January 2023 friendlies
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
January 2023 friendlies
As has become a tradition, we have two available dates for international friendlies prior to the beginning of 2023's FMF World Cup qualifiers: January 4th and 11th. If you have any pre-agreed fixtures, or are even just interested in trying to arrange one, here is the place to post.
Please respond here with any agreed friendlies for these dates and they'll be added to the list below:
4 January
Craitland 2-1 Senya
Floria 3-0 Daau
Mataba 1-3 Krasnovlac
Natopia 4-0 Saint Andre
Oportia 0-1 Etourney
11 January
Aerla 2-1 Dark Berry Islands
Calbion 1-2 Floria
Castilona 1-0 Lamantia
Craitland 0-0 Sanama
Etourney 0-3 Vegno
Krasnovlac 1-3 Mercury
Mar Sara 1-0 Saint Andre
Natopia 2-0 Arboria
Oportia 1-1 Daau
Phinbella 3-1 Tellia
Senya 3-2 The Hexarchy
Victoria 3-3 Tiana
Please respond here with any agreed friendlies for these dates and they'll be added to the list below:
4 January
Craitland 2-1 Senya
Floria 3-0 Daau
Mataba 1-3 Krasnovlac
Natopia 4-0 Saint Andre
Oportia 0-1 Etourney
11 January
Aerla 2-1 Dark Berry Islands
Calbion 1-2 Floria
Castilona 1-0 Lamantia
Craitland 0-0 Sanama
Etourney 0-3 Vegno
Krasnovlac 1-3 Mercury
Mar Sara 1-0 Saint Andre
Natopia 2-0 Arboria
Oportia 1-1 Daau
Phinbella 3-1 Tellia
Senya 3-2 The Hexarchy
Victoria 3-3 Tiana
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 4th January*
Mataba 1-3 Krasnovlac
23' - J. Colaco
74' - Han W.
87' - J. Yewsmikel
90' - M. Slo Forbun
Krasnovlac put together a late comeback to secure their first ever win under the auspices of the FMF as home side Mataba were unable to build on or hold onto their first-half opening goal. The Matabese were able to boast a couple of newly-eligible yet experienced players in their starting XI, which surely helped improve their play, and they started well with some well-created attacks. Midway through the first half, star man Johnny Colaco exploited a gap in the Krasno defence and finished past Yech Reich-kyrt with a powerful effort from inside the area. Reich-kyrt made amends for conceding shortly after, with a fingertip save around the post just after the half-hour mark from a Colaco header.
With the run of play becoming much more equal either side of half time, Krasnovlac created chances of their own in the second 45. Harry C.G. was denied by Zack Ortega, as was his strike partner Yomasu Chi, with both forcing the 'keeper into saves from quite close range. Once the final quarter of an hour set-in, the floodgates opened; honorary captain Han Wenshu levelled the score with a brilliant strike after cutting in from his right wing and hitting a left-footed shot that found its way inside the far post beyond Ortega. And with just a handful of minutes remaining, Krasnovlac went ahead. Han provided the delivery that connected with Jordan Yewsmikel's volley as the midfielder timed his run into the box from deep perfectly for a firm hit. To put the match beyond doubt, substitute Micha Slo Forbun came into the action and zipped through with the ball to beat three players before slotting into the net in injury time.
A fine away win in the end for the Krasnos to start their year in the best way possible, especially with giants Mercury set to visit next week, while Mataba's preparations for their first qualifying campaign will have to be streamlined off the pitch now with no further friendlies arranged prior to their opening Group E match.
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 4th January*
Oportia 0-1 Etourney
42' - G. Darche (o.g.)
Etourney scraped past their opponents from across the stretch of the South Raynor Sea thanks to what was classed as an own goal by Oportian goalie Gérôme Darche. A few minutes before the break, Julien Bain's speculative shot evaded Darche's dive before skipping back off the base of the post, and then rebounding off the 'keeper's flailing arm and tumbling into the net in unfortunate circumstances. In an otherwise even game, the goal was maybe not the decider that Etourney would have wanted, but they'll certainly take the win, with the Oportians now hoping their match against Daau in a week's time will be a more fortunate outing.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 4th January*
Craitland 2-1 Senya
73' Kieran Volt (o.g.)
78' Juan Pellegrino
87' Jan Maytek
Craitland welcomed Senya with the visitors playing their first match since their Copa Apollonia triumph last summer, with the reigning AEFA and WMFA champions facing off in Cherry Trees. With Senya trying out some new players, Craitland's experienced squad started out on top, with Juan Pellegrino whipping in an early cross for Will Zóma to divert a header goalwards with plenty of pace, forcing Mark Jacobs into a sprawling save inside the first three minutes. Craitland were happy to express themselves in the early exchanges, with an almost incredible moment seeing Jacobs left redfaced after Ĵulian Ólsen saw the KLT stopper off his line and tried his luck from the halfway line, with the long range effort landing on the roof of the net. But that was unfortunately the story of Craitland's early dominance, with Jacobs recovering from that moment to pull off a brilliant diving save from a bottom-corner bound header Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen, before Alexis Pellegrino looped the ball over the crossbar from the penalty spot after making space for himself from Juan's incredible run, but the cutback pass was a little behind Alexis, who spooned his attempt over. Senya were able to get back into the match, with the spine of the team still being comprised of their Copa Apollonia winning team, but only Kiket Volinsk could register a shot on target in the first 45 for the visitors, with his header from a Barnaby Hands free kick going straight at Francis Hjansen.
The second period saw more ingenuity from both sides, with a quick free kick routine from Senya catching the hosts out, but the final fizzed cross from Ƨinkœ Zvet was narrowly ahead of his teammates in the box. Craitland were also unlucky not to take the lead, with Zóma hitting the bar with a dinking shot from just inside the box, before heading over a guilt edge chance having found himself a free header at the near post at a corner. Craitland though always looked more like scoring, and with just over 15 minutes remaining, they finally forced themselves infront. Juan Pellegrino jinked his way into the centre of the pitch, before sliding a through ball past the back line to meet Zóma, whose stretching effort in his attempt to beat Jacobs to the ball was going wide, until SBM defender and debutant Kieran Volt made a hash of clearing the ball, getting his feet all muddled up and bundling the ball into his own net. And things got worse for the SBM man moments later, when he was dispossed by Juan Pellegrino on the edge of his own box, allowing the Kealb winger to jink into the box, pull off a stepover to beat the central defender, before slotting the ball into the bottom left to double the host team's advantage. Senya though weren't beaten, and with three minutes left pulled a goal back through Jan Maytek, who was left unmarked at a corner to nod his side back into the match. Unfortunately, it was all too little too late, as Senya slumped to a first defeat since the Confederations Cup final last year against the same opponents.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
Natopia 4-0 Saint Andre
14' Watson Tempest
37' Cedric Alexander (pen.)
45'+1' Watson Tempest
76' Kyle Coady-Creggs
Natopia ran out four goal victors over their Southern Apollonian territory in this warm up fixture. A first half double from Watson Tempest, either side of a Cedric Alexander penalty gave them a solid lead at the break, with Kyle Coady-Creggs sweet second half strike putting the proverbial icing on the cake as Natopia look to return to the World Cup after missing out last time round.
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 4th January*
Floria 3-0 Daau
13' - R. Vega
26' - A. Mound
79' - A. Mound
Played under somewhat of a cloud following the assassination of the Dauian Premier, Daau travelled to Floria to face the world champions at the start of the year in which they'll attempt to defend their title. As many had expected, the FMF newcomers struggled against one of Micras' strongest, even with the hosts fielding a line-up full of changes. Ronald Vega relished his chance of a rare start by finishing off a quick move with a strong sidefoot within the first quarter of an hour. Alex Mound added a brace to Vega's strike, with one coming soon after the opener and the other late in the second half. An effort from distance squirmed its way past Jensen Roland's dive for the former, while the latter came via a relative tap-in, as Mound was on hand to hit home from six yards after Vega had cut through and laid the ball backwards.
Floria travel to Calbion next, ahead of their scheduled centralised friendlies as they get to bypass qualifying this year, while Daau take on an Oportia side hoping to restore form after a narrow defeat against Etourney.
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Calbion 1-2 Floria
12' - R. Clark
34' - O. Baine
73' - D. Wheeler
Floria visited Calbion for a replay of their World Cup group game in 2021, with the result ultimately being the same again, though with an enticing encounter ending with just the narrowest of victories. Ryan Clark's rapidity created an early opening goal, with the wide man bursting past two tackles before nutmegging Aluc Jones with his finish. Despite the Florian lead, the hosts were the dominant side for the remainder of the half, and Owen Baine's back-post header secured a well-earned equaliser, with the striker losing his marker from a deep Cedric Ross corner before scoring. The end-to-end second half surprised by only supplying one further goal to the scoreboard, with both sides missing multiple chances, which came in the last twenty minutes. A squared pass from Kylian Saint-Pierre found Dave Wheeler for a first-time hit in the middle of the box, and the midfielder's effort was hit inside the left-hand post along the turf for the decider.
Floria stole the spoils from one moment of decisiveness, though Calbion's performance was strong against the reigning World Cup champions, and they'll be expecting to make their way to Mercury this summer on this showing.
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Etourney 0-3 Vegno
44' - A. Boretto
66' - N. Gualtieri (pen.)
89' - G. Tiozzo Zucca Caenazzo
After a victory over Oportia last week, Etourney took on a Vegno side playing their first 2023 fixture, but will have wished they hadn't. The match was ultimately a Vegnese exhibition as the visitors ran away with the result, with a notable defensive display keeping Etourney from really standing a chance. Star forward Anthony Boretto scored yet another international goal right before half time to open the scoring, with a bullish charge through allowing him to beat the defenders to the ball and unleash a strong shot past the 'keeper. Boretto helped bring the second goal about after the break, but was taken off in the process for precautionary measures after being tripped in the box by Derrick Saxton. His replacement Nicolò Gualtieri held his nerve to convert the resulting spot kick with his first touch into the bottom-right corner, with another substitute completing the scoring in the final few minutes. Giacomo Tiozzo Zucca Caenazzo was at the end of a passing move that saw the midfielder crash in from the edge of the area with a left-footed hit that kept Jérémy Pélissier rooted to his spot as it found the net.
A great result on the road for Vegno, over a side that contains a number of Florian top-flight players, while Etourney will be slightly less optimistic heading into qualifying now.
-
- FMS Staff
- Posts: 21546
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:37 pm
- Location: Cherry Trees, Craitland
- Contact:
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Krasnovlac 1-3 Mercury
21' - A. Hanbury
27' - Y. Chi
30' - A. Hanbury
45' - A. Hanbury
Fresh off the back of a 3-1 win, Krasnovlac welcomed 2023 World Cup hosts Mercury for this friendly, only for a scoreline-reversal loss from one of Micras' strongest. The match was really the story of two in-form strikers, albeit over a game of two different halves, with Mercurian Addey Hanbury hitting a superb first-half hattrick, including the game's opener after twenty minutes through a header from Joe Foxon's chipped cross. Krasnovlac's Yomasu Chi, currently enjoying a cracking season in the Etournian league, levelled the score minutes later with a half-volleyed finish after Harry C.G. had lobbed a cross inside. Hanbury restored the lead after an even shorter wait, however, after linking up with Foxon once more and slotting past Yech Reich-kyrt with a close-range poke. With only injury time left before the interval, Hanbury's treble was ensured; Samson Yatesby picked the forward out with a ball over the top and Hanbury skipped inside before firing a shot from outside the area that found the top corner. After the first half's explosives, the second failed to match up, with no further goals being scored, though Krasnovlac forged some good attacks of their own and Mercury allowed a number of players to get some game time ahead of further friendlies through this spring season.
The Krasnos will be disappointed, though context will show this scoreline is by no means the most embarrassing a team has received at the hands of Mercury, who themselves will be glad to maintain form with no competitive fixtures planned for another six months or so.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Aerla 2-1 Dark Berry Islands
26' Gregory Fletcher
55' James Phineason
73' William McCullough
Aerla made their international debut with a narrow win over the DBI. After a tight opening spell of the match, the hosts grabbed their first international goal through some good build up play on the wings, with Gregory Fletcher cutting in from wide to smash a shot from just inside the box into the top corner. James Phineason drew the visitors back level with a thumping far post header just after the break, but Aerla were to secure a winning start when William McCullough tapped home from a Zavarin Georgiev cross to send the home fans home happy.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*played 11th January*
Natopia 2-0 Arboria
61' Cedric Alexander (pen.)
77' Ilyas Chowdhury
Natopia secured a win over their territory of Arboria in a close fought game. Natopia needed a penalty to break the deadlock with Cedric Alexander smashing into the bottom right corner after Ilyas Chowdhury was felled in the box, before the veteran striker headed home late on to double his side's advantage.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*played 11th January*
Mar Sara 1-0 Saint Andre
15' Yanis Shala
Mar Sara edged past Saint Andre as the Southern Apollonians rounded off their brief two-match Southern Hemisphere tour with another defeat. This time Yanis Shala's deflected effort early on was the only thing that could seperate the two teams after Saint Andre put in a much better and defensively minded showing.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Senya 3-2 The Hexarchy
6' Matthew Hazlan
14' Balshazzar Bel-Dagon
43' Balshazzar Bel-Dagon
57' Ƨinkœ Zvet
86' Alesandrœ Danetskë
Senya edged out an exciting and close encounter with the Hexarchy, after a showcase in which the Keltians caused the 2019 World Champions some serious problems. Once again, Senya chose to start with an experimental team, and in form SBM man Matthew Hazlan repaid the manager for his selection by netting early on, finding plenty of space to wriggle into in the box, before firing a low shot into the bottom right. The Senyans weren't ahead for long though, as Balshazzar Bel-Dagon got on the end of a Sargon Arad-Nuzi cross to head back across the keeper and into the far corner. And just before the break, the visitors established a shock lead, once again with Bel-Dagon on the scoresheet, this time after bundling home after Senya failed to clear their lines from a corner.
The halftime deficit forced the hosts into throwing on their more usual players, and their quality showed almost immediately. Just 12 minutes in the second half for Senya to show their talent, with Ƨinkœ Zvet beating his opposite number for pace down the right flank as he sprung a counter, before weaving in and out of the defenders, playing a one-two with Markœ Minyorletsken to beat the last man before rocketing home a powerful drive from the egde of the box into the top left corner to round off a phenomenal solo goal. But soon after, the Hexarchy regrouped and were stifling the Senyan defence. Bel-Dagon was perhaps unlucky to leave the field without a hat-trick, after he spooned a header just over, before colliding with the post and having to walk off the pitch with a suspected concussion. And without their talisman, the Hexarchy's co-ordination waned late on, with Alesandrœ Danetskë, as he so often has in his career, finding himself in the right place at the right home to tuck a loose ball into the back of the net and secure Senya the victory.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Craitland 0-0 Sanama
Craitland and Sanama played out a scoreless draw in Osĵätoņ, but not for the lack of trying. Jean-Pierre Picardie's early scoop turn and shot forced Hjansen into an early save, before Mariolino Sonetti brushed the post with a header. Craitland made their way back into the match, but the usually reliable Will Zóma just couldn't find his touch today, with one wayward slashed shot from the edge of the box going out for a throw in, much to the glee of the Sanaman supporters. Craitland weren't poor though, with Juan Pellegrino following on from his impressive showing against Senya by providing once again much of the Craitish creative output, but unfortunately it was the penalty box where Craitland were off the pace, with Zóma and Juliaĵsen both passing up good opportunities before the first half could reach its conclusion.
Sanama fought their way back into the match in the second period, but Hjansen was in inspired form, tipping over a brilliant Taki Walu volley over the bar before pulling off a low reaction double save to deny Mushe Kanti and Picardie from putting their team ahead. Craitland tried to vary things up towards the end with some late substitutions, but nothing seemed to click for them up top, with a goalless scoreline probably being a fair reflection of the match.
Re: January 2023 friendlies
*Played 11th January*
Oportia 1-1 Daau
33' Luka Verbic
68' Chee Obea
Daau and Oportia shared the spoils in a closely fought encounter. In what turned out to be a game of two halfs, Daau dominated the proceedings in the first 45, with Ilhan Fandi heading over early on and a long range effort from Shamal Nuar needing tipping over the crossbar. Vegno-based Luka Verbic did provide the opening goal just after the half hour mark, tapping home at the back post after the hosts failed to deal with a corner.
Oportia though came back into the match in the second half, with Mineurs forward Chee Obea looking a particular threat. He first forced Jensen Roland in to a wonderous double save, before having a goal ruled out for offside after he'd attempted to beat Daau's high line. He did eventually get his goal midway through the second half, drilling a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner through a crowd of defenders. After the equaliser, it was the hosts who looked the most likely, but Obea's club teammate Ernest Girard turned a drilled cross over the bar from 6 yards out, as the two sides settled for a point a piece.