The MAFL Championship goes to Europa United!
In an incredibly close game that was tied in the final seconds of regulation, United claims the title of MAFL Champion after beating out the Immortals by a hair in extra time!
United - Dynamos
Tula 25 • Europa Stadium
Shot for shot, play for play, United and Immortals battled it out for the championships in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.
In possibly the best MAFL game to date, the two teams gave it their all on Tula 25. The first half was played cautiously, as both teams made conservative choices and plays. Lanka made three shots on goal in the first half, but was denied all of them by Sulzberger, who was at the top of he game today. At the halftime whistle, both teams were sitting at nil.
Scoring finally opened 4 minutes into the second half Lanka set up a perfect opportunity—Hagendoorn took the shot and sent the ball flying just out of Badal’s outstretched hands as he dove for it.
Plays were fast and furious following Hagendoorn’s goal. The Immortals scored two more goals in quick succession to take a one goal lead over United.
"It’s been an incredible season, and I’m just incredibly grateful to have this chance to be part of MAFL history
Barnato celebrates after scoring the goal that ties the match—saving UNited from defeat.
A crucial goal by Barnato brings the match into overtime.
In the final seconds of the second half, Barnato calmly redirects a shot from Dennis from the top of the box that sends it sailing into the far left of the net. In a battle of wills, Sulzberger fends off a flurry of shots from the Immortals offence, Lanka and Hagendoorn, keeping United in the game, and giving them the chance to launch a counterattack.
An unexpected lull on the left side of the pitch gave Covaci the opportunity to breakaway down the field—and she took it. In an impressive feat of dribbling and ball control, Covaci took the ball to the left corner and slammed it hard into the right corner.
The final whistle prompted a wave of celebration across the settlements as United players ran through the pitch in celebration
“We’re happy to have made this far,” says Lanka of the Immortal’s loss, “No one would have predicted that we would be taking on United in the semifinals. But here we are. I couldn’t be any prouder of our team and the fans that stood by us through everything!”
The second ever MAFL Championship trophy was handed to United Captain, Fuchs, who was lifted up by fellow teammates. “Words can’t describe what I’m feeling right now,” said an emotional Fuchs, “It’s been an incredible season, and I’m just incredibly grateful to have this chance to be part of MAFL history.”
FAns cheer as Covaci scores the winning goal for United in extra time.
GOALS
2ND 4’ Hagendoorn (Immortals) scores with an assist from Lanka
2ND 8’ Dennis (United) intercepts a pass and counters to score into the top left of the goal.
2ND 14’ Lanka (Immortals) breaksaway and scores with a low, easy laser into the bottom left.
2ND 20’ Talpur (Immortals) heads the ball and smashes it right past Sulzberger’s left before he can react.
2ND 25’ Barnato (United) redirects a shot by Dennis to send it straight into the back of the net.
ET 6’ Covaci (United) sees an opening down the left and dribbles the ball down and shoots from the far left.
| SHOTS | |
|---|---|
| 17 | 13 |
| POSSESSION | ||
|---|---|---|
| 43% | 57% | |
| FOULS | |
|---|---|
| 4 | 3 |
Stats & Standings
| Top Scorers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Uday Lanka | 20 | |
| Readale Nash | 16 | |
| Darkeem Dennis | 16 | |
| Arwa Farra | 13 | |
| Yvonne Barnato | 13 | |
| Ilya Petrovich | 12 | |
| Qigang Lian | 11 | |
| Lennard Fuchs | 11 | |
| Marcus Ekberg | 10 | |
| Stephen Liu | 9 | |
Comets Claim MAFL Championship!
Over 5,000 football fans descended on Olympus Park for the largest single gathering for a Mars event to witness the Marineris Comets stun the favoured San Olympus Titans with a decisive 4-1 victory to capture the first ever MAFL championship.
San Olympus – Saturni, Kumbha 7, 2077, m249
Over 5,000 football fans descended on Olympus Park for the largest single gathering ever for a Mars event to witness the Marineris Comets stun the favoured San Olympus Titans with a decisive 4-1 victory to capture the first ever MAFL championship.
Residents from across the colonies congregated at San Olympus, inflating the usual 12,000 population to almost 18,000 these past days. This unforeseen population spike had officials panicking all week on whether they could keep the colony afloat.
So crews worked around the clock to transform public areas and even cargo bays into event facilities.
Surplus air, water and other supplies were ordered weeks in advance in anticipation of this potential final. However, the sheer onslaught of visitors moved the other colonies to offer their support to help San Olympus breathe more easily.
The inter-colony audience overflowed the parkade at Olympus Park, which was bursting at the seams. Never had so many Spectator transports been packed so closely before as 5,128 fans watched and proudly displayed their favourite MAFL colours.
And no two colours shined more brightly than the Titans’ Purple and the Comets’ Blue as the two teams put on a scintillating classic that delivered drama and action throughout the match.
While San Olympus A-list socialite Sasha Bayley made her appearance with her rendition of the national anthem, her boyfriend would not. Readale Nash, the Titans leading scorer, reinjured himself during practice and was not suited for the match. Also missing in action, MAFL goalkeeper of the year, Icilio De Sisto of the Titans who suffered a shoulder injury in the semi-final match against the Immortals.
This made for a naturally frenetic match and the Comets poured on the offense to take advantage of the Titans’ key absences.
The genesis of a chance emerged with pressure from Stephen Liu on a loose ball that ultimately opened an opportunity for team-mate Luz Obregón, who sought the far right corner with a low drive from an acute angle, but dragged the effort a bit wide of the net.
Titans’ defender Alberto Rubio went down with injury in his feverish pursuit of Obregón on the play.
One less Titan allowed for the Comets to dominate possession for the better half of the quarter-hour as in succession: Liu and Liddell Bradley had reachable targets inside the danger zone but were left bemoaning their efforts as Titan goalkeeper Usian Busara was looking sharp.
After narrowly holding off the early burst of Comets’ intensity, the Titans finally rallied back.
With 20 minutes on the clock, it looked like Jube Terrell opened scoring as she controlled a Raenia Ware delivery and quickly blasted it past Zaida Agre. But luck would desert her as the officials rightly adjudged her offside to keep the match goalless.
A minute later, Terrell collected a pass from Baja Avdi just inside the penalty box and tried to guide home the ball with a side-foot past Agre who managed to poke the ball out of harm’s way.
And just as it looked like Ware would put her team on top with a rush down the right flank, the Comets Vitor Vargas Medina played her a snug too tight causing both players to crash to the ground.
While Medina got up, Ware did not. Ware’s ankle, injured for a significant portion of the season, couldn't hold up. Ware refused to go to the locker room and demanded to remain on the sidelines to give her teammates ongoing encouragement.
But the Titans’ injuries continued to piled on. Backup goalkeeper Usian Busara was taken out at the 27th minute, forcing Titan manager, Paulo Salgado, to insert unproven defender, Satsaroop Saprai, into an unbelievably high stake, high pressure situation.
In efforts to protect their untested goalkeeper, the Titans overcompensated which led to defender Terry Park overexerting and becoming the next victim to injury with 3 minutes remaining in the half.
With Rubio, Ware, Busara and now Park all gone (in addition to Nash and De Sisto being out), the Comets could smell blood.
Despite this, Titans’ Tarik Lema Girma fought back with a well-timed boost that propelled a stunning strike that flew into the top left corner from just inside the penalty area for the 1st goal of the match.
Titans 1 Comets 0.
Unfortunately, this momentum would not last as the Titans would display a slew of uncharacteristic mistakes.
The first came in the final minute of the half as a weak clearing attempt from Saprai was intercepted by Liu who fed a pass to Amanda Coronel who thundered a header precisely into the right post corner as a hesitant Saprai watched.
Titans 1 Comets 1.
The pace from the outset of the second half was relentless.
On the sidelines, Ware encouraged her teammates on. Despite the Comets focus on containing Terrell, she caused some alarm by galloping along the right touchline and to the near post before finally getting crowded out by a combination of defence and goalkeeper.
With each passing minute, the match became increasingly stretched, with neither team yielding in their attacking ambitions.
Then at the 74th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Liu intercepted an errant pass from the Titans, dribbled from the halfway line past three Titans defenders and then clipped the ball to Luz Obregón. The 24-year-old used exquisite technique to cushion the ball on his chest and then watch his cool side-foot drift over Saprai and into the top right corner.
Comets 2 Titans 1.
That goal would open the flood gates as the Comets rushed through with another goal two minutes later. Another misplayed pass from the Titans landed onto Bradley’s foot where he sent a cross from the right, which was met by Jonathan Elliot with a sliding volley into the lower left corner.
Comets 3 Titans 1.
The Titans tried to mount an attack, but were met by a swarm of Comets. A series of crisp pass combinations would allow Alessandro Ferraz to finish with a low shot that easily beat the hapless Saprai.
Comets 4 Titans 1.
The tired and crippled Titans valiantly fought to the end, but the final whistle marked a stunning ending to their season and redemption for the Comets.
“They said we couldn’t beat them but we did when it counted most,” said Bradley as he was showered with champagne by his jubilant teammates in the locker room. “They can have the MAFL Team of the Year Award – I’d rather be hoisting the Championship!”
“We’ve developed a team spirit which has been unbelievable based on the tumultuous season we’ve had with Warren’s death,” said Comets Manager Gordan J. Pryce, “I think it’s just fitting that the first Mars colony would also be home to the first ever MAFL championship.”
“My players were warriors and I congratulated them afterwards because, beyond the disappointment of the result, they played their hearts out”, said a dejected but composed Titans Manager, Salgado. “When you lose key players, you know it's difficult to turn it around but it's clear they gave everything for the Titans jersey today. However, I congratulate Marineris on winning the title.”
As would Commissioner Aiger Masing during the championship trophy ceremony.
“First off I would like to thank San Olympus for a fabulous job in hosting this week of festivities. However, this could not have happened without the help of all the colonies pitching in. We started this project ten years ago and what has happened today is the result of many years' of planning and failed attempts, but we never gave up. Today was a shining example of what we can all achieve here on Mars. Join me in celebrating your first ever MAFL champions, the Marineris Comets!”
And as Masing presented the Championship trophy to Captain Bradley, the broadcast channel erupted with applause from all the combined feeds including Spectator Transports, public gatherings, and home viewers across the colonies... followed 10 minutes later on Earth.
This concludes Season 1 of the Martian Aero Football League. Though season 2 is not slated until Mesha, 4 Martian Months away, fans will be eager to see post-season activity within the clubs and follow whether the MAFL will expand with any of the proposals from Wendland, Korolev and Osumi.
Play on, Mars!
Championship Anticipation
Hundreds boarded transport vehicles earlier this week to make the pilgrimage to the San Olympus to see who would rise to be the first ever MAFL champion.
Kumbha 7, 2077, m249
Bradley's Comets face Ware's Titans at Olympus Park tomorrow.
Hundreds boarded transport vehicles earlier this week to make the pilgrimage to San Olympus to see who would rise to be the first ever MAFL champion.
“I’ve given my vacation notice for the week because this is going to be one party I don't want to miss.”, said one Europa fan boarding a transport, much to the roaring cheers of her fellow travel mates.
The flow of traffic between Marineris and San Olympus is unprecedented with transport agencies working round the clock shuttling fans the 4500 km distance. In addition to Marineris residents, hundreds of visitors who came from abroad for Pathfinder Marathon have stuck it out to make the stop to the mountain colony even though the likelihood of acquiring tickets is virtually impossible.
The few scalped tickets that have become available onboard an PTV have reportedly sold for as much as 20 times the original fare.
With PTVs coming in from the colonies, Olympus Park will be at true stadium capacity for the first time. They have found a way to park an additional 25 visiting transport vehicles, making this the largest single gathering outside a colony facility with more than 5000 spectators expected.
For those who can't make the stadium event, they will be able to enjoy the Championship match through the many parties being held throughout the colonies. San Olympus itself is being completely transformed to host the surge of visitors; the main promenade, marketplace, and even cargo facilities have been retrofit to support the event.
"We are preparing our infrastructure to handle a population increase of 20%," said Steve Ulytaria, "We will have more than enough air and water, but there is only so much we can do about space."
Interest has also spilled over to Earth as a growing Earth fan base has resulted in a spike in planned coverage with double the resources deployed to cover the event.
“Our viewership numbers have increasingly grown since we started covering MAFL”, said World Associated Press President, Jada Mattata. “We acquired the necessary resources months ago once we saw the early returns. Our fans are in for a treat when they see our superior coverage.”
And will fans be treated to a superior match between the league’s two top teams – The Titans and Comets or will it be a case of the same old, same old?
The Titans are undefeated against the Comets in regular season play, having won all 3 matches.
For the Titans to continue that streak though, they will need to lean heavily on their league leading defence and their reigning MAFL goalkeeper of the year, Icilio De Sisto as their offensive game will be challenged with leading scorer Readale Nash, still bothered by a late season leg injury.
“If Nash can go, that would be huge as he’s the offensive game breaker that can help put us over”, said Ware. “If not, our team has depth and we’ve been successful all year in pulling together to cover off injuries.”
For the Comets, if they bring the same offensive fire they unleashed on Al’amal last week, they could very well overpower the Titans’ air tight defense and goalkeeping.
To help bring that fire, Ware’s infamous words, “We Own You”, have been posted up in the Comets locker room.
“Are we using it as motivation - absolutely,” said Comets Captain Liddell Bradley. “Talk is cheap though so we have to go out there and just do it. Come this Saturni, we’ll see who owns whom”.