Games 372 through 374 (Copa Burovia Kalesthesia 300), 08-14-300 and 08-17-300:

Game 372, Kalesthesia - Westermarc (SEMIFINAL):

The Technical Information:

Final score: KALESTHESIA 4 - WESTERMARC 1
Played at: Grand Lotus Stadium, Joannina, Kalesthesia
Attendance: 101,600
Referee: Wilfried Astnehmer (WES)
Goals: Mechzal (KAL, 39.), Fang (WMC, 55.), Funchzal (KAL, 60., penalty), Qarza (KAL, 77.), Kefir (KAL, 82.)
Yellow cards: Foit (WMC, 7.), Luiki (WMC, 11.), Dogge (KAL, 31.), A.Malin (KAL, 52.), Rhadjneej (WMC, 60.)
Substitutions: Rzuhai for Luiki (WMC, 45.), Ryoman for M. Fooey (WMC, 79.), Uriba for Soverastin (KAL, 80.)

KALESTHESIA'S GREATEST WIN!

The writing had been on the wall: the Westermarcian team had been shaky
throughout this competition, and their disappointing loss to Lendosa at
the VexGames is also still not forgotten... and today, the Serpents came
apart at their seams, as they failed to contain an enthusiastic
Kalesthesian squad which has had momentum on their side in their
previous two matches as well as this one.  With 100,000 loud fans behind
them, the Stars were noticeably the better overall team today, although
Westermarc did reasonably well in the first half, after which the score
remained tied at one each.

The second half, however, finally brought about what the first half had
already hinted:  the fall of the Westermarc team.  Captain Fang could
not prevent the disaster, and he was not helped much by his overall
lackluster team, Kirin and Cirrus perhaps the other two who played well,
but Foit having a bad day, and Singhraj not living up to his usual
standard.  Kalesthesia scored a penalty in the 60. minute, to take the
lead, and they never looked back from there, scoring twice more for the
remarkable 4-1 victory!

The impossible dream has thus come true for this former backmarker of
PBSU soccer, the much-maligned Kalesthesians have made it to the final,
granted, playing at home, but nevertheless, with respectable wins over
opponents Woo, Baben Bay, and the Serpents today.  A remarkable
turnaround from the disappointments of previous matches, and if nothing
else a boost to Kalesthesia's IVEFA ranking, and for soccer in the
nation in general (with the domnestic leagues just days from kicking off
their 300/301 season).  This final match will be perhaps the biggest
ever match for Kalesthesia, especially if Westria makes it to the final
as well.  We all can't wait!

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The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTRIA 3 - DEUCOLAND 0
Played at: Royal Sporting Grounds, Blauburg, Kalesthesia
Attendance: 74,000
Referee: Adam Lova (LOM)
Goals: Nadeschney (WES, 14.), Vraseydenhout (WES, 56.), Vraseydenhout (WES, 66.)
Yellow cards: Elke (DEU, 22.), Schilla (WES, 44.), Ohnesorge (DEU, 66.)
Substitutions: Herdez for Maurinter (DEU, 60.), Gramiller for
Vraseydenhout (WES, 70.), Kisselma for Marginot (WES, 70.), Inglis for Ruñez (DEU, 72.)

DEUCOLAND HAS FOUND ITS CHAMPION!

The Gargoyles were just flying through the early rounds to reach this
semifinal, and they were eager to play their "natural rivals", Westria.
Despite their eagerness, however, Deucoland had finally found its match,
and then some, as it was Westria who came away the winners as they were
the overall more polished team, and in the end scored a relatively
comfortable win over the also luckless Deucolanders.

After taking a relatively early lead through Nadeschney, Westria had to
withstand about 20 minutes of intense attacks from their southern
neighbors.  Deucoland was not intimidated, and by all means played at
the level, if not better than, Westria.  But luck was not on their side
during that period of the match, and despite two shots onto the
crossbar, and a goal disallowed due to offsides, Westria was still ahead
1-0 goint into the break.

In the second half, Deucoland's offensive gradually began to run out of
steam, as the well-rested Westrians eventually took over the match more
and more.  Vraseydenhout sealed the Deucos' fate within a span of 10
minutes, scoring in the 66. and 76. minutes, respectively, the first
after a foul-free kick handed off by Zimroe, and the other by head after
a corner kick by Guydenvaldt.  The 3-0 was to stand till the end, with
the Deucos eventually realizing that they would not be able to make up a
3-goal deficit against the world's best team in the time span of just 14
minutes.

Westria thus expectely goes through to the final, where they will meet
the high-flying Kalesthesians, and not as expected, Westermarc.  The way
the hosts are playing right now, they might prove to be a real threat to
the Westrian favorites' title aspirations... in any event, in
Kalesthesia and in the Realm, this particular final is going to be a
huge match.  You know YOU will be watching...!
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The Technical Information:

Final score: KALESTHESIA 2 - WESTRIA 5
Played at: Grand Lotus Stadium, Joannina, Kalesthesia
Attendance: 102,000
Referee: Devon Whytman (RAS)
Goals: Guydenvaldt (WES, 2.), Theunissen (WES, 27.), Funchzal (KAL, 30.), Theunissen (WES, 43.), Kefir (KAL, 55.), Vraseydenhout (WES, 70.), Zimroe (WES, 79.)
Yellow cards: Voyden (WES, 23.)
Substitutions: Sinjenojia for Agundes (KAL, 60.)

ULTIMATELY, THE EXPECTED OUTCOME!

Speculations had been rampant after Kalesthesia's convincing semifinal
win over Westermarc, as to wheter the home team indeed had crossed the
line to becoming a major international challenger, at least on their own
home soil, and whether or not they would be able to mount a serious
challenge for the Copa Burovia title against the all mighty Westrian
team, which entered this competition as the overwhealming favorites.

But those who were hoping for a continuation of the cindarella story
Kalesthesia's were in for a rude awakening, and a rather anticlimactic
match.  102,000 hopeful fans had packed the Grand Lotus Stadium,
optimistically wishing to see their team take on and beat the world's
best, but things got off to a bad start, with Guydenvaldt scoring a
shocker in just the 2. minute after a beginning lapse in the
Kalesthesian defense.  And things would never really go the Stars' way
after that, either.  Theunissen was having a marquee day, and scored the
second goal in a eyebrow raising solo effort, further dashing the hopes
of the home fans.  However, hope came alive again when Funchzal closed
the gap to one goal just 3 minutes later.  But the mounting cheers and
the building momentum of the Kalesthesians would be shattered once more,
perhaps already decisively, just two minutes before the break, as
Theunissen again scored, but this time after a pass from Nadeschney.
Psychologically, an important goal for Westria, up 3-1 at halftime.

In the second half, Kalesthesia seemed to gather some pace, and
struggled to another goal through their midfield standout Kefir... the
Stars' finest moment in the match, the gap closed to only one goal, and
a victory seemingly still within grasp... alas, they could not
capitalize on their effort, and when Vraseydenhout scored the 2-4 in the
70. minute, the Kalesthesian effort was more or less spent.  Zimroe
scored again nine minutes later to finish off the dejected home team, in
front of their now rather silent crowds.  In the end, a pretty clear 5-2
win for the favorites from Westria, who win their first international
title since the Copa Vexanova Ordland'99!  The crowds nevertheless gave
their team a nice ovation, and the Westrian victors their due during the
final ceremonies.  Their team had, after all, reached beyond
expectations, and even played fearlessly against the intimidating
opponent.  Well done, Kalesthesia.  Well done, Westria, the deserved,
and even predictable champions of the Copa Burovia 300!