Audioslavia, secondly to give Jeremy Jaffacake a prettier location to formally be presented with his World Assembly Commendation for Services to Journalistic Integrity. The exact schedule for said presentation has been a matter of public record for some time now, leading some to warn of the possibility of hijinks, but the Kjeligstedi Garda are supposedly confident that everything will go off without a hitch.