Games 128 and 129 (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99) 03-20-299

Game 128: Northern Gronk - Otago/TDCorp (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99)

NOVEFA announces the result of the Group D game of the first round of
the Copa Vexanova Ordland '99:

The Technical Information:

Final score: NORTHERN GRONK 3 - OTAGO/TDCorp 1
Played in: Municipal Stadium, Brahe, Ordland
Attendance: 35,100
Referee: Wilfried Astnehmer (Westria)
Goals: Sinisterfoot (NGR, 11.), Rimlahim (NGR, 27.), Sinisterfoot (NGR,
36.), Vaquero (OTA, 89.)
Yellow cards: Onix-Gar (NGR, 55.)
Substitutions: Navojoa for Vernon (OTA, 45.), Fernandez for El Ghera
(OTA, 45.)

Match commentary:

Hurricanes back to their old selves as they cruise past Otago/TDC!

After the demoralizing and somewhat surprising loss by Northern Gron to
Bowdani, which cost them the group title, the Hurricanes were back in
full strangth, and with that extra little bit of motivation... the
Hurricanes do NOT like to lose, that is for sure.  This time, they made
certain it would not happen again, and they firmly controlled the game
all through.  Their defensive wall was as solid as ever, especially in
the first half.  Otago/TDC was clearly not in the same league as the
Gronkians today, as they haardly managed to get any decent goal chances
in the first half.  Meanwhile, NG scored three times comfortably, and
without sacrificing their usual style.

Otago coach Crespo, who had already made wholesale changes to his lineup
after the 2-6 loss to Bowdani, made some substitutions in the second
half in the hope to gain some much needed momentum in the game.  It
didn't seem to work.  NG was now programmed to kill time, and just run
out the clock, and the second half was once again a boring display of
Gronkian wall blocking to frustrate their opponent... which it did!
Eventually Otago had to realize they were not going to turn the game
around against this strategically and technically vastly superior team,
and the game became a listless kick-about for the remainder.  To
everybody's surprise, including Otago's, as the Gronkians were winding
down the game just before the end, Vaquero manaed to sneak through the
wall, and gave the Hurricane defense a resounding wake-up-call as he
scored from long range, with some defenders onlooking in amazement...
but that was it - NG was alert for the last few minutes of injury time,
and made sure the score stayed 3-1 in their favor!

NG will now be one of the favorites for a wild card.  Otago/TDC is
eliminated from the Copa, after a not 100% convincing performance that
will probably have to lead to some soul-searching to improve for the
next time.

NOVEFA announces the result of the Group E game of the first round of
the Copa Vexanova Ordland '99:

The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTRIA 2 - INDEPENDENT WESTRIAN KUKURIA 0
Played in: National Stadium, Newton, Ordland
Attendance: 44,400
Referee: Alexi Verbatim (Northern Gronk)
Goals: Vraseydenhout (WES, 34.), Alicanti (WES, 60.)
Yellow cards: Tunte (IWK, 33.), Yoghurt (WES, 44.)
Substitutions: Alon for Xuxu (IWK, 45.), Helfershelfer for Amletito
(IWK, 62.), Fesset for Marginot (WES, 62.), Dülingen for Theunissen
(WES, 62.)

Match commentary:

Good action-packed match ends in deserved win for Diamonds!

In the Westrian world, this match was much-anticipated... the press had
blown it out of proportion as the "battle of the ideologies" between the
BWA-managed Westria and the Independent IWK.  But both federations, as
well as the coaches and players tried to downplay the rivalry, and
really, the game was, as could really be expected, very amicable, albeit
very competitive.

IWK got a good start, as they were obviously trying to get the jump on
their big brothers, and score one early, but the "Marginot-Line" of
Westrian defense was right on the mark again!  The game proceeded to be
fast-paced and at a high technical skill level, faeturing many good
passes, and fast combination play that made the less-than-capacity
crowsa glad that they did come after all.  Westria was, despite the
remarkable efforts by IWK, still noticeably the better team, and they
scored a deserved goal in the 34. minute.  IWK stayed dangerous though,
and threatened to equalize, but Westria held them off with all their
might until the break.

In the second half, it was much of the same:  the two teams exchanged
blows, with Westria in the slight upper hand, but IWK always dangerous
on the counters.  However, it was again Westria to score, this time in
the 60. minute through Alicanti.  Then followed a barrage of
substitutions: IWK brought in another striker, while Westria added some
fresh legs.

for the last 30 minutes, IWK was charging hard, while Westria dropped
back, obviously comfortable with their 2-goal lead.  They really needed
all their skills and the brilliance of Marginot & Co. to try and keep
the hard charging Banana Warriors off their goal.  Two very near misses
for IWK were credited to the great reflexes of Hasenpfeffer.  Voyden
cleared on the line once!  With a little luck, IWK may have well scored,
and then perhaps the momentum might have turned.  But Westria made no
mistakes, and they ultimately ended up winning deservedly 2-0.

Westria thus advances as group champions, while IWK will take their
chances for a wild card.  A splendid match that was much more
entertaining to watch than the dragging NGR-OTA/TDC encounter from
earlier today!