Games 64, 65, and 66  (DAV-EST, MAR-MAU, and BIL-AFB) 11-08-298

Game 64: Davenport-Estontetso (Vexillium Cup CD'98)

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 8, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: DAVENPORT 1 - ESTONTETSO 0
Played in: Port Celt, Christiana (Great Southern Stadium)
Attendance: 69,900
Referee: Ilica Stabovic (Ancalda)
Goals: Gaspe (DAV, 75.)
Yellow cards:  Mastigante (EST, 20.), Laval (EST, 62.)
Substitutions: Mato for Vinhos (EST, 45.), Tzeng for Cannon (DAV, 45.),
Nespera for Espinha (EST, 78.)

Match commentary:

Davenport hangs on by the skin of its teeth to win third match!

Despite the favorite status of Davenport in this match, the match was
very even between the two teams.  The international press had voiced
some criticism that Davenport had, out of complacency, not put their
fullest efforts into preparing for these preliminary round games, and
indeed, the match vs. Maryport, as well as today, both were narrow wins
that could have gone either way.

Estontetso has shown that they can surprise in the past, and today, they
entered the game without respect, and were full equals to the Men in
Royal.  Guardanapeira, Vinhos, and Murracas turned in polished
performances, and it can only be attributed to the defensive genius of
Coughlan and Crowley that Estontetso was unable to score.  Especially in
the first half, the north Longerathians were firmly in control of the
pitch for most of the time.  Murracas had the best two chances, the
first cleared on the line by Crowley, the second deflected by keeper
Dooley, hit the side pole, and then cleared again by Crowley, who had
great presence of mind today!

Offensively, Davenport did not look as strong as usual today, with top
scorer Harbour only having a so-so day.  Claude Gaspe once again set the
impulses in the midfield, and today was perhaps the best of his team,
and not just because he scored the only and winning goal.  Also in the
first half, DAV midfielder Cannon collided with Espinha, in a
headball-duel, and he sustained slight injuries of a still unknown
nature, that prompted coach Darena to exchange him with Nigel Tzeng for
the second half.  Espinha also was not 100% after the incident, and
would be subbed late in the second half.

After the break, after another opening offensive by Estontetso, and more
lucky antics by Davenport to prevent a goal, slowly the men in Royal
began to take more control over the match.  Gaspe and Mohran worked up a
few good opportunities, and Tzeng's input brought new energy.  Finally
in the 75. minute, Gaspe himself was successful, after a combination
with Tzeng and Springer, to finally bring Davenport one ahead.  From
there on the two teams' strategies clearly changed - Davenport retreated
into their own half, while Estontetso now tried even stronger to
attack.  EST brought in an additional striker, Nespera, and had ball
possession almost the entire rest of the game.  This is where Coughlan
and Crowley once again did their very best to allow Davenport to hang on
to their narrowest of wins!  Frankly, Estontetso seemed like the better
team today, but ultimately Davenport was the team that made it happen,
and they now go into the playoffs as top seed of group A, winning all
three of their group matches!
 

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 8, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: MARYPORT 1 - MAURETANIE 2
Played in: Aurora, Christiana (Borealis Stadium)
Attendance: 68,700
Referee: Paolo Caroscinha (Solelhada)
Goals: Escartefigues (MAU, 50.), Mertz (MAR, 80.), Escartefigues (MAU,
91.)
Yellow cards:  Boutboul (MAU, 31.), Olsen (MAR, 50.)
Substitutions: none

Match commentary:

"Bosse-Sepp-Curse" continues for Maryport, as Mauretanie goes through to
second round!

In a television interview after the lost Maryport-Davenport match, a
Maryport fan had jokingly made a comment that "dismissed coach Bosse
Sepp has put a curse on the Maryport team, beware of his wrath!", which
was received with much laughter at the time, and had gotten some more
leverage in the press - and indeed, today, Maryport was again the loser,
after a close game that could just as easily have ended the other way.

In any event, Maryport needed to win big to have a chance, and that
probably would not have happened, no matter what.  The first half pretty
much held the two teams in balance, with not too much goal room action,
and no score.

Mauretanie, who finally got back into the action only now, since their
first two games were played in Davenport in June, played well after the
long layoff, and deservedly earned a spot in the playoffs with this
win.  Escartefigues was the double-scorer and hero of the game.  His
first came after a free kick in the 50. minute, which was given after a
yellow card foul by Olsen.  Mouloud handed off to Escartefigues, who was
uncovered, and had a clear shot - something no defense can afford to
allow him!  It was a beautiful, long, powerful goal.

Maryport countered well, however, and when Mertz scored the 1-1 in the
80. minute, it seemed they would at least come away with one point in
group A.  Indeed, the clock seemed to be running out, and only two
minutes of stoppage time was added.  Many fans already began to leave,
expecting the draw, to get a jump on the parking lot, when all of a
sudden, Mauretanie goalie Cano found Escartefigues far out with a very
long pass from goal, narrowly not offsides, since Dal was closeby, but
Escartefigues tricked him and sensationally was now sprinting towards
the goal all alone, with only goalie Hakonsen in the way.  The keeper
came running wildly towards him, but Escartefigues just coolly lobbed
the ball right over the despondent goalie, who had to watch helplessly
as the leather softly bounced into the net in the last minute to lose
the game in the most cruel manner!

Mauretanie thus will face the winner of group G, which conceivably could
be Westria.  Maryport lost all matches, each 1-2, and each with a chance
to come away with a tie or win, so despite their 0 points, they can draw
some positives from this cup.

IVEFA announces the result from today's match played in the Vexillium
Cup CD'98, November 8, 298:

The Technical Information:

Final score: BILLA 2 - AFRICABLUE 6
Played in: Royal Pines, Christiana (Westchrist Stadium)
Attendance: 41,800
Referee: Leg Besecki (Lexicon Islands)
Goals: Mantell (BIL, 2.), Hartwell (BIL, 13.), Ongandzi (AFB, 39.),
Iroha (AFB, 49.), Iroha (AFB, 56.), Tchoutang (AFB, 60.), Ongandzi (AFB,
70.), Zoalang (AFB, 82.)
Yellow cards:  Hassan (AFB, 25.), Oben (AFB, 51.), Billings (BIL, 56.)
Substitutions: Hivley for Leonard (BIL, 50.), Lambertson for Ericson
(BIL, 61.)

Match commentary:

Africablue get some redemption after scary beginning!

The two teams of this matchup both got pounded by Whitlam and Zartania
in their respective first matches, so this was a good opportunity for
both to come away with something positive from this cup.  Billa seemed
to make the most of it in the early going, and to everybody's surprise,
after 13 minutes, they were in the lead 2-0 after two quick goals from
their two best players, Hartwell and Mantell.  Billa played without
pressure, and showed quite some potential in the first half, as they
only allowed AFB one goal, and actually took the lead into halftime, for
the first time ever!

In the second half, however, as the game's physical demands brought to
light the better conditioning of the Imperial Blues, Bills'a wheels
began to fall off.  Africablue more and more began to take control, and
the equalizer came just a short time after the break through the ever
more impressive Iroha, who has really developed into a major player for
his team.  Iroha again scored just 7 minutes later, and for the first
time, Africablue was in the lead in the 56. minute!

Billa tried to stay fresh by bringing in some subs, but they were
overall running out of steam, and Africablue in turn recognized this,
and began to push even harder.  Remarkably, team AFB not only had
managed to kep their tempers under control, compared with their early
games, but they also produced a much better coherent flow of play with
their radically changed lineup, which included all the substitutes.
Ongandzi was perhaps the single best discovery of this game - twice a
scorer, he had major contributions to this win.

Billa's resistence finally faded to almost zero in the last 20 minutes,
and AFB had an easy time scoring two more goals for an impressive
come-from-behind 6-2 victory, that had them down by one at halftime!  A
steady improvement is evident in this team, from the debacle against
Whitlam, to the acceptable performance against Zartania, and now a great
win, admittedly over one of the weakest teams, but nevertheless.
Billa of course has some work to do, but they have shown some promise in
the first half today, and have a few individual talents that they should
be able to build a team around in the future.

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