Baptism of Fire 34 (for WC47) RP/Roster/Scores Thread

[Delaclava]

OOC: Thanks, hope you do well too. I always liked your RPs.

[Liventia]

Baptism of Fire 34 third place playoff
Delaclava 0-2 Isselmere-Nieland

Congratulations to Isselmere-Nieland on third place.

[Delaclava]

OOC: Congrats to Isselmere on third. Also, congrats to myself for fourth.

[Isselmere]

OOC: Thanks Delaclava and Liventia, and cheers to Vaarshire and Valipac in the final.

Match write-up to follow ...

[Bostopia]

Baptism of Fire 34 Final

Bostopia Stadium, Fort Boston

Valipac 4 - 1 Vaarshire

[Qazox]

Congrats to Valipac!

[Valipac]

OOC: Thanks Qazox, Isselmere! ^_^

Pitch-Perfect! Valipac stuns Vaarshire, 4-1!

Freddie Cross celebrates after his first goal

The game began even enough, with both teams marching out together and listening to their respective national anthems. However, once the ball was first set into play from the opening kick, the game was decidedly in Valipac's favor. The Baptism of Fire had come down to this one game, and all of a sudden it slipped out of Vaarshire's hands. Only six minutes into the game, Freddie Cross was the recipient of a falling cross that Taylor Haynes directed into the box. Cross made a diving effort to head the ball, and got just enough of a touch on it to redirect it past the hands of the diving keeper, Daniel St. Paul. Valipac had taken the lead, and they never looked back.

Vaarshire looked back to get into the game by pressing forward, but a passing blunder in the 34th minute by Conrad Martin gifted the ball and a superb break to the Valipacian side. Valipac moved forward quickly in numbers, and after a few passes the ball found its way to Nicholas Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald collected the ball, spun on goal, and after seeing his angle blocked by Geert de Jong, flicked the ball to his left foot and drove a shot around the defender. The ball spun into the upper left corner of the net, a beautiful shot from the 19 year old and a premonition of greatness to come for Valipacian football. The goal made 7 in the tournament for Fitzgerald, who was dubbed MVP of the squad by his manager after the game. Said Scott, "I can't be sure who will win the award as best player, but I know that without this kid, we wouldn't have accomplished half of the things we did."

Right before the half, Valipac was making a push for their third goal. A few nice passes around the box led to a display of desperation from the Vaarshire defenders, who committed a foul just outside the box. Captain Leon King chose not to drive the ball on goal, stepping over the ball and causing the Vaarshire wall to jump early. Alexander Marsden followed up with a booming shot on the net, which St. Paul caught but was unable to handle, and it knocked him into the net. It was Marsden's second goal in as many games, after he had scored the lone goal in the semifinal match against Delaclava.

In the second half, Vaarshire opened up determined to close the gap. In the 52nd minute, they finally did so. Sebastian de Groot connected from 20 meters out to put Vaarshire on the board, but it would be too little, too late. Despite continued efforts from Vaarshire on goal, it became obvious that the Valipacian defense was not cracking under the intense strain that was being placed on it. Finally, all of the attacking came back to haunt Vaarshire. In the 82nd minute, Valipac sprung on a chance to counterattack and the audience was captivated by a beautiful run by striker Zachary Watts, which culminated in a phenomenal pass to Cross at the top of the box, who was clear of any defenders, as the last one had been strung out between the two strikers. Cross drove the ball on goal, and scored his second of the game, and moved into second place for Valipacian goalscorers in the tournament.

When the game was over, the Valipacian players succumbed to pure emotion. Some lept with joy, others dove on the pitch, and others, such as team captain Leon King, simply fell to their knees and cried tears of joy. The image of King that has begun circulating is him on his knees in the field, both hands raised in victory, with tears flowing from his eyes. The image signifies the very essence of Valipacian football and the passion that they play with. Now, to be crowned Baptism of Fire champions, they have truly arrived on the world scene.

Valipac 4 - 1 Vaarshire
(Cross 6', 82'; Fitzgerald 34'; Marsden 44') - (de Groot 52')
Bookings:
(none) - (Meijer 88')
Sendings off:
none

[Vaarshire]

THE VAARSHIRE TIMES

Vaarshire's #1 English Newspaper

VALIPAC VICTORIOUS
Vaarshire 1, Valipac 4

BOSTONIA- Today, the 22nd letter of the Latin alphabet triumphed, as it plays the primary role in the words Vaarshire and Valipac, and most importantly, victory. Today, victory came not to the Red and Orange but to valiant Valipac, to the chagrin of thousands of Vaar spectators present, millions of Vaar viewers at home, and especially to the nineteen Vaar atheletes on the field and on the bench. It must be said that, obviously and truly, the better team won the game. A very skilled Valipacian team as well as blunders made by the Vaar team combined to spell victory for the Valipacians.

His Elected Majesty, Prince Johannes de Vaar was in attendance, having flown from Vaarshire to Bostonia without alerting anyone but his senior aide, who accompained him on the trip. "I'm more of a cricket person, myself," said the Prince after the game, "But no national leader in his right mind would miss seeing his nation in the grand final of an event like this. I'm pleased with my team, and wholeheartedly congratulate them on making it this far. And more congratulations to the victors, who certainly played a wonderful game." Coach De Keizer was not reachable for comment, as apparently he was having a discussion with the Prince. It is unknown if De Keizer will be coaching next year's international team, or even the World Cup team.

The game itself had what senior aide to the Prince Sam Bakker, 28, called a "deer in the headlights" effect: "It was scary and horrible but I couldn't look away," he said. Valipac scored in the sixth minute, getting the ball just barely beyond goalkeeper Daniel St. Paul. Valipac never relinquished it's lead, as it scored again in the thirty-fourth minute, and again in the fourty-fourth. The game entered halftime with Valipac up 3-0. After the half, Vaarshire went on the offensive, with Sebastian de Groot making a goal from 20 meters. The cheers from the Vaar fans were jubilant, but not enough to lift the team out of the doldrums they were in. Vaarshire would not score again, but Valipac would once more in the 82nd minute, due to Vaarshire's own overzealousness. The game ended with the noise of cheering, emotional Valipacians. The Vaar fans were silent, hanging their heads in quiet disappointment. "Well, there's the World Cup coming up, at least. We can try again there," the Prince was reported to have said.

It is that optimism that, according to Valentine Naaktgeboren, who was the only team member to comment to the Times, needs to be successful in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. "People seem to think that this loss is the end of the world. We're still a great team, good enough to take second place here. We just need to be optimistic. We need to think positive. Sports is- or should be- about preparing for and enjoying winning, not whining about past defeats." Naaktgeboren, who scored the most goals during the tournament, was named Vaarshire's MVP and will be wearing the Captain's armband during the World Cup qualifiers as a starter. Vaar everywhere are now looking for the chance to do well in the upcoming sports event. "I plan to be following the World Cup very closely, my workload permitting," said Sam Bakker, the Prince's senior aide. The Prince chuckled at this and replied "Oh, something tells me it just may permit."

OOC: Many congratulations to Valipac! Hail to the Victors.