Games 308 through 311 (WZ'99 Vexillium Cup), 02-01-300 thru 02-05-300 (SEMIFINALS/FINALS):

Game 308: Lexicon Islands - Eastern Delgamia (SEMIFINAL):
 
The Technical Information:

Final score: LEXICON ISLANDS 4 - EASTERN DELGAMIA 3
Played in: Hawke Bitter Stadium, Gough, Whitlam.
Attendance: 120,000
Referee: Ivo Jarsendar (Namuria)
Goals: Dibris (LEX, 23), Dibris (LEX, 29), Fotonaro (LEX, 34),
Beijocudabaca (EDE, 45), Dibris (LEX, 50), Numseinum (EDE, 67),
Abeiradela (EDE, 70)
Yellow cards: Hampel (LEX, 45), Cinziento (EDE, 78)
Red cards: None.
Substitutions: Kilaffis for Hampel (LEX, 50), de Granunk for Raxxon
(LEX, 50), Bentile for Curassunhe (EDE, 56), Testodasertan for
Beijocudabaca (EDE, 67).

LEXICON ISLANDS FIRST THROUGH, DESPITE SPIRITED DOLPHINS COMEBACK.

The Lexicon Islands were the first team into the Vexillium Cup today,
making it 2 years in a row for the Vikings, after a 4-3 victory over the
valiant Eastern Delgamians.

The Lexicon Islands today showed why they are at one minute, one of the
most lethal teams in the world, and the most unreliable the next. The
Vikings came out today, prepared to run a hard first half, taking the
wind out of Eastern Delgamian sails, and they did just that, running in
3 goals in the space of 34 minutes, making it look as though the Eastern
Delgamians weren't even on the field. Today Raxxon stayed directly out
of the forward line, playing the role of an attacking midfielder, and
playing it to perfection. The Eastern Delgamian team kept him tightly
marked, attempting to prevent him getting any shots off, but were unable
to stop him passing to his forwards, or back to his midfielders.
Raxxon's passing game was almost flawless today, and it showed, as he
constantly threatened to shoot, then deciding to pass off to Dibris or
Fotonaro, who were able to take advantage of being less pressed than the
Lexicon wonderboy.

This play led to the first goal through Dibris, 23 minutes through the
first half, scoring off a nice short ball from Raxxon, after some good
midfield leadup play from Flisher. Flisher drove the ball about 20
minutes to Raxxon on the burst, who drew in both centre defenders,
before passing a neat through ball to Dibris, who make no mistake with
the strike.

That exchange repeated itself 6 minutes later, with Dibris again netting
his shot after being fed by Raxxon. Attempting to get a longer pass
through to Fotonaro, Raxxon's shot clipped the leg of Idoinhe, changing
the angle of the pass, going instead to Dibris, who misfooted Reuneidos,
to give himself another goal, after causing some momentary heart
failure, clipping the near post before going in.

At this stage, the Lexicon Islands didn't look headed in attack, and it
began to look as though they'd rack up a cricket score against the
Delgamians, whose defence was looking shaky, and their attack looking
worse, failing to convert several real chances into goals. Jounhe
Olibeireinha, the Eastern Delgamian coach was seen to leave the dugout
for the sheds 10 minutes before the end of the half after Fotonaro put
in a long-range attempt that savagely curved away from Pensodeque, after
some lax play in the midfield. Olibeireinha was restrained by his
assistants after several runs to the sideline to yell to his squad, his
assitants fearing a sideline ban for their coach.

However, Olibeireinha was to return from self-imposed exile in injury
time, running down the tunnel when he heard the crowd go up after
another goal. Running down the tunnel in anger, his reaction soon turned
to jubilation as his players ran to the sideline in celebration after
Beijocudabaca's head clipped a free kick taken by Boubem, deflecting an
otherwise poor free kick that would have most likely sailed over the
bar, into a spectacular goal, that put Eastern Delgamia back in with a
shout, with the score at 3-1 during the break.

However, it seemed as though that goal was a lucky break, as the Lexican
procession continued with Dibris pulling off his hat-trick in the 50th
minute, sending the Vikings fans into rapture, as a second Final
appearance came closer to being reality. It also sent the Lexicon bench
into hysterics, the players more than happy about being up 4-1 in a
processional match that was threatening to become a cakewalk as the
minutes ticked by. Dibris scored his from a sweet chip after recieving a
speculative pass from behind half-way, beating the offside trap,
feigning a pass to Raxxon, making the Dolphins close ranks, before
neatly chipping the 'keeper, who was left stranded off his line.

With that, the Vikings made 2 substitutions, including the substitution
of Raxxon, obviously protecting him from possible injury, and saving him
for the final, seemingly comfortable with the scoreline at 4-1.
Olibeireinha called his team to the sideline during the goal
celebrations, yelling at his squad, and getting them fired up, showing
them that the Vikings were subbing players off, comforable with their
lead.

Whatever Olibeireinha said, it drove Eastern Delgamia into top gear
pretty suddenly, shocking the Vikings greatly. The Dolphins were a
completely different team, cohesive in attack, and putting their shots
on goal. Without Raxxon on the pitch, their defence played a far better
game, the psychological barrier seemingly gone. The Lexicon defence was
tested several times, but held firm for another 17 minutes, before
Numseinum scored a brilliant individual goal, making a strong break up
the middle, feigning several passes to the wings, putting the defence in
2 minds. Getting to the arc, he shot a wicked strike low and to the
right, that was deflected high and to the right before Munstasi before
finding the back of the net, and putting the scoreline at 4-2, with the
Dolphins full of energy and enthusiasm to pull this game back to equal
terms.

The Eastern Delgamians were battling against time though, 2 goals in the
hole with only 13 minutes on the clock, but they made it more than
interesting with the attacking play they were running with, electrifying
the crowd, who were with the underdogs in their campaign to bring the
game back to level pegging. The crowd brought the house down 10 minutes
from time as Abeiradela struck a shot so hard that it went through the
underside of the net, leaving the metre of net in the back of the goal
behind it, putting the score at 4-3, with the fairytale almost complete.

It was now Yar Rozar's chance to yell, the head coach sitting back while
his Assitant did the work. In a display similar to the Eastern Delgamian
one, the Lexicon Islands snapped back into action, pushing hard against
an equally determined opponent, having the advantage of being on the
defensive. Pulling their midfielders right back, the Vikings managed to
hold off the valiant Eastern Delgamian attacks, putting them into the
Final.

Eastern Delgamia will return home the premier team of their continent,
and argueably the premier team of the New Continents, being the team to
make it furthest through, however, they do have the 3rd place playoff
yet. The Vikings remain in Gough for the Final, against the winner of
the Whitlam V Namuria clash.

The Technical Information:

Final score: WHITLAM 2 - NAMURIA 1
Played in: King Bruno Stadium, Imperial City, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 109,900
Referee: Tristan Senger (Draconia)
Goals: Bayssari (WHI, 30.), Armstark (WHI, 58.), Aldai (NAM, 81.)
Yellow cards: Wolff (WHI, 12.), Armstark (WHI, 54.)
Red cards: None.
Substitutions: Aldai for Muthras (NAM, 60.), Fonderro for Mapallar (NAM, 60.)

HOME TEAM GOES TO THE FINALS!

In another highly exciting match, today host team and local crowd favorites
Whitlam Dragons beat the late-charging Namurian Golden Eagles to claim the second
spot in the Vexillium Cup FINAL match to be played against the Lexicon Islands,
who incidentally have reached the VexCup FINAL for the second time in a row!

For Whitlam, the day began with a somber note, as news became known that their
long-time supporter and municipal football fan/legend Laurie Nicholls had died.
Instead of standing at the sidelines cheering for the Whitlam team, Nicholls was
dearly missed today.  Before the match begun, a minute of rememberence was
observed, and the Whitlamite team and staff further showed their respects for
Nicholls by wearing black arm bands.  As it turned out, Laurie must have watched
over them today...

Namuria's coach decided to give Muthras a run from the start, with the striker
apparently recovered from an early injury.  Both teams were taking a rather
cautious approach, obviously with great respect for each other.  Namuria practised
an aggressive fore-checking strategy, and Whitlam was avoiding too much risk.
Neither team seemed to be too willing to put it on the line, and the first quarter
was little more than a careful feeling out of the opponent.

Whitlam however began to set the clearer impulses in the second quarter, as
Namuria also began to loosen up.  Chances were increasing now, particularly for
the Dragons, who were seen with the overall majority of ball possession, and often
in the Namurian half.  However, it took a deensive mis-step by Namuria, with two
of their players accidentally colliding while attempting to clear.  With two
temporarily down, Whitlam's Al-Dhabi took off through the middle, together with
the dynamic forwards of Walford and Blacklock, who were pushing from the flanks.
Al-Dhabi would hand off to Walford, who took a shot, but it was deflected by
Namurian goalie Maharai, and cleared by Ise.  However, somehow the ball ended up
in front of Bayssari, who had also followed the others forward.  He left Kardas
looking and sprinted closer towards the goal, then faking a pass to Walford, and
instead taking a straight shot directly over the Namurian goalkeeper, who had
thrown himself towards Walford in anticipation of the handoff which never happened
- Whitlam was up, 1-0, in the 30. minute!

Namuria now began to make more steam.  Muthras took an ever increasing role in the
Namurian offense, doing much of the leg work, together with the once again divine
Salasarien.  However, all of Muthras' efforts should remain fruitless in the first
half.  There seemed to be an invisible shield in front of the Whitlam goal during
that time.  The ball was simply not allowed to penetrate the inner ranks of
Whitlam defense, with Storry, Hickey & Co. once again at their best, with Biafra
the special standout, keeping cool in even the most dangerous situations!
Whatever got through, Zaytseva left little doubt.  Whitlam went into break the 1-0
leaders.

Whitlam did little to change their strategy of low-risk quality play.  It was not
up to them to make things happen now.   Namuria, however, did not seem to make too
much of an impact in the early second half.  They were essentially the victims of
the world-famous Whitlamite defense today.  Biafra was the surprise star, even
outplaying Hickey.  All together, they proved increasingly frustrating for the
tiring Muthras and colleagues.

Instead, it was the Dragons who scored again, after a long free kick just inside
the Namurian half.  Al-Dhabi was once again involved, taking the kick deep inside
Namurian territory.  The Eagles' offside trap failed, as Armstark and Walford
cunningly remained still at the delivery, only to spurt off as soon as the ball
was approaching, leaving the somewhat perpexed Namurian defenders behind.  Maharai
had little chance against two world class offenders, and Armstark finished it off
with a clean shot in the lower left.  Whitlam was up 2-0, and Namuria was in
trouble.

The Eagles now took out Muthras, who had done a great job, but was obviously
exhausted from the lots of legwork, also not having had his regular conditioning
program during his injury.  Instead, Aldai came back on again, together with
Fonderro, who replaced Mapallar.  The impact could be felt immediately. Aldai was
simply brilliant, and obviously very eager to prove that he should have been the
starter to begin with.  Outshining Ebropa, it was Aldai who now was seen all over
the field.  The Dragons responded by assigning Biafra as his sentinel, and it was
a great confrontation to match, an attacker and defender, each playing their best,
matched against each other.

Generally, the Whitlam defense was able to hold together, despite the hard charge
from Namuria, which now clearly dominated the ball.  But the best defense of
Vexillium is not that easily beaten!  However, Aldai DID manage to break through
and get away from Biafra, while he temporarily stumbled over another player.
Aldai took the chance, and blasted a shot past Westwood, who might have slightly
deflected the ball as well, leaving Zaytseva no chance, as he was leaping the
other way.  Namuria had closed the gap, but would it be enough?

It wasn't.  Whitlam's defense remained spotless for the remainder, and not even
the brilliance of Salasarien and Aldai could change the fate the Golden Eagles
faced today.  After a superb game, the match went to the "home" team, who were
celebrated by their thousands and thousands of fans who had made the trip to
Imperial City, like gods themselves.  Fireworks were littering the pitch after the
final whistle, Whitlamite flags were seen everywhere, as were black flags and
makeshift posters of Laurie Nicholls.  The Dragons were seen posing with a flag
and poster, then unrolling a banner reading "This one's for YOU, Laurie!"

The teams exchanged shirts and handshakes, before the celebrations continued with
the Dragons running several laps of honor inside the stadium.  Even the majority
Zartanian crowds got into it, Whitlam had more or less becom their "surrogate home
team" after the Eagles had eliminated Eastern Zartania ealier in the competition.
Naturally, it was a vindication to see them lose the match against Whitlam as
well.

For Whitlam, it's a spot in the final!  They had played in the Finals of the
VexGames and the finals of the IVEFA Masters, losing both.  Their opponents
Lexicon Islands had played in last year's finals of the VexCup and the finals of
the Copa Vexanova, also losing both...  So what will we see in the FINALS?  Which
team will be able to shed its runner-up stigma?  It will be THE FINAL OF THE TWO
BRIDESMAIDS!!  Certainly a classic match coming up.

Meanwhile, Namuria will play Eastern Delgamia for third place, a day earlier.

The Technical Information:

Final score: EASTERN DELGAMIA 1 - NAMURIA 0
Played at: King Bruno Stadium, Imperial City, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 95,322
Referee: Trevor Speaks (Bowdani)
Goals: Testodasertan (EDE, 71.)
Yellow cards: none
Substitutions: none

EASTERN DELGAMIA EEKS OUT ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE BRONZE MEDAL!

Not too much attention was given to this third place match, as all eyes are on the
FINAL between hosts Whitlam and last year's runners-up Lexicon Islands.  It even
seemed like the Namurians had somewhat lost interest, as the usually vocal
Namurian media remained relatively silent.

The Eastern Delgamians took the match very seriously, though.  For them, it was
another great achievement, and certainly a surprise, to reach the semifinals in
the first place, and they wanted to ensure that they bagged another high-profile
Bronze medal after the one they won in the VexGames, at that time storming onto
the international soccer scene as unknowns, sensationally beating such teams as
Christiana and Westria.

Well, they once again were able to do what it took, although once again against an
opponent who was less than 100% motivated.  For Namuria, after it was clear that
the Cup was lost, this match was little more than a pointless exercise.  For a
nation that mad about soccer, a bronze medal is simply not enough.

Thus, it was mostly the Delgamians who set the impulses in the match, although the
Eagles did not allow them too much free hand nevertheless.  The game was very even
all thoughout, and chances were about the same on both sides.  The difference was
the extra push of motivation for the Delgamian team at the end.  When Namuria
began to get weary and lost interest, the Dolphins were able to steal away the
goal they needed to win this match , as Testodasertan scored after a corner kick.

The remainder of the match was rather dull.  Delgamia preserved their narrow lead
rather well, against a Namurian side that didn't seem to care to mount a
counter-offensive in an attempt to win the match back.  time ran out, and the
Delgamians were the happy winners, while the Eagles showed little emotion either
way.  After their great wins in this tournament, the loss against Whitlam was
really the end of it.  Both teams are probably happy to go back home now after
their fights well fought, and good achievements.

The Dolphins were in a cheery mood at the medals presentation, and ended up
throwing their coach into the air several times, as well as Testodasertan, the
scorer.  They can expect a hero's welcome in their nation upon their return.
Namuria has to be congratulated as well for a Cup well played, though the end was
not too great.  Hopefully they will be received well at home also.

Still to come:  THE FINAL!!

The Technical Information:

Final score: WHITLAM 1 - LEXICON ISLANDS 0
Played at: Hawke Bitter Stadium, Gough, Whitlam
Attendance: 120,000
Referee: Jacques Jean-Franc (Davenport)
Goals: Walford (FRW, 57th)
Substitutions: None
Yellow cards: None

DRAGONS TOPPLE DEFIANT VIKINGS TO TAKE CUP

The celebration is is full swing across Whitlam tonight after a thriller
of a match in Gough that decided the fate of VexCup '99.

Prior to tonight's game, the atmosphere was absolutely electric across
the country.  For the first time in history, the Whitlam Dragons soccer
team was playing for a title with a real shot at taking it, and the fans
were loving it!  The fans began lining up outside the stadium in Gough
well before dawn this morning.  The fans on hand also included several
thousand Eastern Zartanians who had traveled south of the border to
watch their surrogate Dragons team try to win the Cup.

Both teams entered the field to the roar of the crowd, all 120,000+ fans
jumping to their feet and waving flags.  When the captains met at
midfield prior to the game, the ovation from the Whitlamite fans for
retiring defender Didier Genzmer was simply astounding.

At the kick-off, both teams opened this final game of the VexCup in a
style that surprised and disappointed some fans.  With such large stakes
on the line, both teams came out playing a rather conservative style of
soccer: taking the time to completely control the ball while probing the
other team's defenses.  Offensives were mounted by the two teams only
when an clear opening could be found in the opposing defense.  The lack
of aggressive play led to a first half in which only eight total shots
were taken on goal, five of those by the Vikings.

The most impressive drive of the half was a twelve-minute sustained
attack by the Vikings, who brought attacking midfielder Raxxon and
midfielders Filentoz, Flisher, and Estonarios up to help forward
Fotonaro.  The five sprinting attackers used superior passing and their
sheer numbers to overwhelm the Whitlamite defense in a scene eerily
reminiscent of Eastern Zartania's attacks.  The Dragons got lucky when
Fotonaro's shot bounced out of bounds off the right post.  On the
ensuing goal kick, Lexicon Islands got control of the ball again, after
midfielder Ansin Lexico stole it from Dragons forward Blacklock.  With
the ball in the hands of their potent offense again, the Vikings
repeated the scene of just a few minutes earlier, this time with Raxxon
bouncing the shot off the left post.  The Dragons retained possession of
the ball after that, and the half ended with a 0-0 tie.

Both teams seemed rather pleased with themselves going into halftime,
and with good reason.  The Whitlamite defense had seen that while they
could be overwhelmed by the Vikings 5-man attacks, they could handle
every other situation.  The Vikings, on the other hand, had seen their
own defense stop the two-man Dragon offense cold, and seen their offense
put together the longest sustained drive of the game.  Neither coach
elected to make changes during the intermission, and play resumed.

The second half opened much as the first had, with both teams attempting
to probe the other side for weaknesses.  After about ten minutes of this
back and forth play, the Dragons struck with blinding ferocity.  Forward
Ricky Walford back-passed the ball to midfielder Ouagadouga, then dashed
up the field along with fellow-forward Blacklock and midfielders Wolff
and Armstark.  The Lexican players were shocked by the sudden burst of
offense from the Dragons, but moved quickly to counter it.  With the
driving offensive players already past the Vikings' midfielders, the
four Lexican defenders moved to a man-to-man defense, each picking up
and sticking with a Dragon forward or midfielder.  Meanwhile, Vikings'
midfielders Lexico and Flisher ran toward their own goal in an attempt
to "close the door" on the invading Dragons.  But with ten players in
such a small space on the field, mistakes were bound to happen, and they
did.  The Lexican defenders tried to follow their Whitlamite assignments
as the Dragons dashed toward the center of the field, then split out
again.  The defenders were momentarily dazzled as their lost their
assignments in the melee.  That was all the time that Whitlam needed.
Ouagadouga blasted the ball down the field to a waiting Walford on the
sideline, who dribbled the ball past the recovering Lexican defenders
into a one-on-one with the goalie, Munstasi.  Munstasi never had a
chance, as Walford nailed the ball into the right front corner of the
goal to put Whitlam up 1-0.

The Vikings knew that they had just been outclassed by a world-class
team, and seemed to take it in stride.  A few words were exchanged
between Lexico and the defenders on how to avoid that situation again as
play resumed.  For the rest of the game, the Dragons kept to the
defensive.  Only twice more did they enter the Vikings' side of the
field, and each ended in a relatively half-hearted shot on goal that
missed wide of its mark.  But by the same token, Whitlam's adherence to
the defense kept the Vikings' offense from really making its presence
felt.

But, with just a few minutes left in the game and down by a single goal,
the Vikings got desperate.  All four midfielders went on the offensive
with Raxxon and Fotonaro.  Whitlam's forwards and midfielders, the first
line of defense, managed to slow the Lexican push somewhat.  But more
importantly, they broke up the cohesion of the attack and forced the
Vikings to spread out across the field more.  Spread out, the Vikings
had trouble massing their strength at one point to break through the
Dragon line.  But Raxxon managed a shot.  It was nabbed by Dragons'
goalie Zaytseva, who tossed it out to defender Hickey.  Hickey tried to
send it upfield to the forwards, but it was intercepted en route by
Estonarios.  Estonarios raced up the left sideline, then made a shot
pass in to Flisher.  Hearing a shouted warning from his teammate about
an approaching Whitlamite midfielder, and seeing the clock just seconds
from the end of the game, Flisher made the long pass to Fotonaro on the
right sideline to set up the tying shot that would send the game into
overtime.  But in flew Genzmer, the retiring defender.  Genzmer dived
toward the flying ball, knocking it down with his chest, and then
slamming it up the field toward the Lexican side as hard as he could.
As the ball landed, the final gun sounded, and the Whitlam Dragons won
VexCup '99.

With the game now officially ended, the pandemonium erupted.  Whitlamite
fans, ecstatic that their team had won its first-ever tournament title,
rushed out of their seats and onto the field.  Stadium security could
only watch in amazement as they were overwhelmed by tens of thousands of
screaming fans who immediately surrounded the Dragons' bench.  The
celebration stopped just long enough for IVEFA president Kickins to
present the runner-up and champion trophies to the two teams who, being
true professionals, congratulated each other and shared a photo
opportunity.