CAFA 14: RP Thread

[The Martian Independent Republic]

CAFA Cup 14

The Everything Thread
Rosters • CAFA 14 Provisional Rankings • Host Bid • Anaia Sporting Roll of Honor

Groups
Group A
Sgr A (Unr)
Kimi-Suomi (6)
Pacitalia (14)
Yesopalitha (28)

Group B
Flavovespia (2)
Audioslavia (7)
Hanalia (15)
Atheara (32)

Group C
the Martian Independent Republic (10)
Ko-oren (4)
Vdara (19)
Wight (Unr)

Group D
United States of Nova Calania (3)
Warkus (8)
Aleirave (12)
United Hawkland (33)

Fixtures
MD1 July 17 - 1v3 2v4
MD2 July 19 - 1v4 2v3
MD3 July 21 - 1v2 3v4
QF July 23
SF July 25
3PPO/F July 27
Cutoffs will be "around noonish UTC" for Audio's half of the scoring (games ICly played in the MIR) and "around the time a train departs when it is scheduled for noonish UTC" for MIR's half of the scoring (games ICly played not in the MIR)

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Brevity Rules

151

Brevity Rules mean that a strict word-limit is in place for the tournament. Maximum RP bonus is only attainable for roleplays that comprise 151 words, with some but not all brevity bonus going to those who use fewer.
If you’d prefer not to adhere to these rules, that’s fine. A majority of the maximum bonus can still be attained.

RP Prompt

Just The Meat
Don’t give us the start of the story. You don’t have enough words.
Don’t give us the end of a story. You don’t have enough words.
Give us the middle. The disaster has already happened. The solution is far into the future. What chaos is happening now and how are your characters reacting?

About Your Hosts

the Martian Independent Republic
The Martian Independent Republic is cold, sparsely populated, and miserable. Less than one one-thousandth of its surface is habitable, which means that what is there is very densely built up - Aeolis Base, which will play host to all of group D, packs over 200,000 people into just 16.57 square kilometres. Strangely enough, a lot of names are related to music of the 1960s and 70s on Earth - which, to Martians, happened nearly four hundred years ago. Technically the MIR isn't in Anaia, as there's a portal there just like there is to Esportiva or Rushmore or wherever, but because that's the only way to get out of Mars, it's considered Anaian for the purpose of things like this. Football on Mars is a bit different from football elsewhere, but we do our best to make it as similar as possible. Functionally, this means that balls will stay a bit longer in the air than you'd expect them to, though on the ground they act normally, and we'll ask you to wear special kits (they'll look the same as your regular kits, don't worry, but they make it so that you're not overly affected by Martian gravity, the magnetic threads in them pulling you down) - altogether, it's not too different from what you're used to, just maybe avoid long passes.

Eridania Stadium, Eridania Base (Capacity: 1,800)
Group C, first listed game (all matchdays, except…)

There are foxes here! Please do not feed the foxes, they don't fit into the local ecosystem, we don't have any prey for them and we're trying to round them up and release them back into the wilds of Martian Anaia. Some idiot thought that it would be a good idea to release them into this small eastern base. As for the stadium itself, imagine an ordinary third-division football ground. It's rather forgettable.

Kovalevskaya Field, Milankovic Base (Capacity: 800)
Group C, first listed game (the first time the MIR is playing that match)

There's a reason this is called a "field" and not a "stadium" or a "park". It's very cold, the pitch is heated but that doesn't mean your body will be, temperatures regularly drop to the negative teens Celsius, and seating is restricted to some bleachers on the side. In spite of, or possibly due to, all this, it's home to Combination Milankovic, who somehow have qualified for international places each of the past four seasons. This is the closest stadium to the Anaia portal, but that doesn't mean your team will be accustomed to playing here, and it's twelve hours at a minimum (not counting time for a transfer) to each of the other stadia in this group.

Murray Park, Isidis Base (Capacity: 3,200)
Group C, second listed game (all matchdays); QF4

Neither the second- nor third-largest bases (with the second- and fifth-largest stadia) are getting to host matches on account of their domestic teams being shit, so group C will play some of their games in Isidis Base, home of the definitely non-shit Confederation Isidis. Beyond "having a competent football team", Martian football fans who aren't too polarized to say anything other than their stadium pretty much unanimously think this has the best food available.

National Stadium, Unity, Aeolis Base (Capacity: 10,000)
Group D, first listed game (all matchdays); QF3; Final

Originally a community centre & broader "any sport" playing field like all stadia on Mars, the National Stadium is now host to, well, the Martian national team, as well as Aeolis United. Right in the centre of Aeolis Base, it, unlike many things in the area, is at the ground level, so the most trafficked entrances actually tend to be on the second floor. You can still come in via ground level, it's just harder.

Xuesen Stadium, Xuesen, Aeolis Base (Capacity: 3,300)
Group D, second listed game (all matchdays); SF2

Home to Sunrise Aeolis, the seats (and everything else here) are very red, very yellow, and not at all orange. For a while, these fans would actually boo the national team, but with changes to the squad makeup, this tendency has largely vanished. This stadium is about 20 feet in the air, but then again everything around it is also about 20 feet in the air - tram tracks run underneath, with the 2 and the 5 lines servicing the stadium, the former of which also goes to the National Stadium. Xuesen is slightly warmer than the National Stadium, on account of its roof fully covering the stadium instead of having some holes to let air in, but that's only slightly.

Sgr A
As black hole, Saggitarius A* falls short of some basic requirements for hosting international football, such as local population, stadium amenities and the infinitesimally massive singularity whose sheer gravitational force rips apart any matter that comes too close. As such, four stadiums elsewhere in Anaia will be used.
Soldaduak Eremuaberria, Izotzazubia, Audioslavia (Capacity: 52,180)
Matchdays 1-3 (Group A, first listed game), First Quarter Final, 3PPO

For league matches, the away support at Zozi games have to walk from Eremuaberria Station to the stadium through what's known as the block, a mazy residential centre of narrow streets and high, balcony-filled four-storey housing blocks. There's a rule among locals - Zozi fans to a man - that on one route, and one route only, away fans can pass unharmed and unharassed. Home fans self-police strictly. Any Zozi fan harassing visitors on the Third Way route to the stadium is given their own dose of the Zozi ultras' medicine. So the saying goes around Audioslavia - if you get beat up by Zozi fans, you probably deserved it.

The atmosphere on The Block for internationals is different. Visiting supporters are allowed to go whichever way they please throughout the block.

The area often has a pinkish hue. AC Izotz Zubia play in pink and silver, and these colours are draped from almost every balcony in the area. The streetlights often have a pinkish hue, and with the high altitude this is often reflected from the clouds above..

Exhibition Stadium, Koroa City, Koroa City (Capacity: 28,000)
Matchdays 1-3 (Group A, second listed game)

Koroa City is Anaia’s permanent exhibition centre, with each Anaian nation setting up cultural hubs throughout the city. Exhibition Stadium is a modest multi-purpose stadium on the west coast, with as-yet-unrealised plans to extend to over 50,000 seats.

If you find yourself playing here, why not write about the part your nation plays in Koroa City? What aspects of your nation’s culture are exhibited there?

The Antzerkia, Ferramendiak, Audioslavia (Capacity: 48,000)
Matchdays 1-3 (Group B, first listed game), Second Quarter Final, First Semi-Final

The Antzerkia was one of three brand new stadiums built for World Cup 66. The absence of much in the way of useful flat ground in the Ferramendiak region, and the demand for the region to be used at some point in the World Cup, necessitated the construction of the stadium into the ground or, to be exact, partially into a mountain. It is a nod towards the Paladindome in New Montreal States, which was constructed by Audioslavians before World Cup 10.

1927 Stadium, Kjeligsted, Audioslavia (Capacity: 18,500)
Matchdays 1-3 (Group B, second listed game)

Audioslavia's national team stadium between cycles 59 and 65, the 1927 stadium has bravely soldiered on through the years, hosting a number of football clubs on Kjeligsted island, a part of Audioslavia that, weirdly enough, technically wasn't part of Audioslavia at the time the Bulls were playing there, making our national team possibly the only one not to play their home games in their home country for an extended period of time.

Constructed as part of an expo centre over a hundred years ago, the stadium has only one main stand, with two smaller ones at either end and, well, the sea at the other flank.

Suffice to say it affords the prettiest of views of all Audioslavian stadiums. The low capacity - under 25,000 even at its pomp and fit for fewer than 18,000 these days - makes for a quieter matchday experience even before you account for the fact that the various reverberations of the crowd dissipate north towards the sea.

[Ko-oren]

Space craze points SAREO to Jola island

Interest in the great expanse above has skyrocketed with the Martian Independent Republic's intention of hosting the CAFA. With funding diverted from military to science, the Space and Aeronautics Research and Engineering Office in southwestern Lodahn has the budget to move ahead with Ko-oren's galactic aspirations, and eyes the remote island of Jola - where Ayes meets Salamantic - as the location with the least light pollution, to become SAREO's prime telescope location. SAREO has planned a group of telescopes there, the biggest projects being an array of four identical installations capable of carrying different equipment to simultaneously catch most different frequency ranges as well as one single massive dish.

Ko-oren's satellite launch capabilities remain reliant on other nations; attempts to utilise the island of Alah Thorunoru remain beyond the budget of SAREO, as long as cooperation within the region or Constellation fails to take shape.

[Audioslavia]

Rohan Cammers wondered how exactly he'd gotten roped into this podcast. Stuck to Football was a good idea in theory. Viewers liked it when Cammers got cross and wilfully misunderstood an aspect of modern football he didn't like. They liked RJ Styrn's emotional honesty and calm, and also the interplay between the two.
But the show was hosted by Jerquaad. And Jerquaad was possibly god's least charismatic creation. Rohan watched as he tried to do an ad read direct to camera, reading from an autocue like he'd only ever had a passing familiarity with the latin alphabet.
"If you like having. Food. But you don't... like... eating. Food. Try new Hugh! It's. Hugh! Is. Is like. It's like a milkshake but. But it contains nutritious. Nutrition values that..."
Rohan considered all the times he successfully prevented Jerquaad from injury by simply deciding that day was *not* the day Rohan punched him.

[Sgr A]

Saggitarius A* watched impassively as a few protons of light left its orbit and hurtled into the distance. Saggitarius A* was not to know that these protons would soon be cast into the eye of a professional footballer, because black holes do not know things and the concept of a professional footballer would not exist for the next twenty-six thousand years.

The light bounced through the telescope and scattered into the sensor, updating the display on the screen below.

"Freaky" said Sparta Zijweg full-back Jeromy Shaffer, studying the screen in front of him. "And that thing eats a star a year"
"Not quite" said the scientist. "But it's eaten quite a few already, to get to that size"
"That's my nation" said Jeromy, almost with a tear in the eye. "Can I visit it?"
"You will eventually" said the scientist. "Everything you've ever known or seen will go there in time"

[IA3x]

Cecilia looks at Mugel across the table, cup of teas in front of them. "Hows the FFA doing?" She asked. Mugel looks at her, a smile on his face. "Well. The FKA is setting up a futsal league with supervision." He responded, as that was what the futsal team did so after returning home from the tournament in Saterun. They did well, securing runners up in the Multiversal Cup.

"And if you're asking, the reclamation plan is... Well, it's going just fine." Cecilia spoke once more, as if expecting Mugel to ask. Truthfully, they encountered some roadblocks. Distractions they didn't expect, but not ones the military couldn't handle it. She took a drink from the cup before asking Mugel. "Knowing the groups, how do you think the team will do?"

For their first regional in a while? For once, Mugel's voice was that of calm. "I think they'll do just fine."

[Pacitalia]

Blue Foxes take another run at CAFA title

Pacitalia's men's national football team have departed for Anaia, in search of a second
championship title as CAFA Cup 14 begins.

Look closer: The Blue Foxes were champions in the ninth edition, emerging on the right
end of a grueling campaign, but have had a mediocre run in subsequent tries, with the
squad unable to repeat their success. A few early exits have left the team still searching
for another championship.

What's changed: Pacitalia's best player, Mau, is out with an ankle injury, which, while deemed
mild, has led to rumours of a rift between him and his club, FC Sapuntoli. Mau was not named
to the final 23-man squad, sending shockwaves through the country. Midfielder Bosee will
captain the side in his place, and new manager Fernando Silva (ex-Portense) picks a
slightly more attacking formation.

The first opponent: Unranked hosts Sgr A.

[Kimi-Suomi]

Space. Avaruus.

As long as people have lived in this Universe, their relationship with the stars has constantly evolved.
To some, it's their wayfinder. To others, the home of dreams.

We Finns understand this well.
We are used to the night, to being without a sun.
Unelmien yö and all that.

This CAFA, Mars and a Black Hole are co-hosting the region.
16 Teams looking towards the stars, hoping to find their purpose in this world.
Kimi-Suomi, the Huuhkajat, are one of those teams.

They say in space, we can be as one.
But this time? We aim to live long and prosper.

Mennään rohkeasti sinne, minne yksikään suomalainen ei ole ennen mennyt.
NOSTA KUIN HUUHKAJAT!

---

SCHEDULE/AJOITTAA (Group 1)
MD1: vs Yesopalitha (28) - Exhibition Stadium, Koroa City
MD2: vs Pacitalinen [Pacitalinen] (14) - Exhibition Stadium, Koroa City
MD3: vs Sgr A (UR) - Soldaduak Eremuaberria, Izotzazubia

[Hanalia]

Facing Familiar Footballing Faces

The Griff and his team are making preparations for the upcoming edition of the CAFA Cup. Consistency is obviously high on his priority list after the squad remains unchanged heading into this tournament from the team that succeeded in making it to the World Cup Finals.

The epic group stage of the previous CAFA edition prepared the team well for the equally epic subsequent qualifying campaign. The team will not soon forget the six nil thrashing Flavovespia inflicted on the Hanalians. The squad also encountered The Bulls in qualification but, there again, failed to score a goal in those matches. Alongside those heavy hitters, Hanalia have been drawn with Atheara in group B.

Expectations have skyrocketed with the world cup finals featuring in the, admittedly brief, Hanalian footballing history books. With this competition taking on cosmic clothing, Hanalia better be prepared for a rapid unscheduled hard landing.

[United States of Nova Calania]

After 14 matches, Nova Calania was sitting in 5th place. They won playoffs games against the Martians and Warkus. Things got more difficult and the Tapirs lost 2-0 against Bostopia in the semi final before losing 1-0 against Ko-oren in the match for 3rd place. Bostopia has won the competition with a 3-1 win against Estorvipa and Estorpiva.

Strangely, there is no defending champions this year because Bostopia has gone in another region. Estorvipa and Estorpiva, who finished in 2nd place, decided to stay home. Nova Calania woke up just in time to enter the 14th edition. Only 16 teams in CAFA Cup 14. What the hell happened to Anaia? Bostopia, Ochre Islands, Legalese and Cardenao are all gone. Mertagne and the childish Pirate Land are still in Anaia but didn't join the competition. Anyway, who wins CAFA Cup 14? According to Thomas The Tapir from Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer's zoo, the winner of CAFA Cup 14 is

[Aleirave]

"Our first opponents are Nova Calania?"
"Yes, a much more word limit-friendly name than they've had in the past."
"Word limit? What word limit?"
"Sergei Alinov's, the paper's on a budget."
"They can't print more words?"
"Nope, they only have room for 151. Let's waste no time. Look up at the stars. See the red one next to Ta'anehupa's spear?"
"I'm familiar with Mars, we've been there before Haulafo. When does the next ferry leave?"
"Tomorrow, but I heard it's packed. Everyone wants to get to Mars and they all go through here..."
"Have we any plans?"
"Tactically? Don't get thrashed. Mentally? It's been 3 years since we even advanced, remember it can't get worse."
"And you have the ferry tickets, right?"
"We've always just been able to get on there for free..."
"Haulafo, you know with all these travelers going to Mars we need tickets this time!"
"Well... oh dear."

[The Martian Independent Republic]

A travel guide for football fans
by Mr Isaiah Ambic of 27 Bevan St #203, Huygens Base

We welcome you to Mars, all seven teams
Competing having hopes to reach the top
(although, for some, it may be only dreams,
for six, at least, the run will have to stop)
A welcome, too, to us, we do suppose,
but we've been here before, as we're a host,
the Spiders' aim: an end to their long woes,
to win a plaudit 'bout which they can boast.
There is no spaceship needed getting here,
just ferries (two) to reach the portal in,
and rocket launches may well make you cheer,
but they'll make Martians, well, laugh, chortle, grin.
In any case, good luck, you foreign squads,
may Maggie aid you (or your random gods)

Isaiah Ambic works as a professor at Huygens University, where he is known for being quite strict and old-fashioned.

[Wight]

‘Where the heck is this curious place then, Mr. Ruly?’ wondered Mr. Couth.

I only know it was Mr. Couth because he called the other one Mr. Ruly. With their lookalike twirled mustachios, gentlemanly sartorial elegance, those uncanny dead eyes and otherwise zestily jovial countenance, the Narrative Agents were impossible to tell apart. If they were to do a little jig right now and swap positions several times after a spontaneous do çe do, I’d be quite as lost as you as to which one was which. Fortunately such shenanigans only happen in celebration of a death or serious injury of their causing, and no such matters are at hand today. They’re on the deck of the Wight Rover, using their telescopes to espy the swampy morass of Exchromatika Island, Anaia.

‘In the middle, Mr. Couth.’

‘The middle of - ?’

‘Fucking nowhere, I should say,’

‘Quite,’ said Mr. er, Couth, I think?

[Sgr A]

Matchday 1

Group C
the Martian Independent Republic 2–1 Vdara
Ko-oren 3–0 Wight

 1 Ko-oren                           1   1   0   0   3   0   3   3
 2 the Martian Independent Republic  1   1   0   0   2   1   1   3
 3 Vdara                             1   0   0   1   1   2  -1   0
 4 Wight                             1   0   0   1   0   3  -3   0

Group D
United States of Nova Calania 1–0 Aleirave
Warkus 4–0 United Hawkland

 1 Warkus                            1   1   0   0   4   0   4   3
 2 United States of Nova Calania     1   1   0   0   1   0   1   3
 3 Aleirave                          1   0   0   1   0   1  -1   0
 4 United Hawkland                   1   0   0   1   0   4  -4   0

[Vdara]

Disco Inferno

Rush hour in Chania is not for the faint hearted. Hours of traffic means hours of waiting, meaning hours and hours of radio listenership. This wee guy decided to take a flick through the channels.

”You’re listening to Sisyphus FM, Vdara’s home of non-stop rock.”

[bzzzzt]

“[operatic trilling]”

[bzzzzzzzzzzzzt]

“Noo, whit it is is that he said he shagged my arse that time we went tae see Twilight.”

“Aye.”

“But ah’ve no seen Twilight…”

“Aw naw...”

[bzzzzzzztcrackle]

“Disco is back, Vdara! More back than you’d ever believe!”

[bzzt]

“Don’t try and change the station, we’re on all the stations, baby!”

[bzt]

“Look Up! For the next few weeks, it’s all the disco, all the time!”

The wee guy looked up to see a large sparkly disco ball fwooshing past.

”Are you ready to party, Vdara?”

[bzzzssssshtcracklebzzht]

“I said, are you ready to PAAAAAAARTTTTTTYYYYYYYY?”

The wee guy gave up. “Fuck.”

[The Martian Independent Republic]

Matchday 1, groups A & B

Group A
Sgr A 0–2 Pacitalia
Kimi-Suomi 1–0 Yesopalitha

 1 Pacitalia                         1   1   0   0   2   0   2   3
 2 Kimi-Suomi                        1   1   0   0   1   0   1   3
 3 Yesopalitha                       1   0   0   1   0   1  -1   0
 4 Sgr A                             1   0   0   1   0   2  -2   0

Group B
Flavovespia 4–2 Hanalia
Audioslavia 2–0 Atheara
 1 Flavovespia                       1   1   0   0   4   2   2   3
 1 Audioslavia                       1   1   0   0   2   0   2   3
 3 Hanalia                           1   0   0   1   2   4  -2   0
 3 Atheara                           1   0   0   1   0   2  -2   0

RP prompt (optional, of course) for MD2: Describe a live commentator saying something then very immediately being proven wrong.
The brevity limit will remain the same.

[Sgr A]

"The team can hold their heads up high" said the television commentator as Saggitarius Aian goalkeeper Rayford Duncan picked the ball out of the net for the second time, late in the game against Pacitalia.
"Eleven-time champions, Pacitalia are the greatest side in regional football history".

"Losing is not the end of the world" he added.

And yet, moments later, all the players died, the land on which the stadium stood crumbled into the sea, the oceans evaporated, the atmosphere burned away and the entire planet was destroyed by the death of the sun, which cooled to blackness shortly after.

"Shows what you know, commentator" the black hole might have said, if it had a mouth, free will and willingness to use both for action-movie style post-mortal quipping. It does not, of course. All black holes have is a wildly different sense of time and perspective to the rest of us.

[Flavovespia]

James Molloy was here, the eve of his first game managing Flavovespia, the press conference awaiting. Gone was Victor Adeyemo from the dugout, and the dropping of Anthony Lane and Charles Adams from the squad had raised many eyebrows. Not quite the deep end of a World Cup campaign, but a weight of expectation on Flavovespia and his shoulders, the pressure was on.

But need he have worried? No was the answer. Commentator Steve Harris said it would be a tentative start in the 3rd minute. Paul Doyle clearly didn’t hear him, as he let loose a long range strike to open the scoring. “Nothing tentative about that!” Harris roared down the mic as the shot hit the net. From there, Flavovespia never relinquished the lead. Their football was direct, not the slow, methodical build up play of past, but at least on the evidence of this game, a winning approach.

[Pacitalia]

Foxes fill hole

The Blue Foxes’ search for another regional title got off on the right foot Thursday,
with Pacitalia the victorious side, 2-0 away to co-hosts Sgr A.

Boss hits out: Manager Fernando Silva was unmoved by his side’s effort, saying
the squad must dig even deeper in the two matches to come.

“We played well, but perhaps not enough to win,” he said. “But we’ll take it.”

Three points: The win puts Pacitalia atop Group A on goal difference… for now.

Pub trivia facts: The pair of Pacitalian tallies, coming in the 88th minute and the
3rd minute of stoppage time, are the latest game-deciding goals in national team
history. The Foxes dominated possession, with 72% control through 90 minutes.

Pub trivia bonus: Ismael Sambetto (90’+3) scored his first-ever competitive goal
for his country with a trivela from 30 yards.

[United Hawkland]

Grasmark Post
Since 1932

A generous donation of an undisclosed amount from the wealthy businessman Dmitri Obi, owner of the Grasmark Athletic Complex which has hosted over fifty UHL matches, has ripped the federation out of dormancy and back into international competition.

---

“There’s another reporter in the lobby, Mr. Obi. She wants to know what influenced such a selfless investment.”
“I’m sure she would like to know,” He said, resisting eye contact. “Tell her to leave. I have a flight- well, a portal to catch.”
“Sir-”
Obi grabbed a chain off of his desk and marched out of his office. He stepped into the backseat of his car, giving an address to his chauffeur. He put on the chain and held the locket with an open hand. On it, a photo of his late father.
“We’re going to the football again, dad. Just like we used to.”

[Ko-oren]

"Our biggest problem will be gravity," Theshendan predicted, before Wight heaved the ball into the Ko-orenite box on the kickoff. Ngaikhin gave away a penalty from a foul on the oncoming Saundry. Riot blasted the ball almost into the top bins... (it would've gone in on earth, but on Mars it's clean over the bar). The next 89 minutes consisted of Wight earning 87% possession and the Greenblue defenders clearing the ball, getting incredible airtime, Hiraide and Urwegun chasing projectiles. The offside rule was rendered moot as the strikers waited on their own half, then had enough time to sprint onto the opposing half to receive the ball, which dropped from the sky onto the final third some 20+ seconds after getting booted from the Ko-orenite box.

Do this enough times and you'll score three, apparently. Aenenolin, subbed on for Meigun, scored two, and Suhbugun (on for Andrade) got the third.

[Kimi-Suomi]

The black hole known as Sgr A sent the Huuhkajat to Koroa City for our opening two games.
Up first, Yesopalitha - The Flames of many magical races.
Facing muinainen tulipalo, led by K'rethar and a defence made of iron, we knew this one would be decided by inches.
Luckily for us, fortune allowed Ebba Persson to curl the ball past A'th'l Mik'o'si after only 8 minutes.
That was all we needed, as despite great counter pressure from Qhesserris, Shawn Maloney-Pohojnen held firm in net.
A 1-0 win was our reward, not the flashiest but a win all the same.
Pacitalinen beat the co-hosts 2-0 in the other game, so it will be 1st vs 2nd next up.
Tähän asti kaikki hyvin.
NOSTA KUIN HUUHKAJAT!

---

SCHEDULE/AJOITTAA (Group 1)
MD1: vs Yesopalitha (28) - Exhibition Stadium, Koroa City W 1-0 (2nd)
MD2: vs Pacitalinen [Pacitalinen] (14) - Exhibition Stadium, Koroa City
MD3: vs Sgr A (UR) - Soldaduak Eremuaberria, Izotzazubia

[United States of Nova Calania]

Nova Calania almost scored at the 34th minute when Rose Van der Jagt made a cross to Rodrigo Guénette-Velazquez but Tatyana Yusenika made a fantastic save. This sums up the game so far. Nova Calania has been attacking more often than Aleirave but Yusenika is tremendous in the net. The score at halftime is still 0-0. Mei Qi Xiong dribbles with the ball at the 55th minute when it looks like Piheve Evatene tackled her. Evatene gets a yellow card. Evatene is arguing with the referree, saying Xiong fell by herself. The referree agreed to get assistance from the VAR and, after looking at the replay, it was determined that Xiong indeed fell by herself. The referree gave her her 2nd yellow card of the game and a red card. The score is still 0-0 and the play will resume after the hydration break, a trend started by kids from Space Laser Robot Pirate Land, now even in use at the World Cup.

[The Martian Independent Republic]

"So, Terry, what do you think?"
"Well, Boris, I think this shows that Mars is meeting the challenge of hosting its first ever international football tournament. Some said that our ...unique conditions made this impossible, but I think they've been repudiated tonight."
Thirty seconds later
"This just in, there will be a thirty-minute delay before the start of the second half, due to the magnets underneath the pitch getting misaligned and needing to be fixed."
"When was the last time that happened, Boris?"
"Over four years ago, almost forty games have been played in this stadium since. What matters, though, is that there's an issue in the first game in CAFA 14. Does this prove the doubters right?"
"...No comment."

The match was 2-0 until stoppage time, as Vdara's lone goal came well after a Garamond brace. They were unlucky to not get a draw, but Franquet really skied his penalty.

[Aleirave]

"Maybe they're just not cut out for regionals?"
"I'm not sure how else you can explain it Kalaio. Every time we watch them do well in the World Cup, then they come back to the regional and fall apart. At least Tatyana only let one in."
"Don't you remember when it was the other way 'round? Two 4th places before we finished top half of a qualifying table."
"And it never got better from there did it? Who've they got next, anyway?"
"Warkus. You think they've got this one?"
"Depends on if Haulafo values his job."
"He's not gonna get fired for doing the same as Aleirave always does in a regional. Hell, he's his own boss."
"He's fired himself before."
"No, he kidnapped the team. There's a difference."
"What about the other time?"
"What other time?"
"Eh, it was long ago, can't explain. Another beer, please? Put it on tab."

[IA3x]

Before stoppage time...

"Well, Lawrence, Audioslavia are going to win 2-0 looks like."
"I agree Thom. Horzabath getting injured before half-time was bad. He may sit out a game or two."
"Miltevoch has been solid though. But he's the second choice keeper and Atheara have no more."
"Die Blau Garde have seen worse. But imagine if he gets injured here, would be very bad."
"Who'd play in net? Or do you want to bet Krygorf will start himself in net at 54 years old?"
"Surely not, Thom."

After the whistle...

"Whistle blows! Audioslavia two, Atheara nil... And oh my goodness, seems like Miltevoch is injured."
"Last touch of the match at least, Thom. Looks like he bumped his shoulder to the goalpost making the save."
"Welp... Mugel Krygorf might actually play in net for the remainder of the group stage now."
"Not like they have any other options."
"Called it, then."