Florian Republic v Ranentsi (17/06)
Florian Republic v Ranentsi (17/06)
In June 2012, a new nation in Apollonia hosted non-Apollonian opposition in a small stadium in front of a sellout crowd with a bunch of amateurs no-one had ever heard of before. That team, Senya, lost to North Antarctica 3-0, but with a Copa Apollonia, many regional club titles and about to host the World Cup with quite a good shot of winning it, Barnaby Hands and co have set Micrasian football alight in the past five years. And so in June 2017, with another new nation from Apollonia lining up against non-Apollonian outfit with a bunch of amaeturs, the similarities were there as the Florian Republic made their Micrasian footballing debut against Ranentsi infront of a packed out, but small, stadium. The hosts, playing in white, made a good start too, with striker Sam Butcher forcing Dmitri Olegushov into a big save early on. The hosts were mainly consigned to play in the middle of the pitch, with Ranentsi seemingly having learnt to defend during their World Cup qualifying campaign, and the men from North Keltia almost took the lead themselves when striker Hristo Stepanov beat his man, only to see his shot saved by the feet of goalkeeper Edwin Farrar.
A goalless first half was perhaps not the marker either side were looking for, but the visitors almost took the lead minutes into the second half as Stepanov smashed a free-kick from the edge of the box against the crossbar following a clumsy challenge by Dan Sanderson on the free-kick taker, before the rebound was smashed over the crossbar by Vasili Denonev. The hosts then came close with Will Grigg forcing Olegushov into another save with a shot from the edge of the box, but in the end, neither side could grab a goal to win the game.
Despite the final score though, the game was an entertaining affair, with the crowd in the stadium clearly enjoying themselves in sunshine, and despite not being able to score in their opening game, the Florian Republic can be very pleased by securing a draw on their international debut.
A goalless first half was perhaps not the marker either side were looking for, but the visitors almost took the lead minutes into the second half as Stepanov smashed a free-kick from the edge of the box against the crossbar following a clumsy challenge by Dan Sanderson on the free-kick taker, before the rebound was smashed over the crossbar by Vasili Denonev. The hosts then came close with Will Grigg forcing Olegushov into another save with a shot from the edge of the box, but in the end, neither side could grab a goal to win the game.
Despite the final score though, the game was an entertaining affair, with the crowd in the stadium clearly enjoying themselves in sunshine, and despite not being able to score in their opening game, the Florian Republic can be very pleased by securing a draw on their international debut.
Spoiler!