Games 118 and 119 (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99) 03-15-299

Game 118: Lamb's Cove-Morania (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99)

The Technical Information:

Final score: LAMB'S COVE 1 - MORANIA 1
Played in: Copernicus Stadium, Copernicus, Ordland
Attendance: 27,640
Referee: Nicolas Jousfrippe (AFB)
Goals: Selior (MOR, 25.), Ellison (LAM, 56.)
Yellow cards: R. Greene (LAM, 25.), M. Greene (LAM, 61.)
Substitutions: none

Match commentary:

Amicable game ends in a deserved draw!

This was the first meeting of the two neighboring nations of Lamb's Cove
and Morania, and both teams had something to prove this time around,
besides the little regional rivalry that was obviously there.  Lambs
Cove wanted to finally score points in a match, after coming close in
the Vexillium Cup last year, and Morania needed a confidence booster
after their somewhat demoralizing 0-5 loss to hosts Ordland in the
opener three days ago.  Both teams also were quite aware that this game
would be decisive in as to who would get a shot at a wild card berth,
since Ordland must be considered the heavy favorites to win group B.

Morania had an excellent start, they apparently had brushed off their
0-5 very well, and played quite freely. and easily controlled the game
in the early going.  Selior, the Moranian captain, resulting from a free
kick situation caused by a yellow foul by Ryan Greene, impressed the
international expert observers with a beautiful fall-shot over his own
head that caught goalie Loux by surprise, and put Morania ahead in a
game for their first time ever - it was also the first international
goal scored for the Moranian side, and befittingly, it was done in
spectacular fashion, by the team's captain!

The game overall was very even, however, as LC came back into the game,
and the two had several great exchanges, laced with goal chances.  After
the break, and as the quite entertaining back-and-forth continued, the
lone female player, Cheryl Butler, was instrumental in giving a precise
pass assist to fellow forward Richard Ellison, who scored the equalizer
for Lamb's Cove in the 56. minute.

Nothing much further happened in the match, and the sides parted with a
just draw, both teams seemed to be quite happy with.  It will now be
decided who gets a chance to play for a wild card by the LC-Ordland
match.  Should LC tie, they will get the chance, as they will if they
win, of course.  If Ordland wins, they need to win by 6 goals for
Morania to have a chance....

The Technical Information:

Final score: AFRICABLUE 0 - RAS LANARCH 5
Played in: Municipal Stadium, Brahe, Ordland
Attendance: 31,100
Referee: Knaas Van Hoofner (Libra)
Goals: Zeschgl (RAS, 36.), Mackendries (RAS, 66.), Zeschgl (RAS, 72.),
Zeschgl (RAS, 80.), Lenthzle (RAS, 88.)
Yellow cards: Mboma (AFB, 36.), Tchango (AFB, 49.), Gueye (AFB, 66.),
Moeti (AFB, 67.)
Red cards: Tchango (AFB, 66.), Gueye (AFB, 67.)
Substitutions: Anderson for Bayamba (AFB, 45.), Mimboe for Mboma (AFB,
70.), Sistermann for Stelldichein (RAS, 75.)

Match commentary:

Sensational collapse of Africablue, as discipline problems again prove
their downfall!!

Without a doubt, AFB was going into this match as the favorites, as they
had much more international experience than the amateur squad from Ras
Lanarch, who really just came to the Copa to have a good time and to
enjoy the game and themselves.  But who would have thought, the
notorious bad boys of AFB once again pulled off a collapse of monumental
proportions that cost them dearly.  AFB has been known for their
break-downs in big international matches before, and their notorious
battle versus Niololo Koba, in which there were far more cards than
goals, made big headlines last year.  After an appeal from the Emperor,
the team seemed to keep their emotions better under control for a while,
but again today, they were at their worst, and it really hurt them.

The rumors about Affricablue at the moment is that there is some sort of
unrest, disease, or uprising happening in that country currently, but
the AFB press has been keeping things under covers, and the players and
officials have declined to comment.  So it may well be that once again
their minds are off football and on more important matters (like it was
during the Thistlans secession) - whatever the reasons may have been, it
was another disappointing collapse by a team that has shown brilliance
before in the past, occasionally, and that is physically in very good
condition.

The first half was more or less normal.  Africablue had the edge, but
their continued efforts to score were foiled by a very cunning Ras
Lanarchian side that played very cautiously, and did not take any
chances.  That way, they were able to keep the game scoreless for the
longest time.  In an almost Northern Gronk-like manner, Lanarch built a
solid wall of defense, and only came out of their half when there was
minimal risk involved.  Thus, in the 36. minute, in a clever counter,
Zeschgl managed to score, after a defensive mistake by AFB, to bring the
ecstatic Ras Lanarchians up 1-0!  That's how the half ended.

After the break, more of the same - Africablue in the offensive, but in
vein.  And now, they were a goal down, and became increasingly
frustrated, which reflected itself in the rising number of fouls and
physical attacks.  Tchango got the yellow in the 49th minute, and when
Mackendries scored in the 66. minute, Tchango "accidentally" hit him in
the knuckle as the celebrating Lanarchian was taking a victory slide.
Referee Van Hoofner had no sympathy for his fellow LSA mate, and pulled
te Red card immediately for Tchango.  This caused a commotion, as now
most of the AFB players came running and complaining - some even came
off the bench!!  Top arguers were Gueye and Moeti, and they seemingly
got very much into the referee's face... finally, he had enough, and
scremed at all the players to return to their positions.  Gueye wanted
no part of that, and as he kept bitching away, the ref pulled the yellow
on him, too!  THEN Gueye was even more outraged, and he even seemed to
be taking a swing at the ref!!  If it indeed was a swing or not wasn't
totally clear, but Van Hoofner pulled back, and it missed....  but that
was it for Gueye: the Red card came out for him too!!  Now, both Gueye
and Moeti continued to hammer down verbally on the ref - by now, several
NOVEFA officials had reached the scene from the sidelines, and they
"escorted" Gueye off the field, almost like he was under arrest.  For
good measure, Van Hoofner threw in a yellow for Moeti, and made it
perfectly clear that any further arguing by anybody would result in more
red cards without hesitation...

So finally the game continued.  Obviously, Africablue was now not only
shook up, but also two men down, and the Lanarchians suddenly had the
opportunity to come out of their shell and take their surprising 2-0
lead even further.  As AFB became increasingly listless and
disinterested, Ras Lanarch made the most of it, and scored THREE more
times, for an incredible debut game victory of 5-0!!!  No new team has
ever had such a high debut win, and needless to say, the Lanarchians
jsut went WILD on the field after it was over!  It was a truly historic
moment, the underdog amateurs beating an internationally known teamby
five goals - probably it is the upset of the year, if not the biggest
upset EVER in the history of the IVEFA!  AFB and Ras Lanarch now both
must play vice-Vex Champions Lexicon Islands - this should be
interesting!  If AFB does not get their act together, they could be in
even more serious trouble against the number 3 LEX - double digits could
be possible!  Ras Lanarch will have to get their feet back on the
ground, and regroup as well, if they dont want to get hammered by one of
the planet's best.