AOCAF LXII Everything Thread

[Khytonya]

The Prelude: Before the Storm
The Prelude: Matchday One
Postmatch Review: Matchday One
The Prelude: Matchday Two
The Managerial Side: Before Matchday Two
Postmatch Review: Matchday Two
The Prelude: Matchday Three

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*What it needs to be done?: Before Matchday Three*

Every team needs its criticism to improve. And criticism must be handled with care. For one thing, when the tournament ends, Khytonya was in need of a retooling. Its squad choices, tactics, and even a managerial change would be one small step towards a brighter future in Khytonian football. We can't be certain of the outcome of every match because the world of football was much bigger than what we football fans can dream of. Khytonya was not a bigger fish in a small pond, but a small fish in the vast ocean. Yet they think they were a bigger fish with an ambition to conquer the world. The last two results show that they're still a long way to go.

However, anyone who took this article as a hate message should quietly click away. No one in Khytonya's national football team was suddenly going to withdraw from the AOCAF because of what we wrote. They'll take it as an honest encouragement because, in Hartley's case, he would be more delighted to listen to what the fans have to say. 'If there's a problem, I can fix it!' he always told us. We wished Hartley would never forget another important aspect of football: defending.

In total, there were 23 players in this squad; two goalkeepers, seven defenders, nine midfielders, five forwards. Yet the initial formation of the first game against Anthor was a 4-1-3-2 formation. So if there were four defenders in the starting XI, why did the substitution plan consist of three defenders and a single midfielder? We can allow it if it was a 3-1-4-2 formation, like the one used against Gallavrynga, but the difference was the defense-focused midfielder can't be forced into an actual defensive position. When Ron Westwick came into the pitch as a sub, he was inserted as a center back where he can't do anything to join in the midfield without leaving the other two defenders to do their work.

That was just one specific thing. How about the quality of the squad? Young players tend to excel well during their growth so why were all the subs filled with veterans at their peak age? Don't get us wrong. Howe, Guidolin, and Gagner were good players in their own part. Still, we need another high-quality youth player to increase the defense, if not someone who had plenty of gas left in their tank. No one wants a player who was way past his or her prime to still play football at that age.

That goes for other positions as well, especially the strikers. If players like Liaw and Sakai retired from international duty, who would be responsible for scoring. You might say Reinhart and Neilson, but they were wingers meant for feeding them goals. Panarin wasn't strong enough to dribble against some mid-20-something year old men and women. She needs more development, and a mentor to guide in the world of international football. Perhaps some players were already teaching her some techniques for the effective finish.

Tactics weren't clearly defined well. What was Hartley trying to achieve here? Was it better attacking or good security in the penalty box? Should a player stay in their positions or move two directions to cover the field? Was it about possession or passing? Why did Hartley make football complicated by vaguely describing which player was supposed to do what?

This wasn't meant to be stressful rocket science. Football was a simple game with the difficulty of mastery. And then Hartley steps in and further convolutes what he tried to achieve for more scoring chances. After that, Weigang was appointed as a balance to the defense. Does it bring in the wins? In those last two matchdays, not really.

Bottom line: create a clear instruction and define them in a way that can be digested easily. No need to be painfully pedantic, here. Give them one (maybe two) straightforward target and everyone should know their place. We would be wrong in this part but let see if we're right when matchday three comes.

Hartley was by no means a terrible manager. He understands the philosophy of offensive football and with a squad of players wanting more chances to come at a whim, Hartley was the perfect job. Until you discover that his only philosophy doesn't bode well with the defenders who were, obviously, not offensive-minded. Perhaps we were the type of people who prefers balance than taking either defending and attacking to the extreme. For that to be effective, Hartley must find two-way defenders with both of these two skillsets. Otherwise, having defenders do all the defending work was awkward to watch especially it gave us unnerving thoughts of goals surrendered due to a leaky defensive wall.

If that's not the case, you can replace Hartley with someone focusing on balance. There were some coaches in the KPL that like to strike a perfect balance. Those who like the idea of what Khytonians would call 'Equilibrium Footy' (or E-Footy for short), good at convincing midfielders to support both defense and attack. You may disagree with our views as that whole point depends on what you think was effective in football.

The next opponent was against North Handoria. With a wide 4-1-2-1-2 formation, Hartley and the Magical Bhoys should cruise through the match with good results without any trouble. Let's hope for the first three points in our debut campaign.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

BP returns home after split decision
Scott McCrae
The Mail on Sunday National Soccer Writer


The Commonwealth National Team will begin a three match home stand in the group stage of the 62nd AOCAF Championship, coming off a 2-0 defeat against Chromatika, leaving them 2nd place in the table with four matches remaining in the initial phase of the two-tiered preliminary phase.

Under the format, the top sixteen ranked sides have been placed into four groups of 4, with the next 16 divided similarly, and the bottom 16 also arranged in the same manner; the top 2 teams of each group will move on to a final four team group, with the bottom 2 teams being 'relegated' the lower tier.

The match against the Anomalies was a far different performance than the previous match against Flavovespia; the inexperience at certain positions showed through in key moments when poise and discipline might have made a difference.

Valanora will be the first opponent at the BBP Stadium, and come in with their own issues; following a defeat to Chromatika on day 1, they were held to a 4-4 draw against Flavovespia.
The Commonwealth are now the lowest scoring team in the group, with offense being the rule in this quartet.

In spite of the loss, NT manager Jennifer Prescott hasn't changed her opinion on the overall effort of the squad.
"We got three points from two away fixtures, and now only have a final day trip to (Valanora) we'll need to negotiate. I don't think we've scratched the surface of what this bunch is capable of."

lineup (3-4-1-2):
Jonston; Moss, Onikambe, Jordan; Rizzo, Vuckovic, D'Amico, Reynolds; Gibson; West, Pryor

[Savigliane]

MD1: Savigliane 1 - 2 Netop
Starting Lineup: Notari - Garcia, Giraudo, Moreau - Marchetti, Vatrican, Dirac (Auvergne 55), Toscani, Dutto (Vitale 71) - Coste (Barthelemy 62), Grimaldi
Goals: Toscani 25

"Well, we knew it was coming, didn't we. That's the thing about this new system, I don't quite think the Swans have adapted to it yet. Netop threatened persistently throughout the end of the first half, even after Toscani's brilliant strike, and here at the start of the second, it's just been more of the same. Hernandez failed to recognize the threat, as did Pietro Giraudo, who has frankly been quite mediocre so far in this competition, and it was the wily striker Teddy Riggs who pounced on the opportunity to fire the Friends level. Again, if you're just joining us, it's now one-"

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"-sions erupted in Villeneuve today as the ASD and Populistas-backed bill that would greatly extend Savigliano healthcare, including newly expanded mental health and counseling services for all citizens and refugees was, narrowly defeated by Ligue-Est's ruling coalition, who almost unanimously voted against it. One of the bill's sponsors, Violette Bartois of the Social Democratic Alliance, decried Ligue-Est's arguments as 'callous, heartless, and inexcusable', while the Populistas pounced on the opportunity to run anti-LE political ads across Acqui Bollente. Interim PM and Ligue-Est leader Alphonse Duhamel called the bill a 'corrupt, inefficient waste of taxpayer resources', but his explanations have been found wanting by the public, as recent poll-"

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"Toscani has a go for goal, but it's a little too ambitious! And now Hernandez is shouting instructions, demanding his team fall back into their defensive posture. Constance Vaughan rifles a speculative little long ball up top and Lyla Wormald, she of the Negative Number, will be the first to track it down. Giraudo and Garcia again caught horribly out of position as Wormald breaks past them-"

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"-lling has found Alberto Caccini remains the overwhelming favorite among members of the Populistas party, but with a favorability rating well below 50% nationwide, many question if he can do enough to expand Populistas appeal. The controversial MP has made headlines recently for his confrontation with PM Alphonse Duhamel, who he reportedly shoved into a café table. When queried about the event, Italophones said it increased their willingness to vote for Caccini by eight percent, a worrying-"

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"-bounces around in the box a bit, and it's gone in off of Efisio Moreau! Oh, I don't believe it! A calamitous own goal after a stunning Netop counterattack and suddenly the visitors are up two-one! Disaster for the Swans as-"

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[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

Running Up That Hill

PART 8 (1/3) (36 and 1/3) - Graveyard

When the sun fell below the horizon, and the daily schedule finished earlier than expected, the small number of delegates went to the underground cafe in Isle-Perrot, the gentile, riverside neighbourhood of Downtown Lac-Drouin. Eileen gently carried herself with a light summer jacket, and felt slight shiver running down her body. Asher walked right next to him, his warm hand holding hers, as they slowly descended the staircase into the basement club.

The music club, dim with lights and spotty with what people were able to see, was a roomy space of its own in the night’s gloomy solitude; the placement of twenty-five tables seemed to suggest that it offered decent service and patronage. Of course, those familiar with the nature of politicking and the additional services that came with them knew that the club has been used by the elite for some time.

Electric candles were placed on top of the wooden tables, while two menus were placed before each and every table. The pair found themselves a seat at the front row to the left. The locals chatted along like they had not really recognised the exact name of their guests, and then just let them be, after taking a couple of glances at colourfully-dressed foreigners in them and others. There were a couple of Dagans, Valladars, Vauganians, and even a Banijan man present there.

Asher and Eileen, having noticed the setting, sat and just quietly listened to the musicians came out of the backstage, performed a triplet of songs, and went back after receiving a few positive receptions. Soon, the middle-aged owner (who also doubled as a waiter) with, a hat, a badge, and a pen, with the ratio of gold, red and blue seemingly suggest that he had served in one of Sicoutian armies when younger, came out asking for their pick of the menu.

Fortunately, their minds were far too tired from visiting the Parlement earlier, and the drawl it delivered, that they had only ordered minor desserts for the time being. As soon as the waiter nodded and left with satisfaction, they began talking again. The conversation, for those who had caught the previous chapter, was on the very story of 1988.

‘Tell me about the story, love,’ said Asher, in dire need of hearing about the 1988 tale. ‘You know, the story of the Plague of 1988.’
‘How many times do I have to tell you again, Ash?’ answered Eileen, who found the opportunity to tease the younger of the two. ‘You’ve read the trilogy before- am I a parrot to you?’

‘Well, your animagus would be, at least.’ chuckled Asher. ‘But someday, you may as well bring sing in the equinox for half-day and by the end, all the wildbirds and the yardbirds too would come along to hold and lift you.’

‘Awww,’ smiled Eileen. ‘But promise not to kid so much about it. You know the details, but let’s not talk too much about the deceased.’

Asher, knowing what she had meant, agreed; they were at the very end of the Sicoutian stretch of the Commemoration Trail, and having done enough for the day, he was feeling a particular mood for hearing stories from the past. 'I promise,' he responded.

‘So, it’s crazy when the thing you love the most, can be the detriment,’ Eileen said. ‘You know...the thing about dad and whatnot.’

Asher felt a slight shiver down his back, as he merely nodded. He knew that any stories involving older days of Mssr. de Ramaut, especially those that involved his college days or just the tumultuous twenties he had suffered, held particular weight to her family, who was re-formed through the marriage to Eileen’s mum.

‘Yeah,’ was all he said.

Eileen formed a small, self-satisfied smile, when she found that Asher wasn’t going to fool around with the usual stories like how he would. The songstress twice blinked her eyes in full circles, and calmed her thoughts, as if she were trying to collect the energy.

The location brought in them a particular emotional energy, and perhaps the best occasion to harness and deliver the story regarding the late ‘Professor’ and the Plague of 1988. In their attempt to travel back into the time, she looked at him and just asked, ‘Would you wait for me, if the lord asks that we be apart for a while?'

[Qasden]

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Qasden Takes 3, but Battle Far From Over

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By Tomathan Hammerland

FYRE- Alright, I've been up for 35 hours straight at this point and I gotta publish this report asap, so you're just gonna have to bare with me and my blurry analysis no questions asked, alright? Ok cool, let's do this.

For the first time since, like, World Cup 80 or some shiz, Qasden had failed to reach last place of a mediocre World Cup group again by finishing 3rd in the qualifiers, far from shy of making it over Kandorith, whose drought finally ended because of our heresy. Needless to say, the association finally grew a pair and ousted the Mercedinian Malarkey that is David Bjarnasson, a manager who was really only of value in his first 2 cycles. To replace him was the assistant manager, Sylvia Zimari, youngest chick to ever be top dog, first chick ever to be top dog, basically promoted as a publicity stunt by an organization with an aggressively waning approval rating among Qad athletic enthusiasts. Whatever, I doubt they'd want another foreign manager after the fiascos from David and Cralt-Nirlo. As a sort of "first act" for Zimari, the entire national team was more-or-less retired by force, with some being dragged back to less glamour-y positions within QAFA, like Captain Icarus Darsten becoming the new assistant manager starting this ongoing tournament. But yeah, new team of nobodies trained by the geriatric team of somebodies, you get the gist of the rest.

AOCAF 62 is being organized by Banija and the Busogas, who decided it would be a good idea to say to the lopsidedness of group stages "up yours" and went with a tiered-league system, complete with promotion, relegation, and classism! Qasden, being the formerly subpar team it is, was drawn into League B's group 2, facing off against Gyatso-Kai, Saltstead, and the Sultanate of Oontaz in a home-and-away double round robin, in which the winner gets promotion to the upper crust of League A while the biggest loser gets sent to the death pits of League C. The teams in the middle stay in this purgatory of a league, so I guess they lose too, but not as bad. The first match of the series, a visit to the Avatarian Republic of Gyatso-Kai, saw the Vans put up a decent fight against a growing team in the multiverse, with forward Jaylyn Bone and midfielder Shug De La Fontaine scoring a goal each. Of course, even with the great Macron Abbott coaching the keepers, the defense couldn't get it together and goalkeeper Zinnia Thurstan let 2 go past her, ending the game at a 2-2 draw; entertaining, but not optimal.

Following one of many long plane flights home, the Vans got set up in the West Qasden wonderland of Fyre, QAFA's choice destination for the tournament's home games, where the first would be played against the Stallions of Saltstead. Despite a fairly early goal from Ichael (Ike) Sexton, the scorefest was as loud as a pin drop in an anime convention, though the defense finally woke up and defended like never before. Hell, Vice Captain Cora Varnham practically carried the team during the match itself.

As you could expect (unless you didn't, then surprise!), the match ended 1-0 Qasden, putting the NewVans at 4 points, already equal to what the OldVans managed to garner in the entirety of the last regional's 5-game group stage. While delightful, the league is far from over, with 4 more matches to go and a looming presence from Gyatso-Kai building in contention for the one promotion spot. To keep the streak going, the Qads will be travelling to Oontaz, but will they be able to stay relevant? Stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for future reports, stuck in the traffic of AOCAF 62!

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[Banija]

I got this ice box where my heart used to be! I am cut-ting off for our Matchday 3!

I'm so cold! I'm so cold! I'm so cold!

League A

League A Key
Clinched berth in League A for Phase 2

Group A1
Flavovespia 0–1 Chromatika
Baker Park 1–0 Valanora

  Group A1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Chromatika                       3   3  0  0    8   4  +4    9
2 Baker Park                       3   2  0  1    5   3  +2    6
3 Valanora                         3   0  1  2    8  10  −2    1
4 Flavovespia                      3   0  1  2    5   9  −4    1

Group A2
Sarzonia 1–1 Equestria
Audioslavia 0–4 Banija

  Group A2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                         3   1  2  0    5   4  +1    5
2 Audioslavia                      3   1  1  1    9   9   0    4
3 Equestria                        3   1  1  1    5   8  −3    4
4 Banija                           3   1  0  2    5   3  +2    3

Group A3
Vilita & Turori 1–2 Siovanija & Teusland
Euran Oceania Territories 3–5 Starblaydia

  Group A3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Starblaydia                      3   2  1  0   12   8  +4    7
2 Siovanija & Teusland             3   1  1  1    6   7  −1    4
3 Vilita & Turori                  3   1  1  1    8   4  +4    4
4 Euran Oceania Territories        3   0  1  2    4  11  −7    1

Group A4
Krytenia 0–3 Mriin
Ko-oren 2–0 Farfadillis

  Group A4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mriin                            3   1  2  0    7   4  +3    5
2 Ko-oren                          3   1  2  0    3   1  +2    5
3 Farfadillis                      3   0  2  1    3   5  −2    2
4 Krytenia                         3   0  2  1    0   3  −3    2

League B

League B Key
Will avoid relegation into League C for Phase 2

Group B1
O.T. Sylestone 1–2 Lochario
Freeport Isles 0–3 Busoga Islands

  Group B1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Busoga Islands                   3   3  0  0    5   0  +5    9
2 Lochario                         3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
3 Freeport Isles                   3   0  2  1    2   5  −3    2
4 O.T. Sylestone                   3   0  1  2    2   4  −2    1

Group B2
Oontaz Dert Li Ng 1–0 Qasden
Saltstead 0–2 Gyatso-Kai

  Group B2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gyatso-Kai                       3   2  1  0    6   3  +3    7
2 Oontaz Dert Li Ng                3   1  1  1    2   2   0    4
3 Qasden                           3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
4 Saltstead                        3   0  1  2    0   3  −3    1

Group B3
Huayramarca 0–0 Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Northwest Kalactin 0–0 Dogsmouth

  Group B3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Northwest Kalactin               3   1  2  0    4   2  +2    5
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec          3   1  1  1    1   2  −1    4
3 Dogsmouth                        3   1  1  1    4   4   0    4
4 Huayramarca                      3   0  2  1    5   6  −1    2

Group B4
Demot 3–1 Twicetagria
Hapilopper 2–0 Tropicorp

  Group B4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Demot                            3   2  0  1   10   5  +5    6
2 Tropicorp                        3   2  0  1    3   3   0    6
3 Hapilopper                       3   2  0  1    7   8  −1    6
4 Twicetagria                      3   0  0  3    3   7  −4    0

League C

Group C1
North Handoria 3–5 Khytonya
Gallavrynga 2–0 Anthor

  Group C1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gallavrynga                      3   3  0  0    7   1  +6    9
2 Khytonya                         3   1  1  1    6   5  +1    4
3 Anthor                           3   0  2  1    2   4  −2    2
4 North Handoria                   3   0  1  2    5  10  −5    1

Group C2
Osarius 4–3 Iles Rogieres
Sett Forest 4–2 Legalese

  Group C2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Osarius                          3   2  1  0   14   9  +5    7
2 Sett Forest                      3   1  1  1    7   9  −2    4
3 Legalese                         3   1  1  1    9  10  −1    4
4 Iles Rogieres                    3   0  1  2    6   8  −2    1

Group C3
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 2–1 Tioguldos
Aut-Ves-Nat 2–2 Yesopalitha

  Group C3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles      3   3  0  0    4   1  +3    9
2 Yesopalitha                      3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
3 Tioguldos                        3   1  0  2    3   4  −1    3
4 Aut-Ves-Nat                      3   0  1  2    3   5  −2    1

Group C4
Aji No Moto 1–0 Savigliane
Netop 0–2 Ibixa

  Group C4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ibixa                            3   2  0  1    3   1  +2    6
2 Aji No Moto                      3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
3 Netop                            3   1  1  1    4   5  −1    4
4 Savigliane                       3   1  0  2    2   3  −1    3

[Gyatso-kai]

.:: From the ASPN Blog After Thoughts in a Blip ::.
0330 hours, 08 November 2020.2

Two wins in a row... Oh my spirits...

In what has shocked so many in the Avatarian sporting world, the National Football team has managed to not only win two games in a row, but managed to shut out an opponent; only the fifth time a shutout has occurred since The Silence. In the first three days of the AOCAF Cup, the Bisons have managed to draw a top-ranked team, defeat an equal team, and shutout a slightly-higher ranked team.

Maybe Tay'haai has finally figured out something...

Now moving into the second leg of Phase 1, the Bisons look to solidify their place in League B and prevent themselves from being relegated to League C. Already, one team - Busoga Islands - has managed to secure their place in League B thanks to three wins in the first three matches. In League A, our northern neighbor Chromatika has secured a berth into Phase 2 with a +4 Goal Differential in a group with Baker Park AND Valanora.

What do the Bisons need to do?

We need to win out. Sure, we could prevent relegation with a loss and winning the other two... however unlikely that might be... but winning out would take us to the top of the group and onto Phase 2 in a better position than losing out on any of the three remaining games. Of course, the chances of us winning out the tournament are just as probable as us losing out... We are the Bisons, after all ... so why don't we enjoy the tournament as it progresses, and pray for a successful campaign for the boys.

[Audioslavia]

Welcome, The Impossibulls

A few years ago, Audioslavia played twenty-four football matches across all of World Cup 85 qualifying. They finished second. They conceded 8 goals.

After three matches, Audioslavia are in second place in their AOCAF Cup group. They have conceded nine.

The end-to-end 3-3 draw with Sarzonia, hitting Equestrian States for six and now, in the Arena Kirola, being hammered four-nil by the World Champions and losing their Unofficial World Championship in the process. Football matches involving Audioslavia have become unpredictable and, despite the 4-0 loss, actually quite fun to watch.

The Hearts eleven were supposed to be Audioslavia’s most solid, with Ceron and Consuegra at centre half and Skidoomacher at the number four position, but this is Banija. Gaye, Uster, Jawara and the like. Audioslavia were outthought and outfought over ninety long minutes.

Banija become Unofficial World Champions for the third time, after a World Cup Second Round win over Vilita in cycle 85 and their Interim title-winning World Cup 86 triumph.

Despite the defeat - technically Audioslavia's second worst in history, though there have been a number of four-goal defeats over the years - Audioslavia's national team are doing something that no other version of the Bulls have managed to do for over a decade. Make Audioslavia Interesting Again. If this is the way the side are to continue - high-scoring games, unpredictable line-ups and formations, the occasional utter hiding - they may yet start filling the Arena Kirola once more.

[Khytonya]

The Prelude: Before the Storm
The Prelude: Matchday One
Postmatch Review: Matchday One
The Prelude: Matchday Two
The Managerial Side: Before Matchday Two
Postmatch Review: Matchday Two
The Prelude: Matchday Three
What it needs to be done?: Before Matchday Three

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Postmatch Review: Matchday Three

*North Handoria 3 <--X--> 5 Khytonya*

Khytonya Victorious in Eight Goal Thriller!!!

Started with a draw. Fell with a loss. Emerged with a win. If that's not the astonishing thing you've ever seen, I don't know what excites you more: the number of goals scored, a career hattrick for Liaw, or just the euphoric vibes from the players and the fans watching late at night. It was, undoubtedly, the greatest thing Khytonian football had ever witnessed. And certainly a national pride. That matchday will the one to remember for many generations to come. There was also a surprise twist at the end of the match. For now, we'll get you a paragraphic breakdown of what happened.

First Half: There were no signs of aggressive action between them, at least in the first few minutes of the game. The earliest chance of the goal was in the 10th minute when a North Handorian striker was the first to (unsuccessfully) boot the ball past Honma which ended up being an offside. A minute after the first shot of the game, another one came in on the 11th minute. After intercepting the pass from Williams, another North Handorian striker attempted a shot on target. Only for Kyle Conacher to block one with his meaty legs and McTavish clearing the ball safely. After that, they're playing boring football with both sides just passing and intercepting like little children playing school football. By the time another notable moment came in a form of a booking, many fans just switched the channels to other, more entertaining football matches.

As for the booking, on the 37th minute McTavish earned her second yellow in the tournament after a poorly timed tackle on the opposition's striker in the penalty box. Luckily, it was only one game so she will be temporarily unavailable in the starting lineups. And that was where the first goal started, in a form of a converted penalty scored by the aforementioned striker. Khytonya won't need any worries. It's only a beginning. A beginning that was followed by another North Handorian goal just three minutes after the game. Those two strikers create a masterwork out of passes combined with the Conacher Brothers fell a second late before doubling the lead by two. Did we mentioned both goals happened due to Honma's slow reactions to make a save? Hartley was left frustrated watching his main keeper moving in slow motion in a fast-paced game.

At that moment, Khytonya woke up to the reality of losing. The instant the referee blew his whistle for a restart, Boucher promptly went ahead to set up the attack, relying on Matthews on the wide area. As she ran to cover the field, Boucher performed a one-two pass with Matthews to move up the attack. Finally, the former lobbed the ball to Sakai and, with a few touches to settle it, cut the North Handorian lead by a single goal. It was just what the fans wanted to see; a no-nonsense attacking approach turned into a goal.

Second Half: Out with Honma. In with Monahan. This was the young keeper's first debut in the match and he impressed Khytonya in style. Between those ten minutes from the start to the 55th minute, Monahan wasted no time to sweep any chance that the North Handorians had to strive for another one in their belts, including a spectacular diving save from a volley by the North Handorian striker during the 53rd minute. At the 59th minute, Khytonya scored yet another goal courtesy of Liaw chipping past their keeper, bringing the score to 2-2.

That so-called 'dream of a comeback' would be killed once again. In the 62nd minute, another conceded goal ensued thanks to a ridiculous mistake by Monahan accidentally punching the ball that led to a goal. Well, he's young and inexperienced so he's bound to have room for errors. It wouldn't take long for the Khytonian side to retaliate Liaw notching up his game with a brace to the bottom-right corner two minutes after the North Handorians gain their lead again. 15 minutes passed and the greatest goal scored at an inter-regional level was about to be produced. In the 79th minute, Midfield replacement Bryan Daneyko was tasked with a corner despite his average crossing ability. To everyone's shock, he walloped the ball high in the air for Sakai to head in the ball. The opposition's keeper punched it to the middle of the box, where his players should clear the ball like normal. Instead, Liaw saw the ball and hurl it back with a rebound volley. His Herculean move made it one of the most-watched videos on the internet and became the source of highlights infused with EDM beat drops set to the sound of his shot. The celebration was an ecstatic one with just about every player (except Monahan) came to from a huge glomping hug to Khytonya's captain.

That wasn't the end of that highly intense match, though. The 85th minute saw the Magical Bhoys extending their lead to two. Arianne Panarin came off the bench after Sakai kindly asked Hartley to rest after a fierce work he made throughout the match. A throw-in was given to the North Handorians, whom Daneyko stole it from them. He sprinted to the field for Boucher to catch on. Once again, he helped set up the chance for Little Ari (that's her nickname, by the way) to score. She just needs to kick the ball when it came rolling in. And lo behold, the youngest scorer in Khytonian football history finished with a sweaty goal. Fortunately, Panarin was obviously embarrassed at getting her chest out, particularly in front of adult spectators and raunchy teenagers. She preferably crossed her arms on her chest as an appropriate change.

---

What does it mean?

Thomas Liaw would be proud of calling himself the hattrick hero. He scored three goals in the game, including a comeback corner rebound that brought Khytonya back from the grave of defeat. His valiant act of play made him the Man of the Match.

It must be frustrating for Honma to concede this many goals. After the second goal scored by a North Handorian striker, Hartley had had enough of her sloppy mistakes and brought along Monahan as a fresh change in the goalkeeping section just before the second half. Many times she was improperly placed in moments where she was badly beaten by sweaty goals (aka passing past her to shoot an empty netter). Honma would hate this match more than the defenders who let her down.

In a fiery match that nearly cost Khytonya their first win, the Magical Bhoys were able to complete the comeback in the second half. It was likely due to the midfield works that managed to secure the ball possession in the North Handorian side by containing them in a diamond-shaped line. Boucher and O'Reilly took a step forward from the first two games and command each of their teammates to break down the opposition's attack and crack the defensive wall like a flying wrecking ball, including Panarin's debut goal.

---

Khytonya head back to Honeport in a return fixture against Anthor. North Handoria are set to face against first-place team Gallavrynga.

[Starblaydia]

The first phase of play is halfway done, and although no-one will be getting ejected for good at the end of this round, there's be a shake-up as entrants get promoted and relegated into newfound groups to begin the suspicion and betrayal all over again.

In Group A3, however, things are starting to sort themselves out. Is this the group where the Champion can be found sitting pretty at the top with, funnily enough, the most goals scored in the entirety of the top league? Can it be two times in two games for purple? There's definitely some finger-pointing and evasion going on.



In some groups, however, it's much more unanimous as to where the fingers are pointing, and absolutely everyone can agree who's gotta go.



White is definitely sus, no matter what League they're in.



Black, on the other hand, is not even remotely sus. Someone check if their controller is plugged in, because they're yet to move out of the cafeteria.



But speaking of controllers not plugged in, sometimes you just don't know the map, and didn't read the tutorial, but you're at least getting experience and figuring out how things are going. Nobody wants to be in the position of these three, however: Iles Rogieres, North Handoria and Aut-Ves-Nat.

[Flavovespia]

Flavovespia 0 -1 Chromatika

Flavovespia had some good spells against Chromatika, but a failure to make any of them count meant the visitor’s one goal in St Astons was enough for their perfect record to be maintained. Flavovespia will go away thinking they could’ve got something out of this game, as they fight to avoid relegation.

Significant changes were coming at the back. Stephen Shepherd was the only one of the back four staying in the starting eleven, the Langmere Green Rovers defensive trio starting together, with Aarif Muhammad still in goal. No changes in midfield or attack, a bright spot against Valanora all things considered.

Unlike the other games so far, this one had quite a slow start in the first 15 minutes. Maybe a relief for Flavovespia, who were struggling to avoid conceding early goals. Chromatika had a few shots, but none on target in the first stages of this encounter. It was the 24th minute when Flavovespia first went close. Steven Hall had a curling shot from 20 metres out fly not too far wide of the post. Whilst the possession, passing and shots stats favoured Chromatika, it certainly didn’t look like Flavovespia were without a chance of something.

The latter stages of the first half saw both teams go close. Chromatika had a powerful shot turned away by Aarif Muhammad. The Flavovespian goalkeeper was somewhat fortunate it was aimed right at him, anywhere else and it probably would’ve been the opener. Flavovespia had one more chance, a corner was headed over by Alexander May, under pressure from the markers around him. 0-0 it was at halftime, not a poor half by any means, but no breakthrough.

The breakthrough came 10 minutes into the second half. A killer pass from the midfield of Chromatika allowed the striker to get goalside and one on one with Aarif Muhammad. This time the shot was placed with accuracy over power, beyond the Flavovespia goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. The visitors had taken the lead, and were now looking to hold on and keep up their perfect record.

Flavovespia now had it all to do to try and get back into the game and earn a point or three. Unfortunately they nearly conceded just a few minutes later, after bad marking from a set-piece gave a free header at goal for Chromatika. Thankfully Aarif Muhammad was well placed to tip it over the bar. As the minutes ticked on, an equaliser seemed less and less likely.

The last chance Flavovespia came in the 85th minute. Steven Hall’s cross was initially met by the outstretched boot of Mark Paul. His effort was blocked away, but spun towards Scott Coleman. Uncharacteristically, he couldn’t get set for the shot properly, and skied it way over the crossbar. The star of Flavovespia’s last international campaign seemed to be struggling to find his feet in this tournament.

With the final whistle, a 0-1 defeat to Chromatika was confirmed. Flavovespia had a minor crumb of comfort in that Baker Park won by a goal to nil over Valanora, keeping the battle at the bottom tied on 1 point. The toughness of facing off against 3 strong teams in the first phase of AOCAF Cup 62 was setting in on the team and fans. Flavovespia had certainly improved in the first 3 games, but were still short of being competitors throughout the 90 minutes of every game. The next 3 games will be a test as Flavovespia try to avoid relegation, and to travel into Phase 2 in League A.

[Busoga Islands]

Secret Meeting in Belle Haven, the capitol city of the Commonwealth of Baker Park

Busoga Islander Foreign Minister Ilgin Uslu, the highest ranking woman in the Busoga Islands, just walked out of the room after the third negotiating session of the last two days. The amount of people back home who knew exactly what he was doing in Belle Haven, he could count on one hand. Basically, the Busoga Islander National Security Council, and that was it- not even the full cabinet new the extent of what he was doing. Ever since Delbin Kasekende went from star national team goalkeeper to President of the Republic, it had been a priority of his administration to finally and completely normalize relations with Banija.

Relations between the two countries were in a strange place. In soccer, the way these two soccer associations worked together, it would make you think as if the countries were long-standing natural allies. BISA and the RBSA share a domestic soccer pyramid, now also shared with Farfadillis, and have created a fair system where Busoga's sporting interests were not ignored. Absent a citizenship agreement between the two governments, the two sporting associations also quickly hammered out an agreement defining who exactly would be eligible to play internationally for Busoga, and how one could switch their allegiance from Banija to the Islands.

Of course, after Kasekende's ascendancy to the Presidency, he did not have a chance to try and achieve this right away. Banija's stunning announcement of their pursuit of nuclear weaponry did not give President Kasekende a path to try and reach an agreement. But now, with that episode long over and Banija assuredly having given up nuclear weapons, President Kasekende had found an opportunity to try and pursue a normalization treaty. But he couldn't do so publicly. He couldn't even risk reaching out to the Banijan government directly- this would be a very delicate political situation to deal with domestically.

So the reaching out process began. Reaching out to a common ally. After a lot of thought, the President reached out to Prime Minister Schoenlein of the Commonwealth of Baker Park, and they went to work. She tasked her Foreign Minister, Hannah Delaney, with the task of getting this complete. They had been completing lower level working meetings for months. Both nations had staffed secret negotiators in their Embassies to Belle Haven. Both Banija and Busoga Islands had given them the official title of "Deputy Chief of Mission", but their responsibilities lied solely with this task.

And once the working-level negotiations had finished, within the purviews of their own governments, it would be senior-level officials who would fly to Belle Haven to finalize the treaty and put pen to paper on behalf of their governments. It was an interesting day for Ilgin Uslu- she had used to serve as a foreign policy advisor in the Banijan Foreign Ministry before the Banijan-Equestrian War where Busoga won their independence. So to be negotiating with them, as equals, was not something she ever expected. But yet, here she was, with Isebantu Mutungi, first in line to the Banijan throne.

"So, I think this treaty is acceptable to everybody." Hannah Delaney said. Both the Banijan and Busogan delegations nodded. "The Belle Haven Agreement- it is an agreement that, I think, will stand the test of time. The ability of both nations to not be stuck in the past and look forward towards the future is something that should indeed be applauded. This sort of cooperation is what brings about international progress."

Isebantu Mutungi then stood up. "Our histories and cultures are intertwined with each other- there's nothing that can take that away. We can either run from our past, or embrace it. We've seen in the wide world of sports how cooperation is good. Even our soccer associations have been able to work swimmingly, even putting on the AOCAFs together. Banija would not be where we are today without Busogans, and the Busoga Islands would not be where you are today without Banija."

The Foreign Minister simply nodded. She said a few words, and then that was it. The agreement was concluded. Pen was not put to paper just yet, however- the two had also secretly agreed to a moment that would likely shock the country, a state visit from the Banijan Monarch to the Islamic Republic. Hannah Delaney, of course, would be invited as well. It would be on that state visit where this signing ceremony could be held, and in the interim, both nations would work to get whatever constitutional approvals they needed. The treaty would sail through the Banijan Lukiiko- the Islander Parliament however, was less of a certain thing.

Uslu got back to the Islander embassy in Belle Haven and got on a secure video conference call with her boss, the President. "Mr. President." She told him. "We're all set here- the language is exactly what we have sent you. The Isebantu accepted the invitation to come to Lakiska on Matchday 1 of Phase 2 of the AOCAFs."

"Thank you Ilgin." President Kasekende replied. "We'll see you tomorrow then in Lakiska?" The Islander Foreign Minister simply nodded. "Good. I want you to be there. I'm telling the cabinet exactly what happened tonight, and tomorrow I'll address the legislature. As we solve this issue, this will be a new era for Islander politics..."

[Ko-oren]

A new generation again

A back five featuring lesser known names has started all three games of the AOCAF so far. No Hellegeland, Van Schelven, or Lampshire. Instead we have Escoffier, Breukelaar, and the resurgence of Benjamin. As a whole, they've proven themselves versus Krytenia right off the bat: the match finished as it started, at 0-0, that had otherwise very little of note other than that Krytenia had a surprising amount of possession. It varies from match to match whether the Dragonflies can hold on to the ball, but the midfield triangle of Janoreirinthen, Batchelor, and Longchambon weren't effective at all leading to a halfway substitution of yCinrhadd for Batchelor. The Blacklake Blues winger was often unavailable, appearing not to run at full speed. No medical issues were known, yet Batchelor was taken off the field anyway. yCinrhadd's debut marks the first time a Mawryshire footballer is on the field since yChibwod's five appearances - and only the fifth overall Mawr to don the green and blue.

Following that match was the infamous affair: Mriin on the menu once again. After the 0-0 versus Krytenia, this was the moment to unleash the creative minds on the team and score at least a goal. Which happened, only Mriin scored right back and we went from 0-0 to 1-1 in the span of three minutes. Seeing as the Krytenians and Farves enjoyed a(nother) scoreless draw, the group was still all equal, two draws for all. As far as this game was concerned, the goal was welcome (a Vaugrenard effort from close by, after two other shots had already been cracked at the goal line) but the result wasn't. At least we didn't lose. No matter what, this wasn't going to be a Dismantling of Mriin, episode 3. It didn't have to be, the tournament goes on for a lot longer so it's better to conserve our strength now and fire off later, hopefully.

The inexperience, the lack of fluid combinations to tear through a midfield at least a handful of times each game, it all lead to game three. Versus Farfadillis, and if the previous 180 minutes were anything to go by, this would end in a landslide victory. It did, more or less, but with two Greenblue goals and another clean sheet. Mriin won 3-0 in their match versus Krytenia, which means that both winners take the lead in Group A4, awaiting the return legs.

We've invited the selectors to talk on how their decisions from a month and a half ago inspired today's win over Farfadillis. Please welcome Ronne Weleman, Zacharias Steenbok, and Meiji Yahiro!

Could you please describe your day-to-day activities?

MY: "Sure, we each follow our potential national teamers at their clubs, and we talk to their managers and medical staff regularly. We also talk with the players themselves, to find out what kind of people they work best with. We all have a different field of interest, and when we combine everything we're here to select the best team. Players that can work together socially and can play together well tactically. I follow our players abroad, Zacharias keeps an eye out for new talent in the Ko-orenite leagues, and Ronne handles the psychological and social aspects."

How did you influence the win over Farfadillis?

MY: "The biggest influence we had was not selecting Reizo Yokota, as much as it pains us. With the new talent coming through, and their playing styles, we had a hard time fitting him into a traditional defensive midfielder role. Yes, that's that role playing a role in our teams of the last decade. But when you look at where Batchelor and Janoreirinthen line up, and how well they can find one another, combined with Breukelaar and Mizuno in defence. I don't really want you to get lost in the details, but Breukelaar and Mizuno already drift outwards a lot. The challenge here is to keep this team narrow in defence, but then in attack they'll spread out naturally. And with Janoreirinthen and Batchelor on the flanks, that's a natural fit. Also note how Kaplan and Betteridge sit behind the starting defenders. We had to leave a few good names unselected, but Juliasterinthen and the KFA have told us to get the best team together, but keep those big names on board for later. We started out with this job thinking it would get fun, but it's a lot of competing interests. And it's not always paradise. I mean, when the Dragonflies win, it gets a lot better. That's why I'm particularly happy when both of our goals were set up from the wings instead of through the middle like we've seen so often in the last three cycles or so."

What's your proudest find?

ZS: "I'm always happy when there are players in the second division that are getting very close to what we're looking for on the national team! Shout out to Guldherindhen who got the fourth goalkeeper spot as a player of Huthwich and Iduloren. Sure, fourth goalkeeper isn't really on the day-to-day squad yet, but like I said, it means he's really, really close. The fourth goalkeeper trains with the team at the KFA grounds, but only the top 23 actually go out to Banija. In case of an injury, we have him on standby to make up numbers. He can't play, of course, but he can fill that role while training and stuff. Tolajilo Ebina is another one, a midfielder at Brighthaven Town. Bright future indeed! In attack, it's hard to find players that fit the style of the 9 guys behind them. So Kijoshi Vashila, another Brighthaven player, is actually on the list of 23!"

MY: "For me, it's always interesting to find players in the foreign leagues that have been out of touch for a little. Ruben de Meester is back after an absence, so is Cy de Villepin. Always great to see them again! Also, with how clubs have taken players directly from our youth leagues, my job just got a lot harder. Wickham to Nova Anglicana, Watanuki to Kelssek... my spreadsheet hasn't exactly shrunk over the last three years."

What are you hoping to see in the rest of the tournament?

RW: "A title! That's what we're here for. Other than that, I'd love to have a group of over 60 players that we can pull the national team from. Doesn't make it easy, but it makes our team more versatile and resilient. But yeah, for the rest of the tournament, give me some wins over Mriin, get our winning record over Starblaydia back, maybe develop another rivalry within the region? Right now people get riled up over Gyatso-Kai and Quebec, but those are ice hockey rivalries most of all. Banija is pretty much just gridiron, and they've really eclipsed us over the last cycle..."

[Sett Forest]

Ready, Sett, Finally Going?
Sett Forest 4-2 Legalese

A. Harris
J. Martin, G. Colson, J. Williams, B. Neal
A. Haynes, A. Williams, L. Dennison, C. Williams
C. Feeney, D. Jacob

TETTON - The third time is always the charm as Sett Forest win their first three points in their third game. Legalese were the visitors, but not the victors. Following a loss to Osarius, a draw to Iles Rogieres, the Sad Badgers were able to go one better and cause a bit of an upset against a ranked team, and arguably the best team in the group.

The capital hyped itself up for it's first ever home international fixture, with Sett Forest flags flown from atop of cars, and from windows throughout the country. The colour brown flowed through the streets as thousands of spectators lucky enough to purchase a ticket descended upon Conifer Way. The matchday favourites of cider and hog with apple sauce was consumed aplenty as nerves were failed to be calmed.

A. Harris remained in goal following a clean sheet in Iles Rogieres, but A. Haynes comes back to replace O. Bradley. Forward D. Jacob takes over from A. Geeson. "A couple of changes to spice things up" said manager J. Barclay before the game, "Both Haynes and Jacob impressed during training, I have told them to take this moment to impress me further".

It was a moment of genius that put Sett Forest ahead - an unnaturalistic piece of tiki-taka play lead to A. Williams to loft the ball over the entire distracted Legalese defence, allowing C. Feeney the time and space to easily slot home. The second was shortly after when a C. Williams corner was met by the head of L. Dennison, heading low. D. Jacob scored the winning goal just before half-time, a fine solo dribble was rewarded when his shot went in off the far post. 3-0 at the break.

Legalese appeared to have regained composure when they came out for the second half. With two goals before the 70 minute mark, there was plenty of nail biting witnessed within the stadium, but it was substitute D. Clarke, who came on for A. Haynes, that bagged the fourth comfortably when a Legalese player succumbed to cramp when chasing the midfielder, Clarke punting home.

The whistle blows, and the country goes berserk. The cider flows, and chants of "Let's go fucking mental!" resound through the streets of Tetton until the early hours. The Forest is standing tall tonight.

Sett Forest PotM: A. Williams


A Sett Forest fan celebrates on the streets of Tetton

[Chromatika]

AOCAF LXII Group Stage 1 Matchday 3

Matchday 3: Flavovespia 0-1 Chromatika
Goals: Alli '55
Starting XI: Fillar; De Saint-Pierre - Slaven - Ingram - Adams; Winge - Zuniga (C) - Kuznetsov; Hauser; Haggard - Gainsbourg.
Substitutes: Alli -> Haggard ('48), Guess- > Adams ('63), Fillar -> Hauser ('74)

For most of her life, Gwinerva Alli has been told that she shouldn't play football.

As a certified genius out of high school (with an IQ of 175), Alli went to Deprí Sanar University and is working on three majors at the same time - Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Pre-Med. She wants to be a pharmaceutical scientist with an emphasis on anti-cancer drugs. However, she is also a brilliant footballer.

Playing the striker position for four years at Central Heights High School out of Alnio, she averaged around twenty goals per season. At Deprí Sanar, she's settled into a good position, scoring when the opportunity presents itself.

In Chromatika's third match this AOCAF, Renate Haggard looked a little staggered in the beginning of the second half. Valens and Landers made the ploy to get Alli onto the field. Seven minutes later, Hauser's pass saw Alli lurking around the box, and her low strike was accurate and true. Advantage Chromatika.

Juxon Fillar continued his stellar form, stopping all attempts at goal, while the defense has really started to gel together. Ulrich Slaven and Damon Ingram are working well with De Saint-Pierre and Adams, and that is good news for this team going forward.

Chromatika has secured the distinction of the first team to guarantee play in League A going forward. All that remains to be seen is in what position they will be when the groups get drawn for the Second Phase.

[Yesopalitha]

IV. Timely Brace

Chracter Profile: LM Bollosollomotai

Bollosollomotai, or Bollo for short, is a Chaos Demon who knows how to get work done. An advisor to the Unbidden Council, Bollosollomotai is a tactician and a general who has worked for the Chosen of Zaiden for centuries. He has personally killed or led in battle the armies of Yesopalitha.

On the pitch, he is a charismatic crosser and a creator of opportunities who knows when to pounce on a single moment of weakness. In the game against Aut-Ves-Nat, it was Bollo that assisted on a goal by Qhesserris and scored on the other that cemented the point.

Yesopalitha's 1-1-1 record is good for second in the group, but there is still a lot more work to be done.

[Northwest Kalactin]

Group B3
Huayramarca 0–0 Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Northwest Kalactin 0–0 Dogsmouth

  Group B3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Northwest Kalactin               3   1  2  0    4   2  +2    5
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec          3   1  1  1    1   2  −1    4
3 Dogsmouth                        3   1  1  1    4   4   0    4
4 Huayramarca                      3   0  2  1    5   6  −1    2

Lineup (3-3-4): Romero, Martinez, Anderson, M. Hall, Owens, Gilbert, L. Hall, Sanders, Butler, McCarthy, Torres
Man of the Match: Mark Romero
Fouls: Yellow Card, 67, L. Hall

Well, I guess a tie isn’t so bad. The Kalactanians have gone 1-2-0 in a tournament that they came in as a Pot 1 team in their section. Dogsmouth is a team that many- including coach Jared Sednah thought that we should’ve beat. Sednah came off as very aggressive in many of his Twiis from earlier in the tournament before the match against Dogsmouth. Sednah is said to be a “very controversial figure” by most football magazines throughout the nation and even around the world. Sednah also came into the game very confident, although a 0-0 tie has probably brought him down to earth a bit, although he is Jared Sednah. The win over the Royal Kingdom of Quebec is definitely one that he and the team should hope to savor, as it may be one of their best wins of the tournament.

Quebec, despite their lower rank, may just be the toughest team in our group, so it is very good that we are able to grab a win like that over them, especially when it comes down to the tiebreakers later in the tournament. It will be key to get a spot in League A, because it will very much insure an easier path to the playoffs than what would be expected of a team in League B.

The game was a tough one for the all out offense that the Kalactanian team usually offers, as the Dogsmouth defense was extremely hard for the Kalactanian strikers to break through. The Kalactanian defense pushed back with equal weight though, as they did not allow Dogsmouth to get much on them during the game. Cody Dixon was subbed in for a slightly injured Will Sanders in the 32nd minute, although it is thought that Sanders will be back for the second half of phase 1 for the Kalactanian team.

Jimmy McCarthy and Thomas Butler, the dynamic duo up at striker, were very close to scoring the goal needed to win for the Kalactanian team, but the shot just barely got saved by the goalie for Dogsmouth. The game was a very quiet one for both teams, and shots were rarely put on goal. Lamar Hall made a poor slide that ended up with him getting himself a yellow card, but the free kick for Dogsmouth would not end up helping them in the end, as they didn’t score on that opportunity. The game ended in slow fashion, as the whistle was blown on a goal kick, and the game ended 0-0.

The next game against Huayramarca will be a large one for the chances of the Kalactanians. It will be their best shot to beat on a team that has had poor showings so far, and grab 3 points. Winning is extremely crucial in a close group like this.

Until next time. Go Kalactin.

[Krytenia]

Has Anyone Seen Our Strikers?
By Rami Niblick in Avidia

THREE hundred and three. The number might not mean much to most people, but for Krytenians, the number 303 is a depressing one. It's the number of minutes of play since Apollo Peters scored the winner in the rollercoaster semi-final victory against Sargossa; the Dragons have failed to score (shootout excluded) since then. Happily for the team, the defence had bailed them out in the previous three matches by not conceding a goal, but all that changed with the visit of Mriin to the New City Stadium. Now a cause for concern is turning into a full-blown crisis as the team reach the turn of the AOCAF Cup seeding round rock bottom of their group.

The worrying thing is that the team didn't look like they wanted to win in their last game. Peters has gone off the boil horribly, looking too often like a lost child on the pitch. Neil Smith's deft touch has deserted him, and even Alun Belmwr looks less than his usual clinical self, though that may be because he's running around trying to prop up his strike partners. If Jerome Jaffacake-Phillips has any sense - if not inherent then hopefully learned from his father-in-law - he'll ring the changes up front. Alex Parsons looks hungry for minutes, and Curtis Sunday has the keen eye that Peters is lacking right now.

The other problem the side has is a lack of width. Josh Kelnic has been a servant to the team for a number of years now, but his pace is escaping him. On the other flank, meanwhile, Oliver Alexander has never looked overly comfortable in a Krytenia jersey; perhaps it's time to give Joe Bielsa a run in the first team.

The results of this first phase may not be make or break, but confidence and momentum are fickle mistresses. The Dragons need to get both on their side, starting with the return game away to Ko-oren. If that means ringing the changes, so be it, lest the team lose their place at the top table. Onward!

[Euran Oceania Territories]

EURAN OCEANIA TERRITORIES
"The Expats"

Euran Oceania Football Federation
AOCAF62 Squad

National Introduction

Kit: Blue with combination livery of Euran gold and Syndicatian white. Alternative kit is the same but Syndicatian or "Revolutionaries" green colours.
Stadium: Flynn Arena, Fligsive, 96,500
Style Mod: +4

The Euran Oceania Territories is a parliamentary federal dominion of Eura, formed of the Euran zone of the former Inevitable Syndicate and the Whittorian Islands. It has a population of around forty million people which is quickly rising, making it a beacon of diversity home to Syndicatians, Whittorian refugees, Euran migrants, Apoxians, Audioslavians, Samebans and many others. It has possibly the world's largest artificial crater, which dominates the landscape west of what is now a rebuilt Fligsive, the capital of this new entity. Its home stadium is the the Flynn Arena, where Eura beat Polar Islandstates 4-2 in the famous 66th World Cup final. Few would have predicted that the colours of red, blue and gold would become permanent there but its happened, and the stadium is now back in good condition after an expensive refit to return it to the 96,500 capacity it held previously.

Previously a wooden stadium, the current iteration of the Flynn Arena was rebuilt after a great fire destroyed the stadium during a game between Fligsive FC and Magnaeus City. Nowadays, it's a little more robust, having been the subject of many refurbishment projects over the years. The stadium was easily reachable on the Fligsive Metro before the violent overthrow of the Corvidae regime and the associated disaster in Fligsive. It now sports a combination of the old paint job as well as Euran blue and gold while the local club Fligsive FC are still in existence despite drawing lower crowds after the Mertagne exodus. Though they did not play in the hastily cobbled together amateur EOTLeague, they are the dominant side in the new professional EOFL.

Euran Oceania Territories formed a national football team not long after the founding of the political entity, a project conjured up by the Euran government Ministry of Sport to imbue a sense of cohesion among the diverse population of EOT. They played a series of friendlies against other "Eurasphere" sides from Endemia and Rushmore in a lengthy state subsidised tour. Their first games were defeats against Daera, Itor and the Ferguson Islands, before an unexpected 4-3 victory against Helving, despite their Euraleague star Scott Barnes scoring a hat trick.

They then entered the 50th AOCAF full of excitement despite having a mostly amateur team, including serving military personnel, but were promptly demolished in the group stages by several teams. Now, with the citizenship laws relaxed to allow the growth of the Territories, the "Underdogs" as they have come to call themselves were suddenly confident that they might be able to pull off a shock or two. Their first manager was of top class pedigree - Tolgus Tregajorran, a footballing hero in Apox who was well known on the international scene.

Tregajorran managed to persuade some former Apoxian internationals, playing in Eura and with no international allegiance following the temporary dismemberment of Apoxian professional football, to sign the relevant papers and make the surprise switch to EOT, as well as Euran's and other international exiles. After several years of bit part competition EOT competed in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time and in turn the Baptism of Fire, after the Sameban national team withdrew from the Endemian International Sporting Agreement and international football.

EOT performed poorly at the Baptism of Fire, going out at the group stage, but put on a respectable showing in their qualifying group for the 80th World Cup. Tregajorran's unexpected departure and a chaotic period followed with Rhys West as manager, who was soon sacked over an off-the-pitch indiscretion. It ended with the controversial appointment of Euran footballing legend and cult icon Skorji Oslograd halfway through World Cup 81 qualifying. Immediately applying Oslograd's "Skorjiball" approach - best summarised as an extremely aggressive and fluid attacking game interrupted sporadically by the manager doing something inappropriate - the team secured some noteworthy results but remained very much an underdog competitor reliant on an aging core within its squad.

Oslograd's dream is to turn them into the living embodiment of "the way of the warrior" and to qualify for the World Cup. His first AOCAF was the first tournament where Olsograd was able to demonstrate his own approach to the game in full but the results were mixed. Then he led the side into World Cup 82 qualifying, but a dreadful start to the campaign snuffed out any hopes, although a later revival ensured a semi-respectable finish. But the team did lose a bit of its soul, playing more conservatively than previously, a trend that Oslograd reversed at AOCAF LVIII. The Expats excited fans with their performances and took the scalp of Valanora, easily the biggest victory in the young teams history before exiting in the knockouts against Banija.

As a result the squad went into qualifiers for World Cup 83 and the following AOCAF largely unchanged, only to disappoint again, and then again at World Cup 84 and the 76th Cup of Harmony. Several retirements and the ageing of players left the squad looking weak for amidst rumours that Oslograd would quit, with his mind turned to helping grow the domestic game in the Oceania Territories - the launch of a new domestic league having now occurred. Oslograd, now 56, quashed these rumours by opting to extend his existing contract and undertaking some of the most radical changes to the team since its formation.

Despite an above expectations performance at AOCAF 60, including a memorable 4-3 win over Audioslavia, it all came apart for the Expats in qualifying for the 85th World Cup and the 77th Cup of Harmony where EOT were routinely humiliated and left both tournaments at the earliest stage in terrible form, a huge step backwards on previous attempts at qualifying relative to expectations. The young dominion's footballing pride, the player's reputations and Oslograd's entire philosophy were being openly queried by the international media - Oslograd's headline-grabbing theatrics had come back to bite him.

Following that disastrous campaign Oslograd has embarked on the most radical overhaul of the Expats squad since the arrival of the original "Expat" contingent led by Karl Cotrell and David Cooke, chucking out a whole group of players deemed "past it" and bringing in unproven talent from EOT's brand new EOFL. Several players retired and many more were dropped. The formation changed again too, abandoning three at the back and now resembling a 5-4-1, but with both fullbacks lumped forward and only two strikers, making it a kind of horror movie version of a 3-5-2. This was a hell of a gamble by Oslograd who for the first time in his tenure faced a serious threat of the sack.

In the past he was perceived as being too big to fail, especially given his popularity in the Territories and back in Eura, and his excellent reputation as a player and early in his management career. Now he was increasingly becoming more of a meme than a manager and had put the EOFF in the red with his antics. Failure at the previous AOCAF made that pressure worse, and when the Expats flat lined for the first few games of World Cup 86 qualifying, it appeared that his reign was at an end. Only an unexpected return to form and impressive recovery in the latter half of qualifying saved his job and secured a respectable finish. The team arrives at this AOCAF with low expectations regardless, especially after the international retirements of EOT legends Kurt Strong, Peter Chadwick, and the slightly less beloved Tom Duffy.

The Squad
Shirt number. Name - Age - Position - Club (Nation)

Goalkeepers

1. Charlie Ross - 25 - GK - Bakermouth
13. Steve Ellis – 27 – GK – Oslograd Academy
28. Tammy Barton - 34 - GK - Fligsive FC

Defenders

2. Marvin Walsh - 27 - RB - Holdenberg City (Eura)
3. Hans Cabel - 25 - LB - Brigham (Eura)
4. Jason Potts - 27 - CB - Ulsa (Eura)
5. Michael Ford – 23 – CB – Bastion (Eura)
6. Freddie Law – 32 - CB - Carsby (Eura)
15. Timwise Gerduns - 34 - RB - Revolutionaries (Eura)
19. Baily Davison – 32 – CB – Burgess FC
21. Jacob Hayden - 24 - LB - Fligsive FC
23. Hailey Parkes (F) – 23 – RB – Oslograd Academy
27. Ernie Lynch – 29 – CB – Blades ex Magnaeus

Reserves
Jack Ream – 33 - RB - Fligsive FC
Patrick Spencer - 27 - CB - New Bastion

Midfielders

7. Nolberto Dravon – 22 - RW - Ulsa (Eura)
8. Jake Clark – 27 – CM – Blades ex Magnaeus
10. Joel Conway - 30 - RW - Rozelle (Brenecia)
11. Kasey Fuller - 27 - LW - Bastion (Eura)
16. George Richards - 29 - CDM - Rockridge Phoenix (Brenecia)
20. James Newton – 30 – LM – Blades ex Magnaeus
22. Amelia Byrne (F) – 24 – RW – Hyford City
24. Tom Mitchell – 26 – CM – Auto Sinclair
25. Taylor Williams (F) – 23 – CM – Club Verde
26. Nathan Harding - 23 - CAM - Bakermouth

Reserves
Ian Tauton – 24 – LW – Bastion Lions (Eura)
Mark Little - 31 - RW - Fligsive FC
Joe Irmine - 25 - CM – Crater

Forwards

9. Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier - 32 - ST - Farrenton Athletic (Eura)
12. Garret Ramsey - 31 - ST - Ezriquay United FC (Baker Park)
14. Justin Quibble - 23 - ST - New Bastion
17. Charlie Rowe – 22 – ST – Burgess FC
18. Oliver Leith – 27 – ST – Judgetown

Reserves
Eve Reynolds (F) – 24 – ST – KT Itsasontziak
Paul Hooper - 31 - ST – Dartmoor (Eura)

Preferred starting lineup
The Expats play a 3-5-2- formation that evolves into a 3-4-3 on the attack.

GK - 1. C Ross
RCB - 6. F Law
CB - 5. M Ford
LCB - 4. J Potts
RWB – 2. M Walsh
LWB – 3. H Cabel
RCM – 8. J Clark
LCM - 16. G Richards
RAM - 10. J Conway
LAM - 11. K Fuller
ST - 9. P-L Le Tonnelier

Responsibilities

Manager: Skorji Oslograd
Head Coach: Skorji Oslograd
Father figure, spiritual guru, sexual counsel: Skorji Oslograd

Captain: Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier
Vice-Captain: Michael Ford
Free kicks: Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier (Direct left foot), Joel Conway (Indirect right foot), Hans Cabel (Indirect left foot)
Corners: Joel Conway (Right inswinging), Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier (Left inswinging)
Penalties: 1. Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier 2. Hans Cabel 3. Joel Conway 4. Jake Clark 5. Kasey Fuller

Manager's Chosen One: Garret Ramsey
Reality's Chosen One: Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier
Best hair: Joel Conway
Worst sense of humour: Jason Potts
Least likely to win a beauty contest: Freddie Law
Most likely to stick it to the historic Euran patriarchy: Amelia Byrne
Least likely to stick it to anything: Justin Quibble
Most likely to be found down the pub and/or be drunk while playing: Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier
Most likely to do something utterly inappropriate, criminal or generally unhinged: Skorji Oslograd

Please note that I am not participating in or recognising any kind of pandemic themed RP at this time. You are welcome to RP a pandemic impacting your own country or national team as you wish, but please do not extend this to my team or country.

I Give To My Opponent The Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Y. Le-T will score mostly bangers. Ramsey will score mostly flukes. Fuller, Conway, Dravon all likely to score as well.
Injure Players: Y, however I'll decide the severity. As for your own players, with Oslograd as manager. EOT players will deliver career ending injuries on command.
Godmod Injury Events: Y, however I'll decide the severity.
Red Card Players: Y
Yellow Card Players: Y
Godmod Other Events: Yes, but give me some warning/ask for advice unless its Skorji Oslograd doing something absolutely batshit in which case go for it. I reserve the right to contradict you in this case because he is a man who can bend reality with his sublime words after all. This is an unorthodox team, so feel free to be creative.
=================================

[Ibixa]

IBIXA - FAQ

What is Ibixa?
Ibixa (or, to give it its official long-form English name, the Second Protectorate of Ibixa) is a self-governing territory of Krytenia, situated immediately south of its parent nation. Though de jure entirely subservient to Krytenia, Ibixa mostly takes care of its own affairs, with only defence and foreign policy under the aegis of the government in Emberton. There are a few pockets of land which are excepted from this, however. The Desert Research Station facility in the south-east of Ibixa is considered sovereign Krytenian territory, whilst a few relatively small areas mostly populated by the indigenous Ibexi - sapient caprines - have their own laws and customs recognised by the Ibixan and Krytenian governments.

What's with the wall?
The Mer del Sud (Southern Wall) is a barrier and groyne system designed to prevent the encroachment of the Great Calanian Desert into Ibixan territory. Thus far, the wall has done its job in the three years or so since it was built, allowing for a degree of agriculture to resume in the protectorate. The wall replaces natural sandstone hills that once demarcated the southern border, which have since largely disappeared due to a combination of overmining, a catastrophic glacial flood, and natural wind erosion.

There's a lot of building work going on.
Given that most of the area was inhospitable desert three years ago, there has been a lot of rebuilding and ruin clearance around the protectorate since the building of the Mer del Sud. This is largely concentrated in three new cities for now. Ciutat de Capricorn, a few miles west of the Desert Research Station, will largely serve as a partner city to the scientific facility. Sant Francesc, in the north-east, replaces the various ruins of Xian and Xi'antler, the former Ibixan and Ibexi capitals. It's named after the patron saint of rebuilding. Finally, there's the western border of Gres Vermell, named for the red sandstone rock formations that dot the surrounding landscape.

Why Catalans?
It was a section of the (admittedly small) Catalan population of Krytenia who effectively volunteered to colonise the First Protectorate after the fall of Ibex. The Catalans had felt they had been marginalised by the mostly Castillan Hispanic Avides community within Krytenia, and jumped at the chance to break out on their own. A reasonable number of hardy souls still remained when the Second Protecorate was established four years ago, and Catalans continue to trickle in as the situation on the ground becomes ever more hospitable.

Is there tension between the humans and the indigenous caprines?
Not really. Both communities mostly act independent of each other, and respect each other's space. The more amiable indigienous Ibexi tend to either live or work in the capital city, Altoro - recently renamed from Istanbull, though the Ibexi still use the former name - with many setting up businesses there. Ibixan education also teaches children about the customs and beliefs of the Ibexi in an attempt to prevent any misunderstanding or prejudice against them. Time will tell if this is effective in the long term.

Have a question you want answered? Ask Ibixa and we'll try to answer for you if we can!

[The Overseas Territories of Sylestone]

OTS have gone 0-1-2 in the first round of the first phase of AOCAF 62. A terrible start if any, and all sides in B1 seem to be happy with pushing some sentients down. Shocking, right? But we can still do it.
The first game, against Freeport, was played at home and drawn 1-1. Both sides were very evenly matched, but Freeport had the lead for the majority of the match after a header went into the correct goal in the 21st minute. As the minutes ticked away, it looked like a loss was inevitable, but a lob over the Freeport goalkeeper in the 85th minute destined the game to be a draw.
The Busoga Islanders were much harder. They were relentless and they deserved the header that put them 1-0 up in the 32nd minute. But the stocky OTS defence didn’t let anything else in, frustrating Busoga to ends not thought possible. Unfortunately, they still got away with the win, but they certainly did play well. A good game to watch, any day of the week.
A close loss to Lochario finished off proceeding for the first round of the first phase of the AOCAF. The Cricket Bat scored a goal in the 44th minute after a pass from the Basketball Backboard. The shot was too fast and the Lochario goalie barely even saw it. The lead remained until the 70th minute, but goals to Lochario in the 71st and 88th minutes saw OTS gain yet another loss.
OTS are now playing in Freeport for the most important matchup so far: A win will take them off the bottom of the table, perhaps into third, a draw could be promising, but a loss will almost certainly mean relegation. We shall just have to wait and see, right?

[North Handoria]

AOCAF LXII: "Where is the Handorian team?"
Taken from The Gothanitan Post
After the flop that occurred 5 months ago at the Cup of Harmony, The Gothanita Isles kicks off the 2-month long international break with the Melayu Archipelago Cup (MAC) and the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football (AOCAF). This period is typically reserved for the regional football competitions, and this time, it will be the first time the respective state-wide teams will get an opportunity to participate in their regional cups, after it was approved 2 years ago following a trial with Otskarin in the MAC. This time, the AOCAF, with its unusually long format of 2 group stages before a 24-team knockout stages, will start at before the MAC, as the first group stage will be held in a qualifier-style home-and-away format.
There has been evidently little reporting on the competition. North Handoria's participation was rather muted as there was only a few hundred fans following the team in this first group stage. In fact, it openly defied traditions by refusing to publish a roster for the first group stage, according to the team manager. Just what is going on?
For the sake of people who are not familiar with the process of the competition, it is a format similar to the Nations League format that was previously trialled by the Melayu Archipelago, as our readers from Otskarin may know. In this AOCAF, teams are split into 3 leagues for the first stage, play a home-and-away group stage in groups of 4. The top team from each group in League B and C gets promoted, while the bottom team from each group in League A and B gets relegated. The teams, in their updated league, now play a single-leg group stage in a nation in Atlantian Oceania. Depending on performance in the respective leagues and groups, teams may progress to a knockout stage to battle for the ultimate trophy - the AOCAF title.
There is lots at stake here, typically for normal AO teams. The openness of this format means that there is a chance for anyone and everyone to get a place in the Knockout stage, and being in the knockout stages means open play. However, the North Handorian team has decided to take this as a friendly competition to get more attention to the players, with an eye on the World Cup 87 Qualifiers.
Over the last 3 games, North Handoria, playing in League C group 1, has been playing squads that are totally different from each other. A total of 28 players started the 3 games in total, with 7 out of 9 substitutes haven't even gotten a start thus far. As the manager put it - "Trialing strategies and understanding more about the players is key for the first stage". There is no 23 player squad submitted for the first stage, and therefore, the team has seen no need to publish a roster whatsoever.
The results thus far has been quite awkward. A 0-3 home loss to Gallavrynga, a 3-5 home loss to Khytonya, both unranked, means that the team is still struggling to find something that clicks well. The only positives came from a 2-2 draw away at top seeds Anthor, the only team ranked in the AOCAF ranking system. Whatever the case, the team has to find something that clicks really quickly before moving on to the crucial second stage, where only the top team in League C stands a chance to play in the knockout stages.

I should have gotten a huge squad list earlier. My bad. If you want to namedrop players, do take a look at some players from the 3 capital clubs in North Handoria - Arenes FC, Bakariksta FC, and Trieste Rangers, found in my newswire. Please dm me though, if you are using anything, including stadium Choice and what not.

[Banija]

Baby you're all that I want! When it's Matchday 4 in A.O!

I'm finding it hard to believe.... We're in heaven.

And love is all that I need! And I found it there in your heart! Isn't too hard to see- at this cutoff.

League A

League A Key
Clinched berth in League A for Phase 2

Group A1
Chromatika 0–0 Valanora
Baker Park 6–4 Flavovespia

  Group A1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Chromatika                       4   3  1  0    8   4  +4   10
2 Baker Park                       4   3  0  1   11   7  +4    9
3 Valanora                         4   0  2  2    8  10  −2    2
4 Flavovespia                      4   0  1  3    9  15  −6    1

Group A2
Equestria 1–1 Banija
Audioslavia 2–4 Sarzonia

  Group A2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sarzonia                         4   2  2  0    9   6  +3    8
2 Equestria                        4   1  2  1    6   9  −3    5
3 Banija                           4   1  1  2    6   4  +2    4
4 Audioslavia                      4   1  1  2   11  13  −2    4

Group A3
Siovanija & Teusland 0–3 Starblaydia
Euran Oceania Territories 3–5 Vilita & Turori

  Group A3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Starblaydia                      4   3  1  0   15   8  +7   10
2 Vilita & Turori                  4   2  1  1   13   7  +6    7
3 Siovanija & Teusland             4   1  1  2    6  10  −4    4
4 Euran Oceania Territories        4   0  1  3    7  16  −9    1

Group A4
Mriin 1–2 Farfadillis
Ko-oren 0–1 Krytenia

  Group A4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mriin                            4   1  2  1    8   6  +2    5
2 Ko-oren                          4   1  2  1    3   2  +1    5
3 Farfadillis                      4   1  2  1    5   6  −1    5
4 Krytenia                         4   1  2  1    1   3  −2    5

League B

League B Key
Clinched promotion into League A for Phase 2
Will avoid relegation into League C for Phase 2

Group B1
Lochario 0–4 Busoga Islands
Freeport Isles 2–0 O.T. Sylestone

  Group B1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Busoga Islands                   4   4  0  0    9   0  +9   12
2 Freeport Isles                   4   1  2  1    4   5  −1    5
3 Lochario                         4   1  1  2    3   7  −4    4
4 O.T. Sylestone                   4   0  1  3    2   6  −4    1

Group B2
Qasden 3–1 Gyatso-Kai
Saltstead 0–1 Oontaz Dert Li Ng

  Group B2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Qasden                           4   2  1  1    6   4  +2    7
2 Gyatso-Kai                       4   2  1  1    7   6  +1    7
3 Oontaz Dert Li Ng                4   2  1  1    3   2  +1    7
4 Saltstead                        4   0  1  3    0   4  −4    1

Group B3
Royal Kingdom of Quebec 0–1 Dogsmouth
Northwest Kalactin 3–0 Huayramarca

  Group B3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Northwest Kalactin               4   2  2  0    7   2  +5    8
2 Dogsmouth                        4   2  1  1    5   4  +1    7
3 Royal Kingdom of Quebec          4   1  1  2    1   3  −2    4
4 Huayramarca                      4   0  2  2    5   9  −4    2

Group B4
Twicetagria 1–0 Tropicorp
Hapilopper 3–2 Demot

  Group B4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Hapilopper                       4   3  0  1   10  10   0    9
2 Tropicorp                        4   2  0  2    3   4  −1    6
3 Demot                            4   2  0  2   12   8  +4    6
4 Twicetagria                      4   1  0  3    4   7  −3    3

League C

Group C1
Khytonya 0–1 Anthor
Gallavrynga 2–3 North Handoria

  Group C1                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gallavrynga                      4   3  0  1    9   4  +5    9
2 Anthor                           4   1  2  1    3   4  −1    5
3 Khytonya                         4   1  1  2    6   6   0    4
4 North Handoria                   4   1  1  2    8  12  −4    4

Group C2
Iles Rogieres 0–2 Legalese
Sett Forest 2–3 Osarius

  Group C2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Osarius                          4   3  1  0   17  11  +6   10
2 Legalese                         4   2  1  1   11  10  +1    7
3 Sett Forest                      4   1  1  2    9  12  −3    4
4 Iles Rogieres                    4   0  1  3    6  10  −4    1

Group C3
Tioguldos 0–0 Yesopalitha
Aut-Ves-Nat 2–2 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

  Group C3                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles      4   3  1  0    6   3  +3   10
2 Yesopalitha                      4   1  2  1    3   3   0    5
3 Tioguldos                        4   1  1  2    3   4  −1    4
4 Aut-Ves-Nat                      4   0  2  2    5   7  −2    2

Group C4
Savigliane 0–0 Ibixa
Netop 5–1 Aji No Moto

  Group C4                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ibixa                            4   2  1  1    3   1  +2    7
2 Netop                            4   2  1  1    9   6  +3    7
3 Aji No Moto                      4   1  1  2    4   8  −4    4
4 Savigliane                       4   1  1  2    2   3  −1    4

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Weekend 2020
Re-shuffled lineup to face Flavovespia
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

The Commonwealth of Baker Park National Team are managing expectations, and will go into the fourth matchday of AOCAF 62 with a bit of luxury at their disposal, but not getting complacent.

Manager Jennifer Prescott has made a few adjustments to the side that will take the field at the BBP Stadium as the return fixtures of Group A1 begin.
Most of the players that were in the lineup in Chromia will get a second appearance, but Prescott and assistant manager Darren Kirby have made some positional adjustments in hopes of better cohesion and continuity.

Up front, Alicia Craig and Desmond Garvey will swap responsibilities, while in defense, Charlotte Bauer will take over for Jerome Brooks, with Darren Flowers & Amy Freeman moving to left & center back respectively. Zach Johnston will make a second consecutive start in goal after his first career international clean sheet.

The visitors sit at the bottom of the table along with Valanora, meaning both could eliminated from advancing should either fail to get a point.

lineup:
Johnston: Flowers, Freeman, Bauer: Rizzo, Guitierrez, Nolan, Altman; Craig; Laing (C), Garvey
Johnston

[Khytonya]

The Prelude: Before the Storm
The Prelude: Matchday One
Postmatch Review: Matchday One
The Prelude: Matchday Two
The Managerial Side: Before Matchday Two
Postmatch Review: Matchday Two
The Prelude: Matchday Three
What it needs to be done?: Before Matchday Three
Postmatch Review: Matchday Three

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The Prelude: Matchday Four

It's been three matches since Khytonya played their inauguration game. So far, each match they played ended with three separate outcomes; draw, lose, and win (in respective to the matchday). The AOCAF is a wild safari filled with the toughest beasts eager to hunt their prey and fight against each other vying for the title as champions with Khytonya as a young cub ready to lash out with a roar. It may be endured several setbacks and missed chances, but with a record of 1-1-1 in the first half of Phase 1 it was surely one to be proud of. Phase 2 begins with a return match against Anthor at Scarlet Park. This is a chance for them to step their game up and grab another three points. Consistency is key for a prosperous debut.

Due to MacTavish's suspension, Howe will be a substitute from both wide backs. In the meantime, Guidolin will be in the lineups today. Moreover, Hironobu Miura will get his chance to show what he's capable of as Hartley decided to rest his main man Boucher for those hectic games.

Also, notice the lines on his gameplan. Williams and Matthews were expected to move the attack up the field while Kyle and Jack Conacher switched each other's position to confuse the attack.

Otherwise, the lineup is exactly the same as the previous match against North Handoria. Even Honma starts in the match again despite Monahan being the superior keeper. I guess Hartley wanted to stick what worked from him.

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Just pretend this post happened before the cutoff.