Game 174 (Friendly Match) 07-10-299

Game 174: Brolecia - Westermarc  (Friendly)

The Technical Information:

Final score: BROLECIA 1 - WESTERMARC 4
Played in: NRW Stadion, New Cologne, Brolecia
Attendance: 51,000
Referee: George Caplick (WMT)
Goals: J. Fooey (WMC, 11.), Tîlliqàratnë (BRO, 19.), Foit (WMC, 29., penalty),
Fang (WMC, 59.), Zhensen (WMC, 80., penalty)
Yellow cards: Guëyga (WMC, 28.), M. Fooey (WMC, 50.), J. Ozi (BRO, 80.)
Red card: Smyth (BRO, 29.)
Substitutions: LeClerc for J. Ozi (BRO, 61.)

Match commentary:

Dark hour for Brolecia not the VexGames preparation they were hoping for:

Brolecia faced its first real test against a top-ten team with Westermarc, and
essentially their worst nightmares came true.  While in the beginning all went
well and both teams scoring one each, things turned ugly for Brolecia after
notorious bad boy Smyth began to throw punches at Mickey Fooey in the box, after
an initial foul that Fooey was less than pleased about.  As he began to complain
to Smyth and the Ref, the Brolecian defender went nuts and started to attack the
Westermarcian.  He had to be held back by his teammates, and fortunately the
situation did not escalate into a brawl, as the other players kept cool heads.
Smyth was ejected in the 29. minute, and will be suspended from the Brolecian
national team for 6 months!  No word yet as to whether he will be also suspended
from the WSL, where he plays for Crocus FC.

Smyth's foul also brought about a penalty kick for Westermarc, which K. K. Foit
converted effortlessly to bring the guests up 2-1.  For the rest of the half,
Brolecia visibly had their hands full to keep up with Westermarc with one man
down, and in that expanded most of their energy to troubleshoot their own
defensive shortfall.  Nevertheless, Westermarc did not score again before the
break.  Brolecia needed to change their tactics now, with Prensule moving back to
play a 4-3-2 formation.

In the second half, the Barons seemd refreshed and had apparently shaken off the
shock of the 29. minute events.  They actually set the better impulses for a good
ten minutes, and almost scored the equalizer three times.  Thanks to Nuur, who was
on the mark, and to their being a man short, however, the Serpents managed to hold
off a score against them.  The momentum changed once more when WMC star striker
Fang scored after a run through the middle in the 59. minute, taking the wind back
out of Brolecia's sails, whose efforts remained uneffective, despite bringing in
LeClerc for J. Ozi in the 61. minute, in an attempt to make things happen, moving
Martínez to right-mid, and LeClerc to right-centre.

Westermarc, however, really used their experience, and kept the desperate
Brolecians at bay.  The final coffin nail came with another penalty after a hand
play by Martinez, which Zhensen converted for the unexpected 4-1 for Westermarc,
leaving not only the Barons, but also the 51,000 attending fans shell-shocked.
Nobody had expected this, with Brolecia's recent successes and Westermarc expected
to be rusty!

Brolecia now goes into the VexGames, surely with at least some doubts.  Good for
them, they will have a chance to regroup as they get the first round free pass.
Ironically, there is a very good chance at a revenge match against Westermarc in
the second round, provided the Serpents beat Djeriga in their first round match,
wich is more than likely, seeing their latest performance!

Off to the VexGames next!