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United States of Freedonia
Coach: Marcus Welch
Lineup:
Gerald Beauvoir
Francis Tubman
Judah Soro
Washington Mahoi
William Davis
Jefferson Mahoi
Benjamin Gilead Hamilton
Henry Clay Lahai (58' Sekou Sanders)
Nahshon St. Clair
William Harper Coleman (34' Ptolemy Harris)
Varus Doctor (77' Elijah Houphouet)
New Catalonia Confederation
Coach: Francesc Gqiba
Lineup:
Victor Bartra
Jordi Ngcukaitobi
Lluis Mpofu
Joan Nkuhlu
(90+2' Gerard Muniesa) Hlumelo Biko
Pere Romeu
(76' Oriol Mathoho) Jaume Sebe
Nosipho Mayekiso
Quim Vilà
(69' Sergi Nokwe) Aleix Mfeketo
Themba Sibeko
Coach: Francesc Gqiba
Lineup:
Victor Bartra
Jordi Ngcukaitobi
Lluis Mpofu
Joan Nkuhlu
(90+2' Gerard Muniesa) Hlumelo Biko
Pere Romeu
(76' Oriol Mathoho) Jaume Sebe
Nosipho Mayekiso
Quim Vilà
(69' Sergi Nokwe) Aleix Mfeketo
Themba Sibeko
Freedonia 2 - 4 New Catalonia
Goals: 0-1 Themba Sibeko (6')
0-2 Themba Sibeko (16')
0-3 Themba Sibeko (26')
1-3 Varus Doctor (40')
2-3 Sékou Sanders (62')
2-4 Themba Sibeko (86') (p)
Referee: Yudhajit Bhupendra Dharakeshvar (National Dravidian Union) - Grade C:
Awarding a penalty to Catalonia (handball by Davis, 86') was entirely correct. Also correct to disallow Houphouet's goal (78'), but the VAR took quite long. No decisive mistakes, but inconsistent: Should have booked Soro (15'), the actual yellow card for Soro (51') on the other hand was harsh. Booking Ngcukaitobi (44') was quite harsh, too.
Both teams desperately needed the three points, Freedonia even more so than New Catalonia. No chance to get out on top of the group in case of a defeat for the Storm Warriors, and the Federals would even fall to third place and have to pack up. In any case, Revolutionary Colombia is going to profit...
And, as a victory was necessary for both sides, both coaches sent out their best starting elevens. Nobody was injured or banned either, but Gqiba preferred hot Fortschritt Stendal prospect Mayekiso over a tired ____ on the right wing.
Just more than five minutes had been played - with no shots on goal - when all plans of the Welch side lay in shambles. An excellent pass by Hlumelo Biko opened up the whole Federal defence as it found Quim Vilà. Neither Davis nor Washington Mahoi were anywhere near able to get to this pass. Vilà had no problem passing to a free Themba Sibeko! Francis Tubman had relieved the offside position, and Sibeko easily found the back of the net in the right corner! 0-1 Themba Sibeko (6')!
Barely had Freedonia recovered from the early Storm Warriors lead and Beauvoir had restored confidence in his defence - no other offensive piece of play that would have required serious intervention had yet been seen - when Judah Soro saw no other way of stopping Nosipho Mayekiso than via a foul. The following free kick for New Catalonia was entirely justified, and Dharakeshvar should also have booked Soro...
As was well-established within the Gqiba side, Quim Vilà brought the free kick in. He brought it from a right-wing, but not far right, position too far away for a direct attempt on goal. Beauvoir tried to position his wall, but the free kick found the head of Sibeko and then the back of the net! Sibeko had outjumped William Harper Coleman! 0-2 Themba Sibeko (16')!
From then on, New Catalonia was dominant and fired even more dangerous shots: Mahoi fouled Mfeketo in front of the penalty area in a centre-left position, but Beauvoir saved the direct free kick from Quim Vilà (19'). Another excellent save by Beauvoir stopped Mfeketo's attempt from a distance of 18 metres - it was parried over the crossbar (23'). Mpofu's header after the ensuing corner went wide of the target (23').
The first-ever attempt at a counterattack by the Federals was stopped short when Hlumelo Biko won the ball back from Nahshon St. Clair. And Biko passed it to Joan Nkuhlu, then to Jordi Ngcukaitobi, who put the ball forward to Jaume Sebe. And after a one-two with Quim Vila, Jaume Sebe crossed the ball into the penalty area, very close to the goal! Sibeko just had to put his foot in - and he scored! 0-3 Themba Sibeko (26')! A hattrick for the most prolific striker of the Storm Warriors!
Marcus Welch was forced to react - and took Coleman, who was in no small part responsible for the second goal, off the field, switching to a 5-4-1 formation. And indeed, defence proved more stable and Harris, but also Soro and the two Mahois nixed several more attempts by New Catalonia - especially by Sibeko, but also a dribbling by Mfeketo (Hamilton cleared the ball out, 35') and another Vilà free kick (Washington Mahoi enabled Beauvoir to save the ball, 39'). Beauvoir kicked the ball very, very far. Over the centre point, and the Storm Warriors' defence had lost track of Varus Doctor! His shot from near the penalty spot was saved by Victor Bartra, but went out for a corner as Jordi Ngcukaitobi proved unable to keep the ball in.
Freedonia got their first corner in this match.
And Henry Clay Lakai brought it in. It did not reach anybody, but on the far left wing, Nahshon St. Clair kept the ball in, passed back to Hamilton, who passed it onto Varus Doctor! And Victor Bartra was beaten at the near post and nutmegged! Definitely a saveable shot, but Varus Doctor finds the back of the net! 1-3 Varus Doctor (40')!
Even during half-time break, Welch tried to remoralise his team and restore some more self-confidence, while the Gqiba side seemingly was instructed to resort to defence.
Anyway, starting off the second half, all of a sudden it was the Gqiba side who employed Catenaccio measures normally only known from East Africa, and the Federals proved to be on the attack relentlessly. But none of the Federals' attempts posed serious danger to Victor Bartra - several corners, most of them harmless, were the only gain.
Once again, Welch changed the formation on the pitch by substituting a fast striker, Sekou Sanders, in for a central midfielder.
Barely two minutes after Sanders came on, Hlumelo Biko bottled a throw-in. The ball got taken off Pere Romeu by Benjamin G. Hamilton. He passed the ball forward, into a somewhat right-wing position, onto Nahshon St. Clair, and the latter, the best passer and crosser in Welch's team, outwitted Nkuhlu and crossed the ball into the box, onto a free Sekou Sanders! And his header found the back of the net! No chance for Victor Bartra this time! 2-3 Sékou Sanders (62')!
All of a sudden, it looked like a three-goal disadvanage could be successfully reversed, a feat unaccomplished in World Cups since 1978 (Prussian State 3-3 Workers' Progressive Commune of Israel). Indeed, it was the Federals who were on the attack now, though shots, especially those on target, became fewer now. Generally, effort by both teams seemed to be a bit slower, and New Catalonia also tried the one or other counterattack (Mfeketo 65' - saved by Beauvoir; Vilà 73' hit the side netting).
Minutes later though, it was Judah Soro who cleared the ball just before Mayekiso could fire another shot at Beauvoir. And he played the ball a long way forward, where Sékou Sanders reached it before any Storm Warrior did. Sanders passed back to Nahshon St. Clair, and the latter played an excellent through-ball over to Houphouet! Houphouet had no problem scoring this, and it looked like the feat of the Prussian State had been repeated! 3-3!
But the VAR signalled Dharakeshvar, he showed the screen and, for at least two minutes, studied all pictures. Houphouet was definitely onside - at first, offside was rumoured to be the cause of the signal - but he had played the ball with his left arm! Not, as it first appeared, with his chest (or knee)! The goal was disallowed, and correctly so!
This game thus remained open with an advantage for New Catalonia. And the Gqiba side started a "late attack". Nokwe missed the target by quite a lot (82'), Sibeko by less (83') with his shot hitting the outside of the post! A Federal counterattack was cleared up by Mfoku.
Five minutes before the end of regular time, on the far left wing and close to the touchline, Jaume Sebe was tackled by Francis Tubman. A free kick was rightly awarded to New Catalonia. Sebe himself brought it into the penalty area. No danger for Beauvoir as the ball went out for a corner, but the VAR sent a signal again!
As could quickly be seen, William Davis had deflected the ball with his arm! Dharakehsvar came back onto the field and, absolutely right in his decision, pointed to the spot! Penalty for New Catalonia!
Sibeko vs. Beauvoir, and Sibeko finished it into the upper left corner! The goalkeeper jumped to the right and had absolutely no chance! 2-4 Themba Sibeko (86')!
Not much happened during the last minutes of the match as the Federals' morale was finally broken, and New Catalonia went back to a defensive style of play and even began to waste time with a last substitution (90+2', 19-year old Gerard Muniesa came in) and taking several seconds to bring a corner in (Mayekiso, 90').
Colombia currently comes second in Group C, while Freedonia must win its match against Britain at all costs and, at the same time, hope that Venice takes at least a draw off Colombia.
Goals: 0-1 Themba Sibeko (6')
0-2 Themba Sibeko (16')
0-3 Themba Sibeko (26')
1-3 Varus Doctor (40')
2-3 Sékou Sanders (62')
2-4 Themba Sibeko (86') (p)
Referee: Yudhajit Bhupendra Dharakeshvar (National Dravidian Union) - Grade C:
Awarding a penalty to Catalonia (handball by Davis, 86') was entirely correct. Also correct to disallow Houphouet's goal (78'), but the VAR took quite long. No decisive mistakes, but inconsistent: Should have booked Soro (15'), the actual yellow card for Soro (51') on the other hand was harsh. Booking Ngcukaitobi (44') was quite harsh, too.
Both teams desperately needed the three points, Freedonia even more so than New Catalonia. No chance to get out on top of the group in case of a defeat for the Storm Warriors, and the Federals would even fall to third place and have to pack up. In any case, Revolutionary Colombia is going to profit...
And, as a victory was necessary for both sides, both coaches sent out their best starting elevens. Nobody was injured or banned either, but Gqiba preferred hot Fortschritt Stendal prospect Mayekiso over a tired ____ on the right wing.
Just more than five minutes had been played - with no shots on goal - when all plans of the Welch side lay in shambles. An excellent pass by Hlumelo Biko opened up the whole Federal defence as it found Quim Vilà. Neither Davis nor Washington Mahoi were anywhere near able to get to this pass. Vilà had no problem passing to a free Themba Sibeko! Francis Tubman had relieved the offside position, and Sibeko easily found the back of the net in the right corner! 0-1 Themba Sibeko (6')!
Barely had Freedonia recovered from the early Storm Warriors lead and Beauvoir had restored confidence in his defence - no other offensive piece of play that would have required serious intervention had yet been seen - when Judah Soro saw no other way of stopping Nosipho Mayekiso than via a foul. The following free kick for New Catalonia was entirely justified, and Dharakeshvar should also have booked Soro...
As was well-established within the Gqiba side, Quim Vilà brought the free kick in. He brought it from a right-wing, but not far right, position too far away for a direct attempt on goal. Beauvoir tried to position his wall, but the free kick found the head of Sibeko and then the back of the net! Sibeko had outjumped William Harper Coleman! 0-2 Themba Sibeko (16')!
From then on, New Catalonia was dominant and fired even more dangerous shots: Mahoi fouled Mfeketo in front of the penalty area in a centre-left position, but Beauvoir saved the direct free kick from Quim Vilà (19'). Another excellent save by Beauvoir stopped Mfeketo's attempt from a distance of 18 metres - it was parried over the crossbar (23'). Mpofu's header after the ensuing corner went wide of the target (23').
The first-ever attempt at a counterattack by the Federals was stopped short when Hlumelo Biko won the ball back from Nahshon St. Clair. And Biko passed it to Joan Nkuhlu, then to Jordi Ngcukaitobi, who put the ball forward to Jaume Sebe. And after a one-two with Quim Vila, Jaume Sebe crossed the ball into the penalty area, very close to the goal! Sibeko just had to put his foot in - and he scored! 0-3 Themba Sibeko (26')! A hattrick for the most prolific striker of the Storm Warriors!
Marcus Welch was forced to react - and took Coleman, who was in no small part responsible for the second goal, off the field, switching to a 5-4-1 formation. And indeed, defence proved more stable and Harris, but also Soro and the two Mahois nixed several more attempts by New Catalonia - especially by Sibeko, but also a dribbling by Mfeketo (Hamilton cleared the ball out, 35') and another Vilà free kick (Washington Mahoi enabled Beauvoir to save the ball, 39'). Beauvoir kicked the ball very, very far. Over the centre point, and the Storm Warriors' defence had lost track of Varus Doctor! His shot from near the penalty spot was saved by Victor Bartra, but went out for a corner as Jordi Ngcukaitobi proved unable to keep the ball in.
Freedonia got their first corner in this match.
And Henry Clay Lakai brought it in. It did not reach anybody, but on the far left wing, Nahshon St. Clair kept the ball in, passed back to Hamilton, who passed it onto Varus Doctor! And Victor Bartra was beaten at the near post and nutmegged! Definitely a saveable shot, but Varus Doctor finds the back of the net! 1-3 Varus Doctor (40')!
Even during half-time break, Welch tried to remoralise his team and restore some more self-confidence, while the Gqiba side seemingly was instructed to resort to defence.
Anyway, starting off the second half, all of a sudden it was the Gqiba side who employed Catenaccio measures normally only known from East Africa, and the Federals proved to be on the attack relentlessly. But none of the Federals' attempts posed serious danger to Victor Bartra - several corners, most of them harmless, were the only gain.
Once again, Welch changed the formation on the pitch by substituting a fast striker, Sekou Sanders, in for a central midfielder.
Barely two minutes after Sanders came on, Hlumelo Biko bottled a throw-in. The ball got taken off Pere Romeu by Benjamin G. Hamilton. He passed the ball forward, into a somewhat right-wing position, onto Nahshon St. Clair, and the latter, the best passer and crosser in Welch's team, outwitted Nkuhlu and crossed the ball into the box, onto a free Sekou Sanders! And his header found the back of the net! No chance for Victor Bartra this time! 2-3 Sékou Sanders (62')!
All of a sudden, it looked like a three-goal disadvanage could be successfully reversed, a feat unaccomplished in World Cups since 1978 (Prussian State 3-3 Workers' Progressive Commune of Israel). Indeed, it was the Federals who were on the attack now, though shots, especially those on target, became fewer now. Generally, effort by both teams seemed to be a bit slower, and New Catalonia also tried the one or other counterattack (Mfeketo 65' - saved by Beauvoir; Vilà 73' hit the side netting).
Minutes later though, it was Judah Soro who cleared the ball just before Mayekiso could fire another shot at Beauvoir. And he played the ball a long way forward, where Sékou Sanders reached it before any Storm Warrior did. Sanders passed back to Nahshon St. Clair, and the latter played an excellent through-ball over to Houphouet! Houphouet had no problem scoring this, and it looked like the feat of the Prussian State had been repeated! 3-3!
But the VAR signalled Dharakeshvar, he showed the screen and, for at least two minutes, studied all pictures. Houphouet was definitely onside - at first, offside was rumoured to be the cause of the signal - but he had played the ball with his left arm! Not, as it first appeared, with his chest (or knee)! The goal was disallowed, and correctly so!
This game thus remained open with an advantage for New Catalonia. And the Gqiba side started a "late attack". Nokwe missed the target by quite a lot (82'), Sibeko by less (83') with his shot hitting the outside of the post! A Federal counterattack was cleared up by Mfoku.
Five minutes before the end of regular time, on the far left wing and close to the touchline, Jaume Sebe was tackled by Francis Tubman. A free kick was rightly awarded to New Catalonia. Sebe himself brought it into the penalty area. No danger for Beauvoir as the ball went out for a corner, but the VAR sent a signal again!
As could quickly be seen, William Davis had deflected the ball with his arm! Dharakehsvar came back onto the field and, absolutely right in his decision, pointed to the spot! Penalty for New Catalonia!
Sibeko vs. Beauvoir, and Sibeko finished it into the upper left corner! The goalkeeper jumped to the right and had absolutely no chance! 2-4 Themba Sibeko (86')!
Not much happened during the last minutes of the match as the Federals' morale was finally broken, and New Catalonia went back to a defensive style of play and even began to waste time with a last substitution (90+2', 19-year old Gerard Muniesa came in) and taking several seconds to bring a corner in (Mayekiso, 90').
Colombia currently comes second in Group C, while Freedonia must win its match against Britain at all costs and, at the same time, hope that Venice takes at least a draw off Colombia.
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