AOCAF LXII Everything Thread

by **Northwest Kalactin** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:19 pm

Savigliane 0–1 Northwest Kalactin, We Were Ready for the Swans
Well, that was a good match, nothing wrong with a 1-0 win now isn’t it? Savigliane was a match that Kalactanian crowds were very excited for, they would be seeing Edward Hernandez, the legendary manager of the highly successful Ballina FC. He would be directly involved in a game of Kalactanian soccer for the first time since his Challengers Cup Group Stage Exit in the 4th IFCF Challengers Cup. After that match, he announced his next job would be with the Swans, and left the squad for the ruins of Northwest Kalactin. The only goal of the match was a very impressive one by Bul Khungur Miners midfielder Lamar Hall. Thomas Butler would be taking a free kick for the Kalactanians, and sent a booming kick towards the net, but it would be deflected by a Swans defender. Hall then took a volley from the six yard box and sent it straight into the net for the deciding goal in the 67th minute. That would be the only goal of the game, and would ultimately be the one that sent the Kalactanians on to the Round of 24.

Kalactanians Prepare for AOCAF 60 Ro24 Rematch
Well, well, well. We were here just 2 years ago, and we remember it well. Coming in as the 24th seed during that game, we didn’t necessarily expect to win that game, although we knew that Damon Scheter had a tendency to preform well in AOCAF matches. Scheter managed to pull out the win, and help promise very good results in the next round also, which we would end up winning in the Round of 16. We made it to the Quarterfinals against the Audioslavian National Team, who we managed to lose to by 1 goal, as the Karelian Audioslavian team went on to the finals of the AOCAF, before losing to the triangle of pain team that actually wins shit, Starblaydia.

We come in now with a very new squad, no Luke Dillan, no Damon Scheter. Jared Sednah is now coming into the game with a large overconfidence, despite his assistants advising him to take Dogsmouth seriously. Despite coming in with no expectation of success, Sednah has been a very productive manager, pulling out more points in the Cup of Harmony than Scheter managed during the entire World Cup. Sednah now needs to pull out a win, and make it into the Round of 16. If he can do better than what Scheter did last AOCAF, it can definitely be called a success for the FA. However, despite this, only time will tell wether Scheter can turn it around.

by **Khytonya** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:46 pm

After the Storm

'It's just a game'. We all heard this many times before. On sports days. In gaming sessions. At your favourite arcade center. Yes, it's the one we always hear before. And we hated it because football is more than just a game. It's a competition. It's war. Losing in a war means humiliation, suffering, and horrible memories sticking into your head, and it stills haunts many people for generations to come. And yet, what is the big deal with losing in the AOCAF? Do the gods care about the crying and whining of every football fan on the internet? Would it change the fate the national team is heading to? Are they cursed to crash out of the tournament? Can we change what is beyond our control?

The simple answer...is no. Khytonya go into the AOCAF and got eliminated. In those decisive matches, they couldn't win because, as we said before, the opponents are better than them. It's no use whining about everything Khytonya got wrong. Bad squad choices, wasteful chances, howlers from both keepers. Even if there are no flaws present, it still won't change the fact Khytonya faced (and lost) against the best of the best. Hell, they should be glad they didn't go up against teams like Krytenia, Baker Park, Banija, Qasden, Vilitia & Turori, Chromatika, Valanora, Starblaydia, and even Audioslavia who'd gone into Phase 2 losing all of their games. Yeah, even the best teams didn't ace perfectly.

And speaking of losing, 13 teams never won any of the three games. And two of them didn't even gain a point. Perhaps looking at a score of 4 points should have made you smile a bit. It won't change much, but at least Khytonya didn't lose all the way. They'd made a great effort pushing themselves and achieve the impossible. Look at the games with North Handoria, for example. They'd conceded many goals, but they never thew the towel and walk away. They came back and win the game, even in dire circumstances. Their pride is not completely diminished, and so do ours.

And to circle back the argument, while it was true that football is more than a game, the people who said it are right. We can't be angry about fate. In fact, fate is a cruel mistress, but fate allows us to understand there are some things that humans can't change. Once it's sealed, there's nothing you can do about it. And that's okay. Khytonya did their best. It's nothing special bragging about losing, but every legendary team must start somewhere. Like here, the AOCAF. Which is the mark of the Magical Bhoys' debut.

Maybe in the next edition, destiny can lead us to glorious times. Times of fortune, faith, victory, and even the trophy. Let's not lose hope here.

Actually, don't lose hope in the other competition that's right around the corner. Be patient. Be prepared. Be willing for Khytonya to give their very best. We might win one.

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 5:31 am

Hello Horses

Thorvald Padmore met the loose ball first, took a touch, and hooked the ball into the bottom corner for 1-0 on seventy three minutes, and it looked for all the world as if Sean Patterick's inauspicious reign as Audioslavia's head coach was coming to a miserable end.

Having already made two substitutions, Patterick rolled the dice for what he must have thought would be the final time. Off came full-back Anxo Osorio, on went human trebuchet Koenraad Rijsbergen, a striker. The side changed from a rough 4-4-2 to a 3-4-3, with Zozaia and Rosel going wide and Risjbergen in the centre.

An extra six-footer in the Anthor box turned out to be just what Audioslavia needed. A third corner in the space of two minutes was met by the Moreazerua striker in the air, whose downward header bounced under the goalkeeper's dive and up into the roof of the net. It was Audioslavia's first goal in three games, and it gave the Bulls a jolt of energy that they'd gone without for those three matches. Rijsbergen again popped up on eighty-five minutes, drilling a shot straight into Simon Dixon's legs. The rebound curled around the despairing flail of Ellar Sampson and fell to Santiago Rosel who managed to bring the ball under control at the second time of asking and poke a shot through the legs of an onrushing goalkeeper for 2-1.

Relief greeted the final whistle. The Bulls evade embarrassment for another matchday at least.

Much has been made of the fact that Audioslavia have had to play Banija three times, this tournament, losing on all three occasions. The Bulls are about to add a second team to that list of oddly familiar opponents as they face Equestria in the third round proper. Having won the first two matches by an aggregate score of seven goals to two, the Bulls have a newfound sense of optimism that they may yet reach the fourth round (and doesn't it feel odd to say the phrase 'fourth round' in an international competition?) . Equestria, nevertheless, have succeeded in League B where they had floundered in League A, winning all three against Gallavrynga, Lochario and neighbouring IFCF powerhouses Freeport.

For the third Equestria game, Sean Patterick has intimated that he may be going for a 'plan B' with regards to his team selection. It's the first time in two cycles that Patterick has appeared to 'have' a plan B. The smart money is on the inclusion of Rijsbergen, perhaps as a lone striker with Eurico recalled as an advanced attacking midfielder in behind, and Knudsen and Spijkers on the wings in a 4-5-1-cum-4-4-3. Iago Cacho is expected to replace a misfiring Tigran Deschapelles, with Declan MacCowan rumoured to be replacing a very tired looking Moses Moxey in the other midfield position. In defence, Audioslavia can't offer anything much better than the quartet of Castaldo, Osorio, Logan and Ceron, though the more defensive-minded Ramires may be preferred to Osorio as Audioslavia attempt to stem the tide of bitter defeats.

From here on out, Sean Patterick will be gearing up for each game like it's his last. Perhaps this sense of urgency may benefit both him and the team. Perhaps, this time tomorrow, we'll be clinking glasses to the end of the ignominious Patterick Era Audioslavia. It's fare well or farewell. Either way, one suspects this story doesn't end well.

by **Sarzonia** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:38 am

With a couple of days off following the conclusion of the second group stage of the 62nd edition of the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football, the Sarzonian national team and manager Nicola Mentes decided to make a quick trip to Aissa, Hangaza.

A collection of men and women who normally wear kits and appear on the pitch would this time be among the spectators in Hangaza Unified Stadium for the match between 13th seeded Ko-oren and 20th seeds Gyatso-kai. Even though the outing was billed as a team-building activity, and there would be a strong element of that going on, there was more to it than a mere opportunity for fun.

The Stars will face the winner of the match being played in Aissa, so Mentes and assistant manager Nathan Hanifer also planned to use the opportunity to scout both teams.

"It makes sense for us to get a read on both sides," Hanifer said. He added that he was assigned to scout Gyatso-kai while Mentes was hawking Ko-oren. As the former manager of Sarzonia's Under 21 national team, Hanifer was already familiar with the task of being responsible for all aspects of a team, so Mentes felt confident that he could turn the full task to Hanifer.

As for the rest of the knockout rounds, a potential quarterfinals matchup against defending AOCAF champion Starblaydia was looming in the distance, though Mentes said he wasn't thinking that far ahead.

"Right now, we're waiting to see who we play on Thursday," he said. "We won't be talking about Starblaydia if we don't take care of business in the Round of 16." Besides Starblaydia, which defeated the Stars in penalties in the previous AOCAF, 12th seeded Oontaz Dert Li Ng and 21st seeded Farfadillis were also possible opponents. The Stars hadn't faced either team in recent memory, but the Farves were at least a familiar name in international football.

"They won World Cup 84," midfielder Brady Reynolds said of Farfadillis. "Plus they hosted the diamond edition of AOCAF. If they somehow got to the quarterfinals and we faced them, there would be a lot of prestige riding on the match. No disrespect to Oontaz Dert Li Ng because we know it's going to be tough no matter whom we face."

by **Flavovespia** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 1:42 pm

Dogsmouth 3-2 Flavovespia

Flavovespia suffered a heartbreaking loss in their final group stage game, pushing them down to second in the group, and a Round of 24 matchup with Mriin. The result, with a group win so close away, will be tough to bounce back from, at such a crucial stage of the tournament.

Flavovespia made just the one change from the previous match against Pluvia and the Saxean Isles, William Somers would start ahead of Jonathan Feld. Flavovespia knew the permutations to qualify, remain unbeaten to go through as the group winners. Lose, and hope Pluvia and the Saxean Isles haven’t won, especially by a big score.

For the first minutes or so, the game was somewhat tentative. Flavovespia had little to lose if they simply played out for a draw, and they weren’t overly committed going forward in the first exchanges. Dogsmouth needed the win more than Flavovespia, but were also wary early on of being exposed to a quick counter, and kept players behind the ball.

It was Flavovespia who got the opener though. 14 minutes in, and Scott Coleman’s lofted through ball fell between Colwyn Faulkner and Errol Avery. Steven Hall held off the former to get a first time shot away past Eliot McCauley, and it flew into the net, a little inside the post. 0-1 to Flavovespia, who had a key goal in the final group game.

For the rest of the half, Dogsmouth put the pressure on, but the Flavovespian defence looked relatively unphased. It was Flavovespia who came closest to scoring again, Mark Paul just unable to get a shot on target after a good pass by Steven Hall into the box. It was 0-1 after 45 minutes, Flavovespia getting closer to winning the group.

As the second half continued on, the pressure began to rise and rise. Dogsmouth were pushing to find the goals they needed to guarantee qualification to the next stage, as a loss for them could eliminate it. Their first goal came in the 80th minute. A cross into the box was aimed at multiple Dogsmouth players charging in. Alexander May could only get a light touch to try and head it away, but Wulfnoth Robinson came in at the back post to knock the ball past David Meehan to make it 1-1.

With it all square again, Flavovespia were determined to try and grab a winner in the final 10 minutes. 84 minutes in and they thought they maybe had it. Jonathan Feld, on as a sub, charged down the left wing, and pulled a low cross back towards the edge of the box. Murad Ahmed came in and with a deft left-footed shot, tucked the ball into the goal to restore the lead. 1-2 now, Flavovespia needed mere minutes to hang on.

Dogsmouth got the equaliser just before injury time. They needed at least a goal to guarantee qualification, and were throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Flavovespia to find it. It was the pass through by Aureole Rivers to find Cynthia Rayne that set up the first shot. David Meehan could only parry it away, and Athelbryth Kersey slid in to put the ball into the net. 2-2 now, on the stroke of injury time, what drama this game was seeing.

Then, in the 94th minute, the winner came. Sensing a group win, Dogsmouth had thrown plenty up for a corner, in fact but for the keeper, the corner taker and one defender, everyone else was in the box. The ball was curled into the box, and Cynthia Rayne held off Tony Gardner and James King to rise highest. David Meehan was out of position and unable to get to the ball, and it flew into the net. 3-2 for Dogsmouth, a fairytale end for them as they grabbed victory in the Xíxì Êns with the last touch of the game. Heartbreak for Flavovespia, as they fell to 2nd in the group in the very last moments as well. Fury as well from some of the Flavovespians, who certainly displayed their contempt for the referee at the final whistle, over the alleged foul. Steven Hall and Scott Coleman had to lead away some of their teammates from the argument, with the referee almost reaching to the back pocket. Nevertheless, the goal stood, and video referee showed it was clearly a fair position, the Flavovespians just got in each others way more than anything.

The implications of the loss are certainly felt in the Round of 24 matchup. Instead of the win that would’ve seen a matchup against Northwest Kalactin, or a draw that would’ve seen a repeat of the Round of 16 matchup last tournament against Farfadillis, Flavovespia must now face Mriin. Winners in Group A4, and then 3rd in the Sobek Dehena group, they’ve certainly looked better than Flavovespia this tournament. Additionally, they came into the AOCAF Cup ranked 3rd overall, so for Flavovespia, it would be a big upset to defeat them. Flavovespia can only hope and do their best, but the record this cycle so far, overall and against stronger nations, doesn’t paint the most optimistic picture. Nevertheless, the team will hope to put their heartbreak over Dogsmouth behind them, and fight on.

by **Dogsmouth** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 4:06 pm

Meredyth Shepherd was mobbed by Dogi reporters after the final game of the AOCAF's second stage. All two who both work in television and have clearance to cover events internationally.

"Edward Vettel with Fang Five. There was quite a commotion between the Flavovespian players and the referees at the end of the match. Have you anything to say about their behavior?"

"Oh fuck off Eddy, you drama vulture." Meredyth turned to the other reporter. "How's the kids, Tabitha?"

"Oh, they're doing great. Shannon just graduated uni! Anyway, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask about the dramatic ending too. What were you thinking in that last fifteen minutes?"

"That everything was going to shit. 80 minutes of one-nothing ball explodes into a last-minute goalfest. It's nice that the shitfest landed in our favor in the end, but that's not exactly the sort of disciplined football I'm out here preaching. We somehow turned the Xíxì Êns group into the Val Klyx group."

"Kinda brought that on yourself putting both Rayne and Kersey on at the same time, didn't you?" Eddy was sporting a smug smirk.

"We needed some fucking goals. Emma's a great player, but at that junction in the game her skillset wasn't what we needed. Especially not as she'd been run ragged single-handedly keeping the game to a one-goal deficit."

"So we've got a rematch against Northwest Kalactin," Tabitha said while checking her clipboard, "who obviously sent us out of the last AOCAF. Any ideas for how this time will be different?"

"The plan is that Colwyn and Amelia are gonna not get into a tiff the night before and actually have some cohesion during the game. I still can't believe we allowed four goals that day. That was a shameful performance, we have to do better now because we can't do worse. That's enough questions for now, I need to go slam down some whiskey to stop the pounding in my head."

by **Krytenia** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 4:45 pm

Having learnt that they would be playing Twicetagria in their first knockout match, the Krytenian management team of Jerome Jaffacake-Phillips and Paul Davis are putting the squad through their paces in training.

"Bit of a shame we can't keep them all for the next competition, gaffer. They've really come together as a unit over the years."
"True, but nobody can carry on forever. Olly Alexander's pretty much checked out mentally at this point, James and Josh are leaving the setup after this is over, and let's face it, Ross isn't as quick as he used to be."
"We'l be OK, though. Good crop of youngsters, look at Joe and Ben coming through. Eddie Bull, too. He'll slot right in. We're in safe hands."
"Yeah, you'll do fine in the World Cup, I'm sure."
Paul paused for a moment. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Like I said, Paul, no-one can carry on forever. We've had a good run, won the Cup of Harmony, really put some pride back in the team, y'know?? But there's only so much I can do; I'm tapped out. When the AOCAF is over, that's it. I've been offered a position upstairs and I'm going to take it. Looking after Walton Park, helping to bring the talent through."
"You - you're really sure about this, aren't you?"
"Absolutely. I've done all I can with this team. I don't want to end up like Sean Patterick, coming up with ever more hare-brained schemes to keep Audioslavia relevant." Jerome chuckled. "I'm surprised my pa doesn't get on with him better; they're kindred spirits from the sound of things."
"But why me? Surely there's a line of people wanting the job now?"
"Oh Paul, you don't get it, do you?"
"I'm missing something, clearly."
"There's a reason I asked for you as my assistant. You've got a great footballing brain in that head. Ousevale never saw it, but I do. Everything we've done over the last ten years, this was always the end point. You don't need me in the way any more. And don't worry about whether or not you'd get an interview, I already recommended you to the suits. Job's yours if you want it."
Paul stood there, slack-jawed, as Jerome called the players over for their next training drill.

by **Twicetagram and JYPe** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:15 pm

Home >> Sports >> International

Now our Sergeants are in the knockout rounds, what happens?
by Antonio Vasiliev

It was quite surprising when our young boys scored 2, I repeat 2, goals against Euran Overseas Territories in extra time to book a spot in the Ro24. Now that we’ve finally gotten a playoff spot in the AOcAF, how does this bode for our Sergeants?

First of all, it’s of no doubt that this will be a morale booster for Twicetagria, since this is our first time in the playoffs. Though our next match is against a strong Krytenia, we can’t underestimate our abilities, nor theirs.

A question most people are asking is this: where was this amazing form earlier on? Maybe the relegation helped with, or destroyed their morale, but after seeing what our young boys can do, why didn’t they show it earlier?

This will also be something Ryoviste should take note. His previous AOCAF squad could not make ii to the playoffs, even as a senior team. If a junior team can do it, maybe he should consider some of that young talent we have.

Another thing of note is the future of our football. Even if our youth system may be small, it doesn’t mean we can’t churn out good talent. Hopefully this form will bring us closer to a AOCAF triumph or a World Cup qualification.

Catch our match as we face Krytenia in the Ro24 tonight.

by **Vilita and Turori** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:19 pm

The Vilita & Turori Eel-Cat Things sped through the Second Phase of the 62nd AOCAF Regional Championships by prevailing atop the Sobek Dehena Group with the most goals scored and highest Goal Differential in favor of any team in that phase of the competition. Regardless of the high goalscoring record and the +6 Differential, Vilita & Turori were also the only Tier A side to record three victories over the three match named group phase. Both factors were enough to ensure that the Eel-Cat Things would claim the top spot in the overall Table and the high seed heading into the Round of 16. Due to their position as top seed the Eel-Cat Things would be getting a break from the action as they wait for both the playoff round and the Round of 24 matches to complete before getting back into the action for the stretch run towards the AOCAF Final.

 Vilita & Turori 6 - 4 Mriin	
	Goals:	:: 22' Rojara Tiones:: 23' Rojara Tiones:: 23' Rojara Tiones:: 32' Khrusan Mlianko:: 63' Turakia Diijelhma:: 65' Nua'oma Aikiki         
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Inteali Koranjo, Amakli Inuro'o, Rojara Tiones, Lentali Purama, Tulaki Rauogba, Khrusan Mlianko (Enzoril Alabonni 73'), Kiidallen Aeroluzzi (Nua'oma Aikiki 45'), Intikko Kuhilana, Clarana Refiami, Kala'a Yuliizala (Turakia Diijelhma 57')

 Vilita & Turori 4 - 2 Farfadillis	
	Goals:	:: 25' Rojara Tiones:: 70' Inteali Koranjo:: 81' Kiidallen Aeroluzzi:: 90' Lati'ala Giaoka           
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Inteali Koranjo, Lohani Riiyaaw, Rojara Tiones, Lati'ala Giaoka, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa (Khrusan Mlianko 72'), Naraiza Ruaplal, Tulaki Rauogba (Kiidallen Aeroluzzi 45'), Intikko Kuhilana, Clarana Refiami (Turakia Diijelhma 69'), Kala'a Yuliizala

 Vilita & Turori 3 - 1 Busoga Islands	
	Goals:	:: 1' Kala'a Yuliizala:: 51' Kala'a Yuliizala:: 81' Tulaki Rauogba            
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Lohani Riiyaaw (Friika Diirotora 71'), Inteali Koranjo, Biliki Rona'atu'i, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa (Intikko Kuhilana 45'), Lentali Purama, Tulaki Rauogba, Khrusan Mlianko, Loala Inkabu, Clarana Refiami (Turakia Diijelhma 65'), Kala'a Yuliizala

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2020
BP back in Jinja City, Anomalies loom in their future?
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

The Commonwealth National Team has persevered through the ups & downs of this AOCAF tournament, which Manager Jennifer Prescott said she believes has been a character building experience for the squad.

With the beginning of the knockout rounds, it's time to see if the side have made enough progress to get past the opening stage, when they face Tropicorp at the BCEL Stadium in Jinja City for the chance to move onto the last 16.

The storylines surrounding the match are interesting enough, even setting aside the uneven play of the BP team; the return to Jinja City will mark the fourth time the BPNT will have played at the 52,000 stadium that carries the name of the Commonwealth's most recognizable international brand; their last visit was the opening match day in World Cup 83, when the Bees defeated Vilita 1-0; and midfielder Christa Vuckovic is well known to, and knows well many of the opposing players, as she plies her professional trade for Tropicorp FC, who play in the Vilitan League.

The strong performance in the final Solara Vol Group match against Sarzonia—a 2-1 win against a strong Stars starting lineup with nothing to prove or play for—was as much a testament to pride as it was to tactics, technical skill or talent; the senior capped players spoke at breakfast about going out having left everything on the pitch, as long as everyone could say they did that, there was no shame in not advancing.

Tiffany Moss—the Vermillion Wanderers defender who at 33 felt that her chance at playing for the national team had long since passed before being called up for the regional—talked after the match about the emotions she went through in the lead up, after being chosen by the squad to be the captain on the day and going through the rituals on matchday that captains for Baker Park have done for over 90 years.
"It was definitely a day I hope I never forget, or more precisely, hope that I remember correctly. (laughter)
I owe a huge debt to Ayana (West), who has been my roommate during this tourney and has told me so much about how to cope, who talked me through the couple of days prior to the match, and then chipped in a goal to help out the cause. (more laughter) I don't think I knew that the captain has to be the first one to do X, and the last one to do Y, and has to follow all of these little protocols.
You don't ever know how your emotions are going to affect you, coming over from the hotel, going through the warmups, I was fine, but when we came back and you see that piece of elastic hanging on the hook where your shirt is, it hits you. When we walked out and lined up for the anthems, I kept trying to think of things that would block out the feelings, which I think I got away with until near the end of Hear Our Voices. A special day, a good day for the team and now we move on."

Tropicorp come into the knockout stage from League B, and surely have to like their chances against the lowest achieving side among the last 24; ranked #5 in the region, BP are the 14th seed, lower than any of the remaining current top 10 in the region.

Although Banijans have previously provided added fan support to BP sides in matches played in the Kingdom, there is no guarantee that will be the case in Jinja City, as being a supporter of the World Champions (and #1 ranked side) can certainly change one's priorities; seeing how the Bees are also in the top 10 of the KBP, there would be plenty of reasons for locals to rethink their third party loyalties

lineup vs Tropicorp
Johnston; Moss, Onikambe, Jordan (C); Rizzo, Vuckovic, Nolan, Aguilar; Craig; West, Pryor

by **Busoga Islands** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 10:53 pm

Now for the Round of 24 cutoff! I may Keep You Hanging On waiting for scores, but do not worry- it will all be worth it in the end.

Round of 24 Scores

Equestria 2–4 Audioslavia
Krytenia 1–0 Twicetagria
Dogsmouth 3–3 Northwest Kalactin (3–3 AET) (3–2 pen.)
Oontaz Dert Li Ng 1–1 Farfadillis (2–1 AET)
Ko-oren 1–0 Gyatso-Kai
Baker Park 1–0 Tropicorp
Mriin 4–2 Flavovespia
Qasden 1–0 Gallavrynga

As a note- entire Round of 16 will be played in foreign venues, Quarterfinals in Banijan venues, Semifinals in foreign venues, 3PPO in Busoga, Final in Banija.

Round of 16 Matchups
Vilita & Turori₁ v. Qasden₁₆. Venue: Ballinga Grounds(cap. 62,000) in Ballina, Northwest Kalactin

Busoga Islands₈ v. Audioslavia₂₄. Venue: The Islander Dome(cap. 133,000) in Myana, Chromatika

Sarzonia₄ v. Ko-oren₁₃. Venue: Tengoku Colisseum(cap. 55,000) in St. Nicholas, Former Tonecian State, Khytonya

Starblaydia₅ v. Oontaz Dert Li Ng₁₂. Venue: Stade National(cap. 36,000) in Villeneuve, Savigliane

Valanora₆ v. Dogsmouth₁₁. Venue: Saints Park(cap. 60,000) in St. Astons, Flavovespia

Chromatika₃ v. Baker Park₁₄. Venue: Hadford Hill(cap. 69,518) in Hadford Hill, Flavovespia

Hapilopper₇ v. Krytenia₁₀. Venue: The Hornet's Nest(cap. 75,000) in Waldster, Flavovespia

Banija₂ v. Mriin₁₅. Venue: Scarlett Park(cap. 65,000) in Honeport, Former Kynerish State, Khytonya

by **Ko-oren** » Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:10 am

The Dragonflies survive the Round of 24 by virtue of a typical 1-0 win and are now looking at the next challenge - Sarzonia, winners of the group featuring Valanora, Baker Park, and Northwest Kalactin.

After all the usual suspects won their playoff games, from Farfadillis, to Northwest Kalactin, Audioslavia, and the only upset coming from Twicetagria beating the Eurans after extra time, all the Round of 24 matchups were known. Not that the playoffs had any influence on the Dragonflies, who already knew that Gyatso-Kai was the next hurdle. Gyatso-Kai, the weakest of the League B runners-up, going into the knockouts on a negative goal difference, finally secured their spot in the knockouts via a 1-0 win over Netop, after drawing to Demot and facing a tough loss to Krytenia (0-3).

It was clear from the first minute that the Bisons weren't here to make an appearance and get out again. They played a physical, energetic game that never suggested enthusiasm was a problem with this team ahead of the tournament. Their wide formation gave the Ko-orenite midfield superiority in the centre of the field, where the Dragonflies like to attack from anyway, giving most of the possession and territory to the Green and Blue. That said, a defender was never very far away and Janoreirinthen especially copped some hits and tackles. Takahashi and Ma took their duty very seriously and while they immediately found space out wide once Hashimoto or Uthan retook possession, they drifted towards the centre of the field the further the match went on. A horror tackle by Somchai saw the game take a turn for the worse: he was rightfully sent off but it started a frustrating 10 minutes that yielded five yellow cards in total: four for Ko-oren, including two for Benjamin, and one for the Bisons. With both teams reduced to 10, play opened up, the tempo returned to normal, and the focus was on the ball again, instead of opponent's ankles. Two very tired teams feared that extra time would come at 0-0, neither team looking forward to another 30 minutes of high-intensity play. Thankfully for the players, it wouldn't get that far: a long ball from Aiamara landed behind the back line and sent Moore into a sprint versus Zhao: Moore was there first, lobbed it over the helpless goalkeeper caught outside of the box, and had an easy tap in. Ma looked to block the shot, but was just a hair too late as the defender and the ball rolled into the net.

And with that, the Dragonflies are moving on to Sarzonia, with the defence to feature Breukelaar, Van Schelven, and Mizuno in the centre. It's only Van Schelven's second appearance during this AOCAF, the first one being a short sub stint in the first phase. With several other players at risk of getting a yellow and a suspension should the Greenblues get any further in the tournament, Juliasterinthen will have to manage his squad carefully. Not only have Sarzonia had a few extra days to acclimatise, they are also very prepared coming into the game having watched the Round of 24, and they don't seem to have any suspension or injury issues. The Dragonflies aren't in mint condition coming into the Round of 16, between the suspension, several injury suspicions with Janoreirinthen's being the most serious, and having played 90 minutes of physical, downright nasty, football.

by **Sarzonia** » Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:30 am

The trip to St. Nicholas in Khytonya wasn't a particularly long or arduous journey for the Sarzonian national team, but the mission at hand was one that now merited Sarzonia's undivided attention.

The Stars would get ready to face Ko-oren in the Round of 16 after the Dragonflies defeated Gyatso-kai 1-0 in the Round of 24 matchup in Aissa, Hangaza. The 13th seeds entered the 62nd edition of the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football as the ninth ranked team in the region, on paper a tall order for a team ranked 13th in the region, even though the Stars carry the fourth seed into the matchup.

However, Nicola Mentes and his team have faced off against highly ranked teams, both in the world rankings and in the region, and bring a 4-4-1 record into the Round of 16. The Stars defeated world and AO No. 1 Banija and played to a draw against the Kadongo Kamu in the first group stage. The Stars also played regional No. 10 Audioslavia to a 3-3 draw and defeated them 4-2 away in the second leg. The highlight of the second group stage was a 2-1 victory over Valanora, one of the most storied football programmes in the multiverse and the region that puts the Stars in position as the fourth seeds.

"We know better than to think about ranks or seeds right now," said midfielder and team captain Clayton Wilson. "Everyone is 0-0 at this point and one wrong move could end your cycle."

The Stars know that first hand after losing to eventual AOCAF LXI champions Starblaydia in the Round of 16 during the previous edition, the only one managed by former Sarzonia field boss Kevin Connelly. The Stars could only notch a single goal in penalties after putting three behind Starblaydia goalkeeper Cosmo Leopoldi during regulation. They couldn't dent the net behind Leopoldi during extra time. Starblaydia remain a potential quarterfinals opponent if the Stars slip past the Dragonflies, but Mentes said Starblaydia "are absolutely the last thing on our minds right now.

"We've got a tough match against a quality opponent who actually outrank us in AOCAF rankings," he said. "We're taking the Dragonflies seriously and we're going to have to be ready for them."

Mentes and assistant manager Nathan Hanifer have already discussed the 5-3-2 formation the Dragonflies employ and are hoping to bring pressure the Ko-orenite defence with short, possession passing that hearkens back to Sarzonian football of old. However, the Stars will commit more to the attack than they traditionally have done under multiple managers, as both Mentes and Hanifer have chosen to eschew the "total football on steroids" approach that sought complete balance between offence and defence.

"We know it made Sarzonia a difficult opponent to play in a wide variety of competitions, and the success the Stars have had and their place in international football history is secure," Mentes said, citing Sarzonia's position as the first country to win a grand slam including World Cup 22, the Baptism of Fire Cup for debutant nations, the Cup of Harmony as a consolation prize for teams missing the World Cup, and two AOCAF titles. "That said, that success was years ago, and football has evolved beyond the balanced approach Sarzonia continued to employ. That's why [Incorporated Football Federation chairman] Zack Wilson brought me here."

by **Chromatika** » Wed Nov 18, 2020 11:11 pm

AOCAF LXII Group Stage 2 Matchday 3

Matchday 3: Ko-oren 1-1 Chromatika
Goals: Gainsbourg '72
Starting XI: Fillar; De Saint-Pierre - Slaven - Ingram - Adams; Winge - Zuniga (C) - Kuznsetsov; Hauser; Haggard - Gainsbourg.
Substitutes: Guess -> Adams ('52), Fillar, B. -> Hauser ('65), Alli -> Haggard ('74)

After drawing against Ko-oren in the final day of the second group stage, Chromatika had to wait for both the Play-Ins and the Round of Twenty-Four before getting to know their next opponent. In the meantime, Iles Rogieres, Savigliane, Euran Oceania Territories, Anthor, Equestria, Twicetagria, Northwest Kalactin, Farfadillis, Gyatso-Kai, Tropicorp, Flavovespia, and Gallavrynga have left the competition.

Their opponent? Baker Park. Chromatika has faced them twice already, and won both times: 2-0 in Matchday 2, 1-4 in Matchday 5, in the first Group Stage. This will be the fourth time that the two teams have faced each other in two AOCAFs.

Alicia Gainsbourg, Juxon Fillar, Kateryna Zuniga, and Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov are the key players for Chromatika.

Other notable matchups include Busoga Islands vs. Audioslavia, taking place in Myana. Chromatika submitted two venues for the tournament - the Island Dome and the Capitalizt Dome, and the Island Dome was selected to host a Round of Sixteen match. Otherwise, the Sarzonia Stars taken on Ko-oren, Starblaydia looks to take down upstart Oontaz Dert Li Ng that took down Farfadillis, and co-hosts and defending world champions Banija takes on Mriin in a marquee matchup.

If the Chromatiks were to prevail, a date with the winner of the match between Valanora and Dogsmouth awaits. That means that if the Chromatiks were to prevail and the Vanorians as well, it would be the third meeting between Chromatika and Valanora in this tournament. That is just a ridiculous prospect. One of the things about two group stages is that there are familiar opponents everywhere.

Flavovespia is where they'll meet. The same country that Chromatika defeated twice in the first group stage. Will that be the place that Chromatika finally loses?

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 11:24 am

Pony and Trap

In what is looking less and less like an AOCAF Cup tournament and more and more like a test series between the Bulls, Banija and Equestria, Audioslavia took their third win over the ponies to advance to round four of Atlantian Oceania's regional tournament. A trip to Chromatika to face Busoga Islands awaits.

We've gathered that, in any given football game, Audioslavia have a zero percent chance of beating Banija right now and a 100% chance of beating Equestria. What are the Bulls' chances with Busoga?

Unbeaten in the first stage, with a 5-1-0 record in League B, and directly qualifying for the fourth round ahead of Mriin and a disappointing Farfadillis side, Busoga Islands have built up a head of steam coming into this evening's game, with their only loss coming against favourites Vilita & Turori. This comes in sharp contrast with Audioslavia's form, which included four straight defeats at one point and bitter losses to the likes of Sarzonia, Starblaydia and Qasden.

If there's anything in the water in Banijan domestic football - where most of the Banijans and Busogans ply their trade, Audioslavia may well be in trouble.

In Audioslavia, a source at the FFA suggests that Shamrock Cathair manager Rohan Cammers has been 'contacted' . We believe that this was with regards to taking the reigns at the national team, though the source refuses to go into any further details. Cammers has a history of presiding over second-placed finishes and silver-medal performances for Shamrock, which makes him an almost perfect fit for the Audioslavian team. He does have a poor disciplinary record, a foreign passport and a reactionary impulsiveness that often results in strange team selections though, which makes him an almost perfect fit for the national side.

Cammers' uncompromising and bizarre nature is an acquired taste. Should the various members of Audioslavia's national team want to avoid his strange ways and stranger dress-sense (he's most recently been seen dressed like he'd had the fashions of 19th century mill owners explained to him over the phone in a gale), their only course of action may well be to insist Patterick remains in charge. The only way to do that?

Win the AOCAF Cup.

lol.

by **Hapilopper** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:32 pm

The Hornet’s Nest, Waldster, Flavovespia
Just before the AOCAF Round of 16: Hapilopper v. Krytenia
Team Hapilopper sat in the locker room just before the start of a match they couldn’t believe they were a part of. Just months before, there had been no national team representing Hapilopper, and no national football organization in the Dominion. The Hapilopper Football Association fell apart under the weight of a match-fixing scheme, where members of the Hapilopper National Football Team took dives in crucial matches that could have helped them qualify for their first World Cup back in World Cup 85. Max Greenwell, the head of the Hapilopper Football Association, was arrested and sent to prison on collusion and corruption charges, while the HNFT, with no national association to back it up, withdrew from World Cup 86.

Team Hapilopper, run by Dominic Probst, the former head of the HFA, was formed not long after, and featured many of the HNFT’s old players – those that weren’t in on the scheme – and new footballers. There were still some of the old guard, like Ernie Stevenson and Claire Randall, the Haps’ two leading goal scorers; Nate Ellis, the homicidal maniac whose style of play could justifiably be considered an act of terrorism in some nations; Cooter Harris, the redneck goalkeeper whose star sunk like a led balloon after the Manehattan Massacre in the 59th AOCAF; and Beautiful Bobby East, one third of the old Midnight Express trio that propelled the Garvinson Trojans to an HFA Championship a few years back.

Probst’s orders to Team Hapilopper were really quite simple. Keep their head down, don’t do anything stupid (that means you, Ellis) and stay away from any questions about what was going on back home, because nobody really knew the answer.

And they did just that. Under the novel system involving relegation and promotions, the Haps were promoted to League A and finished 2nd in the Karsten Eiger Group to Chromatika, granting them an automatic berth in the Round of 16. They had made it further than teams like Equestria, Farfadillis, Flavovespia and Gyatso-Kai, and now were preparing to play the Krytenians to make it to the quarterfinals of the AOCAF.

And just minutes before game time, all was quiet before they were prepared to head out to face Krytenia. All the team could hear was the buzzing of lights and the whirring of a fan, not to mention a clock ticking mercilessly near the back of the room.

Tick…tick…tick…

Nathan Ellis thought about how angry he had been the entire AOCAF. Missing the 86th World Cup and its qualifiers stuck to him. It angered him beyond comprehension, and he wanted to take out some of his rage. There had been some rumors of Ellis showing up incognito during a match during the last World Cup qualifiers, taking out his “good friend” Alexis Fotellis from Vdara, but he refused to comment on that. Probably because if it was proven it was him, he would probably never be able to play again.

Tick…tick…tick…

Ernie Stevenson sat at his chair, head down. He and Claire Randall had quietly done their own thing during the AOCAF, scoring goals under everyone’s radar as they worked to advance past mediocrity and maybe shock the world. He thought about his older brother, Drake, himself going through a personal crisis as he got ready to compete in the coming NSSCRA season. He thought about the despair he went through as he found out he would not be competing in the 86th World Cup in any capacity. He felt he had something to prove.

Tick…tick…tick…

And speaking of “something to prove,” Cooter Harris sat with his back to everyone, examining his huge gloves. Unfortunately, any time people talked about Cooter, they still did so when mentioning that 8-1 massacre from AOCAF 59, when the Equestrians went to town on the Hapiloppians and on Cooter. They still mentioned his meltdown and his attempted beheading of Pristina Shine afterwards. They mentioned the smashed glass, the blood all over the locker room in the Crownlands. They didn’t mention his redemption in Xanneria. They didn’t mention the fact that, in spite of all he had went through, he was still one of Hapilopper’s top goalkeepers. If anyone needed the tournament of their life, it was Cooter.

Tick…tick…tick…

Ernie looked up to see Nathan Ellis turning beet red. The veins were bulging out of his forehead. Ernie smiled. Nate was getting into “the zone,” something he hadn’t been all AOCAF, probably at the request of Dom Probst and head coach Thom Perkins.

“Gonna do it tonight, Ellis?” Ernie asked.

“You’re god damn right and nobody’s gonna stop me,” Nate responded. He got up, let out a primal roar and threw his chair at the back wall of the locker room in the Hornet’s Nest. He kept roaring as he started pacing menacingly around the room.

“It’s time to kick some ass, boys!” Nate shouted.

That was all Team Hapilopper needed. Nate had been a good boy during the group stages of the AOCAF, but now the gloves were off. And all the Hapiloppians needed to see was Nathan Fucking Ellis bonk some heads. It was time to get physical. It was time to kick some ass.

Nothing against Krytenia, mind you. The Haps had never really had any issue with the Krytenians. It was just that… they were in the way. They were a mere obstacle, standing in the way of redemption.

by **Vilita and Turori** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 3:58 pm

Eel-Cat Things Re-claim the Golden Ampersand!

When the Vilita & Turori Eel Cat Things were drawn into Group A3 of the initial Group Stage in Tier 1 of the 62nd AOCAF competition, there was an interesting mix of optimism and collective sighs of pessimism that followed. The latter likely stems from the still-fresh memories of AOCAF 57 - a competition that was as disappointing for fans across Vilita & Turori as it was a projection of what the Eel-Cat Things could expect to encounter during AOCAF 62.

Of Course, one might be hard pressed to find any singular AOCAF competition with a format more complicated than that of AOCAF 62. However, as far as formats go, they didn't get any simpler to follow than AOCAF 57. A standard competition with four teams in a group, the top 2 advancing to a knockout round. As defending champions of AOCAF 56, the Vilita & Turori Eel-Cat Things entered the tournament as the #1 seed and the favorite to repeat as champions. At the time, their draw seemed favorable. An opening matchup against 19th ranked Demot. A Strong but nothing-like their former selves Starblaydia, ranked 9th, and a little sliver of Calania known as the Euran Oceania Territories which many expected to be little more than target practice for the defending AOCAF Champions - the same team that had netted 8 goals against Farfadillis in the AOCAF Semi-Finals just one cycle prior.

The Eel-Cat Things had little trouble with Demot then stepped forward in a rivalrous 3-3 draw with Starblaydia - a double from Nii'arala Milaaso following Enzoril Alabonni's opener for Vilita & Turori. In the final match of the Group Stage, Vilita & Turori picked up the victory they expected to but the margin - just a 4-2 victory over the Euran Oceania Territories, was perhaps less than expected. Regardless, the Eel-Cat Things had topped their group and were on their way to the knockout rounds where a first-ever meeting with an unheralded side known as Siovanija & Teusland would await.

Amakli Inuro'o, Lati'ala Giaoka and Wiztsana Iretziia would do their part for the Eel-Cat Things but the defense would not hold. Vilita & Turori would crash out of the AOCAF Regional Championship at the Round of 16 stage as defending champions - sulking back in embarrassing fashion as they would squander their #1 ranking that they had earned through their AOCAF 56 triumph.

While that defeat would spawn the Ampersand Rivalry; & and & would do battle again during AOCAF 59 with Siovanija & Teusland once again stunning the Eel-Cat Things and eliminating Vilita & Turori in the very first knockout round. Those memories were still fresh when the AOCAF 62 draw was made. While being matched up against Siovanija & Teusland certainly drew the ire of the Vilita & Turori fanbase, the fact that they were also drawn against Starblaydia and the Euran Oceania Territories instantly drew comparisons to AOCAF 57 when the Eel-Cat Things competed against Starblaydia, the Euran Oceania Territories and Siovanija & Teusland in that order prior to crashing out of the Competition in such detrimental fashion.

This time out the Eel-Cat Things got the chance to open things up on a little bit of an easier tone blasting five goals past the Euran Oceania Territories. The Eel-Cat Things had stuck with Striitca Virahat for the opening two matches of the group stage but switched things up for the potential banana peel match against Siovanija & Teusland by starting up and coming Turorian prospect Derizi Amatopa. Ultimately, the decision backfired. Amatopa conceded twice as Vilita dropped their third consecutive defeat to Siovanija & Teusland in the AOCAF competition. At that point, the results in the other matches didn't really matter. Another five goals past the Euran Oceania Territories. A defeat to Starblaydia - the defending AOCAF Champions. Who cared. It was all about Siovanija & Teusland.

The Vilita & Turori coaching staff knew that their team would not ever be able to compete for the AOCAF title if they couldn't find a way to defeat Siovanija & Teusland. There was only room for one ampersand in the knockout rounds and it started with V, not S. This time the Eel-Cat Things turned to established Turorian netminder Timaala Hualtia. This time, Vilita & Turori came out flying. Timi'sala Koarena found the back of the net in the opening minute of the game and the Eel-Cat Things never let up the gas. Up 2-0 at the half, the game was sealed on the hour mark when Lohani Riiyaaw headed home the Eel-Cat Things third goal. It was three points but more importantly Vilita & Turori reclaimed the golden Ampersand and the path had been cleared for them to make another deep run in the AOCAF Competition.

 Vilita & Turori 5 - 0 Euran Oceania Territories	
	Goals:	:: 6' Naraiza Ruaplal:: 11' Clarana Refiami:: 15' Nua'oma Aikiki:: 39' Lati'ala Giaoka:: 62' Lati'ala Giaoka          
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Inteali Koranjo (Tulaki Rauogba 68'), Amakli Inuro'o, Biliki Rona'atu'i, Khrusan Mlianko (Lentali Purama 72'), Naraiza Ruaplal, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, Lati'ala Giaoka, Nua'oma Aikiki (Enzoril Alabonni 58'), Kala'a Yuliizala, Clarana Refiami

 Vilita & Turori 2 - 2 Starblaydia	
	Goals:	:: 57' Tulaki Rauogba:: 66' Rojara Tiones             
	Team:	Striitca Virahat (Vernasa Sanamun 73'), Lohani Riiyaaw, Rojara Tiones, Inteali Koranjo, Lentali Purama, Tulaki Rauogba, Naraiza Ruaplal, Khrusan Mlianko (Cuoabaza Orani’aoa 37'), Mbdiai Akarenaa, Clarana Refiami (Nua'oma Aikiki 67'), Turakia Diijelhma

 Vilita & Turori 1 - 2 Siovanija & Teusland	
	Goals:	:: 55' Tyoasi Klipark:: 
	Team:	Derizi Amatopa, Amakli Inuro'o, Lohani Riiyaaw (Kiidallen Aeroluzzi 71'), Moumouni Verre'elali, Lentali Purama (Timi'sala Koarena 45'), Khrusan Mlianko (Inteali Koranjo 70'), Lati'ala Giaoka, Naraiza Ruaplal, Tyoasi Klipark, Kala'a Yuliizala, Turakia Diijelhma

 Vilita & Turori 5 - 3 Euran Oceania Territories	
	Goals:	:: 19' Amakli Inuro'o:: 36' Intikko Kuhilana:: 43' Intikko Kuhilana:: 46' Lati'ala Giaoka:: 83' Kala'a Yuliizala          
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Inteali Koranjo, Amakli Inuro'o (Cuoabaza Orani’aoa 45'), Moumouni Verre'elali, Lati'ala Giaoka, Tulaki Rauogba, Khrusan Mlianko, Lentali Purama, Intikko Kuhilana (Naraiza Ruaplal 45'), Clarana Refiami (Turakia Diijelhma 45'), Kala'a Yuliizala

 Vilita & Turori 0 - 1 Starblaydia	
	Goals:	               
	Team:	Striitca Virahat, Inteali Koranjo, Amakli Inuro'o (Intikko Kuhilana 61'), Lohani Riiyaaw, Tulaki Rauogba, Khrusan Mlianko (Lentali Purama 45'), Cuoabaza Orani’aoa (Naraiza Ruaplal 45'), Lati'ala Giaoka, Loala Inkabu, Kala'a Yuliizala, Clarana Refiami

 Vilita & Turori 3 - 0 Siovanija & Teusland	
	Goals:	:: 1' Timi'sala Koarena:: 34' Khrusan Mlianko:: 59' Lohani Riiyaaw            
	Team:	Timaala Hualtia, Amakli Inuro'o (Loala Inkabu 70'), Lohani Riiyaaw, Rojara Tiones, Kiidallen Aeroluzzi, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa (Tulaki Rauogba 61'), Timi'sala Koarena, Khrusan Mlianko (Lati'ala Giaoka 65'), Intikko Kuhilana, Kala'a Yuliizala, Turakia Diijelhma

by **Banija** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 4:02 pm

The Kadongo Kamu face off against Mriin in the Round of 16 of AOCAF LXII

The national team takes a picture before their last group stage match with Starblaydia

HONEPORT, KHYTONYA- The time for the knockout stages of AOCAF LXII has arrived. The Round of 16 is here- playoffs are over and done, the Round of 24 is played, there is no more need to learn and understand confusing formats. Many teams have played 9 games- some have played 10, others have played 11 to get to this point. But it's simple now. It's four and won, or one and done. The knockout stages. Each match is do or die, winner take all, loser goes home, whatever you want to call it. It's the most exciting brand of international football.

And the Kadongo Kamu, after a shaky Phase 1 where they didn't get out of the cellar of their group until the group's final matchday, looked a lot stronger in Phase 2. They were truly on the cusp of relegation after Phase 1- and yet, in Phase 2, we looked much more in tune with ourselves. Having survived Phase 1 by the skin of our teeth, we avoided relegation entirely and instead fought to improve our standing. Our first two games of Phase 1, of course, were at the national stadium, the Stadium of the Restoration. We defeated Audioslavia for the third time during the tournament, defeating them 2-0 in Busukuma. And then, we dropped our GSW rivals, Qasden, by the same score. Qasden has earned promotion to League A from Phase 1, but they were no match for the world champions.

And the third game would be against Starblaydia. Direct qualification to the Round of 16 clinched, we'd look to improve our seeding by earning at least a draw. And we did just that- earning a point against Starblaydia to put ourselves as the #2 overall seed, into the Round of 16. Even as the designated senior host nation, however, we are on the road for the AOCAF Round of 16. Taking the flight to Khytonya to take on Mriin, once again. We took on Mriin very recently, in the final game of World Cup 86. It was a tightly fought 0-0 draw, one that was good enough for both nations to achieve their goal and reach the knockout stages of the World Cup Finals.

The Banijans openly ran much more of a defensive strategy in that game, focused on neutralizing key Mriin playmakers. "It was a different set of circumstances for our World Cup match." Marcus Waters told the press. "Don't expect this match to look anything like that one. We had a lot of different players on that team, as we made quite a few squad changes to our 23 after we had a raft of retirements following the World Cup Final. And plus, with those circumstances- only needing a draw to win the group- we played a little more defensively. But this team doesn't play not to lose- we play to win. And in the knockout stages, we expect to be on our front heel."

The newly minted captain, the former Galactico Kuma Bultum, said that the team has started to come into form just at the right time. "We all know how Phase 1 of this tournament went- there's no need to talk about it. But we saw truly how capable we are in Phase 2. We downed a title contender in Audioslavia, and then downed an excellent sub-regional rival in Qasden. And then battled it out to a tough draw with Starblaydia, the defending regional champions. We've never won this regional title. We surely want to be able to call ourselves the champions of Atlantian Oceania. We're going to have to run through a gauntlet to do so, starting with Mriin- but if you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best, right?"

The AOCAF LXII Host Committee has not yet confirmed the four quarterfinal venues at the time of print, although they did say that all four quarterfinal matchups would be played in the host nations. As always, go Banija!

by **Busoga Islands** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 4:19 pm

The Busoga Chronicle
The Islands #1 News Source!

Busoga Islanders qualify for first ever AOCAF knockout stage appearance and are rewarded with a match against Audioslavia

Islanders celebrating scoring in their 1-0 upset victory over Mriin during Phase 2 of the AOCAFs

MYANA, CHROMATIKA- This was not supposed to happen. The Busoga Islands have always been a team that struggled during the regional championships. We've never made an appearance in the knockout stage of this tournament, failing to do so in six consecutive attempts. And considering the way we slid 37 spots in the KPB rankings after our disastrous World Cup 86 Qualifying campaign, we were expected to bow quickly out of AOCAF LXII on home soil.

But Bethany Donnell, the manager, who managed to keep her job despite the slide, said that this was a moment for her team to make a choice. Could they pick themselves up and plant the flag as their turnaround moment, and do the work to climb back up the rankings? Or would one bad World Cup Qualification cycle doom this team for good? And this team clearly chose to play strong and fast, and climb back up the rankings. Phase 1 went brilliantly. Six games as a Pot 2 side in League B, we won our first five games, all without conceding a single goal. While we had a 1-1 draw on Matchday 6 with the Freeport Isles, we were long qualified for the actual final tournament at that point.

And then, came Phase 2. The promotion to League A. And then perhaps being drawn into the most stacked group of League A, with three teams ranked in the Top 8, with three(four?) of them having played in the knockout stages of World Cup 86. Despite our strong performance in League B, all those big nations likely wrote off the Islanders as dead and gone. Wrote us off as an easy win. You could almost pencil us into the League C/League A playoff. And then- came the true shockers to Atlantian Oceania football.

We fought out a tough, 2-2 draw at home with Farfadillis. Of course, all the games were at home as a co-host nation. And the environment for these games was absolute madness. Intense crowds, lots of noise, lots of energy, red and white everywhere- what a spectacle. That draw was an upset in and of itself. But then in swaggered Mriin. The team that we're all rooting for to bump off the insufferable Kadongo Kamu in Khytonya tonight. But that Mriin game will live on, probably one of the biggest games we've ever played. We upset Vilita during World CUp 82 Qualifying, and that may still be our biggest ever upset to date. But this upset is on that scale- and of even higher importance, as it locked us up a spot in the knockout stages.

While we fell on Matchday 3 to Vilita & Turori, all was well- we were still second in the group, and find ourselves in the Round of 16. Unfamiliar territory. Kamu Jacobs, who gave the Islanders their 1-0 win over Mriin courtesy of a stunning 58th minute volley, said that the team was up for the challenge of facing Audioslavia. "Look, Audioslavia is an excellent program. They just went to the final last tournament, right? There's a reason that they are the betting favorites. But I'll say this- we fear nobody, whether we should or not. We're going to go out, play our game, play stiff defense against the stack of cards that Audioslavia brought, and hopefully we can grind out a positive result."

Despite us being a host nation, this game will occur on the other side of Atlantian Oceania, at the Islander Dome in Chromatika. It will be at the biggest Quarterfinal venue- the 133,000 seater Islander Dome. Busoga Islander fans, excited after a bright performances in both group stages of this tournament, are buying tickets in droves. A BISA official said it best. "Normally, a Busoga Islands v. Audioslavia match on that side of the map would be about 75/25 Audioslavia fans, due to geography. But there's a lot of energy surrounding our team, and positive vibes. Our fans are going to travel in big numbers- we expect that, if things go well, we can have up to 40% of the fans at their stadium."

There are no direct flights to Chromatika from the Busoga Islands, so fans will fly from either Dukuma or Lakiska, via Istria, to get to Myana. The fans will be energized and excited. Which side will triumph- will Audioslavia continue their effort to get back to the Final, or will the Busoga Islands continue to stun Atlantian Oceania and continue their shocking run?

We'll find out in a few hours time at the Islander Dome. And as always- go Busoga!

by **Krytenia** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 4:40 pm

Hoping For A Hapi Ending
By Rami Niblick in Waldster, Flavovespia

PARTING, they say, is such sweet sorrow. Certainly, it'll be a sad day when this AOCAF Cup is over. Following the announcements that Oliver Alexander, Joshua Kelnic, and James Aitken will be retiring from international football after the tournament, yesterday saw the biggest bombshell of all. Jerome Jaffacake-Phillips will be leaving the role of manager at the end of the competition, with assistant Paul Davis taking the reigns for the Eagles' Cup and World Cup 87.

Social media - and, indeed, a few lesser publications - immediately named him as a potential successor to Sean Patterick at the helm of the Audioslavian national team. It should be mentioned that these rumours have seemingly no basis in fact, mind. For one, many insiders in Cathair are pointing to Shamrock boss Rohan Cammers to take over in the role. Secondly, Jaffacake-Phillips' first interview as boss of the national team ended with him calling the Audioslavians "muppets". Unless he fancies himself as some sort of Hensonesque figure, that's probably a hard pass.

One thing thatwe do know, though, is that those leaving the organisation are wanting to make damn sure they get four more games out of it. Thus far, the tournament has mirrored the Cup of Harmony, with the Dragons underwhelming in the group stage before getting their momentum going once the knockouts started. The win over Twicetagria may have been more stoic than stylish, but the fact remains that the job got done, and got done efficiently. Next on the menu are Hapilopper, a team with something to prove after withdrawing from the last World Cup under a cloud. They've looked fearless on the pitch, and will be a challenge unlike any the men in sky blue and white have faced in the competition so far. The talismanic Nathan Ellis, though not the most blessed with ball-playing finesse, is made from a combination of granite and pure rage. It'll be interesting to see what happens when he comes across the absolute unit that is Neil Smith - from a safe distance, anyway.

What is for certain is that will be a true test for the Dragons. If they can overcome the slings and arrows, and avoid being stung in The Hornets' Nest, the potential rewards are a chance for revenge against Mriin, or else a tasty matchup of WCC trophy holders against Banija. Let's hope that the Dragons live up to their nickname and bring the fire against Hapilopper to make one of those matchups a reality. Onward!

by **Qasden** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 7:23 pm

Yays and Definite Nays

By Tomathan Hammerland

MYNDA- The Aksum Region: home of the 6th largest city in Banija and the site of Qasden's first hint of impending doom.

When we last left off, the NewVans had done the thinkably unthinkable in Busembe when defender, #DIX Rufus Lester, knocked in a header to defeat a lackluster Audioslavia in the last stage of the Simeone Di Bradini Group, giving Qasden a third place finish and avoiding any play-in without a number in the name. Garnering the 16th seed (Turns out 3 points doesn't do much compared to the rest of League A), the BlueReds would be drawn against Gallavrynga in the Round of 24 with a date against the tournament's #1 on the line. The adversarial Lionhearts, last of the Phase 1 League C teams, were having an amazing debut in international gameplay, thrashing their low level opponents in C1 and mercilessly slaughtering 2 of their 3 League B groupmates. As the mid-league's best runner-up, Gallavrynga rightfully earned their 17th seed, meaning the Vans were in deep trouble.

During the first half of Electra Stadium's cruel show, there was a potent sense of dread among Qads, many of whom still reeling from the failures of WC86 and AOCAF61, as well as considering Qasden's record when it comes to facing newbies in knockouts (*fake cough* Belle Haven *fake cough*). Yes, the history of Qasden Football is bleaker than an ogre's swamp, but hopeful conspiracists cited the Vans' luck with their matches donning Siru's Red-Blue kits, a surprising far cry from performances with the original Blue-Red. In fact, just to prove them right, midfielder Osmund Blackbourne took one to the back of the net 62 minutes in, taking Qasden to a 1-0 lame duck lead for the remainder of the game. Oh yes, as anti-climatic as it sounds, Blackbourne would be the only scorer, continuing the tradition of very low-scoring games Qasden seems to be in. Whatever, at least the defense is staying solid. Just like that, Isaac Longwood and Gallavrynga's journey was over, though it'll be one to keep in mind come their great future ahead. For Zimari, however, the victory introduces a new threat to the playing field, one nearly as great as those we faced in the early stages of Phase 2. For the Round of 16, the AOCAF LXII committee decided to send the remaining teams abroad to compete in 5 separate countries in the region, with only half of them being allowed to return to the GSW for the quarters. For now, let's take a gander at some of the matchups of this stage, starting from the bottom part of the bracket and concluding with Qasden as usual.

The Cyantologists are back, baby! Well, technically they've always been here, but they get to join the double-featured club, at least. As we discussed in the last article, Krytenia's journey this tournament has been a bit of a rollercoaster, being relegated from an insane Group A4 before rebounding hard in League B's Keira Andisori Group, taking the 10th seed of the tournament and a match against one of the play-ins. For them, they would meet Twicetagria who, like Gallavrynga, was the last of its kind, being the only Phase 2 League C team to not have been slaughtered in the play-ins. Unfortunately for the lone survivors, Krytenia doesn't give a darn diddly damn about endangered football statistics (look what happened to their semi-finalist joke), as the Dragons game-ended the Sergeants 1-0 in Herzegovina City. With League C now extinct, The Cyans are poised to face the 7th-seeded Hapilopper. As Qasden's cool hat, the Haps journey started fairly similarly to Vans, narrowly winning their League B group in Phase 1 thanks to cheeky shenanigans (A strong H2H performance against Tropicorp, to be exact). In Phase 2, our neighbors did outperformed both Ko-oren and the Euran Oceania Territories to strike a comfortable second place finish, a pleasant surprise to many within the nation. Having the audacity to skip the first two sets of knockouts, Hapilopper now aims to keep its hype train going against Krytenia as they duke it out in Waldster, Flavovespia, with the prize being a quarter-final bout against the UWC champion, either to be future holders Mriin or current holders Banija.

While Flavovespia themselves are out, we aren't quite done in the country tournament-wise, especially when it comes to Chromatika vs. Baker Park in Hadford Hill's, uh, Hadford Hill. Yeah, guess the stadium's named after the city; or maybe the other way around? I don't know, but let's get to the competitors. The storied Anomalies entered this AOCAF with pessimistic-yet-optimistic-enough hopes for a mid-knockout finish, as highlighted by their new manager, Krytenian Richard Valens. To what can only be assumed as an inter-regional surprise, Chromatika absolutely dominated their competition in League A during Phase 1, winning 5 of 6 matches (The other was a draw) and outperforming even the most legendary of teams featured. Despite the astonishing accomplishment, those monotone motherduckers weren't out of OP juice heading into the Karsten Eiger Group, and in the first two matches, walked out with 6 more points, only later drawing to Ko-oren to finish with the 3rd seed to their name in the upcoming knockouts (to which they'd receive those tasty byes). With total victory actually becoming a possibility, the Chromatiks will first need to defeat an old, Phase 1 foe in the form of Baker Park. The Bees of Belle Haven last played the Anomalies in Group A1, losing both matches and muffling their eventual second place success. After a bit of a struggle in the Solara Vol Group (see last report), the Commonwealth would travel to Jinja City to play against the waning Techies of Tropicorp, soundly defeating them 1-0. Now back in familiar territory (the knockouts, not Flavovespia), Baker Park looks to clear their vendetta against Chromatika for those early losses; should they succeed (or fail, it doesn't really matter), the victor will travel back to Banija to take on the likes of either Valanora or Dogsmouth (the last pair playing in Flavovespia).

Now we're getting closer to potential foes for Qasden's killer (let's be real here) by jumping over to our side of the bracket. Above us now stands the graphic outlines of 4th-seeded Sarzonia (who we couldn't actually find a map for, so it's the Cartographer's logo again) and 13th-seeded Ko-oren. Finally, a highlighted match with two new teams instead of one! We really shoulda thought about this more. Anyways, let's take a gander at the Stars; Sarzonia, to be exact. Ranked 13th in the region, Sarzonia was initally undermined when put in a group featuring recent regional and world champions like Equestria and Banija (Audioslavia was also there), and the team made quiet progress in the form of draw after draw. At the end of Phase 1, the Stars would hold 10 points, 40% coming from draws, indicating that the team managed to win their League A group with a mere 2 wins. Going into the Solara Vol Group, however, Nicola Mentes' efforts as manager would be put on full display as Sarzonia took victories over Northwest Kalactin and Valanora, only falling against Baker Park (though the win over the Eternal Empire would give them the group title). While last among the group winners, it's still rather important to note that they are League A groups winners, meaning that their opponent will need to play at 110% if they want the upset. Speaking of their opponent, let's get to the Dragonflies of the Northwest, shall we? Ko-oren, winners of the 60th AOCAF, played out the phases entirely in League A like the Sarzonians. In the chaotic Group A4, the 9th-ranked team coached by Katanmak Juliasterinthen (totally didn't copy-paste that name from another report) stayed afloat with 2 of everything, finishing second in a stage where you only need not to finish last. In Phase 2's Karsten Eiger group, the Dragonflies continued sampling each of the win, draw, and loss tables until realizing that the 4 points on their plate dropped them into 3rd place, forcing a run-in with our old group mates, Gyatso-Kai, in an Aissa-bound Round of 24 match. The Ko-orenites would ultimately prevail with a Ko-oredenated 1-0 win (I'm sorry), sending them to St. Nicholas, Khytonya, for this very match we decided to report a little on. The winner will go back to Banija, rather than home, and face the survivor between a mostly dominant Starblaydia and the Sultanate of Oontaz, whose win over lower-seeded Farfadillis is currently regarded as the biggest upset of the tournament.

Before we carry on, we had received news between reports that our graphics guy had completely failed to understand where Twicetagria was on the map, being no where near the initial conclusion. As we discovered, the nation is actually a small archipelago between Siovanija and Torisakia. As such, we've made a corrected variant of their graphic, though its use will be inconclusive as they were defeated by Krytenia last round.

Alright, back to the showcase we've been waiting and absolutely dreading for. After beating the last debutant standing, the Qasden Vans have unintentionally booked a flight to Ballina, Northwest Kalactin, in order to face the highest seed in the tournament: Vilita and Turori...

A quick rundown of the Eel-Cat Things, the most dastardly of duos started the tournament off like every villain team in a sports movie, finishing second place in their League A group against a bunch of plot-armored Starblaydians. Yeah, they avoided the relegation, but remember, a villain's best trait is their ability to strike back and strike back HARD, at least in VilTur's case. In the Sobek Dehena Group, the Eel-Cats destroyed everyone in their path and beyond. Busoga? Gone. Mriin? Obliterated. Farfadillis? Banished to the shadow realms. 3-0-0 with 13 goals divided between them, this was a massacre at its finest. With such lethality being unleashed, Vilita & Turori became the Top Dog and best contender at taking the UWC title come the end of the tournament. Yet before they can complete their main conquest, they gotta stepover the thumbtack that is our Qasden Vans.

Now Qasden has faced Vilita and Turori before, several times actually, with the most notable battle taking place in AOCAF 55, when the Vans took revenge in the Round of 16 against V&T for an earlier group stage loss on their way to an eventual 4th place finish (The highest ever achieved by Qasden in this regional.). Of course, since then Qasden waned while the Cove kings waxed, with Vilita & Turori going so far as to win AOCAF 56, one cycle after the Vans had their taste of watered down glory. For now, the stage is set for what is expected to be an expect battle in Northwest Kalactin; the 5-time Multiversal Champions hold a slight lead in bets over a group of cats that haven't seen hardware since the WC70's, though the NewVans dare dream to accomplish the success of the OldVans's 55 run, ready to give it all they got. For the winner, a stage will be set against either the likes of the Busoga Islands or the recurring Audioslavia in the Quarter-Finals, but it's gonna be a hell of a fight to get their.

Can Sylvia Zimari and the NewVans do to the greatest duo in football what they did to Sean Patterick's hopes of not getting replaced? Will Zachary Sedsten use this fight as the determining factor of his political career? I have neither of those answers, but the Ballinga Grounds may as we descend upon the Round of 16 battle for the felines, live (maybe for the last time) at the 62nd AOCAF!

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2020
Back where it started, BP hopes third time lucky
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

You can hardly blame them if it seems a bit like deja vu for the Commonwealth National Team, as they will meet a familiar foe, and return to a familiar place for the Round of 16 in AOCAF 62.
Baker Park will look to turn the tables in their third meeting with Chromatika in the tournament, with the home & away series during the opening phase of group play the two worst performances so far, according to Manager Jen Prescott.

But the neutral site for the match will harken back to the opener of the competition, with a return to Highland Road in Haddon Hills, Flavovespia, scene of a 4-1 BP victory. Prescott doesn't think the fact that the Anomalies didn't play here during Group A will be a huge advantage for her side.

"Only in that we know the dressing room, we know the pitch. We played under the lights before and this will be an afternoon kickoff, so maybe the visual conditions might be different."

The Bees come off a hard fought win over Tropicorp at the BCEL Stadium in Jinja City, Daniel Pryor getting the only tally on the night just five minutes before the interval; it was a routine finish off a well placed ball from Christa Vuckovic that came at the end of a sublime buildup. Vuckovic was happy to have the chance to face many of her club teammates from Tropicorp FC, and her knowledge of the strengths & weaknesses of the Techies brought a sense of calm to her during the warmup and at kickoff.

"Yeah, it was great to see all the guys & gals, and I thought coming in that I would be more nervous, but really I kept repeating in my head the various coaching points we go through in training there (at the club), so it helped me focus just on the match and not all of the other stuff."

Prescott wouldn't be drawn on how the lineup and tactics might change for the third match against Chromatika; the two group matches saw both of the backup netminders, Rose McCormick & Spencer Brockhorst start for the Black & Gold, so the Anomalies will be facing New Bremen's Zack Johnston for the first time. Johnston has been the one constant during the improvement of the defense through the second phase of the tourney, and the manager feel confident that the National League's top keeper will come through for the side in the quest to advance to the final 8.

lineup vs Chromatika (3-5-2)
Johnston; Moss, Onikambe, Jordan (C); Rizzo, Guitirrez, Vuckovic, Nolan, Reynolds; Laing, Garvey

by **Starblaydia** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:49 pm

The brand new Round of 24 map was where it really started to get interesting, and with only four rounds to go, will anyone manage to eject The Champion?

Here's some thoughts on what just happened:

We said Twice was sus, and Kry promptly ejected them. At least someone is taking our advice.
Audio finally remembered what the controls were, allegedly, and EQS went out the airlock. Hmm.
Where on earth did Oontaz come from to eject Farf? Seems like it helps Star out on the Round of 16 map.
BP totally 100% accused Galla of being sus before and then, oh look, Galla gets ejected and BP also advances. Hmmmm

by **Mriin** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:17 pm

Maal Memoirs
Sports
Flavo of the Day

Yon Kegaant
Dodoma, Banija

I've made my thoughts on the nations league format being tested out abundantly clear. I'm glad to say that with the calming, steady pace of knockout football returning, it feels like I'm finally waking from a month-long fever dream. With nine utterly inconsequential matches in the books the Reavers finally got a crack at playtime that truly mattered. An opponent from close to home; the Flavovespians, just a short sail east of Maal. A venue with the weight of history behind it; Albert III Stadium hosted Mriin's 3-1 loss to Apox in World Cup 83. One side going home at the end of the day. The real AOCAF finally begins.

The Flavovespians had brought a very young lineup to bear upon the equivalently young Reavers side; notably 21 year old leftback David Lyons and 20 year old defensive midfielder Kieron Player are both given the nod after starting two of nine group stage matches. There was also Arnold Stevenson's decision to go with David Blythe, an aggressive wingback, on the right side rather than the more reliably defensive Stephen Shepherd (my H key thanks him for this decision). The plan was clearly to take the initiative, to not let themselves get bullied around by the size difference. And for some time that plan worked.

The first chance of the game came some four minutes in as Steven Hall, captain and star, did as he does best and dribbled his way directly past Winabæn. A human who's canny enough on the ball and handy enough with their feet to exploit a satyr's relatively clumsy hooves is always going to be a threat; this threat only didn't come to pass thanks to a stellar diving stop from Dun. But he wouldn't be denied when the next chance rolled around three minutes later, breaking down the wing and sidestepping Filia to punch home from much closer. It was a quick lead for the lower seed, and there was a lot of murmuring about how they might have what it takes to pull this off.

That's when the Reaver's difference maker made himself known. Who needs to take charge when a technical side is cutting under your satyrs? None other than the squad's resident human. Idi had been doing well throughout the tourney, but hadn't done much headline-worthy yet. He'd even suffered a slight downturn in quality of play in the second phase, playing at the Dukuma Oval--the same stadium he watched Mriin face off against the Busoga Islands back before the MNL had even called him up to the U21 team. But whatever had been eating at him must have been sorted by the time the team showed up in Banija proper. Idi popped off upon his return to the ancestral homeland, quickly equalizing the game twelve minutes in following a deft theft of Kieron Player in the Flavovespian backfield that quickly escalated into a cross that Äzyr slotted home.

The next chance would come on the break as a slightly mis-hit pass intended for Hall was cut off by Idi running at full-tilt. He started a drive that culminated with Istria crashing through Alexander May to tap-in the rebound of Otalia's shot. May took up some umbrage with the ump, but was brushed off that satyrs being big isn't a foul; centreback partner Tony Gardner pulled him away before it could escalate further. With three goals in the span of twenty minutes, and the Reavers apparently electing to not park the bus, this was already sure to be an entertaining game.

The chances for the next fifteen minutes favored the Flavovespians, who'd impressively managed to preserve some of their momentum despite losing the lead nigh-immediately. Through the efforts of Hall and the experienced asset of James King, Mark Paul was given several gilded opportunities up front. In order, they went: Pawed over the bar (nothing comes of the corner), deflected out of bounds off Paarsimer's hamstring (the physio came out to take a look and cleared him), crossbar, crossbar. Watching them come so close to equalizing and just barely not managing must have been painful for the black-and-yellow faithful in the stands.

That pain was exacerbated when Winabæn dribbled her way up half the field, catching Murad Ahmed with some tricksy hoofwork the latter seemingly wasn't anticipating. As the other Mrii midfielders had drifted wide she was rewarded with a sizeable chunk of free real estate, and made the best of it: getting into a primo position to pass forward to an advancing Filia, who popped it forward to Idi, who in turn crossed into the box where a waiting Istria nodded it home. May had tried to challenge her jump, but bounced off her hard and landed on his ass; begrudgingly, he did take Istria's hand when she offered to help him back up. Halftime came shortly thereafter to see a scoreline of 3-1--all in all a result the bookies had been expecting when betting on the Reavers finding their form again.

Stevenson's halftime spiel seemed to do better than Tailtiu Brennan's commentary on not getting complacent, as the Flavovespians came out with a renewed vigor. It was do or die time, and they were ready to do. They had a few good drives break upon the Mrii defensive line, but kept at it without getting jaded--and were rewarded when Blythe's dutiful forward roaming finally had him in the exact right spot for a King pass and take it into the red zone. His well-placed cross was chested down by Jonathan Feld, who brought the game within one with a quick low flick that just edged past Dun's slide. They'd brought the match back within one. Forcing extra time--at the least--seemed doable.

But the Mrii defense managed to rally. Pia came on for a Filia who'd run herself absolutely ragged, and Malia taking an unusually quiet Ÿya's spot to bring some steel back into the midfield. The Flavovespian midfielders starting getting aggro'd on and roughed up in artful ways that shattered their momentum and only drew lite ire from the refs, effectively stymying them for some fifteen minutes. In the waning minutes of the match the Mrii put together another counterattack, when the best equalization opportunity yet was lost to an excellent--and a stunningly clean--tackle from Yngriit that completely depossessed sub Scott Coleman shortly before he'd have taken a hack at goal. The loose ball was collected by Winabæn and the squad surged forward; May, apparently sick of the ref's deference to the bigger side, took matters into his own boots with a brutal challenge on Äzyr. Only got a yellow for his troubles, which I'm sure Stevenson was glad for, but was still immediately lifted for Alastair Ross. And the resulting free kick? Idi arced it over the wall with aplomb, slotting into the right side of the goal just beyond Aarif Muhammad's reach. Four-two. The match was officially out of reach, despite the laudable efforts of the Flavovespians to bring the underdog story to life.

Now we'll see if Idi can keep this up when the ancestry variables are mixed up: the round of 16 match won't be played in Banija (rather, as part of an AO tour, in Khytonya), but it will be against Banija themselves. The definitive marquee matchup of the round, though Chromatika versus Baker Park will undoubtedly be a good watch as well.

Mriin - 4
Fæwin 12’
Saara 19’, 38'
Mboge 84'
Flavovespia- 2
Hall 7'
Feld 69'

by **Dogsmouth** » Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:33 pm

The reporters had found their way into Kabonero III Field's home locker room, finding an extremely exasperate Meredyth Shepherd.

"Oh, ocean take you too. Can't you give me a fucking minute to let my heart settle down before going on with the questions?"

"We've got a job to do, ma'am." sneered Eddy Vettel.

"I, regrettably, have to agree with the dipstick," added Tabitha Sconce. "This was a big moment and we need our articles out ASAP to ride that wave. But we can wait on the stressful part for now. Impressions on how the game went during regulation?"

"A clusterfuck, that's what it is. I kept my eyes on Colwyn and Amelia all night to make sure they weren't drinking or feuding and they still came out playing disjointed. Fine individual performances, but just not the kind of teamwork we need to actually shut offences down, and the Kalactanians made us pay over and over for that. Jimmy McCarthy may be a fine enough player but half of the chances he got just shouldn't have happened if we were playing to plan."

Eddy nodded as the both of them hastily scribbled all this down. "And what of Rayne's performance? If anything could have lightened your mood it's finally seeing your star striker hang a hattrick."

"I mean, I'm hardly gonna complain about it, sure. It's great to see it for Cynthia--she's been working her ass off lately, and even if maybe one-and-a-half of those goals came as lucky breaks, it's all well-deserved. And damn, did she ever bail us out of a shit sandwich today."

"Alright," sighed Tabitha, "now for the real question. What's running through your mind during the shootout?"

"Cusses, mostly. When Wulfnoth completely skied his I almost burst a vein. If Eliot hadn't immediately saved Gilbert's attempt I might've shanked Wulf."

Eddy glanced over his glasses. "And how much of a relief was it to see Matt Hall's shot bang off the crossbar?"

"I wouldn't call that feeling relief in a thousand years. Some level of happy, sure, but I'm still not unwound from that anxiety. Speaking of, please fuck off, I need to find some whiskey ASAP."

AOCAF LXII Everything Thread

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