Games 131 and 132 (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99) 03-22-299

Game 131: Northern Gronk - Lamb's Cove (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99)

NOVEFA announces the result for the first elimination match for one of
the wild cards in the Copa Vexanova Ordland '99:

The Technical Information:

Final score: NORTHERN GRONK 1 - LAMB'S COVE 0
Played in: Copernicus Stadium, Copernicus, Ordland (double header)
Attendance: 36,100
Referee: Nasser Al-Sudhin (MAU)
Goals: Onix-Gar (NGR, 25.)
Yellow cards: Ondash (LAM, 45.), Sadface (NGR, 68.)
Substitutions: Ellison for Butler (LAM, 45.)

Match commentary:

GRONK SATISFIED TO WIN THROUGH 1-0.

With this the first wild-card match, the Dukes from Lamb's Cove seemed
happy to be in the Copernicus Stadium, playing a team of international
standard, Northern Gronk, and making it further in the O'99 Tournament.
This was to be short lived however, with Northern Gronk starting the
game hard, peppering the Covian goal with shots. The whole thing was,
the Dukes were matching it with them, repelling attacks, and showing
good transition play, turning the ball into attacking chances, taking
their own fair share of shots at the Gronkian goal. It was as though
they'd found a new level of energy, stepping up in play as they stood up
to a new level of football.

The bombings continued until the 25th minute with an attacking move
finally a success, with a huge strike from the Gronkian Onix-Gar finding
its mark, making the score 1-0. The Covian 'keeper never really had a
chance to stop that goal, there was far too much behind it. From the
kickoff, the Dukes came back again trying some rapid attacking play, but
were suprised to see the change in Gronkian tactics, instead of being
faced with the frenetic attack and counter attack, the Covians hit the
wall. The 10 man defensive wall set up by the Gronkians. As usual the
wall proved to be impenitrable, with the negative Gronkian play
affecting the spirit of Lamb's Cove, wearing them down completely by
half time this was reflected by the petty foul conceded by Ondash right
on the buzzer.

With a seemingly renewed sprit, the Dukes came out after the break with
the hope that the Gronkians would either renew attacking play, or that
they could find a way through the wall. This was not to be, even though
the Dukes kept pushing for the entire half, showing plenty of promise
for the future. The Gronkians had shut up shop completely, rarely even
attempting shots on goal, satisfied with the final score of 1-0.

Lamb's Cove is eliminated, and players return home, some back to the
more familiar Covian Baseball League, while the Hurricanes will go on to
play the minnows Ras Lanarch in the next round.

NOVEFA announces the result for the second elimination match for one of
the wild cards in the Copa Vexanova Ordland '99:

The Technical Information:

Final score: DJERIGA 1 - IWK 3
Played in: Copernicus Stadium, Copernicus, Ordland (double header)
Attendance: 44,900
Referee: Trevor Speaks (Bowdani)
Goals: Nafudd (DJR, 20.), Tiaan (IWK, 40.), Bonbeto (IWK, 60.), Geigy
(IWK, 73.)
Yellow cards: none
Substitutions: Alon for Tiaan (IWK, 45.)

Match commentary:
IWK SENDS DJERIGA COWERING HOME.

In the second game of the double header, 8,000 extra people flooded into
the stadium to watch the Djerigan team, the most entertaining team of
the Tournament, and not because of their footballing prowess! However
they were to be disappointed that the Djerigans didn't win through,
after IWK defeated them 3-1.

The game started with the standard stuff, an adjustment period for both
teams as they both tried to find a way through each other's defenses.
The first team to do this was Djeriga, scoring with their first shot on
goal! After some tight passing play, the Djerigans, they managed to pass
their way through IWK's defence, to get the ball to Nafudd, who pushed
the ball into the back of the net, putting the score at 1-0, and the
Djerigans to the ground for the traditional prayer, and capture of the
ball.

The game continued in much the same way as the first 20, and it looked
as though the score would stay at 1-0 at half time. This was until the
contingent of IWK fans at the stadium began to start up a chant every
time the Djerigans gained control of the ball. With the ball being
pushed along the defensive lines, the IWK fans began to chant 'Khaled,
Khaled, Khaled!' As soon as this was heard, the Djerigan defenders began
to look around in fear, as though they'd forgotten about the crowd, and
that the voices were coming from another place. This allowed Tiaan to
steam onto the ball, and to bash it home before the Djerigans even
noticed, making the score 1-1 at half time.

Half time was spent by the Djerigan fans chanting and singing about
Moun, and banging drums. This seemed as though it was to remove the bad
feelings the chant of 'Khaled' had brought. The Djerigans again came
out, but seemed a little spooked, as the ground announcer announced all
the teams that had remained to see the game. As the Djerigans faced the
other way after halftime, they saw that the Mauretanian team was behind
the goal, on the 2nd tier of the stadium! This completely upset the
'keeper, who constantly checked over his shoulder throughout the half,
breaking his concentration completely, resulting in 2 more goals to the
IWK team who just viewed the scoring of goals as inevitable, letting the
Djerigans run themselves ragged, before capitalising through goals to
Bonbeto and Geigy, making the score 3-1 at full-time. As the whistle was
blown, the Djerigans all collapsed to the ground, half out of
exhaustion, half out of fear! Their supporters did the same, seemingly
fearful of the result! After about a minute, the Djerigans got up and
walked off the field, rather puzzled. Coach Kapek walked off shaking his
head as the whistle went.

Djeriga return home to their islands, as IWK move on to face Islandia
who were so roundly whipped by the Watts and Mealing Territories in
their last group game. Should be fireworks, as both teams are about
level in skill at the moment.