Jenna Raven Cup II/15th Women's World Cup Everything Thread

[Sarzonia]

And now, for half the 20 teams that have competed here in the Jenna Raven Cup/Women's World Cup, we have reached the end of the road.

We'll find out which nine teams will join HUElavia in Sarzonia for the knockout rounds after this CUTOFF!

Group A
Eshialand 1-2 Sarzonia
Atheara 3-1 HUElavia

Group A                Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 HUElavia              6    4  0  2   12  10  +2  12
2 Sarzonia              6    2  2  2   10  10   0   8
3 Atheara               6    2  2  2    9  10  -1   8
4 Eshialand             6    2  0  4    7   8  -1   6

Sarzonia ahead of Atheara on overall goal differential as head-to-head results are level.

Group B
Galliena 1-0 Abanhfleft
The 14 Stars 3-0 StrayaRoos

- Group B              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Galliena              6    3  2  1   11  10  +1  11
2 The 14 Stars          6    3  1  2   11   9  +2  10
3 Abanhfleft            6    3  0  3   13   6  +7   9
4 StrayaRoos            6    1  1  4    5  15 -10   4

Group C
Muralos 3-0 Sharktail
Devonta1-1 Qasden

- Group C              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Qasden                6    3  1  2   13   7  +6  10
2 Muralos               6    3  0  3    9  10  -1   9
3 Sharktail             6    3  0  3   10  12  -2   9 
4 Devonta               6    2  1  3    7  10  -3   7

Muralos ahead of Sharktail on goal differential in head-to-head as head-to-head results are level.

Group D
Banija 1-1 Lisander
Equestria1-2 Baker Park

- Group D              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Baker Park            6    4  0  2   10   9  +1  12
2 Banija                6    3  1  2    8   8   0   10
3 Lisander              6    2  1  3   10   8  +2   7
4 Equestria             6    2  0  4   10  13  -3   6

Group E
United Adaikes 3-2 Schima Bas
Kriegiersien 2-1Zeta, Reka and Hugeltaldom

- Group E              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Schima Bas            6    3  1  2   12   6  +6  10
2 United Adaikes        6    3  1  2   15  11  +4  10
3 ZRH*                  6    2  2  2    9   9   0   8
4 Kriegiersien          6    1  2  3    4  14 -10   5

Schima Bas win the group over United Adaikes due to goal differential in head-to-head. United Adaikes win the direct quarterfinals berth due to overall goal differential as points are level with two teams.
*Note: ZRH stands for Zeta, Reka and Hugeltaldom, which will not fit the table as formatted.

Knockout Round Seeding
1. HUElavia (4-0-2, 12 points, +2 goal differential) Group A winners
2. Baker Park (4-0-2, 12 points, +1 goal differential), Group D winners
3. Galliena (3-2-1, 11 points), Group B winners
4. Qasden (3-1-2, 10 points, +6 goal differential, 13 goals scored), Group C winners
5. Schima Bas (3-1-2, 10 points, +6 goal differential, 12 goals scored), Group E winners
6. United Adaikes (3-1-2, 10 points, +4 goal differential Group E runners up.
7. The 14 Stars (3-1-2, 10 points, +2 goal differential, Group B runners up
8. Banija (3-1-2, 10 points, even goal differential, Group D runners up)
9. Muralos (3-0-3, 9 points), Group C runners up
10. Sarzonia (2-2-2, 8 points), Group A runners up

PLAYOFF ROUND
7 The 14 Stars v. 10 Sarzonia at Nottingham Pavilion, Woodstock
8 Banija v. 9 Muralos at Muskegon Stadium, Nicksia

[The 14 Stars]

They do it! The 14 Stars go through!

Today after the win with three goals on Strayaroos all scored by Kira Blade our womens team has earned itself a play-off place.
The 14 Stars had to let Galliena go ahead which have a stastically worse team but surprisingly defeated our girls making our country the runners-up in the group and the best country of the play-offs statistically.
Our next opponent in this play-off is the host country of Sarzonia itself, they have made themselves go through in group A a literal group of death with so many good teams that took part.

Further Abanhfleft came in 3rd and is directly eliminated while they were a better opponent then Galliena and many here find it a shame to see such a good team leave the field early.
When asked for tactics against Sarzonia we heard that a new tactic would be tried out that would be something not earlier seen in soccer and similar to the Invincible Lance tactic used against Abanhfleft.

[Sarzonia]

Brenda Allison was pacing as she watched the Eshialand women's national team moving the ball desperately into the Sarzonian third of the pitch. Her Sarzonian women's national team were clinging to a 2-1 lead as second half stoppage time was winding down. She'd seen the LED display indicate three minutes and she looked down at her watch. She knew two minutes and 40 seconds elapsed. But she also knew the Starsian referee who was assigned to this vital match would allow an Eshian threat if it emerged even if the third minute reached. And the Owls were doing their best to force the issue.

"C'mon, Winnie!" she yellowed out to midfielder Winnie Taunton, playing a full match after sitting out the previous one to serve as an emergency assistant manager under Dean Gold. "Get in there!" Taunton was playing her mark tentatively, and her Owls opponent was taking advantage of her hesitancy. Allison looked back at her substitutes bench, fully aware that she'd already used all five substitutes she was allotted on offensive players and one defender. She was stuck with Taunton.

Finally, she saw Taunton's left foot somehow get in the way of an attempted cross into the area with Marcé George poised to have to make yet another highlight reel save to combine with the seven saves she'd already made. The ball caromed high into the air and defender Blayre West nudged it over the head of Owls striker Alice Carroll. Finally, Allison got the sweet, sweet relief she'd been craving as the Starsian referee blew her whistle with three quick blasts.

It was over. Finally. Sarzonia escaped Cincinnati with a 2-1 victory over the Owls, one that would give them a spot in the knockout rounds as long as Atheara didn't beat HUElavia by four goals or more. Whilst her Stars were celebrating their victory, she looked up and saw the scoreline read Atheara 3-1 HUElavia nervously. She then saw a flash and finally allowed herself a smile when she saw it said FULL TIME next to the score. She then saw the Group A table. HUElavia were group winners. That was already a given. They had 12 points from a possible 18, stopped only in the last two matches by Sarzonia and defending champions Atheara from going unbeaten and undrawn in their six matches. Then they saw second place. The Stars were ahead of Atheara courtesy of goal differential, as Sarzonia both scored and conceded 10 goals in six matches. Atheara scored nine and conceded 10. With both matches between Atheara and Sarzonia being draws, that meant overall goal differential would mean the difference between advancing to play in Sarzonia or going back home.

The Sarzonian players opted to carry their celebration into the dressing room as they broke out the sparkling cider they'd brought along for the occasion. Champagne wasn't the order of the day. Not when they'd just managed to sneak into the knockout rounds as the 10th seed of 10 teams still playing do-or-die football. They had a match against The 14 Stars where they'd be considered the "away" side as underdogs, even though the match would be played at Nottingham Pavilion. Even with a ticket allotment for the Starsian supporters being significantly larger than it would have been for a group stage, the battle of the Stars very well could give Sarzonia home field advantage in fact if not in name.

All of that was a different discussion. Right now, Allison had likely saved her job at least for now. The Stars survived the Group of Death. And now, they were playing a match they might not have wanted to play all things being equal, but with them facing the alternative as recently as two matchdays previous, they didn't care. They were still playing. And for now, that's all that mattered.

[Sarzonia]

We've separated the wheat from the chaff to get to the Playoff Round! We think things might get a little wild from here on out!

Let's narrow down the field and find out who advances to the quarterfinals after this CUTOFF!

PLAYOFF ROUND
(7) The 14 Stars 1-0 (10) Sarzonia (at Nottingham Pavilion, Woodstock) -- scorinated by Baker Park
(8)Banija 1-2 (9) Muralos (Muskegon Stadium, Nicksia)

QUARTERFINALS
(1) HUElavia v. (9) Muralos (at Nottingham Pavilion in Woodstock)
(2) Baker Park v. (7) The 14 Stars (at Charter Field in Portland)
(3) Galliena v. (6) United Adaikes (at Vonnie Butler Field in Wilmington)
(4) Qasden v. (5) Schima Bas (at Muskegon Stadium in Nicksia)

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Daily 2021
Women into last 8 at JRC
by Fiona Devlin, National Soccer Writer

For the second time running, the Commonwealth Women's National Team has finished on top of their group and secured a spot in the quarterfinal round, as the scene now shifts to Sarzonia for the knockout stages.

BP ended with the second highest point total of the group winners, meaning they will be the second seeds behind HUElavia, despite the Matchday Five whitewash in Lisander; Manager Tony Weiss pointed out following the 2-1 win over Equestria in Manehattan that cliched top spot in Group D that on balance the 5-0 defeat looked like an outlier, although he was quick to point out that the result between Banija and Lisander could've gone either way.
"I'm not trying to backtrack to make it sound like they (Lisander) weren't worthy winners on the day. We were well beaten and there's no doubt about that. But it was the only bad match we had and the squad bounced back to get the points here, which is a good way to head to Sarzonia for the quarters."

Weiss talked about his impressions of the 23 woman squad and the development of the newest additions to the National Team List of capped players.

"When I was given this role, I knew immediately who I wanted as captain, and Jen said 'it's up to you to convince her.' Pryna (Rasanamira) was probably one of the more mature 17's on the SWC roster (SWC 5) and she's always been a really steady influence in the NT. So I knew that a group with a lot of cappies and bantams would be best served by a leader who was level headed and pretty easy going. She's really been the anchor of the squad, and Zuzu (Susana Aguillar, the other co-captain) brought the energy and edge when it was needed. We've seen such a day on day change in the gals--I was informed that I could refer to them as 'gals' in a general way(laughter)--that comes from the confidence in seeing their work pay off. The crowds we drew at home provided another layer of reinforcement to commitment, so I think we are going into the elimination part of the tourney confident of how far we can progress."

[The 14 Stars]

Playoff-match Business Match

As the teams went to the field for the play-off match between the host country and The14 Stars our women could hear the large crowds cheering for Sarzonia and they knew they were underdogs.
As soon as the ball got moving it appeared that the teams were quite evenly matched both sides getting small opportunities but kept a tight cover aswell to ensure nearly key players would be able to get the ball.
The first half went by as if it was nothing and it was actually nothing because no goals, no card nothing just plain old soccer the way it was liked by the most of the people as free as it comes.

2nd Half

In this half The 14 Stars was forcing themselves to pressure Sarzonia and when they finally had the ball all of the players did form 2 big circles around Kira Blade and Christiana love as center players.
All players in the outer circle ran around their central key player while those central players passed the ball to eachother and being protected by a circle of 4 other team members from any incoming attacks.
Sarzonia's team couldn't understand this weird and also borderline illegal tactic similar to the Invincible Lance as The 14 Stars moved forward and neared the goal further and further without leaving any openings or opportunities.
Finally the ball came to Christiana Love who passed it into the air to follow with a strong yet beautiful volley kick so fast it had already hit the back of the net before the keeper was even able to react.

Due to this surprise lead the entire stadium went almost quiet except for some Starsian supporters and thats when they started making defensive subs, tightening the defense and Sarzonia knew there was no going through anymore.
Each attack was blocked by a wall of 9 players and 1 forward for the counter but this match Business-like played ended in a narrow win for our girls from The 14 Stars who are making history in soccer now.
We'll see them face Baker Park in the Quarter-Finals and we wish them the best of luck, they'v done us proud and we can only hope for more beautiful things to come from this new generation!

[United Adaikes]

United Adaikes gets one over Schima Bas, but not as much as they need to win Group E.

Schima Bas started the match with an outstanding first half. Following a corner conceded by MR Charmaine Maldonado (UAD) in the 10th minute, AMF Justice Feeley (SHM) headed the ball to the Schima Basian Captain DC Jis Greana, which she also headed to the high center of the goal (0-1).

The Adaikesian's misfortunes continued when Freeley passed a through ball to AMR Alve Hartung (SHM), with Hartung kicking the ball from the center of the box to the center of the goal (0-2) in the 20th minute.

Three minutes after, following a corner conceded by DL Amira Otago (SHM), DMC Lorie Marsh (UAD) drew a foul in the penalty area conceded by MCL Bethany Aviva (SHM). Adaikesian Coach Star Marquez chose STR Aveline Everill to be the penalty kicker, which she converted successfully (1-2) to cut the lead back to one (1).

It's not over for the host's misfortunes in the first half when DL Elaina Braddock had to come off early in the 30th minute because of an injury, replacing her with Nova Fields. DCR Lorainne Kennard (UAD) also received a yellow card after committing a harsh foul to Hartung in the 39th minute.

Following a corner conceded by DR Attica Houseman (SHM) three minutes after the match resumed after halftime, Everill placed the ball from very close range to the center of the goal, coming from STL Raelyn Weston (UAD)'s header pass to level the scores again (2-2).

Everill's hattrick started from the corner again, which was conceded by Freeley in the 86th minute. Maldonado received the pass from the corner and made a cross towards Everill, who was in the center of the box, heads the ball to the bottom right corner (3-2).

Whatever pep talk Coach Star has said in halftime indeed had positive feedback to the Adaikesian footballers as they come from behind to take the win at home.

Kriegiersien's win at home against ZRH also cemented United Adaikes' place in the Quarterfinals. Though they are not the winner of Group E (because of UAD's lower goal differential head-to-head with Schima Bas), the Adaikesians received a direct quarterfinals berth because of the highest overall goal differential against The 14 Stars.

In a separate update by Coach Marquez, Braddock's injury sustained in the last game was minor, and that she will be available to play in the Quarterfinals.

Their quarterfinals match will be in Vonnie Butter Field in Wilmington, Sarzonia, against Group B winners Galliena. It will be exciting how the teams will play on neutral grounds during the knockout rounds.

United Adaikes Sports Arena
United Adaikes 3 - 2 Schima Bas
Aveline Everill (24'p, 48', 87') - Jis Greana (10'), Alve Hartung (20')
HT 1-2

[HUElavia]

Down, but Still Alive.

HUElavia drops another match against Atheara, but earns top seed for the knockouts.

Atheara 3-1 HUElavia
(Linotrovski 18, 34', Kurettengard 60' | Yamane 25' (P))
(Helastia Stadium, Trinover, Atheara)

Entering Matchday 6, HUElavia was coming off a tough loss against Sarzonia that caused them to drop points for the first time in the tournament. Still, despite the loss inflicted, HUElavia was still the group winners and Conavacio opted to use mainly B-Team players to start the match, with Perillo-Amaru starting in goal, Amaru and Mitarte starting as the starting fullbacks, and Yamane starting at Left Wing, all while the team wore their Home Uniform for the match. In a high capacity crowd at Helastia Stadium (57,930) in Trinover, the match started where HUElavia looked to guarantee top spot and reigning Champions Atheara looked to keep their title defense alive.

The opening goal came in the 18th minute, when a foul by Gutierrez on Danshouvera gave way for a free kick. Linotrovski took the kick and sent it over the wall and past the fingertips of Perillo-Amaru into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-0. The crowd erupted, cheering and chanting at the team, while Kiralski got the ball and ran back to center circle to start the match again. In the 25th minute, HUElavia responded themselves, when Chanca was running in the box, where she got tripped up by Svaneska and the referee did not hesitate to point at the penalty spot, giving Svaneska a yellow card in the process. Yamane stepped up and sent Svaneska the wrong way, as she blasted it to the right side of the goal, making it 1-1. The crowd was silenced while Yamane celebrated with her teammates with smiles and cheers. In the 34th minute, Linotrovski was on the ball, being covered by Okamoto, when she gave a pass to her left to Acrelia-Litsenhower, who passed it back to Linotrovski, who gave a low shot past the reach of Perillo-Amaru into the corner of the goal to make it 2-1. The crowd erupted once more cheering on the team to run back, with Linotrovski getting the ball to run back to continue the play. The match was calmed down from there, with the Athearans trying to get three more goals to possibly advance. In the 60th minute, a corner taken by Von Guhender (in for Acrelia-Litsenhower) went into the box, where Kurettengard towered over Mitarte and headed the ball towards Perillo-Amaru and deflected into the goal, making it 3-1. The crowd jumped up once more, chanting and cheering to support the team as Kurettengard got the ball and ran back to center circle to keep the game going. Despite the scoreline, HUElavia knew they had enough and clamped down on defense to hold the game down and ended it at that scoreline. Atheara saw the results of Eshialand vs Sarzonia, where The Stars won and advanced. The ladies were happy that they advanced and were directly into the Quarter-Finals.

At the end of the Group Stage, HUElavia won Group A with 12 Points (4-0-2), followed by Sarzonia in 2nd Place with 8 Points I2-2-2), who beat out 3rd Place Atheara with 8 Points (2-2-2) on goal difference (0 vs -1 GD) and Eshialand finished in 4th Place with 6 Points (2-0-4). Based on goal difference, HUElavia takes the No. 1 Seed in the Knockout round, edging out Baker Park for the Top Seed after both teams tied at 12 Points. In the Playoff round, The 14 Stars eliminated Hosts Sarzonia 1-0, while Muralos upset Banija, 1-2. Thus, HUElavia will play their Quarter-Final match against No. 9 Muralos, which will be set to be played at Nottingham Pavilion (18,200) in Woodstock, the Capital City of Sarzonia. The A-Team will start, with Marquez returning in goal from her injury, while Fonseca-Mantovani will start as the Captain for the team, with the one change being Chanca starting over Braz-Bittencourt on the Right Wing and the Home Uniform will be worn for the match. There is expected to be a large amount of HUElavian support for the match, as thousands of HUElavians travel to Sarzonia looking to not only cheer on the team, but spread the message of freedom and civil rights for the ladies, especially after a hefty tax was placed on Irreligious HUElavians. The ladies look to play well for all the marginalized in the country and look to keep the dream alive. Conavacio states "The team may have had some hiccups with these past two matches, but these ladies know that now comes the true test of this competition. These can be 'One-and-Done' for all the eight teams remaining and all of them have fought hard to be here. Muralos is a tough team to play against with their attacking mentality, but so are we. I have good faith in these ladies, and I'm especially pleased with how our attack has been throughout this tournament. I especially give props to Yamane for leading the team, as well as Chanca, who's had a breakout tournament up to now. We're continuing to train and study film and we look forward to our upcoming matchup." Regardless of what happens, millions of HUElavians at home and abroad are proud of the team for what they've done, especially for spreading such a positive message. Here's to what can be an entertaining and memorable game.

FORCA HUELAVAI! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[Sarzonia]

The Jenna Raven Cup as named may be a relatively new tournament in the sporting multiverse, even though its double-branded name of the Women's World Cup may not be as new. However, the tournament left some teams disappointed.

There was Eshialand, a team with clear talent that was dominant during the group stage of the inaugural Jenna Raven Cup, but who faltered once the matches moved over to Sarzonian soil. This time around, Eshialand didn't get to take the flight from Cincinnati to Sarzonia for the Playoff Round as the host nation grounded the Owls there in a 2-1 victory. There was Atheara, a team that won the Cup in penalties in front of a disappointed crowd of Sarzonians and Saterunian nationals at Dave Wilson Stadium but who were eliminated due to goal differential. There was Abanhfleft, who were leading Group B with one match remaining, but who lost to Galliena and watched The 14 Stars win their match to overtake them for a spot in the knockouts. Then there was Zeta, Reka and HUgeltaldom, a team that was also in position to qualify for the knockout rounds until Kriegiersien became the last team to post a victory in the Cup and sent them packing.

Add Sarzonia and Banija to the list of disappointed teams. The Stars, playing in front of a large crowd of supporters, lost to The 14 Stars 1-0 after Christiana Love volleyed a ball past Marcé George to eliminate the host nation. No. 8 seeds Banija also lost in a mild upset to Muralos, falling 2-1 at Muskegon Stadium in Nicksia, thus setting up the Quarterfinals bracket. Top seeds HUElavia would take on Muralos at Nottingham Pavilion. No. 2 seeds Baker Park would face The 14 Stars at Charter Field in Portland. Meanwhile, third seed Galliena would battle sixth seeds United Adaikes, the only runners up not competing in the Playoff Round at their match at Vonnie Butler Field in Wilmington. Qasden would face Schima Bas at Muskegon Stadium.

For Brenda Allison and company, it was a bitter end to a tournament that saw them advance to the semifinals in the previous edition. Fortunately for Allison, it would not mark the end of her tenure as manager, as Zack Wilson signed her to a one-Cup contract extension following the match. They still had work to do. But now they'd have another offseason to begin that work.

[Qasden]

---

Of Crosses and Crescents

---

By Harrison St. Almond

On this dreary, weary night,
Comes an eerie, teary fright,
One of crosses and crescents.
For when the moon settles,
comes the plight of all petals,
on the sun-stained field of presents.

To the howls of creatures,
brings forth the features,
an event that only one may win.
So between two who'll pass,
be it Qasden or Schima Bas,
a duel that'll bring out the beasts from within.

---

Never expect the unexpected. Don't worry, ç'est la vie.

Them's fighting words.

In our last go-aroud, Valentijn Munson and the WoVans of the River's End came to the brink of disaster following a stargazing defeat in the shallow waters of Sharktail. The defeat brought forth the latent fear of falling short at the gates of Elysium, its doors teasing our most steadfast. But hark the day's end, for surely we must win, to earn a spot in the knockouts we desire. To earn this, Qasden must not falter; for surely, there is no alter, than a victory against the helms of Devonta.

Sorry, sorry. Still in rhyming mode.

In fact, there are two ways in which the WoVans can directly qualify, provided all the right things happen. A victory would guarantee first, while a draw would put our fate in the hands of Muralos as they homed Sharktail. In the previous encounter, Qasden made quick work of the blue and lime, bagging a 2-0 chicken dinner to take home to the family. The problem arose in the odds of our favor away, however, particularly in this cup. In both Muralos and Sharktail, the Calico-draped Vans fell short of point acquisition in spectacular fashion, further motivating a conspiracy as old as time that calicos are simply bad luck. As the theory grew, the natural instinct of instant pessimism flowed deep into the veins of spectating Qads as they watched their ill-fated delegation land in the United Valhaven. A loss now could risk the whole run, dooming the entire point of promoting women's athletics from the start. Yet there was still hope, albeit a tad nihilist. Victory and progression doesn't equate to a star on the crest. We should know, that thing has been stagnant since the 70th Cup of Harmony. Even if we do make it out alive, there's still the overwhelming chance of facing a country with a history of flooring us. HUElavia's out there, so is Banija; not to mention the bee-clad harbingers of Qad-isaster themselves, Baker Park. It's short-term glory for long-term failure, which, granted, is just not a healthy way of thinking.

So, with a sober mind and a drunken heart, Qads could do nothing but watch as the game began.

---

---

...It was more than any of us could hope for, honestly.

Despite the offense being humbled on numerous occasions, a lone goal from Cordelia LaRue keeps the dream alive. Not in the ever-desired win, but a draw will still exceed the thought processes of most of the folks watching at home. The WoVans, regardless of what happens between Sharktail and Muralos, were in the knockouts. In the grayscale liberation from escaping the group, came the harsh reality of what lied ahead for Valentijn Munson's title run. With the Hawks eventually besting the Blue Predator, Qasden would earn the title of 4th-seed, just a goal above the label of worst performing group winner. 10 points is nothing to be ashamed about, of course, but it doesn't unnerve the Qads when our next opponent dons the same total.

Schima Bas is a country that we really don't know much about, sans their excellent taste in flag colors. From what we can make due of, the nation's female athletes found themselves at the mercy of a staunchly conservative society, which had put the sports industry for girls at bay for most of its recent history. However, thanks to some degree of stigma degradation, coupled with a heroine movement from the now captain, Jis Greana, the push for more involvement in women's sports has successfully made a beach head in the form of a full squad at the Jenna Raven Cup. Knowing what was on the line, the girls of Schima Bas dug deep and outlasted a group containing fearsome opponents like Zeta Reka and the United Adaikes, scoring a full 10 points and a goal differential that put them 2 over the latter of the duo mentioned.

For now, this quarterfinal will bring about the ultimate stress test for both teams. The victorious is most likely to face either a recovering Muralos or a dominant HUElavia, either one being equally terrifying for a semi-final adversary. Will Munson and Qasden be able to triumph and edge the nation one step closer to the first football title in Marlene knows how long? Or will Jis Greana and the might marvels of Schima Bas run us amuck in their trailblazing power story of bringing women athletes back to the spotlight? For once, we have an event you sorely don't want to miss, so stayed tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for the Quarter-final of the week, live at the baby-fresh Muskegon Stadium in Sarzonia, road's end of the Jenna Raven Cup!

---

[Sarzonia]

Not feeling very creative tonight, and apologies for the late CUTOFF, but let's find out who will be playing in the semifinals on Friday night.

QUARTERFINALS
(1) HUElavia 0-1 Muralos
at Nottingham Pavilion, Woodstock

(2) Baker Park 4-0 The 14 Stars
at Charter Field in Portland

Galliena 1-0 United Adaikes
at Vonnie Butler Field in Wilmington

Qasden 4-3 AET (3-3 FT) Schima Bas
at Muskegon Stadium in Nicksia

SEMIFINALS (26 November)
(2) Baker Park v. (9) Muralos
at Charter Field in Portland

(3) Galliena v. (4) Qasden
at Vonnie Butler Field in Wilmington

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Daily 2021
Lady Elks look to 'seize the moment'
by Fiona Devlin, National Soccer Writer

Here at the Women's World Cup 15--Jenna Raven Cup in Sarzonia, the field is down to the last four sides who will battle for the title.

Baker Park's ladies played their best match of the tournament in eliminating The 14 Stars 4-0 in front of over 16,000 at Charter Field in Portland, setting up a date with Muralos in the Semi Final at the same venue; the Hawks have been on a roll, having beaten Sharktail on the final Group C matchday to jump into the runner-up position, then knocking out Banija in the Playoff Round before eliminating top seeded HUElavia in the Quarterfinal. They field a side with players who cover the spectrum of international experience, from full NT vets to U-18 newcomers, but have shown their grit in a pair of one goal wins here in Sarzonia.

BP relied on its experience against The 14 Stars, with Nicole D'Amico (24'), Hayley Gibson (55') and Susana Aguillar (67') hitting the back of the net--along with an unlucky deflection that led to an own goal by T14S's Olivia Salisbury just 3 minutes before halftime--to progress. D'Amico spoke about the chance to play for a possible berth in the WWC Final.

"We've had one bad result in this run, but for the most part this bunch has been as good overall as the two AO squads I was in (AOCAF 62/63). It's been a challenge to be playing as many minutes as we all have, but I won't say it's any more of an issue for me than at Damogran (the Squornshelan club she's played for the past several season and earned her first Galactico Long List mention for). I know everyone in the dressing room understands that this is where we have a chance to seize the moment, as Tony (Weiss) puts it 'to make your mark on history'. We are proud to be here, but any of four (nations) left can win the trophy, we know that."

In Wilmington, Galliena and Qasden will face off at Vonnie Butler Field for the other berth in the WWC/JRC Final, both sides getting through the quarters with one goal victories. The IFF have scheduled that match into the later time window, with KO at 21:00 local (20:00 BPST) after the BP-Muralos contest which will begin at 16:30 local (15:30 BPST).

lineup vs Muralos:

Albertson; Hardwick, Kucera, Milner: Logan, Ryan, Syzmanski, Aguillar (C); A Knight: Engels, Diaz

[Sarzonia]

Apologies for the late CUTOFF. This one completely slipped my mind.

We'll find out who's consigned to Charter Field in Portland and who gets to play at a temporarily expanded Franz Braddock Stadium in Woodstock NEXT!

SEMIFINALS
(2) Baker Park 0-3 (9) Muralos at Charter Field in Portland

(3) Galliena 0-2 (4) Qasden at Vonnie Butler Field in Wilmington

3PPO
(2) Baker Park v. Galliena at Charter Field in Portland

FINAL
(4) Qasden v.(9) Muralos at Franz Braddock Stadium in Woodstock

[Qasden]

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At the Vengeful Gates of Elysium

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By Harrison St. Almond

Eight matches ago, before the WoVans descended on a flight to star-crossed Urbego, the Qasden Association Football Association was in dire need to renew a fire dying since the fall in Busukuma. That night, when Sylvia Zimari introduced herself as a reputable successor to a title shared by the great Jon Merritt, is one ingrained into the mind of every Qad, just as Belle Haven had etched itself into their hearts. The AOCAF 62 Finale served as a pivotal point in Qasden athletic history, displaying what was truly possible when a plan set in determination stays in motion. It may not have ended the way we wanted, it's infamy garnering the moniker of "Belle Haven 2: Electric Busukuma", but that doesn't stop the ecstasy gathered from just being there, at the cusp of the golden unknown. Tonight...

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...we finally get another shot.

Now look, I love making fun of QAFA's blunders. It is the national past-time, after all. When I found myself watching a hastily put together women's team flopping terrifically in Muralos, it was dead certain in my mind that this attempt would be just like the others. The Classics, The X-Squad, even the MiniVans, none of them really felt like they were something special; not long enough for it to happen, anyways. So the WoVans, despite it's social brownie points and glitzy cast of captains and managers, looked very much so like the next installment in the association's deprecating snake oil show. In no offense to Valentijn Munson nor Zinnia Thurstan, a team whose experience is limited to whatever the manager did in her time on the NT surely wouldn't be one worthy of adorning a new star on the crest. But, as the graphics I threw up there without talking about first have to say anything, it's that I, as well as the entirety of the QAFA spectator-base, grandly underestimated them.

Let's start with that quarter-final match, versus Schima Bas at the Muskegon Stadium. Both of the teams were coming off of so-so results that put them at the bottom of the winner's table. The emotions were running high, of course, what with the Schima Bas Women's Team being a literal trailblazer for girls' sports in that country; it's captain, Jis Greana, leading that mold-breaking movement. The fellow AO nation was seeking their own glory in this cup, and with all the right ingredients directly in front of them, it seemed inevitable. The match ended at 3 apiece come full time, with No'Bell's 2 and Kaestre's 1 keeping a ramshackle defense in check for just a little longer. Into extra time, Schima Bas controlled the field like it was their own backyard; but a sneaky sweep of the ball by Maria Vosswater and a hail mary net-pusher by Genivieve Orville would stop the pioneers dead in their tracks. After what seemed like a pool of tears (both happy and sad) overwhelmed the stadium's call, the WoVans had managed to pull it off.

The semi-finals seemed to put us in a tighter position off the get-go, however, which was expected, but not in the way we pictured. The bracket had a living seed style of formatting, so the highest-remaining seed would always face the lowest. Originally, many believed that, should Qasden prevail, we'd see a doom-bringing battle to the death against an unstoppable HUElavia. Fortunately for us, HUElavia happened to be stopped, causing their upsetters to play against the #2 of the tourney, Baker Park. This left Qasden with the situationally tough Galliena, an off-an-on grande extrodinarie from the depths of the Imperan League. Les Lyseés Rouges (which, according to Qasden Translate's, means "The Red High Schools"?) served as the knockout's #3, drawing against one more opponent than the WoVans in preliminary group stages. In Wilmington, one of Sarzonia's "Big 4" sporting cities, Galliena would prove their do-or-die mentality with a sound 1-0 victory over a striving United Adaikes. In that match's wake, we were summoned to face the so-called Red High Schools in their own foreign turf at Vonnie Butler, the winner going on to the Braddock-bound title match in Woodstock. With the whistle blown, the Gallienaise fought with everything they had. Coach Margot Choffard commanded an onslaught that proved to be a great test for our defenses, yet not enough to expose their own. Captain Amelina Delafosse herself proved to be quite the adversary to our vice, Genivieve Orville, as the duo often clashed in an attempt to steal the ball from the other. However, come the end of time, only one team had goals from Cloveria No'Bell and Lacey Lane, and I don't see any either of them belonging to GAL's gals.

The air became electrified. For the first time since AOCAF 62, the Qasden Association Football Association stood all but one win away from nirvana: the title so desperately wanted, no, needed by the Qasden populace. Valentijn Munson has become only the third Qad manager to ever put a national team into a final, and with her name already as enshrined into history as it is, her legendary status has suddenly gotten a lot more luminous. Just one victory, just one goal, just 90 more minutes stand in the way of the WoVans from achieving the first footballing title since the long-forgotten days of Cup of Harmony 70. All we have to do to reach elysium is to open the gates. The problem? Those gates are harkening to the tunes of lustful revenge.

On Day 1 of the 2nd Jenna Raven Cup, the Hawks of Muralos found their rhythm when they welcomed a home-loving crowd with a 2-0 victory over their Atlantian Oceanian visitors. Through the thick and firm of Group C, after the humbling and humbled, the cyan archipelago found themselves at the base of a seemingly impossible mountain ahead of them. In the preliminary knockouts, Muralos was doomed to play the dreaded Banija, one of the scariest in the tournament. The Hawks looked at them, them looked at each other, and before you knew it, the multiversal sporting giants found themselves hoodwinked. The next group of enemies came in the form of the most fearsome in the tournament without a doubt. The mighty HUElavia, with 4 wins and being the first guaranteed advancement, was by far the favorite to win the match, if not, the title itself. And yet, even with the ides of fate screaming against them, Muralos pursued, throwing off the tournament's balance with a 1-0 shocker at Nottingham Pavilion. Surely their road would stop there, given they were punished for the tenacity with a battle against the ever-dominant Baker Park. The Hawks saw this as nothing but treason from the fates, trying to chain them before their true freedom could be reached. 3-0, down goes the Bees, Muralos now stood face-to-face with the one nation alive that put them through this hell. The one team that stands between them and the suffrage from their bonds, the ones we know as ourselves.

The survivors of Group C have been through a lot in this tournament; and now, with no one left standing but them, it was time to let it all out. Qasden and Muralos are battling mano a mano for the Jenna Raven Cup championship at the Franz Braddock Stadium in Woodstock, Sarzonia. Can Valentijn Munson and the WoVans seal the deal and earn the country the first proper title in what seems like an eternity? Or will Jozefo Koltakov and the Hawks of Muralos bring justice to the Asian Archipelago with a golden victory in the grandest female-only tournament? This has been one hell of a ride, folks, so stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for the grand finale right here at the final turf of the Women's World Cup in Sarzonia!

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[Muralos]

And just like that, this special configuration of the Muralosian national soccer team reached the final of the Jenna Raven Cup. When the Hawks gathered for dinner after their impressive– and flukish– semifinal win, Daniela Safonova invoked the words "against all odds" to describe their place in the tournament.

"Make it make sense!" added Valora Lin to the chorus of surprised, disbelieving voices.

There was absolutely no expectation among the Hawks that they would advance to the knockouts of the JRC, let alone the final. Their 0-3 loss to the enigmatic Devonta, followed by 1-5 and 1-2 defeats to Qasden and Sharktail, made it seem like the old narratives about Muralos were true. That this country boasts some fine players, but they're no match for sides that have been in multiversal competition forever, or more consistently than Muralosian sides. (Sharktail may seem like a comparable side, but they made their debut in the 85th World Cup qualifiers, four editions before Muralos did.)

After finishing second in Group C, the Hawks had to face Banija – one of the best soccer-playing nations in recent history – in a playoff game. After Banija came HUELavia, whose women's team is also the product of an incredible national team system. The Hawks squeaked through here, but surely they would lose to Baker Park – by far the most storied, decorated team in the entire Jenna Raven Cup. Or not – who knows? For the Muralos-Baker Park match, head coach Jozefo Koltakov sent the Hawks out with one simple, classic command: "Have fun out there, and play good soccer." It was a very Jozefo Koltakov thing to do. Why strategize intensely when a regular training session will suffice, and then some?

Perhaps the one thing that explains the Hawks' success is cohesion. Valora Lin may have been off her game in the beginning, but Anka, Daniela Safonova, and Galina Shchedrina had her back at all times, and the knockouts saw her getting better and better. Tanya Lubimova wasn't the only thing holding the Hawks' defense together, either. After the Muralos-HUElavia match, one fan gave Lubimova, the Mori sisters, Andrea Lin, and Ji-yong Park each a hand-sewn turquoise spider plushie – a deeply valued recognition of the Hawks' defense as a whole. And to Hawk fans' relief, none of the U-18 athletes were out of place in their roles. They weren't afraid of their opponents, and just as importantly, they weren't afraid of their older teammates.

This cohesive squad is now to go up against Qasden, a surprising call-back to the group stage. At first, they didn't think at all about whether Qasden would be a finals contender. Now, they know it very well, not to mention the fact that a Muralos-Qasden match could go either way.

Match fixtures from the JRC Knockout Stages

Muralos 2 - 1 Banija
Lee 57', Lin 74' | Jarju 33'
Muskegon Stadium, Niskia, Sarzonia

Muralos 1 - 0 HUElavia
Aimi 50'
Nottingham Pavillion, Woodstock, Sarzonia

Muralos 3 - 0 Baker Park
Lin 20', 68', Anka 85'
Charter Field, Portland, Sarzonia

[Sarzonia]

We're about to find out where everyone left winds up on the medal stand, from pewter medalists (fourth place) to the second Jenna Raven Cup winners.

CUTOFF!

3PPO at Charter Field in Portland
(2) Baker Park 0-2 (3) Galliena

FINAL at a sold out Franz Braddock Stadium in Woodstock (expanded capacity to 44,972)

(4) Qasden 2-2 (3-2 AET) (9) Muralos

Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to those who fell short, and thank you all for participating!