INTERNET EDITION ... HULTON PRESS April 17 2012
Unidad Madrid 2 Blue Star Mekonta 3 (after extra time)
by David Britton
When it was all over and a number of MBS players celebrated their afternoon of heroism cavorting on the new R-tuf-icial synthetic turf the Atlantine manager Durv Maggar slumped in his chair with an expression of weary relief. "I'm just pleased we got away with it," he said. "We've won 12 out
of our 13 games at home this season and this was the hardest of the lot."
Blue Star, a relative newcomer to soccer on Venus was formed from the huge number of Atlantines living in Mekonta's downtown ghetto area. Unlike Atlantis City that is the standard bearer of the Atlantine Free State, Blue Star is an expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people fighting to rise from relative poverty and the past oppression. Unlike their richer countrymen who have bought in Treen, Theron and Earthling players, Blue Star really is "true blue". The addition of Mekonta to the team's name is another manifestation of their drive for freedom and independence. "It is the greatest day in our brief 5 year history. We knocked out three all-Treen teams as well as some big Earth clubs like Turino Italia Nord, AMRO A.C and Brazilia. Now we are in the Final!"
IWFA cup
Their first appearance in the IWFA Cup was in 2012 when they reached the fifth round and reached the quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014. Yesterday it looked as if they were going to succumb to the experience and skill of Madrid when just four minutes into the game Enrico da Silva headed in a cross from Jorge Elvara after a lightening break by the Spaniards.
Within 10 minutes frustration overwhelmed the excitable Atlantines and a foul by Nardan Cluna landed Madrid a penalty. The shot was blistering and put Blue Star 2 nil down within 15 minutes.
The remainder of the first half was spent by the " boys in blue" filling their own half of the field and stopping the opposition running all over them.
The second half produced some much better football. The Atlantines came out fighting and obviously the beneficiaries of some stern half time talking. They not only looked as if they were battling for their lives but also some excellent football including, rather cheekily some first-touch stuff which is normally the trademark of their towering opponents. There is no doubt that Manager Maggar's decision to make two changes for the second half, namely Zirca and Ur-Tag Oleperan was inspired as the two front man dominated with ball control and accuracy that left the crowd
breathless.
Three early attempts at goal were saved, in spectacular style, by Juan Muller and it did not look as if all their efforts would lead to penetration of the solid defence.
Then came the break.
In textbook style Blue Star took command for 8 important minutes. From a steady, well rehearsed build-up they passed the ball around, confounding the Spanish side. The first campaign led to Zirca sliding one behind Muller and within 3 minutes the same cheeky manoeuvre was carried out by Oleperan.
From that moment neither team gave an inch. Good solid football was played until the whistle and the extra 30 minutes declared. The battle of wills continued for another 27 minutes and the prospect of the game being decided by a penalty shoot-out looked inevitable. Then from nowhere came a blue streak. Zirca, picking up a loose ball in his own penalty box broke into one of the fastest runs I have ever witnessed on the football field. He left his own mid-field standing and breezed through the other side as if they didn't see him. Only Ortez and Antonio Garcia came close to halting the onslaught but were no match for a man on a mission. The first strike just 10 metres from the line hit the crossbar and a wail went up from the Atlantine supporters. They were no sooner burying their heads in their hands than Zirca was in the air and powering in the winning
goal from a header return. There will never be a day in the life of this young man that will rival yesterday. If he retired tomorrow he will have lived a lifetime in just 50 seconds. The crowd in its entirety were on their feet, this was not football- IT WAS MAGIC!
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