08 Aug 2014, 02:19 pm
Craitman Wrote:*Played 3rd August*
Quote:Birgeshir 2-1 Taeland
13' - E. Moliksen
37' - B. Ёkınojk
70' - Æ. Chanojk
Birgeshir came away from a tight game with three valuable points over a Tae team which started well. Taeland's last World Cup opening match was a 4-1 defeat at the hands of a Shireroth side that made its way to the final on home soil, but a repeat of that score looked highly unlikely after a positive start to the game. Birgeshir's narrow formation was stretched by Taeland's five-man midfield from the off and Ellin Moliksen needed only 13 minutes to hit the back of the net after a flowing move saw a few passes threaded around the box before the right-winger tucked the ball inside the opposite post with his weaker foot. The Taes' control in the middle of the park should have arguably led to another goal before the half-hour, but Tim Turner had his curled shot swatted away by Ilkin Ercanojk. Against the run of play, just before the break, Birgeshir equalised. Hammish-based forward Benatehhor Ёkınojk took control of the ball and ran past two Tae defenders without being challenged before slotting inside Aaron Mor's near post as the 'keeper closed.
Ёkınojk's solo effort spurred the Birgesh on after half time, and the game levelled-out for the second 45. Taeland weren't gifted as much time in midfield and Birgeshir were able to gain possession more frequently to launch attacks forward. Ёkınojk continued his threat and was kept-out by Mor from an angled header towards the bottom corner just before the hour mark. With twenty minutes remaining and with Ra-to-men Mahırojk brought-on upfront, Birgeshir were continuing to push forward, and their approach paid-off. Mahırojk took the ball into the box to lay it back from the bye-line, where Ёkınojk shot but saw the ball rebound off a defender, but midfielder Ætaňur Chanojk was in space to shoot first time into the bottom-left from the edge of the box as Mor had gone to ground expecting to have to save the first effort. Taeland tried to respond by bringing Alex Gomze in to partner Turner, but his addition to the fray had no lasting effect on the momentum of play. Birgeshir managed to snatch a win from Taeland, who were impressive in the opening stages, and will now fancy their chances against Mercury next.
Quote:Mercury 2-0 Safiria
29' - M. Fitzgerald
84' - M. Fitzgerald
A brace from Matt Fitzgerald gave the EMU champions a perfect start to the tournament, but not without being tested by the Safirians. A surprise victory over Alexandria started the Mercurians' run to the final last year, and they were hoping to replicate that this time round against newcomers Safiria. Mercury took a while to get going, however, and Safiria registered the first attacks of the game, with Sana-Vriska Ae and Yveltal shooting over and into Kieran Mercury's hands, respectively. Once Mercury had grown into the game, they were hard to stop when in full-flow, and Matt Fitzgerald's first came just before thirty minutes; Joe Foxon's surge forward and subsequent squared pass let Fitzgerald tap in with ease from close. Foxon himself could have turned scorer just before the break, but his dipping effort was just too hard-hit to need any intervention from Kiora Semaði.
While the break bore no significant change to proceedings, Mercury were frustrated by Safiria on a number of occasions. Semaði made two solid saves to deny Joe Foxon and Wilmont Fizeau-Blake throughout the half, while Safiria's front line was unable to keep its efforts on target, having created some opportunities. In the final stages of the game, Mercury secured the win thanks to Fitzgerald's second. Fizeau-Blake found space down the right flank and delivered the ball into the gap between Fitzgerald and Semaði, and the striker's outstretched leg beat the stopper to it, deflecting it over the line and in. While not the most comfortable of wins, Mercury will be proud to have soldiered through, while Safiria-Taeland will be a tasty affair next time with all to play for.
Group standings can be found here...