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Etoka Journal-Tribune
“Now with larger print for those hung-over mornings”
New Vilita & Turori uniforms great for stoners, even better for Raptors
LAHAR, MYRTANNIA – Aurendia’s AOCAF 18 campaign opened up against Vilita & Turori, a side whose new jerseys are already being called the best thing to happen for Aurendian cannabis consumers since “Free Taco Fridays.” Although one local critic went as far as to declare the new kits to be a sign of the Apocalypse, others have had a far more positive opinion, particularly praising the color patterns. While the viewing public may have been more entranced by this match than usual, the new jerseys’ greatest effect was felt at Locke Field. Confused by their new uniform design, a sloppy V&T side made several mistakes, which the Raptors took advantage of to pull off a 2-1 upset.
Following an opening ten minutes marked by unsteady play from both squads, Vilita’s Kristofer Kilpter put the Jungle Eel/ Cat/ Chimera-things up 1-0. More V&T miscues combined with improved defensive play from the Raptors held the 1-0 score line until the half. As the second half began, Raptor coach Rick Baxman used all his subs, putting in veterans on the offensive end. This move paid off in the 63rd, when midfielder Tara Pellegri easily intercepted a pass and found Ashley Campbell to tie it up. The Raptors took the lead 10 minutes later, as Cassandra Campbell intercepted another V&T pass and found Denise Little for the game-winner.
The Raptors will have a bye on match day 2. Replica Vilita & Turori kits are expected to go on sale at all Stoner’s Pot Palace stores by the end of the week.
Scoring:
1. V&T (K. Kilpter) 10th Unassisted
2. A (A. Campbell 1) 63rd (T. Pellegri)
3. A (D. Little 1) 73rd (C. Campbell) |
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from the Pacific City Courier
95X Finally Arrives at AOCAF 18
Team's amphibious bus makes wrong turn
Myrtannia - With the media from almost every nation in the region assembled to watch the opening ceremony , the big question that night was not about which player was better, or what team would go all the way.
Instead, it was, "where the heck is 95X?!"
As the announcement was made that 95X was still on the way, televison cameras zoomed in on an entire section of the stadium, reserved for 95X players and coaches, sitting empty; while TV and radio commentators told public transit jokes to their viewers and listeners back home.
Meanwhile, the team's amphibious bus, en route from Pacific City, made a wrong turn and ended up in in a small, poor, undeveloped nation just outside of Atlantian Oceania.
The driver, Otto Mason, who also transported the Atlantian Oceania Basketball Championship teams to and from Myrtannia, immediately knew something was wrong, and not that the nation had been blown into the past.
"I told the entire team to get back on the bus so we could get outta here by nightfall," says Mason. "For all we know, we could've been sacrificed to the name of some strange being we've never heard of."
The team was fine and arrived last night. They will play Hypocria as scheduled later today, at Mari City Park.
As the team officially checked in, officials we're having a tough time doing a head count, then realized the team has a pair joined twins on the bench.
"Another nation's squad includes a horse," argued 95X coach Chris Crossman, "and these two have as much talent and heart in them as anyone else, with the same number of amrs and legs. Please let them play."
"We get this everywhere we go," said Michelle Mitchell, one of the dicephalic twins. "Even at home, and we (95X) claim to have more joined twins than other nations."
Although they might not get much playing time on the bench, they hope to make some sort of contribution to the team's performance.
Any contribution from anyone would be helpful - 95X is projected to finish dead last in AOCAF 18. |
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Are Two Heads Better Than One?
It would seem that the AOCAF tournament is rapidly turning into something of a circus. And this edition of the tournament is shaping up to be even more unusual than previous incarnations. Group 2, in which the Hyppos find themselves, is a case in point. “First we have opponents with four legs and now two heads”, an FHA spokesman said. The two headed opponent in question is listed as the number 50 on the roster of tournament debutants 95X and is actually dicephalic conjoined twins Melissa & Michelle Mitchell. An inclusion that leads us into something of a grey area.
“How exactly will this work?”, the spokesman continued. They have a single squad number but the fact that Melissa and Michelle are twins implies that they are two individuals. So if they are brought on during play does that mean two players will come off? If not won’t 95X then have twelve players on the pitch?”
The 95X roster may have raised questions the Milchama roster has created nothing short of disgust. “A horse? They’re just taking the p*** now”, an unnamed insider in the Hyppos’ training camp revealed. “It just shows a huge lack of respect for every other nation in this tournament. We’ve put up with a lot in past matches, gnomes, dwarves, giant zucchinis, women, but this is just absurd.”
With 95X and Milchama scheduled to be the nation’s next two opponents the men in blue and white had better learn to adjust to the more surreal aspects of AOCAF XVIII or there could well be a certain amount of embarrassment.
This post has been edited by Hypocria on Jan 13 2007, 12:44 PM |
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Nojika Draws Against Pacitalia on Matchday One
Preston Greeves' 37th minute goal equalized by Mascagnano in the 69th
SALAHADIN CITY, MYTRTANNIA -- Preston Greeves celebrated his first international goal on his debut for Nojika as Jerrel Alson led Nojika to a 1-1 draw with Pacitalia. The 23 year old Coral Cove striker earned the Man of the Match award after he and his younger brother were a constant threat in the Pacitalia defensive third.
Panther winger Antoine Billet was also presented with chances throughout the match thanks to some shocking defending by the Pacitalia back line in the second half.
From the start, Nojiak did as expected and maintained possession in the midfield and Rudy Greeves nearly put the Panthers up in the 3rd minute after a through ball from Dylan Vanes put him past the Pacitalia defense and with only keeper Cristianu Raduvani to beat.
A 21st minute scare put Pacitalia with three attackers against defender and captain Robbie Hedeen and keeper Potempa. But a dodgy, mistimed pass put Giurimano offside.
The Panthers took the lead in the 37th minute after a frustrated Francesco Manzanotti earned himself a yellow card, the only booking of the match. A perfectly taken free kick by Jarrett Betance was finished off by Preston Greeves who half volleyed a shot past the Pacitalian keeper.
Unfortunately, Nojika would be unable to hold their lead to a side that out ranked them regionally and internationally, and in the 69th minute, Michelangelo Mascagnano would bring Pacitalia back into the game after taking advantage of a corner kick from Andolfabio Vunghiasso.
"Today's match meant a lot to all of us. It was the first time Nojika has arrived ready to compete in a long time. I'm very pleased to see that every player played an important role in the game and am pleased to say that this is only the beginning of a long and winning tradition," said Jerrel Alson, manager of the Nojikan Panthers.
"It felt great to get out there and get the feel for this type of competition. At home for Coral Cove, we expect a certain style to be played every match, and out here, it's quite different and none of us were really sure what to expect -- but now that we've put this match behind us, we are all going to focus on our next match and doing well throughout the remaining competition," said Preston Greeves after the match.
Next for this determined Nojikan squad will be Vilita & Turori, who also out rank the Panthers, at Al-Zataar Olympic Field in Salahadin City.
Pacitalia: 1 - 1 :Nojika
(Mascagnano 69') - (P. Greeves 37')
This post has been edited by Nojika on Jan 13 2007, 08:00 PM |
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RP Cutoff for Matchday Two |
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Dryads Drop Delesa United
VANHAANEN - After the scare on matchday one against a spirited yet nameless Quakmybush side, Myrtannia wasn't about to let themselves get off to a slow start again on day two. The Dryads went into the match today at Vanhaanen Sporting Complex looking to show that they meant business against a hopeful Delesa side. With all the upsets and near-misses on day one, who was to say that Delesa United couldn't pull off one against the hosts?
"I told the team that we had one objective today: beat Delesa," coach Zentrescu said in a press conference after the match.
In their first of two group stage matches away from Halosen National, the Dryads took the field at the VSC to another big ovation from the stands. Once again, the faithful Dryads Army was in full force, including the official Dryads Army band. In a domed stadium, it was actually louder than Halosen National was on day one.
Keeping their objective in mind, the Dryads wasted no time in pressing the attack after kickoff. Seemingly before the Delesa United side could get its bearings, the Dryad blitz surged forward. With veteran Dania Figary controlling the ball, the orange-shirted Dryads forced their way into the back third of the pitch. Eyes on the goal, Figary passed it to Zora Leckington, who took a long shot that the United keeper slapped away from the goal.
Unofortunately for United, the ball went straight to Sheron Caffoso, who leapt above the Delesa defender to head it in. Still getting back to his feet after the deflection, the keeper could only watch as the ball soared into the back of the goal. The 'thick headed wonder' had put Myrtannia up 1-0, the Dryads' first opening half lead this AOCAF.
Their coach's command fresh in their minds, the Dryads wouldn't be happy with just one goal, either. Throughout the first half, Myrtannia consistantly pushed the United players backward. Many shots on goal were taken, though many went wide or over the goal, or were deflected. Something had to give, and the Delesans gave up the second goal near the end of the first half.
This time, it was Caffoso who set the play up, intercepting a United pass and crossing the ball to the right side of the box. Miyagishima was there to land a scissor kick Dania Figary seemed impressed by, and the shot went in. At the half, Myrtannia led 2-0, comfortably in front against their second opponent of the tournament.
"We executed much better in the first 45 minutes this time, and I think the score line reflects that," said assistant coach Khat.
With the start of the second half, things didn't change much. Myrtannia came out pressing the attack once again, and United still didn't have an answer for the blitz. They were starting to wake up, and had some decent stops here and there, but ultimately not enough to prevent a third goal. Sarita Longknife recorded a take-away on a Delesa throw-in, then passed it through the legs of a United defender to Dania Figary. The veteran striker plowed forward three steps, then booted the bal at the goal, striking the crossbar.. and then it went in. To a momentous roar from the crowd, it was now 3-0 Myrtannia.
The rest of the match was back to the alternating offense/defense that coach Zentrescu has tried to teach the Dryads to play more consistantly. Delesa finally recovered enough to get some shots off, but Rosario Zlotnik (back from a minor injury suffered against Quakmybush) was effective enough to keep them out. As the minutes wound down, United finally got a breakthrough in Myrtannia's back third. Jason Clare scored his first AOCAF goal by faking out Lenny Ditucci, then shooting it past Zlotnik.
But it was too little, too late for United. Myrtannia played keep-away for the remaining minutes, and the Dryads triumphed again. The final gun set off a stadium-wide celebration for the Dryads Army fans, while the Dryads themselves shook hands with the Delesa United players.
"They've got talent, and it was only their first match. I think they can do some special things if they can play consistantly for longer stretches," noted Dania Figary.
Speaking of Figary, the Dryads team captain has emphatically denied submitting an application to be the next Lamoni Hawks coach, "I am fully committed to the Myrtannian national team and the MAFC. End of story."
Myrtannia legend America McNany, however, has confirmed her interest in the position, and may well be the leading candidate to replace Kevin Riyall after this AOCAF. As for the defending champions themselves, the Hawks drew with an improved Az-cz side, 4-4 today.
The third match for Myrtannia will be their biggest test yet: the Lowland Clans, ranked tenth in the region, and possibly more of a challenge for the Zentrescu-coached Dryads. Myrtannia usually plays well against TLC, including a group stage win over the Stars eight years ago in Lamoni. Whatever happens, the action will be live on AIR 4, to be sure.
And now, the Halosen News-Times Upset of the Day: Demot 1, Starblaydia 0. The Men in Mauve have long been a nightmare for others to lock horns with. Did their loss in the semi-finals to Lamoni - their first ever loss to a Lamonian side - do something to the Starblaydis? They've been Purple Peril-less in their first two matches, a 2-3 loss to Milchama, and now a 0-1 loss to upstart Demot. What's going on? No one's quite sure. Where V&T and Nedalia recovered nicely from Day One upsets, Starblaydia is now 0-0-2, and in danger of failing to reach the Round of 16.
Our final from the VSC:
Myrtannia 3 - 1 Delesa
(Caffoso 8', Miyagishima 44', Figary 60') (Clare 87')
This post has been edited by Myrtannia on Jan 13 2007, 09:08 PM |
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Nojika Fall Hard to Vilita & Turori
The Panthers come away feeling hard done by Mytrtannia Officials
SALAHADIN CITY, MYTRTANNIA -- The Panthers were stunned and felt as though they were left to hang by Myrtrannia officials and a completely unknown Vilita & Turori squad after a 7-2 result. The misery Nojika felt after the match was furthered when Mytrtannia officials could not produce answers to numerous questions posed by players, fans and the press.
The Panthers and their fans have blamed the main Mytrtannia official for shocking and certainly debatable decisions throughout the match, including allowing numerous goals for the Vilitan squad, who failed to present a proper squad sheet prior to the match, and still somehow manage to come away with results like todays.
Somebody from Vilita & Turori managed to put four goals past Nojikan keeper Monte Potempa, while three other unknown members of the Vilita & Turori squad scored a goal each.
The misfortune for the Panthers started early and after just six minutes they went behind after a questionable decision by the assistant referee. The Panthers quickly responded with a goal from winger Antoine Billet who blasted a thirty yard shot into the back of the net in the 13th minute.
The 13th minute strike from Billet was the final positive point in the match for the Panthers until the final minute of the game. Vilita and Turori managed to score six goals between the 23rd and 75th minute. "I am outraged by the decisions from the officials. They allowed play to continue when fouls were clearly committed and players clearly offside. The officials ruined this match for us," said an unhappy Jerrel Alson at a post match conference.
Nojika's second goal would come from an amazing string of 26 passes starting from central defender Chase Gasbarro and ending at the foot of 19 year old striker Rudy Greeves who easily placed the ball low and past the Vilita & Turori keeper in the 83rd minute.
"I don't think any of us really know what happened. There were definitely some things that should have been called but weren't at that really hurt us and brought us down. We really should have won this game," said Rudy Greeves who scored his first international goal today. "If this is the match that keeps us from moving on to the next round, I will most definitely never come to play in Mytrtannia again."
Next up, the Panthers will go up against pointless Manhattan Prime at Al-Zataar Olympic Field in Salahadin City while Pacitalia will face Aurendia and the nobodies from Vilita and Turori will have the day off.
Vilita & Turori: 7 - 2 :Nojika
(? 6', 24', 45', 75', ? 34', ? 51', ? 67') - (Billet 13', R. Greeves 83')
This post has been edited by Nojika on Jan 13 2007, 09:16 PM |
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Senator in Training |
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(OOC: If you haven't noticed, 95X bucks the rest of the world and calls it "soccer.")
From Channel 5 (TV) News, Pacific City
(last story ends)
(male anchor): Time now to shift to a lighter subject, 95X's participation in the Atlantian Oceania Soccer Tournament. (cut to file footage of the team) The team, already putting up with crude transit jokes like 'why was the bus late? - because it stopped to pick up another passenger,' now has another issue on their hands - international outcry over bench players Melissa and Michelle Mitchell (simultaneous cut to file footage of them at practice).
(cut to video of Coach Chris Crossman, from a pre-game interview): I don't get it - combined, they have two arms, two legs and one body like the rest of us, just two heads. (cut back to footage of the twins) They'd come off the bench anyway, I don't know what the deal is.
(back to the anchor): 95X's first opponents, Hypocria, objected, tournament officials continue to check rule books, and there's a very good chance the twins will never see a minute of action.
(female anchor): We should also mention we've just received word the game between 95X and Hypocria just ended, and I think we have some footage (footage of Hypocria's goals appear), yes - there it is, (momentary cut of the disappointed-looking Mitchells on the sideline) the twins did not play, (back to field action highlights) and six goals from five Hypocrian players sunk 95X six to one.
(back to shot of both anchors, as male anchor starts talking): Can't have it all, I guess. Time now for weather, (cut to weather anchor in front of picture of Pacific City skyline and current weather conditions in the background), and Josh Cumulus
(Josh): I dunno, Ken, does this mean we have to pay double to run software on a dual-core processor computer? (laughter in background from anchors) Anyway, outside it's... (newscast continues)
Hypocria 6 - 95X 1
(Morinas 15: & 73:, Bassano 23:, Sousa 38:, Vardanyan 55:, Razin 65:) - (Holgate 83:) |
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Lamoni staves off Az-Cz press gang, draws
This will certainly go down as one of the most exciting games in Lamonian AOCAF history. The Hawks had never faced Az-Cz before, but they had watched film of the Az-Cz victory over Nedalia. They also practiced against the moves made in that match, and what to do about them. It was this preperation that would save Lamoni against determined Press Gang attacks from the Az-Czzid team; and allow them to fight back all through the match.
The first goal of the match went to Az-Cz Team Captain EE-Or, at 15 minutes in. He unintentionally headed a wildly deflected shot, and got lucky, as the Lamonian goalkeeper was going the wrong way. The Hawks would then answer back; Reserve Forward Zan Quest scoring a minute later on a bicycle kick. And on it went; with both sides testing each other out, and scoring goals until the game was over. The final score? Lamoni 4-4 Az-Cz. Both teams had fought, scratched, and bloodied the other to reach this result. Lamonian Team Captain Drugah Farani stated that this was "One of the best football matches that i've ever played. On the field, it was a madhouse on both sides, but when the match ended, both teams shook hands, and Manager Riyall even invited the entire Az-Cz team over for dinner in our hotel. I think that this will become a rivalry, but a pretty friendly one, at that."
The 4-4 draw allows both teams to move forward, with Lamoni still first in the group due to goal difference. The Hawks will be busy during their off day; practicing, but then rooting for Az-Cz from the stands in their next match. Then, it's off to a Myrtannian theatre that has agreed to show the Lamonian players the LBC 2 movie about the Lamonian AOCAF XVII cup winning team. Titled "The Quest: How Lamoni won the AOCAF cup," it is an inspiring movie, and Manager Riyall seems to think that the entire team should be reminded of what the goal is for AOCAF XVIII.
In other news, Lamonian President Stinson has continued his diplomatic charm offensive; this time proposing a non-aggression pact and free trade agreement to the Pacitalian Prime Minister via video conference. Part of his statement reads, "The Free Republic has no quarrel with Pacitalia. I feel that both nations would become stronger if my proposals were accepted; and I hope that my counterpart in Pacitalia agrees. With the AOWar on, it would be too dangerous for me to travel to Pacitalia myself, but our ambassador to Pacitalia (OOC: Paci, you still have yet to name your ambassador to Lamoni; and you are free to accept or reject the diplomatic proposals as you see fit), Richard Collins is more than competent to carry out any negotiations that the Pacitalians might deem important for both parties."
Lamoni - 4 Zan Quest (16), Drugah Farani (20, 26:37), Draze Aruru (60)
Az-Cz - 4 EE-Or (15, 23:45), Fe-Do (39:17, 62:34)
This post has been edited by Lamoni on Jan 14 2007, 03:28 AM |
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A Win At The Death
Bettia 2 (Bandasera 78, B.Busilanta 90+1)
Quakmybush 1 (******* 7)
When asked to sum up his players' performance in the post-match interview, Bettia's under-21 coach James Watson was lost for words... and who can blame him? There are certainly many words than could be used to describe this game - bewildering is one to use if your allegience just happens to be with the green and gold, perhaps nerve-wracking, or even exasperating. Either way, Bettia's Young'Uns are doing just enough to get the prescious wins they need to progress... JUST.
One thing the gaffer wouldn't have been happy with is the team's woeful attempt to play defensively, as they were stunned as early as the seventh minute when Quakmybush cruelly exploited what could be laughingly referred to as an 'offside trap'. With no defenders within tackling distance and just the keeper to beat, the 'Bush centre-forward gleefully rounded Dewar and sidefooted the ball into an empty net to gave Quakmybush a deserved lead.
And it was a lead they never looked like giving up as they bossed large periods of the game, although clear goalscoring chances were few and far between as Bettia's back two somehow managed to restrict their opponents to scraps and half-chances.
However, the tide turned when boss Watson, desperate to make an impression on the game, made what turned out to be an inspired double-substitution after 75 minutes, taking off wingers Deverill and Morgan for strikers Sinclair and Abramson to give the Young'Uns a top heavy 2-3-5 formation - a formation played to great effect by the more experience senior squad, but never really tried by these young freshers. This desperation move paid dividends almost immediately as 16-year-old midfield star in the making Adi Bandasera fired home from just inside the penalty area to claw Bettia back on level terms.
This remarkable change in fortune stung the Young'Uns into Takilan Overdrive, and they poured forward in an effort to overwhelm the Quakmybush back line, but despite the many chances they created, the game seemed destined to end in a draw. Luckily for the green and gold, Budi Busilanta was on hand to save the day. As seems to be the case with the Perumnasih trio, the link-up play leading up to the goal was a sight to behold, a perfectly crafted sequence of passes threaded between the despairing and tired-looking tackles flying in from the Quakmybush defenders before the middle triplet slotted in the injury time winner.
Bettia take a well-deserved day off before taking on Delesa on Matchday Four. Although their performances have been far from convincing so far in this tournament, Bettia's two wins already see them six point clear of the rest of the group along with host Myrtannia, who top the group with a far superior goal difference. It's fair to say the Matchday Five clash between the Young'Uns and the Dryads is already looking to be a mouthwatering prospect... but first, they must deal with Delesa. |
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We don't do defence |
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Az-cz Scroll
Myrtannia
Nw-Fys
Gnomes make friends and earn respect
Coming into the match against the defending champions there was little to lose and lots to gain. A loss, even a relatively big one, could be expected for such a young team against the power from Lamoni. However a draw or a win against the Hawks would be a great boost to these young players.
The game started off with the Gnomes pressing like mad and trying to run the Hawks down. Although their coaches were trying to make sure they were prepared the Hawks still seemed to be looking past the Gnomes. The Gnomes came out quickly and took control in the opening stages. The opening goal was an incredible play by Ho-Lee Chung and EE-Or. Ho-Lee Chung made a very clever looking fake pass and slipped the ball over to EE-Or when everyone thought it was going in another direction. They also didn't realize that EE-Or was moving over and EE-Or headed home the ball.
However the Hawks bounced back up quickly and almost immediately equalized from there Lamoni took the lead but every time they did the Gnomes immediately answered. In fact the longest period of time either team lead was Lamoni ahead for 12 and a half minutes at 3-2.
All four goals were scored by Gnomes starting strikers, with Fedo scoring the final goal in the 63rd minute. From then on both teams attacks really started to slow down and there wasn't much offense in the last 25 minutes of the game. Still the result was a very fair one for both sides that sets up both teams well.
After the match the Lamonians shared dinner with the Az-czid team. A great time was had by all. There were many fun things but one interesting thing from the evening was a great pitch from the Az-czid players to try to convince Lamonians to sign up for the Atlantian Oceania Kleptochase competition, which is still not underway due to a lack of competitors. |
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Good Enough
Brian Cahill reporting from Blackheart, Myrtannia.
There is always an element of nerves ahead of the first game in a tournament as prestigious as this. And there’s always a bit of anxiety ahead of matches against sides that are something of an unknown quantity. These twin factors could go someway to explain the notably tentative start to the opening Group B fixture against an impressive and well organised side from Demot.
Notably tentative is probably an understatement as the Dynamos fully lived up to their moniker and nearly took the lead with only a handful of seconds on the clock, a shot cracking off the upright and going wide. Demot spurned another glorious chance a little later as Lomaia defied his veteran status to race out of goal to dive at the feet of Ysman after the striker had caught the Hyppos’ defence napping. It was a chance that provoked angry words at the heart of the defence and a shake of the head from the coach in his technical area.
After half an hour however the Dynamos were made to rue their missed opportunities. Debutant Vardanyan found Sousa who took advantage of a slip in the Demot defence to drive forward and place a right footed shot past Orien. The goal was wholly undeserved and spurred the opposition into a flurry of attacks that kept the Hyppos defence on their collective toes. But the Dynamos couldn’t break through.
The end of the first half seemed to set the pattern for the second as Demot piled forward in search of an equaliser but found an Hypocrian backline in an uncompromising mood. The game was typified by a wonderful challenge by man-of-the-match Drago as Masteron looked for all the world like he’d break through and grab a late leveller. But the tackle was inch perfect and the men in blue and white held on for a hard fought three points.
Hypocria 1 - 0 Demot
Sousa
The Hyppos were joined on three points by the despicable pony lovers from Milchama who defied all logic and beat Starblaydia 3 - 2. Normally it would be nice to see your biggest group rivals beaten but not so when they’re beaten by Milchama.
Debutants Demolished
Brian Cahill reporting from Mari City, Myrtannia.
The Hyppos may have started off uncertainly against Demot but in the second group game against AOCAF new boys (and girls) 95X there only looked like being one winner. In fact the only real talking point (as the conjoined twins stayed firmly on the bench) was that it took the lads from the Autocracy nearly sixteen minutes to break the deadlock. It was Morinas who started the rout with a header from Sousa’s corner and after that the goals kept coming. The captain Bassano doubled the lead and Sousa made it three with his second of the competition. Halftime came and went before Vardanyan broke his international duck ten minutes into the second half. Razin added insult to injury with a fifth and Morinas ended what he had started with number six, an unstoppable twenty yard drive. The handful of 95X supporters in Mari City Park did have something to cheer when Holgate curled a freekick past Lomaia but it was a mere footnote. The final whistle blew and Marcus Baxter’s boys had secured a record AOCAF win for the nation.
Hypocria 6 - 1 95X
Morinas (2)
Bassano
Sousa
Vardanyan
Razin
It was clearly a day for big scores with another seven in the game between Pacitalia and Manhattan Prime and eight shared between Lamoni and Az-cz. But it was Vilita/Turori and Nojika who won the entertainment plaudits with an astonishing nine goals in their Group D fixture.
Elsewhere in Group B there was another shock result. Four years ago the Purple Peril flirted, albeit unsuccessfully, with an embarrassing exit in the group stages. And they’re at it again after a 1 - 0 defeat to Demot, leaving the former AOCAF juggernauts floundering with 95X at the bottom of the group table.
Next up for the Hyppos is a grudge match against Milchama. Ever since that world cup qualifying playoff defeat many years ago the fans back home have viewed the Warriors with little more than contempt. Now with them fielding a bloody horse the hatred has gone up another notch. So nothing other than a win should even be contemplated by anyone involved with the national side. And should the Hyppos’ manage another three points they can prepare for the Starblaydia match from the unusual position of being a massive nine points ahead of the top seeded Men in Mauve. It is indeed a funny old game. |
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A dark and stormy night.
So often in literature the portent of fell deeds afoot, but in this case the weather, for once in a long time, matched the foul machinations that were brewing in the United Isles of Myrtannia. On the small island of Sayiid sat the training camp, base and headquarters of the Starblaydi national team sent to participate in the world's greatest regional football championships - the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football.
The enormous, corruption-ridden governing body of football in Starblaydia, the Starblaydi Football Association, had sent a team to every AOCAF bar the first, in Krytenia. Since then, Starblaydi teams had proved to be the best in the entire region: Atlantian Oceania was the greatest footballing region of the age and Starblaydia was foremost among the great sporting nations competing for, as Starblaydia's national motto decreed, honour, glory and blood. Five times they had won through, in sixteen attempts five glorious victories, bedecked in honour and earned with blood. The most-successful nation in Atlantian Oceania, one of the greatest footballing nations there had ever been, or would ever be.
And it was in the United Isles of Myrtannia, on their small, almost insignificant, island, that the stuff of nightmares would be conceived and enacted.
In any society, multi-faith or otherwise, murder is condemned amongst the highest of all crimes against humanity. Whatever the motive, perceived justification, righteous indignation or simply a sudden snap from reality and degradation to the most bestial forms of behaviour; murder is never acceptable.
Only in the mind of the murderer, if only for the split-second it requires to perform the foul act, is it ever seen as acceptable, viable even. Can the needs of the many, however, outweigh the rights of the one? |
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Blue Foxes play their way into first in group, downing Chippers
Big win over Manhattan Prime catapults Pacitalia ahead in its quest to claim Group D
LAHAR, MYRTANNIA (PSN) -- After a warm-up draw against Nojika, it was now up to the Blue Foxes to get into a winning mindset, a winning state of mind that would hopefully carry through the squad's second, third and final group stage matches. The next opponent was Manhattan Prime, and our newly-minted (officially) allies were ready to put on a show to try and gain some ground in their third AOCAF entrance, to try and gain some ground where favoured Vilita & Turori had fallen two days previously.
But the Jungle Cats inflicted massive blows on its opponent on the second match-day, and now Manhattan Prime must restore the balance in their next match against Nojika, following their own, albeit respectable, 5-2 loss to the Pacitalians.
Just four minutes in, heir to the captaincy throne Michelangelo Mascagnano broke through a screen of Chips defence with the magician himself, Ambrosino Giurimano at his side. Mascagnano passed to Giurimano but as keeper Clive Hilton committed to the speedy, 35-goal-scorer right-forward he flicked the ball under Hilton's falling right arm to a wide-open Mascagnano. He tapped the ivory sphere into the centre of the net to give the Blue Foxes a 1-0 lead.
It was not looking good for the Chippers early. Even worse, exactly twenty minutes and three opportunities later, Pacitalia caught Manhattan Prime on a poor formation change and Mascagnano was this time alone with only the keeper to beat. But the London Tigers' centre-back John Clarke caught up enough to try and knock the ball away from the feet of Mascagnano, and he almost did succeed, but timed it incorrectly and ended up tripping the Pacitalian midfielder just barely inside the box, earning a caution and drawing a penalty. Mascagnano converted for his third of the tournament and second of the match to put the Foxes up 2-0.
But six minutes later, it was the Chippers' turn to get on the scoresheet. Vykk Dreygo, the 18-year-old rookie sensation from the Manhattan Phantoms, received a stub pass from captain Yosh¡to Katakana and forced the ball past Francesco Manzanotti, sweeping around into the box and driving a rocket past Cristianu Raduvani to halve the Blue Foxes' lead at 2-1. Both teams went into the dressing room at halftime relatively confident and happy with their position, but Pacitalian manager Sergei Saganyarov had some choice words for Manzanotti's play, and decided to substitute Sergio San' Cristobal, the standout defender in AOCAF16, on for the second half.
In the second half the defence became noticeably tighter, with San' Cristobal personally stuffing three consecutive corners by the Manhattanites and drawing the ball across to midfielder Andolfabio Vunghiasso, who began his streak up the pitch on a surprise counter-attack. With the Chippers' defence running back to form a wall Vunghiasso flicked to the captain, Veranace d'Amantano, who stayed just onside and then began outrunning John Clarke to the goal. As he approached, he flicked back to Mascagnano, who pocketed a superb hat-trick with a rocket to the top-right corner. Fans applauded and screamed in delight as the Blue Foxes went up 3-1 on Michelangelo's first career hat-trick.
With such a big lead, you'd think the Pacitalians would sit back and begin defending, but they were far from finished their offensive onslaught. But the offensive mind would cost them as, in the 59th minute, the Manhattanites returned the favour from Mascagnano's goal, surprising the Blue Foxes with an instant counter-attack that mimed the Pacitalian effort and brought Katakana forward to pocket a goal past Raduvani, bringing the score to 3-2. Foxes' fans were noticeably not as "chipper" after that goal, and were now sitting on the edges of their seats, holding their collective breath and praying that their side would at least hold onto a gritty, hard-fought victory. Saganyarov yelled at Raduvani from the manager's box, telling the star Pacitalian keeper to "smarten up".
Thankfully, that feeling of dread that the Blue Foxes might, in fact, be upset on this day (it wouldn't have been a surprise considering that the Purple Peril had fallen to a shocking 0-0-2 and the group's highest seed had already endured an upset) only lasted nine minutes, as Giurimano took a superb cross from Vunghiasso and pulsed a wide-angle shot just between the corner of the upright and crossbar and the fingertips of Hilton to put the Blue Foxes back up by a double, 4-2. And Giurimano sealed victory with eleven minutes remaining in regular time, putting another goal low to the left past the Chippers' keeper, as the fans sighed in relief.
"Yes, this is a loss, and no, we're not happy to lose by that much," Chippers captain Yosh¡to Katakana said. "But it's the first match - we have three more opportunities to win, and we'll use them."
He added: "I feel we played well out there, and we showed some very good touches. The team were looking sharp today, and although we were outplayed by a very strong Pacitalian team, we are looking to pick up some points in our next few fixtures."
"We're pleased with this," Katakana's Pacitalian counterpart, Veranace d'Amantano, remarked. "I would have preferred to be more involved in our offensive output today but it's not to take away from Michelangelo and Ambrosino - they won the game for us. There's no doubt about it. I'm really happy to see us putting up the big scores when it counts and scoring our goals with expert touch. Our opponents were a solid match, too. It was fun."
The Jungle Cats get the day off on the third match group while the Blue Foxes play the Raptors here in Lahar. The Panthers and Chippers both try to rebound from big defeats (Nojika lost a questionable one to V&T, 7-2, on MD2) in Salahadin City.
From Lahar, Myrtannia:
Pacitalia 5 : 2 Manhattan Prime
PAC: Mascagnano 4', 24' (p), 52' / Giurimano 68', 79'
MPR: Dreygo 30', Katakana 59'
NEXT UP: PAC (1-1-0) vs AUR (1-0-0); MPR (0-0-1) vs NOJ (0-1-1)
This post has been edited by Pacitalia on Jan 14 2007, 04:12 PM |
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Pacitalia |
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The best place on earth. |
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Demot Daily ~ Seeing Stars
The Purple Peril, the feared squad from Starblaydia that is one of the regions best, are not looking that dangerous thus far in the tournament. The Dynamo were able to topple the five time champions of the AOCAF in stunning display of football that shutdown the Starblaydi attack, and broke their backline at ease. It would prove that the royal havoc were more feaful than perilous.
As the match got underway, the Starblaydi side showed some life with Cruz, Janizak, and Prizzoni combining some expert passes to break through Dynamo lines with Cruz creating the Purple's lone offensive oppurtunity the whole game with a dangerous low cross to Barron who never got the ball due to Orien diving just in time to intercept it. After surrendering that threatening chance in the first few minutes, the Dynamo seemed to calm down, and take the fight to the Peril.
Ysman had a clear oppurtunity to put the orange up in the fourteenth minute, as Ruiz and Castello collided with each other going for a lob that the lass was able to take down with her chest. After spinning past the collapsed forms, and was able to get a good low shot off before Bradini came sliding from the left, however the veteran Grimzabar caught the shot with relative ease before giving a smug smile and clearing it away.
It was looking to be another repeat of the Hypocria first half in the 44th minute when the ref signaled that only a minute of injury time was to be played before the half. It was seconds after that Ysman got a nice through ball from Sans and was bearing down on goal. As Grimzabar came out to contest the shot, she did the unthinkable and lofted it to the left and Black came out of nowhere to volley it in as it decended and went straight into the back of the net, stunning the exuberant crowd.
The Dynamo would keep up the attack in the second half, and just completely dominate every aspect of the match, but were unable to knock a few more goals in, mostly due to a handful of miraculous saves by Grimzabar. Masteron was awarded man of the match, with him having 2 of the 9 Dynamo shots, and had many set ups that the forwards were unable to convert into goals. With the win, the Dynamo are letting out a sigh of relief, and will be going into the next match against the debutant of 95x with confidence, and their destiny in their own hands, with a win securing them a place in the knockouts.
Article by Jasmine Olyvander |
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Demot |
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Royal Scribe |
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