MAFL Week 13 Roundup
Lots of surprises this week, as the Titans best United and the Immortals snatch a victory from the Comets. Meanwhile, Al’amal and Dynamos are neck and neck as they are currently tied on the standings.
Titans - Europa United
Leo 16 • San Olympus Park
Titans triumph over United with an unexpected come-from-behind victory.
Although they struck first, United was unable to make any gains on the Titans and desperately held onto their one goal lead for over 40 minutes. They were finally defeated by Langanah and Nash—who has finally surpassed Lanka on the scoring charts.
After weeks of rumours, Sulzberger had confirmed earlier in the week that he will be leaving United at the end of the season. While many are certain the United goalkeeper will be headed to Wendland, no official statement has been made by the Wunder organization. United deliberately pulled Sulzberger in favour of Manfredo Riva this match. Riva played impressively, but was unable to stop Nash from smashing the winning goal into the corner.
GOALS
1ST 12’ Barnato converts a pass from Dennis into a solid net-hitting goal.
2ND 8’ Langanah (Titans) breaks away and scored into the top right.
2ND 20’ Nash scores for Titans with a bending blast that blew past Riva’s guard.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 9 | 8 |
| POSSESSION | ||
|---|---|---|
| 51% | 49% | |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | 3 |
Dongji - Wuji Sports Club
Leo 16 • Dongji Field
Mangat breaks through the dongji defense to score the first goal of the match.
The clash of the Chinese colonies sees Wuji emerge victorious!
There was no love lost on the pitch during this match as the rivals prepared to face off. As soon as the whistle was sounded, both Wuji and Dongji threw themselves into frenetic offensive plays. However, the stars of the show were, without doubt, the Wuji defensive-line. Botrel and Chardin were completely in-sync as they contained the Dongji offense and created the opportunities for some beautiful counterattacks by Mangat and McKay.
Mackay’s goal, in particular, will be replayed for days to come—showing how she boosted off the wall to intercept and score with an insane long-range aerial strike from the centre line.
After this week, Dongji is at the bottom in the standings with slim chances to change the trend.
GOALS
1ST 13’ Mangat (Wuji) scores on a breakaway from the defensive line—catching Dongji by surprise.
2ND 6’ McKay (Wuji) scores with a long-range counterattack after boosting off the wall.
2ND 15’ Geng (Dongji) takes a penalty kick with killer precision, curling it into the top left corner.
2ND 27’ Repsas scores for Wuji with an assist from Lian.
NOTABLE SUBSTITUTIONS
2ND 12’ Festen (Dongji) leaves the match after pulling a calf muscle.
2ND 18’ Cheng (Wuji) is pulled out after being booked for charging, which resulted in him turning an ankle.
2ND 22’ O’neill’s (Dongji) awkward landing results in an ankle sprain.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 18 | 20 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 47% | 53% |
| FOULS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | |
Al’amal Sports Club - Dynamos
Leo 17 • Al’amal Stadium
Al’amal ecstatic as they shut out the Dynamos for the first time in Season 2.
The bewildered and demoralized Dynamos were unable to get any of their shots on goal past Al’pour in today’s match as their 4-game streak is brought to an end. This victory brings Al’amal into a first place tie with the Dynamos in the standings.
Al’amal clearly got under the Dynamo’s skin as they played poorly and earned two direct red cards from Samrend and Petrovich attempting to instigate a skirmish. Karaaria was also ejected from the game after receiving her second yellow card for unsporting behaviour. In response to fan outcry, Dynamo’s manager, Sergey Ludomir, has released a statement saying, “Although MAFL is a competitive sport, we don’t condone unsportsmanlike or violent behaviour. MAFL celebrates resilience, strength, skill, and innovation—abusive behaviour has no place here.”
Both Samrend and Petrovich have been suspended for one match as a result.
GOALS
1ST 15’ Guler scores a clean shot high into the net for Al’amal.
2ND 8’ Farra (Al’amal) scores her ninth goal of the season with a neat tap into the net after faking out Danilovich.
FOULS
Samrend and Petrovich are suspended until Week 15 after earning red cards for their abusive behaviour.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 25 | 21 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 56% | 44% |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | 5 |
Comets - Immortals
Leo 17 • Marineris Stadium
The Immortals celebrate after they triumph over the COmets at Marineris Stadium.
A solid win for the Immortals as they pivot after the loss of Coach Vaduva.
The match at Marineris Stadium was tense and margins for error were narrow as both teams gave as good as they got. The Immortals finally gained their fourth win of the season and pulled out of last place with this match—but whether they can keep up the momentum is the question everyone is asking.
Club manager, Andam Mirza, has stepped into the coaching role in the interim. In an attempt to change the club dynamics, he is urging players to avoid passing the ball to Lanka by default, saying, “If you have a shot, take it! Stop feeding Lanka. We’re a MAFL team, not a damn buffet.”
Post game, Comet midfielder, Marysa Waaijer has confirmed that she will be signing on with the Wendland Wunders. Waaijer moved to Tiangong to start her MAFL career as a defender for Wuji. Waaijer is expected to start in a forward position for Wunder starting season 3.
GOALS
1ST 7’ Hama (Immortals) scores with an assist from Lanka.
1ST 13’ Bradley (Comets) scores with a close-quartered slam into the bottom left corner.
1ST 21’ Liu (Comets) follows up a counterattack with an aerial bicycle kick that catches Badal off guard.
2ND 17’ Talpur (Immortals) scores on a direct free kick into the top right corner
2ND 25’ Donovan (Immortals) takes a diving header and manages to tip the ball into the net.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 7 | 9 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 50% | 50% |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 4 | 4 |
Stats & Standings
Rankings
| Team | M | W | L | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamo | 13 | 9 | 4 | 30 |
| Al'Amal Sports Club | 13 | 9 | 4 | 30 |
| United | 13 | 8 | 5 | 31 |
| Wuji Sports Club | 13 | 7 | 6 | 32 |
| Titans | 12 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
| Comets | 13 | 5 | 8 | 36 |
| Immortals | 13 | 4 | 9 | 22 |
| Dongji | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
| Top Scorers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Readale Nash | 11 | |
| Uday Lanka | 10 | |
| Darkeem Dennis | 10 | |
| Arwa Farra | 9 | |
| Qigang Lian | 8 | |
| Ilya Petrovich | 7 | |
| Mariya Nikitovna | 7 | |
| Yvonne Barnato | 7 | |
| Jube Terrell | 6 | |
| Lennard Fuchs | 6 | |
Dynamo Scramble to Find Alternate Stadium
Refusing to forfeit a game, Novyimir Dynamo executives announced plans to hastily construct a new stadium in a neighbouring settlement after the team was shut out of its home field by the ongoing quarantine.
CID is actively investigating the "Chubarov" outbreak.
As outbreak rocks Novyimir settlement, Dynamo scramble to find new stadium
Refusing to forfeit their next home game, Novyimir Dynamo executives announced plans to hastily construct a temporary stadium in neighbouring Korolev after the team was shut out of its home field by the ongoing quarantine.
But Dynamo majority owner Melnikov Aleskeevich — already facing a dismal season with a last-place team and drooping attendance — lashed out at what he called a “ridiculous expense,” calling on the Novyimir administration to foot the bill for the relocation.
“It’s their mess,” he said. “How am I expected to pay for all of this? I can’t afford it, but I can’t afford to miss games either.”
Novyimir’s Interior Ministry has repeatedly deflected inquiries into the cause of the outbreak that has so far killed three people at the settlement.
But inspectors from the Martian Council for the Control of Infectious Diseases have suggested the Chubarov outbreak started with “an extreme breach of protocol” at a containment centre at sub-station in Novyimir, where two crew members returning from an 18-month expedition to Ceres were inexplicably allowed back into the open population without the requisite medical testing.
When news of the outbreak first emerged last week, the Dynamo were at an away match in Huacheng. Since then, the entire team has been stranded, after all non-essential travel in and out of Novyimir was banned until Martian Council inspectors complete their investigation — a process expected to take at least three weeks.
The scale of the outbreak remains unclear, with Council officials accusing Novyimir of deliberately downplaying the gravity of the little-known illness that apparently attacks the respiratory system.
“My kids are still there,” Dynamo midfielder Oksana Makarovna said. “I’m trying not to think about it but I just — it’s hard. They’re OK, and I’m sure this is all just a precaution, but it’s scary.”
A KMH crew arrives in Korolev with auto-excavators and machinery to build adhoc field.
The team is now scheduled to play the week 15 home game in Korolev, Novyimir’s smaller, sister settlement to the south. The new stadium at Korolev is expected to be finished in time for the Dynamo to host Europa United.
Dynamo executives are planning to fully refurbish a rudimentary pitch in a defunct strip mine just outside of Korolev, which has only been used for recreational and youth matches. The overhaul will involve excavation work to widen and lengthen the field to MAFL standards, as well as the construction of basic spectator areas on the top deck and a infrastructure for broadcast to quarantined fans in Novyimir.
Week 13 Round-up
Regardless how you are looking at the sport, whether it is from boys vs girls, from the top, middle or bottom, the MAFL continues to excite.
Tiangong, Capricornus 8, 249
With the final whistle at Tiangong stadium, week 13 closed with more MAFL twists and turns.
The Chinese clubs both took surprising wins stirring up the sentiment from the swamp.
Dongji's 2-1 win came at the expense of Novyimir, pulling them down to share a last place standing.
For Wuji, back-to-back wins promises up new life for the team. It is also the first time this season that they find one of their team members on the leaderboard. Waaijer earned her 3rd goal in today's match against United.
The western clubs, San Olympus and Mariners, keep their winning streaks going. 12 and 9 wins respectively.
#12 Terrell takes to the air to capture the deciding goal at 18 minutes into the 2nd half.
The Titans victory over Al'amal was compliments of #12 Jube Terrell; whereas the Comets demonstrated firepower with a 3-0 assault on the Immortals.
Comets #42 Chanara Benjamin gets results at 32nd mark.
The last time they faced each other was 6 weeks ago, with Titans taking the match only after PKOT!
The excitement is palpable. The Titans face the Comets on their home turf! The Comets have never lost a home game... and the Titans have only given up one game (and that was an away match)!
The Immortals and Al'amal may be licking their wounds after this round of defeats, but they too face off in a 3rd and 4th spot battle.
It is also noteworthy to mention that this was a week where the women took charge. Of the 10 goals scored over Saturni and Solis, 8 were made by female players! If you haven't read the You Kick Like a Girl posted on Dhanus 16th, you should, it truly resonates!
Regardless how you are looking at the sport, whether it is from boys vs girls, from the top, middle or bottom, the MAFL continues to excite.
Stay tuned for going coverage of professional sports on Mars!
Europa Divided
For United, this was their 5th loss in a row as they continued their slide downwards to a 5 and 8 record for the season.
The reason for their downward trend - a tradition of putting goals into nets hasn’t materialized.
In 7 of the 13 games to date, United has been held scoreless.
Tiangong, Capricornus 8, 249
Tradition.
Entrenched in the roots of the Europa colony is tradition.
A tradition of integrating to achieve common goals…and putting goals into nets, as Football is one of many traditions ingrained in the essence of Europe.
Yet a losing tradition is what Europa United is trying to avoid in season one of MAFL play.
In Week 13, the lowly Tiangong Wuji beat United 2 to 1, to move out of the basement with a 5 and 8 record for the season.
For United, this was their 5th loss in a row as they continued their slide downwards to a 5 and 8 record for the season.
The reason for their downward trend - a tradition of putting goals into nets hasn’t materialized.
In 7 of the 13 games to date, United has been held scoreless.
They are at the bottom of team scoring for the league, and of the top scorers in the league, only two come from United (the lowest of any team).
Their top goal scorer….is their GoalKeeper, Yvonne Barnato with 2 goals!
United Goalkeeper, #58 Barnato, still likes to get out of the net, But the opponents are on to her.
“I know our forwards are working hard but it’s hard to win matches when you can’t put the ball in the net,” said United defender Garfield Dickson.
The bright spot for Europa, the team’s identity has a high currency in defense which has helped the team allow the fewest goals for the season.
Will the loss to Wuji serve as a wakeup call for Europa to unlock more value in their teams’ offensive depression?
United Defenders Dickson, Claudia Moruga and Carlinhos Varela have the pace and crossing ability to be a threat going forward.
Yet concerns over Coach Matthäus Reinmann’s ability to unleash his team’s offensive prowess, continue to escalate.
“I’m glad our defenders play an efficient style that’s created a solid protective culture,” said United Captain Lennard Fuchs, “However, we need to tweak this to enable a more open, creative culture which we lack at crucial times – the guile and cutting edge to generate offense”.
This lack of cultural cohesion among Europa was apparent during many times of the match.
When asked, Wuji Captain Stanislas Hachette added, “Their players seemed out of sync. Their passes were going nowhere. They don’t seem to be communicating with each other on the field, nor off the field as they have defenders and offence sitting away from each other.”
After Wuji’s Marysa Waaijer scored the 2nd goal of the match (which was the eventual winner), Fuchs appeared to be engaged in a long and spirited conversation with Coach Reinmann.
“It was simply a disagreement between us”, said Fuchs after the match. “I simply suggested we switch our formation to a more attacking style like a 4-2-4 or even a 3-5-2 but Reinmann did not agree. Oddly enough, the 3-5-2 is a style perfected by the Germans which Reinmann is, so I thought we would be in agreement on this.”
Coach Reinmann commented, “I would love to play a 3-5-2 style which is more offensive or even a 4-2-3-1 style which would help us maintain possession of the ball more. However, you need specific personnel for that, and I think our results to date confirm, that’s a challenge.”
After the match, Europa United Chairperson, Natasha Kennedy put in a vote of confidence for Reinmann.
“I think he’s done a good job with the talent he’s been given. However, we are always looking at ways to improve the club to give us the lift we need to end the season strongly and win a championship.”
Take it when you get it
It's quite possible this win came as much to the surprise of DJ as everyone else, but when you are in the gutter, take it when you can get it... and ENJOY IT!
Huacheng - Capricornus 7, 249
It's quite possible this win came as much to the surprise of DJ as everyone else, but when you are in the gutter, take it when you can get it... and ENJOY IT!
Dong Ji celebrate a 2-1 win over Dynamo.
The beleaguered Dong Ji club has not been able to cut a break, that is, until now. By no means does this turn the ship around. With Novyimir allowing a whopping 30 goals so far in the season, one could argue it is harder not to score on the Russian team. Though it may not be much consolation to be sharing the basement with the Dynamos, it is a whole lot better than being dead last on your own.
Unlike other clubs, DJ can get the ball into the net. On paper they aren't the worst club in the league and have multiple players contributing goals. Today's match is an example of what the team is capable of with #60 Saqqat and #68 Sertac each scoring their 2nd goals of the season.
There is enough runway left in the season for Dong Ji to get back on track and fight for a playoff spot.
Dong Ji and Dynamo are both 4-9.
Al'amal Fails To Topple Titans
The last home game win came in Week 8 against the Marineris Comets. It feels like eons ago since this crowd erupted into excitement over a Farra goal, but it wasn't happening for her, or them, in today's contest.
Al'amal, Capricornus 7, 249
It was a particularly dusty day in Al'amal, not enough to warrant the stadium crew to deploy the tent, but enough to cast the appropriate shadow over the record 16 spectator-transports that lined the top-side deck around the pitch.
The last home game win came in Week 8 against the Marineris Comets. It feels like eons ago since this crowd erupted into excitement over a Farra goal, but it wasn't going to happen for her, or them, in today's contest.
"The referee isn't doing he job," according to one local fan, "I don't care what they say about the bots and referee-systems... they are letting obvious fouls against Arwa [Farra] go without cards."
Others site the team's over-indulgence to prop her up as a problem.
"When you see players giving up clear opportunities and instead pass to her [Farra], it is frustrating.", described Stanley Rathi, himself a phys-ed coach at an A-Levels institute, "We all want her to be top scorer in the league, but not at the expense of the match!"
By no means did the Al'amal SC roll-over and make it easy for the league's juggernaut.
Farra narrowly missed a rebound shot at the 42 minute mark and came oh-so close to tying the match with a break-away shot that was stolen from her by Titan goalkeeper, #15 Busara.
Al'amal SC held Titans to only 3 shots on goal, but with constant pressure from the Titan forwards, the deciding factor came with #12 Jube Terrell's goal at 18 minutes into the 2nd half.
#12 Terrell scores her 3rd of the season against Al'amal SC.
"Readale (Nash) was taunting Pour (Al'amal goalkeeper),", Terrell described, "But his pass to Perez was intercepted by Guler (Al'amal #11). They didn't have their eyes on me, so I came in on Guler's blindside and took the shot right in front of his feet. It felt like taking candy from a baby."
Though Titan's Captain, #54 Raenia Ware was spotted with teammates in Al'amal earlier in the week, she was not in the lineup, not present pitchside, nor in the post-game briefing. The club, however, did not have any comments about her absence.
The Titans remain undefeated in their last 10 games. Big question is: Which club will finally break the Titan streak?