Game 173 (Friendly Match) 07-06-299

Game 173: Brolecia - San Patricio  (Friendly)

IVEFA presents the result from today's friendly match:

The Technical Information:

Final score: BROLECIA 0 - SAN PATRICIO 0
Played in: O Palácio de Futebol Rateense, Kache, Brolecia
Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Peter Claris (Morania)
Goals: NONE!
Yellow cards: Khaled (SAN, 11.), Smyth (BRO, 44.), McCollum (SAN, 50.), Lopez
(SAN, 81.)
Substitutions: McGillicuddy for O'Gorman (SAN, 45.), Prebble for McCombe (BRO,
45.), Ozi for Möller (BRO, 62.), Verano for Barek (SAN, 69.)

Match commentary:

A new rivalry begins with a scoreless draw!

This was a very interesting matchup, with these two teams which have emerged from
the formerly powerful Mauretanien side... Brolecia had already made a name for
itself, but San Patricio came out to challenge them for "best Mauretanien
team"...  Indeed, some of the players had served as comrades together, trained and
played on the Mauretanie team as mates, and they now found themselves pitched
against one another.  Anticipation was high amongst the fans, and word is that
television ratings were at an all time high in both nations, watching the game.

Considering all the hype surrounding the matchup, the game itself was a bit of a
letdown.  While there were quite quick and exciting passages, nevertheless, not a
single goal was scored the entire 90 minutes.  Brolecia was, despite all
preparations by SP, the favorite going into the match, and after the astonishing
success the Barons have had recently, that moved them all the way up to 11th in
the IVEFA Satosan Ranking Index, and even made Eastern Zartania opt to chicken out
of a challenge for their IVEFA Championship Title which was supposed to play in
Liston, the local fans expected great things from their team.

However, San Patricio more than impressed with clever play that was by all means
the equal of the home side.  The experience of the former Mauretanien players,
Khaled (the "Demon"), Barek, and Fernandez & Co. sure came to the foreground, as
the veterans directed their less experienced colleagues well.  Although it was not
the most entertaining match, it still was interesting from a football-match point
of view, as both teams played their strategies well.  Furthermore it was
fascinating to simply behold the formwer teammates playing against each other,
knowing well many of their counterparts' strangths and weaknesses.

Brolecia at times made heavy pressure, and clearly had more ball possession, but
SP was always dangerous from the flanks.  Madyarbanya was a real revelation of the
game, and rumors are that he was approached by officials of a WSL team after the
match to explore the possibility of a professional contract in the WSL next
season.  Brolecia, of course, already has 5 players in the WSL, but this time, it
was the non-WSLers who shone the brightest for the Barons, mostly Rhodes, who
nearly cracked the otherwise solid SP defense, and Dupont, who kept the flamboyant
Madyarbanya in check most of the time.  The "Demon", Khaled, who had last wreaked
havoc on Djeriga, which prompted them to declare him a devil, has definitely
recovered from his mysterious illness (which he jokingly calls the "Wrath of
Moun"), and had another standout match today as his comeback in international
soccer!

The best scoring chances for both teams came before the break, in the second half,
the game ebbed a bit, with the occasional flurry.  All in all a good performance
for both teams, although considering the pre-game odds on the game, the San
Patricians will probably be happier with this result than the success-spoiled
Brolecians, despite the Barons remaining undefeated in international A-Level
competition.  With Westermarc, Brolecia will next play their first real test
against a top-10 team, part of the powerful Westrian footballing dynasty, which
was last seen in action playing for the third place in the Vexillium Cup.  Whether
or not San Patricio will play another friendly before heading to the VexGames is
unknown at this time.