2020 Benacia Cup
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2020 Benacia Cup
This is the official thread for the 2020 Benacia Cup, which will take place in Batavia between August 1st and August 15th.
With qualifying complete, the group draw has been made, and the tournament's first ever eight-team format looks like this:
Group A
Batavia
Elwynn
Kasterburg
Shireroth
Group B
Craitland
Sanama
Tellia
Unified Governorates
Teams are now open to submit their 20-man squads (with two named goalkeepers), and these must be received by Wednesday July 29th to avoid FMF player selection!
With qualifying complete, the group draw has been made, and the tournament's first ever eight-team format looks like this:
Group A
Batavia
Elwynn
Kasterburg
Shireroth
Group B
Craitland
Sanama
Tellia
Unified Governorates
Teams are now open to submit their 20-man squads (with two named goalkeepers), and these must be received by Wednesday July 29th to avoid FMF player selection!
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- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21547
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Fixtures
1st August
A: Batavia vs, Kasterburg
A: Shireroth vs. Elwynn
B: Craitland vs. Unified Governorates
B: Tellia vs. Sanama
5th August
A: Kasterburg vs. Elwynn
A: Batavia vs. Shireroth
B: Unified Governorates vs. Sanama
B: Craitland vs. Tellia
9th August
A: Shireroth vs. Kasterburg
A: Elwynn vs. Batavia
B: Tellia vs. Unified Governorates
B: Sanama vs. Craitland
12th August
SF1: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B
SF2: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A
15th August
3PPO: Loser Semi-final 1 vs. Loser Semi-final 2
FINAL: Winner Semi-final 1 vs. Winner Semi-final 2
1st August
A: Batavia vs, Kasterburg
A: Shireroth vs. Elwynn
B: Craitland vs. Unified Governorates
B: Tellia vs. Sanama
5th August
A: Kasterburg vs. Elwynn
A: Batavia vs. Shireroth
B: Unified Governorates vs. Sanama
B: Craitland vs. Tellia
9th August
A: Shireroth vs. Kasterburg
A: Elwynn vs. Batavia
B: Tellia vs. Unified Governorates
B: Sanama vs. Craitland
12th August
SF1: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B
SF2: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A
15th August
3PPO: Loser Semi-final 1 vs. Loser Semi-final 2
FINAL: Winner Semi-final 1 vs. Winner Semi-final 2
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- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21547
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Craitman wrote: Craitland's final twenty-man squad for the Benacia Cup has been named, with seven of the provisional side that has been training this summer having to watch at home.
Experienced goalkeeper Tim Ula misses-out for the talented duo of Francis Hjansen and Jamie Vallensen, who continue to switch the #1 jersey between them as they keep one another at the top of their game. Defensively, Jan Paulsen is the only player to not make the trip to Batavia; having only won his first cap last month, he may not be acclimatised to international football enough for the manager.
Alongside fringe players Mikel Densar and Jón-Vorgeņ Herä's exclusions, midfield stalwart David Loresen is the team's most notable midfield absence; the 31-year-old couldn't quite hold his place ahead of a couple of talented younger players in a similar mould. Lastly, with the manager only choosing to take four strikers, Dräsen and Aidan Keĵinz are the pair to miss-out; Jan Tórsen's performances in this summer's friendlies have put him ahead in the pecking order to support the ever-high-scoring trio of Zóma, Jonmikeltsen and Juliaĵsen.
Goalkeepers
1. Francis HJANSEN (Dynamo Deacon [MER], 24)
13. Jamie VALLENSEN (Jogasim Revolution [DES], 26)
Defenders
2. Daniel HJANSEN (Sverige Tiem, 30)
3. Alexis PROTEŅ (Biulya äqi Jedu, 33)
5. Johaņ IŅVAÄRSEN (Cherry Trees, 28)
12. Asil KARGANOV (Kealb, 25)
14. Ben HJYNGMOST (Osĵätoņ Aztecs, 25)
15. Ross ZEN (Sverige Tiem, 31)
Midfielders
4. İlker KEREMOV (Cherry Trees, 28)
6. Ilt VALMER (Kealb, 27)
7. ALEXIS Pellegrino (Kealb, 24)
8. Ĵulian ÓLSEN (Dynamo Deacon [MER], 26)
11. JUAN Pellegrino (Kealb, 23)
17. Adám PERRYMAN (Eĵars Town, 30)
18. Morteņ HERÄ (Róndlinga Diamonds, 29)
20. Jamie MÄLENT (Sverige Tiem, 21)
Strikers
9. Will ZÓMA (Eĵars Town, 30)
10. Jan-Morteņ JULIAĴSEN (Mercury City [MER], 26)
16. Lydveldt JONMIKELTSEN (Cherry Trees, 30)
19. Jan TÓRSEN (Róndlinga Diamonds, 27)
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Group A
Batavia vs. Kasterburg
Craitland vs. Unified Governorates
Batavia vs. Kasterburg
Shireroth vs. ElwynnAfter a tumultuous build up to this tournament, hosts Batavia finally had the chance to welcome Benacia's finest on home soil as they entertained neighbours Kasterburg in s'Koningenwaarde. And right from the off, the hosts took the initiative. Jeroen van Veen had the first real chance of the game, controlling a high pass from strike partner Jowi Bach before vollying on goal, only for Ivon Sommer to deny him with a sprawling save. Kasterburg looked good too, with Reinhold Hilbers narrowly placing a curling effort from the edge of the box wide, before Julian Conrad Frei hit the crossbar with a header off a Sascha Schröder cross. The deadlock was broken by the hosts however, with Bach slipping a well timed through ball past the defence, allowing van Veen a one-on-one situation with Sommer, with the Hänävissen-ó-Cräiteland forward, slotting the ball along the ground past the keeper into the bottom far corner, sending the capacity crowd into a frenzy. The situation got better for the hosts within five minutes, with van Veen returning the favour after going one-on-one after Ronny Pietersen launched a ball over the defence from halfway, pulling the ball back for Bach to tap into an empty net. Batavia threatened to extend their lead, but Bach missed a guilt-edge chance for three when the ball landed at his feet in the box during a goal mouth scramble, but the Xäiville Teflons man inexplicably blasted his effort over the bar.
Kasterburg managed to re-group at half time, and took charge of the early exchanges of the second period. Rudi Baumann fired a warning just past the post before Reinhold Hilbers pulled them back into the game on the hour mark. Eric Peters's corner was headed towards the back post by centre back Christoph Krüger, with Hilbers stooping in at the back post to head his side back into the match. Unfortunately for Kasterburg, the goal spurred Batavia back into life, with the hosts looking more likely to restore a two-goal cushion than for Kasterburg to equalise. However, the Batavians would not need a goal, claiming a vital victory in their opening match, whilst Kasterburg are already in deep trouble if they wish to escape from the group stages.
Spoiler!
Group BNeither side would ever really get going in what proved to be a disappointing game for both sides. During a game in which the respective defences came out on top, Talsin Llwrran had perhaps the best chance of the game, letting fly from the edge of the box and forcing Folki Öldrikkari into a spectacular save. Neither side however were able to force much in the way of chances other than the occasional long distance pot shot that would either hit the stands or tamely land in the hands of the goalkeepers, in perhaps the perfect example of a "bore draw".
Spoiler!
Craitland vs. Unified Governorates
Telia vs. SanamaThe Unified Governorates lined up for their first ever major tournament against a much fancied Craitish side in the proverbial group of death. The UGB, who were playing a very attacking 2-4-4 formation, looked good going forwards, which was exemplified on the quarter-hour mark when they took a shock lead. A miscommunication between Johaņ Iņvaärsen and Alexis Proteņ allowed Johannes Talbot to dart in behind the two, before laying the ball off for Artur Segler-1 to tap home past the goalkeeper. However, Craitland soon hit back themselves. Taking advantage of some lapse defending from the UGB, Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen found himself in space on the edge of the box and let fly, smashing the ball into the top right corner past the diving keeper, before Juliaĵsen again found himself on the scoresheet after Juan Pellegrino made some good progress down the left before crossing in, with Juliaĵsen beating his man to head home and give his team the lead. And before the halftime whistle could blow, Juliaĵsen had himself a hat-trick, completing the perfect hat-trick with a left footed effort, this time after the goalkeeper spilt a team effort from Will Zóma, with the Mercury City forward easily finishing from close range.
Craitland then went about sealing the game off, and with the UGB still looking to attack, Alexis Pellegrino was able to make easy progress down the right, before cutting in, playing in Zóma, who knocked the ball back for Ĵulian Ólsen, who tucked a tidy shot below the keeper from the edge of the box. Craitland subsequently eased up, as well as throwing on Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen for hat-trick hero Juliaĵsen, but it didn't stop the UGB for searching for a goal back, which they got within 8 minutes of Craitland going 4-1 up. Edgar Segler-2 ran at the Craitish defence before playing the ball into the feet of Johannes Talbot, who turned and slipped a through ball in for Harold Forester, who slipped the ball in at the near post to pull a goal back for his team. Although the UGB did try and search for more goals, Craitland brought on Ben Hjyngmost and Asil Karganov to help thwart the UGB's attack, with Craitland eventually able to kill the game off and see out a good victory for themselves, in what could very well be a close group. Meanwhile, the UGB thrilled with their attacking football, but may need to watch out defensively, having shipped their 4 goals in 34 minutes of football.
Spoiler!
Tellia started the better side in what many were already predicting to be a key game in this group. Sezer Özker forced Sanama's John Hammonds into an early sprawling save with an effort from just inside the box before Gianluca Salmoiraghi poked the ball just wide after some wonderful play from Isaac Mahler. The Tellians took the lead just ten minutes before half-time, with Sanama falling asleep at a corner, with Marko Zajc coming in unmarked at the nearpost to head the Tellians into the lead.
Sanama re-grouped at half time, with Gjanluca Totti being unlucky not to find an equaliser with his shot on the turn in the box. However, in a game of relatively few chances, Mariolino Sonetti would emerge as Sanama's hero, chesting down a great cross from Mushe Kanti, before volleying the ball past Thibault Guillermety to level proceedings. Sanama were perhaps unlucky not to find a winner late on either, but this time Guillermety pulled off a brilliant save to deny Sonetti from a close range header
Spoiler!
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Group A
Kasterburg vs. Elwynn
Group B
Unified Governorates vs. Sanama
Kasterburg vs. Elwynn
Batavia vs. ShirerothKasterburg came into their final group stage game against Elwynn needing a win to remain in the competition, but a fast start from the northern Benacian and team saw the Batavian protectorate in an uphill battle right from the off. Having drawn 0-0 with Shireroth in their first game, Elwynn began brightly, and took the lead before the quarter-hour mark when Peyman Eslamzadeh picked out Razdjani Emiri in the box, with the Farvælska chesting the ball down, sliding it across the face of goal, allowing Yngvi Miskjalendzki to bundle the ball home at the far post. Kasterburg tried to retaliate, but Julian Conrad Frei's long range effort was comfortably dealt with by Folki Öldrikkari. Elwynn soon doubled their advantage, this time Emiri providing the finish, as he got on the end of a floating Erdasher Lejlunai delivery ahead of the Kasterburg defence.
Kasterburg had to come out all guns blazing in the second half, but found a now defensively minded Elwynnese defence. Håkon Sveinbjarnar was particularly impressive in hounding down the Kasterburg attacks, sniffing out danger and making several key interceptions which would have otherwise seen his opponents through on goal. As such, Kasterburg were largely limited to attempts from distance, though Beringar Steinmann did still forced the Elwynnese keeper into a sprawling save from his effort from 30 yards. In the end though, Kasterburg were unable to find any real attempt that could even worry Elwynn, as they crashed out of a debut tournament, whilst Elwynn are now in prime position to qualify from this group in their final group stage match against hosts Batavia next time out.
Spoiler!
With the result in the other group, Batavia now knew that a win would see them book their place in the Benacia Cup semi-finals, whilst Shireroth needed to pick up points on order to keep pace with the front runners in their group. As expected in a game with so much at stake, both sides started brightly, with the hosts coming close within the first five minutes, with Jowi Bach not quite managing to guide his header into the bottom right corner after excellent wing play from Rik Van Vore. Instead, it was the Shirerithians who would take the lead, with their own Craitish-based striker breaking the deadlock. After Rranr Kikksta won the ball on halfway, Talsin Llwrran played a through ball from deep that cut through the Batavian defence like a knife through butter, giving Kurt Lamberti a one-on-one chance that he was never going to miss, with the Sverige Tiem man calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Jo Van Der Haagge. Batavia were spurred into an almost immediate response, but Jeroen van Veen saw his effort tipped round the post before a dipping strike from the edge of the box by Axel Peer required an acrobatic save to keep Shireroth infront.
Batavia continued this frantic pace into the second 45, with Ronny Pietersen setting the pace with his drive from the edge of the box requiring a sprawling save, before Jos Degroot's header had to be cleared off the line by Aslan Leijonið. But the hosts were eventually rewarded for the perseverance, with Jan Van Zoldere whipping a mean free-kick into the box, which was turned home at the back post by a lunging van Veen, with the ball having previously missed everyone rushing to meet it in both orange and blue. As the opener had done to the hosts, this goal saw Shireroth come back into the match, but this time the momentum would not last for long, with Rranr Kikksta flicked header providing the only meaningful attempt on goal. In the end, the teams played out to a draw, a result which leaves everything in Group A wide open going into the final matchday of the group stage.
Spoiler!
Group B
Unified Governorates vs. Sanama
Craitland vs. TelliaHaving dropped points against Tellia on the opening day, Sanama were hoping to score a victory against the worst ranked team in the group, whilst the UGB were hoping to register some points after they'd showed promise in their 4-2 defeat against Craitland. But the opening moments of the game would send the UGB's fans into a frenzy. Some brilliant attacking passing saw the Royston IV Merrick take a pot shot with just 70 seconds on the clock from just inside the box, which arrowed into the bottom corner past the gloves of John Hammonds. Sanama were spurred into a response, but they couldn't quite find their finish boots in the first half despite a flurry of chances. First, Mariolino Sonetti, their hero from the opening game fired just wide with an effort from a similar area to that of Merrick's goal, before both Gjanluca Totti and Koke Shuma headed over the bar from close range, and Taki Walu saw his free-kick tipped over.
In the second half, Sanama continued to dominate as they looked for an equaliser, but whilst UGB's attacking plays gave them plenty of opportunities to make inroads, their poor finishing kept letting them down. Totti did manage to work some space in the box, but his eventual strike was straight down the throat of the goalkeeper, before Sonetti missed an absolute sitter, with Tanilo Tosha's brilliant through ball finding him with an open goal at the far post just a yard out, Sonetti got his finish all wrong, with the ball cannoning off of his shin and over the crossbar in an effort that resulted in audible groans from the Sanama fans. But just as the Sanama fans were beginning to think that it was not their day, they finally managed an equaliser. After Sonetti had seen his header tipped over the bar, the resulting corner was headed in at the near post by Christopher Andretti, drawing Sanama level with just 10 minutes to go. But unfortunately for Sanama, not only could they not find a winner in those last ten minntes, they ended the game with ten men, after UGB midfielder Klaus Tanner went in late on Andretti as the two went for the same ball, with Tanner catching Andretti's shin with his studs. Mushe Kanti then, filled with rage having seen the horror challenge come in, confronted Tanner, head butting his opponent, with Tanner having to be restrained in order to prevent him from retaliating. The referee ultimately sent both players off for their conduct, in what will perhaps be viewed as somewhat of a disappointing result by both teams.
Spoiler!
With the result in the other group going their way, Craitland knew that a win would not only see them progress through to the semi-finals, but would also see them win the group. However, it would two-time world champions Tellia that would stand in their way, with the two sides squaring off against each other for the tenth time in their history. And it was to be the Craites who started off on the stronger foot, with hat-trick hero Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen immediately trying to register a goal in this game too, stepping inside to beat his man before firing across the face of goal, but this time his effort hit the post and bounced out, with Tellia managing to scramble the ball away. The southern Benacians grew into the game, playing much more defensively than their opponents, but Gianluca Salmoiraghi had the Craitish defence scrambling when he latched onto a ball over the top from Isaac Mahler, but the Biulya äqi Jedu forward saw Francis Hjansen deal with his effort quite comfortably. But just as the two sets of supporters thought they would be tucking into their half-time burgers having seen a goalless half of football, Sezer Özker seized upon a loose Alexis Proteņ pass, beat both of the remaining Craitish defenders, before slamming his shot into the top left corner having gone one-on-one with Hjansen.
Özker's goal had changed the complexion of the match, but Craitland would not give up without a fight. Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen was thrown on as Craitland shifted to a 3-4-3, but it was Zóma who would have the first meaningful chance of the second half, racing through on goal but smashing his effort just over the bar. Jonmikeltsen would eventually find himself with a brilliant chance, but after rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net, he saw the linesman had raised his flag, with the striker being offside when Ĵulian Ólsen had originally played him through on goal. But as the game entered added time, Craitland were able to snatch victory from the claws of defeat. Firstly, Johaņ Iņvaärsen headed home from a corner after Craitland had sent everyone bar the goalkeeper up for a corner, before Zóma and Jonmikeltsen combined well to get the ball into the box, with Zóma then sliding the ball back for substitute Adám Perryman, who had raced into the box, to slot home and send Craitland into both delirium and the semi-finals with the final kick of the game.
Spoiler!
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Group A
Shireroth vs. Kasterburg
Tellia vs. Unified Governorates
Shireroth vs. Kasterburg
Elwynn vs. BataviaWhilst Kasterburg were already eliminated, Shireroth came into their final game needing a win to face any chance of progression, whilst also needing to boost their goal difference, knowing a 2-goal win or more would guarantee their spot in the knock-out rounds regardless of what happened in the group's other game.
And they started the brighter team, with some lovely play in the midfield, most of it originating from Rranr Kikksta, put them on top in the early stages. Despite having not yet suffered defeat at the tournament, Shireroth had only scored one goal going into this match, and once again Shireroth were seemingly unable to find their shooting boots, with both Joey Roberts and Kurt Lamberti missing guilt edge opportunities in the opening 15 minutes as they pushed for an early lead. That dream however, was shattered midway through the first half, as Kasterburg, with their first real chance of the game, got the ball wide out to Sascha Schröder, who cut inside, dribbled to the by-line, before squaring the ball back for Julian Conrad Frei to slot them infront, sending the Kasterburg fans into delirium. It was also a goal that would spur them on further, with Frei's strike partner Reinhold Hilbers perhaps unlucky to see his half-turn-and-volley clip the post just minutes later. A stunned Shireroth were able to ride out the game until half-time, but most certainly looked to be shocked by Kasterburg's lead.
However, the break gave Shireroth a chance to regroup, and within ten minutes they were level again, with Lamberti making a darting run into the box, cutting back, seeing his shot spilled into the path of Tlasin Llwrran who had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net to level things up. But despite the equaliser, Shireroth were still seemingly goal shy. Lamberti came very close to putting Shireroth 2-1 up with a header from a Llwrran cross, before substitute Razul Lewis lashed an effort wide from the edge of the box. But despite pushing everyone forward in an attempt to nick a much needed winner, they would instead fall to defeat themselves, with Kasterburg clearing the ball from a corner, launching upfield quickly thanks to the speed of Sascha Schröder, whose cross found the head of Rudi Baumann, who thumped them back into the lead. In the end, Shireroth limped to a defeat, one that asks more questions of a side who were perhaps fancied to be competitive at this tournament, whilst Kasterburg can celebrate finally picking up points in this tournament.
Spoiler!
Group BElwynn and Batavia went into the final game of the group stage both knowing that whilst a win would send them through as group champions and would avoid a semi-final clash against Craitland, a defeat (or a draw in the case of Batavia) would require them holding on to see if Shireroth could defeat Kasterburg in the group's other game.
Sadly for the fans though, this was to be a tense and nervous affair, with Elwynn, with their superior goal differential, being quite happy to soak up attacks from the Batavians, who themselves were weary of throwing men forward in search of a winner. Jeroen van Veen had the only really notable chance of the first half-hour, drilling an effort from inside the box just wide, but as half-time grew near, both teams pulled off a few more efforts on goal, with perhaps the best falling to Elwynn's Dånjal ut ur Aldin, who managed to hit the post with a 1-on-1 situation.
Elwynn came out fast in the second half, and Yngvi Miskjalendzki thought he'd put them infront when he stabbed home from Ramund hin Ungi's cross, only for the linesman to flag him up for being in an offside position when the ball was played. For Batavia, Jan Van Zoldere smashed a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar before Jos Degroot had a header from a corner cleared off the line, but as new filtered through of Kasterburg's late winner, both sides played out the last few minutes without much note, conserving their energy now knowing their place in the final 4 was secure.
Spoiler!
Tellia vs. Unified Governorates
Sanama vs. CraitlandTellia and the Unified Governorates went into their final game with everything still to play for. Whilst Craitland had already won the group, both sides were sitting just a point behind Sanama, knowing a win would give them a very real chance of making the semi-finals.
Unsurprisingly, it was the two-time world champions who started off stronger. Within the opening minutes, Armando Uggè hit the post with a free-header, before Isaac Mahler curled home a brilliant free-kick from 25-yards after Lur Greenstock had bundled over Sezer Özker. However, within five mintues of the re-start, the UGB had found an equaliser. with Greenstock making up for his mistake by slipping through a wonderfully weighted through ball for Artur Segler-1, who said thank you by slotting the ball between the keeper's legs to draw his side back on level terms. Despite this blip though, Tellia worked hard to get back infront, with Özker forcing Wolfgang Segler-1 into a brilliant save after hitting a powerful effort from distance, before Mahler almost doubled his tally with a header from a corner, again requiring the keeper to pull off a save.
But having not found the lead before half time, Tellia were getting nervous. Mahler struck another free-kick against the crossbar, but the UGB were once again looking strong, with their physical style of play disrupting the flow of the Tellians. And as the game neared its conclusion, the Tellians fell apart. First, René Sgarbini made an uncharacteristic loose pass in defence which was picked up on by Artur Segler-1, who ran into the box before squaring the ball to substitute Jahangir Majeed, who slotted the ball into the unguarded side of the goal and put his side provisionally into the semi-finals. Subsequently, Mattias Segler-1 was afforded way too much room on the edge of the box, allowing him to curl the ball into the top right corner from the edge of the 'D', sealing a remarkable victory for the UGB, whose attention now turned to what was going on in the group's other game to see if they had done enough to make it through...
Spoiler!
For Sanama, despite the possible permutations from a draw or defeat, the message from the coach was simple, win, and you're into the semi-finals at a first ever Benacia Cup. However, standing in their way was Craitland, with the four time world champions having already sewn up the group title.
But with Sanama having it all to play for, unsurprisingly they were the side faster out of the blocks. Mariolino Sonetti stabbed an early effort the wrong side of the post before Mushe Kanti's long distance effort hit the post, only for Gjanluca Totti to shank the rebound straight into the crowd. Craitland weren't being complete pushovers though, and were creating some good chances themselves, with Will Zóma seemingly finding pockets of space in the Sanama box, but also finding John Hammonds to be in scintillating form, with the FC Tati stopper pulling off a series of good saves to keep his side in the game.
The second half eventually rolled around, and once again Sanama were pushing for a goal. Christopher Andretti lashed an effort from distance wide before substitute Luigi Calone headed narrowly over from an Andretti cross. But as news filtered through that the UGB had taken the lead, the southern Benacian side went into scythe mode, and with just under five minutes to play, they made the breakthrough, with Taki Walu making progress down the wing, before cutting the ball back to Calone, whose through ball across the face of goal was stabbed home at the back post by Totti, sending the Sanama fans behind the goal crazy. Sanama were able to ride out the last few minutes without conceding, despite Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen hitting the crossbar, making it through to a first ever semi-finals.
Spoiler!
Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Semi-finals
Elwynn vs. Sanama
Elwynn vs. Sanama
Craitland vs. BataviaElwynn and Sanama faced off in the first of the Benacia Cup semi-finals, both hoping to reach the final. Whilst Sanama would be eyeing a maiden tournament final, with this being their first ever participation in a major tournament, Elwynn were still looking to replicate 2016, where they won the title on home soil. Elwynn had gone into this game having yet to concede a goal, whilst Sanama had scored in every single one of their games, so it stood to reason that one of those records would break.
However, the game started slowly, with both sides seemingly cancelling one another out in the midfield. Sanama had the first real chance of the game ten minutes in, but Gjanluca Totti could only guide Mushe Kanti's cross over the bar with a first time lunge at the ball. Both sides were limited to glimpses of the goal, with a few pot shots from outside the box either flying high and wide or falling into the keeper's grateful hands, but the deadlock was broken halfway through the first period. As Elwynn turned the screw on the Sanama defence, with Peyman Eslamzadeh and Razdjani Emiri combining to get the ball into the Sanama box, a loose pass from Emiri allowed Sanama to counter quickly, throwing bodies forward in a lovely flowing move that was finished by Mariolino Sonetti slotting a squared pass from Taki Walu along the ground under the goalkeeper as Sanama were able to drag the Elwynn defence all over the place. This sparked Elwynn into action, but Yngvi Miskjalendzki and Ramund hin Ungi missed guilt edge chance in the penalty area to ensure that Sanama went into the break in the lead.
Elwynn needed to find something for the second half, but were still struggling to create any meaningful chances as Sanama continued to dominate the midfield. They could have had a second when Sonetti pounced on a loose ball on halfway, before squaring it to Totti, but Taylor Sporting Club missed with just the goalkeeper staring him in the face. And Sanama were made to rue that missed chance with just 15 minutes left on the clock when Erdasher Lejlunai curled a screamer in from 25 yards out, sending the Elwynn fans crazy, having been afforded too much space by the Sanama defence.
As the game trundled into extra time, the fitness of both camps, being on their fourth match in quick succession started to tell, with both sides really not looking like they could find the back of the net leading the game to go towards a penalty shoot-out.
After the first four penalties had been scored, disaster struck for Sanama when substitute Jean-Pierre Picardie's attempt was tipped round the post by Folki Öldrikkari, but clarity was restored only a few kicks later when Ramund hin Ungi blazed his effort over the bar. That sent the tie into sudden death, and after Taki Walu converted his kick, Dario Sakhimzedeh saw his penalty saved by John Hammonds, turning himself into a hero as Sanama booked their place in the Benacia Cup final.
Spoiler!
Reigning champions Craitland faced off against hosts Batavia to see who could book the final Benacia Cup space. Despite winning their group, Craitland's loss to Sanama had opened up debate on whether they actually had what it takes to take home a second Benacia Cup title.
And those questions seemed to give Craitland a much needed spring in their step, with Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen and Will Zóma creating a flurry of chances early on, with Jo Van Der Haagge seemingly in inspired form as he pulled off some wonderful attempts to deny the Craitish front pair. Batavia did eventually grow into the match, with Jeroen van Veen having their best chance of the match saved when he broke into the box, before Rik Van Vore struck a free kick against the bar from just outside the area. But the deadlock was to be broken by the Craites, with Zóma winning the ball in the midfield, out-muscling Timo De Vries before playing a one-two with Juliaĵsen to get to the edge of the box, before curling his effort low beyond the goalkeeper to put his side 1-0 up. Batavia tried to respond, but some excellent defending saw Craitland capable of closing out the match until half-time.
But any hope of a Batavian comeback was killed off by an incredible second 45 by Craitland. After Juliaĵsen was subbed off following a concussion obtained by colliding with the goalpost whilst trying to head home at the near post from a corner, his replacement, Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen made in immediate impact, combining well with Zóma to beat two defenders, before dinking the ball over an onrushing goalkeeper to double his side's advantage. Batavia were struggling to get back into the match, and any chance of that happening was killed off with 20 minutes to go when Zóma scored his second of the day, heading home at the near post from a corner as the Batavian defence were caught slacking. And despite bringing on Ben Hjyngmost and Morteņ Herä late on to keep their clean sheet intact, Craitland upped the scoring, first another corner was diverted goalwards after Jos Degroot and Zóma flung their boot and head respectively at the ball, with Degroot reaching it only to be unable to do anything but divert the ball across the face of the goal, with the ball bouncing in off of the post, before substitute Morteņ Herä hit a low effort through a crowd of players from 25 yards that found the bottom left corner, with the keeper being completely unsighted. In the end, the scoreline summed up what had been a miserable afternoon for the hosts, who had registered their biggest defeat of their history, beating out the 5-1 loss they'd suffered to Alexandria back at the 2008 World Cup, whilst Craitland make the Benacia Cup final for the second time in a row.
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Re: 2020 Benacia Cup
Third place play-off
Elwynn vs. Batavia
Final
Sanama vs. Craitland
Elwynn vs. Batavia
Elwynn and Batavia closed out their tournaments in a third placed clash which saw the hosts try and restore some pride after being hammered in the semi-finals by Craitland. But despite that result, the Batavians looked eager to atone for the poor performance in their previous game by starting off on the stronger foot, with Jowi Bach forcing Folki Öldrikkari into a strong early save having taken the ball under his control following on from some excellent wing play from Jan Van Zoldere. Elwynn weren't going to be pushovers though, and hit the post midway through the first half themselves, with Erdasher Lejlunai slipping in Razdjani Emiri, but the Farvælska forward's strike went wide having traversed across the face of the goal. However, it would be the home fans who would go into half-time the happier, with Axel Peer's cross being met by the diving head of Jeroen van Veen to edge the hosts infront.
Elwynn bounced back in the second and started to dictate the play, with Peyman Eslamzadeh hitting the post with a long range piledriver before Yngvi Miskjalendzki shot wide after the ball got stuck under his feet in a 1-on-1 situation. Despite their perseverance, however, Elwynn seemed to lack a killer instinct, as Emiri and Miskjalendzki both missed further glorious opportunities that should have seen Elwynn level, with the Batavians managing to hold on to end their home tournament on a relative high.
Spoiler!
Final
Sanama vs. Craitland
As this summer's tournaments drew to a close, Craitland and Sanama stepped onto the field at 's Koningenwaarde's Jairo Stadium knowing the stakes of such a key match. For Craitland, it was a chance to retain their 2018 title, whilst Sanama were looking to win a major tournament title at their maiden Benacia Cup. Sanama had beaten the Craites 1-0 in the group stage, but that result was about to go out of the window in the pressure of a Benacia Cup final.
Yet Craitland, who were off the back of an impressive 5-0 demolition of hosts Batavia in the semi-finals, started quickly out of the blocks, and after Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen fired just wide in the opening seconds from just inside the box, they had the lead within the 10 minute mark. Ilt Valmer picked up the ball in the midfield, sprayed it out to Alexis Pellegrino on the right wing, who weaved a dribble past two defenders before sliding the ball across the face of the goal, with Will Zóma arriving at the near post to slot to the ball home. Craitland seemed to have picked up from their semi-final win, and with Sanama stretched, they made it two, with Alexis once again weaving between defenders on a mazy run, only this time the winger cut inside on his left and curled a finished into the bottom far corner, doubling his side's advantage just ten minutes before the half time whistle, which eventually came as a relief for a Sanama side that had been ran ragged.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with Zóma perhaps unlucky not to make it three with a headed chance on the hour mark. And their dominance only seemed to be heading in one direction when midway through the half, Koke Shuma was sent off. Running down on a ball played over the top, the midfielder lunged in whilst Craitland's keeper Francis Hjansen came to collect the ball, but Shuma's boot was high, catching the goalie in the head with high impact, causing Hjansen to fall to the ground unconscious. Whilst Hjansen did wake up on the field, he was in no fit state continue, being taken off on a stretcher, with substitute stopper Jamie Vallensen running on to cheers for the Craitish fans. Despite the injury, Craitland were looking comfortable, but that was all to change with 12 minutes to go. Malliki Ffani, who had the ball in defence, launched the ball upfield, and some miscommunication between Johaņ Iņvaärsen and Alexis Proteņ allowed Mariolino Sonetti to race in and dink the ball over Vallensen to get Sanama back into the game out of nowhere. Whilst Ben Hjyngmost was thrown on to try and steady the defensive ship, he was partly to blame for the defensive blunder that lead to the equaliser six minutes later. After Vallensen had been booked for time wasting ahead of a goal kick, Hjyngmost slipped receiving the pass, and in his recovery, attempted to stab the ball out to Proteņ, but his pass was intercepted by Sonetti, who squared the ball back for Mario Andrettoni, who lashed an effort into the top corner. But despite Sonetti hitting the post again, the teams were level at the full time whistle, with the game heading for extra time...
After a dull first period of extra time in which both sides seemed tentative, and with the game increasingly looking like it was heading for penalties in the second, a moment of madness really threw Craitland under the bus. Another ball over the top from Sanama saw Gjanluca Totti charging in one-on-one, but as the forward attempted to round Vallensen, the keeper fouled him, with the referee pointing to the spot, and brandishing the goalkeeper's second yellow card. With no goalkeepers on the bench and all three subs already used (Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen had also made his way onto the pitch in all of this), Johaņ Iņvaärsen was sacrificed to become a goalkeeper. Sonetti ran up to take the penalty, but Iņvaärsen guessed correctly, diving to his right to deny the striker a match winning penalty, throwing the game into a penalty shoot-out, which the Cherry Trees defender would now have to see out as a goalkeeper.
After both teams had scored their opening three penalties, includin Sonetti making up for his miss with a converted strike in the shoot-out, Mushe Kanti's finish was followed up by Alexis Pellegrino seeing his strike to the bottom-left saved by John Hammonds. This allowed Taki Walu to be the hero and take the penalty to win it, which he did, thumping the ball into the top right to send the Sanama fans crazy and secure a wonderful first title for the South Benacian side!
Spoiler!