27th of June, 2016
Authored by TNC Media Writer, Kasch. True Sebland 0 - 3 Antarticeuropa
Our early contender for game of the day, Antarticeuropa proved that with a little more training, anything can be achieved. Taavi Richter, their sole striker for the game, managed to score a perfect hat-trick, taking Antarticeuropa into first place, beating Group A favourites True Sebland. Taavi Richter has shown us all that not only is he a strong attacking player but that he can also work in a team and take control of the match. The first goal came at 21 minutes when he rushed in behind the defense and put the ball around the goalkeeper. The second, a bit more scrappy, but a corner cross brawl ended in a tight aerial battle for dominance, with Richter coming out on top. His forehead connected strongly with the ball and it hit the back of the net. And the final goal, a penalty towards the end was given after another defender dragged him down inside the box. His shot was well powered and aimed, beating the goalkeeper by a mile.
Kaschovia 1 - 1 IndieGirl
Another upsetting result from the Kaschovian national team. Their chances of going through are slimming even further now, with almost no hope or drive left in the squad. Hoping for a win, Kaschovia went into this game with a strong heart, but not a great head. Tactically, IndieGirl was winning but just couldn't manage to get the ball far enough into the Kaschovian defense. After a good half an hour of fighting for a goal, Oliver Hayes, a young breakthrough striker, managed to land a great shot on target from outside the box. The ball floated and spun in mid-air like a missile, striking the net with unstoppable power. But this celebration was fairly short lived, as always reliable, Blake Eyre headed home the equaliser to draw up the game, just a couple of seconds from time.
Ceretis 1 - 2 Serwall
A great game to watch, but not a great game to play. The players were showing serious signs of fatigue and tiredness after the hour mark, and it was not looking promising for any of them, or even the managers, who were blistering in the hot sunny Summer days of Kaschovia. After 31 minutes, both defenses were determined to stop the ball from getting too far into their half. The Serwallian defense was left wide open when a long through ball switched the play across the Ceretian Winger, Dai Miyamoto, who calmly dribbled around a few of the defenders, before skipping past the keeper and slotting it home. But all was not lost for Serwall. They have proven their might so far, and they were not ready to go down without a fight. At the 52 minute mark, Yevhen Levic, the tall Serwallian beast, got up into the air and headed the ball down and deep into the bottom right corner. Towards the end of the game things were really heating up, Serwall was throwing everything they had at the Ceretian defense, but they wouldn't budge. Finally, Thomas Mikolajczak won a penalty and wanted to take it. He calmly chipped the ball over the diving keeper, winning the game for Serwall.
Naizerre 2 - 2 Aragnatim
This game was quite a hectic one, with both sides taking all of their players into action and challenging them to the limits. The draw was worth watching, as there were some absolutely fantastic goals. Two of those goals came from young striker Didier Derdain, who scored a brace within the first 15 minutes. The first came from a hard and low shot on goal from just outside the box, curling wide into the bottom right corner of the net. It was pretty easy to see that this kid was going places, should he decide to stay on the right track and keep to his football. The second goal was just as good, as the same young man, Didier Derdain, broke through onto goal and struck it past the keeper as he lay on the grass, distraught from his mistakes.
For Aragnatim, the rest of the game was laid back, so they chose to pounce when their enemy was most vulnerable. Eight minutes before time, the game changer arrived. Victor Parker, an experienced center forward, went for goal in a defensive lock down and it came off alright for him. The goalkeeper was caught off guard and it looped over his head and into the top left corner. The equalizing goal was not as good, but just enough to bring the draw. Joseph Wood, a young and vibrant midfielder, paced across the pitch to get up for the last corner of the game, right as he had been subbed on for the last few minutes. He connected well with the ball, but it almist deflected wide and out for a goal kick. The ball tipped off the post and into the back of the net as a resounding cheer of glory flooded the stadium.
TUE 2 - 0 Sadakoyama
The Unliving Experiment redeemed themselves after that humiliating loss yesterday to Lorbank. Sadakoyama weren't in the game for long, as Nell Thorne struck the ball with prowess and confidence deep into the top right corner of the net, sending a wave of applause around the stadium as even the opposite team watched the goal. From then on, it was all downhill for Sadakoyama. Another great goal by Nell Thorne came exactly on the hour mark when the ball was flicked backwards into the corner of the net, the goalkeeper diving to try and fist it away.
Lorbank 2 - 1 Malphe
Lorbank has done it again! They have provided with us, one of the best games so far. The team was looking incredibly strong right from the get-go and didn't let up until the final whistle. Lorbank only just managed to avoid a late comeback though, with Malphe catching them on the let off many a time during the 90 minutes. At 71 minutes, the first goal came through a beautifully chipped lob pass through to Javi Guerra, who nodded it beyond the keeper and into the back of the net. Right after that, Malphe replied with a strongly controversial goal, the ball came high into the box, crossed by a winger, the striker managed to avoid being sent off even after barging his way up through the air and pushing the goal into the net. Lorbank were not letting them get away with things like that. Wilfred Ritchie and Javi Guerra linked up perfectly to orchestrate the final attack at 88 minutes. The ball flew into the box, where Ritchie lifted the ball into the air off of his chest, and bicycle kicked it hard into the top right corner. That is definitely a contender for the goal of the tournament, surely.
Praeceps 3 - 4 Xentherida
This game began like any other but escalated at an unprecedented pace. Praeceps managed to score a hat-trick within the first half, coming from a header, a penalty and a tap-in goal from the edge of the 6-yard box. The Xentheridan manager thought that the game was well away and far over, done. They all thought it was going to stop there, that they wouldn't be able to get the goals back to win the game and take the lead. They remained in third, but just a singular point behind the other two teams. Xentherida came back onto the pitch after half-time break and looked like they were ready to tear Praeceps down, and that is what they did. After just two minutes into the second half, Malte Pettersson tapped a quick near post cross into the goal. Six minutes later, Malte Pettersson managed it again, heading on a low cross into the box from a corner as it went between the keepers legs. With just ten minutes from time, Xentherida needed to up their game if they wanted to win this game. Anders Nordquist was to be the unsung hero of this mighty tale. Three minutes from time, he headed a goal in, picked the ball up and equalised the scores, a heated atmosphere lingering in the stadium. With about 15 seconds remaining, Xentherida won a corner. And can you guess who got their head to it? That's right: Anders Nordquist. Winning the game.
Kialga-Lourti 1 - 1 Northern Scovia
Probably one of dullest games, to be honest. Quite the dissapointment. Both teams fought it out like champs, but no team had the attacking skill and teamwork to pull off a win. Kialgan defender Cy Olhouser sneaked a goal in 5 minutes before the end of the first half. The game went quiet for the rest of the time before Northern Scovia won a penalty and scored it. It was obvious and anything but exciting, but that is all there was. Both manages acknowledges this in their interviews afterwards and said that in order for them to gain their advancement, they must play exciting and entertaining football.