Games 95-101 (La Sainte Alliance Tourney) 01-17-299 through 01-31-299

Game 95: Phenixia - Niokolo Koba (LSAT)

The Technical Information:

Final score: PHENIXIA 3 - NIOKOLO KOBA 1
Played in: Cedre, Phenixia (Cedre Stade National)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Al-Sudhin (MAU)
Goals: Ba (NIO, 16.), Skoblar (PHX, 40.), Jairzinho (PHX, 60.), Youri
(PHX, 77.)
Yellow cards:  Lolo (PHX, 33.), Toko (NIO, 49.), Vincent (NIO, 77.)
Substitutions: Youri for Domenech (PHX, 45.), Faye for Diallo (NIO, 45.)

Match commentary:

No surprise here.  After Niokolo Koba produced a bit of a shocking
opening goal to put them ahead, Phenixia took firm control of the game,
and was clearly the better organized team until the end, although NIO
showed moments of brilliance, as they are getting an even better grip on
toning down the physical aspects of their game.
 

Game 96: Jannaton - Northern Phenixia (LSAT)

The Technical Information:

Final score: JANNATON 6 - NORTHERN PHENIXIA 0
Played in: Lagod, Jannaton (Revolutionary Field)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Jousfrippe (Africablue)
Goals: Tre (JAN, 04.), Shashana (JAN, 23.), Tre (JAN, 28.), Da Silva
(JAN, 60.), Tre (JAN, 69.), Ranto (JAN, 88.)
Yellow cards:  Hi (JAN, 30.), Issa (NPX, 40.), Brehme (NPX, 66.)
Substitutions: Lherbe for Washington (NPX, 45.), Troll for Napoli (NPX,
61.)

Match commentary:

Northern Phenixia was playing its first match after Michel Platoche's
retirement, and unfortunately they were just terrible.  Jannaton, who
last played as Angliyaa in the WHCON (where they exited with a win
against Solelhada), but they were nevertheless ready, and simply
declassed the leaderless NPX, clobbering them with six goals!  A
hattrick by Tre.  Quite impressive show from Jannaton.  For NPX, it's
back to the drawing board.  They need to re-formulate their strategies
without Platoche.
 

Game 97: Mauretanie - Wwww (LSAT)

The Technical Information:

Final score: MAURETANIE 2 - WWWW 3
Played in: Oran, Mauretanie (Oran Stadium)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Ulunde (NIO)
Goals: Tipulura (WWWW, 11.), Tipulura (WWWW, 34.), Escartefigues (MAU,
44.), Durand (MAU, 66.), Tungatalum (WWWW, 90.)
Yellow cards:  none
Substitutions: Ben Barek for Khader (MAU, 77.)

Match commentary:

Wwww pulls off their first ever win in a sensational away upset.
Mauretanie was sluggish in the beginning, and lightning fast Wwww
striker Tipulura set the foundation for this victory with two early
unanswered goals.  Mauretanie then woke up, and seemed to get stronger
all the time, scoring twice.  MAU had the best chances late in the game,
but somehow, Wwww held on, and incredibly, just before the whistle blew,
Tungatalum found a sudden opening, and went for it with abandon - the
MAU defense was too surprised to respond in time, and the ball narrowly
scored in the far corner!  Wwww's first ever win, and a good one, too!
Mauretanie certainly disappointed.
 

Game 98: Thistland - Africablue (LSAT)

The Technical Information:

Final score: THISTLAND 3 - AFRICABLUE 0
Played in: Donaldville, Thistland (Arena of the Clans)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Baptiste (PHX)
Goals: MacAlpine (THI, 50.), Ferguson (THI, 67.), MacAlpine (THI, 79.)
Yellow cards:  Etchi (AFB, 32.)
Substitutions: Stuart for MacFergus (THI, 45.), Tobie for Ohenhen (AFB,
45.)

Match commentary:

Africablue gets surprised by the rather strong Thistlanders.  Thistlands
players are physically in top shape, and they had a real advantage in
their home field, which proved to ba a very soggy piece of turf that
left the Africabluans struggling to employ their technical tricks at
times.  Although both teams were about equal in ability, the additional
physical prowess and home field advantage made the difference for
Thistland, who can now proudly say that they have won their first ever
international match!

Game 99: Phenixia - Jannaton (LSAT Semifinal)

The Technical Information:

Final score: PHENIXIA 3 - JANNATON 0
Played in: Cedre, Phenixia (Cedre Stade National)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: MacAngus (Thistland)
Goals: Youri (PHX, 21.), Youri (PHX, 50.), Justo (PHX, 72.)
Yellow cards:  none
Substitutions: Justo for Muller (PHX, 45.), Da Silva for Dabeng (JAN,
50.)

Match commentary:

Phenixia definitely bebefitted from the home field advantage, especially
since the match was postponed - the Phenixian players could spend the
delay hours in comfort with friends and family, while the Jannatiya
players, who had hasted in from the airport after having to detour
around the approaching thunderclouds before landing, were forced to stay
in a nearby motel instead of doing the warm-up, playing the match, and
leaving again the same evening.   Youri was in bestform, scoring two
himself, and setting tremendous offensive impulses.  He more and more
establishes himself as an international superstar, now even outshining
top gun Skoblar, who had a mediocre game.  Jannaton missed an
opportunity after Hardy missed a penalty in the 39. minute, that would
have tied the game and may well have turned the fortunes on the field.
Phenixia ia now heavy favorite to win the overall tourney, as they play
with home field advantage again next week in the finals!
 

Game 100: Wwww - Thistland (LSAT Semifinal)

The Technical Information:

Final score: WWWW 0 - THISTLAND 1
Played in: Oran, Mauretanie (Oran Stadium)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Guillaume (NPX)
Goals: MacKay (THI, 12.)
Yellow cards:  Ferguson (THI, 66.)
Substitutions: none

Thistland once again surprises, as they pull off a narrow win against
another surprise team, Wwww, who beat Mauretanie last week.  The
Thistles were sharp early on, and got the jump on Wwww, taking the lead,
and never giving it up.  Not the most spectacular football to watch,
Thistland managed to keep the mild attacks by Wwww in check.  Once
again, Wwww stood out through superb fair play, however, if they had
defended a little more rigorously in the early going, Thistland might
not have scored that all-deciding goal.  Thistland is now the heavy
underdog against Phenixia in Cedre in the finals, but they have managed
to come this far, and they will no doubt be delighted, no matter what
happens in that match.  What a thrilling debut on the international
football scene!
 

Game 101: Phenixia - Thistland (LSAT FINAL)

The Technical Information:

Final score: PHENIXIA 1 - THISTLAND 0
Played in: Cedre, Phenixia (Cedre Stade National)
Attendance: unknown
Referee: Ulunde (NIO)
Goals: Skoblar (PHX, 41.)
Yellow cards:  Lolo (PHX, 66.)
Substitutions: none

Match commentary:

This match was supposed to be a mere formality with heavy favorites
Phenixia playing at home against a small but strong team.  And although
Phenixia in the end won quite easily and deservedly, Thistland once
again showed its thorns that brought them all the way into this final.
In fact, the early going was more in the Thistles' favor.  It was a
relief for the home fans when Skoblar finally put the Dolphins ahead 1-0
shortly before the break.  That goal freed the team up, and they coasted
through the second half with very little danger to their own goal.
Lahziz and Maximu were the Phenixian standouts this time; on the other
side, Thistland keeper Glenn did a super job in keeping the goal total
of Phenixia to only one.  An entertaining match, more or less with the
expected result.