MAFL Week 14 Roundup
Week 14 of MAFL sees the Immortals continue their careful string of victories. Meanwhile the playing field has been drastically evened out as Al’amal and United have climbed onto equal footing with the Dynamos. We have 8 matches left in the season to determine which teams will be facing off in the MAFL Season 2 Finals!
Dongji - Immortals
Leo 23 • Dongji Field
Dongji manager, Rain Chen, observes the game from one of the team spectator vehicles
Immortals triumph again under Mirza’s coaching.
That’s two in a row for the Immortals as they proved last week’s win was not a random fluke! Mirza continues to build up the Immortals one match at a time, and the team is playing on a whole new level with his coaching. While superstar Lanka still leads the attacks, fellow forwards Hagendoorn, Talpur, Fox, and Naik are starting to play off Lanka’s strengths rather than around him.
Meanwhile, Dongji is having a sad repeat of Season 1 as they scrape through the second half after both Fan and Cheng are forced out of the match due to a sprained wrist and suit malfunctions, respectively. Dongji manager, Rain Chen, has taken the issue up with the club owners once again saying, “We desperately need more players.”
GOALS
1ST 10’ Lanka (Immortals) scores a right-footed smash into the top left corner with an assist from Hagendoorn
2ND 6’ Talpur (Immortals) scores after stealing a rebound away from Geng’s free kick
2ND DaCosta scores the only goal for Dongji on a direct free kick.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 5 | 7 |
| POSSESSION | ||
|---|---|---|
| 42% | 58% | |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | 3 |
Europa United - Al’amal Sports Club
Leo 23 • Europa Stadium
One of Sulzberger’s many brilliant saves in the Europa vs Al’amal match.
Europa United shuts out Al’amal as they struggle for first place.
United and Al’amal have emerged as clear rivals in season 2 as they traded places amongst the top three slots on the rankings table. In today’s match, however, United has demonstrated a definite dominance on the pitch as they controlled the pace of the game and made Al’amal dance to United’s tune. Sulzberger was in the net today and thanks to his spectacular efforts, not a single goal was scored by Al’amal despite several brilliant strikes from the corner by Fayad and Farra.
“I know not many are happy with my decision to leave, but United is still my team for now and I’m glad they let me play,” said Sulzberger after the match.
Despite the triumphant mood in Europa following the match, things turned sour as over-zealous Europa fans accosted Al’amal supporters in a pub and heckled them with racial remarks. Commander Sebastien has since denounced the incident and issued a formal apology to Al’amal.
GOALS
1ST 15’ Ivanovna (United) scores with an assist from Barnato
1ST 24’ Fuchs (United) scores with a boost-assisted high aerial slam into the far right of the net
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 19 | 20 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 64% | 36% |
| FOULS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | |
Wuji Sports Club - Comets
Leo 24 • Tiangong Stadium
Comets are left dejected after their second loss in a row.
Tiangong’s Wuji Sports Club has been the least predictable club of the season so far—largely performing in the lower-mid portion of the standings, yet often pulling victories out when least expected. Today’s match was tightly contested as each team struggled to gain an edge over the other. In the end, it would be Wuji forward, Ozil Alvi, who instinctively trapped a pass and smashed it into the net with a right-footed laser.
Comet’s fans are despondent following their team’s string of five losses. “Whatever bad luck the Immortals were carrying—I think the Comets have got it now,” said one glum fan,
GOALS
1ST 21’ Ozil Alvi (Wuji) scores with a right-footed kick into the left corner
FOULS
Samma (Comets) earns a red card and is immediately dismissed after deemed to be charging opponents with excessive force.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 25 | 21 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 56% | 44% |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | 5 |
Titans - Dynamos
Leo 24 • San Olympus Stadium
Titans have clawed back into contention with a 2-way tie for second place.
The Titans fire on all cylinders as they unleash pent-up rage on the hapless Dynamos. With 2 forwards suspended, the Dynamos were playing seriously short-handed offensively. Unable to keep the Titans at bay, the exhausted Dynamos were thoroughly crushed in the second half as a result.
“This was a direct result of our suspensions,” Petrovich and Samrend said, “We take the blame for this loss. The Dynamos are in a precarious position as their second loss in a row has allowed Europa United and Al’amal to become serious threats. Despite the anemic offence, Karaaria stepped up brilliantly and scored two goals for the Dynamos.
GOALS
1ST 7’ Blundell (Titans) scores with an unexpected rush
1ST 13’ Karaaria (Dynamos) scores from the top corner with an assist from Nikitovna.
1ST 18’ Carballal (Titans) scores on a direct free kick
1ST 24’ Karaaria (Dynamos) scores again after heading the ball
2ND 8’ Cambeiro (Titans) breaks away and scores with an aerial smash
2ND 14’ Terrell (Titans) kicks a powerful curve that catches Danilovich by surprise
2ND 18’ Ware (Titans) scores a header
2ND 25’ Nash (Titans) scores a last minute with a diving kick.
| SHOTS ON GOAL | |
|---|---|
| 34 | 13 |
| POSSESSION | |
|---|---|
| 72% | 28% |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 3 | 2 |
Stats & Standings
Rankings
| Team | M | W | L | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United | 14 | 9 | 5 | 33 |
| Dynamo | 14 | 9 | 5 | 30 |
| Al'Amal Sports Club | 14 | 9 | 5 | 30 |
| Wuji Sports Club | 14 | 8 | 6 | 33 |
| Titans | 14 | 8 | 6 | 33 |
| Comets | 14 | 5 | 9 | 36 |
| Immortals | 14 | 5 | 9 | 24 |
| Dongji | 14 | 3 | 11 | 24 |
| Top Scorers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Readale Nash | 12 | |
| Uday Lanka | 11 | |
| Darkeem Dennis | 10 | |
| Arwa Farra | 9 | |
| Qigang Lian | 8 | |
| Lennard Fuchs | 7 | |
| Ilya Petrovich | 7 | |
| Mariya Nikitovna | 7 | |
| Yvonne Barnato | 7 | |
| Jube Terrell | 7 | |
Week 14 Roundup
For the final round of shots, United Coach Matthäus Reinmann called in his goal keeper, Yvonne Barnato, to the disbelief of many of her teammates including Fuchs visibly shaking his head.
Solis, Capricornus 15, 2077, m249
Dynamo #66 Sergey Samrend and Wuji #76 Vygintas Repsas
Novyimir @ Tiangong
The Chubarov outbreak weighed heavy on the minds of Novyimir Dynamo players as Week 14 opened.
Playing an away match against the Tiangong Wuji, the Dynamo were able to channel their anxiety into aggression with an attacking style that opened scoring at the 6th minute when Sergey Samrend clipped a perfect cross past goalkeeper Trenton Seaton.
Four minutes later, a plunging header from Dynamo’s Yaee Etefu gave the Dynamo a 2-0 lead. Wuji finally responded back at the 73rd minute as a near-post corner led to Vygintas Repsas’ sweeping finish past Dynamo’s Illya Kyrylyuk.
However, too little too late as Dynamo won 2 – 1 snapping the Wuji’s modest 2 game winning streak.
The Dynamo and Wuji both end up with identical 5 and 9 records for the season.
“I hope our victory can help take people’s minds off the problems back home”, said Dynamo defender, Mariya Nikitovna. “They tell me next week we play in Korolev against Europa United but we’ll see. I just can’t wait to go home and see my family and friends”.
San Olympus @ Marineris
TiTan's De Sisto's wins the battle of the goalkeepers at Marineris Stadium
The wait for who would fall between the league’s top two teams, the Titans and Comets drew unprecedented attendance to Marineris Stadium.
They watched a match missing Titans Captain Raeina Ware and leading scorer Readale Nash, and offensive spark, as the match ended in a scoreless tie. In overtime, the Titans Pardeep Langanash put in the winner helping the Titans move to 13 and 1 for the season – undefeated in 11 matches.
The Comets moved to 9 and 5 for the season.
For a full match recap read One Would Lose.
Amrita @ Al'amal
Al'amal SC #8 Fayad post game celebration of a rare hat trick.
In the week’s 3rd match, Al’amal’s Hamad Fayad made his case for entry into the league’s Sweet Sixteen players, with a hat trick to help his team beat the Amrita Immortals 3 – 0.
Fayad’s hat trick moved him into a tie for 4th place on the season’s goal leader board with stars such as fellow team mate Musaddiq Baddour, Dongji’s Darkeem Dennis, and Dynamo’s Ilya Jaroslav Petrovich.
With the win, Al’amal moves to 7 and 7 with the Immortals dropping to an identical record for the season.
Immortals’ star Uday Lanka was held scoreless for the third straight match.
Outspoken Immortals’ owner, Vijya Pandey, was livid after the match. “The referees were purposefully ignoring all the fouls Al’amal was inflicting on our players. They were mugging Lanka all match.”.
And while they are looking for offences, they should also look for the offences of both the Tiangong Dong Ji and Europa United.
United #58 Yvonne Barnato earns the win in an unprecedented Goalkeeper vs. Goalkeeper Penalty Kick.
In the final match of Week 4, both teams were at least able to score a goal each - United’s Laura Pernet at the 26th minute, and Dong Ji’s Yazhu Fan at the 94th minute before heading to overtime.
This is nightmare-time for Dong Ji as they had lost 5 times in overtime prior to this match.
In Penalty Kicks, both teams played to a 2 to 2 standstill after 8 shots with goals from United Captain Lenard Fuchs and Laura Pernet and Dong Ji’s Qigang Lian and Darkeem Dennis.
For the final round of shots, United Coach Matthäus Reinmann called in his goal keeper, Yvonne Barnato, to the disbelief of many of her teammates including Fuchs visibly shaking his head.
After Dong Ji’s Olga Lobo da Costa missed their final penalty shot, Barnato calmly came up, boosted up, and delivered a thunderous shot right through the hands of her goalkeeping counterpart Xue Su.
For the Win! United 3 – 2 over Dong Ji in PKOT. Dong Ji’s 6th loss in overtime.
After the match, Fuchs said, “Coach is one crazy bastard. Ballsy move for sure!”
“I have to admit, I was shocked myself but I couldn’t let Coach down or they’d be killing him and me for that decision”
Reinmann calmly explained his rationale, “Well, Yvonne is our top scorer so you go with your best. Until we get some more scorers on this team, I’ll keep going to her”.
When asked if United was looking to solve their offensive ineptitude with player movement, Chairperson Natasha Kennedy carefully responded, “No comment”.
The win moves United to 6 and 8 for the season while Dong Ji owns sole possession of the basement with a 4 and 10 record.
After the match, Dong Ji’s Darkeem Dennis looked distraught and commented, “Something’s got to change. We can’t keep going like this.”
One Would Lose
Titans and Comets were the buzz throughout the colonies leading up to Week 14 of MAFL play.
And that was the buzz that permeated in each transport making the trek to Marineris Stadium. An unprecedented 14 spectator transports with 6 making the long trek from other colonies - this was the first time both parking decks were used at Marineris Stadium.
Marineris, Capricornus 14, 2077, m249
Battle of between the posts - Titans Icilio De Sisto (above) versus Comets Zaida Agre.
“Who was it going to be? Who would fall this week?”
Titans and Comets were the buzz throughout the colonies leading up to Week 14 of MAFL play.
And that was the buzz that permeated in each transport making the trek to Marineris Stadium. There were an unprecedented 16 transports with 6 making the long trek from other colonies accounting for more than 2,000 spectators - this was the first time both parking decks were used at Marineris Stadium.
Because they all wanted to see how the first place Titans would fare against the streaking Comets in this battle of the top two teams in the league.
The Comets came in hot with a five game winning streak. The Titans – molten lava: undefeated since Week 3 and owners of a 10 game winning streak.
One streak would end this week, and one team would earn a new level of bragging rights.
As the transports streaked to Marineris Stadium, a motley crew of passengers from executives to scientists to miners and bakers, laughed, debated and sang along in a raucous celebration of sport.
“I’ve been waiting weeks for this one”, said one passenger. “I got lucky and managed to scalp a seat with the savings I have. It’ll be worth it to see the Titans finally fall today.”
And all the signs in Week 14, pointed to a potential fall for the Titans off their San Olympus mountaintop.
Playing away from home – not good.
Playing without your Captain and leading scorer – even worse.
Minutes before the game, both Raenia Ware and Readale Nash were scratched from the lineup.
For Ware this was her 2nd missed game in a row as she recovers from an injury that occurred during pre-game practise before Week 13. Team officials cited Nash as being sick with no additional detail.
And without Nash, the Titans offence was anemic with a noticeable lack of spark. Thanks to a combination of stubborn Comets defending and a dearth of quality in the Titans attack, the game was goalless at half-time.
The depth in the Titans defence, anchored by Maria Fernanda Carballal, Terry Park, and Renatta Blundell, were also able to prevent any significant attacking momentum for the Comets.
The second half saw more of the same from both teams albeit a bit more spark from the Titans’ June Terrell who generated two scoring chances but was unable to deliver.
As one viewer observed, “It didn’t look like either team was playing to win, but rather playing to not lose.”
Which resulted in a scoreless situation at the end of regulation time – Straight to Penalty Kicks.
And while defence dominated (and dulled) regular play, it was the genius of goalkeeping from the Titans’ Icilio De Sisto and Comets’ Zaida Agre that brought the crowd back to life.
Shot 1 – Comets Captain Liddell Bradley goes top right corner as a diving De Sisto deflects it over the net.
Shot 2 – Titans Terrell goes left…and into the hands of Zaida Agre.
Shot 3 – Comets Jonathan Elliott goes right and De Sisto guesses right.
Shot 4 – Titans Tany Ingram kicks a low right corner shot which a lunging Agre gets a hand on.
Shot 5 – Comets Luz Oregon charged up and launched a rocket left that De Sisto barely tips wide.
Shot 6 – Titans Ron Perez goes top left corner which Agre anticipated with a leap and one handed catch.
“The goalkeepers can read minds”, said one fan.
Was this going to go long like Al’amal vs Wuji? <insert link to Don’t take a breath, Sudden Death>
Shot 7 – Comets Isabelle Marsh boosted a kick left which De Sisto guessed correctly.
For Shot 8, it was Titans Pardeep Langanash’s turn.
In Week 7, Langanash scored in PKOT with a boost kick to the right corner over Agre.
So this time, Langanash faked a boost kick to the right which Agre bit ever so slightly, and then blasted a low left corner past a late recovering Agre….GOAL!
Agre, Comets Goal Keeper, fails to stop Titans #4 Langanash in the 4th round of PKOT.
Comet Fans were stunned in disbelief while the transports from San Olympus erupt!
Shot 9, Comet's last chance – Kyrie Barnet fakes left then goes right but De Sisto’s patience prevails.
“Comets Fall. Titans 1 – 0 in PKOT.”
The Titans pull off their 11th win in a row and move to 14 and 1 for the season. The Comet’s five game winning streak is snapped as they fall to 9 and 5 in the standings.
The chance for Comets redemption will have to wait until the final game of the season in Week 21 when the two teams meet again at San Olympus.