International & Regional competitions
Sterling City United's Challengers Cup run came to an end in the round of sixteen, as Wirr Tsi scored four goals in front of a packed Sterling Stadium, humiliating the hosts and putting them in a very tough position for the second leg. Despite repeating for themselves Wirr Tsi's win on the road, Sterling City could score only two goals in the second leg when they need four and then five after Wirr Tsi scored a goal of their own in the second match.
Vilitan Cove Invitational participants Royal PFC, despite struggling to repeat their league performance of the previous season, did very well in the VCI. Royal Jam FC of Eastfield Lodge, Ciarkhan City of Sajnur and Mareseilles HC of the Crystal Empire were all defeated by just one goal on aggregate, but that's enough and Royal PFC travelled to Vilita to participate in the semifinals. Club Stein-los of Pasarga were the opponents and after ninety minutes emerged the victors, sending Royal PFC to the third place consolation exposition. 120 minutes and penalty kicks were necessary to find a result in that match, with a Marvyn Grosse kick that missed wide left handing victory to FC Capri of Valanora.
Series A
The relegation battle in the Northern Conference was wrapped up by April, as Eau Claire United never truly threatened to overtake Darmen City United in the standings. Meanwhile, things at the bottom of the Southern Conference were much spicier. Heading into the final matchday, four clubs were within two points of each other: Austin FC (34, away to Rogerton Rebels FC), Vogler City Force (34, home against Romanopolis United), Menomonie United (33, home against Brham United) and Rogerton Rebels FC (32, home against Austin FC). The Rogerton Rebels FC saved themselves from the drop with a 2-0 win over Austin FC, putting the latter club in the unenviable position of awaiting the results from Vogler City and Menomonie. The Force claimed a surprising two goal victory over conference leaders Romanopolis United, putting themselves comfortably into tenth place. That left Menomonie as the last club playing, Brham United's Emiliano D'Amico's second half injury meant their were nine minutes of added time in the match, but Brham United kept their 2-0 lead intact and denied Menomonie any points, when only one was needed to avoid the drop. Austin FC will play at least one more season in Darmen's top flight, although they'll be hoping to avoid another relegation battle like this season's.
Its no secret that the Northern Conference is far more top heavy than the Southern Conference, with the likes of MTK, Sterling City and Scott City FC clearly being a step ahead of their competition. So while the playoff race in the Northern Conference had already been settled by the final matchday, the much more competitive Southern Conference still had four teams in contention for the final two spots in the playoffs. The Whitecaps, with 43 points, would be facing Johnho United at home and would need just a single point to guarantee themselves a spot in the top seven, although a full three points would see them avoid being the lowest seeded team. FC Dynamo Kalenda, a point behind the Whitecaps, would also be playing at home against Olympique Chuckio. Brham United were on 40 points after 33 matches and were on the road against Menomonie United. And lastly, Johnho United, on 39 points, would need a miracle, not only requiring a win against the Whitecaps, but also needing Dynamo and Brham to lose their matches.
As we covered before, Brham United defeated Menomonie 2-0, finishing the season in sixth place. In Kalenda, the home side were humiliated by Olympique, 5-1, ending any chances FC Dynamo Kalenda had of making a playoff appearance. In the third match of playoff performance, Johnho United had been eliminated from playoff contention due to results elsewhere, but that didn't stop them from scoring three on the road and defeating the Whitecaps. Sometimes doing your part just isn't good enough.
In the Northern Conference, the playoffs took their expected route, with the higher seeded team winning every match, from the first round to the conference final. MTK thus emerged as the conference's representative in the Series A Final. As had been true during the rest of the season, things in the Southern Conference were far more exciting. Atlético Augusta scored seven goals in their first round meeting against Brham United, including four goals from Darnell "The Kraken" Halle. Sebastián Arreola's Rogerton Valladar CF, at one point of the season lagging behind at the bottom of the table and victims of a first round loss in the National Cup, scored a road victory over Olympique Chuckio, 4-2, to advance to the conference semifinals.
And their story didn't stop there. Top seed Romanopolis United, the regular season conference champions, saw their chances at a fourth Series A title evaporate as Valladar won the semifinal match, 2-1. A week later, Valladar made it three road victories in three road matches as they defeated Chuckio FC, 2-0, to punch their ticket to the Series A Final. But MTK Kingsville restored order, denying Rogerton Valladar CF their first Series A title while winning their ninth title to further cement their position as the most dominant Darmeni team of the modern era.
Player of the Season
1. Moses Lofuko (CBR, RW, 29) - MTK Kingsville
2. Craig Blackwood (RF, 31) - Sterling City United
3. Parthalán Wolfe (LCM, 26) - Scott City FC
Best Young Player (U-23
1. Dorian Kinnaird (LF, 22) - MTK Kingsville
2. Diederik Lloyd (LCM, 23) - IFK Liverpool United
3. Bryce Ó Caiside (ST, 22) - Rogerton Whitecaps
Best Foreign Player
1. Moses Lofuko (CBR, RW, 29) - MTK Kingsville
2. Patrice Champetier (KSK, LM, 31) - MTK Kingsville
3. Lukas Bass (EFL, RB, 33) - MTK Kingsville
Golden Boot
1. Craig Blackwood (RF, 31) - Sterling City United - 26 goals
2. Moses Lofuko (CBR, RW, 29) - MTK Kingsville - 24 goals
3. Dorian Kinnaird (LF, 22) - MTK Kingsville - 21 goals
4. Kennard Hale (RF, 25) - Scott City FC - 19 goals
5. Darnell Halle (LF, 28) - Atlético Augusta - 18 goals
Goalkeeper of the Season
1. Simon Toro (GK, 26) - MTK Kingsville
2. Hyman Campo (GK, 32) - Scott City FC
3. Ori Poirier (GK, 25) - Sterling City United
Defender of the Season
1. Lukas Bass (EFL, RB, 33) - MTK Kingsville
2. Aurelio Di Stefano (CB, 31) - Sterling City United
3. Kerr Snyder (CB, 26) - IFK Liverpool UnitedAll-Pro XI
GK: Simon Toro (26) - MTK Kingsville
LB: Feliciano Espinosa (30) - Romanopolis United
CB: Aurelio Di Stefano (31) - Sterling City United
CB: Kerr Snyder (26) - IFK Liverpool United
RB: Lukas Bass (EFL, 33) - MTK Kingsville
LM: Víedharr Svendsen (29) - Tempala United Saints
CM: Parthalán Wolfe (26) - Scott City FC
CM: Lennart van der Vennen (25) - MTK Kingsville
RM: Phenalope Everett (BRE, 28)* - Sterling City United
WG: Moses Lofuko (CBR, 29) - MTK Kingsville
ST: Craig Blackwood (31) - Sterling City United
All-Foreign XI
GK: Gareth Weston (BRE, 33) - Johnho United
LB: Malura Seitz (NPH, 27)* - Sterling City United
CB: JC Bartok (CBP, 34) - MTK Kingsville
CB: Ingvar Hovestad (KOR, 29) - Lynx FC
RB: Lukas Bass (EFL, 33) - MTK Kingsville
LM: Patrice Champetier (KSK, LM, 31) - MTK Kingsville
CM: Lamont Dusang (CBR, 33) - Sportklub Palerma
CM: Markus Hyde (NPH, 34) - Romanopolis United
RM: Phenalope Everett (BRE, 28)* - Sterling City United
WG: Moses Lofuko (CBR, 29) - MTK Kingsville
ST: Reggie Laing (CBP, 30) - Scott City FC
Manager of the Season
1. Sebastián Arreola - Rogerton Valladar CF
2. Léon Deasmhumhain - MTK Kingsville
3. Aodh Hynes - Sterling City United
Series B
With their promotion to the top flight already secured by their semifinal victories, Sporting Rigerata United (eleven previous Series A seasons) and the Suburban Warriors (zero previous Series A seasons) faced off in the final of the Series B Championship. The first ninety minutes were quite dull for a final, with only the Warriors managing to get any shots on goal and even then only one which was easily saved by Gamaliel Fortier. Efrain Menendez gave Rigerata the lead in the first half of extra time and Marvin Hawthorne put the match away in the second half, giving Sporting Rigerata United their first second division title. In the playoff match, both for promotion to Series A and qualification to the Liga B Champions Trophy, Ironopolis SC emerged victorious over FC Excellence, 2-1, returning to the top flight for the second time following their single season in 2048-49.
National Cup
Club Jim Falls had played once before in the final of the National Cup, a 4-2 extra time loss to Sterling City United in 2044. Their opponents in this year's final were MTK Kingsville, winners of the two previous editions of the cup competition, who were looking to complete their hat trick. MTK would be successful, subjecting Club Jim Falls once again to a 4-2 loss, although this time sparing them the extra thirty minutes. This year's victory was MTK's fourth cup title.
