Game 169 (IVEFA Masters Islandia '99) 06-13-299

Game 169: Eastern Zartania - Bowdani  (IVEFA Masters Islandia '99 SEMIFINAL)

IVEFA presents the result from today's SEMIFINAL bout in the IVEFA
Masters played in Islandia:

The Technical Information:

Final score: EASTERN ZARTANIA 5 - BOWDANI 3
Played in: Myri Stadium, Bjargeyar, Islandia
Attendance: 53,250
Referee: Ulf-Ingar Kundur (Islandia)
Goals: Fouberg (KTZ, 9.), du Cron (KTZ, 20.), Hund (BOW, 31.),
Punneratau (BOW, 44.), Faulkner (KTZ, 55., penalty), Killehal (BOW,
63.), McBride (KTZ, 72.), McBride (KTZ, 83.)
Yellow cards: Shelton (KTZ, 11.), Cross (KTZ, 19.), Coleman (BOW, 22.),
Racine (KTZ, 25.), A. Moran (BOW, 27.), Dandoon (BOW, 66.)
Substitutions: Dandoon for A. Moran (BOW, 45.), Duvall for Rohal (KTZ,
45.), Bassen for Marn (BOW, 74.)

Match commentary:

Bowdani strong, but Zartania prevails!

What a great game!  Eight goals, plenty of action and excitement, good
physical play, and plenty of nailbiting moments, it is too bad that a
team had to lose today, as both certainly would have been worthy of a
spot in the finals of this IVEFA Masters!   Bowdani, still the surprise
team, who came in as a fan's choice pick to replace Dascunya, had fought
their way back from a narrow first-round loss to Armatirion with great
wins against Vexillium Cup Champions Christiana, and against Armatirion
in the "revenge" match, to meet the flawless Eastern Zartanians, who,
with their new coach, seemed to have found their winning ways of the
past.

The game started out quick and furious, with both teams playing their
trademark rough and physical style.  In fact, there were plenty of
yellows in the early going, and referee Kundur had to have a chat with
both the captains, remindning them of the dangers of red cards if this
sort of rough play was kept up.  The spectators loved it, though, and
they were also treated with plenty of goals.  After KTZ went up 2-0,
Bowdani came back strong to tie up the game at 2-2 just before the
halftime intermission.  After the break, Faulkner converted a penalty
caused by a clear foul by Franchino, to once again put KTZ ahead, but
Killehal 8 minutes later again evened it all up... the game was so even,
with both teams exchanging blows, it was a pleasure to watch, and nobody
at that time could guess the outcome, as it was anybody's match.

When KTZ again pulled ahead through McBride 4-3 in the 72. minute,
Bowdani seemed hardly impressed, and they kept on playing their
attacking ways, leaving many chances by the wayside.  Everybody seemed
to expect them to equlalize once again, but when suddenly McBride scored
again next, instead of Bowdani, in the 83. minute, it began to dawn on
everyone that this would be Eastern Zartania's day, even though Bowdani
would have been an equally deserving winner.  Time finally ran out for
the Smallwickans, and Eastern Zartania played concentrated and made no
mistakes that may have cost them the match.  KTZ held on to win this
most entertaining and evenly played match, 5-3.  Hero of the game was
McBride, who scored the two late goals that made the difference.

Eastern Zartania is thus the first team in the FINAL match to be played
next weekend at Sandur Giant Stadium, against the winner of
Westria-Whitlam, with the possibility of a rematch with their great
Whitlamite rivals, OR a rematch with Westria, who had eliminated them
from the Vexillium Cup this past November.

Bowdani has to say goodbye after another great display of their ever
improving skills... they came on short notice and as the extreme
underdogs playing with the best on the planet, and they did not disgrace
themselves, beating Armatirion and Christiana, and narrowly losing in
their other two matches!  Well done, Bowdani.

All eyes will now be on Westria and Whitlam duking it out on Wednesday
in what promises to be another sensational match!

IVEFA