Good day ladies and gentlemen! We are proud to host the Round of 16, matchday 6 of the Baptism of Fire! I am your proud host Apostoli Apostoleris and commenting on the matchup today, alongside Mike Hattenborough, we have a big game: Snestar vs Dēmos. Brought to a TV near you by the Dēmosian News Network.
MATCHDAY 5:
SNESTAR VS DĒMOS
SNESTAR VS DĒMOS
0'
Immediately curtains were drawn as the final match of what would have been either two of these great teams ensued.
Following a tense drawing of fire between the Snestaryan nationals and the Dēmosian Regional Football Team, both players made significant advancements to both sides of the pitch. However, following the peculiarities reminiscent of the previous match, Whyatou did his strange mystics: almost as if it were second instinct. Noticing this the fans merely jousted in anticipation as what were believed miracles became reality.
7'
Apostoli: The Dēmosians are dominating the Snestaryan defensive half!
Mike: Indeed Apostoli and what should be a goal should follow from the free kick…
In what were a mere seven minutes of what would be a forever for the Dēmosians, something quite un-toward rather prioritized its delights.
M: Oh Apostoli, it is an own goal from left-back Riccardo Cavaliere…
Suddenly a deaf-tone silence ensued…
Everyone: WOAHH!
A: And indeed the crowd goes wild, Mike!
M: Yeah, indeed, from what was an unrivaled header from Whyatou—
A: Poor chap got it deflected on his left leg’s thigh… Yep indeed.
They both checked the post-goal analysis as both commentators mutually agreed.
It was indeed an own goal all too early in the game.
However, as match begun kickoff, the unfortunate reality settled in for the Dēmosian players:
Snestar were not finished.
In the same fasion as the match came, did the match exit to what otherwise seemed to end 1-0 to the Dēmosians.
However, in many a case, one should equally be careful of what they wish for:
41'
M: Oh, here it comes Apostoli: the Spanish Salamander—
Apostoli knocked over Mike’s microphone before shouting, panting:
A: GOAALLLLL! The no. 9 has done it again with a crisp shot of the volley, feeded into him by Theodosis and knock-off-capped to the top right-hand corner. Excellent play from the forward.
The match, in itself, saw much inequality, as Dēmos led the proceedings down to half-time just a mere 4 minutes after.
Half-Time Talk
The atmosphere in the dressing room was surreal: players were already feeling as if they won.
Those Snestaryan bastards have no hold on us boys! Let’s park the bus. Who knows? Maybe Riccardo will once again contribute to the team?
Alexi: I know you’re happy boys, I am too, but don’t get conceited. We are just halfway there. There is no victory as far as I am concerned.
He immediately pointed fingers.
A: Whyatou—
Whyatou: Yes sir!
A: Hold the line! Don’t forget that Snestar will now increase the pressure in our half, make sure to parry their efforts.
W: Yes sir!
A: Alright everyone, continue the good fight and let’s win this thing!
Everyone: AVALINÑEA!
They exited the dressing room, however, entitlement still circled over their heads because regardless of what they were told, they were above the game. They smirked with their arms behind their heads.
We’ve got this.
64'
Apostoli: Mike!—
Apostoli: GOALLLL! Fabio de Filippi nutmegged Tyolius before scoring an easy finish against Wyetti. Beautiful!
We don’t got this.
Immediately the voices around the Dēmosian team became inaudible. They couldn’t believe it. Feeling as though they were now behind, they took their past pride aside and shaked the critics. Noticeably they put their hands up to the coach in apology, all in unison. They were so ashamed that should they have bowed as per Japanese tradition, they would do exactly that. It was a charming moment that took its toll on the coaches. The players all felt them saying:
I’ve forgiven you all. Now produce the results and let’s get some damn Starbucks afterwards.
The game followed an intense affair as both teams put their 100% heart out into the pitch. Clinical, visionary passes from Theodosis were evident, fast hyena-pack chases continued from Rafail—whose consistency was evident throughout the match—and Whyatou did his magical steps.
82'
The game neared the final ten minutes. A stringent, desperate last push was seen from the Snestaryan team as they gave it their all, making incredible passes that made them the very Dēmosian Gods of ancient times. One last counter attack. Whyatou and Tyolius were pushing like galvanized horses, chasing after their passions, their lives.
However, Scognamiglio was too far.
After providing one last bullet-shot…
An audible silence appeared.
M: GOOALLL! The Snestaryan national, Davide Scognamiglio, passed a beautiful scene as the team caught Dēmos with the counter, and parrying it away, made a beautiful finish in the bottom-left corner.
A: Who will receive their baptism now?
At the end, the game drew all null as both teams were exhausted to the very ends of their heights. They were too close to their dreams to give up now.
A: Mike we begin with extra time as we anxiously await who will win this: the Snestaryans or the Dēmosians?
117'
The football was nearly in an impossible deadlock as both teams gave it their all, wishing to surpass themselves. However, as is time immemorial, a winner must always prevail.
A: Oh, wait, here it comes Mike!
Everyone: WAIT—
M: GOOALL! The Snestaryan Mattia Castelleti scored from the set-piece free kick as Wyetti could only reach from a centimeter from the ball before falling—
Everything was quiet. The whistle blew.
Where was our baptism?
They fell flat on the floor as their demise were sure-fire: it wasn’t a debate.
After a couple of rounds of interviews—
Well done to the Spanish Salamander for man of the match!—
The Dēmosians went home.
