jmoe12 Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 And the remaining groups Group E Group E is set to be one of the most exciting races in Japan. Everyone except for Seoul has a great chance at winning the group, with London being the early favorites. Bremen is a dangerous side who could easily take London’s spot if they falter, but the real x-factor is Brasilia. The Macaws have plenty of talent, but it will be a challenge for them to take points off the Paladins or Crusaders. If they can do it, the race will become far more interesting. Group F A group filled with contenders, no point will be easily won in Group F. Amsterdam and Madrid enter as the favorites, but Brisbane and Edmonton are poised to take their spots should the European giants falter. The Wildcats and Generals both have stingy defenses, and their physical style will be a stark contrast to the offensive-minded, high flying play of Madrid and Amsterdam. The winners of this clash of styles should be set to advance. Group G One of the few groups with two clear favorites, Cleveland and Dublin seem to have the group to lose. The defending champions will be delighted with the draw, as they could very realistically collect all nine of the available points. Barring another big-stage flameout, Cleveland should be able to advance, but watch out for Sao Paulo. The Brazilians have a post duo that could contain Judell Samson, and have the perimeter skills to pull an upset on the Devils. Group H Probably the weakest group, Group H’s Knockout Round bids are up in the air. If Volgograd can perform, they should take one of the spots, but the Sturgeon have hit a rut in form and could falter against some tougher competition. Cape Town lacks the overall class to win, but Kerefese Mhlongo is so good he could carry them through, Portland is well rounded, but they don’t have a lot of starpower to compete against the world’s best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 Sorry for the double post, but I've completed the match day schedule, as well as the projected uniform match-ups here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silence of the Rams Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 2 minutes ago, jmoe12 said: And the remaining groups Group E Group E is set to be one of the most exciting races in Japan. Everyone except for Seoul has a great chance at winning the group, with London being the early favorites. Bremen is a dangerous side who could easily take London’s spot if they falter, but the real x-factor is Brasilia. The Macaws have plenty of talent, but it will be a challenge for them to take points off the Paladins or Crusaders. If they can do it, the race will become far more interesting. Group F A group filled with contenders, no point will be easily won in Group F. Amsterdam and Madrid enter as the favorites, but Brisbane and Edmonton are poised to take their spots should the European giants falter. The Wildcats and Generals both have stingy defenses, and their physical style will be a stark contrast to the offensive-minded, high flying play of Madrid and Amsterdam. The winners of this clash of styles should be set to advance. Group G One of the few groups with two clear favorites, Cleveland and Dublin seem to have the group to lose. The defending champions will be delighted with the draw, as they could very realistically collect all nine of the available points. Barring another big-stage flameout, Cleveland should be able to advance, but watch out for Sao Paulo. The Brazilians have a post duo that could contain Judell Samson, and have the perimeter skills to pull an upset on the Devils. Group H Probably the weakest group, Group H’s Knockout Round bids are up in the air. If Volgograd can perform, they should take one of the spots, but the Sturgeon have hit a rut in form and could falter against some tougher competition. Cape Town lacks the overall class to win, but Kerefese Mhlongo is so good he could carry them through, Portland is well rounded, but they don’t have a lot of starpower to compete against the world’s best. The NCAA should take this in as a sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujju2 Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Go Wildcats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrcollis714 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Empire NY!!! I could see it happening, we're pretty stacked. I'm actually really hyped for this to kick off, the NFL style group charts got me pumped. The zoomed in logos and the solid color background makes it look like something you would see on TV, and really looks sharp. Great work. Favorites: Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, Cam Newton ND Irish Least Favorites: New York Giants, New York Mets, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Eagles, OBJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanna65 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Bump. Lets go Brisbane and Sydney! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Let the competition commence! This morning's action comes from Group A. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Andris Tevarde (HEL): 2 goals, GWG Oscar Herrera (MEN): 2 goals, Assist Mikhail Robinson (HEL): Goal, Assist Helsinki Struggles Early, Claws Out Win Helsinki’s confidence and young swagger took a hit in this contest. The inexperienced Voyageurs came out flat in the beginning, allowing Dani Prieto to net the opening goal for Los Gorros Rojos. The early deficit could have been worse, if Roderica Rojas could have pounded the ball into a wide open net. But Rojas hit the crossbar, and a quick break gave Helsinki an odd-man rush, which Latvian star Andris Tevarde was able to finish. Another defensive lapse gave Mendoza a second goal just moments later, however, as Oscar Herrera’s screamer from the point gave United the lead at the first intermission. Helsinki buckled down in the second frame, and with the nerves seemingly settled, they struck twice in the period, with goals from Mikhail Robinson, and a beautiful put-in score from Kasper Pulkkinen. But in the third, the lead was wrestled from them, as Tulio Costell tied the game with an excellent finish over Aki Peura. Xander Kempe took a costly Mendoza turnover back and beat the keeper to put the Voyageurs back in front, but two minutes later Oscar Herrera equalized. The final 8 minutes were extremely tense, as it looked Helsinki would drop vital points that might put them out of the race for the Knockout Round. But Andris Tevarde saved the day with another beautiful goal to give them the win. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Jarius Soves (TOR): Goal, 2 assists Damir Fyodorov (LEG): Goal Logan Duremayer (TOR): GWG Toronto Wins Clash of Group A Titans The most anticipated game of the first day did not disappoint. It was a back and forth affair, with a couple of lead changes and plenty of excitement. Damir Fyodorov opened the scoring by slamming a pass from Avgar Tatarinov past Jarrod Hart and into the net. Moscow’s defense held the prolific Lamplighters offense in check for a while, but a breakthrough came in the 12th minute, as Jarius Soves carved through the Legion defense and fired a shot off the post and in. The second period was a tense 20 minutes, as neither side wanted to make the fatal mistake. But, after a scoreless frame seemed inevitable, Darius Moses ripped through the Legion press and beat the keeper one-on-one to give Toronto the lead with just 57 seconds left in the 2nd. Moscow equalized early in the third as Taras Holub was able to shake Logan Duremayer and place the shot beautifully from 6 yards out. But Toronto jumped in front again, this time from Hakeem Tate, who positioned himself perfectly to bury a rebound from a Cameron Lawrence shot. Behind again, Moscow stayed resilient, as Filip Polzin scored with just three minutes left to send the game to extra time. A foul call on Hakeem Tate gave Legion a put-in early in OT with a chance to win the game, but Maxim Popov hit the crossbar. Just four minutes later, Jarius Soves found a streaking Logan Duremayer, and the young Norwegian’s composed finish gave the Lamplighters the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Now, some thrilling Group B games! ' GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Derek Gerhard (DUS): 2 Goals Linus Boer (DUS): 2 Goals Ilya Morozov (STC): 27 saves Dusseldorf Scores Early, Dominates Match The scoreline doesn’t truly tell the story of this match. Dusseldorf was dominant throughout, and if it weren’t for some phenomenal saves from Ilya Morozov, this game easily could have been 7 or 8 to 2. Dusseldorf struck early, as Kaleb Schreiber found a sprinting Derek Gerhard, who flew through Stockholm’s defense and scored in the second minute. Just three minutes later, United was on the board again, as Schreiber’s shot hit the post, but Linus Boer was able to score off the rebound. It was 3-0 early in the second, as Linus Boer found the back of the net again off a pass from Matias Niskanen. Stockholm was able to preserve some of their pride as Giovanni Isaksson cut into the lead with a goal halfway through the second period, but the game was already well out of reach. Dusseldorf continued to assault the Norsemen’s net, but were unable to score, as Ilya Morozov robbed Kaleb Schreiber twice with sensational saves. United were finally able to break though midway through the third, as Derek Gerhard stole an errant Konrad Elmersson pass, raced past the defenders, and beat Ilya Morozov for his second of the match. A cartwheeling celebration earned Gerhard a yellow card and a two minute penalty, but it didn’t seem to matter. Sebastian Hellburg was able to score on the power play, but it was too little too late. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Atua Nakarolo (SYK): 3 goals Lionel Gint (OTT): 2 goals, 2 assists Nate Baker (SYK): 2 goals, GWG Nakarolo Carries Kookas to Win One of the greatest matches in Club Cup history, this game was exciting from start to finish. It was Sydney who struck first, with Atua Nakarolo receiving a pinpoint pass from Raheem Salazar and finishing under pressure. Ottawa responded immediately with Lionel Gint finding the net on a missile from outside. Each team scored two more in the period, with Sydney having 2-1 and 3-2 leads, only for the Force to equalize courtesy of Jalen Miller. The second period was far more organized, as the defenses of both sides realized they should probably try. Lionel Gint and Colby Beauford scored two beauties for Ottawa, with a Chase Osborne goal coming in between. The third period saw plenty more drama, as Atua Nakarolo completed his hat trick early on, scoring in the 43rd to tie and the 47’ to take the lead. Kookaburras sat back for the remainder of the third, desperately trying to preserve the lead. Ottawa took shot after shot at the Sydney net, but they were unable to score until the 51st minute, when Jeff Johnstons, who scored only 4 goals all season in Canada, outmuscled Nate Baker for the rebound and beat the keeper. With the scores level, the last nine minutes of regulation and first 8 of overtime were positively thrilling, with the two sides creating chance after chance, but no one finding the goal until Nate Baker received a pass from Raheem Salazar, faked out Amir Anthony, and beat Rudy Washington for the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarp1231 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Just curious, how do you figure the outcome of the games? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 21 minutes ago, DNAsports said: Just curious, how do you figure the outcome of the games? I kinda "play them out" in my room, with some occasional coin tosses to make some of the tougher decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Moving to day 2! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Mario Esposito (ENY): 2 goals, Assist Zayne Harper (ENY): 2 goals Romeric Igbinedion (ABJ): Goal, Assist Offense Roars, Defense Struggles in Empire Win Empire New York’s high-profile offense was in fine form against Abidjan. Empire struck early and often during the match, with Mario Esposito playing world-class throwball throughout. The Spearmen simply didn’t have an answer to the Colombian superstar, and Super Mario took advantage in the fifth minute, blazing past Chris Iwu and curling the ball into the top corner. Romeric Igbinedion pulled the game level on a Paul Watters defensive error, but it was clear from the start that New York was the better side. Zayne Harper blew past Igbinedion off the Abidjan press to score his first of the tournament, and he was back for more early in the second, splitting Igbinedion and Anthony Yeboah for a brace. Mario Esposito got his brace just moments later, scoring another easy goal in the 29th minute. While Empire’s offense was nearly unstoppable during the match, the defense showed some major holes, allowing Kwame Afolyan to cut the lead to 4-2 with seven minutes to play in the second. Empire restored the lead to three late, but Abidjan seemed to have new life, with Anthony Yeboah making things interesting at 5-3 in the early third. But the hope was squashed by Courtney Gaffney’s beautiful shot from range to make the game 6-3 and give Empire three vital points. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Xavier Toussaint (BOR): Goal Ranier Beaumont (BOR): 17 saves Kuro Nakoro (SAP): Goal Offenses Anemic in Brutal Contest The first real dud of the competition featured plenty of chances, but few goals. Both teams, but Sapporo in particular, failed to convert in front of goal. It seemed early on this contest would be a high-scoring affair, with Xavier Toussaint drawing first blood in the third minute. In the fifth minute, Eita Shigawa found himself a wide open opportunity from close range, but his attempt hit the bar. From there, the game turned to a rather boring affair, with no real scoring chances in the remainder of the first. The second period was as stodgy as the first, with the only goal coming off Auguste Deufort’s finish from a Tristan Tallier pass. Bordeaux dominated inside, and controlled play throughout the game. But inability to find the net let Sapporo hang around, and the Pheasants had plenty of opportunities to bring the game back within one. But Sapporo squandered open look after open look to keep the Boar’s shutout intact. The boring play continued to the final 20 minutes, where the game went 7 minutes without a shot on goal. Kuro Nakano made things interesting late with a goal to cut the lead to one, but Sapporo’s inability to finish early put them in a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 The final Day 2 matches GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tito Laerte (SAL): 2 goals, Assist Yossouf Okoro (TTC): 2 goals, Assist Abilio (SAL): 2 goals Saints March Through Turin Many said that Tito Laerte and Abilio could be the most potent scoring duo in the world, and it’s sure looking like they’re right. The two 27 year-olds combined for 5 points and plenty of chances created in Salvador’s opening match. Turin did the best they could to try to contain the pair of skilled Brazilians, but a goal from both in the first period showed it was a lost cause. The Bulls tried to compensate for the Saints’ perimeter domination by pounding the ball inside with Gerard Passini and Auro Varkonn, but the two posts just weren’t at the top of their game. Passini did score off an assist from Varkonn in the first period, but that was all the scoring Turin would get from their big men. Yossouf Okoro put up a man of the match type performance in a losing effort, scoring off a penalty to bring the game to 3-2 late in the first. Salvador’s blistering pace was clearly taking its toll on the Bulls in the second period, as the Saints scored twice off of the break, with Tito Laerte getting his brace in the process. Down three goals, Turin began attacking wildly, with Yossouf Okoro finding the net again. With Salvador having the match in hand and Turin desperately trying to mount a comeback, the third period was a sloppy affair full of lazy defense and disorganization everywhere. Both teams found the net in the final 20 minutes, and Salvador brought in three easy points to kick off their quest to bring the trophy to Brazil for the first time. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tupai Kaeaea (WDA): Goal, Assist Odalis Soto (TCA): Goal, Assist Miguel Guttierez (TCA): Goal Assist Azteca’s Class too much for Death Adders This match had the makings of a blowout early with Adders coming flying out of the gate, hitting hard and running fast, and popping in a quick goal from Tupai Kaeaea. Wollongong continued to press throughout the first frame, clearly flustering the Mexicans in the process. Azteca registered only 3 shots on goal in the first period, and the offense failed to get any sort of rhythm because of the ferocious Death Adders’ defense. But this all changed when the teams took the field for the second period. Azteca had a renewed confidence, and they used a more patient and methodical style of offense to break down the Adders. This slowed pace allowed playmakers like Odalis Soto and miguel Guttierez to find the gaps in the Australians’ defense, and they exploited them for two easy goals in the second. Soto found the net from a beautiful switching pass from Julio Esparzo, and Soto returned the favor later, finding Jose Alfaro for a goal to give Azteca the lead. While possessions were few and far between for Death Adders in the second, Wollongong was efficient with their chances, as Harrison Kelly scored his first Club Cup goal as they pulled back into the lead. The third period, however, belonged to Azteca. Miguel Guttierez came out like a man possessed, registering an exquisite assist to equalize, and then the game winner moments later. Azteca’s high possesion percentage wore down Wollongong, and allowed them to steal the points late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 Group E action this morning GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Jeffrey Cohen (LON): Goal, Assist Blain Cook (LON): 2 assists Leonardo Ortiz: Goal, Assist Brasilia’s Third Period Surge not Enough Another thrilling contest, Brasilia outplayed expectations and nearly took all the points from Crusaders. It appeared early on that London would dominate the match, as two early goals, one from Jeffrey Cohen, put the Macaws into a deep hole. But after the second goal, Brasilia buckled down and began to play some of the best throwball we’ve seen from the Macaws. Ezequiel Pinheiros wreaked havoc on his opposite number, Blaine Cook, and created several great chances with his dangerous runs through the middle. Capitalizing on their center’s creative attacking were Deodato and Leonardo Ortiz, who feasted on the huge gaps in the Crusader defense. After pulling the game level, Brasilia looked poised to take the lead, but Rufinio Rosario narrowly missed a shot at the open goal, and not long after, it was Josh Pendleton breaking free of his marker and putting Crusaders back in front. With a goal advantage in the final 20 minutes, London sat back and defended for most of the third, which proved to be a fatal mistake. Leonardo Ortiz threaded a beauty of a pass to Rufinio Rosario, who shook off Josh Pendleton, drove to the net, and had no trouble finishing this time. The two sides traded goals in the remainder of the third, forcing extra time. Four minutes into the extra period, Jeffrey Cohen sped past Deodato, turned and fired a pass to Mayer Elliot, who sprinted towards goal and floated a shot over the charging keeper to win the game for London. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tomaz Kolar (BRE): 2 goals, Assist Myung Kim (SU): 2 goals Elliot Fischer: Goal, Assist Bremen Eases past White Tigers Perhaps the biggest mismatch of the first round, it was clear from the opening whistle that Bremen was in control of this fixture. It took Slovenian center Tomaz Kolar all of 98 seconds to find the back of the net, giving the Paladins a lead they would hold for the remained of the contest. While the Germans failed to capitalize on a windfall of chances at goal in the opening period, they established technical and physical dominance over United, embarrassing the Tigers in front of a mostly Korean crowd. Early in the second, it was Elliot Fischer who found the net, scoring of a put-in from the neutral zone. Bremen popped in another to go up three nil, and there was little that Seoul could do to stop it. The lone bright spot for the White Tigers was Myung Kim, who was fantastic in the loss, scoring two solo goals that we’ll definitely see on the Cup highlight reel. But with little help from any of his teammates, the exciting Korean star simply couldn’t keep up with the skill and chemistry of the Paladins. After letting the lead slip to 4-2, Tomaz Kolar scored another goal to put the game away for good. The Paladins win puts them in excellent position to win the group and advance deep into the Knockout Round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Sorry I'm late, but here's Group F! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Avery Hicks: 2 Goals, GWGChristiaan Meijer (AU): Goal, Assist Zdenik Hajovsky (AU): 20 saves Edmonton Shocks United in Thriller This wasn’t supposed to happen. The Wildcats played a near perfect game, and managed to take down the team revered by many as the best in the world. Edmonton’s win means Amsterdam has an uphill battle to reach the Knockout Round. From early on, it appeared that Amsterdam was up for business as usual, with Adrianus van Drummond finding the net easily despite the ‘Cats’ best efforts to double team him. Amsterdam was close to doubling their lead, but any gaps in the net were quickly covered by Kahlil Stanton, who made several clutch saves throughout the contest to keep Edmonton within striking distance. The 13th minute saw Avery Hicks beat Martino Inzaghi with a blistering run down the right flank, and then place a shot perfectly into the top corner to level the score. The second period again ended in a tie, with Christiann Meijer and Tyus Durant both getting onto the score sheet. The most surprising part of the game was the play of the “non-stars,” as Bram Rijnders played spectacular throwball to hold off Brock Eaterman, and Matt Wilkens made Martino Inzaghi a nonentity on the offensive end. The third period was scoreless, but was a gripping 20 minutes that saw both keepers rescue their side with phenomenal stops. Zdenik Hajovsky was especially on form, as he proved he is the best goalie in the world with a couple of magnificent stops to keep the score level. If it were not for Hajovsky, the Wildcats could possibly have taken all three of the points. 14 more tense minutes of overtime followed the third period, with Avery Hicks finally breaking through with a finish off a rebound from a Ricky Timmons miss. The goal was a great ending to a great contest that will remain in Cup lore for years to come. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Siddhare Eispaker (MTC): 2 Goals Manaaki Rata (BRI): Goal Stefan Corona (MTC): Assist Madrid Outclasses Generals After group rivals Amsterdam dropped some key points, Madrid was even more determined to get the win and move to the driver’s seat of Group E. Madrid was able to keep 64% possession, and all of the time on defense took their toll on the General’s typically stout defense. In the early going, it appeared that Brisbane would be able to hang around, as a Siddhare Eispaker goal off a crazy deflection was the only score in the first period. Manaaki Rata was able to equalize in the second, as a counter attack gave the Kiwi winger a wide open look, which he buried. Madrid was able to pull ahead once more in the second, but Levi de Andries found the net in the 38th, pounding through the Madrid press and finishing a simple one-on-one against the keeper. Brisbane went into the second intermission full of confidence, and began to press more aggressively in the third. But this aggression proved to be costly, as Siddhare Eispaker masterfully stayed onside, and snuck behind the Generals’ press, and bounced a cheeky shot over the charging keeper and in. The goal deflated the Australians, whose stamina had run out chasing the long passes of the Spaniards. An empty-net goal from Stefan Corona sealed the deal, and put Madrid in excellent position to win this competitive group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Final day of Round 1 GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Stasya Kokolov (STP): 2 goals, Assist Thomas Perry (CLE): Goal, Assist Alexander Dvoynev (STP): Goal, Assist Late Surge Not Enough for Devils Plenty of goals and tons of momentum swings made this game one of the most intriguing of the first round. Cleveland started the game with a bang, as Judell Samson threaded a pass to Thomas Perry, who punched the ball into the net. The Devils’ lead was short-lived however, as Stasya Kokolov struck in the eighth minute to level the scores, and Valeri Krupin added another to put the Czars in front. Alexander Dvoynev added yet another for the Russians, who were capitalizing on nearly every opportunity presented to them. Cleveland also had plenty of opportunities to score, but poor finishing marred their second period, as Judell Samson missed several chances in front of goal. Samson did manage one, but it appeared at this point the game was lost, as St. Petersburg had charged to a 4-2 lead. Things only got worse for the Devils in the third, as Stasya Kokolov scored yet again to put the lead to three. With nothing to lose and a three goal deficit, Cleveland began implementing a free-flowing, attacking style that yielded two quick goals that made this contest interesting once again. The Devils thought they had equalized in the 51st minute, but after review, it was determined that Judell Samson had stepped into crease before releasing the ball, taking the goal off of the board. Cleveland furiously tried to equalize over the final nine minutes, but nothing could get by Marian Luball, and the Devils dropped all three points. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Adrian Brachard (TCD): 3 goals Enrique (TCD): 2 goals Cedric (SP): 2 goals Rogers Struggles, Brachard Compensates TC Dublin rarely play well when their superstar Dwayne Rogers performs poorly, but this game was the exception. Sao Paulo did all they could to lock down the Irish winger, double teaming him nearly every time he touched the ball. But this created space for the other players on the team, especially Adrian Brachard. Brachard scored his first goal in the sixth minute, capitalizing on a rebound to put the Leprechauns on the board. Sao Paulo answered in the eleventh, with Brazilian post Cedric beating Stephen Kimberly and finding the back of the net. Enrique and Hercules Deguyo also scored in an action-packed first period. In the second, Sao Paulo briefly grabbed the lead, as Timoteo Costa beat Kyler Patterson for a goal. It was then that Dublin began to buckle down, and they began to dominate the match. Adrian Brachard equalized, and Dublin had regained the lead before the second intermission. The third period was where the Leprechauns sealed the deal. Enrique got himself on the scoresheet, and Dublin stormed out to a 6-3 lead. Sao Paulo was able to get one goal back in the 55th minute, but they didn’t have enough in the tank to take down the defending world champs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Wrapping up Round 1, Round 2 will be Friday-Sunday GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Ezekiel Solomon (POR): Goal, Assist Ryan Barnes (POR): 19 Saves Kerefese Mhlongo (CTV): Goal Pioneers wear down Voyageurs Cape Town exploded onto the scene of the 2016 Club Cup, scoring within 14 seconds off a Kerefese Mhlongo smash. Cape Town continued to dominate play throughout the first period, with the only lapse coming on Joakim Todd’s sublime goal from the outside. Ayodele Otagwe found the net in the 15th minute to make it 2-1, but then the South Africans hit a wall. Portland began to pack the defense into the trap, where they did their best to shut down the Voyageur’s dominating post duo. Unable to work the ball inside, Cape Town’s offense stalled, and Portland began to take control. Jaeron Meeks equalized in the 27th minute, but then Cape Town went on a run, putting several great chances on goal. But Pioneer keeper Ryan Barnes was able to parry them all, keeping the game level. The third period belonged to Portland, as Ezekiel Solomon scored a fabulous goal. Lazrus Hengari managed to equalize, but it was clear that Portland had the game in hand. Garret McLocklen tallied the winner off an Ezekiel Solomon lob, giving Portland the lead for good. The Pioneers packed the defense in even more for the last five minutes, making it nearly impossible for the Voyageurs to find the net. Cape Town registered only two shots on goal in their last-ditch barrage, both of which were easily stopped by Barnes. Portland was able to weather the storm and seal three crucial points. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Maurice Darwin (LEE): 2 goals Ashley Cooper (LEE): Goal, Assist, GWG Nika Kucheron (VOL): Goal, Assist Reapers Hold off Sturgeon for Upset Another thrilling game finished off an exciting first round. Leeds opened the scoring in the 12th minute, as Maurice Darwin powered past the Sturgeon defense to score an easy goal. The Reapers were able to hold off the Sturgeon’s explosive offense with some stout defending, but Volgograd was able to break through in the second, as Nika Kucheron blazed past James Carpenter to level the score at one, and Miroslav Chebykin sniped a shot over the left shoulder of Ricardo Sarti to give the Russian champs the lead. The match was one of the most even affairs we’ve seen so far, with the possession split 52-48 in favor of Volgograd, and Leeds holding a 21-20 advantage in shots on goal. The third period featured more of this even play, as James Carpenter and Maurice Darwin found the net in the 48th and 52nd minute, respectively, to put the Reapers back on top. But it was Janko Gerbic finding the net over Willard Scrivens to equalize in the 58th minute that brought a potential upset crashing down. Seemingly inspired by their late equalizer, the Sturgeon dominated overtime in the early going, but their aggressive attacks proved to be their downfall, as a quick counter-attack from Leeds gave Ashley Cooper a wide-open shot, and he powered the ball past Marian Luball to give the Reapers 2 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Matchday 2 starts today! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Kasper Pulkkinen (HEL): 3 goals Avgar Tatarinov (LEG): 2 goals Mikhail Robinson (HEL): 2 assists Pulkkinen’s Wonder Goal gives Voyageurs Comeback Win Another poor showing from Legion sees them on the outside looking in for advancing to the Knockout Round. On the other side of the pitch, Helsinki as all but clinched a spot in the Round of 16, due mostly to a spectacular performance from Finnish wing Kasper Pulkkinen. The game looked to be Moscow’s to lose in the early minutes, as Avgar Tatarinov and Damir Fyodorov ran rampant, each putting in a goal in the first 12 minutes. A Pulkkinen goal sandwiched between the two gave Helsinki a chance, but it was clear that changes would have to be made. Helsinki countered Moscow’s prowess in the post with some aggressive perimeter defending, filling passing lanes and trying to force turnovers from Legion’s wings. The strategy took awhile to be effective, as Taras Holub was able to score early in the second to open a 3-1 lead, but eventually the Voyageurs got it down, controlling play through the remainder of the second and getting a goal from Xander Kemp. Continuing to press high and control possession, Helsinki rattled in two more goals in the third period, one of which came from Pulkkinen. Moscow kept the game even with an Avgar Tatarinov goal, sending the match to extra time. 33 seconds into overtime, Kasper Pulkkinen scored the greatest goal in Club Cup history, dropping a shot with wicked spin over the hand of Borov Alkaev and into the net. The goal gave Helsinki their best ever performance at the Cup, and should see them through to the Knockout Round. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Toronto Annihilates Mendoza This game was never close. After Logan Duremayer bagged the first goal of the game after just three minutes, the Lamplighters began to run away with the match. And light the lamp they did, scoring four times in the first period from the hands of four different players. Mendoza could just stand and watch as Toronto carved through their defense. Tulio Costell added a consolation goal in the sixteenth, but this game was over before it even started. Most impressive from the domination by Toronto was the performance of Logan Duremayer. The young Norwegian made dangerous runs throughout the game, scoring two nice goals, getting an assist, and showing off his devastating pace. Toronto began mixing in the reserves after the lead grew to 5-1, but Mendoza could not take advantage. The performance leaves few positives for Mendoza, who have been eliminated from Knockout Round contention. But for Toronto, it has boosted the confidence of a side that had struggled through most of December, and has shown the world that the Lamplighters are talented enough to make it all the way back to the championship game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 A special mid-day scoreboard! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Matias Niskanen (DUS): 2 goals, GWG Colby Beauford (OTT): Goal, Assist Kaleb Schreiber (DUS): Goal, Assist Dusseldorf too much for Force Group B has produced several thrilling games, and this match was no exception. About as even as it gets, both sides had plenty of chances to win the game, but the experience of Dusseldorf was able to put them over the top. Matias Niskanen played some spectacular throwball throughout, terrorizing the young Amir Anthony on offense, then locking him down on the other end. Winning this positional battle proved to be key early on, as Niskanen broke free from Anthony to pound a rebound into the back of the net. Colby Beauford answered for the Force in the 11th minute, using his blazing speed to create space against Derek Gerhard. The second period made it nearly impossible to split the two sides. Derek Gerhard found the net for United, and Lionel Gint responded for Ottawa, breaking Linus Boer’s ankles en route to a wide open shot, which, of course, he nailed. Ottawa surged at the start of the third period, earning a man advantage on a Derek Gerhard yellow card and instantly capitalizing on a lob from Colby Beauford to Amir Anthony. But Dusseldorf was unfazed by the deficit, and they immediately began to mount their comeback. Kaleb Schreiber, who had been held in check for nearly all of the game, equalized on an unstoppable shot from close range, and Matias Niskanen put United up for good in the 54th minute, once again breaking free from the defense to slot home the winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujju2 Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Yay Edmonton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Finishing out the day GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Raheem Salazar (SYK): 2 goals Konrad Elmersson (STC): 2 goals Chase Osborne (SYK): Goal, Assist Sydney Blazes to Victory over Norsemen It’s about time we start to take the Kookaburras seriously. Sydney came out firing once again against Stockholm, netting a goal early from Raheem Salazar, and once Stockholm equalized, pushed back into the lead with another impressive team goal. Sydney played fast and explosive throwball throughout the match, leaving stockholm looking slow and lethargic in comparison. The youthful Kookaburras ran circles around the Norsemen in the second period, putting the lead to 3-1 when Chase Osborne found the net. Giovanni Isaksson was in poor form throughout the match, often looking slow and getting beaten frequently by Osborne. With their offensive motor and best passer off his game, Stockholm’s offense has fallen off considerably from their Baltic Throwball League season form. With the offense failing to keep the ball, Stockholm was defending quite a bit, giving Sydney plenty of time to find the gaps. And they exploited them well, continuing to pull away until the lead was 5-3 midway through the third. Konrad Elmersson found the net once again for Stockholm to bring them within striking distance, but they couldn’t muster enough offense to equalize, and were eliminated from the Knockout Round contention. Sydney has sealed their bid, and square off with Dusseldorf for the group title. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Romeric Igbinedion (ABJ): 2 goals, 2 assists Deniel Sarkozy (BOR): Goal, Assist Kwame Afolyan (ABJ): Goal, Assist, GWG Igbinedion Impresses in Impressive Win Bordeaux had a golden opportunity to finish off Abidjan and seal a bid for the Knockout Round. Then Romeric Igbinedion happened. The Ivorian probably earned himself a boatload of money with a sensational performance, locking down French player of the year Xavier Toussaint and dominating on the offensive end. With Toussaint a non factor throughout the match, the Boars’ scoring came predominantly from the outside, with Manuel Simon playing very well and Deniel Sarkozy on top of his game. These two players each scored in an explosive first period, but Igbinedion registered a goal and an assist to keep the game level. The two defenses controlled the second period, as both sides struggled to find the net. Bordeaux got a goal from Tristan Tallier to go up 3-2, but Christian Iwu responded in the 37th minute for the Spearmen to equalize. Neither team could hold a lead in the third period, as Abidjan dropped a 4-3 lead, and Bordeaux let a 5-4 advantage slip away with two minutes left due to a goal from Romeric Igbinedion. Overtime was not as entertaining as the first 60 minutes, as both sides sat back trying not to lose. Kwame Afolyan finally won the game for Abidjan, taking a pass from Igbinedion, bursting though Bordeaux’s vaunted neutral zone press, and beating the keeper one-on-one with a lob. The plot thickens in Group C, as now Abidjan has thrown themselves right into the Knockout Round conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.