Games 250 to 256 (WZ'99 Vexillium Cup), 01-15-300:

Game 250: Namuria - Lamb's Cove:
 
 The Technical Information:

Final score: NAMURIA 1 - LAMB'S COVE 0
Played in: Solidarity Road, Crean, Whitlam
Attendance: 40,640
Referee: Wei-Chun Benzhin (Westermarc)
Goals: Ebropa (NAM, 89th, pen)
Yellow cards: Nokgh (NAM, 14th), Wooten (LCP, 20th), R. Greene (LCP, 44th), Kardas (NAM, 55th), M. Greene (LCP, 69th)
Red cards: Wooten (LCP, 88th)
Substitutions: Druvolan for Gandarro (NAM, 50th), Bausher for Bass (LCP, 52nd), Vabasta for Muthras (NAM, 88th)

I Can't Imagine How Oliver Wooten Feels Right Now...

What was destined to be an aggressive but goal-less draw from the opening whistle was desecrated in the final minutes of the game, through a very nasty tackle, inside Lamb's Cove's 18 yard box.

Before the game, anybody who was not blinded by patriotism would have put their money on Namuria. The Golden Eagles were simply classier than the Covers, from what had been seen. But Namuria was a new nation, and Lamb's Cove had been around a hell of a lot longer.

>From the first whistle of the Westermarcian referee, both teams played down and dirty, not being afraid to do the hard tackles. That collectively resulted in three yellow cards in the first half, but despite the teams' aggressive play, neither side could convert chances to goals.

Five minutes after half time Namuria's Coach Nazgalar swapped a couple of midfielders, #6, Ledrige Druvolan, for #16, Reius Gandarro, because Gandarro wasn't playing up to scratch. Jake Livingston, however, ever the tactician, replied in kind with another midfield swap, this time from his team. Number 4, Nelson Bass, came off in favour of number 22, Kevin Bausher.

Two yellow cards and thirty-two minutes later, the disaster struck. Number 0 for the Covians, Oliver Wooten, did a definite red card tackle on Voodor Muthras, inside the 18 yard box. If the referee had any doubts that the tackle wasn't deserving of a red card on its own, Oliver Wooten had a previous yellow card from the first half, and on top of that, Muthras was injured, and it looks likely that he will sit on the bench for the rest of the tournament. Benzhin sent Wooten off, and Coach Nazgalar brought on Midre Vabasta to replace the injured player.

Owfo Ebropa was elected to take the penalty for his team, and he definitely realised the significance of the penalty. Not that he showed it. The Namurian fans, the 20,000 of them in the stadium, all were silenced, and the noise level reduced in half. The pressure was so tight that it could have been the climax scene of a bad Dizne movie about a soccer team. All that was needed was Ebropa to shoot the penalty in slow motion.

But it was over so quickly, most fans not even realising he had taken the shot off until it was in the back of the net. The Namurian fans made the biggest racket in the history of rackets, and there were only 20,000 of them. One would have to think of what the racket would be like if that happened in their massive stadium in Argaal.

Namuria comes away with the three points, and they play West Uhlan on this coming Friday. Lamb's Cove comes away with nothing, and they have to win their game against West Uhlan on Tuesday and hope Namuria loses theirs in order to advance. Even if that scenario happened, they'd still have to rely on goal difference.

The Technical Information:

Final score: DRACONIA 5 - AFRAZURE ALTLANDIQUE 0
Played in: The Battleground, Nomar, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 76,000
Referee: Lenni Besecki (Lexicon Islands)
Goals: Renshky (DRA, 18th), Wentworth (DRA, 34th), McNoughty (DRA, 53rd, pen), Renshky (DRA, 70th), Reversi (DRA, 88th)
Yellow cards: Strike (DRA, 25th), Fetlala, (AFA, 34th), Nagouma (AFA, 43rd), Heimanzos (DRA, 47th), Telakah (AFA, 53rd)
Substitutions: Telakah for Abdullah (AFA, 45th), Previnsky for Reversi (DRA, 45th), Malawani for Bestul (AFA, 55th), Brokesney for Quiglum (DRA, 75th)

Yet Another "No Surprises" Game

Afrazure Altlandique got the copping that everybody expected them to receive today, but the Draconians didn't look like they were playing at their full potential.

As the game was getting into the opening phases, the Draconian fans who had travelled east were disappointed with the standard of play, the consensus was. They were beating Afrazure without even trying, being totally complacent. Although Afrazure never had a chance, Draconia wasn't playing to win and win well. One could have thought that the score could have been 10-0 if the Pirates were trying.

A re-cap of the goals is in order:
The first goal by Zachariah Renshky was the result of some fancy passing from midfield up to the goal, and then a low screamer into the net.
The second goal by Bernard Wentworth was a free kick shot, on the edge of the 18 yard box about 10 feet to the right of the centre. The ball curved around the wall before easily beating Abdul Oufkir, who was on the other side of the goal to begin with.
The third goal was a penalty which came off a Hosni Telakah yellow card inside the 18 yard box. Fleance McNoughty was elected to take it, and he slotted it in dead centre as Abdul Oufkir dived to the left.
The fourth goal was Zachariah Renshky's second, a diving header off a low corner from William Quiglum, into the bottom corner, easily past Oufkir.
And the final goal was by the substitute George Reversi, who had taken a shot but Oufkir got a hand to it. Reversi, however, picked up his own rebound, and didn't make the same mistake twice. Five-nil to the Pirates.

Afrazure Altlandique takes on Ordland in Madisonia in the evening of Tuesday the 18th. Draconia takes on Ordland next Friday in Claw Anchorage. If they win that game, they will progress to the playoffs, where they are likely to meet either Eastern Delgamia or Begral.

Final score: SAN PATRICIO 5 - GUWIMITH 0
Played in: Henry Duraq Stadium, Eastharbor, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 68,000
Referee: Ivo Jarsendar (Namuria)
Goals: Fernández (SPA, 20th), Fernández (SPA, 21st), Khaled (SPA, 26th), McGillicuddy (SPA, 29th), Madyarbanya (SPA, 33rd)
Yellow cards: Znaichichik (GUW, 39th), Kraichin (GUW, 77th)
Red cards: Grigor'eva (GUW, 11th)
Substitutions: Madyarbanya for Smith-Jones (SPA, 11th), Szembathy for McSweeney (SPA, 45th), T. Feodora for Ankudinov (GUW, 45th), Polonovsk for Zarubezhanin (GUW, 76th)

¡Gu gu! ¡Gu gu! ¡Las Águilas Fueron Abajo y Bu-Ju-Ju!

All the chanting by the Puertobravonian fans as the players were sent off must have really inspired the Flying Saints for today's game against the Guwimith Eagles. But unfortunately for the fans who made the trip out to Eastern Zartania, most of the game was fútbol bovino.

Before the game, very few people who didn't have affections for either side were sure what the outcome would be. Guwimith was filled with some class players, however San Patricio had been seen in action, but not for a long time.

The match kicked off and the game was methodical for the first eleven minutes until the moment that was just noted as 'That Foul'. One of the Eagles' defenders, Zhorah Grigor'eva, did the most horrendous tackle on Roberto Smith-Jones. Not only was it from behind, but Grigor'eva also seemed to hook his foot upwards and do some damage to areas that best be left unspoken. Smith-Jones was injured in the tackle, which if referee Jarsendar could, would have given Zhorah Grigor'eva ten red cards for. Smith-Jones hobbled in pain off the pitch, to be replaced by Mathiasz Madyarbanya. Grigor'eva stormed off the pitch after absolutely psyching up at the referee. The 'hijo ardiente de una bruja', as he was called, stormed out of the ground. He packed up his things, got out of the stadium, called a cab, and got to the airport. He caught a flight to Gough, and then a flight to Guwimith City, where he retreated to his home, already battered by the stones that had been thrown at it.

Nine minutes after that, the San Patricians drew first blood. It was José Luís Fernández, nicknamed by the fans as "Tres Acentos", who found a wafer-thin gap between defenders, through which he could score a goal from fifteen yards out. One nil up.

And only 57 seconds later he did it again, in almost exactly the same spot. Remarkable, and the Sanpatrician fans were cheering their heads off. Two nil.

We all know that once the San Patricians start on a roll, it's pretty hard to stop them, and that was proven. Abdul Khaled, dedicated member of Mauretanian and Sanpatrician sides in the past, scored his first of the tournament, a ripper that nearly knocked Vasyenka Zbroslao unconscious, and would have done, if Zbroslao hadn't put up his hand to block it. Trouble was, it deflected off his hand and into the back of the net.

Not long after that, Julio McGillicuddy was credited for a goal that shouldn't have been his, the replays showed, but the Saints didn't care. Alejandro McSweeney had taken a corner kick. His corner kick was quite low, and it curved around. Lucky for him, the Eagles had made the suicidal mistake of leaving the near post open. The ball curved inside to the goal, and went inside the goal, from McSweeney's corner. McGillicuddy's foot got a touch of the ball after it had crossed the goal-line into the goal, and that's how he was credited with it. But one of the all time brilliant corner kicks if ever there was a competition.

The final goal of the match was by Mathiasz Madyarbanya, the substitute who came on to replace the injured-cum-impotent Roberto Smith-Jones. His goal was also from a McSweeney corner, except there was no doubt that he scored the goal, a header which easily went past Vasyenka Zbroslao, and sent the Saints' fans into delerium. Five nil after only thirty-three minutes of play, but that was how it would remain.

In about the sixtieth minute, the San Patrician fans were getting restless from the lack of goals. But few of them had thought to bring any milk to show their displeasure. They thought it would never happen. So a trio of crafty San Patrician fans worked as a team at the refreshments bar inside the stadium. One fan would distract the counter assistant by buying a large order full of complicated items that required time to produce. The other two would then enter the shop unnoticed and haul out as many boxes of the mini-pats of milk, normally used as condiments with Kukurian Koffée, as they could. That netted them an ample supply of milk, with which to bombard the unfortunate Guwimith goal-keeper, who was the closest player to the enclosure with the Sanpatrician fans.

Anyway, the fans had a gay old time anyway, and the Saints were very happy with the result: A five nil win.

Guwimith plays Solelhada next, and after that, the Saints get their turn against the Red Devils.

Final score: DAVENPORT 6 - TIGER CONFEDERACY 1
Played in: Erste Communications Stadium, Beazley, Whitlam
Attendance: 52,890
Referee: Wilfrid Astnehmer (Westria)
Goals: Harbour (DAV, 3rd), Rénard (DAV, 16th), Harbour (DAV, 34th),
Brasfort (DAV, 44th), Ernesto Bonoduro (TIG, 47th), Gaspé (DAV, 65th),
Brasfort (DAV, 68th)
Yellow cards: Gaspé (DAV, 29th), Slajmbaja (TIG, 81st)
Substitutions: J. Luande for Cuatro (TIG, 45th), Sunslibareta for
Braneja (TIG, 45th)

SWEET VICTORY FOR DAVENPORT IN OPENING GAME ROUT

The Davenport Men in Royal returned to the international soccer stage
this afternoon for their first game since their 4-3 loss to West Uhlan
in November in Smalik Shootout II.  And the almost two months of hard
practice and careful preparation since that day paid off in today's 6-1
win over the Tiger Confederacy in the first game of pool play in Group 1
of VexCup '99.

Both teams entered today's game after a hiatus following their
respective exits from Smalik Shootout II.  Coming into the VexCup, most
announcers and odds-makers placed these two teams on a relatively even
par.  Though Davenport has more of a soccer history, they had begun to
slip the past few games, giving the fledgeling Tiger Confederacy's team
a chance to catch up.

But Davenport coach Bruce Darena shattered all of those myths when his
Men in Royal opened the game with a fast-hammering offense that brushed
aside the stunned Tigers' defense to score a goal within the first three
minutes!  Jean Harbour added to his team-leading goal tally with a
pretty floater that went right past goalie Braneja's fingertips and into
the upper left corner of the net.

That goal set the pace for the rest of the half.  Davenport's
midfielders only allowed the ball back into the defense four times in
the first half.  The front three for the Men In Royal made good use of
their ball time and their skills to practically run circles around the
Tigers' defense.  Rénard quickly added a second goal to Davenport's
total, slipping past Tiger defender Boang to send a bullet whizzing past
the goalie's ear and into the net.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers got their best chance for a goal yet,
as Davenport midfielder Claude Gaspé was given a yellow card for a
dangerous slide tackle from behind with spikes raised.  Franco Bandena
took the direct kick, but it was snagged just outside the goal by a
diving Jeremiah Dooley.  With the Tiger threat passed, the Men In Royal
continued their offensive romp with Harbour scoring his second goal of
the day off a header, and Brasfort scoring just before the halftime gun
on a pass from Rénard.  As the teams headed off the field for halftime,
the mostly Davenportian crowd roared its approval of the 4-0 lead.

The second half began with changes on the Tigers' side, as coach Colonel
Majario Candidende replaced defender Alaxso Cuatro with veteran Jorge
Luande, and goalie Timo Braneja was replaced with Andronetti
Sunslibareta.  The changes appeared to do some good for the Tigers, who
opened the second half with a new spark of energy.  As forward Franco
Bandena raced down Davenport's right sideline with the ball, defender
Dov Sherman moved to the attack.  A quick fake inside left Sherman
standing alone, Bandena and the ball racing on behind him.  Coughlan,
seeing his beleaguered teammate get duped, moved to cover the hole,
taking himself horribly out of position in the process.  Bandena placed
a beautiful pass into the vacant center spot where fellow forward
Ernesto Bonoduro booted it past Dooley for the score.

But that was the Tigers' only bright spot, as the Men In Royal retook
the offensive.  Gaspé and Brasfort scored back-to-back goals in the 65th
and 68th minutes to put the cap on the outrageous scoring frenzy.  With
a lead of 6-1, Darena seemed to be willing to let his team relax some
and remain on the defensive.  True to his word, however, he left all
eleven of his starts in for the whole 90 minutes.  Tempers flared
briefly as the game neared its end, however.  Tiger midfielder Marco
Slajmbaga was given a yellow card for trying to start a fight with
Harbour, yelling "Don't toy with us!"  When the final gun sounded, the
roar of the crowd was almost too loud for the players on the field to
hear each other.

Having redeemed themselves somewhat in the eyes of their countrymen and
the world, the Davenport Men In Royal get the week off until their
Friday game against Islandia at Henry Duraq Stadium in Eastharbor,
Eastern Zartania.  The Tiger Confederacy Tigers, meanwhile, move on to
Cazniev in Eastern Zartania to play the Islandian team on Tuesday,
January 18, at 7:30PM at SF Memorial Stadium.  The Tigers will be
looking for redemption after today's loss, while the Islandians look to
open their VexCup play with a win to equal this afternoon's performance
by Davenport.

Final score: WESTERMARC 2 - 0 SOUTH BAY
Played in: Revolution Park, Chifley
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Vaghel Faltuunhe (Eastern Delgamia)
Goals: Singhraj (WMC, 21), Nikkei (WMC, 72pen)
Yellow cards: Spenner (SBY, 32), Nixon (SBY, 43), Blake (SBY, 52),
Deveng (WMC, 62) Blake (SBY, 81)
Red cards: Blake (SBY, 81)
Substitutions: Tibalt for Neferam (WMC, 46), Saabah for Nikkei (WMC,
82).

NIKKEI DOWN, GOES UP AGAIN.

It really was a game of missed chances for the South Bay Tigers, who
were able to disrupt the Westermarcian side on a regular basis. However,
the professionalism and experience of the Serpents showed through,
giving them a 2-0 victory, despite the scare South Bay put into them.

South Bay went out to play a spoiling game, putting the ball out on
regular occasions, back passing to the 'keeper when it wasn't exactly
needed, and needling the Westermarcian players wherever possible to put
them off their game. It seemed as though the South Bay team realised
they needed to disrupt their opposition if they were any chance of
winning the game, and certainly won the mental battle, coupling it with
a good running game.

The first goal came in the 21st minute after a strong and structured
game, with the Tigers able to keep up with their opponents in playing
their game. However, after a swift and strong movement starting with
Singhraj, Westermarc's "Tree Of Man", South Bay abandoned any attempts
to keep up with the big boys. With a strong run down the flank, and
rapid passing, Westermarc were able to completely take the South Bay
defense by surprise, practically leaving the midfield standing on the
half way line scratching their heads. As Gueyga put in a cross from the
right wing to put a cap on the attacking raid, Singraj appeared from
nowhere to put a diving header in from the far post, leaving the South
Bay 'keeper William Lochnar sprawled in the goal mouth in a crumpled
heap.

This blistering display sparked the change of game from South Bay,
seemingly bent on preventing what could have been a slaughter, and they
were successful in doing it. They were also able to create a lot of
chances through their hard play, and were denied by the post once after
a shot from O'Connell, and then by the crossbar by a rocket from Kenshin
from just outside the area, which had the 'Keeper caught hopelessly out
of position.

However, this is not to say that Westermarc weren't solid when they were
on attack, but their style of game did not suit dealing with the style
of game the Tigers were employing. At the same time, the Tigers were
tidy in defence, and have shown some fine skills which will auger well
for the future. The performance by Jack Shelby in the midfield was
comforting, and several times he out did Kirin, making Kirin look like
he was drunk through superior dribbling and ball skills.

The defining moment came in the 71st minute with Nikkei going down in
the box after a heavy challenge from Blake, who was sent off for his
troubles, after recieving his second yellow card. Nikkei remained on the
turf as Blake recieved his penalty from the officials, rising to simply
drop the penalty shot into the bottom left, before being replaced by
Saabah. Nikkei's condition is not clear at the moment, but it looks as
though he may have a minor head injury.

South Bay continued on their attacking ways for the last remaining
minutes, with the Westermarcians seemingly using the game as a fierce
trial, because at 2-0 and with South Bay tiring quickly, they were never
headed.

The ball of the bounce went with South Bay today, successfully dictating
terms to their opponents, but it didn't translate into goals.

Final score: DASCUNYA 2 - 3 DJERIGA
Played in: Zartlam Oil Stadium, Guwimith City
Attendance: 57,000
Referee: Ingemar Hatt (Brolecia)
Goals: Shirazhoud (DJR, 26), Decker (DAS, 32), Nafudd (DJR, 46), Diva
(DAS,63), Ahladdin (DJR, 81).
Yellow cards: Zairul (DJR, 30), Puig-Vilarsach (DAS, 42), Olinheb (DJR,
81), Van Enerbad (DAS, 81).
Red cards: NONE.
Substitutions: Balharjjran for Kaveer (DJR, 57), Al-Fhuli for Azizabad
(DJR, 70),  Meraldi for Van Enerbad (DAS, 81).

MOUN'S WILL IS DONE!

Djeriga triumphed in Guwimith City in the first upset of the tournament,
knocking the Dascunyans over 3 goals to 2, but not before what some
called divine intervention at the hands of Moun.

It may come to a surprise as many, but the Djerigans put up a great
show, and would have most likely have won the match if it wasn't for the
"hand of Moun."

A seagull took centre stage and upstaged the football which had, until
the 80th minute been a fine display from the gutsy Djerigan team,
seemingly going easy on the preaching on field for once. Dascunya was
severly out of practice and form, and were dominated on the pitch by the
Djerigans, staying competative only through their experience. Trading
goals with the Djerigans for most of the game, the Dascunyans were sunk
by an unfortunate incident occuring from a free kick.

The Dascunyan defender, Van Enerbad became involved in a bit of a legal
barging match with Olinheb, during a Djerigan attacking raid about 30
metres out. Van Enerbad's temper wore out and he shoved Olinheb over,
right in front of the referee, earning him a yellow card, and giving the
Djerigans a free kick. Furious, he was quickly hauled away by team
mates, and was replaced.

Ahladdin, the Djerigan forward was to take the free kick for the
Djerigans, and made it pretty obvious that he was going for a strike on
goal, rather than a tactical shot.

He placed the ball down, and lined his shot up. Traüp, the Dascunyan
'Keeper was positioned, and the defence was ready for deflections. As
Ahladdin lined his shot up, a flock of seagulls up the other end, who
had taken the time to rest in the Djerigan half of the field were scared
off by the Djerigan 'Keeper, Muthannak, flying away to get up and out of
the stadium. It was at this precise time that Ahladdin struck his shot,
which was heading to the top left corner. Traüp was prepared for it and
was moving to tip the ball over the bar, having read the play perfectly,
but was left stranded as the curving shot clipped a seagull, sending the
bird spiralling to the ground, and the ball in the bottom right hand
corner of the net!

Ingemar Hatt, the Brolecian referee awarded the goal, and the Djerigan
fans went wild, as the Dascunyans went mad, rushing to the sideline to
talk with their coach. The Djerigans quickly picked up the stunned bird,
which had immediately become a national hero. For several minutes they
praised the bird as "living proof of Moun's will", before handing it to
a team manager for safe keeping.

Getting back on with the game several minutes later, the Dascunyans had
been sunk. Their morale was terrible after such a heart breaking moment,
and they were unable to pull the goal back, giving the victory to
Djeriga, 3 to 2.

It is understood that the seagull is being kept in the Djerigan hotel,
is in good health, and is being looked after well. The Djerigan fans are
already distributing t-shirts with the below image on them.

Final score: CHRISTIANA 4 - ALTLAND 3
Played in: SF Memorial Stadium, Cazniev, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 75,762
Referee: Jacques Jeanfranc (Davenport)
Goals: Ros (ALT, 12th), Edwardson (CHR, 20th), Andersen (CHR, 37th),
Desuz (ALT, 42nd), Peltmon (ALT, 53rd), Nolan (CHR, 69th), Edwardson
(CHR, 81st)
Yellow cards: None
Substitutions: Desuz for Nevil (ALT, 26th), Burton for Sullivan (CHR,
34th), Monaigh for Harrison (CHR, 55th)

CHRISTIANA KNIGHTS TAKE GROUP 8 OPENER IN STYLE

It was Altland's misfortune, you might say, that they were fated to play
their first international soccer game against the reigning VexCup '98
champions: the Christiana Knights.  But, with all due credit to the
Altlanders, they looked as though they'd been playing internationally
for the past four or five years.  In the end, though, Christiana's
experience won out.

The game opened rather cautiously for both teams.  Altland, with a brand
new team, was unwilling to really risk exposing its defense and goal to
the Knights' well-known offensive prowess.  By the same token,
Christiana was unwilling to allow this bunch of relative unknowns to
take a shot at their own defense, remembering well their last game: a
3-1 drubbing in the July VexGames at the hands of the newcomers from
Eastern Delgamia.  Not wanting to risk another fatal mistake, Christiana
played a careful game of short, controlled passes.  That is, until
Altland defender Enric Nargal managed to finagle the ball away from
Christiana's Harrison and boot it upfield to a waiting Tomas Nevil.  The
forward, notable for his speed and agility, ducked in and out of
Christiana's midfielders and defenders, finally crossing it to fellow
forward Armand Ros, who took the shot from five yards out and nailed
it.  The crowd at SF Memorial Stadium was stunned, almost into silence.
The Altland team, practically nobodies, has drawn first blood against
the reigning VexCup champs!  But the rising cheers from the 34,000-stong
Altlandic crowd confirmed that they were indeed on hand.

The Knights themselves were stunned, but not for long.  Eight short
minutes later, forward Andersen deftly tapped the ball between the legs
of defender Manuel Pin, where it was taken by Edwardson and sent
screaming into the goal with such force that goalie Carl Castellan
barely had time to look for it.  Now tied 1-1, both teams began to
settle into more of a rhythm.  The Knights were now convinced that they
could score, and the Altlandic team's training began to take over for
them.  Unfortunately for Altland, though, coach Noël Farrar was been
forced to replace forward Tomas Nevil with Eduard Desuz when Nevil
suffered a twisted ankle.  Offensive coach Arnaut Beltran said after the
game that Nevil's injury "doesn't look too bad.  I think he'll be able
to play Tuesday."

Christiana's Andersen scored next on a penalty shot in the 37th minute.
Altland defender Pin epitomized his team's newness to the game with an
unthinking handball in the penalty box.  Said Pin after the game, "That
was just plain stupid of me."  Castellan had little chance against a
power kicker like Andersen, who put the ball neatly into the lower right
corner of the net.

With the clock winding down to halftime now, Altland took to the mission
of scoring like madmen.  Passes crisscrossed the field as Altland's
front three tried to penetrate Christiana's defenses.  Desuz finally
found the weakness when he managed to slip past defender Burton, who had
recently entered the game for the sluggish Sullivan.  With Burton
disposed of, Desuz went one-on-one with goalie Jorgensen, practically
dribbling the ball right into the goal after faking out Jorgensen.

With the score at halftime tied up 2-2, the excitement in the stadium
was palpable.  Practically no one left their seats for refreshments,
anticipating the return of the two teams.  Their was a universal,
roaring cheer from the fans when the two teams returned to the field for
the second half, both looking excited and ready to play.

The second half opened with a virtual repeat of the first half.  Both
teams played cautiously for the first few minutes, unwilling to trust
the other side.  Altland's midfielder Pal Peltmon finally got a
breakaway pass from fellow midfielder Eustatz Aur, and took it down the
sideline.  Peltmon managed to slip past two Christiana defenders before
lofting the ball over Jorgensen's head and into the net for the lead.

With his team back in possession of the ball, Christiana's coach put in
forward Monaigh for Harrison in an attempt to breathe some new life into
the seemingly sputtering offense.  Harrison was visibly unhappy about
the switch, but seemed to take it in stride, waving and smiling to some
of the fans from the bench afterward.  The switch apparently worked for
the Knights.  In the 69th minute, midfielder Nolan took a throw-in from
Monaigh and dribbled it nearly 20 yards before shooting it past the
goalie's outflung arms and into the goal.

With the score tied again at 3-3 and only 20 minutes left in the half,
both teams switched into high gear.  The defenses ruled the game for the
next several minutes, as neither team's offense could find quite the
right combination to score.  Finally, though, Monaigh took a throw-in
near midfield and dribbled it down the sideline before passing it toward
the center.  Edwardson took the soaring cross with a header, placing it
squarely in the net for his second score of the game and the go-ahead
goal for the Christiana Knights.  And though Altland put up a valiant
effort in the last minutes, it simply wasn't to be, as Christiana won
4-3.

Christiana now gets to take a few days off before taking on the IWK
Banana Warriors on Saturday at the Battleground in Nomar.  Altland,
though, now heads south to Keating, Whitlam, where they'll face the
infamous Banana Warriors Tuesday afternoon at 2:30PM.  Both teams looked
sharp today, and this group could be completely up for grabs.

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