Games 543-550 (The III.rd Games of the Vexilliad Lynne/Myo Beach 301)
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Bronze Medal and Gold Medal Matches:

IVEFA proudly presents the results from the 301 VexGames in Lamb's Cove:

Game 543: Draconia - Somery (Quarterfinal 8-26-301):

The Technical Information:

Final score: DRACONIA 4 - SOMERY 0
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 20,700
Referee: Valter Burschnwackl (IWK)
Goals: Rehnsky (DRA, 27.), Offram (DRA, 43.), Mirren (DRA, 59.), Reversi (DRA, 75.)
Yellow cards: Moorwood (DRA, 3.), Scowell (SOM, 14.), Fablizi (DRA, 24.), Treue (SOM, 50.), Strike (DRA, 59.)
Red cards: Fablizi (DRA, 70.)
Substitutions: Mirren for McNoughty (DRA, 45.), Kirther for Mard (SOM, 51.), Carrough for Scowell (SOM, 62.), Reversi for Wentworth (DRA, 60.)

SOMERY FINDS NO RECIPE AGAINST THE PIRATES!

After their exhilerating win in overtime over world champions Westria, Somery were today obvisouly a bit hung over from both, their exhausting overtime battle, and
no doubt also from their celebrations... the Shiffles never really got into the game enough to be dangerous to the focused Draconians, who enjoy their third win
in a row with a goal difference of four or more.  Very impressive performances all around for the Pirates, who could not even be slowed down after being reduced to
ten men in the 70. minute.  On the contrary, they even managed to score with one man down, and must now be considered the top-favorites for the GOLD!

The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTERMARC 4 - NAMURIA 0
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,200
Referee: Lorenz Vanderkippe (OOO)
Goals: Fang (WMC, 31., penalty), Nikkei (WMC, 44.), Fang (WMC, 67., penalty), Kirin (WMC, 92.)
Yellow cards: Cirrus (WMC, 22.), Druvolan (NAM, 31.), Guëyga (WMC, 60.), Jaar (NAM, 67.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Ebropa for Muthras (NAM, 45.), Rzuhai for Koon (WMC, 70.), Ryoman for Fang (WMC, 70.)

DISMAL DAY FOR NAMURIA, SERENDIPIDOUS DAY FOR WESTERMARC!

Westermarc really seems to be back to their former glory, the result certainly attests that fact, against one of the world's very top teams... however, the 4-0
does not tell the entire story.  Things sure went the Serpents' way in this match.  Namuria was pressuring hard from the getgo, but lacked the necessary
serendipidy to execute.  Singhraj and Nuur prevented the worst.  Namuria would only receive two yellows, but they would end up costing them the match, as both
were given in conjunction with penalties.  With the first one, there was no doubt, Nikkei was clearly felled in the box.  The second one, however, was rather
contraversial, and could have been called either way... Fang rather theatrically fell just on the line, but ref Vanderkippe was inclined to believe it...

Another critical factor was Westermarc scoring the 2-0 just before the break, which gave them a comfortable advantage.  Namuria was once again charging hard in
the early second half, but just lik ein the first, the penalty put an end to their momentum.  The final goal was scored in injury time when it was clear that Namuria
had lost their cause, and the Eagles just wanted to get off the field.  They certainly did not deserve to be beaten 0-4 today... but Westermarc made the best
of the chances presented to them, and thus goes to the semifinals!

The Technical Information:

Final score: BOWDANI 2 - LENDOSA 3
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,100
Referee: Nicolas Jousfrippe (AFA)
Goals: Lacasanan (LEN, 5.), Punneratau (BOW, 65.), Killehal (BOW, 67.), J. Cassarica (LEN, 77.), Leon (LEN, 90.)
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Weher for Marn (BOW, 50.), Salengar for Ioe (BOW, 64.), Kalin for Hernandez (LEN, 70.), Branza for Genasi (LEN, 70.)

LENDOSA OUTBATTLES BOWDANI IN EPIC STRUGGLE!

Both teams were positively exhausted after this match, a bitter defeat for Bowdani who were favored to win this match and perhaps even the GOLD medal.  This one went
all the way to the final whistle at high intensity.  Up until the end it looked as if the match was going to go into overtime, tied 2-2, but then Santon Leon shocked
the Bowdanian team with a retracting volley over his own head after a flank from Santanda - probably the prettiest goal of the competition, leaving Andy Hawk no
chance from close range.  Lendosa was leading first after Lacasanan caught a rebound off a free kick in just the 5. minute.  Bowdani battled back into the lead
after goals from Punneratau and Killehal, who today showed his best form unlike the two previous matches.  Jose Cassarica made it  2-2 in the 77. with a header
off a corner kick by Leon, and Leon himself then had the heroics to win it all in the final minute of regulation.  What a match!  Lendosa will have to face the
red-hot Draconia in the semis!

The Technical Information:

Final score: CHRISTIANA 3 - MORANIA 4
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Vasco Contara (EST)
Goals: Selior (MOA, 20.), Selior (MOA, 30.), Harrison (CHR, 40.), Thayer (CHR, 55.), Trevisano (MOA, 69.), Hollingsworth (CHR, 71.), Selior (MOA, 77.)
Yellow cards: Sumner (CHR, 30.), Bolton (CHR, 62.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: none

CHRISTIANA FIGHT, BUT SUCCUMB TO "HOME" TEAM MORANIA!

Similarly to Soomery after their big win over Westria, Christiana was feeling a little hung over after their great win over Eastern Delgamia.  Couple that with
the momentum of the Moranian team, whipped on by their partisan fans who made out the large majority of all spectators, and Christiana had a real fight on their
hands to hold off the Moranians, a fight which they eventually narrowly lost, thanks in large part due to another sterling performance of captain Daid Selior,
who scored an incredible hattrick, contributing the lion share of Morania's winning goals!

Christiana came close to pulling even at the very end, but eventually ran out of time.  Even though they lost, the new Knights showed a lot of promise in this
tourney, alleviating fears that with most of its old team, all of Christiana's football may have died in the tragic plane crash in January.  But the Knights
proved that there IS a future for that team, and earned some very healing victories.  Morania meanwhile moves on to face off with Westermarc in the semis!

The Technical Information:

Final score: DRACONIA 2 - LENDOSA 0
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Gilles Baptiste (PHX)
Goals: Rehnsky (DRA, 11.), Reversi (DRA, 79.)
Yellow cards: Selenen (LEN, 10.), Vitovio (LEN, 23.), Abercromie (DRA, 31.), Heimanzos (DRA, 49.), Xhsaki (LEN, 64.), Skirrivat (DRA, 80.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Reversi for McNoughty (DRA, 45.), Kalin for Vitovio (LEN, 66.), Skirrivat for Fablizi (DRA, 68.), Luando for Genasi (LEN, 81.)

CAN DRACONIA BE STOPPED?

With football fever sweeping through the streets in Draconia, and all flights from Prurient City to Lamb's Cove hopelessly overbooked, the Draconian team today did
their part with a solid showing against the Lendosan team, beating them squarely 2-0.  With considerably more supporters at hand, Draconia once again looked
sterling, and set the tone with an early goal by Rehnsky.  Battling from the early going to draw even again, the Lendosans had their back to the wall sooner than
they liked.  Leon, Jose Cassarica, & Co. did their best, but the Draconians, not usually renowned for defensive prowess, today stood tall and denied the Lendosans
that all-important equalizer.  Reversi scored again in the 79. minute to embellish the result to an impressive 2-0, sending the many Pirates fans into overdrive!!
Draconia is assured a medal and will now play for the GOLD medal in two days!  Lendosa will have a shot at the bronze in what was an overall solid showing for
the upper midfield runners.

The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTERMARC 0 - MORANIA 2
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Wilfried Astnehmer (WES)
Goals: Desroches (MOA, 50.), Castelliano (MOA, 81.)
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Ryoman for Koon (WMC, 60.), Sangarat for Rasthanya (WMC, 70.)

MORANIA DRIVEN TO VICTORY BY ITS FANS, WESTERMARC'S LACKLUSTER!

It sure seemed all of Scandlon Field was filled to the rim with Moranian fans, the most vocal group, even moreso than the fanatical Draconians who came halfway
around the world!  The Moranians had the shortest travel, and came in the largest numbers, and today the fans were once more delighted at their team.  While
Westermarc seemed to be lacking the bite they had in their first three matches, the Moranians played a cleverly careful match that relied on a solid defensive
strategy, taking their chances in quick counter attacks.  With Westermarc seemingly unable to mount dangerous challenges against the confident and careful
Moranians, it was the Moranians who scored first after a scoreless first half.  Westermarc tried to come back by subbing in more offensive players, but the tactic
backfired, as Morania then took advantage of a defensive hole to go up 2-0, pretty much sealing the fate of the Serpents, who can be considered disappointing in
their performance today.  Thus, Morania celebrates their biggest soccer success yet, a guaranteed medal in the VexGames, with a shot at the GOLD playing Draconia,
in what should be a very vocal final match that will also pit the two most partizan supporters against each other - the far-traveled Draconians, and the
close-to-home Moranians.  Should be a fascinating final, with both tems playing for their biggest successes yet!

The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTERMARC 3 - LENDOSA 2
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Gert Montoya (DEU)
Goals: Leon (LEN, 27.), Kirin (WMC, 59.), Nikkei (WMC, 67.), Santanda (LEN, 79.), Kirin (WMC, 86.)
Yellow cards: Genasi (LEN, 21.), Vitovio (LEN, 67.)
Red cards: none
Substitutions: Deveng for Koon (WMC, 66.)

THIS TIME, WESTERMARC PREVAILS AGAINST OLD NEMESIS!

After their lackluster showing against Morania, which cost Westermarc a place in the final match, they seemed to pull themselves together for a fine performance
against their old nemesis, Lendosa.  The Lendsans had a history of beating Westermarc in the past, but not so today.  The match was generally not of the
highest level, with both sides making some mistakes in concentration, but at times, it provided the nevertheless sold out stadium quite arresting soccer.
Lendosa looked poised to continue their fortunes against the Serpents, as they went up 1-0 in the first half after a long free kick, and kept the lead until the
break.  Westermarc then fought back, aided by some Lendosan mistakes which opened up many chances.  Lendosa, however, would pull even again at 2-2.  The final ten minutes were to bring the decision, and the Serpents ultimately had things go their way in the end, with Kirin scoring the winning goal late in the match, his
second of the match.  Not a "golden" goal, but a "bronze" goal for Westermarc, sort to speak.  First reactions from the FFoW was favorable, a bronze medal
certainly a nice result, even though many feel that with some of the top-favorites out early, this would have been Westermarc's Gold medal to win...

The Technical Information:

Final score: DRACONIA 1 - MORANIA 0, IN OVERTIME
Played in: Scandlon Field, Wyannoch University, Lamb's Cove
Attendance: 22,700
Referee: Trevor Speaks (BOW)
Goals: Reversi (DRA, 108.)
Yellow cards: Edosa (MOA, 14.), Justinian (MOA, 33.), Strike (DRA, 45.), Delranchos (MOA, 68.), Moorwood (DRA, 92.), Terro (MOA, 111.)
Red cards: Edosa (MOA, 60.), McNoughty (DRA, 66.)
Substitutions: Mirren for Previnsky (DRA, 45.), Trevisano for Olmason (MOA, 77.), Reversi for Wentworth (DRA, 93.), Ferrantini for Santorosa (MOA, 95.)

DRACONIA'S "PERFECT" PERFORMANCE IS COMPLETE!

This was the showdown of the two crowdmagnets... Draconia almost seemed to have as much support in this match, with thousands and thousands of fans streaming in on the hopelessly sold out flights from back home, and the Moranian fans likewise showing up by the thousands as well... with 22,700 people crammed into the 22,500
capacity stadium, there were another 35,000 outside the stadium, watching on several hastily erected jumbo screens!  They all were treated to a fabulously
suspanseful match, in which it was almost too bad there had to be a loser at the end!

For Draconia, it ended up as the "prefect" performance.  They had come perhaps the best prepared, and kept up their guard throughout the competition.  But more
importantly, Draconia only entered ONE event at these iii.rd Games of the Vexilliad - Soccer - and they ended up taking the GOLD in it, thus winning a gold
medal in EVERY EVENT THEY ENTERED!!

The match was fast and had many chances on both sides, but no goald would fall, incredibly, despite two penalties given... McNoughty and Selior, respectively,
both missed chances to bring their team up.  McNoughty simply shot over the goal, and Selior was guessed out by the excellent Draconian keeper Ross Derry, who held
the shot on the second bounce!

Things looked all over for Morania in the 60. minute, when they lost Edosa to a red card.  Just 6 minutes later, however, things again evened out as Draconia's
penalty-misser McNoughty also saw red.  So the match chugged on, but neither team would score, and it had to go into overtime.

As players got more and more tired, it was Draconia who could benefit from their overall better physical condition.  With some Moranian players seen on the
sidelines, getting cramps treated, no Draconian ever stopped running, and they instead switched to a very aggressive style, which would finally net them the
needed goal in the 108. minute, by who else but their top scorer, Reversi!  With crowds on both sides firing their teams on, the last minutes were furious, as
Morania summoned all remaining strengths, little as there was, to try and make it into a penalty shoot.  Draconia however had the significantly easier task of
defending a 1-0 lead, and the experienced team from Longerath did so brilliantly against the Moranians running out of steam... when the final whistle sounded, both
teams were exhausted, some falling to the ground.  Meanwhile, the crowds were going nuts, and in one place of the Draconian section began to break through the
fence onto the pitch, but the hole was quickly contained by the Covian authorities, preventing a mass spill of fans!

Slowly it began to sink in for the Pirates, and as they regained their breaths, they soon began their in-field celebrations, which mostly happened over in the
section where their loyal fans, who had traveled thousands of miles, and who had given them the necessary support against the numerically superior Moranian fans,
were seated!  Scenes of immense joy followed, the Moranians also got to celebrate, after all they had won a silver medal which no one would have thought possible
before the games!  And they did it close to home, and indeed close to the place where the VexGames originated in the first place.  A nice success for them,
despite the disappointment of losing the gold medal.

At the medal presentation, the gold, silver and bronze medals were handed out to he players by IVEFA President Baldriarch K. "Goooooooal" Kickins, and IVC
President Raimundo Hyestra, and two-time VexGames Soccer gold medalist, Brolecian team captain Dominic Ozi.  The Gold looked good on the Draconian players in their black uniforms!  Congratulations to all medalists!  What a tournament it has been!