Games 33-35  (AFB-NIO, MAU-WWW, NPX-PHX) 10-13-298

IVEFA announces the results for todays friendly matches held, played
Tuesday, October 13, 298, in various cities:

Game 33 - Africablue - Niokolo Koba (Friendly Match):
 
The Technical Information:

Final score: AFRICABLUE 3 - NIOKOLO KOBA 0
Played in: Sedhiou, Africablue (Durand Stadium), attendance: 23,660
Referee: Riuin Ointoingami (Wwww)
Goals: Ohennen (AFR, 16.), Ndlanya (AFR, 69.), Iroha (AFR, 77., penalty)
Yellow cards: Bayamba (AFR, 22.), Bachir (NIO, 29.), I. Gueye (NIO,
40.), Anderson (AFR, 55.), Toko (NIO, 61.), Mboma (AFR, 63.), Simba
(NIO, 75.)
Red Card: I. Gueye (NIO, 77.)
Substitutions: Faye for Ba (NIO, 45.), Harawi for Diop (NIO, 45.),
Ongandzi for Tchango (AFR, 45.), Zoalang for Anderson (AFR, 60.)

Match commentary:

Africablue prevails in rough game!

This was the first meeting between these two teams, who are both known
for their rough physical styles, and sure enough, they clashed in a very
physical match.  Ironically, the match referee, Ointoingami, is from
Wwww, a nation famous for its fair play, and he had his hands full in
keeping order in the game.  A record number of 8 cards were given, one
of which was red!  Africablue was off to a good start, scoring in the
16. minute after a defensive blunder by NK - NK's defense really needs
some work.  In fact, both teams played extremely offensively, and there
were a lot of counter attacks for both sides.  After Africablue went
into the lead, the game got considerably rougher, as NK became more
agressive in trying to defend, and even comitted some fouls while
attacking!  The game was pretty interrupted due to the many fouls, and a
true sense of flow never came up.  Africablue managed to hold the lead
until the break.

After halftime, NK started to attack with abandon, leaving their own
half dangerously exposed.  Africablue was able to capitalize, and when
the keeper sent a long pass to Ndlanya, no NK defender was near to
challenge and prevent the 0-2.  The desperate attempts by NK to attack
resulted in some chances, but many times their attack was foiled by
Africablue denfensive fouls.  When NK found themselvs under attack in a
counter by the Blues, once again, I. Gueye resorted to a foul from
behind, in the penalty zone - this was it for the Wwww referee!  He
pronouncedly pulled the red card for Gueye, and gave the penalty, which
Iroha converted easily.  One man down, NK then managed to keep the
damage down, and no further score came until the end.  The total
stoppage time was an incredible 11 minutes due to the many fouls.  Both
teams certainly must learn to keep their tempers under control before
they can be effective in the Vexillium Cup.

Final score: MAURETANIE 3 - WWWW 0
Played in: Laghouat, Mauretanie (El Hadji Stadium), attendance: 20,600
Referee: Gerard Lustin (Northern Phenixia)
Goals: Chemoul (MAU, 31.), Escartefigues (MAU, 79.), Khaled (MAU, 88.)
Yellow cards: Garcia (MAU, 41.)
Substitutions: Tipulura for Pularumpi (WWW, 41.), Babui for Wonamini
(WWW, 45.), Escartefigues for Fernandez (MAU, 45.), Boulanger for Garcia
(MAU, 55.)

Match commentary:

Mauretanie coasts to victory over notable Wwww!

Wwww was a complete unknown to the Vexillium soccer community before
this match - never before had they participated in international
competition, and doubts about the feasibility of footing a team for CD98
were strong and frequent amongst experts.  A few even suggested that
they would fall apart completely against an internationally experienced
squad such as Mauretanie, and that they would be bombarded by ten or
more goals...  Well, the critics are silenced now.  Although Wwww never
looked like they could threaten for the win, their clever defensive play
was well organized, and kept the damage to a minimum.  The Wwww team has
been preparing in this very city with great diligence, and the first
fruits can be seen from this game.  Mauretanie was in control of the
game, but not as much as they would have liked to.  In fact, that they
were only up by one goal until the 79. minute must be considered a bit
of a shock to Mauretanie.  But Wwww simply did not commit any major
errors, and kept the ball out of their net with clean effective play.
Wwww keeper Mungatopi had a lot to do with this as well.  The goalie was
the biggest promise on the Wwww team, and could hold his own in
comparison with his counterpart, Mauretanie keeper Favre.

In the second half Mauretanie tried to turn on the heat some more, and
eventually it worked.  Escartefigues, who had been brought in for the
lackluster Fernandez, clearly was more effective, and not only scored a
goal himself, but assisted Khaled in the 3-0 as well.  Mauretanie had
about four other excellent chances in the last 20 minutes, all narrowly
foiled.  Wwww managed to hold on to lose by only 3, and with their
continued preparation and training, it seems that they may well score at
least a few points at the Vexillium Cup.  For Mauretanie, it was
nevertheless a good test, which ultimately resulted in a clear victory
that will surely help boost morale!

Final score: NORTHERN PHENIXIA 2 - PHENIXIA 3
Played in: Vaufreges, Northern Phenixia (Vaufreges Stadium), attendance:
14,900
Referee: Nasser Al-Sudhin (Mauretanie)
Goals: Youri (PHX, 11.), Justo (PHX, 30.), Jairzinho (PHX, 44.),
Fighinho (NPX, 52.), Platoche (NPX, 60.)
Yellow cards: Brehme (NPX, 29.), Michel (PHX, 61.)
Substitutions: Skoblar for Muller (PHX, 45.), Domenech for Lolo (PHX,
45.), Bartezou for Carnus (PHX, 45.), Lahziz for Jairzinho (PHX, 45.),
Tresor for Maximu (PHX, 45.), Marcel for Manuelito (PHX, 45.), Platoche
for Napoli (NPX, 45.), Issa for Collins (NPX, 45.), Lherbe for Gueye
(NPX, 45.), Higuita for Carlos (NPX, 45.), Rojas for Bigoude (NPX, 45.)

Match commentary:

Platoche's furious second-half chase comes up just short!

This was a very popular game here in Northern Phenixia, after the good
performance of their team at the WHCON.  Besides, there is a very
pronaounced rivalry with their "big brother team" Phenixia, and the home
fans were hoping for another satisfying win to quelch their newly found
love for football.  However, Phenixia had other plans.  The Dolphins,
who surprisingly went down in the second round of the WHCON, needed a
good win to boost their confidence before resuming the Vexillium cup, in
which they have already scored a very convincing 3-0 over Bowdani.

Sure enough, in the 11. minute, Youri brought them up 1-0.  Both sides
were playing with experimental lineups, which had been especially
approved by the IVEFA - both teams wanted to test their 'untested'
players, and have the opportunity to exchange more than the usually
allowed 2 players.

Phenixia was by no means dominant in the first half, but their fortunes
were better than NPX's.  Of the 7 really good scoring chances for the
Dolphins, three resulted in actual goals, as Justo scored in the
thirties, and an overjoyed Jairzinho headed another in just before the
break.  Meanwhile, NPX had about ten to eleven equally good chances,
with none resulting in a goal!  This is how this game goes sometimes...

After halftime, both teams had made the anticipated major substitutions,
and some of the big names who had been sitting out the first half now
joined the action!  Amongst these were NPX team-daddy Platoche, who
received a great cheer as he entered, and his fellow WHCON all-star
honorees Issa, and Higuita, as well as midfield whirlwind Lherbe.

Platoche and his guys then began a furious chase of the three-goal-lead
of the Phenixians.  The second half was all NPX, and the Dolphins really
had their hands full to keep in the game.  Superb performances of Tresor
, Domenech, and young keeper Bartezou proved instrumental in keeping the
lead until the end.  Platoche missed out on several chances, but in the
52. minute, Fighinho finally broke the ice and scored from a corner.
Riding that wave, Platoche himself scored just 8 minutes later, and it
really looked like NPX had a fighting chance to turn the game around.
They did, but Phenixia now built a virtual wall around their goal - no
Phenixian was seen in the opponent's half for minutes at a time, and
Platoche and his men kept running up against a 100% defensive Phenixian
side.  Their furious attempts resulted in a great deal of chances, but
with a healthy portion of serendipity, Phenixia managed to narrowly hang
on to their 3-2 win!

Both teams can certainly draw positives from this game, and should be
forces to be reckoned with at the Vex Cup!