2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 18th July*
Group C
Craitland vs. Natopia
Jingdao vs. Nova England
Group standings can be found here!
Group C
Craitland vs. Natopia
Senya wrote: Coming off the back of a good performance against Senya which saw them clinch a surprise point, the Natopians went into their game against the group's other top team, Craitland, full of confidence. However, Craitland were up for the challenge, as despite a 1-0 opening day win over Nova England, the Craits had brought in League 1 top scorer Lydveldt Jonmikeltsen in search of goals.
The Craits started the game in control, with the Natopians though proving difficult to get through, but they did manage to make some inroads down the flanks with Juan and Alexis Pellegrino. Some good crosses into the box provided Will Zóma and Jonmikeltsen with some half chances, but nothing that either one could really do much with. But as the games crept on, Craitland managed to conjure up some noteworthy chances. First Hänä Zensen played a ball upfield for Jonmikeltsen to chase, who chested it past a defender before striking a sweet shot from the edge of the box which needed a sprawling Gaillard Concorde to tip over the crossbar. Then, Will Zóma held off a tackle to get a shot away inside the penalty area, but again Concorde was equal to it. But Craitland did find their just reward eventually, when Juan Pellegrino played a one-two with Jonmikeltsen, allowing the winger to cut inside, before firing a shot low across the keeper into the bottom right corner from just inside the area, giving his side the advantage. They almost doubled their lead soon afterwards, again with Juan Pellegrino running down the flank, though this time the Kealb winger whipped the ball in, but Zóma's header struck the near post before being hacked clear by Roger Azin.
The second half though began well for the Craits, as they looked to double their lead, which they almost did again when Zensen's long range effort smashed down off the crossbar, but bounced away from goal rather than into it. However, their domination took a bit of a hit around ten minutes into the half, when on a rare breakaway, George Valéry Saint-François Xavier was played in on goal, and in a rush to get back, Alexis Proteņ clipped his heels, with the referee pointing straight to the spot and showing Proteņ a yellow card. Cedric Alexander stepped up to take the spot kick, and hammered his penalty into the top left, leaving Jamie Vallensen absolutely no chance, to level the game. Craitland were stunned, and for the first time in the game Natopia were really having a good go. Ilyas Chowdhury tested Vallensen with a long shot before substitute Maximillian Rodriguez's dipping effort again forced Vallensen to make an excellent save. And then, with the Craits completely with their backs to the wall, the unthinkable happened. Alexander played a through ball to Rodriguez, whose flip-flap unfoxed Daniel Hjansen, allowing him the space to cross in. Whilst the initial header was cleared by Johaņ Iņvaärsen, the ball fell to Christopher Carlton, who scooped the ball in to Elijah Karoly's path, who controlled the ball, flicked it past Iņvaärsen, and then stabbed it into the bottom right, sending the Natopian fans behind the goal into a frenzy. WIth a big shock scoreline on the cards, the Craits threw everything into attack, bringing on Jan-Morteņ Juliaĵsen and Dräsen Isrdlvarien to help with the threat going forwards. Those changes had an almost immediate impact, and with just under eight minutes to go, Isrdlvarien had a half shot saved during a melee of bodies inside the box, with the rebounding falling right into the path of Juliaĵsen, who could not miss, slamming the ball into the empty net from 10 yards out. If Craitland's second goal had been simple though, the opposite could be said about the next goal. With Craitland still pushing forwards looking for a winner, Will Zóma picked the ball up just inside the penalty box, then dinked past two players in quick succession, before running towards the Natopian goal. A quick flip-flap disposed of Jonjo Mawar, before a one-two with Juliaĵsen gave Zóma the space to try an audacious chip over the onrushing goalkeeper, which he pulled off spectacularly to restore his side's advantage. A phenomenal goal it was, but it seems that just like busses, you wait all day for one, but then two come at once, the principle also applies to goal of the tournament contenders. In the last minute of added on time, Natopia had a corner, which they send their goalkeeper up for. However, the corner was poor and Vallensen collected comfortably, throwing the ball pretty much straight out to Adám Perryman, who sprinted with the ball to near enough the halfway line, before smashing it downfield. Azin was the closest defender back, sprinting back trying to stop the ball, but unfortunately for him, the ball bobbled in to the empty net, with the extraordinary goal rounding off an extraordinary game, with the final whistle being blown during the celebrations.
The Natopian players collapsed on the pitch, having played absolutely brilliantly in the game, but ultimately coming up short. No questions could be asked of any player, Craitish or Natopian, in terms of determination, effort and heart, as both players gave their all for the win, but in the end, the four-time World Champions had too much for the Tapfer outfit in a game that will live long in the memory of Micrasian football.
Spoiler!
Jingdao vs. Nova England
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 19th July*
Group D
Freeland vs. Krasnarus
New Vaduz vs. Zandarijn
Group standings can be found here!
Group D
Freeland vs. Krasnarus
Senya wrote: Freeland and Krasnarus faced each other in Mutfak having had contrasting starts to their World Cup campaigns. Whilst Freeland had started successfully beating Zandarijn 1-0, Krasnarus had lost 3-1 to much fancied Mercury, and were hoping to prove that defeat to the 2014 Champions would not knock them out of stride.
However, when the game kicked off it seemed that Krasnarus' loss may have affected them, as Freeland started the game better. Directing the play long towards their target man in Robert Laskowski. Krasnarus struggled to keep the Polonia Viten man quiet, as he managed to find an outlet in strike partner Michała Weśicz, with the two managing to test Krasnarus keeper Kung Bobing on a couple of occasions early on. Freeland also seemed to have a bit more energy too, with the midfielders able to run at the Krasnarusyn defence with ease, especially as full backs Irin Šerunič and Wing Yebang seemed to have difficulty keeping up with the pace of the Freelandic attackers. Krasnarus were struggling, and soon found themselves behind with Freeland's biggest chance, as Jarosław Brzęczyszczykiewicz controlled the ball on the edge of the "D", before slipping the ball through to Adam Brzeziński, who coolly slotted home under the goalkeeper to put Freeland in front for the second consecutive game at this tournament. Krasnarus were stunned, but were spurred into a response, and seemed to immediately find their rhythm. Srbijo Radmanović shot wide before David Gulley, who scored against Mercury, saw his header clip the post having found himself unmarked at the back post from a cross. However, they couldn't find a response before the break, and went into half-time behind.
Krasnarus came out of the half-time interval with the same intensity as they had before they had gone in for half-time, and their aggressive tactics worked shortly after the restart, when Gulley got into the box, before backheeling the ball to Rislen Sumutuv on the egde of the box, whose low drive found the bottom left corner to level the scoreline. Krasnarus were dominating the play, and it was now Freeland who were struggling to contain their opponents. Infact, the side from Northern Apollonia were lucky to still have ten players on the field when Andrzej Szpak was shown just a yellow card after a late clumsy challenge on Merku Drustinuv. However, Freeland were able to hold on, and in the end, both teams walked away with a point.
Spoiler!
New Vaduz vs. Zandarijn
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 20th July*
Group A
Talenore vs. Hoenn
Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
Group standings can be found here!
Group A
Talenore vs. Hoenn
Senya wrote: Talenore and Hoenn faced off against each other with both teams already halfway through their group stage matches in what was turning out to be a tight and fiercely contested Group A. Whilst Talenore had performed well in their opening two games, they'd only manage to gain a single point, where as Hoenn were already sitting on four points after beating Lamantia in their opener before pegging hosts Birgeshir back for a point, so as the two teams walked out, a sense of anticipation was building in the air.
The game began at a frantic pace, with Tanilo Wilamu crossing in for Kali Kalani to stab at the ball, with his effort rebounding off the post, only for Hoenn to go up the other end and hit the crossbar, Han Seung-eun chesting the ball from a cross and hitting a shot on the half volley onto the upright. Both teams were playing some really attractive and intense passing and attacking football, but the opener came just before the half-hour mark, when Han came deep to collect the ball, scooped turned his way to face the goal, then played a well timed through ball to Sato Naoki, who slotted the ball across the goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner to put his side a goal up and send Hoenn's fans down the other end of the pitch into raptures. Talenore now had to find a response, and wingers Wilamu and Peder Xvarts were starting to cause problems down the flanks with their blistering pace, but Hoenn were marking Kalani tightly, and the forward was struggling to get on the end of things.
At half time Talenore threw on Chris Siasi in an attempt to combat this, offering Kalani an outman and the wingers another head in the box to which they could aim their crosses towards. With Kalani now finding space, Talenore were really stepping up the intensity, and when Wilamu crossed in and the ball reached Kalani just after the hour mark, Onishi Junpei's closing down of the forward allowed him to play the ball back to Michele Fambucci, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to put Talenore back level. However, Talenore were not seemingly happy to just settle for a point, and started looking for a winner. Hoenn, who ever since they took the lead had looked on the back foot were now at sixes and sevens defensively, and in the dying moments of the game made an almost fatal error. Tanaka Makoto played a simple ball back to goalkeeper Jerry Rivera, who took a touch, but then slipped over, allowing Peder Xvarts, who was lurking nearby, to nip in, collect the ball, round the now scrambling Rivera, and tap the ball into the empty net, in an absolutely astonishing moment with just a few minutes left on the clock. But the drama was still yet to finish, as in the final minute of added time, with Hoenn now trying to grab an equaliser, Han Seung-eun was left unmarked at the back post, giving him a free effort on goal, only for substitute Yaghoub Farrokhzad to block the shot on the goal line with his hand. Hoenn now had the golden opportunity to equalise, but Han's effort was saved by Taki Tolâso, with the subsequent rebound being blazed over the crossbar by Higashi Masamichi, with the referee blowing his whistle, as Talenore won in controversial circumstances to blow this group wide open. There were some afters on the pitch between players and staff as the teams walked off, but the result means that both of these team's last games are now must wins if they wish to advance to the knock-out rounds.
Spoiler!
Lamantia vs. Florian Republic
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 21st July*
Group B
North Antarctica vs. Shireroth
Kingdom of Coria vs. Tellia
Group standings can be found here!
Group B
North Antarctica vs. Shireroth
Senya wrote: With both sides sides knowing that defeat in this match spelling almost all but elimination, both Shireroth and North Antarctica knew that they'd have to go for the win in this match. However, on the back of two defeats each, finding that winning form would always be a difficult challenge.
However, Shireroth seemed so up for that challenge that they attacked straight from kick off, winning the ball inside ten seconds from North Antarctica before launching the ball upfield, but Kurt Lamberti's half volley was tipped round the post by Quentin Markhams. However, Jóhann Viðarsson rose highest during the resulting corner, aiming his header into the top right corner, to give Shireroth the lead inside 80 seconds. North Antarctica had been beaten handsomely in both of their previous games, but this time they managed not to crumble like they had in their previous matches, and took the game to Shireroth. First Andrew Young's overhit cross almost caught keeper Alejian du Nigrad off guard, before a bullet header from Ishmael Kazenaghi was cleared off the line by Arthur Schneider. Shireroth thought eventually managed to regain control of the game, with Sori Thiation testing Markhams with a long range strike, but didn't look for the most part like finding a second goal during the remainder of the first half.
The second half saw Shireroth continue their control of the game, and they finally managed to double their lead just six minutes after the restart, with Jalal Akwá chasing a through ball from Thiation, which he prodded home underneath the onrushing Markhams. The goal seemed to crush North Antarctica, who looked resigned to elimination, and they could have been 3-0 down moments later, as both Kurt Lamberti and Viðarsson squandered guilt edge opportunities to add to Shireroth's tally. North Antarctica eventually managed to regroup defencively and squeeze the gaps in the final third that Shireroth had been exploiting, allowing the game to fizzle out. An uneventful second period eventually followed, as North Antarctica became the first team to be mathematically eliminated from this year's competition.
Spoiler!
Kingdom of Coria vs. Tellia
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 22nd July*
Group C
Nova England vs. Natopia
Senya vs. Jingdao
Group standings can be found here!
Group C
Nova England vs. Natopia
Senya vs. Jingdao
Senya wrote: Senya may have had a week off to prepare for this match, but having disappointing by only drawing with Natopia in their opening game, their expectant fans were hoping for a bounce back against a Jingdao side that had beaten them in the group stages of last summer's Copa Apollonia.
With the Senyans eager to make amends for that defeat and looking to get their World Cup campaign back on track, they started well, with Kiket Volinsk and Alesandrœ Danetskë causing all sorts of problems for the Jingdao back line, Lamantia-based goalkeeper Noel Zidikit was equal to an early Danetskë header whilst Volinsk saw his half volley tipped over the crossbar. But the Senyans were given a massive opportunity with just over ten minutes played when Danetskë had his boots clipped by Chen Baoxian whilst running onto a through ball inside the box, with the referee showing no hesitation in awarding the two-time reigning Copa Apollonia champions a spot kick. Barnaby Hands stepped up and smashed the resulting penalty into the top right, beating Zidikit who had guessed the right way, but who could do nothing to stop the perfectly placed penalty. Although Senya had taken an early lead against the Natopians as well, there was no signs of a drop-off in this match, as Senya kept up their tempo, continuing to cause Jingdao problems, and doubled their lead with just ten minutes of the second half left to play, with Markœ Minyorletsken playing Danetskë through one-on-one with Zidikit, with Danetskë slotting the ball past the King's Lynn Town man to double his side's advantage.
With Senya showing signs of their usual selves, Jingdao couldn't get a look in, and were perhaps unfortunate not to find themselves further behind when Markœ Minyorletsken's long range effort crashed off the bar and had to be hastily cleared before it could find one of the three Senyan strikers in the penalty box. But that third goal would eventually come, with Hands winning a subsequently taking a free-kick out on the left flank, whipping the ball in for Jan Maytek to flick a dipping header into the far top corner, leaving Zidikit stranded in no-man's land. With Senya now cruising, they could afford to take their foot off the gas slightly, but their defensive play was excellent, with Rödë Vankarlënœ and Bɏëder Volinsk having been drafted back into the side following the Natopia game, the pair made the case for starting against Craitland in the next match by continuously winning balls and chasing down Jingdao attackers. In the end, Jingdao struggled to muster anything, failing to kick on following their 2-1 win over Nova England last matchday, whilst Senya's comfortable win will worry fans of Craitland, ahead of the pair's titan clash in four days time.
Spoiler!
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 23rd July*
Group D
Zandarijn vs. Krasnarus
Mercury vs. New Vaduz
Group standings can be found here!
Group D
Zandarijn vs. Krasnarus
Mercury vs. New Vaduz
Senya wrote: Having dispatched Krasnarus 3-1 in their opener, Mercury were full of confidence ahead of their match with an unfancied New Vaduz side who were the only team left in the competition who had yet to score a goal.
Mercury began strongly, as you would expect, and almost took the lead when Stephen Rydberg turned on the edge of the box, and his effort took a wicked deflection off of Johan Meier, with the ball looping just over the crossbar with the keeper stranded. But Mercury were always going to beat Tom Wise in the New Vaduz goal, and did so when Samson Yatesby played a perfectly timed through ball to find Joe Foxon, who rounded the keeper and tucked his side infront inside a quarter of an hour. New Vaduz were unable to cope with Mercury's movement, with the Keltians doubling their lead fifteen minutes later, when Stephen Rydberg managed to get his head on the end of a Addey Hanbury flick. Mercury continued to show complete dominance, and grabbed a third just before half time, with Foxon beating the offside trap before squaring the ball to Jack Partridge, who tapped into the unguarded side of the net.
New Vaduz were down and out heading into the second half, but they did almost find a goal back, when Bastian Großler was left unmarked at a corner, but the Dyas Scitenhima Ĵets forward could only plant his header onto the crossbar. Mercury were kicked into action to try and cement their victory, and did so just after the hour, when Addey Hanbury weaved into the box past two defender, his shot passed the keeper but was cleared off the line by Stefan Michael, but his clearence only fell to Rydberg on the edge of the box, who chested the ball down before slamming the ball into the top left corner to make it four-nil. Ten minutes later, Mercury sealed the rout, when Joe Foxon headed home following a free-kick routine.
In the end, Mercury were just too much for their opponents, and march back to the top of the group, as we head into the fourth matchday in this World Cup group phase.
Spoiler!
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 24th July*
Group A
Birgeshir vs. Lamantia
Hoenn vs. Florian Republic
Group standings can be found here!
Group A
Birgeshir vs. Lamantia
Senya wrote: In what was becoming a very tight Group, host nation Birgeshir came into today's match as one of four teams level on four points, alongside the Florian Republic, Hoenn and Talenore. However, they had not lost either of their two opening games, and still had everything in their own hands. Meanwhile, Lamantia knew that only a win would keep them in contention of winning the group outright.
With elimination on the cards, Lamantia had to go for it, and go for it they did. Birgeshir took the kick off, but Har-Im-Hotep Aktöjk took too much time in possession and his pass was cut out by Reuben Frederiksen, who threaded the ball to striker Sven Ebersbacher, who cut back on his left foot past Osir-Hæpi Töpæl, before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner with just 26 seconds on the clock. The home crowd was stunned into silence, but remarkably Birgeshir took very little time to respond, with Çengiz Tahir's shot deflecting off Benjamin Schaefer out to Amam Karadeniz, who feinted to shoot but instead played a short pass into the feet of Sarapou Lahar, who finished coolly from just inside the penalty area into the right side of the net. The fast start had barely given either team a chance to catch their breath, with the game eventually being allowed to settle, but Birgeshir were looking the better team, and Tahir fired a long range shot against the crossbar before Sebastian Rheine did well to save a Lahar header from point blank range.
In the second half, Birgeshir continued their dominance, and took their lead midway through the half when Bebi Bælhara ran past two defenders before shooting from 25-yards, with his shot bouncing past Rheine's reach as it found the bottom right corner. Lamantia really had to try and apply the pressure again, but were struggling to produce much in the way of good chances, with Birgeshir defending resolutely. And the game was effectively won with five minutes left to go, when Çengiz Tahir found himself in the right place at the right time to turn home after a melee in the box followed a free-kick routine. Lamantia almost found a goal back right at the end, but Reuben Frederiksen's late free-kick was tipped over the crossbar by Iu-Senb Ercanojk.
The result now gives the hosts a real opportunity to win the group for the first time in their history, whilst Lamantia's final game against Talenore will serve no competitive purpose for the Apollonians, as they are eliminated from their first ever World Cup adventure.
Spoiler!
Hoenn vs. Florian Republic
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 25th July*
Group B
Kingdom of Coria vs. Passas
Shireroth vs. Tellia
Group standings can be found here!
Group B
Kingdom of Coria vs. Passas
Senya wrote: Having won both of their opening games, Passas were looking in a great position to advance, whilst Coria had got off to a good start, having defeated a tough Shireroth side before drawing with reigning champions Tellia.
Passas started brightly, with the first chance of the game falling to Alex Danelon, as he latched on to a through ball from Dean O'Malley, but could only drag his shot wide of the upright. The Corians took their time to get into the game, but eventually started to match the Passians in midfield, and came close themselves when Andraž Kim's cross found Nemanja Ahčev, but the Mëzal Birlæşňi forward could only plant his header straight into the hands of Adam Shawnessy. The Corians eventually found themselves on top in the match, and took the lead when Aleksandar Mileusnić smashed the ball home from the middle of the box after Andraž Kim's free-kick took a deflection off the wall, falling for Niko Jeglič, who squared the ball back for the Partizan Averna striker to fire home. Coria were starting to ramp things up even more, and grabbed a second a few minutes later, this time a corner from Kim was headed home at the near post by Đorđe Nešić, with the Plava Zvezda Grendbej defender taking advantage of some slack defending to nod home.
Passas were kept on the ropes until half time, at which point they got a chance to regroup. They came out for the second half with all guns blazing, with Tom Arans first blazing over from close range before Danijel Đorđević headered against the crossbar and Alex Danelon beat the offside trap, but his dink over the onrushing Sašo Fornezi also looped over the crossbar. Tom Arans was then shown a yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Saša Pešić, which due to his yellow card against North Antarctica on the opening day rules him out of the next match, whilst substitute Mark Simmons and Coria's Nikola Tomić were also shown yellow cards for late tackles. However, Passas's attacking creativity and threat faded as they couldn't find their way back into the match, as they ended up losing their first game of the tournament against a well organised Corian team.
Spoiler!
Shireroth vs. Tellia
Group standings can be found here!
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Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
*Played 26th July*
Group C
Senya vs. Craitland
Natopia vs. Jingdao
Group standings can be found here!
Group C
Senya vs. Craitland
Natopia vs. Jingdao
Senya wrote: Natopia came into this game knowing that any result besides a win would eliminate them, despite having a fantastic campaign which had seen them taking points off Senya and score twice in a thriller against Craitland. Jingdao, meanwhile, had followed up their 2-1 win over Nova England by taking a hiding against Senya, and were eager to win to wrap up a play-off place themselves, knowing a tricky fixture against Craitland is all they'll have left to play in this group after this match on the final day.
As you might have expected, both sides started fairly conservatively, with both seemingly not wanting to go behind, as both sides opted for a fairly cautious approach to proceedings. The first real chance for either side came from a free kick, in Jingdao's favour, which saw Yao Tsutang force Gaillard Concorde into a sprawling save. Natopia eventually opened up to play the expansive attacking football which had helped them gain a point against Senya, but Jingdao seemed well set up to deal with them, with strikers George Valéry Saint-François Xavier and Ilyas Chowdhury cutting frustrated and often isolated figures up top for the side from Tapfer. However, it wasn't much better for Jingdao either, as they struggled to get the ball to Li Dongzhua up top, with the Natopian defence doing a good job of closing him out of the game. Strike partner Cyprianus Julius had a bit more luck, but he could only hit the bar with his best effort, after nutmegging Roger Azin before unleashing the trigger.
The half time break seemed to be a chance for both managers to instil some urgency to their respective teams, as both sides came out playing more attacking. First, Qing Husan beat his man before crossing in for Julius, whose header clipped the bar on its way over, before Elijah Karoly's shot from distance hit the bar and bounced down and out, having completely beaten Noel Zidikit in the Jingdao goal. But the breakthrough came with just under twenty minutes to go, when Natopia won a corner, which was floated in by Cedric Alexander, missed by both defender and attacker at the near post, allowing Ilyas Chowdhury to come in a divert the ball into the bottom left corner by stabbing his outstretched boot at the ball and deflecting it into the back of the net. All of a sudden, Jingdao had to come up with an equaliser, but Natopia were doing an excellent job of denying them. Having put it great attacking performances against Senya and Craitland, they were showing a good defencive display as Jingdao attacked. Li Dongzhua had perhaps the best opportunity with five minutes to go, spurring a one-on-one by hitting it over the bar, but their balls into the box were continually headed clear by the Natopian defenders. In the end, the Jingdaoese couldn't find their way through, and Natopia, with their final group game, may have just nicked a play-off place. Jingdao will now face off against Craitland, needing a win to stand a chance of the play-offs, whilst Natopia need both Jingdao to fail to win and Nova England to lose to Senya on the final day of Group C to advance.
Spoiler!
Group standings can be found here!
Re: 2019 FMF World Cup - official reports and broadcasts
Morter delighted with win; "belief high in camp"
David Morter said he was "over the moon" with Senya's "best ever performance" following his side's 3-1 win over Craitland.
"I that was our best ever performance as a team", the former assistant manager stated. "I think we've bounced back well from the Natopia game. We had a week to get outselves together and once we put in the performance we did against Jingdao, we knew we had the ability to do what we did today".
"We had a game plan and we stuck to it well. I felt we were excellent defensively today. We prevented a very good team with some of this planet's best strikers and midfielders from creating much in the way of chances and we were able to counter and move the ball forward very well, and of course scored with some brilliant finishes".
Morter was also asked about the individual performances, including Ƨinkœ Zvet and Kiket Volinsk. "I think Kiket has done well coming into the squad, I think his goal contributions speak for themselves but he's also added a lot to the team in other ways too. He's given Alesandrœ [Danetskë] a freer role which he has enjoyed, and of course Kiket knows how to time a run and move off the ball which makes him very dangerous".
"Ƨinkœ had a great game today. He caused them all sorts of problems and of course scored twice. I think he showed his class today, he really is the best right winger in the world".
But Morter singled out his biggest praise for left-back Aleks Mëa, who despite being at fault for the Craitland goal, provided an assist for the opening goal and was defensively excellent throughout the match, as well as supporting Hands down the left flank in attack and running at the Craitish defence.
"Aleks played his best game today. He really had a great performance. We talk about having great players in every position but I think Aleks can be the best left back, full stop. He showed today his attacking credentials, especially with the cross for the first goal, but also in the way he helped Barnaby [Hands] and overlapped his runs. He has a high footballing intelligence. And of course defensively, yes he made one mistake, but he also put in countless tackles and really nullified the Craitish attack. I think he really is a quality player".
Senya now head into their next game against Nova England, knowing a win will secure them a quarter-final spot.
"It's a good performance today but it's vital we hit the training ground now. All we've done today is put ourselves into a great position, so now we prepare for another big game on Monday".