Fyi, World 80 just wrapped up and will be rolling over as well. FC Kingston will be delayed.

Tonight I'll do my first sweep of the groups to see when the opening match of the tournament is or, if it got played today, to post the first game summary.

It's a Festivus Miracle! FC Cackalacky has all 1st round games scheduled!

In honor of Festivus, the Airing of Grievances ends tonight as the Feats of Strength portion of the tournament gets underway tomorrow. The opening game of Cup XV comes out of Group A as FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds and Kiki United, two 1st-time Cup participants, do battle as the lone matchup on the 11th.

36 games have already been scheduled and several teams have told me they are waiting to sign a few players, so overall, looking good.

The opening game of FC Dynasty Cup XV has gone final as Group A gets the tournament underway. FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds hosted Kiki United in Edinburgh, Scotland as both teams were making their Cup debut. After several minutes of cautious play, a man who will probably make the All-Name team scored the first goal of the tourney. Creating his own opportunity, Claudio Kaká struck a perfect ball that easily beat Edinburgh goalie Rahamat Verhaegen to give the visitors the 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. With a name like Kaká playing for a team named Kiki, you know the man doesn't lack for confidence.

A little surprised by the early goal, the defense didn't set themselves properly and Kiki extended the lead to 2-0 a couple of minutes later when Rexley Coombs scored a goal that mirrored Kaká's individual effort by going unassisted as well from almost the same spot on the pitch. The home crowd of 25,464 got their chance to make some noise when forward Sandro Huntelaar cut the lead in half seven minutes before halftime to make the score 2-1 but that was as close as Edinburgh could get. Coombs scored his second of the game when he beat the offside trap early in the 2nd half and ripped a ball past Verhaegen and a goal in garbage time by Charlie Rummell finished up the scoring as Kiki takes the road win 4-1 and banks those critical away goals.

There are three games tomorrow...and keep scheduling those games.

Of the three games today, one was played overnight. Group F started its gameplay when French squad Bad News hosted Fianna AFC. Jerico Trillo put News up 1-0 in the 23rd when he dived forward to make solid contact on a corner cross that beat Greens goalie Deegan Colcroft to the near side. Fianna attacking midfielder Melvyn Ashton then ricocheted a header off the post to tie the contest at 1-1 at the 35 minute mark. The home team answered immediately when Spaniard Otilio Polanco found himself free in the middle of the box and, while Colcroft was in position to make the save, he muffed it as it rolled into the net for the News 2-1 lead. However, that lead didn't make to halftime when Kenderick Keriell redirected a header into the upper corner a few minutes before the whistle blew as the game went into the break tied at 2-2.

Keriell scored again early in the 2nd half off a lovely cross that gave News goalie Emiliano Bianchi no chance to attempt a save to put Fianna up 3-2 and it was a lead they would hold for the remainder of the match. Ashton clubbed a shot in the 56th that spun away from a diving Bianchi to stretch the advantage to 4-2 and despite the News manager making a substitution to add some fresh legs, it wasn't quite enough to undo the damage. Ramzi Babham, the player that had subbed into the game in the 64th minute, did net one 10 minutes later to narrow the Fianna lead to 4-3 but News' final chance in the waning moments missed when Diaz Vallejo blasted a shot that went just over the crossbar, giving the Irish team all three points on the road.

The other two games are at 2pm in the afternoon. I'll post that update this evening.

Today's action wrapped up with a couple of excellent games. Group B started play with newcomer Old Field Ospreys hosting Wolfsburg Dynamit. Veteran forward Teague Guildford got Dynamit in the board early when he struck a ball through the laces and past Osprey goaltender Vladislav Sklar for the 1-0 lead. Pumped up after seeing his teammate score, Dynamit forward Hernan Bordonaba did a little Brazilian Kung Fu on a defender's legs and immediately got booted from the game with a straight red card. The man advantage resulted in good possession for the Ospreys but very few opportunities as the Wolfsburg defense collapsed inside their own zone and kept everything in front of them. The Ospreys only managed 8 shot for the game despite having the extra attacker and couldn't find the equalizer, giving Wolfsburg a well-deserved 1-0 road win.

The other game was out of Group D where FC Stolpen Steamroller, who went undefeated in Cup XIV Group Play, took on Cup X Champion Merchiston FC. Steamroller dominated play and the stats line but could not find an answer to the question that is Blanco Amaro. Amaro went off with pinpoint accuracy, taking seven shots...all on goal...and amazingly netted four of them. His first goal came in the 17th minute when he pinballed a shot off the far post to open the scoring. Midway through the second half, he decided to use a Steamroller defender's leg to create a change of ball direction, giving goalie Estevon Zabaleta no chance to react. But despite all of the Amaro heroics, it took a 73rd minute goal from 56 year old Dutch midfielder Giovanni Léonard to secure the Merchiston road win as Steamroller kept chipping away at the deficit. Spaniard Blanco Deuchar scored twice for the German squad and Cesar Vanney scored in extra time to minimize the damage as Merchiston took the 5-4 win and bagged a massive tally of away goals for tiebreaker purposes.

There are a mind-boggling 9 games tomorrow, so the updates will come in stages throughout the day.

FWIW, Blanco Amaro missed out on 'Orteil D'or by 1 goal in Cup X. Evidently he's been practicing ever since.

Three of the day's action have now gone into the books. Fianna AFC won its second road game in Group F as it took a 4-2 win over Swedish side Metropolitan Eagles, formerly known as the Screaming Eagles. The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half when Martel Kiel and Hayden Bryan scored within minutes of each other. But the Metro Eagles started to tire as the game went on and the Greens' superior fitness started to show. Huntingdon Hinson's off-balance shot that got by Eagles goalie Dusa Malis in the 54th minute started the comeback and Fianna increasingly held possession and, ultimately, the scoreboard. After Melvyn Ashton's header tied the game, Hinson scored the game winner with a blast from outside the box. Fianna now has 8 away goals to go with their 2-0 record and is looking good in the early going.

Group C had its first match, a 4-1 road win by FC Trojans of SC over VB Hibernian in England. The crowd of 38,000+ was never able to get into the game as the Trojans scored twice in the first 17 minutes, highlighted by Gideon Kuhlman's nutmegging of his defensive marker and then striking a ball that moved up and away from Hibs goalie Sonny Miki as it rippled the netting just under the crossbar. Hibs got on the scoreboard early in the 2nd half when a header by Tedrick Frame off a swinging cross easily beat Trojans goalie Jakobe Mullan but when Roy White painted the corner in the 60th, the deal was sealed.

To wrap up this update, the defending Champion the crutchanators of soccer opened their title defense in commanding fashion as they crushed Real TK 6-1 in Group A. Four crutchanators players contributed goals and the French side never had a chance, being outplayed in almost every facet of the game. The lone highlight for Real TK was by substitute London Koji, who scored a minute after he entered the game in the 63rd minute. Otherwise, the 4-5-1 formation could not contain the firepower the Champs brought to the pitch. Defending Golden Toe winner Heinz Hagelin scored as he hopes to become the first player to repeat as the tournament's top scorer.

So far, the road team is a perfect 6-0. More results posted in the early afternoon.

The home team has finally won a game in Cup XV...one game out of nine so far recorded. The successful home side came out of Group F where Kobelco United Football Club gave the Japanese home fans something to cheer about in their contest against Bad News. 40 year old German Sami Wächter scored twice as Kobelco was never really threatened. News, having played a very good opening match, looked flat and finds themselves in a bit of trouble now sitting at 0-2. Since a couple of 3rd Place teams will advance there is no reason to panic but scoring points in their next game is looking like a necessity.

The other two games saw the road team continue its streak of winning ways. Perennial Cup participant Swamp City Dragons started their Group B play with a difficult 2-1 win against Old Field Ospreys, who played a second straight good game but has yet to tally a stage point. A sellout crowd of 46,000 saw the teams trade goals as a 1-1 draw looked like a possibility with the match entering its closing minutes. That's when Dragons defender Charlie Hinson pushed forward and took advantage of a rebound off of Ospreys goalie Vladislav Sklar and put away the loose change in the 83rd minute. Sklar, out of position from his previous save, couldn't recover in time and Hinson had a wide open look, which he converted for the victory.

Group G had its first matchup when Bordeaux Fighting Bovines hosted Brighton AFC in the south of France. Connor Wolfe got the Cattle immediately on the board with his grass-burner and both teams found the net twice in the first half as the whistle blew with the score knotted at 2-2. In another game that looked destined to end up a draw, neither team could break the deadlock until Brighton midfielder Melorran McKeough took a crossing pass on the volley and painted the upper corner in the 86th, giving Cattle goalie Gianluigi Francesco no chance to cover as the game ended in favor of Brighton 3-2.

The remaining games will be updated after 7pm tonight (CST.)

Wrapping up a very busy day in the Cup, four more games have been recorded in the standings. Kiki United regains the top spot in Group A after their 2nd straight win, this one a 3-2 road win over Real TK. Kiki jumped out to a 3-0 lead and also benefitted from a double yellow ejection to Real TK's Leon Cortina at the beginning of the second half. Despite such a massive advantage, Real almost tied the contest a man down when Trystan Taylor's goal in the 84th minute closed the gap to one and a couple of chances couldn't equalize in extra time. Charlie Rummell scored a pair of goals for Kiki inch their way towards a playoff spot.

FC Stolpen Steamroller evened their won-loss at 1-1 after beating Bolton Wanderers 3-1 in their inaugural Cup game out of Group D. All of the scoring occurred in the first half as Steamroller rolled out to a 2-0 lead thanks to two early goals by Blanco Deuchar. Then, right before halftime, both teams scored within seconds of each other, with Bolton's first goal in Cup action coming off the head of Ton Miyagishima. While both teams had plenty of chances in the final stanza, neither team scored. Although it was a loss, Bolton created plenty of opportunities, which bodes well for their upcoming games.

Bad News appears to be in big trouble in Group F as their record falls to 0-3 after losing at home to Kobelco United Football Club 3-1. A sellout crowd of 52,000 saw their team score first when Les Fifer flicked a shot into a wide open corner a little before halftime but Kobelco had over 53 minutes of possession and the News defense tired as the game dragged on. Three unanswered goals doomed the French side, who now have a -7 goal differential and must win their next game to have a chance. Sami Wächter, Donn Lander and Yoshino Sugawara all tallied for the Japanese team that is looking good for a playoff spot.

In the last game of the night, SwampDragons United started their tournament play with a 2-1 road victory over Bordeaux Fighting Bovines in Group G, handing the Cattle a second one goal loss. Lionel Insua scored before most of the French fans had gotten their concessions when his 2nd minute when his shot deflected off the underside of the crossbar and in. But the quick strike did not rattle Swamp U, who slowly built up their attack and finally tied the game in the 58th minute when Devion Astley knocked his own shot off the crossbar and in. That set up some late game drama when Mac Hendry took a cross and redirected a header past Cattle goalie Gianluigi Francesco in the 83rd to give Swamp U all three points.

Only three game tomorrow before another big day on Sunday.

Much as I had feared, the newest incarnation of my team was a little overmatched in our first two tournament games. But at least we are here again, just maybe a little bit too soon.

Posted by KSBeachBums on 9/14/2024 7:09:00 PM (view original):
Much as I had feared, the newest incarnation of my team was a little overmatched in our first two tournament games. But at least we are here again, just maybe a little bit too soon.

Fianna won the 3rd Place game last Cup so they are a very good team. It always good to have the Swedish Eagles playing in the tournament.

In today's action, Group E started play with FC Not Very Athletic hosting German squad Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V. Cologne jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half when 20 year old Ritchie Font (who wasn't supposed to be playing,) scored the first goal of his career when his shot glanced off the fingertips of Athletic goalie Ormond Brodeway and rolled across the goal line. Then to make things worse for Athletic, Dermot Rushe bodyslammed his mark in the 47th minute and was kicked out of the game, putting the home team down a man for the rest of the game. The handicap was too much to overcome as Cologne held on for the 2-0 road victory.

Old Field Ospreys went from last to first in one game based on goal differential after getting their initial group stage win by defeating FC Cackalacky 6-2 in Group B. The game was very close in the opening 45 minutes as both teams traded scores and only a last second goal by Gerry Mannheim gave the Ospreys a 3-2 halftime advantage. The 2nd half was a different story. The home team really established control and broke the game wide open in the 68th when Conroy Zweig scored off a header that left Cackalacky goalie Georges Müller leaning the wrong way and flat-footed. A couple more goals, including a Hjalmar Nielsen goal on the last play of the game, finished the contest. Cackalacky has 5 more games to right the ship and the Ospreys have played all of their home games, so they are hitting the road for the rest of the round robin.

A huge morning update so I won't be able to give full summaries on each match. Group A saw the Champs reclaim the top spot based on the strength of their 3-1 home victory over Kiki United. 55,136 saw the crutchanators of soccer take care of business in a game that was tight until the last few minutes. A 1-1 tie was broken in the 84th minute when Heinz Hagelin hit a beauty that Kiki goalie Carsten Zobel just watched sail by. Then for good measure, Reino Kivikoski added an insurance goal in right at the end of regular time. FC Edinburgh Bullet Birds also picked up a group stage win after dominating Real TK 4-1 in a game that was more lopsided than the score would indicate. Evan Ashby scored a hat trick as the Bullet Birds get right back into the knockout mix. At the same time, Real TK looks suspect for the playoffs.

FC Cackalacky recovered from their poor showing in their first game to take a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg Dynamit in Group B, creating a temporary 4-way tie as all teams sit with three points each. The lone score came off the head of Pedro Delfs in the 5th minute as neither team could muster another goal for the rest of the game. Another tie at three points is found in Group D after Bolton Wanderers beat Merchiston FC 3-2 on the road. Bolton jumped out to a 2-0 lead early until Blanco Amaro scored his 5th goal of the tournament to close the gap. But right before halftime, Prince Pinter hit a header into the corner...a goal that proved to be the game winner for Bolton. MacPherson MacLeay's effort late sailed wide and the Wanderers held on to take all the points.

Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V. improved to 2-0 after they beat Halle Côte d'Or in a game that featured two teams that don't like the English language. After Golden Slope forward Alijah Parsons knotted the game at 1-1 in the 1st half, Garrin Schilling put the game away for Cologne with a pair of goals early in the second half, making the German team 6 points clear of the early Group D standings. Brighton AFC picked up another Group G win after defeating SwampDragons United 4-2 in front of another sellout home crowd. The teams were tied 1-1 and again 2-2 before Brighton finally established themselves late when Aekley Green scored twice, the game winner coming off a breakaway where he ran right at Swamp U goalie Jaxon Hebert and blasted one in off the inside of the crossbar.

In the last game of the morning slate, Fianna AFC and Bad News played to an entertaining 3-3 draw in a game News absolutely had to score points in. Mexican forward Méndez Viera scored twice for News, balanced out by the Greens' Kenderick Keriell scoring a pair of his own. It looked as if News would get the win as they led 3-2 in the final moments but Reilly Glinton scored off a arching pass that he finished in the 90th minute to deny Bad News the three points the desperately needed. Fianna, at 3-0-1, is probably safe for a transfer spot.

Several more games this evening which I'll update after 7pm.