Edgeli Adds Name to History Books with Quarter Final Triumph
Chromatik City Field, Chromia, Chromatika :: It was an interesting transition for the Turori National Team from the Round of 16 at The Jungle in Eyrods to the Quarter Final at Chromatik City Field in Chromia. At The Jungle, the Turori National Team were clearly the underdog nation. Nigel's Army were there but only if you squinted. The host nation had their fans in numbers despite the uncertainty of pre-match sales projecting which Round of 16 match-up and venue the host nation might get drawn into. In spite of the lopsided support in the stands, the Turori National Team played one of their best matches of the World Cup Finals. More specifically, the Eels stuck to their core tactic and executed without the need for in-match adjustments. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Tarek Edgeli's side executed the Turorian Karela strategy to perfection, shutting down every chance from their opponents to secure a 1-0 victory. After having conceded just 4 goals over a 15 match stretch in World Cup Qualifying with 12 Shutout performances, Turori had to adjust their strategy to escape from Group B after an unlikely draw the result of a single goal conceded against Yuezhou to open the World Cup Finals. It was the middle of a five match stretch where Turori conceded eight goals - double the amount that it had conceded in the fifteen matches that proceeded it. Escape from Group B offered Turori the chance to reset and they got back to basics in the victory over the hosts. Their reward was a Quarter-Final match-up against the last remaining Rushmori nation, Pasarga.
Despite being outmatched in numbers in The Jungle, the Turori National Team found comfort in the climate in Eyrods perhaps allowing them to settle in to the match at a subconscious level. It would be a much different affair in Chromatika's Capital City as the Eels faced Pasarga for the first time since the World Cup 82 Finals. After Turori defeated the host nation in the Round of 16, two factions had grown among the local attendees. Some locals took the position that since Turori eliminated Chromatika, they should root against the Eels and would side with Pasarga in the Quarter Finals. Others took the opposition position, cheering on the Eels as if the Eels could make it through to the Championship then Chromatika's Anomalies could lay claim to the title of "Kind of like Runners-Up". Either way, the neutral support had evened out and Nigel's Army found themselves relevant once more - and relevant en masse with up to 100,000 spectators allowed within the confines of the Chromatik City Field.
Some Turorian fans were thrilled to see the Eels drawn against Pasarga for the Quarter Finals seeing it as an opportunity for Turori to take some precedence from their progression over the Wanderers during the World Cup 82 Round of 16. While it took Penalty Kicks for Turori to survive on that day, the Pasarga match represented an important milestone in competition history for the Football Association of Turori. It was the first time that the Turorian National Team had ever advanced in a knockout round match at the World Cup Finals and then gone on to win two more knockout round matches at the same World Cup. Playing Pasarga in the Quarter Finals of World Cup 88, if the Eels could do the exact same thing this time around, they would become World Champions for the first time in their history.
Turori National Team head coach Tarek Edgeli had no injury concerns heading into the match against the Wanderers, fielding a full strength lineup at every position. The only decision Edgeli had to make was whether to start Cednia Beach AFC's Lulu Pumaziiri or the Tropicorp FC defender Moumouni Verre'elali. Pumaziiri had started each match for Turori in the Group Stage and contributed two goals in that stretch to co-lead all players on the squad. However, it was also the worst three-game defensive stretch for Turori during the entire World Cup 88 Cycle. Against Chromatika in the Round of 16 it was Moumouni Verre'elali partnering Turorian captain Mikki Mayelli in the center of defense for the first time in Chromatika & Cassadaigua and Turori secured their first Clean Sheet performance of the Finals. In the end, Edgeli would opt for the Defensive minded Defender over the one with two goals to their credit leaving Pumaziiri on the bench at kick off.
Pasarga were a team that started off the World Cup Finals hot with victories over HUElavia and Banija before dropping a Group Stage Matchday 3 result to already-eliminated Tikariot in a match that had absolutely no bearing on the final Group D table. The Wanderers had come in confident after a 2-0 Round of 16 victory over Hampton Island at The Island Dome in Myana and brought that momentum with them to the Chromatik City Stadium as the Rushmori side controlled the early possession and chances. While Pasarga were pressuring the Turorian defense, the Eels were at best bending and no where near breaking - keeping to their strategy and forcing Pasarga into low quality opportunities and few threatening opportunities.
After withstanding the Pasargan pressure for over ten minutes at the start of the match, the complexion of the fixture would change completely in the 12th minute when veteran forward Meldi'ita Mungwaii pressured and intercepted from Wanderers defender Tabor Csikós. Attempting to play across the field dangerously, Mungwaii got a foot in to block Csikós' pass attempt and collected the ball at their feet. Before they could make a move toward goal, however, Tabor Csikós had reached out to impede the Arlington City striker. The result was a free kick for the Eels from less than thirty yards out. Kentu Umaka'a stepped up and emboldened their legacy as one of the top Free Kick specialists of the modern Turori National Team - beating Szescõ Mezei to score their second goal of the World Cup 88 Finals.
For a few minutes after the opening goal, Turori maintained possession and kept the ball at arms length from their Pasargan opponents. Sensing the match was getting away from them, Pasarga stepped things into high gear and began pressing up from the back to re-claim possession and control of the match. For a moment it seemed to work, turning the momentum of the match back in the Wanderers favor but once again it was a missed play that unraveled the work they had done. This time it was an early step from Kiidallen Aeroluzzi that saw the change of possession and Aeroluzzi connected with a streaking Lati'ala Giaoka who had slipped past their marker Szalyk Földessy to find open space to run at goal. Giaoka released the shot from their foot just prior to the challenge coming in from Judit Kádár and the crowd held its breath as the ball once again snuck past the outstretched arms of Mezei and found the back of the net behind the Pasargan netminder. While it was against the run of possession over the first twenty minutes of play, the lead for Turori was well earned through the defensive pressure they had applied and the mistakes they forced the Wanderers into early in the match.
Now holding a two-goal advantage for just the second time of the World Cup 88 Finals, head coach Tarek Edgeli signaled for the Eels to slow the game down - urging possession where possible then deep clearances when threatened. It was far from the exciting game that lured fans in off the streets and kept watchers engaged in the land of the digital - but it was an effective strategy the prevented Pasarga from building up too much momentum as the Wanderers searched for a way back into the match.
The Wanderers would also come out from the tunnel with two new faces in their lineup with 23 Year Old Ibini FC attacker Elek Salai replacing Spartangrad forward Boriska Nagy in an attempt to freshen up the Pasargan attack. After the lapse in marking concentration that contributed to Turori's second goal, Pasargan midfielder Szalyk Földessy was on the bench when the teams returned for the second half of play having been replaced on the pitch in a tactical swap by the more attacking minded Royal Canterlot HC midfielder Mária Vöröss.
Within minutes of play resuming in the second half, it appeared Pasarga had found a way through with the substitutes combining for a fine play that culminated with the ball being picked out of Wiyauw An'maude's goal. It was a rare mis-step for Moumouni Verre'elali on the day as the Tropicorp FC defender failed to get back on defense after supporting a rare second half Turorian attack. It forced Mikki Mayelli into marking both Salai and Júlia Müller - a near impossible task as the long ball was fed forward by Földessy. Müller collected the ball but skillfully flicked on to Salai who was now free in the penalty area and easily beat a helpless An'maude. However, the young Ibini FC attacker had anticipated the flick on from Müller slightly too well and had strayed offside just before the touch from their teammate. An otherwise textbook goal was called back for an offside that was difficult to notice during live action but clearly confirmed in the replay.
Having the goal nullified by the linesman's flag unsurprisingly provided a jolt for the Turori National Team who would run out the remainder of the match mistake free, holding the line through to the final whislte and securing a 2-0 Victory over Pasarga in front of nearly 100,000 fans at the Chromatik City Field.
Turori [2] - [0] Pasarga
GOALS: Turori :: 12' Kentu Umaka'a:: 20' Lati'ala Giaoka
STATS: Turori :: Possession: 47%:: Shots: 3:: Corners: 4 Pasarga :: Possession: 53%:: Shots: 5:: Corners: 7
Lineup: [GK] Wiyauw An'maude, [D.] Mikki Mayelli, [D.] Moumouni Verre'elali, [D.] Amakli Inuro'o, [D.] Biliki Rona'atu'i, [ML] Kentu Umaka'a, [MC] Lati'ala Giaoka, [MC] Kiidallen Aeroluzzi, [MR] Daliora Toru'u, [FC] Nua'oma Aikiki, [FC] Meldi'ita Mungwaii
Bench: [FC] Kala'a Yuliizala, [FC] Turakia Diijelhma, [M] Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, [M] Kinabo Telioa, [U ] Lulu Pumaziiri, [D] Karek Edgeli, [GK] Timaala Hualtia
With victory over Passarga in the World Cup 88 Quarter Final, Turori National Team Head Coach Tarek Edgeli became just the second Turorian head coach to ever lead Turori to a Quarter Final victory after Klailall Tuirma. It will set up a regional showdown in the Semi-Final between the Eels and Banija, the World Cup 84 Champions, for the right to compete in the World Cup 88 Final in Cassadaigua and Chromatika. The fixture will mark the first time during the World Cup 88 Finals that the Turori National Team will not have to pack their bags and move to a new city after a match with luxury of remaining in Chromatika's Capital City for the Semi Final matchup against Banija which will be played at Anomaly Tower.
The Atlantian Oceania wide Stock Car Series will run in parallel with the Multiverse-wide Nationstates Stock Car Racing Association's Top Tier and Everlong Contenders Series events. While it may be considered the top tier of regional motorsport within Atlantian Oceania, it may still have to compete talent wise with established national leagues of significant reputation such as HASCAR. While no Full-Time NSSCRA Drivers will be permitted to participate in the AOCAR Stock Car Series, full time National Series drivers are eligible to compete if they can work around the schedule conflicts and finances of entering the new series. AOCAR Stock Car events will take place at a variety of tracks throughout the Atlantian Oceania Region and in some cases will act as support events to major NSSCRA events. One such exemplar already confirmed is AOCAR's signature 400 mile event at the Jalton Superspeedway in Saint Kanye which will take place alongside the NSSCRA's Vilaye Energy Drink Pole Qualifying for the Regular-Season ending Pencurve Electronics 500. It is expected that further NSSCRA-AOCAR joint race weekends will be confirmed once the NSSCRA Season 11 schedule is finalized.
Despite the fact that an individual who most press in the room had never heard of had stood up and delivered all the relevant information regarding the AOCAR Stock Car Series then offered to answer any questions - most of the questions were instead aimed back to the side wall where Turori's iBen Toralmintii remained. At first, the reporters attempted to keep the questions for Toralmintii on topic. First, asking whether Toralmintii supported the AOCAR Series which he most certainly did considering he had offered up his own Motorsports complex for the press conference which he was attending.
Second, the questions focused on whether Toralmintii would be an active participant in the AOCAR Stock Car Series as an owner through Race Eelandii. Toralmintii was non-committal saying that the team at Race Eelandii were "Evaluating the metrics" in respect to whether it made sense for them to field a full time entry in the series. It didn't take a great leap, however, for the questions to further deviate as to whether the all-time winningest driver in World Grand Prix Championship history would be returning for another attempt at a first Driver's Championship during WGPC Season 19. Naturally, Toralmintii responded in a coy manner, indicating that while they would love to win a championship - their record of most consecutive race victories and most total Grand Prix checkered flags was something they were very proud of. When asked if they had considered driving full time in the AOCAR Stock Car Circuit, Toralmintii quipped that 'It would certainly make the travel easier to stay within the Region!' before politely declining any more questions so that attention could be put back towards the representative from AOCAR at the podium.
One surprising bit of information coming from the Question and Answer session was that there would be a full-time dedicated team from Cocoabo Park representing the Cocoabo Enrichment and Enhancement Project. The information quickly sparked discussion about which of Turori's Cocoabo would be be driving full time in the AOCAR Series, which specifically excludes full time NSSCRA drivers from participation.
During NSSCRA Season 10 there were three full-time Cocoabo Drivers in the NSSCRA with Cocoabo #28 and Cocoabo #78 driving for Team Tropicorp in the NSSCRA Top Tier while Cocoabo #37 drove for the team in the Everlong Contenders Series. While both Cocoabo #28 and Cocoabo #78 are former NSSCRA Race Winners, neither Cocoabo was able to win a race during NSSCRA Season 10 and all three Cocoabo failed to advance to the playoff rounds in their respective circuits. While it is not known how many Cocoabo could potentially be close to graduating from the Cocoabo Enrichment and Enhancement Project to become prospect drivers in the future, Only four have thus far been certified to compete on track with other citizen drivers in internationstatal competition. While other prospective Cocoabo Drivers have been going through the training programmes at Cocoabo Park, it is not currently believed that any additional Cocoabo drivers are currently at the level required to receive certification to compete against non-Cocoabo opposition.
With three of the four certified Cocoabo having been full-time NSSCRA Competitors, the announcement of full time Cocoabo in AOCAR quickly fanned the flames of a rumor that had been kicking around for weeks ever since the all-but-confirmed revelation that Stacie Houston would be either sitting out the season or contemplating retirement as she prepares to welcome a child into the world. While rumors surrounding the future of Team Cassadaigua post-Houston had run the gamut of possibilities, one rumor stood out among the rest as being both crazy and practical at the same time. Having struggled to find their competitive edge during NSSCRA Season 10, the twii.tur backed Team Tropicorp outfit was rumored to be in discussions for a merger with Team Cassadaigua.
While the details of the rumored merger were never clear, it was obvious that in the merger Team Tropicorp could acquire the services of a quality driver as a replacement for the inconsistent and career win-less Anavella Ariiki. Most rumors had the driver of choice for Team Tropicorp being the rising star Maddie Alexander and a recently leaked photo on twii.tur has turned the dial on the rumor well passed 10 as speculation runs rampant that Alexander has signed on with Team Tropicorp to either replace or race along side Turori's Star Cocoabo drivers from the Cocoabo Enrichment and Enhancement Project.
Maddie Alexander was a dominant force in the first ever Everlong Contenders Series season for Team Cassadaigua, winning two races during the regular season and advancing through to the Everlong Series Championship Finale where they would finish third behind TJUN-ia's Maddison Riley-Jones and Saint Kanye's Daryl Calhoun. During the core of the regular season, Alexander held the Everlong Contenders Series points lead which allowed the Dagan to test their skills against some of the best drivers in the multiverse including legendary World Grand Prix driver iBen Toralmintii in the Turorian's Race of Stars Series.
It was widely expected that Alexander would move straight up to the NSSCRA's top flight with Team Cassadaigua to replace the struggling Bryan Harrison who could only finish 23rd in the NSSCRA point standings. However, the situation in Cassadaigua seems to have changed with All-Star driver and former NSSCRA Champion Stacey Houston appearing to re-evaluate her duties for the upcoming season and stepping back from the full time drivers role. This decision has left the #27 seat open for Alexander to inherit with backing from Houston's long time sponsor Five Star Mobile.
With Houston shifting over to support Jeremiah Brooke however, Team Cassadaigua were looking for a new technical partner and may have found it in Team Tropicorp. The Tropicoast based operation had been leveraging Turori's Cocoabo as their primary drivers since their formation during NSSCRA Season 7 with varied levels of success and a handful of race victories. During NSSCRA Season 9 they signaled their intention to focus less on research and more on results with Cocoabo #28 representing Team Tropicorp and the entire Island Emirate of Turori in the NSSCRA Playoffs. The team would regress during NSSCRA Season 10 however with neither of the Turorian Cocoabo nor home grown driver Anavella Ariiki contending for a playoff spot. The drop in performance caused Team Tropicorp to go back to the drawing board, releasing Ariiki from her contract to drive for the team and now it seems they have found the perfect partnership, merging with Team Cassadaigua to form a new unified entry for the upcoming 11th NSSCRA Season. The team will supposedly look to shift gears entirely utilizing a mix of new-build Hybrid Dart Chassis and NSSCRA 10 Race-Proven Blaze Racing Machines acquired in the merger with Team Cassadaigua in an attempt to return to the NSSCRA Playoffs and challenge for the Rookie of the Season honors with Alexander in the #27 machine. The new team will continue its partnership with Turori's Cocoabo Preservation Society and the Cocoabo Enrichment and Enhancement Project with Cocoabo #28 being the teams primary driver along side Maddie Alexander and and as-yet not announced driver for the teams third car.
