jmoe12 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 A little late, but here's this morning's two! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Mario Esposito (ENY): Goal, 2 assists Zayne Harper (ENY): Goal, Assist Eita Shigawa: (SAP): Goal, Assist Empire Impresses again in Easy Win Empire New York’s multi-faceted attack has yet to be countered, and Sapporo could do nothing to stop the likes of Mario Esposito and Zayne Harper. Esposito was constantly terrorizing the Pheasant’s defense, beating defenders easily and creating chance after chance from the outside. Super Mario didn’t wait long to find the net, scoring in the sixth minute to give Empire a lead they wouldn’t give up. Eita Shigawa slotted in a surprising goal on one of Sapporo’s few good chances of the first to equalize, but New York jumped right back in front, scoring three minutes later to make the score 2-1. Zayne Harper got on the score sheet in the 23rd minute, powering through Minato Akiyama and converting a point blank chance. Dorian Lamb added another goal for Empire in the 27th, giving them a commanding three goal lead. Sapporo managed to answer with a goal in the 35th to make it 4-2, but the game was already out of reach. An even third period on the scoresheet was mostly contested by Empire’s reserves, but Mario Esposito was on the pitch long enough to pick up his second assist of the game, and sealing a win that clinched an appearance in the next round. For the Pheasants, failing to get points means the end of their Knockout Round contention, leaving a consolation game against Abidjan to be played on Tuesday. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tito Laerte (SAL): 2 goals, 2 assists Abilio (SAL): 2 goals, Assist Odalis Soto (TCA); Goal, 2 assists Salvador Outlasts Azteca What a game! A match between two high-powered offenses was guaranteed to yield plenty of goals, but 15 was more than anyone could have hoped for. Tito Laerte and Abilio are downright scary when paired together, and nothing the Mexican champions did to contain them had any success. Goals from both of the explosive wingers in the first period were key to an early 4-2 Saints lead, but the rush of goals came at a price, as Azteca’s physical play began to take its toll in the later frames. The strength and power of Julio Esparzo gave Salvador fits throughout the match, and his fine play helped drag Azteca to within a goal at the end of two. Also impressing for Azteca was post Andre Mayez, who continues to blossom into a fine post player with a nice goal and a clever assist to Miguel Guttierez. Salvador’s offense struggled during the third period, as Azteca managed to equalize late with a goal from Odalis Soto. Overtime was one of the most thrilling 6 minutes of throwball I’ve ever seen, as both teams alternated placing assaults on the opponent's’ net until finally Salvador managed the game-winning breakthrough. Luiso Basturo held the ball for a put-in in his own offensive zone. Azteca was trying as best they could to make sure both Abilio and Tito Laerte were covered, but, in the process, left Mateus wide open, who overpowered Odalis Soto to put in the game winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 The afternoon games just finished, and they were both thrillers. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Gerard Passini (TTC): Goal, Assist Jayden Ross (WDA): Goal, Assist Yossouf Okoro (TTC): 2 assists Bulls need Shootout to Finish Adders An evenly-matched and highly entertaining game leaves every Group D side with a chance to reach the Knockout Round. Gerard Passini played some spectacular ball from the start, bagging a goal in the fourth minute, and controlling the trapezoid on both ends of the pitch. Tupia Kaeaea equalized in the 12th minute, but Wollongong struggled to control play, relying almost exclusively on the counter-attack to generate the small amount of offense they were able to produce. With the Death Adders’ defense double-teaming Passini in the post, Auro Varkonn was often left wide open, and he scored early in the second to make it 2-1. Wollongong began to mount their comeback immediately, as Jayden Ross and Ahmed Nguyen both played some of the best throwball of their careers, with each finding the net in the second frame to give Death Adders a lead. Dario Piazza made a spectacular move past Harrison Kelly to net an equalizer in the third, so we headed to overtime. 20 minutes of intense extra time followed, but neither team could score, giving the Cup its first shootout. Harrison Kelly, Dario Piazza, Ahmed Nguyen, and Laoruo Fontana each capitalized to keep the shootout level at 2. But a miss from Jayden Ross left the door open for Yossouf Okoro to win, and the poise of the Cameroonian was too much. Okoro scored easily, giving Turin the win. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Deodato (BRA): 2 goals, Assist Tomaz Kolar (BRE): 2 goals, Assist Leonardo Ortiz (BRA): 2 goals Epic Comeback gives Macaws Crucial Points The Paladins had a Knockout Round berth nearly sealed after 40 minutes. If their two goal lead held, Bremen would be on 6 points and plus 5 for goal difference, numbers that all but guaranteed progression through. But, inexplicably, the Paladins collapsed just minutes from the finish line, allowing an astonishing 4 goals in 20 minutes to give Brasilia a 2 goal win. The game started well for the Germans, as Elliot Fischer and Tomaz Kolar scored in the 9th and 11th minutes to give the Paladins a 2-0 lead. Leonardo Ortiz answered in the 16th, but Bremen had far better chances and significantly more possession, all pointing to an easy win. The second period did nothing to discourage this claim, as Bremen doubled their lead to 4-2 with Marcell Tritten wreaking havoc on the Macaws’ defense. Bremen was all smiles heading into the locker room for the second intermission, but that all changed in the 42nd minute, when Deodato cut the lead to 4-3, meaning game on for the remaining 18. Ezequiel Pienhieros equalized off a devastating counter attack in the 45th, and Deodato almost lifted Brasilia into the lead in the 47th, with a wide open chance pushed barely wide by Jonas Huff. But Bremen was completely unprepared for the Macaws’ onslaught, and needed a timeout to regather themselves. The short break seemed to refocus the Paladins momentarily, but the spell was broken in the 53rd as Leonardo Ortiz scored once again to give Brasilia their first lead of the match. Bremen threw as much offense as they could muster at the Macaws for the remaining 7 minutes, but they never came close to equalizing, and Deodato sealed the deal with an empty net goal to give Brasilia the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 The last two of the day! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Jeffrey Cohen (LON): 3 goals, Assist Mayer Elliot (LON): 2 goals Hikaru Koizuite (SU): 2 goals London Romps to Victory Seoul knew a win was unlikely, but their performance left zero chance of even salvaging a point. The White Tigers were woeful on defense, allowing Jeffrey Cohen to carve them up without much effort. When it wasn’t Cohen embarrassing opponents, it was Josh Pendleton. Despite his horrible season in England this year, Pendleton may have won back some support from Crusader fans with a stellar performance, threatening to score every time he touched the ball. The two wingers, along with Mayer Elliot, all scored in the first period, as the White Tigers could just stand and watch. As London’s starters began spending more time resting on the bench, Seoul was able to avoid total embarrassment. With Hikaru Koizuite putting a goal in to cut the Crusader advantage to 4-1, only for Jeffrey cohen to score his second of the game moments later. Cohen completed his hat trick in the 55th minute, and was promptly subbed off for the remainder of the match. Down their superstar, London conceded twice to Seoul, with Koizuite netting a brace and Myung Kim putting in his third of the tournament. Mayer Elliot put a goal in between those two, and Blaine Cook added a 7th to put London a showdown with Bremen away from winning the group. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Martino Inzaghi (AU): 2 goals, Assist Christiaan Meijer (AU): Goal, Assist Manaaki Rata (BRI): Goal Amsterdam Bounces back with win over Brisbane There was no way that Amsterdam was dropping two in a row, and that was unfortunate for the Generals. Having already lost a tough battle with Madrid, Brisbane was desperate for points, and their run for the Round of 16 ended early with another loss. The Australian side played just about as well as one could have expected, with Manaaki Rata shutting down superstar Adrianus van Drummond, but the Dutch giants just had too many weapons. After taking most of the blame for the loss to Edmonton, Martino Inzaghi bounced back immediately, scoring in the first minute to give Amsterdam the lead. Lots of exciting pay followed over the next 19, but both defenses were able to stop any chances from finding the net. This goalless drought continued to the 31st minute, when Bram Rijnders stumbled into the path of a deflection and pushed it past Lendell Stewart. Down 2, Brisbane began to play a more attacking game, and it paid off, as Manaaki Rata found the net on a breakaway, beating the Amsterdam press. The third period went to United, as Inzaghi and Christiaan Meijer both added superb goals to seal the deal and put Amsterdam right back into contention for the Knockout Round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Kicking off our Super Bowl Sunday slate! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Siddhare Eispaker (MTC): 2 goals, Assist Avery Hicks (EDM): Goal, Assist Arsenio Madeira (MTC): Goal, Assist Madrid Downs Edmonton in Overtime Edmonton almost did it again. The Wildcats have made quite the impression in their first two matches, and now are probably a favorite to make it through to the Knockout Round. In the first period, the Wildcats flexed their muscles in the post, as Brock Eaterman overpowered Mohammed Gavino to open the scoring. Siddhare Eispaker was in fine form once again, showing his technical brilliance in a fabulous equalizing goal in the 13th minute. Mohammed Gavino flashed some of his skill as well in the 25th minute, splitting Tyus Durant and Brock Eaterman with a sweet move to give him an easy finish. Avery Hicks continued to impress throughout the match, showcasing a scoring touch we hadn’t seen from him before. He scored a pretty goal from range late in the second, bringing the match to level pegging. Edmonton took control of the third period from the onset, finally breaking through in the 44th minute, when Tyus Durant collected a rebound, then powering to the net. In an attempt to hold onto their slim advantage, the Wildcats parked the bus, holding off wave after wave of Madrid attacks. Edmonton was able to stand tall for 14 minutes, but, with two minutes left, Arsenio Madeira found a crease, sped through it, and found the back of the net. Overtime followed, and once again, the Wildcats came out firing. But the attack left them vulnerable on defense, and Siddhare Eispaker made them pay, scoring on a breakaway to give two points to Madrid. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Judell Samson (CLE): 3 goals Hercules Deguyo (SP): 2 goals Jordan West (CLE): 2 assists Samson Simply too Much After a dismal showing against St. Petersburg, Cleveland desperately needed points to stay afloat in Group G. Judell Samson, who played very poorly in the loss to the Czars, showed up. Samson netted a hat trick in the game, and was instrumental in shutting down Brazilian post Cedric. Sao Paulo struck first, with a crazy goal from Hercules Deguyo. Cedric’s chance missed wide, but the shot deflected off the Colombian and past Dylan Douglass. Judell Samson made sure that the Devils would not experience a repeat of the previous games by slotting home a goal, shaking off a double team to equalize. Thomas Perry put the Devils in front with just 15 seconds left in the period, finding the open area to receive a pass from Michael Perkins and score. The second period saw a brief surge from Sao Paulo, as Timoteo Costa showed some vintage form with a goal.Samson put in another goal in the 33rd minute, showing his shooting ability with a missile from the perimeter. This seemed like a completely different Cleveland side than the one that lost to St. Petersburg, putting them in the form necessary to take down the defending champs on Thursday. Samson added another goal in the third for his hat trick, and his defensive skill was enough to keep Sao Paulo from the equalizer, giving Cleveland 3 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 The Champs were back in action this afternoon GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Alexander Dvoynev (STP): 2 goals, assist Adrian Brachard (TCD): 2 goals Dwayne Rodgers (TCD): Goal, Assist Dublin’s Stars Shine in big Win The Czars posed the toughest matchup to the defending champs during the group stage, but the Leprechauns passed this test with flying colors. Despite a very well-played game by St. Petersburg, Dublin showed that they were still a dominant force in world throwball with the win. After a rough performance against Sao Paulo, Dwayne Rodgers returned to his regular form, scoring the first goal of the game in the 7th minute. Stasya Kokolov equalized in the tenth minute, but it was all Dublin from their, as Adrian Brachard scored in the 18th minute to make it 3-1. Alexander Dvoynev cut the lead in half early in the second frame, but that’s as close as the Czars could get. The Leprechauns got goals from Enrique and Adrian Brachard in the second to lift them to a 5-3 advantage after 40 minutes. Dublin’s control of the possession gave them plenty of opportunities to score, and they were lethal in capitalizing on these opportunities. Kyler Patterson found the net in garbage time for the first goal of this Cup, but his play has been a liability for Dublin so far, and he will have to improve if Dublin wants any chance to repeat. But for now, the Leprechauns are in great shape, with six points in the bank and a match with Cleveland that could help them clinch the Group crown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Wrapping up Round 2 are two exciting Group H games! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Kerefese Mhlongo (CTV): 3 goals, Assist Ayodele Otagwe (CTV): 2 goals Cayden Parrish (LEE): Goal, Assist Voyageur’s Posts Unstoppable in Big Win Cape Town had relied on their posts for almost all of their scoring this season, and critics of the African club said that the lack of perimeter production would be their Achilles heel in the Club Cup. But this didn’t seem to affect the Voyageurs against Leeds. While the Reapers controlled the outside, with Maurice Darwin setting up the first goal with a nice move into space. Cape Town responded by pounding the ball inside, and Kerefese Mhlongo and Ayodele Otagwe did the rest, with both South African big men striking in the first period. Leeds controlled things in the second period, with Cayden Parrish and James Carpenter both finding the net off of great ball movement from the Reapers’ offense. Kerefese Mhlongo was able to equalize the game at two in the 36th minute, showing how mature of a player he has become with a clever move to beat the experienced Ashley Cooper. Maurice Darwin took Leeds back in front with a goal, bursting past Larzrus Hengari to create his chance, and beating Joseph Seinway with a powerful strike. It was Seinway that kept the Voyageurs in the game with a few huge saves to hold off an assault on the Cape Town net. After gaining momentum from holding off the Reapers, the Voyageurs equalized off an excellent passing combination between Mhlongo and Otagwe, with Otagwe putting on the finishing touch to tie the game at four. Overtime was another intense affair, with both teams having plenty of opportunities to win the game before Kerefese Mhlongo found the net to earn his hat trick and give Cape Town a fighter’s chance of making the Knockout Round. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Ezekiel Solomon (POR): 2 assists NIka Kucheron (VOL): Goal Garrett McLocklen (POR): Goal Third period collapse costs Sturgeon crucial Points Another poor performance may have dropped Volgograd from contention for the Knockout Round. While the play wasn’t necessarily poor, the Sturgeon lacked the killer instinct that defined their Russian Throwball Federation season. Twice, they had taken their foot off of their opponent’s throats giving them a gasp of air, which was just enough to give them a win. The Sturgeon came flying out of the gate against Portland, dominating perimeter play, with Nika Kuchreon terrorizing the Portland defense. Kucheron had several chances to open the scoring, but twice he was denied by magnificent saves from Ryan Barnes. He did manage to find the net in the 7th minute, and Volgograd was in charge of the game for most of the period. Some poor discipline hurt the Russians in the second period. Kostya Zolnervich earned a yellow card for a late hit on Jaeron Meeks, and the Pioneers capitalized. Ezekiel Solomon sent up a lob for Garrett Mclocken, who sealed off Janko Gerbic and placed a shot into the top corner. Miroslav Chebykin scored a beauty of a put-in to put the Sturgeon back ahead, but then the well ran dry, and Volgograd failed to find the net for the remainder of the match. Portland capitalized on this opportunity, with goals from Joakim Todd and Jaeron Meeks lifting Portland to yet another gutsy win to guarantee them a spot in the Knockout Round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujju2 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Can't wait for Edmonton to win it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Just now, ujju2 said: Can't wait for Edmonton to win it all. They've done surprisingly well thus far. If they can take care of Brisbane on Wednesday, they should make it through, but they'll need a little help from the Madrid-Amsterdam game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Starting Round 3 today. Congrats to Toronto and Helsinki for making it through! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Jarius Soves (TOR): Goal, 3 assists Darius Moses (TOR): 2 goals Andris Tevarde (HEL): 2 goals Toronto’s Experience lifts them to Victory A huge battle to decide Group A did not disappoint. A battle of old vs. new, established veterans vs. young upstarts with plenty on the line produced an action-packed high-scoring affair that came down to the final minutes. From the opening whistle, the Lamplighters looked to establish dominance in the post, and it was effective almost immediately, as Cameron Lawrence and Darius Moses combined to put in the first goal. While Toronto took control of the inside, Helsinki owned the perimeter. Andris Tevarde scored to put the game level at 1. Logan Duremayer continued his impressive campaign with yet another goal, blazing past Xander Kempe to put the ‘Lighters back in front. Darius Moses scored his first goal to double the lead, but moments later Kasper Pulkkinen brought the Voyageurs to within one. Helsinki continued their comeback through the second period, as Andris Tevarde braced in the 23rd minute and Mikhail Robinson put the Voyageurs into the lead in the 28th. Jarius Soves netted a fantastic goal just 4 minutes later to equalize, but it was Helsinki back on top in the 34th minute thanks to Xander Kempe. It seemed the Voyageurs were set to take the lead into the third period, but Hakeem Tate was left wide open due to a defensive miscommunication to equalize in the last moments of the second frame. While Helsinki seemed to wilt under the pressure of the third period, the poise of Toronto was the difference as they scored a clutch pair of goals to give them a two goal advantage late. Helsinki clawed back within one, but the Lamplighters played rock-solid defense down the stretch to take the group. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Avgar Tatarinov (LEG): 2 goals, Assist Oscar Herrera (MEN): Goal, 2 assists Taras Holub (LEG): Goal, Assist Moscow wins game, Comes up short in Group This game took on new meaning with Helsinki’s loss to Toronto. If Legion could manufacture a three goal win, they would leap over the Voyageurs in the standings and into the second Knockout Round spot. The first period was promising, with Taras Holub and Damir Fyodorov both scoring in a strong period for Legion. But Mendoza refused to die, putting up a valiant effort to scrape out a point in the match with two goals from the hand of Oscar Herrera, the Argentine feasted on the poor defending of Filip Polzin to terrorize the Moscow defense, and were it not for a timely Avgar Tatarinov goal we could have been tied after 40 minutes. Realizing they needed to triple the lead to secure a bid in the next round, Moscow began pushing high, and a goal from Maxim Popov brought them halfway there, but Mendoza continued to make things difficult, matching Legion score for score. Avgar Tatarinov restored the lead to two in the 57th minute, and from their Moscow launched an all-out attack, desperately searching for that last goal. But Los Gorros Rojos stood firm, and gave Moscow a rare Group Stage exit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Group B finished just as it started, with two entertaining games. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Derek Gerhard (DUS): 2 goals, Assist Matias Niskanen (DUS): 2 goals Raheem Salazar (SYK): Goal, Assist Dusseldorf overpowers Kookaburras to remain Perfect Who would have thought we’d have a team go through the “Group of Death” and come out the other side unblemished? Dusseldorf has done exactly that, and look to be the scariest team in Japan. United struck the first blow in this battle for Group B, when Matias Niskanen broke free from Nate Baker to slam home a loose ball in front of the net. Raheem Salazar played his best game of the Cup so far, scoring an equalizer in the twelfth minute by shredding Derek Gerhard’s poor ankles and firing the ball into the net. Gerhard got revenge in the second period, outmuscling Salazar on a powerful run to the net to get United’s second goal. But before this was a spectacular solo effort from Atua Nakarolo, who took the ball from behind his own net all the way to the other end for a ridiculous goal. The second period concluded in another deadlock, setting up an exciting third period, when the offenses finally awakened. Kaleb Schreiber was nearly unguardable throughout the last 20 minutes, scoring a goal to put Dusseldorf up 3-2, and then assisting Matias Niskanen to make it 4-3. Derek Gerhard made it 5-3, and it seemed the game was over. But Chase Osborne resurrected hope with a goal in the 52nd minute to give Sydney a chance, but it was dashed quickly by the suffocating defense of Dusseldorf who held the Kookaburras in check for eight minutes to seal a group win and preserve their perfect record. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Jalen Miller (OTT): 2 goals Sebastian Hellburg (STC): Goal, Assist Lionel Gint (OTT): Goal, Assist Stockholm saves dignity with Win Two teams that were supposed to be right in the thick of the Group B race, but instead they played a meaningless third game as both sides tried to get their first win of this competition. Stockholm opened the game with a goal from Konrad Elmersson, but the Norsemen starters were mostly manhandled by the Force’s first line. Gio Isaksson looked even more hobbled than in the first two games, and it was revealed after the game that the Swedish center was suffering from a broken ankle suffered in the Dusseldorf game, and he spent the majority of the game on the bench. While the starters struggled to perform, it was the bench picking up the slack, scoring again late in the period to equalize and shutting down Ottawa for six crucial minutes at the end of the period. Stockholm’s defense was strong again in the second period, shutting out the potent Force offense, and getting a timely go-ahead goal from Sebastian Hellburg. Ottawa wore down the Norsemen in the third period, getting huge goals from Jalen Miller and Amir Anthony, but Johannes Hummel willed in an equalizer in the 56th minute to send the game to extra time. When Stockholm won a put-in from just inside the neutral zone in the extra period, Gio Isaksson returned to the pitch to snipe home a goal to win the game. It will go down as a disappointing campaign for both of these teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 Group C wrapped up this morning GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Eita Shigawa (SAP): Goal, Assist, GWG Yuma Tanaka (SAP): 2 assists Romeric Igbinedion (ABJ): Goal Sapporo gets win in front of Home Crowd Homefield advantage hadn’t done much good for the Pheasants through the first two games. Two rough losses had eliminated them early, but they owed it to the fans in Sapporo to give them a victory. Romeric Igbinedion and Abidjan had plenty to play for, however, as three points gave them a shot at the Round of 16. The Pheasants jumped out right from the opening tip, as Kuro Nakano displayed some dazzling skill to score the opener. Kwame Afolyan answered in the 17th minute for the Spearmen. The crowd was electric during the first intermission and into the second period, cheering their boys on to end their home soil Cup on a high note. Fueled by the electric crowd, Sapporo raced into a 3-1 lead, getting goals from Minato Akiyama and Sho Ueda. Romeric Igbinedion did his best to start a rally for Abidjan in the third period, scoring a goal in the 41st minute, and nearly striking again in the 44th, but his shot hit the post, ricocheted off of the Pheasant’s keeper and out. After the Abidjan surge to begin the period, the remainder of the game was mostly level, with both sides finding the net. Sapporo may not have made a splash in the later rounds of the tournament, but they gave their fans something to remember with an exciting send-off. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Mario Esposito (ENY): 2 goals Auguste Deufort (BOR): Goal, Assist Zayne Harper (ENY): Goal, Assist New York stays perfect, Bordeaux goes Through Improving steadily in every game, Empire New York saved their best performance for last in the Group Stage. Mario Esposito played some fantastic throwball against the Boars, embarrassing the vaunted Boars defense for two goals, and he could have had more, but Rianier Beaumont made some fabulous saves to hold off the Colombian superstar. Answering for the Boars was their dynamic post duo. While the New Yorkers focused the majority of their efforts on stopping young star Xavier Toussaint, Toussaint picked them apart with some clever passing, mostly to fellow post Auguste Deufort, who brought the game level in the first period. The second period featured more exciting action, as Courtney Gaffney took over the game and racked up two assists, one to Esposito and the other to Dorian Lamb. Deniel Sarkozy found the net on the counter for Bordeaux, but it was clear that some adjustments would need to be made if the Boars were to steal this group. But any adjustments made by the French side did not have a great effect. Empire continued to control play, and opened a 5-3 lead midway through the final frame, and New York kept the Boars’ offense honest with fluent attacking to control the match and seal the nine points and a group win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 Halfway through the final round! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tito Laerte (SAL): 2 goals, assist Abilio (SAL): 2 goals Tupai Kaeaea (WDA): Goal, Assist Laerte and Abilio shine Again Can anyone stop this wing duo? While Wollongong did probably the best job of anyone so far, they still couldn’t contain this dominating pair. It took Abilio just 71 seconds to get on the board, receiving a beautiful cross from Tito Laerte, then calmly slotting a shot past Mason Embrey. The Saints were knocking on the door for the remainder of the period, but the Death Adders played them tough to keep them from doing any more damage. Ahmed Nguyen carved the Saints’ press with a powerful run and charged all the way to the Salvador net, where he tied the game. Brazilian center Mateus was a pivotal part of the Salvador attack in the second period, racking up an assist to both Tito Laerte and Abilio to give the Saints a 3-1 lead. Jayden Ross showed his immense potential with a powerful drive over Leandro Soares to cut the lead in half, but Adders still had a long way to go if they were going to scrape out a win. Tupai Kaeaea equalized for Wollongong in the 45th minute, and Death Adders shockingly grabbed the lead with a goal from Harrison Kelly. But from there it was all Salvador, whose powerful offense was unstoppable in the final 10 minutes, getting goals from Tito Laerte and Luiso Basturo to keep their record unblemished. For Wollongong, it was a Cup marred with missed opportunities. The Adders played well in all three games, but they couldn’t take any of their games and so were eliminated. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Gerard Passini (TTC): 2 goals, Assist Miguel Guttierez (TCA): 2 goals Jose Alfaro (TCA): 2 goals Turin gets Points, Azteca goes Through TC Azteca managed to claw their way through to the Knockout Round, but they were inches from going home early. Azteca jumped out on early on the Bulls, as Odalis Soto struck in the 5th minute, and Jose Alfaro doubled the lead in the 11th. Azteca was outclassing the Italians on the perimeter, and Turin couldn’t control the ball for any significant stretch. Yossouf Okoro took the team on his back in the 13th minute, scoring a fantastic solo goal to bring Turin back into the game. Then, with the momentum on their side, Turin found an equalizer from Gerard Passini, who made young post Andre Mayez look silly with a fantastic move to level the game. Miguel Guttierez scored to put Azteca back in front, but the game was far too close to call. Azteca opened another two goal lead when Jose Alfaro scored his brace in the 24th minute, but Turin came roaring back, getting a great goal from Dario Piazza in the 35th minute to cut the lead in half. Azteca could have had more, but some key blocks and a couple of fantastic saves from Ricardo Ibanez to preserve the lead. Turin got a goal within 51 seconds of the beginning of the third, and they looked poised to add more. But once again the Azteca defense stood firm, and utilized their deadly counter-attack to retake the lead. It seemed Azteca was set to take the points, but Gerard Passini equalized in the 56th minute, putting Andre Mayez on skates before powering the shot home. Overtime featured plenty of action, but no goals through the firs 18 minutes, and all signs pointed to another shootout. But Turin began an aggressive offensive, and Gerard Passini found a charging Auro Varkonn on the back post to give Turin the points. If the Bulls had been able to take all three points, they would be through to the Knockout Round, but the Italian champs should be pleased with a mostly successful campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Group E was probably the most exciting so far GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Ezequiel Pienhieros (BRA): Goal, 2 assists Myung Kim (SU): 2 goals, assist Deodato (BRA); Goal, Assist Brasilia Holds off Seoul All the Macaws needed was three points and they were through to the next round. If they got some help from Bremen, they’d win the group. But Seoul, discouraged at the two thrashings they had received from London and Bremen, were determined to steal some points. Brasilia struck first, with Leonardo Ortiz scoring over HIkaru Koizuite in the sixth minute. The White Tigers got a response from Myung Kim to tie in the 13th, but the Macaws answered right back with a Deodato goal. Rufinio Rosario scored in the opening minutes of the second frame to double the lead, and he Macaws seemed to be in control of the match. But inability to finish plagued the Brazilians, and let Seoul hang around for far too long. The White Tigers took advantage of the second chance they had received to cut the lead back to one, as HIkaru Koizuite found the net to make it 3-2. The third period featured plenty of excitement and four goals. Ezequiel Pienhieros put the lead back at 2, but Myung Kim was right there to answer. Both teams traded goals over the last ten minutes, but Seoul couldn’t mount their comeback, and finished their Cup without a point. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Tomaz Kolar (BRE): Goal, 2 assists, GWG Jeffrey Cohen (LON): 2 goals, Assist Elliot Fischer (BRE): 2 goals London Holds off Paladin Storm to Advance Another thrilling contest had Bremen thisclose to sending London home early. The Paladins played their best game of the Cup so far and grabbed the win, but the loss to Brasilia continues to haunt them as they came up one point short. Bremen’s offense was a well-oiled machine, tearing the Crusaders to shreds with rapid ball-movement and dangerous penetration. But London’s high-powered offense matched the Paladins goal for goal in the first period, receiving equalizers from Blaine Cook and Mayer Elliot. After a flurry of goals in the first period, the second period was more defensive-minded. Both teams sat back in defense to prevent the other from finding the net, and they were both mostly successful. Jeffrey Cohen scored to give Crusaders their first lead in the 27th minute, and Elliot Fischer found the net for the Paladins, beating Josh Pendleton to score the tying goal. The third period featured more intense drama. Marcell Tritten raced through the Crusader press to put Bremen in the lead, but London was right there to equalize with a goal from Jeffrey Cohen. With 11 minutes to go and the game level, Bremen realized they needed a goal if they wanted to advance. A win in overtime would not be enough. In the 57th minute, Elliot Fischer had a chance to seal three points with a rocket from the outside, but it careened off the crossbar, bounced just outside the goal and away. Tomaz Kolar won the game in overtime, but it was the end of the road for the Paladins. With the loss, London only got second in the group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Group F GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Adrianus van Drummond (AU): 2 goals, 2 assists Siddhare Eispaker (MTC): 3 goals Christiaan Meijer (AU): Goal, 2 assists, GWG Stars Shine in Thriller The most highly anticipated match of the final round, the game certainly didn’t disappoint. All of the stars came to play, and we saw plenty of stunning goals and exciting action. Martino Inzaghi opened the scoring with a goal off a counter-attack as a result of Madrid pressing far too high. Trying to exploit the weaknesses in the United defense, Madrid continued to push high, and the aggressive tactics got them a goal from Arsenio Madeira, who collected a ricochet from off the back wall and put it home. Amsterdam also flexed their offensive muscles with some long stretches of possession, working the ball around until they found Adrianus van Drummond at the back post. Amsterdam took that 2-1 advantage into the dressing room. Madrid raced into the lead from the onset of the second period, with Siddhare Eispaker netting another fantastic goal, and Mohammed Gavino ripped apart the poor defense of Erwin Dahl. But the advantage was short-lived. Bram Rijnders continued his stellar campaign with a goal, outmuscling Alberto Escobar to equalize, and then setting up van Drummond with a pin-point pass to regain the lead for the Dutch side. The third period had 5 goals and saw Madrid claw their way back from 3 one goal deficits to send the game to extra time. The winner was Amsterdam, who got the winning goal in the 66th minute from Christiaan Meijer. United has rebounded nicely from their loss to Edmonton, and are one of the most dangerous teams in the Round of 16. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Manaaki Rata (BRI): 2 goals, Assist Ricky Timmons (EDM): Goal, Assist Brock Eaterman (EDM): Goal Brisbane Pulls out Win, eliminates Wildcats Edmonton knew that progression to the next round was reliant on taking three points in this game. The Wildcats pushed higher than usual, trying to catch Madrid and Amsterdam on goal difference. The ‘Cats threw the offense at the Brisbane defense in the first period, but the Generals won the battle, shutting out Edmonton and getting an easy goal from Ryder Morton on a counter-attack. Down a goal, and frustrated with their tactics, Edmonton moved back to their typical defensive strategy, and was able to get the offense going more on the counter, where the Wildcats are most effective. Avery Hicks found the net in the 26th minute, but Brisbane pulled back in front on a Levi de Andries stunner, shaking off a challenge from Brock Eaterman on the press and showing great pace to beat the Edmonton defense and put a shot past a charging Kahlil Stanton. Edmonton drew level again in the 33rd minute, getting some great link-up play which ended in an easy Ricky Timmons goal for the tie. A level third period was filled with drama, as Edmonton pulled out into the lead, Brisbane came back, and Edmonton was left desperately trying to grab those precious three points to give them a chance to advance. But Brisbane’s defense was too strong, and Edmonton lacked the firepower to break through. There was still the slimmest of hopes that Edmonton could advance with a win and an Amsterdam loss, but United scored 6 minutes in, sealing the Wildcats fate. Brisbane won the match in the 72nd minute when Manaaki Rata scored from the outside. Even though Edmonton overachieved, supporters will be disappointed with the team's’ inability to finish the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujju2 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Ugh come on... just had to be in the toughest division, eh? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 23 minutes ago, ujju2 said: Ugh come on... just had to be in the toughest division, eh? lol It was a tough loss to swallow indeed. The Wildcats have made major strides this season, overachieving most of the way. Everyone thought Toronto was going to run away with Canada this year, but Edmonton hung right with them, and could have (probably should have) won the league. And then again at the Cup, few gave them a chance of making it through Madrid and Amsterdam, but they so nearly did. The Cats have a pretty young core, but management has been a problem. Their current coach, Brandon Schulz, has made some questionable tactical decisions throughout the campaign, which cost the team games like against Brisbane. There was no way they should have been pressing so high for that long so early in the match, even if they needed goals. That game coupled with a few bad losses down the stretch during the domestic season that may have cost them their first title. Lots of Edmontonians want Schulz out, and he'll probably get canned soon after the Cup is through. If the owners can find a good replacement, and make some moves in the transfer market, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about this team in years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Last day of the Group Stage! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Dwayne Rodgers (TCD): 4 goals Judell Samson (CLE): 2 goals, Assist Adrian Brachard (TCD): Goal, 2 assists Rodgers’ Phenomenal Performance gives Dublin Win To say Dwayne Rodgers had a great game would be an understatement. Poor Michael Perkins did all he could to stop the Irish star, but he was simply no match for the class of the world’s best player. It took Rodgers just 2 minutes to find the net, scoring an easy goal over Perkins to open the scoring. Thomas Perry beautifully set up Detandrick Tavinne to level the score in the 7th minute, but Cleveland struggled to get any sort of rhythm. Dublin had no such problem, and scored again in the 17th minute. The Leprechauns owned the outside, but struggled to make any sort of headway in the post. This control down low gave Cleveland the momentum they needed, and they continued to exploit Christian Mangner on every possession, with Judell Samson scoring and assisting Jordan West in the period. With the Devils in the lead for the first time in the match, Dwayne Rodgers demanded the ball on the outside, juked out Michael Perkins, and scored another easy goal from range. Dublin jumped back into the lead in the 43rd minute. Dwayne Rodgers continued to demand the ball, and put his possession to good use, beating Perkins again shooting off the post, then collecting his own rebound and finshing. Judell Samson got one back for the Devils in the 49th, but the level score lasted only 2 minutes, as Rodgers found the net for a fourth time in the 51st. Cleveland began scrambling to find an equalizer, which Thomas Perry finally provided in the 55th minute. But Cleveland could not find a winner, sending the game to overtime and thus being eliminated from the Cup. With the point, Dublin had sealed the group. With a meaningless overtime still to be played, neither team seemed particularly inspired to finish the job. Kyler Patterson eventually knocked in the winner for the Leprechauns, sealing their undefeated record. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Alexander Dvoynev (STP): 2 goals, 2 assists Cedric (SP): Goal, 2 assists Stasya Kokolov (STP): 2 goals St. Petersburg tears through Sao Paulo Another battle of inside vs. outside saw the outside prevail again. Big games from Alexander Dvoynev and Stasya Kokolov were enough to lift St. Petersburg to victory and into the Knockout Round. Dvoynev struck first, blowing past Timoteo Costa and scoring in the 4th minute, but Kokolov was not far behind, receiving a pass from Valeri Krupin on the counter-attack and finishing a beauty on an odd-man rush in the 6th minute. Facing an early 2-goal deficit, Sao Paulo began playing more aggressive to dig themselves out of the hole. Cedric connected with Hercules Deguyo in the post for an easy finish 14 minutes in. But almost instantaneously St. Petersburg restored a two goal advantage, getting the contribution this time from Swede Reuben Hall. Improved second period tactics allowed Sao Paulo to really play to their strengths, pounding the ball inside with Deguyo and Cedric. The pair each had a goal in the second frame, and Timoteo Costa continued to play well, shutting down Alexander Dvoynev for all but one play, when the Russian center found Valeri Krupin for a goal. The Czars controlled play through the third period, and finished off the job with a 6-4 win. The three points were plenty to see them through to the Knockout Round, and they are the only team from the fourth pot to make it through in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Last games of the Group Stage! GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Nika Kucheron (VOL): 2 goals Kerefese Mhlongo (CTV): 2 goals Miroslav Chebykin (VOL): Goal, Assist Volgograd Finally Shows Potential The Sturgeon had been a colossal disappointment through the first two games. Volgograd lost two very winnable games against inferior opposition, and because of this faced elimination. They needed three points and a Leeds loss to advance. Cape Town, on the other hand, had experienced mild success and were in good position to make a run for the Knockout Round with a win. But the Voyageurs never stood a chance. Volgograd jumped all over the South African champs in the first period, clearly trying to make up for their horrible first two games. Nika Kucheron devastated Stuart Long with pace and skill, scoring two goals in the first 8 minutes. Kostya Zolnervich added yet another Sturgeon goal in the 14th minute, and the match was all but over. Kerefese Mhlongo put in a consolation goal to keep their dignity, but Volgograd was well on their way to three points. The Sturgeon let their pedal off the gas near the end of the match, allowing Mhlongo and Ayodele Otagwe both to find the back of the net. But they added two more of their own to cruise to an easy victory. But all Volgograd could do was watch the Portland-Leeds game, which had headed to overtime, and hope the Pioneers could pull it out. GAME SUMMARY Spoiler Top Performers Ezekiel Solomon (POR): Goal, Assist, GWGMaurice Darwin (LEE): Goal, Assist Ashley Cooper (LEE): Goal Portland outlasts Reapers, takes Group The final game of the Group stage had plenty riding on it. Portland needed just one point to win the group, Leeds needed a win to advance or possibly win the group with a regulation victory. The Reapers took the lead from the onset, getting a nice goal from Ashley Cooper, who punched in a rebound off a Maurice Darwin shot. Leeds held this advantage through most of the first, until the Pioneers were finally able to equalize. Jaeron Meeks used his skillful ball-handling to shake off James Carpenter, then demonstrated his deadly finishing with a shot to the top corner. The second period ended in another stalemate, with both James Carpenter and Garrett McLocklen tallying goals. The game was very physically and technically sound, with both teams committing few turnovers and playing clean throwball. The third period also ended in a tie. Portland struck in the 47th minute to make it 3-2. Joakim Todd used his shifty speed and excellent positioning to earn himself an easy chance on goal, and the Costa Rican was able to finish easily, beating Ricardo Sarti with an excellent lob. Desperately needing an equalizer, Leeds began to push high and press hard, hoping to fluster the Portland offense. The strategy was effective immediately, as a Jaeron Meeks turnover gave Cayden Parrish a free run at goal, and the English center capitalized. The game ended 3-3 meaning Leeds would play in their third straight overtime game. The Reapers were exhausted from all the extra time they had played, and they showed it. They saw their chance to make the next round pass before their eyes, but they were too tired to grab it. Instead, they let Ezekiel Solomon score the winning goal, eliminating Leeds and giving Portland the top spot in the group. The teams get the weekend off, but the Round of 16 starts on Monday! I'll be announcing the draw on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoe12 Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I changed my mind, I'll be revealing the four "quads" one at a time today and tomorrow TC Dusseldorf vs. Madrid TC This match should be an absolute thriller. It’s a shame that one of these teams will be going home so early. Dusseldorf had relatively low expectations coming in, struggling in the league for the majority of the season. But they’re in form now, and are facing a Madrid team that struggled against Amsterdam. It will be up to the stars like Kaleb Schreiber and Siddhare Eispaker to perform and carry their side to the quarterfinals. Salvador Saints vs. London Crusaders A match many thought was a good title game bet, we’re seeing this intriguing matchup in the Round of 16 instead. While the stakes won’t be as high, the level of quality will be the same. Both sides have publicly stated it is their mission to bring the Cup to their respective countries for the first time. Neither of these teams are too keen on the idea of losing this early, so look for plenty of passion and lots of great talent and quality in the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRockyTop16 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I'm calling a final matchup of London Crusaders vs Dusseldorf United. All credit goes to their respective creators (Veras and hawkfan89) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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