Games 489-496 (VEXILLIUM CUP NUROPIA 300) 01-21-301:

IVEFA proudly presents the results from the second rounds played in the Vexillium Cup
Nuropia'300 on January 21, 301:

Game 489: Westria - Utania:

GROUP I:

The Technical Information

Final score: WESTRIA 3 - UTANIA 0
Played at: Northway Coliseum, Northway, Westria
Attendance: 119,000
Referee: Jarsendar (NAM)
Goals: Guydenvaldt (WES, 25.), Vraseydenhout (WES, 41.), Theunissen (WES, 59.)
Yellow cards: Dayama (UTA, 22.), Schilla (WES, 28.), Theunissen (WES, 50.), Kendol (uta,
53.)
Red cards: NONE
Substitutions: Kendol for Aratusu (UTA, 45.), Knapheyde for Theunissen (WES, 66.),
Vergrimmelt for Vraseydenhout (WES, 66.)
MVP: Vraseydenhout (WES)

UTANIANS TRY, BUT WESTRIA DOES WHAT THEY HAVE TO!

Utania was the big underdog in this match, but they conducted themselves in a respecable
manner, keeping the damage to just three goals agains the Westrians, who had enough
respect for their opponents to show up in their strongest formation, playing all their
mega-stars from the Schnysna Superiorship - a privilege they earlier denied the Udan-Woo
wallabies, who they trounced with their second line-up, 6-0!

The Utanians did much better though, but still had to face the almost inevitable fate...
no team has ever beaten or even tied Westria playing at home, and the Diamonds were not
about to end their streak today either in the sold-out magnificent Northway Coliseum.
Utania played well enough to make the match entertaining - the Ramali brothers turned out
to be more of a challenge to Theunissen & Co than hoped, West and Tosu served well to tie
together the Utanian midfield, and Sutura once again turned some heads, emerging as an
always-dangerous class striker, who several times even took on two of the Westrian
defenders at once.

In the end, it was Westria, however, who prevailed... experience certainly playing as much
of a role as their technical superiority, and, of course, the 119,000 enthusiastic home
fans, who want nothing more than to see their beloved Diamonds win the Vexillium Cup...
and Westria certainly looks ready to do so... in this match, the big blue wheel began to
turn violently already, one might say, the perfect tune-up for the Diamonds next matches
in the elimination rounds!  Utania goes home with pride, having won a match, and having
held their own against the world's number one team.

GROUP J:

The Technical Information

Final score: BROLECIA 2 - SANX 2
Played at: Casino Palace, Montroy, Westria
Attendance: 70,400
Referee: Whistler (CHR)
Goals: Mertz (SNX, 1.), Maarouf (BRO, 60.), Koorkfjord (SNX, 65., penalty),  Maarouf (BRO,
81.)
Yellow cards: Kleppenuff (SNX, 5.), Kvarna (SNX, 30.), Ishmel (BRO, 32.), Brexx (SNX,
54.), James (BRO, 65.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Sixt for Enevold (SNX, 69.)
MVP: Mertz (SNX)

YET ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR BROLECIA!

Brolecia had nothing to smile about in their second, and last, match of this cup either:
after their shocking defeat against Morania, the Barons today only managed a draw against
the team from the tiny peninsula, Sanx!  The ill-prepared Brolecians, now without much
motivation at all, knowing they had no chance of advancing, were in for a rude wake-up
call just seconds after the kickoff, as they were still assuming their positions on the
field, Sanx midfielder Wasvig tried a long pass to former Maryport star striker Martin
Mertz, who avoided offsides and surprised Davidson with a volley bomb well into the long
corner to put Sanx up 1-0 in a shocking manner!

Sanx, buoyied by their early goal, now played freeley, and in fact was the better team in
the first half, keeping the ball in their possession well, and letting the Barons do more
of the running - Mertz having several more great chances, but Davidson was on the mark
henceforth.  It would take the Brolecians until the second half to finally score, as
Maarouf finally broke the goal hex in the 60. minute.  However, their joy only lasted for
5 minutes, as after a foul on the still-dangerous Mertz, Koorkfjord converted a penalty to
once again put Sanx up by one.

Brolecia was able to avoid another humiliation, thanks to another goal from their solid
midfielder Wahib Maarouf, this one by head after a flank from Montagne.  Nevertheless, a
draw against Sanx can not be exactly called an achievement for this team, who was tipped
by many to be one of the top-favorites here.  Brolecia goes home tail-between-legs, and
the team in this configuration will probably face a very uncertain future.

GROUP K:

The Technical Information

Final score: UNITED TERRITORIES 4 - KONGREN REPUBLIC 0
Played at: Goldenrod Field, Kathyapiyanka, Niokolo Koba
Attendance: 41,200
Referee: Reutter (SNX)
Goals: Macghileagh (UNT, 8.), Whitby (UNT, 18.), Macghileagh (UNT, 38.), Macghileagh (UNT,
55.)
Yellow cards: G'Rongpretang (KON, 9.), G'Renata (KON, 21.), G'Rie (KON, 32.), Boyle (UNT,
34.), G'Ruu (KON, 55.), G'Rabalunu (KON, 79.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: G'Ruu for G'Negg (KON, 45.), Lampwick for Macghileagh (UNT, 60.),
Stephenson for Bryce (UNT, 64.), G'Nadianadia for G'Rie (KON, 70.)
MVP: Macghileagh (UNT)

TERRITORIES ON A ROLL, WIN GROUP!

In honesty, nobody really expected much from the Kongren Republic's first showing in the
Vexillium Cup, and today's match showed why:  the United Territories clearly dominated the
game beginning to end, despite a very physical approach by the Geckos, which brought them
no less than 5 yellows.  Of course the Kongren did not figure that, if there WAS a team
used to a rougher style of play, it would be the Lions!

Macghileagh was yet again the man of the match for the Lions, scoring the coveted
hattrick, and running circles around the Kongren, who were often out of position, and
struggled with keeping UNT under control during standard situations and set plays.  Thus,
the territorians had easy play today, and could afford to pull their hotshots Macghileagh
and Bryce out relatively early in the match, to rest them for whatever comes next... and
they'll need all the help they can get, cause what's next is WESTRIA in the elimination
rounds!  That's right, as winners of the #16 seeded group, the Lions will have to play the
winner of the #1 seeded group, and that is, of course, Westria - should be a great match,
but the Lions will have to have a career day to have a chance against Westria at home!

GROUP L:

The Technical Information

Final score: SAN PATRICIO 2 - CALEDON 2
Played at: West Kierk Stadium, Ter Kierk, Deucoland
Attendance: 36,700
Referee: Barkley (LCP)
Goals: Verano (SPA, 50.), Cameron (CAL, 62.), Barclay (CAL, 72.), Khaled (SPA, 80.)
Yellow cards: McKenzie (CAL, 6.), Garcia (SPA, 22.), Calder (CAL, 42.), O'Gorman (SPA,
57.), McGill (CAL, 69.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: none
MVP: Barclay (CAL)

DRAW AGAINST CALEDON BRINGS SAN PATRICIO AT LEAST ONE POINT!

Nothing was at stake for the two teams contesting this match today, except perhaps pride.
And pride is something the beaten and battered San Patricio team BADLY needs these days,
coming off their crushing three defeats in their last three matches, which left them with
a combined goal total of 0-16!  Caledon, on the other hand, smelled an opportunity to gain
some glory by defeating an opponent obviously in turmoil - in the end, neither team really
achieved their objective, cause the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Both teams played rather conservatively in the first half, the Saints featuring a very
unusual lineup, obviously slapped together by coach O'Donahue in "desparation" to make
something happen, and the Caledonians trying to find the seems at which to burst apart the
Patrician defense.  No goals were scored until the second half, "Speedy" Verano starting
off, but Caledon pulling equal, and even taking the lead after a very strong showing
mid-second-half.  San Pat seemed to once again spiral downwards, but this time, they
managed to catch themselves, and to mount a respectable comeback.  Khaled scored 10
minutes before the end of regulation, and the Saints were now out to defeat their
opponents!  But Claymore defender Reginald Barclay had different ideas... he became the
hero for the Caledon side by almost single-handedly holding off Khaled & Co, to save the
Claymores' 2-2 draw till the end.  A fitting result after a surprisingly entertaining
match, but both teams head back home without much to show.
 

GROUP M:

The Technical Information

Final score: EXTREMO 4 - ACHENAR 4
Played at: Crocus Field, Crocusveldt, Westria
Attendance: 39,300
Referee: Caplick (UNT)
Goals: Sunata (ACH, 20.), Enricona (ACH, 25.), R. Pôlycìenëntesà (EXT, 34.), Qyllüsða
(EXT, 44.),  Sunata (ACH, 51.), R. Pôlycìenëntesà (EXT, 59.), Prÿnð (EXT, 63.), Sunata
(ACH, 87.)
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Substitutions: none
MVP: Sunata (ACH)

A TIE AMONGST EQUALS, BUT WHO CARES?

In yeat another "meaningless" match, we say yet another draw amongst evenly matched teams,
except this one had twice as many goals as the San Patricio-Caledon bout.  Achenar jumped
out to a great start, with Sunata emerging as a bona fide star of this Cup, scoring a nice
hattrick.  Extremo recovered from the 0-2, however, and managed to pull even in the first
half in a flurry of attackes that temporarily left the Achanarians befuddled.  Both teams
kept exchanging blows in the second half, and this time it was Achenar who managed to
overcome Extremo's lead, to no big surprise though another goal by Sunata.

All in all, a deserved draw between two teams that put on a great show with 8 goals
today... Achenar the team off to the much better start and finish, but Extremo was very
impressive in the middle portions of the match.  Too bad this game had no bearing on the
outcome of the Cup - it would have been even more of a nailbiter!  Overall surely a
disappointment for Extremo, though, who came here as the top seed in Group M, but had to
take a bitter 0-4 loss to Altland, who won the group easily.
 

GROUP N:

The Technical Information

Final score: WHITLAM 2 - BABEN BAY 0
Played at: Arena of the Tribes, Dianamalary, Niokolo Koba
Attendance: 61,000
Referee: Burschnwackl (IWK)
Goals: Walford (WHI, 20.), Walford (WHI, 53.)
Yellow cards: Keffruh (BOB, 10.), Frytzeplek (BOB, 31.), Igles (BOB, 39.), Roggenwekkerl
(BOB, 54.), Wadroblis (BOB, 67.), Grussadze (BOB, 80.), Chorogrod (BOB, 88.)
Red cards: Igles (BOB, 85.)
Substitutions: Chorogrod for Frytzeplek (BOB, 45.), Grussadze for Keffruh (BOB, 60.)
MVP: Walford (WHI)

WHITLAM WINS THE BATTLE, BUT LOSES THE WAR!!

OOOUUUUCHH!  This one must really hurt for the defending champions - the Whitlam Dragons
were eliminated from the Vexillium Cup today, after failing to crush Baben Bay, which they
needed to do to overcome their goal deficit  to Niokolo Koba, which they managed only a
tie against in their last match.  The pressure was tremendous on Whitlam - they had to win
at least 5-0, and although nobody doubted that they could do this against Baben Bay, who
have not exactly covered themselves in glory lately, the Dragons today struggled to score
all the goals they needed against a very determined and 100% defensive Baben Bay team.
The Niokolo Koban crowds firmly behind them, to no surprise, Baben Bay seemed to have come
determined to play a part in the historic elimination of the defending champions - their
line-up had DEFENSE stencilled all over it, and it was a tremendously frustrating day for
Whitlam, trying to penetrate 10 men standing firmly around their own box, not even trying
to mount an offense of their own.

"It's very unusual to play a team that makes it it's goal to lose the match, but by as few
goals as possible", said one of the Whitlam assistant coaches afterwards, "I mean, what
sort of attitude is that?  These guys were just out to hurt us in the Cup, and not to play
a match, and I find that disturbing!"

Indeed, Whitlam's attempts became more desperate as the minutes ticked away and the
pressure mounted exponentially for them to score.  Team captain Walford was at his best,
and scored both goals, and the rest of this world-class team tried hard too, only to be
frustrated more and more by the stubborn Baben Bayers.  Needing three more goals with 15
minutes to go, you could see the pressure on the Dragons' faces, an expression which
eventually turned to pain and disappointmenr as there were only moments left, and it
became ghastardly evident that Whitlam would not be able to make it...  the world watched
in shock as the match ended 2-0, with the Dragons sinking to the ground in lament,
distraught by their fate... they had been elimiated by Niokolo Koba, a team ranked 46th in
the IVEfA Rankings...  Things were even worse as the climate in the stadium was one of
jubilation!  The home crowds were ecstatic that their beloved Warriors had done enough to
eliminate the world champions, and the NK players, who had been sitting in the VIP box the
entire game, watching closely, took the field after the other two teams hit the showers,
running around the stadium carrying a HUGE Niokolo Koba flag, whipping the crowds into a
frenzy!  Again, the famous chants of "YEK, YEK, YEK, YOUNDRAVA ANGA BOUCAR BEK!" (Yek,
Yek, Yek, (the Youndravan Warriors battle cry) Niokolo Koba for the Championship!" were
heard everywhere... who knows how far NK can go, but the championship??  We shall see.
One thing is for sure, they supplied perhaps the biggest headlines so far in this cup by
eliminating the defending champion in the group rounds!  What a shame for Whitlam - but
then again, their good fortunes had to come to an end sooner or later... right?
 

GROUP O:

The Technical Information

Final score: DAVENPORT 5 - ROVENS 2
Played at: Wynterwynd Bowl, Wynterwynd, Westria
Attendance: 60,200
Referee: Baptiste (PHX)
Goals: Maccan (DAV, 12.), Harbour (DAV, 18.), Gaspe (DAV, 29.), Konja (ROV, 45.),
Coeur-Lione (DAV, 49.), Kopaye (ROV, 67.), Brasfort (DAV, 79.)
Yellow cards: T'konse (ROV, 30.), Ivanov (ROV, 50.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Coeur-Lione for Worthington (DAV, 45.), Brasfort for Harbour (DAV, 63.)
MVP: Gaspe (DAV)

JEAN HARBOUR GETS HIS WISH: A WIN IN FRONT OF "PURPLE" STANDS!

The Davenportians who made the long trip to Westria, together with the many Men-in-Royal
fan clubs in Westria had mobilised their resources swiftly to respond to star striker Jean
Harbour's statement "It always gives me confidence to see [purple stands]" - although of
course not all of the Wynterwynd Bowl was decked out in Royal, there were nevertheless
large portions of the stands where the crowds had chosen a purpole outfit and brought
davenport flags and the like, after a blitz-PR-campaign by the Davenport-supporters had
inspired even neutral spectators to defect to the purple camp.  Davenport is a
tremendously popular team in Westria anyhow, so they almost enjoyed an atmosphere like
they were playing at home!  Considering that, the 2-5 result seems rather respectable for
Rovens, who has yet to show much team togetherness, but who at least kept the end result
within a three-goal gap, which was much better than the slaughter many had predicted would
occur to the rookies.

Davenport started well, already 3-0 after half an hour.  Konja surprised the Men in Royal
with what was probably more than a desperation shot shortly before the break, deflected by
Gordon Taylor, Beliveaux had no chance.  But Davenport was claerly in control.  With
Worthington complaining of some pain in his heel, coach Darena decided to give Richard
Coeur-Lione a shot, and the striker playing in Namuria these days thanked him by scoring a
nice goal on the rebound early in the second half.  With things clearly in their favor,
Darena took our Harbour to give young Stephane Brasfort a chance, and the second sub also
came through with a goal!  Before that, Kopaye actually scored the second goal for Rovens,
but amidst much controversy, as the line referee had signalled offsides, but Phenixian ref
Baptiste decided to overrule, and to allow the goal.  The disciplined Davenport players
protested, but avoided a potentially "yellow" confrontation with the ref, and let it go...
they knew they could not be stopped today, and they weren't - a clear win for Davenport,
who win the group and move on with high hopes.  Rovens heads home with some work to do if
they want to be "a team" - instead of "three teams"...

GROUP P:

The Technical Information

Final score: DRACONIA 5 - LAMB'S COVE 0
Played at: Sundowne Stadium, Bella Fronteritz, Westria
Attendance: 63,900
Referee: Bruzburger (SCK)
Goals: Mirren (DRA, 41.), Reversi (DRA, 56.), Reversi (DRA, 60.), Prentar (DRA, 79.),
Offram (DRA, 85.)
Yellow cards: R. Greene (DRA, 51.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Furman for M. Greene (LCP, 62.), Offram for Reversi (DRA, 64.), Abercromie
for Mirren (DRA, 79.), Maxwell for R. Greene (LCP, 81.)
MVP: Reversi (DRA)

DRACONIA MORE THAN IMPRESSIVE IN GROUP P DECIDER!

Lamb's Cove was hopeful as to their chances in today's group P showdown for the top spot,
and advancement to the elimination rounds.  However, despite the obvious improvement the
Covians underwent recently, which led them to a handsome 3-0 win over IWK earlier, they
had little to say against the onslaught by the impressive as ever Draconian team, which
pretty much overran their opponents.  Draconia's strong form came as a surprise to many,
even some of their own media, as the Pirates have not been seen much on the international
competitive soccer stage.  But it now appears the break has done them good, if anything.
Although the Covians could hold their opponents scoreless for most of the first half,
Mirren finally broke through 4 minutes before the break for an important goal that opened
the floodgates in the second half.  Reversi was the man of the game!  Still recovering
from his injury, he once again proved invaluable and gave 100% nevertheless, until coach
Haze took him out as a precaution, not to put too much stress on the tender limb!
Reversi's replacement, Offram, then played it up big, using his fresh legs to score one,
and to keep Draconia pushing hard on their tiring opponents until the very end.  Offram's
performance might do wonders for his bid to become a starter, as the stalwart starting
forward Eweventus once again had a lackluster match.

Draconia thus convincingly wins group P in commanding fashion, essentially unopposed.  If
they can keep their form going, they will once again be the team that most turns heads!