2020 Copa Apollonia
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2020 Copa Apollonia
This is the official thread for the 2020 Copa Apollonia, which will take place in Lamantia between July 11th and July 26th.
With qualifying complete, the group draw has been made, and the tournament's first ever four-group format looks like this:
Group A
Florian Republic
Lamantia
Srbozemska
Group B
Alduria
Jingdao
Lakkvia
Group C
Kingdom of Coria
Krasnarus
Los Liberados
Group D
Freeland
Raspur
Senya
Teams are now open to submit their 20-man squads (with two named goalkeepers), and these must be received by Wednesday July 8th to avoid FMF player selection!
With qualifying complete, the group draw has been made, and the tournament's first ever four-group format looks like this:
Group A
Florian Republic
Lamantia
Srbozemska
Group B
Alduria
Jingdao
Lakkvia
Group C
Kingdom of Coria
Krasnarus
Los Liberados
Group D
Freeland
Raspur
Senya
Teams are now open to submit their 20-man squads (with two named goalkeepers), and these must be received by Wednesday July 8th to avoid FMF player selection!
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
Fixtures
11th July
A: Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
B: Alduria vs. Jingdao
C: Kingdom of Coria vs. Krasnarus
D: Senya vs. Freeland
14th July
A: Florian Republic vs. Srbozemska
B: Jingdao vs. Lakkvia
C: Krasnarus vs. Los Liberados
D: Freeland vs. Raspur
17th July
A: Lamantia vs. Srbozemska
B: Lakkvia vs. Alduria
C: Los Liberados vs. Kingdom of Coria
D: Raspur vs. Senya
20th July
QF1: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B
QF2: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A
QF3: Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group D
QF4: Winner Group D vs. Runner-up Group C
23rd July
SF1: Winner Quarter-final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-final 3
SF2: Winner Quarter-final 2 vs. Winner Quarter-final 4
26th July
3PPO: Loser Semi-final 1 vs. Loser Semi-final 2
FINAL: Winner Semi-final 1 vs. Winner Semi-final 2
11th July
A: Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
B: Alduria vs. Jingdao
C: Kingdom of Coria vs. Krasnarus
D: Senya vs. Freeland
14th July
A: Florian Republic vs. Srbozemska
B: Jingdao vs. Lakkvia
C: Krasnarus vs. Los Liberados
D: Freeland vs. Raspur
17th July
A: Lamantia vs. Srbozemska
B: Lakkvia vs. Alduria
C: Los Liberados vs. Kingdom of Coria
D: Raspur vs. Senya
20th July
QF1: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B
QF2: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A
QF3: Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group D
QF4: Winner Group D vs. Runner-up Group C
23rd July
SF1: Winner Quarter-final 1 vs. Winner Quarter-final 3
SF2: Winner Quarter-final 2 vs. Winner Quarter-final 4
26th July
3PPO: Loser Semi-final 1 vs. Loser Semi-final 2
FINAL: Winner Semi-final 1 vs. Winner Semi-final 2
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 11th July**
Group A
Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
Group B
Alduria vs. Jingdao
Group C
Kingdom of Coria vs. Krasnarus
Group D
Senya vs. Freeland
Group A
Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
The Copa Apollonia's opening match saw hosts Lamantia face-off against one of the pre-tournament favourites in the shape of the Florian Republic. With both teams expected by most pundits to be the two to advance to the quarter-finals, this was their shared chance to really set the wheels in motion towards topping the group and boost momentum. Ultimately, the Florians were the side that took that challenge by the scruff of the neck, starting the match impressively despite having to make a number of last-minute squad changes. Other than an off-target header from Lamantia's Sven Ebersbacher, the first half's chances were all Floria's; Kian Wright's curled shot being saved well and a Cristiano Ramirez free-kick flying over the bar preceded the eventual opener near the end of the 45. Wright was key to the goal, holding up play nicely before releasing the ball through the middle for Sam Butcher, who utilised his muscle to outrun Florian Kluge and slot home beyond Schmitt.
In a sign of maturity that may have evaded them in prior years, the Florian Republic maintained their first half form after the break and refused to rest on their laurels. The score was doubled midway through the half before Lamantia could register another shot, in most part thanks to a solid defensive display, with Ramirez honing his accuracy from another dead ball. A light foul on Dave Wheeler was enough to bring a free-kick about very much in shooting range, and Ramirez made no error in finding the perfect gap in the wall through which to blast home with the 'keeper motionless. Sub Jan Jankola was the hosts' best shot at finding a consolation, failing to convert in a one-on-one situation, but the result was otherwise nailed on with a very good Florian performance. Floria face former territory Srbozemska next, knowing a draw will guarantee them a place in the net round, while Lamantia will have to wait for their game against the Srbozemskans which rounds off the group and is likely to be a decider.
Spoiler!
Group B
Alduria vs. Jingdao
Group B's opening match brought together a tournament débutant and a World Cup quarter-finalist, but the former appears to be the team to watch this time around. As qualifying suggested they would be, Alduria were a force to be reckoned with in their first tournament finals outing and wasted no time at all in opening the scoring, with Álexis Carrasco's header unmarked looping into the back of the net from a cross in from Javier de la Fuente. Despite the quick start, however, the game petered-out somewhat albeit without the Aldurians' lead never really feeling in doubt. A later flurry of goals at the end of the second half at least gave the fans something else to cheer after a fair wait following the opening strike. François Bousquet's easy finish from a counter doubled the deficit before a late fluke from Lim Taodong halved it once again; the midfielder found fortune in a deflected clearance and put the ball away after sprinting forward unchecked. However, Alduria's dominance was established once again with the last kick of the game as Andrew Miller's striker's instinct lashed home a loose ball after a missed header out from the back.
Alduria can watch as Jingdao take on Lakkvia in a few days' time, knowing that a win from the latter will put them both through.
Spoiler!
Group C
Kingdom of Coria vs. Krasnarus
A rivalry began Group C of this year's Copa Apollonia, with the two namesake entities of Krasnocoria looking for bragging rights over one another. Two teams that many think have really got what it takes to challenge for a first major trophy this summer, and this game is unlikely to change those people's minds as both teams put in assured performances. David Gulley's powerful header put Krasnarus in the lead relatively early in the match, but the goal came against the run of play after the Corians had looked the livelier of the two from the kick-off; a jink inside and lobbed cross from Srbijo Radmanović was met by Gulley finding an inch of room to sneak his head forward to divert the ball low into the net. Coria responded well, however, and the Krasnarusyns had Kung Bobing to thank for palming an Aleksandar Mileusnić shot round the post later in the half, keeping the score in tact until the break.
Half time must have been the tonic for Coria as they levelled the score within minutes of the restart. A dash forward from Martin Ćorluka went unchallenged for far too long and a squared pass to Nemanja Ahčev saw the forward crash the ball home from the edge of the box beyond the dive of Kung. Despite this, as with the first-half goal, the team that conceded didn't let it affect their game plan and Krasnarus worked their way back into the match astutely. While no further goals were scored, good chances fell to Mileusnić and Merku Durmel at either end of the pitch which any other day could have gone the right side of the woodwork but didn't. Overall a fair draw, and one that neither side is likely to be too upset about, with the group's arguably trickiest fixture out of the way for both teams. Los Liberados are Krasnarus' opponent on the 14th, and then Coria's foe on the 17th.
Spoiler!
Group D
Senya vs. Freeland
Holders Senya faced dark horses Freeland in the opening round's last match, with support for the Senyans at fever pitch in what could very much feel like a home tournament for them this year. With Raspur still somewhat of an unknown quantity, this match was the two's chance to lay down some groundwork in starting the tournament with points. Freeland, in their colourful attire, were as plucky as they were last summer at the World Cup, but their shortcomings were highlighted from the off in this match against the world champions. Within a six-minute spell, star striker Alesandrœ Danetskë had already put his name down as a potential top scorer for these finals - as he does most finals - with two expert finishes before the half-hour mark. A ball over the top from Domonik Ƨarkœvič pitched perfectly for the striker's run and a half-volley was no match for Cyryl Wieczorek in goal, with some fancy footwork creating the second, as Danetskë squirmed his way inside from the left channel before placing a shot between the two defenders and Wieczorek to find the bottom corner. Freeland were not disheartened and did push forward before half time, albeit gingerly, but the strong Senyan defence kept them from causing any damage.
The restart brought about a third Senyan goal relatively quickly; Barnaby Hands' cross in was met by the head of Danetskë, an effort that was blocked by a towering defender, but the forward latched onto the rebound to poke the ball inside, where Kiket Volinsk was more than happy to oblige with directing a shot over the line from the middle of the box. The Senyans were cruising, but made sure to not take Freeland lightly and focused slightly less on ploughing forward lest they risk being exploited by the counter-attack. Freeland's best opportunities fell to Robert Laskowski as one may expect, but the highly-rated youngster struggled against the dominant, experienced Senyan back pairing. In the end, the win did not flatter the Senyans, who could have arguably pushed for more, and will give both players and fans the idea that they can top this group unbeaten, with Raspur left to play, but after Freeland do the same thing first.
Spoiler!
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 14th July*
Group A
Florian Republic vs. Srbozemska
Group B
Jingdao vs. Lakkvia
Group C
Krasnarus vs. Los Liberados
Group D
Freeland vs. Raspur
Group A
Florian Republic vs. Srbozemska
Srbozemska's first foray into tournament football was a baptism of fire, as they were met by vociferous support for their bitter Florian rivals in the stands and by one of the AEFA's most in-form teams on the pitch. With the atmosphere threatening to spill over following the kick-off, the match itself needed to take centre stage and did so relatively soon as the Florian Republic took the lead. Cristiano Ramirez's support play down the right allowed for a drag back at the edge of the area which came to Ben Cunningham, and the midfielder powered home a strike along the turf that skipped into the bottom-left corner. The goal settled the match somewhat, while the fans remained much more animated, and the Florians took charge. After a disallowed goal for offside by Ramirez, Sam Butcher scored his second of the competition before half time; Kian Wright pulled wide and delivered a tasty chip for Butcher to head past Igor Lazić in between the two centre-backs.
Srbozemska were less submissive after the break, as the run of the match became less one-sided, and a couple of chances were created for Florian Super League-based forward Andraj Apostolević, but Patrick Marshall was on hand to make the save both times. As the fixture came to its conclusion, with Floria happy to preserve their lead, a third was added from an unexpected source. A quick counter saw Derek Campos direct play from the back, and a one-two saw the left-back continue his run past the last man and stab the ball home under Lazić from a tight angle. Another clean sheet and another three points puts the Florians through to the quarter-finals as group winners, while the final Group A match will be a winner-takes-all between Lamantia and Srbozemska.
Spoiler!
Group B
Jingdao vs. Lakkvia
Jingdao's second outing in Lamantia was Lakkvia's first, with both teams looking to win; a victory for Jingdao would massively improve their likelihood of advancing, with no further opportunity to gain points, while three points for Lakkvia would guarantee their progress and make their next game against Alduria less of a last-chance saloon. As in their last match, Jingdao fell behind in the first half, with Mika Førvossen finishing a scrappy move that saw some pinball in the box before being shinned over the line by the striker. Jingdao were the better team in the run-up to the interval though and the match was nicely poised going into the second half.
Midway through the second 45, Jingdao forced a well-deserved equaliser as Tahara Shinwa received the ball outside the box before controlling the ball past Niinästö and side-footing calmly beyond the reach of Tolonen in goal. Within ten minutes, the tide had completely turned, however, as the Lim and Li combination that has served this team well in the past once again produced some magic; Lim's burst forward drew the Lakkvian defence out of shape and a well-timed squared pass was met by Li Dongzhua's touch and finish on which Tolonen's fingertips weren't enough to deflect the ball wide. Lim himself was guilty of spurning a chance later to extend the lead, while Noel Zidikit was equal to a Tommy Gamst-Pedersen freekick that was the game's closest chance to being brought level again. The win keeps Jingdao very much alive, but their fate is now out of their own hands, with Lakkvia needing to beat Alduria, who themselves could mathematically still be eliminated if they fall to a heavy enough defeat in three days' time.
Spoiler!
Group C
Krasnarus vs. Los Liberados
Three days after Krasnarus' Copa Apollonia début, Los Liberados made their bow with potentially buoyed expectations after the group's opening match's draw keeping things all to play for. As was a marker for their qualifying campaign, Los Liberados performed well defensively in the match, against a Krasnarusyn side that has shown on a number of occasions that they can score relatively freely against established teams. In fact, both teams were astute enough behind the ball that this tie looked like it may run its course completely goalless. That was until Merku Durmel popped up with a matter of minutes remaining to give life to the game and seal Krasnarus' progress in the process; a long ball forward was the Liberadosans' undoing, with possibly their only mistake of the game costing them a result. Toño Jarquin let the ball bounce before attempting to clear, and that split-second delay gave Durmel the opportunity to bully the centre-back and bring the ball down perfectly to set-up a shot from the "D" that bent its way past Ugar in goal. A cruel way to go behind, and ultimately decide the match, with little happening afterwards, as Krasnarus go through and Los Liberados now face a Corian side who have the initiative to try and win the group with a big enough win.
Spoiler!
Group D
Freeland vs. Raspur
Raspur became the last of the débutants to take to the pitch, facing off against a Freeland side they played in the qualifiers that had just been on the end of a heavy defeat by the world champions Senya. While Raspur may be a new face at the Copa Apollonia, a number of their players do have past finals experience, which may play to their advantage this year. However, that advantage certainly failed to materialise in the first half against Freeland; the northern Apollonians came out of the gates fast, aiming to overturn their negative goal difference, and Robert Laskowski's very early strike from inside the box signalled their intent. While few shots troubled Abbas Cheremshar for the remainder of the half, Freeland were all over the Raspurids, and a second did come just before the break; Laskowski this time refraining from selfishness after a sprint through put strike partner Szymon Woźniak into a much better position to tap home after a ball inside. However, the pungency of success must have hit the Freelanders as they failed to see their two-goal lead into the break, with Sfeir Kheldumeh taking advantage of some lax marking to beat his man to a Neil cross and direct the ball in with the last kick of the half.
That late goal to reduce the deficit spurred Raspur on after half time, and what had looked to be Freeland's match at the start soon turned very much the opposite way around. Dangerous wing attacks ultimately came to fruition, with Neil again grabbing an assist just after the hour mark; this time setting-up Amwar Hussein with a deep delivery that the Farvælska striker headed accurately through the smallest of gaps between 'keeper Szczepaniak and his front post. With the Freelander defence at sixes and sevens having given-up their lead entirely, a panicked tackle brought about a third goal for Raspur as the closing stages loomed. Jacques Modrem took a flicked ball into the area before being shunted over by Jakub Baran; the captain went into the book, the ball went onto the spot, and Sfeir Kheldumeh's boot went through it to strike a peach into the top-right corner from twelve yards. But that still wasn't everything. A few minutes later, a sixth goal went in, albeit only just, as the scores were tied yet again. A rare Freeland corner was won and taken by Brzęczyszczykiewicz, whose cross in found the head of Tomasz Kaźmierczak to direct it goalwards; what looked to be an acrobatic save by Cheremshar was however judged to have been slightly too delayed, and the ball had already crossed the line by a narrow margin before being clawed out by the stopper. A exciting draw came to an end soon after, as Freeland's chances of a quarter-final look slim, with them needing Raspur to lose by more than three goals to advance, but with Raspur conceding three here, that could always be very likely to happen.
Spoiler!
Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
Florian fans attack Srbozemska team bus
In the first ever match in a major tournament for Srbozemska. The Srbs were given a baptism of fire on and off the pitch as the team were greeted by members of the Red Army which threw rocks and other objects at the team bus before kick off.
50 Srbs were also injured in a altercation in a local bar near the stadium. On the field, the Florians would brush aside the former Florian province with ease by a score of 3-0. Srbozemska will now face hosts Lamantia in a winner takes all tie for the second Quarter finals spot in Group A. Floria meanwhile have secured their passage to the next round as group winners.
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 17th July*
Group A
Lamantia vs. Srbozemska
Group B
Lakkvia vs. Alduria
Group C
Los Liberados vs. Kingdom of Coria
Group D
Raspur vs. Senya
Group A
Lamantia vs. Srbozemska
While described as a "winner takes all" match, the final Group A meeting still sat with hosts Lamantia holding all the cards as a draw would also secure their place in the quarter-finals thanks to a superior goal difference. The Srbozemskans, needing the victory to progress, started well, and their young forward line was unfortunate to not make the most of a number of first-half chances that were created; Brajko Pejić's header onto the roof of the net being the closest any of them went. This lack of cutting edge was punished just prior to half time when the hosts registered their first attempt on goal and found the net with it; a ball lumped up field was controlled by Sven Ebersbacher, who teed up Stephan Bayer to take a touch and strike low and hard past Igor Lazić at the near post.
The second 45 played out in a very similar vein to the first, with Srbozemska now needing two goals against a defence which established itself as a clean sheet specialist throughout the Confederations Cup this year. Some impressive creative work was ultimately spurned as the clock ticked on, and Lamantia eventually doubled their lead against this run to put it beyond all doubt that they were to advance. Bayer notched his second of the afternoon, using his pace to beat Filip Stojiković before finding the same corner as his first with a sweet finish. Being unable to score at all in the first eighty meant that the three needed for Srbozemska in the final ten was never a possibility, and their fate was sealed at the final whistle after failing to score in both of their matches. Lamantia go through in second place for a second consecutive knock-out appearance.
Spoiler!
Group B
Lakkvia vs. Alduria
The final match of the only group where all teams could still mathematically be eliminated was contested between Lakkvia, who needed any victory to advance, and Alduria, who could have even afforded to lose 2-0 and still go through. Alduria's advantage in the situation certainly didn't give them any sense of entitlement, however, as another strong performance came straight from the kick-off. Andrew Miller's second of the tournament opened the scoring, with the Hamland-born forward being too much for the Lakkvian defence to handle as he powered home a header from a corner. Although Alduria tried to build on their lead, they went into half time level again after a chance goal saw Lakkvia pull one back and improve their chances greatly. In a display of attack being the first line of defence, Freddie Vorgensen's harrying of Maxime Sion saw the former win the ball in a dangerous area and find the perfect pass to assist Kristján Viðarsson who arrived into the box at the right time to lace it in.
After the break, Alduria's quality shone through and Miller once again found the back of the net shortly after a kick-off. Robert Peck created the space and Miller finished the move with an easy side-foot within ten minutes of the restart, while two soon became three not long after through Tamer Modrem. Another who received the ball from Peck, this time further from goal, Modrem jinked past two tackles as he was allowed to move forward before lashing the ball into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area. Lakkvia had no answer to the Aldurians' onslaught and their misery was completed at the end of the game when sub striker Omar Meeks' stooped header finished off a swift attack that saw Bousquet and Modrem combine to outwit the defence. Lakkvia bow out with a whimper after two losses on their tournament return, as Alduria secure top spot in the group and will face the hosts in the next round with the best scoring return of these finals.
Spoiler!
Group C
Los Liberados vs. Kingdom of Coria
Anything other than a win for Los Liberados here and this would be the team's last match within the FMF, having lost their permanent membership following qualifying for the Copa Apollonia. Conversely, Coria would be the very team that they would eliminate with those three points but the Corians knew that any result other than a win would see them very likely to face foes Senya in the quarter-finals; a match-up they would want to avoid. The initiative was clearly taken by the Liberadosans, who showed the kind of class that earned them qualification and a notable victory over the Florian Republic in February. Liga de Hierro top scorer Fernando Diaz was on hand to establish an early, and surprise, lead within the opening twenty minutes as he poked the ball over the line from a corner after the Corians didn't clear in time. However, throughout the first half, the stats showed that Coria were the dominant side on the whole, with Los Liberados content enough to sit back on their unexpected lead. Of the handful of Corian shots, none were on target nor needed to be saved.
Los Liberados spent the second half entirely under the cosh, as their solid defence continued to frustrate the Corians, whose substitution choices brought them to have five recognised strikers on the pitch at one point. The unorthodox tactic worked in the end, with just under quarter of an hour to go; Uroš Kocić was fouled just inside the box and a penalty was awarded, which the usually reliable Aleksandar Mileusnić somehow did not convert. The striker's effort instead hit the post square-on, but the quickest player to react to the rebound was Martin Ćorluka, who made sure the ball crossed the line with a first-time hit before anyone could clear it. While a draw would still see the Corians through, the matter of pride of finishing above rivals Krasnarus was something that needed all three points, but that winning goal would never come. A disappointing scoreline for Coria, but the main thing is that their chances are still very much alive after sneaking into the quarter-finals, while alive is no longer what Los Liberados' team can claim to be as they close their account with the FMF at the bottom of the group.
Spoiler!
Group D
Raspur vs. Senya
After an exhilarating draw with Freeland, Raspur faced the reigning champions frankly hoping to not be beaten by a large scoreline on the off-chance that they manage to progress. What was not expected was the means by how they would try and achieve this feat. With most of the tactically astute usually favouring a park-the-bus technique, Raspur's gung-ho approach was refreshing to see; perhaps knowing that their team has goals in them after the last match spurred them on against the Senyans. The first half was a very enjoyable encounter with two teams happy to attack going at each other leading to a number of opportunities; Alesandrœ Danetskë fired over from close range while Aprem Neil was in good form as very delivery he put into the box had the Senyan defence on edge. Raspur's gutsy display remarkably put them ahead towards the end of the half as well, with another Neil cross being met by Sfeir Kheldumeh who held it up well to play it through to Jair Ali who had marauded forward, and the midfielder placed a finish just past the reach of Bɏankarlënœ's palm.
Whether the Raspurids thought that goal would be the winner or not is up for debate, given that they lost their lead very shortly after the second half began, what isn't debatable is that fact that its scoring improved their chances of advancing greatly with the goal difference factor. That goal difference was cancelled out by Senyan captain Barnaby Hands, however, who sprinted through after spying a gap to take the game by the scruff and dink the ball over the young stopper Cheremshar. Senya's second came before their fans had even stopped celebrating the equaliser; Jan Maytek took it on himself to step on the gas this time and weaved past a defender nimbly before turning a cross to the centre. Kiket Volinsk obliged in scoring his second of the finals with a calm half-volley as he opened his body up, and suddenly it looked like Raspur's floodgates may have also opened as Senya's threats came true. However, smart football followed from Raspur, who were happy to soak up most of the subsequent pressure, with the patient Senyans no longer relying on a goal to put them top of the group. While a Senyan third did eventually come, the majority of the second half had been somewhat of a stalemate after its quickfire start. With time running out for Freeland's hopes, as they watched on unable to affect their fate, Alesandrœ Danetskë did what he does best and made it 3-1 with a bullet of a header from Hands' well-executed delivery. The first-half goal would seemingly be the difference maker at the final whistle, with Raspur placing above Freeland by the narrowest margin and advancing to the knock-out stages, as Senya sit pretty at the top of the group with a 100% record maintained.
Spoiler!
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 20th July*
Quarter-finals
Florian Republic vs. Jingdao
Quarter-finals
Florian Republic vs. Jingdao
Alduria vs. LamantiaGroup A winners the Florian Republic faced off against another old foe in the shape of Jingdao in the first ever Copa Apollonia quarter-final, buoyed by two comfortable group stage wins, no goals conceded and off the back of a bye's rest. Jingdao's record of one win and one loss got them through their group securely enough, but their fate was still out of their hands in Group B's final match three days ago, so their rest may have been slightly less comfortable. As they have in every game so far, the Florians started well and dominated the early possession stats, with that period of control coming to fruition just after twenty minutes after a couple of close efforts. Kian Wright's hold-up play on the edge of the area gave Cristiano Ramirez time to measure a run, and, via a pass back to Sam Butcher, arrive at the perfect time to volley home the opening goal from close range after a chipped through ball. The Jingdaoese had little to offer in response in the remainder of the first half, being pegged back by a Florian team that had smelled blood and wanted more; a second right before the break extended the lead and potentially changed both managers' planned team talks in the process. After his creative work in the opening goal, Kian Wright earned his first of the tournament with a patiently-executed strike having received the ball out wide; after cutting-in, he outsmarted Wi Lungcheng who was pressing well before aiming his shot inside the near post when the expected strike would have been across goal to fool the 'keeper and convert.
Jingdao improved after the break, coming into a second half that was very much do-or-die, needing at least a goal to boost morale. They got that goal, and spoiled the Florian track record of successive clean sheets at the same time, through Lim Taodong, with the midfielder notching his second of these finals. A corner was won via Li Dongzhua's saved shot, and Yao Tsutang's delivery was met by Lim's forehead in the middle of a crowded area and diverted past the flailing Ward in goal. The goal did what the Jingdaoese expected, and gave them more confidence to take the game to the Florian Republic in stark contrast to the first 45. However, this confidence was their undoing when, after piling forward for another corner, they were punished on the counter; Ward claimed the corner before distributing swiftly to Derek Campos, who used his and Ramirez's pace to take the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, with Ramirez outgunning Ong Yimsun to take the pass and power home past Zidikit. With the two-goal lead restored, the Florians were better equipped for dealing with Jingdao's willing attacks and were able to see out the remainder of the tie with little to panic over. Upon full time, Jingdao's elimination was confirmed, and the Florian Republic shall advance to the semi-finals for a second consecutive Copa Apollonia with their eyes fully set on going one step better than in 2018.
Spoiler!
Krasnarus vs. RaspurAfter cruising through their first Copa Apollonia group appearance, Alduria faced off against the hosts, who were looking for a notable scalp in their quest to repeat 2018's heroics of reaching the final four. Despite two comfortable wins in the last round, Alduria have shown that they are not completely infallible at the back, having conceded both times, and that was again shown relatively early in this match too. Lamantia looked the best they have all tournament in the opening exchanges, and found a flow that they are capable of on their day. Before the quarter-hour mark, they'd made Alduria pay with a stylish goal that sent the home fans wild; Michi Schniester picked out a sublime pass to Sebastian Frederiksen who brought the ball inside before laying it off to his brother Reuben, whose curled effort from the "D" beat the dive of Foucault and clipped the post on its way over the line. A fair effort from the former brother could have doubled the lead shortly after, but a hurried strike from a similar part of the pitch kept rising as it flew over instead. As the half progressed, the game opened up, but Lamantia stood firm and looked to have the lead cemented in approaching the break. That was until the last couple of minutes swung momentum completely in Alduria's favour; a brutal challenge from Marko Dreher felled François Bousquet in the area and both players had to leave the pitch, with the former red-carded and the latter replaced due to the knock he sustained, with Andrew Miller given the duty of placing the ball neatly into the bottom corner from the resulting spot kick as Schmitt guessed wrong. All equal again as the half drew to a close, and the cliché of being the best time to score reared its head again.
The hosts were a different team after going down to ten, not because of their approach, as they still aimed to play attractive football going forward, but because of their missing part in defence leaving them susceptible to Alduria's attacks after previously being well organised. However, Alduria seemed unable to truly take advantage of this and were guilty of missing a number of good opportunities; Miller headed over from point-blank range, while Tamer Modrem's long-range shot failed to test Schmitt and Javier de la Fuente's usual quality of delivery was off the mark. Lamantia still fared well in the opponents' half, but only created a half-chance for Ebersbacher who agonisingly couldn't reach the the ball across the box at full stretch. Alduria ultimately wore the hosts down and eventually made one of their shots count for something before the threat of extra time loomed; Álexis Carrasco found the net for the second time this tournament with somewhat of a tap-in after Modrem had done the difficult job of bringing the ball to the byline and sliding a pass into the six-yard box, where Carrasco's boot made contact before the defender's and diverted it high into the net. Outnumbered Lamantia were unable to forge anything at the death to extend the ninety and the disappointment in the stadium was palpable despite the visiting Aldurians lighting up their section with their celebratory antics as they can now look forward to two more matches regardless of their net result.
Spoiler!
Senya vs. Kingdom of CoriaThe tournament's third quarter-final was a fixture few expected to see, as both sides can certainly be counted as fortunate to be in this position. Krasnarus topped Group C after Coria dropped expected points in their final group game, while Raspur's progression to the knock-out stages was ultimately decided by the factor of one goal at the expense of Freeland. A pretty even game ensued as both teams entered into unknown territory with the potential for their arguably greatest achievement three days away. While the first half ended goalless, chances were certainly not restricted; Srbijo Radmanović forced Abbas Cheremshar into a smart save at one end of the pitch, while Amwar Hussein had the best opportunity to score at the other, but dragged his close-range shot just wide of the post.
Following the interval, it was ultimately the Krasnarusyns who got their eye in and made the most of their chance. Just before the hour, Merku Drustinuv was picked-out in the box by a cross and his attempted finish was direct at Cheremshar, but the young stopper could only put the ball at the feet of Merku Durmel, who will unlikely have an easier finish in his career into the gaping net. Raspur didn't seem fazed by going behind, a trait they showed in the Freeland match as well, and were arguably the stronger team despite the scoreline for the majority of the half. Krasnarus had Kung Bobing to thank twice for denying solid efforts from the Raspurid front line, but the 'keeper had little means of affecting the strike on his goal with just a minute left to play. Raspur won a corner and Jacques Modrem's delivery was deep but was salvaged by Mohamed Salabsaab, who hit a strong pass across the box. From the line of players, the foot of Sfeir Kheldumeh was the one to react quickest and his touch pinged the ball inside the near post with Kung's momentum completely towards the place the ball would have gone without its redirection. With barely any time to resume the match, extra time was inevitable as it ended one apiece.
The additional thirty minutes fast became a nervy affair, as both teams knew that any mistake could mean their near-instant elimination, especially as the clock ticked on. However, no mistakes came, but a moment of class from a substitute did finally settle the match. Krasnarus' Demjen Čukčič, thrown on specifically for extra time in Durmel's place, found the killer touch in the second 15 after being played through one-on-one; a calm and collected finish through the legs of Cheremshar as the 'keeper tried to make himself a big target was all that was needed. The fixture's second full-time whistle carried with it joy for Krasnarus, who now face the Florians, but despair for Raspur, whose ageing squad may mostly not see this level of competition again.
Spoiler!
An underwhelming group stage for the Kingdom of Coria, coupled with Senya's usual exploits of back-to-back comfortable wins, set-up the tie of the round. Holders and World Cup winners against one of Micras' latest challengers, themselves with a World Cup semi-final under their belt, with both sets of fans often cited as AEFA's most impassioned. Reflected in the respect that a lot of these nations' respective supporters' groups hold for one another, the high regard that both sets of players afford each other was clear throughout this match, which established quite a tentative encounter. Despite conceding early goals in both their previous matches, the Corians were as astute defensively as they have ever been, and handled the multi-pronged Senyan offence expertly. While Corian attacking opportunities were limited in comparison, the Senyan defence certainly never switched-off their focus and were at their best when called upon. Two defensive masterclasses led to a game short on genuine goalscoring opportunities and there was little to dissect in that regard until the final stages of the ninety; Senya had the best chances in regular time, but Danetskë's shot from outside the box was wide and Kiket Volinsk was smothered by Sašo Fornezi before he could get his shot away. With no score, an additional thirty minutes was scheduled.
Extra time had a feeling of momentum shifting towards the Senyans, but the luck of the footballing gods fell on Coria as a number of chances went begging. After clipping the top of the bar through captain Barnaby Hands' free-kick, and another good piece of goalkeeping from Fornezi, the Senyans looked to have something to celebrate, but Domonik Ƨarkœvič's stabbed finish was correctly flagged for a narrow offside and that frustration rounded-off two hours of goalless playing time.
At least the penalty shoot-out gave the fans something to cheer as all bar one of the spot kicks taken found the back of the net, with a number of confident finishes going in. The decisive penalty was the last kick of Senya's tournament, as defender Harë Ëgermarč's blasted shot was a smidgen too high and went into the stands over the crossbar, with the Corians converting their final one to register a famous knock-out. Senya's elimination now guarantees a new name on the Copa Apollonia trophy come Sunday, with the Kingdom of Coria now in yet another semi-final appearance facing-up against Alduria in three days' time.
Spoiler!
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 23rd July*
Semi-finals
Florian Republic vs. Krasnarus
Semi-finals
Florian Republic vs. Krasnarus
Alduria vs. Kingdom of CoriaAfter needing extra time to advance from the last round, Krasnarus faced up against a Florian Republic team which has impressed throughout the tournament so far. The Florians continued their good form with a rapid start against the Krasnarusyns, with a couple of on-target shots making their way into Kung's hands in the opening ten minutes. Before Krasnarus had a chance to create anything, the Florian Republic took the lead as they had been threatening; Sam Butcher's perfect positioning between the two centre-backs met a whipped Cristiano Ramirez cross and the forward's accurately-directed volley left Kung stationary as it looped over the line. Butcher continued being the team's biggest threat, with the supply of Ramirez and Kian Wright causing Krasnarus' back line all sorts of problems. A dominant first half was topped-off with a second goal for the Dragonmoor FC striker; a ball over the top from Dave Wheeler sent Butcher on a solo run after beating an unusually high offside trap attempt and another deft finish saw the advancing Kung have the ball curved around his outstretched leg and slotted inside the far post by the youngster.
Despite continuing where they left off after the interval, the Florians were unable to use their possession to extend their lead, but not for the want of trying. Krasnarus had Kung to thank for keeping the score down, with acrobatic stops from what looked like certain goals from Ramirez and Butcher. However, the underdogs still kept their head above water and tried to earn their way back into the match, and gain some footing with five minutes to spare. With some substitutes and a formation shift bringing him into a front three, Srbijo Radmanović was the converter of a good move forward that led to some scruffy defending, finding the net through a forest of legs from the centre of the area. Despite the possible push Krasnarus could have gained from grabbing a goal back, an equaliser never came, and the Florian Republic saw out yet another victory and ensured their fans of a first ever tournament final. Krasnarus now still have the chance of a bronze medal.
Spoiler!
Off the back of a historic defeat of holders Senya on penalties three days ago, the Kingdom of Coria seem to have forgotten all their prior woes ahead of a meeting with new powers Alduria, who have an enviable unbeaten record so far this summer. Coria's low-scoring yet low-conceding tournament so far coupled with Alduria's penchant for finding the net but inability to keep clean sheets meant that expectations of the match were varied; another goalless 120 minutes seemed as likely as an absolutely trashing. Discipline seemed to be the name of the game once it actually got underway, however, as both teams cancelled each other out across the pitch and few chances were able to be created as both defences were well organised for the majority of the first half an hour. Surprisingly, the first shot on target of the match birthed its first goal, as Coria drew first blood; the increasingly-influential Saša Pešić was involved in splitting the Aldurian defence apart with an expert pass that set Nemanja Ahčev into space, who pulled the ball back to Aleksandar Mileusnić who tucked the ball home with emphasis for his first goal of the finals. The Corian lead didn't last long as things were levelled shortly before the break, with a Jean-Pierre d'Oliviera trademark strike coming from a set piece. Álexis Carrasco's touch inside was handled accidentally by Miloš Antić to bring about the free-kick, and d'Oliviera made no mistake from roughly 25 yards as his swerved shot bypassed the wall and dipped beautifully under the crossbar to hit the postage stamp of the net.
The equalising strike right before half time put Alduria in good stead into the second 45, and the Corians were forced back into their own half for large chunks of the remainder of the game. Alduria's creativity was on display on occasion with quick passes between their experienced midfield being too much for their Corian counterparts, and pressure began to build as they went close through Andrew Miller on the hour. The Aldurians forced their way into the lead with just over 15 minutes to go through a notable individual goal; a player otherwise quiet in the game, Vincent Chertrand-Pernet gained possession out on the right before bringing the ball inward, and an intelligent touch took him between Despotović and Đokić to break into the area. A flicked right boot directed the ball up into the net at the front post as Fornezi failed to react quick enough to make a point-blank save. After going ahead, Alduria sat back, aiming to hold onto the win in the final stages of the match, but weren't able to keep their grip on the lead for as long as they needed. Corian replacement forward Uroš Kocić levelled the score for a second time in stoppage time with a glanced header that came after Niko Jeglič had received the ball towards the byline and put in a hopeful cross. Snatching an extra half an hour's play may not have been the best for the Corians' legs, but it certainly pumped their fans up as they stayed alive in the tournament a bit longer.
Coria struck quickly in the first half of extra time, taking advantage of the still-reeling Aldurians, many of whom couldn't get their heads around how they hadn't won in regular time. A pacy run from Ahčev led to a cross that caught the Aldurian defence out of position and Mileusnić capitalised on being unmarked by turning the ball home with his left boot past Foucault's dive. Alduria did manage to rally from the double sucker punch sustained over the course of less than five minutes' play, and Andrew Miller was guilty of putting a header over the bar when it looked harder to miss the target than hit it. Aldurian frustration typified the final 15, with further extravagant attempts at breaking the Corian defence all ended in missed final passes or hefty clearances, and no clear-cut opportunities fell to either team. As the whistle blew to signal the true end of the contest, the unfortunate Aldurians were disconsolate while Coria's luckless curse of semi-final defeats has eventually been broken in nerve-wracking fashion. Alduria will fight for third against Krasnarus on Sunday, ahead of a explosive final between the Lost Brothers of Floria and Coria to decide the 2020 kings of the AEFA.
Spoiler!
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Re: 2020 Copa Apollonia
*Played 26th July*
Third-place play-off
Krasnarus vs. Alduria
Florian Republic vs. Kingdom of Coria
Third-place play-off
Krasnarus vs. Alduria
FINALThe tournament's "nearly teams" played out the obligatory match for bronze which, while not what either team will have wanted for this stage, gave them one last chance at bragging rights and the opportunity to go home off the back of a victory. Arguably the more unlucky of the pair to not make the final, Alduria were the dominant side throughout the match with a large number of their team having experienced third-place play-offs with Hamland or Alexandria in the past. This experience told quickly as Andew Miller's fifth of the championships rippled the net after just a quarter-hour's play; Álexis' skilled work out wide led to a dipped cross in that fell just right for Miller to volley home from close range. While the Aldurians were on top for the majority of the game, Krasnarus did break on occasion but were disappointing in the final third as only speculative efforts from Gulley and Drustinuv went anywhere near the goal.
The game was tied-up in the second half as Krasnarus began to flag, with an Aldurian second coming from a corner with twenty to go. Álexis again worked his creative magic from the set piece, whipping in a beauty to find the granite head of defender Loïc Montraneau who had roamed forward. The bullet header passed Kung before he could react, and Krasnarus never recovered to even register any further shots before the final whistle. Ultimately a straight-forward win for Alduria, who take third, but Krasnarusyn football looks in good shape on the whole after last year's World Cup display and this summer's heroics, so both teams could easily become AEFA heavyweights over the coming years.
Spoiler!
Florian Republic vs. Kingdom of Coria
After two weeks of madness, upsets and passionate fans, the sixth edition of the Copa Apollonia had one last twist in its tale; a Lost Brothers Derby. The contrast between the two teams' progress to the showpiece match was stark, with the impressive-from-the-off Florian Republic having won all four of their matches so far with relative ease and having conceded the fewest goals of every team that made it to the final four, while Coria have clawed their way through the tournament, having yet to win a game in regular time and only narrowly advancing from their group after dropping points at the late Los Liberados. Would these factors play a part in the final? Whether or not they would, we were at least guaranteed to see a new name engraved on the trophy regardless.
With the two teams literally unable to be separated in the pre-tournament Elo ratings, there was little expectation of where this match could go, and its began nervously as the pair tried to suss one another out. The Corians grew into their flow sooner than the Florians, and created a notable attack down their left flank that saw Nemanja Ahčev's delivery fly just past the head of Martin Ćorluka as he stooped to try and divert it home. A surge of Florian pressure soon followed, however, and it was through this that the game's first goal came just after half an hour. Cristiano Ramirez caused a number of problems down the right-hand side and had had an effort of his own caught easily by Fornezi a few minutes prior, but less selfish work saw the forward turn back onto his right to cross this time. While the ball was a little over everyone's heads, it fell to Dave Wheeler on the oppsosite side of the pitch and the midfielder was afforded room to take a touch before unleashing a shot from outside the box which flew into the top corner past Fornezi, who was unable to reposition himself quickly enough to get any contact on it with his leap. The half ended with Coria somewhat on the ascendancy despite going behind, which has almost become an unfortunate trademark this summer, but Tom Ward was well-equipped to tip an Ahčev low effort round the post from their best effort before the interval.
Coria managed to hold onto their push into the second half and kept momentum for the opening exchanges, bringing about a corner from a deflected Mileusnić shot and a header just wide of the post by the same player from the resulting delivery. But with their inability to level the scores came a growing risk of the Florian lead being extended when they needed it least; which ultimately happened under twenty minutes after the restart. Another good Corian attack was broken down and the Florians wasted no time in executing their response as Wheeler was sent running into the opposition's half before sliding a pass through to Sam Butcher. Despite a quiet game so far the young striker turned-up when he was most needed, and angled his run between the Corian defenders to avoid the offside before latching onto Wheeler's pass and finishing first time with a confident chip over Fornezi who had clearly expected to be able to smother the ball due to his sliding lunge. The ball bounced once before crossing the line and the Florians' doubled lead cued some wild celebrations in the partisan crowd. The timing of the second goal seemed to coïncide with the Corians' tournament exploits getting the better of them too; having played an extra hour of high-intensity football over the past two matches than the Florian Republic, Coria's exhaustion became an increasing factor towards the latter staged of this game as more passes began to be misplaced and gaps in the defence became increasingly noticeable. The killer blow came after a period of quiet in the match, with Floria happy to play the ball around and tire the Corians out, but another quick break led to a goal very much akin to the second; Ben Cunningham spied sub Ryan Clark making moves forward and a pass over the top sent the youngster on his way unchallenged. Fornezi again tried to block the path of the man, but found himself beaten with a finish off the ground as Clark side-footed the ball past his arm and watched it bobble inside the far post as he sprinted away in celebration.
Minutes later the referee called an end to the contest, and the tournament as a whole, and Florian captain Ramirez soon lifted the trophy high as fireworks surrounded the stadium. A first ever major trophy for the Florian Republic, who will from now on be known solely as Floria, signifies a possible changing of the guard in Apollonian football, while Coria's misfortune is no better fuel for revenge as a title is the only thing that has evaded an up-and-coming team that has established itself as regular challengers in everything they enter in recent years. The future looks bright, and certainly competitive.
Spoiler!