Baptism of Fire 79

[Ko-oren]

BAPTISM OF FIRE 79 - MERTAGNE AND KO-OREN
Semifinals

Cap Nord 0–0 Loyo (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
@ Stade Amandine, Étouille, Cote Austral, Ko-oren (30,000)

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Third Place Playoff
Tecoia vs Cap Nord
@ Rikalathen Arena, Maethoru, KCT, Ko-oren (44,000)
Cutoff for the Third Place Playoff will be in 24 hours.

Final
Koronavia vs Loyo
@ Dannin City Stadium, Dannin, Dannmarsh, Mertagne (Capacity: 85,750)
Cutoff for the Final will be in 48 hours.

[Ko-oren]

)
BAPTISM OF FIRE 79 - MERTAGNE AND KO-OREN
Third Place Playoff

Tecoia 0–1 Cap Nord
@ Rikalathen Arena, Maethoru, KCT, Ko-oren (44,000)

[Loyo]

Lineup for Semifinal Cap Nord:

Matashichi (C),
Ambarita, DeVayne, Liucci,
Celadon, Cetti, Smithini, Lambosa,
Jinaowa,
Argayagoyena, Yoshiaga

Scores
Quarterfinal: Loyo 1–0 Ganes Ame
@ Stade Amandine, Étouille, Cote Austral, Ko-oren (30,000)

‘11 Takeshi

Semifinal: Cap Nord 0–0 Loyo (0–0 AET) (4–5 pen.)
@ Stade Amandine, Étouille, Cote Austral, Ko-oren (30,000)

And we ask ourselves How did we get here?

Loyo never had plans to make the final. Sure, they play to win, but really? Loyo? Their own country barely supported the team’s journey here, and grumbled when they had to let fans leave the country.

In spite of everything, they’ve made it. Despite this, they’re still playing a leg down. After scoring the solo goal in the quarterfinals, Cora Takeshi took a hard tackle in the 60th minute and looked to be in excruciating pain. The team managed to hold the lead despite an onslaught in the final 15 minutes that had many thinking that not only would Ganes Ame equalize, but might be able to get two past the exhausted Loyons.

Despite poor defending to finish the game, they held on against a barrage of 7 shots on goal in the final minutes of the match.

In the Semi-final, they looked shaky. Passes were intercepted, and a nasty foul sent off Ambarita to start the second half. The Loyons fell back and played for extra time, when their energy levels weren’t to a level where their attack could make much of an impact. Matashichi was saved by the post twice, once in the second half, and again in extra time. A miracle save at the penalty shootouts provided opportunity for Cetti to score the match-winner, and even the Loyon faithful that traveled were well aware that they may have gotten away with something.

Now they face Koronavia, a team that has played with confidence despite controversy that has overwhelmed the Baptism of Fire media environment over a decision in their match against Atetancillo in the group stage.

It’s up to Han Tamada’s squad to address the lethargy in the team, and inspire them to rise to the level required to be champions in their first outing.

“We’ve worked and worked at it this tournament. I’m proud of the squad. The energy isn’t there, and losing Takeshi isn’t ideal,” Tamada said. “We don’t always play in ideal circumstances, and I believe that the team has the skill and motivation required to win this competition. It’s going to be a match of massive importance for our country.”

Despite the manager’s confidence, some players weren’t as sure.

In a short interview before getting on the team bus, midfielder Osuma Jinaowa talked about his concerns with the manager and the results of the knockout rounds.

“Full-stop it’s a miracle we’ve made it this far. To even be playing in this game, it’s a shock,” Jinaowa said. “The manager doesn’t even know that much about football. To him, it’s a passion project. Like a youth league. Frankly, some of our drills are silly, and his team talks infantilizing. I believe in my own ability, but we need massive improvements if we want to lift any silverware.”

A short altercation occurred when Jinaowa returned to the bus, and despite the best efforts of the media, the contents of that argument were not able to be recorded or deciphered.

Before the final, Tamada released his lineup for the final, and the stellar midfielder was benched. The manager did not comment on the decision.

Lineup for Final: Koronavia

Matashichi (C),
Sastre, DeVayne, Liucci,
Celadon, Cetti, Smithini, Lambosa,
Guanyu,
Argayagoyena, Yoshiaga

[Mertagne]

)
BAPTISM OF FIRE 79 - MERTAGNE AND KO-OREN
Grand Final

Koronavia 1–1 Loyo (1–1 AET) (3–4 pen.)
@ Dannin City Stadium, Dannin, Dannmarsh, Mertagne (Capacity: 85,750)

Thank you to all our competitors for some excellent roleplaying in a lovely tournament. We hope you have enjoyed what for some is your first taste of international competition, and we wish you all the best of luck in the World Cup 92 qualifiers and beyond!

[Loyo]

Scores
Baptism of Fire 89 Final: Koronavia 1–1 Loyo (1–1 AET) (3–4 pen.)
@ Dannin City Stadium, Dannin, Dannmarsh, Mertagne (Capacity: 85,750)

‘32 Pördsen
‘81 Guanyu

Koronavia:
Mark Pördsen - O
Atoro Loranz - O
Jonas Limid - O
Sebdal Jordsmann - X
Hugo-Hans Ulrich - X


Loyo:
Yoshiaga - O
Argayagoyena - O
Cetti -O
Lambosa - O

Footballs For All

Tamada was all smiles. The stress of the matches, the negotiations with the bureaucrats back home, the worries over team strength: all was forgotten now.

It had not been easy. Not even close. He had tried to negotiate a way for more fans to find their way to Mertagne, and had been denied. Even a finals appearance was not enough for the department of domestic sporting affairs to clear up more exit visas for fans.

“What more do you need? I don’t understand why we cannot find support from our own country and our party. You seem to scoff at our success.”

“You scoff at our traditions. You will see. Loyons are not made for football. You and your squad are lucky. Do not worry, we can find a baseball team to showcase the athleticism of your players. You have only gotten this far to be embarrassed. Really you should have gone out sooner and saved yourself from the shame of losing. Tell me, what is the equivalent of a grand slam? That is what you will lose by. We will clean your face of mud when you return.”

The department mocked him. The Koronavians mocked him. His own star player mocked him.

Still, Tamada’s nature was one forged in mountains. He knew why he had made the decision to take this rag-tag team to this tournament. It was for the families of farmers that sent their children to him, pleading with him to teach their youth the world’s game. It was for the workers of the mines and the factories, who, coughing and covered in soot and mineral residue, ran like schoolboys to the fields to play the game that had been passed around the country like a secret. It was for the thousands of men and women that collected everything they could to fashion together crude footballs so that they could kick them along alleyways and pretend for even a brief moment to be international superstars in lands never seen by Loyon eyes. It was for Tsujii Matashichi, who as a parent-less child picked up a football like it was a sacred object, and held it close to his heart as soon as he saw it.

No matter what anyone said, he would press on. His roaring speech before the game commanded the team to be brave like revolutionaries, standing strong in the face of overwhelming odds. Using analogies of protecting the beaches, he inspired the defense to take on the mindset of Saint Hayahoma, whose likeness was stitched onto every uniform of the Navy. For the midfield he invoked Saint Donghai, whose courage protected the Revolution in the darkest hour of Loyo’s history. And it was Saint Yoosan that was mentioned in regard to the strikers, who had recently lost one of their own to catastrophic injury. Pounding his chest, the manager finished his speech with a reference to Saint Mianho, whose stability and wisdom made clear the path for Loyo’s future.

“Take courage not in yourselves, but in every soul, alive or asleep, that has made possible our nation’s progress. Through their power you will fight on foreign grass and find victory!”

The Loyons did not start the final well. A dangerous pass by Sastre to DeVayne in the opening minutes of the match was intercepted by Atoro Loranz, and a desperate press by a frustrated Sastre sent the ball wide.

Alterations to the Koronavian tactic spread some panic within the Loyons back line, but DeVayne and Matashichi demonstrated leadership in communicating with the midfield to work the ball more carefully up the pitch. Still, the cycle of losing possession repeated until Pördsen eventually found the net with an excellent move across the box, heading in a cross from Jordsmann despite pressure from DeVayne.

The Loyons went into the half down a goal, and breathing heavy. Cora Takeshi led a short tactical analysis with a cast around his leg and a pen on his ear, and Tamada insisted that the match was not yet finished. A fuming Jinaowa could not be in the same room as the manager, and waited outside the locker room until the team returned to the pitch.

In the stands of Dannin City Stadium, 11,000 of Loyo’s own made the noise of a fan group twice their size, their energy inspired by the endless hoops they had to jump through to even make it out of the country. In lieu of football chants, the fans tried their best to create new tunes based off of popular baseball melodies.

“One ball, two ball, three ball, four!
Here comes Loyo at your door!
Shichi’s awesome, Cetti’s glad!
Disrespect us, you’ll be sad!”

Fans wore a mishmash of colors, but it was clear who they supported when they held arms together and jumped with uncanny coordination.

The second half saw a few more scares as the defense struggled to keep up with Koronavia’s attack. A foul outside the box by Smithini saw a curving shot from Limid woosh over the head of the keeper and out of play, and the Loyons almost went down by two when Pördsen broke away and slotted a shot down and to the right of Matashichi. The Koronavians were quickly disappointed when the referee called the striker offside, as he was just beyond Sastre’s line.

Argayagoyena had a miraculous shot from outside the box, but a punch from Endlinsberg sent the ball out for a corner. Yoshiaga wound up short on the attempt, sending the cross into the side netting and neutralizing the Loyon threat for the moment.

A breakaway steal from Guanyu in the 80th minute was almost stopped by Siewart’s tackle, but the irregular starter showed a flash of brilliance with a quick one-two pass off of Lambosa who returned the ball up the pitch. Alois and Guanyu raced to the ball, but the Loyon received the ball with just enough space to manage a shot into goal. The Loyon fans exploded with cheers.

The next ten minutes, and additional five of stoppage time weren’t enough for either side to find the go-ahead goal, and an additional extra time period didn’t do much more to sway the result of the final. Both defenses held firm, and a tired twenty-two left the result to penalties.

The two captains of the finalists, Matashichi and Endlinsberg, stalwart defenders of the net, were all that separated the feverish desires of the penalty takers.

The north goal was decided as the location, and Koronavia was given the first shot. Pördsen nailed it, and Yoshiaga returned with the first make for the Loyons. Matashichi got a finger on Loranz’ shot, but the ball eventually found its way into the net. Argayagoyena made his shot, which slotted away up above the keeper’s glove. Limid fired away and struck gold in the bottom right, and Cetti had a moment of concern when the keeper dove and nearly stopped his shot from crossing the line. Unlucky Sebdal Jordsmann had his shot go over the post, setting up a possibility for Seth Lambosa to set Loyo ahead before the final shot.

The first recorded goalscorer for the Loyon National Team, Lambosa stepped up to the spot, and steadied his breath. He took his time, as the fans roared from every angle of the stadium. For some fans, this may have been the first time they had seen a Loyon. Lambosa made sure that it would be a memorable occasion, striking the ball into the corner of the goal, and sealing the team’s fourth straight penalty success.

Victory lay in the glove of Matashichi, the captain who had worked so hard with the manager to make this entire journey possible. From the young age of eight, after losing his mother and father, the national team keeper found his life connected with football. Every waking day, the first thing he thought of was football: its growth within his homeland, its spread among his comrades, and how he might be able to demonstrate the virtues to those that controlled Loyo’s sporting development.

It was only right that the tournament would end with a block from the trusted heart of the team. Hugo-Hans Ulrich made an excellent attempt, but Matashichi’s gloves sent the hopes of the Koronavians wide left.

When the squad landed back in Loyo, there was a gift for them. Addressed to Tamada and Matashichi, there were 10 large crates, each with a short inscription.

100 Footballs: Produced in Loyo by the workers of the Mitsuda Leatherwork Factory.

Perhaps Loyo could come to love both baseball and football: the game of gods, and the game of men, in time.