Games 449-456 (VEXILLIUM CUP NUROPIA 300) 01-13-301:

IVEFA proudly presents the results from the first rounds played in the Vexillium Cup
Nuropia'300 on January 13, 301:

GROUP A:

The Technical Information

Final score: DEUCOLAND 2 - LENDOSA 5
Played at: Estadio de Resistance, Sansoheil, Deucoland
Attendance: 65,200
Referee: Oelgasson (CAB)
Goals: Sandoz (DEU, 11.), Cassarica (LEN, 20, penalty), Leon (LEN, 31.), Evangelista (DEU,
49.), Kalin (LEN, 64.), Cassarica (LEN, 77.), Cassarica (LEN, 82.)
Yellow cards: Arroz (DEU, 20.), Hernandez (LEN, 40.), Vitovio (LEN, 72.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Carlinguez for Maurinter (DEU, 65.), Duez for Wiegel (DEU, 79.)
MVP: Cassarica (LEN)

LENDOSA SHATTERS DREAMS OF THE HOME TEAM!

The Deucoland Gargoyles were going into this VexCup with very high hopes... playing on
their home turf, they were ready to make the disappointments of the past forgotten, and to
hunt for glory.  However, they ran straight from the starting blocks into a wall... a wall
named Lendosa!  The visitors from the Western Isles were most impressive, tossing up the
very tough group A even more.  If they play like they did today, Namuria will have their
hands full to advance!  Cassarica scored a very nice hattrick, albeit with one goal coming
from a penalty after a foul from Elke.  The Deucos went up 1-0 first, but were chasing the
Lendosans ever thereafter.  When they pulle deven again early in the second half, things
still looked hopeful, but the guests then turned up the heat considerably, not leaving the
home team much room to maneuver.  Lendosa aggressively took the second half over, and
Cassarica once again proved why he is considered one of the best in the Westermarc Satosan
Supremeship.  A clear win for Lendosa, who will now face a major showdown with Namuria for
the top spot in group A!

<TECH> I never like secondary teams knocking out primary teams, and fortunately, this time
Lendosa left no doubt - too bad that group A is so crowded with strong teams ;-)</TECH>
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GROUP B:

The Technical Information

Final score: CABOTENIASA 4 - GUWIMITH 0
Played at: International Speedway Arena, Ayrtona, Deucoland
Attendance: 49,600
Referee: Lova (LOM)
Goals: Bohlin (CAB, 41.), Fjortskank (CAB, 44.), Saari (CAB, 55, penalty), Bohlin (CAB,
61.)
Yellow cards: Ohlson (CAB, 27.), Sergushka (GUW, 34.), Morol (CAB, 67.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Balanda for Prostokisha (GUW, 50.)
MVP: Bohlin (CAB)

CABOTENIASA SURPRISINGLY DOMINANT!

The pundits had a tough time calling this match before hand, as the two teams on paper
looked basically equal.  But the match would turn out anything BUT equal.  Well, at first,
the teams were carefully testing each other, and no goals were scored until late in the
half.  Caboteniasa no doubt got a huge boost, however, as they scored two goals in 3
minutes just before the break, which all of a sudden put them 2 up before the second
half.  Bohlin was like lighning, and the Caboteniasan midfield clicked.  The Smallickans
kept their momentum coming out of the locker rooms in the second half, pulling ahead 4-0,
and basically demoralizing the Guwimithans, who could find no answers in their defense
during these fateful 25 minutes of the match.  Up 4-0, the Caboteniasans then laid low for
the remainder of the match, Guwimith just wanted to hear the final whistle and get off the
field.  Playing like this, can Caboteniasa challenge Eastern Zartania for the group win?
We shall see!

<TECH> A real upset, GUW was +3, but lost the numebrs game .921-.044!! </TECH>

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GROUP C:

The Technical Information

Final score: WESTERMARC 1 - OOST-OTAGO 0
Played at: Apollon Arena, Mayerantritzpoort, Westria
Attendance: 77,200
Referee: Klank (WUH)
Goals: Bulunghia (WMC, 77.)
Yellow cards: Adelbert (OOO, 22.), Russ (OOO, 61.), Hoffnig (OOO, 69.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Ng for Sangarat (WMC, 45.), Torrent for Zipf (OOO, 79.)
MVP: Kimmeltirk (OOO)

IS WESTERMARC IN TROUBLE??

No matter what coach Chekkor may say after this match, the they were taking it easy in
this match, that they were playing a weaker formation, saving their stars for the bigger
opponents, etc. - this one was WAAAY to close for comfort, as the Desert Rats were most
impressively holding the IVEFA Titleholders off until late in the game, keeping the match
wide open with a very clever forechecking strategy that almost netted them a most
improbable draw!  Surprise star of the match was Otagan midfield stalwart Ingemar
Kimmeltirk, who organized the forechecking advance most effectively, and left the highly
rated Serpent midfielders in the dust more times than one.  The Rats' efforts would remain
unrewarded, however, to the greatest relief of the most populated Dominion of the Realm,
when Bulunghia FINALLY managed to break through with a double pass with Ng, hitting the
far corner to beat Sibbel, who himself had held several great saves to keep the game
scoreless until then... Oost-Otago did not have that much of an offensive prowess to
strike back at the end, so Westermarc held on to win narrowly 1-0, surely a
disappointment.  Bulunghia said after the match: "Let's just take our three points, and
get the hell out of here" as he ran back to the showers.  Westermarc will have to do much
better against the more experienced Estontetsans and get their act together if they want
to make any impact in this VexCup.

<TECH> WMC got an incredibly crap number here, this one was close, despite +6 odds!</TECH>

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GROUP D:

The Technical Information

Final score: ARMATIRION 4 - AFRAZURE 0
Played at: Kikongawa Stadium, Kikongawa, Niokolo Koba
Attendance: 36,200
Referee: Phillipps (UTA)
Goals: Latta (ARM, 9.), Cunliffe (ARM, 19.), Cunliffe (ARM, 39.), Southworth (ARM, 70.)
Yellow cards: Greyner (ARM, 32.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Southworth for Cunliffe (ARM, 45.)
MVP: Southworth (ARM)

ARMATIRION MOST IMPRESSIVE IN CLEAR WIN!

One of the favorites in this VexCup (as usual), Armatirion did little to hurt their
reputation by disposing of the physically superb Afrazure.  Cunliffe once again scored
big, but it was Southworth who replaced him in the second half, who stole the show by not
only scoring a beautiful goal falling backwards with his back to the goal, kicking over
his head, but also by saving on the line not once, but twice, when the Afrazurean attacks
had already beaten goalie Fern to the ground.  Afrazure was very strong with their running
games, and looked as fresh after the game as before, but were lacking technical prowess,
and effectiveness from standard situations, an area where the Armatirians shine in
particular, having practiced together as a team perhaps five times as much as their
opponents.  The Kikongawa Stadium, just miles from the Armatirion border, was totally sold
out, also adding to the Armatirion cause.  Should be an interesting showdown with Somery
for the group win!

<TECH>ARM +6 in the odds, no trouble for the favorites in this match</TECH>
 

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GROUP E:

The Technical Information

Final score: LEXICON ISLANDS 4 - LOMBRIGA 0
Played at: The Spectatorium, Kirvani, Westria
Attendance: 51,100
Referee: Senger (DRA)
Goals: Eckin (LEX, 20.), Dibris (LEX, 25.), Filentoz (LEX, 55.), Liller (LEX, 66.)
Yellow cards: Kunappa (LOM, 29.), Estonarios (LEX, 53.), Meridion (LOM, 63.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Zeiggerling for Hrendy (LOM, 45.), Filentoz for Lexico (LEX, 45.), Hampel
for Komp (LEX, 45.), Daldurrao for Meridion (LOM, 70.)
MVP: Liller (LEX)

PERFECT TUNE-UP FOR LEXICON ISLANDS!

Lombriga was clearly out of their league in this match against the two-time VexCup
finalists, who already look good to make it to the finals once again!  Playing some of
their veterans, the Vikings were always in control, giving the Rams little to none ball
contact, and basically shutting them out of the game.  In fact, the Rams rarely made it
into their opponent's half, they simply did not have a recipe against their superior
opponents.  Lexicon will probably face a little stiffer opposition by their other
opponents in group E, Phenixia, but experts already predict that they will go far once
again in this year's VexCup!

<TECH>No surprises, LEX up +5</TECH>

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GROUP F:

The Technical Information

Final score: ISLANDIA 2 - SOLANCHATKA 1
Played at: Grand Altanyika Stadium, Semithurn, Deucoland
Attendance: 57,100
Referee: Schwarzenberg (ALB)
Goals: Duran (SCK, 39.), Eyjolfsson (ISL, 79.), Eyjolfsson (ISL, 88.)
Yellow cards: Tordarsson (ISL, 21.), Flautenge (SCK, 30.), Jonsson (ISL, 64.), Hradilek
(SCK, 84.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Sarrez-Aziro for Placidy (SCK, 60.), Sigurgeirsson for Williamsson (ISL,
82.)
MVP: Eyjolfsson (ISL)

ISLANDIA FIGHTS BACK TO WIN GOOD MATCH!

A thrilling match with much action saw Solanchatka take the lead in the first half, and
then trying their best to save their narrow advantage til the end for a narrow win.  They
darn near pulled it off, too... and it took Islandia's biggest international star, the
previous top scorer in the Vexillium Cup CD'98...  Eyjolfsson!  To take Islandia past the
Strikers very late in the game with two great goals that totally changed the complexion of
the match.  For the longest time, it looked like Solanchatka would hang on, despite some
close calls.  But Islandia took heart, and overpowered their opponents in the late going.
It was not just Eyjolfsson who engineered the victory, he had help from Petursson and
Sigurgeirsson, who impressed after being brought in by the coach to replace the rather
lackluster Williamsson.  Eyjolfsson just  put the final accents on by scoring both goals.
A good motivating win for Islandia, who seem to be well on the way to regaining their
former good form.  Can they challenge Eastern Delgamia for the group win??

<TECH>Bad numbers for Islandia - I was hoping the Penguins would take a clear win ;-)
</TECH>

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GROUP G:

The Technical Information

Final score: BOWDANI 3 - TIGER CONFEDERACY 0
Played at: Cirque des Crowns, Cronenbourgh, Westria
Attendance: 68,400
Referee: Tofftsson (EAI)
Goals: Killehal (BOW, 6.) Ioe (BOW, 32.), Salengar (BOW, 62.)
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Salengar for Marn (BOW, 45.), Buella for Snorrelia (TIG, 45.)
MVP: Punneratau (BOW)

TIGERS NO MATCH FOR TUNED BOWDANIANS!

Other than the host nations, is there a country more hyped about the Vexillium Cup this
year than Bowdani?  Just having put behind themselves a very bad civil war, the Bowdanians
were obviously eager to get their minds off the past few months and focus on a national
passion... the game of soccer!  Bowdani once again is caught between triumph and
catastrophe... with great wins in the last VexCup, but the crushing defeat against
football dwarfs Extremo, they have tasted both, sweet and bitter, in short succession,
like they do so often!  Today, however, Bowdani was once again back at their best!  The
Tigers essentially ineffective against the Bowdani steamroll, which left no doubts as to
who was the boss on the moss.  Sanji Punneratau, although he did not score himself, was
the man who staged the Bowdanian offense fromt he midfield, and assisted in each of the
goals himself.  Bowdani must now overcome Albion-Merite for the group win.  Finally, the
media in Bowdani has a joyful event to report once more.  Let's hope that they can avoid
their notorious form fluctuations this time!

<TECH>Bowdani is as well prepared as anyone in this tournament, and were actually unlucky
not to get a better number - a 5-0 would have been very possible here.</TECH>

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GROUP H:

The Technical Information

Final score: EASTERN ISLANDS 2 - WEST UHLAN 3
Played at: Grand Harbor Stadium, Haavenhuus, Deucoland
Attendance: 24,600
Referee: Vanderkippe (OOO)
Goals: Ibsen (EAI, 40.), Kautschucka (WUH, 55.), Alvarez (WUH, 59.), Tobiasen (EAI, 79.),
Santanelle (WUH, 84.)
Yellow cards: Pedersen (EAI, 27.), Yi (WUH, 49.), Amalga (WUH, 72.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: none
MVP: Subicacleta (WUH)

WEST UHLAN PREVAILS IN REALLY CLOSELY MATCHED MATCH!

This one could have gone either way... a seesaw match with lots of possession changes,
interesting, if not at a high niveau, this match was perhaps the closest of all.  Both
teams went in without fear, but also without much strategy.  The impromptu exchanges which
resulted were fun to watch, it is a shame that only under 25,000 spectators made their way
to this match, which lacked the pulling power of a major star team.  The few who came,
were wholly satisfied with the match, however.  Unless, of course, they were disappointed
fans of the Eastern Islands team.  Man of the match was Uhlahnian goalie Subicacleta, who
had several incredible saves, and even held a penalty shot by Pedersen... his heroics made
all the difference in this close match!

<TECH>EAI was up in the odds +3 thanks to the statement, but WUH lucked out with a nice
.804 to still win... close one!</TECH>