Games 134 and 135 (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99) 03-24-299

Game 134: Northern Gronk - Ras Lanarch (Copa Vexanova Ordland '99)

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

The Technical Information:

Final score: NORTHERN GRONK 3 - RAS LANARCH 0
Played in: National Stadium, Newton, Ordland (double header)
Attendance: 38,200
Referee: George Caplick (WMT)
Goals: Rimlahim (NGR, 11.), Krizhobolya (NGR, 19.), Rimlahim (NGR, 32.)
Yellow cards: Stelldichein (RAS, 32.), Yoakes (NGR, 73.)
Substitutions: Dukhlas for Zafranthz (RAS, 45.), Tschareinig for
Stelldichein (RAS, 45.)

Match commentary:

Hurricanes blow away Ras Lanarch without breaking a sweat!

Ras Lanarch were the gross underdogs in this game; one of the
Cinderella-stories of the competition so far, they were brought back to
the reality of a prince well out of reach today, as Northern Gronk left
no doubt that there were leagues between the skills of the two teams,
and dominated the game from beginning to end.

After pulling ahead 2-0 within 20 minutes, NG fell back into its feared
wall mode, and simply blocked all attempts by their opponents at getting
through.  To Ras Lanarch, it must hve become clear at this point that
they would under no circumstances advance from this game, and their play
became rather uninspired because of it.  After a Stelldichein foul in
the 32. minute, Rimlahim scored again from the direct free kick, to make
the score 3-0.

The second half was one to forget, and a lot of disgruntled spectators
left the stands and went for a walk, waiting for the second match of the
double-header to begin later... neither NG nor RL seemed to be willing
to expend any more efforts, and the remainder of the match was an
agonizing running down of the clock.  It came as a real relief to
EVERYBODY when the whistle finally sounded, and all could just get off
the field!  Ras Lanarch can still be happy with their showing, the 5-0
over Africablue has really made soccer history.  For NG, the Copa now
continues, as they must face red-hot hosts Ordland, in what promises to
be the quarterfinals' top matchup!

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

The Technical Information:

Final score: ISLANDIA 1 - IWK 0, in overtime
Played in: National Stadium, Newton, Ordland (double header)
Attendance: 39,800
Referee: Brad Barkley (Lamb's Cove)
Goals: Tordarsson (ISL, 115.)
Yellow cards: none
Substitutions: Sæmundsson for Kjartansson (ISL, 45.), Xuxu for Alon
(IWK, 45.), Olafsson for Liliansson (ISL, 93.), Huskvarna for Carrara
(IWK, 93.)

Match commentary:

Endurance bout narrowly to Islandia!

A pretty evenly matched game all along, these teams did it the hard way:
with 120 minutes of hard-fought action!  It seems baffling that nobody
managed to score, as particularly in the first half, there was a barrage
of goal chances on both sides!  However, the famous Islandian striker
duo Eyjolfsson and Petursson were out of luck with their respective
opportunities, and IWK star striker Geigy twice made it easy for the
Islandian keeper as he shot directly at him!

So the first half was an action-packed match, that really compensated
the spectators who had come for the doulble header, and been really
disappointed with the boring NG-RL match before!  In the second half,
both brought in a sub in the hope to get the upper hand, but it was
pretty much the same story... anything could have happened, as both
sides played up chance by chance.  It was hard to say that either of
them really was in charge.  Finally though, about in the 70. minute, the
pace bagen to slow down, as the players grew more exhausted.  Their
strategies now also changed to a cunning careful back-and-forth -
neither wanted to risk receiving a goal so short before the end that
would take them out of the Copa!  It became a whole different story than
the rest of the game.  Caution prevailed, and it was time for overtime!

Both teams had a much-needed sub left over, and overtime began with a
bang, as IWK midfielder Sturmann took a long shot from almost the center
circle that almost caught Fabiansson off the mark!  But the Penguin's
keeper managed to just leap backwards to deflect over the goal!  The
corner came up short.  Still, both teams were cautious, apparently
willing to take their chances in a penalty shootout.  The fact that both
sides grew increasingly tired did not help either's cause.

However, in a sudden burst, Islandia decided to take a chance in the
115. minute, and surged forward with no less than 7 men, exposing their
backfield... Petursson was at the helm, and handed off to Eyjolfsson,
who turned and tricked a defender, then began sprinting towards the
goal!  Eyjolfsson could have taken the shot, but goalie Issel was
directly opposig him, ready to jump for the ball, so in a spurt of
genius, Eyjolffson passed off to the right to Tordarsson, who volleyed
the leather far away from Issel into the far corner of the IWK goal for
the all-decisive 1-0!!  Islandia's joy was IWK's agony, with only 5
minutes to go, they had to score, and desperately tried!  Islandia
however kept their cool, and hung on for the narrowest of wins, 1-0 in
overtime!

For IWK it's goodbye after a good showing that had them defeat Thistland
and Djeriga.  Islandia will play the resurgent Bowdanians in the quarter
finals!