Games 47-49  (WES-DIG, NPX-NEO, ANC-NIO) 11-02-298

Game 47: Westria-Dignania (Vexillium Cup CD'98)

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 2, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: WESTRIA 1 - DIGNANIA 0
Played in: Christianshaven, Christiana (Royal Christiana Stadium)
Attendance: 73,200
Referee: Gilles Baptiste (Phenixia)
Goals: Vraseydenhout (WES, 36.)
Yellow cards:  Umsatz (WES, 56.), South (DIG, 77.)
Substitutions: Antipodes for Chatham (DIG, 40.), Nischel for Hallsetter
(WES, 45.), Muriaghi for Foegelsangg (WES, 45.), Raoul for Egmont (DIG,
55.)

Match commentary:

Dignania... surprises!  But not enough.

Dignania's goal was to score in this game, and they made clear form the
beginning that they were not going to be intimidated by the heavy
favorites Westria.  Their free play allowed them to stay in the game,
and only the quality of the Westrian defense could prevent an actual
score for the Dignanians!  Coach Digman's fearless strategy indeed
worked, and it took Westria quite a while to finally score.  As it
turned out, this would be the only goal of the game.  Westria seemed a
little stiff, perhaps from the pressure that was on their shoulders,
because they were the heavy favorites, and expected to win easily.  But,
although they won, it came by no means easy.  Vraseydenhout was there
after a long free kick from Theunissen, to bomb one into the lower right
corner.  From then on, Westria began to free up a bit, and played up
some good chances, but without result.  After the break, the Diamonds
began falling back a little, as it had become clear that Dignania was
not going to give up.  So coach Schrey implemented a more conservative
line of play, and Westria superbly protected the lead until the end,
with a few good scoring chances thrown in.  Dignania, who made the
predicted substitutions after they went down 0-1, had a few good
opportunities as well, and had they scored, it would have been the
biggest surprise of the cup yet!  Even as the losers, Dignania can be
proud of their fearless play, and they must be considered candidates to
reach the next round!

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 2, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: NORTHERN PHENIXIA 2 - NEONESIA 3
Played in: Port Celt, Christiana (Great Southern Stadium)
Attendance: 31,700
Referee: Brad Barkley (Lamb's Cove)
Goals: Troll (NPX, 13), Ebropa (NEO, 42), Ebropa (NEO, 51), Ojxawfa (NEO, 74), Gueye (NPX, pen 88)
Yellow cards:  Sacré (NPX, 73)
Substitutions: Washington for Ohanessian (NPX, 45), Carlos for Figinho (NPX, 60)

Match commentary:

Two goals by Ebropa seal a 3-2 win for Neonesia!

>From the beginning to the end, this was a very even game.
However after just 13 minutes, Northern Phenixia went ahead after a superb long pass by Gueye. The Neonesian defenders appealed for the off-side, but the linesman's flag stayed down, and Troll had no problem in sliding it past Ojxrala in the Neonesia goal.

For the rest of the first half, Neonesia kept most of the ball posession, but it seemed that they were not to score, and most of the crowd were expecting a small lead for Northern Phenixia at half time.
But Ebropa wanted it differently. In the 42nd minute he took things into his own hands, or feet so to say, and embarrased 3 Phenixian defenders on his way towards the goal. He finished off his great run with an excellent shot in the top left corner, leaving Higuita no chance. 3 minutes after, the ref blew for half time.

Only six minutes played of the second half, when Neonesia are awarded a corner kick. Rivujpa swings it in with the left foot, and completely unmarked Ebropa scores his and Neonesia's second goal with a very hard header hitting the ground straight in front of the keeper. 2-1 Neonesia.

And with a quarter of an hour left, Elicxa was looking to run in between to Phenixian defenders, but he is stopped illegally, and Sacré has to be booked for a harsh challenge just outside the penalty box.
Ojxawfa has a go at it, and it swings past the Phenixian wall and into the bottom right corner, with Higuita not even seeing it! Great goal!

Things looked to be finished now, but 2 minutes from time, Gueye gets an unexpected and really an unnecessary goal. Gueye was in trouble in the penalty box, with nobody to pass the ball to, when Ujtujma just pushes him in the back, a clear penalty. Gueye takes it himself, and a certain goal.
This was, however, not enough for Northern Phenixia, who start the Cup with a 2-3 defeat.
 

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 2, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: ANCALDA 1 - NIOKOLO KOBA 2
Played in: Aurora, Christiana (Borealis Stadium)
Attendance: 66,500
Referee: Vasco Contara (EST)
Goals: Dioula (NIO, 22.), Leikovic (ANC, 51.), Diallo (64.)
Yellow cards:  Fall (NIO, 33.), Toko (NIO, 51.), Bachir (NIO, 66.)
Substitutions: Kaolak for Fall (NIO, 33.), Yrnka for L. Gren (ANC, 45.),
Brune for M. Gren (ANC, 56.), Harawi for Bachir (NIO, 66.)

Match commentary:

Ancalda's nightmare continues!

Ancalda's participation in the Cup was questionable anyways, due to the
recent bloody civil war in Dascunya, and it sure showed, as the players
were not prepared to their fullest, and could not find a recipe to stand
up to the still rather rough style of the Kobans, who fought their way
to victory, and must be applauded for their fighting spirit.

Ancalda seemed disorganized, and the Nuarmians did a swell job of
disrupting any good advances by Ancalda through physical attacks.
Niokolo played rough, and received three yellows, but it was
nevertheless a little better than in the game with Africablue.  Other
than that, the Kobans had what it took to overcome the fledgling
Ancaldans, and they showed some good offensive play, and their sometimes
wide open defense was not taken advantage of by Ancalda.

For Ancalda, the future can only bring better things.  After the letdown
in WHCON, they were looking for some redemption in the Vex Cup.  One can
only hope that they will be able to focus better on their next game
against Mosquitia, to gain some confidence before the much-talked-about
rematch with their Nemesis Coceira, on November 12.  For Niokolo Koba,
the possibility of advancing to the next round seems better than ever.