Nephara 2 - 0 Pluvia
(4-4-2) 12 - Garamond; 18 - Soeringer (2 - Rostock 67'), 22 - Clevinger, 6 - Brabanzon, 3 - Strassman; 7 - Koerner (23 - Sauthier 56'), 4 - Horvath, 8 - Cromwell, 11 - Kalevi; 17 - Avetisyan, 21 - Basilisk (10 - North 84')
Goals: Kalevi 16', Clevinger 40'
Garbelia 2 - 4 Nephara
(4-4-2) 20 - Senninger; 2 - Rostock, 22 - Clevinger, 6 - Brabanzon, 19 - Strasbourg (3 - Strassman 64'); 7 - Koerner, 15 - Timekeeper (4 - Horvath 64'), 14 - Fletcher, 13 - Caracole; 17 - Avetisyan, 10 - North
Goals: Avetisyan 8', Caracole 29', North 61', Fletcher 75'
WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE FIRST FIVE ROUNDS
It has been a successful opening to the campaign for Nephara, five wins from five thus far, but Strauss has continued her habit of compulsively shuffling the pack to try and find her best possible squad. However, with matches against the second and third seeds coming up, her most recent squad selection must surely be taken as a sign of what she feels are her best 23. Let's take a look at who that speaks well of, and who might find themselves out in the cold.
Leonora Fischer and Anders Sonnett
LOSERS
Leonora Fischer
3. Konrad Lovelace
This one might be premature. Lovelace is in the squad, wearing the number 10. In club terms, he's the most in-form Nepharan striker out there. But he's only played twice, and both times wound up being taken off when Nephara needed a late goal that, thankfully, in both cases they ended up getting. Is this a sign of the future, or will the Revolutionaries striker come out up front against
2. Chantal Kalevi
Kalevi didn't play badly in any of her three matches, and her thunderous strike from outside the area opened the scoring against Pluvia. The issue is, right now, the gap to the competition may just be that little bit too large. She performed at what is likely her peak, hitting expert crosses and excellent set piece deliveries, but didn't do enough to justify selection over Belgrade and Caracole. She is three years younger than the latter, and this will not be the end of a player who is still building up to her peak, but barring injury she is doubtful to experience this World Cup.
1. Traudl Mrdja
Mrdja feels like a victim of circumstance. For her club, she plays as something of an inside forward, an incisive two-footed right winger, a ruthless goalscorer. For country, her gimmick has been being equally comfortable at both right wing and up front; unfortunately, these are the two exact positions the Cormorants are absolutely flush with. Part of her versatility also involved being most comfortable up front in a 4-3-3, but it appears that that flexibility is less important with Chimera Moxham now out of the picture. Mrdja was called up against Pluvia, but didn't get on the pitch and does not seem to be in Strauss' current plans.
WINNERS
Anders Sonnett
3. Anselm Koerner
Koerner's been in every squad, played all but one match and will probably start against both Kandorith and South Covello. Young and powerful, Koerner isn't really a late bloomer, but has definitely made massive strides over the past year and absolutely lived up to the promise that 1830 plucked him out for. He seems, as things stand, Nephara's unchallenged right winger.
2. Reniira Clevinger and Miska Brabanzon
These two go together, with more than just shades of Scharner and Katskalidis about them. The two young but imposing centre-halves representing either side of the Sabrefell divide (though of course Clevinger's originally from Newrook) were the preferred defensive pairing in the Eagles Cup, and are both set to make the trip for the next games as Strauss opts for four recognised centre-backs, trusting in Verlander to deputise at leftback if called for.
1. Rashica Horvath
Only two players have been brought in uncapped to the training camp, which is kind of impressive given how many were capped for the Eagles Cup. Leif Flaxwood remains uncapped, and signs appear that Strauss sees him mostly as a tactical wild-card; Horvath, on the other hand, is the only defensive midfielder besides Shone present. Is it possible she can throw off the shackles of her early-20s career hitches and punch in her ticket as a consistent Cormorant? There's a nine-year gap between canny old Shone and the immensely promising Timekeeper; perhaps Horvath represents something of a sensible transition plan between the two, and has kept her place in the squad.
NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 4
Goalkeepers: 1 - Aranea Provost (Holdenberg, EUR), 12 - Raluca Garamond (Sabrefell Athletic), 20 - Fasolt Senninger (Aries Chariots)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Vivica Muscadin (Sabrefell Moths), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR, c), 6 - Cedella Verlander (AFC Corvistone), 18 - Linde Rostock (Stahlburg City), 19 - Miska Brabanzon (Sabrefell Moths), 22 - Reniira Clevinger (Sabrefell Athletic)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Brinemouth), 7 - Anselm Koerner (1830 Cathair, AUD), 8 - Lothaire Cromwell (AC Izotz Zubia, AUD), 11 - Rasmus Caracole (Cazadores Cathair, AUD), 13 - Ysabet Belgrade (Sabrefell Moths), 14 - Exene Fletcher (Hellinic Rouge, PAS), 15 - Rashica Horvath (La Nueva Avenida, FFD), 17 - Leif Flaxwood (Starling), 23 - Janna Sauthier (CASK Thorsborg, SVJ)
Forwards: 9 - Kurtis Bastable (Ulsa, EUR), 10 - Konrad Lovelace (Revolutionaries, EUR), 16 - Voska Avetisyan (Istria City, BNJ), 21 - Latona Basilisk (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD)
SCHEDULE
Baggieland 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 1 Quemorr Isles @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Græntfjall 0 - 1 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Pluvia @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Garbelia 2 - 4 - Nephara
Nephara vs. Kandorith @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
South Covello vs. Nephara
Sett Forest vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Indusse @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara vs. Baggieland @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Quemorr Isles vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Græntfjall @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Pluvia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Garbelia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Kandorith vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. South Covello @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Nephara vs. Sett Forest @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Indusse vs. Nephara