[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION
Football Championship 2022

Welcome to the 2022 International Democratic Union Football Championship!

Hosted by Libertas Omnium Maximus in Litudinem, Iustitia City, Lumeniola, and Perra.

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Maximusian Culture Information:

Litudinem
Litudinem, the Maximusian financial hub, is the nation’s capital and its second most populous city. Founded as a humble logging and caravan outpost, Litudinem now houses the expansive and imposing Senate Complex, which houses the nation’s legislature, and the Presidential Manor, the official state home of every Maximusian president since its construction in 1851. The city’s major hubs are linked by a state-of-the-art underground train system. Litudinem’s MLAF (Major League Association Football) club, the Litudinem FC Javelins, will be moving from their home stadium to the newly constructed Samuel Farthing Stadium at the start of the 2023 season.

Litudinem will host all of the Group I matches, which will be played in either the Bailey Sports Center or the Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium. The Bailey Center can hold up to 65,000 spectators while Samuel Farthing, the largest sports venue in Libertas Omnium Maximus, can hold 91,000 fans.

Iustitia City
The oldest continually occupied settlement on Iustitia Island (also known as the “Isle of Gulls”), Iustitia City was founded in 1395 by Valahandian settlers. Today, in addition to being home to nearly 3 million Maximusian citizens, Iustitia City houses many of the nation’s largest corporations and tech startups. Visitors love Iustitia City’s crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. The Cathedral of St. Peter, constructed in 1737 and located in Iustitia City’s downtown district, is the largest religious-affiliated structure in the nation. The Iustitia City FC Watermen are the city’s MLAF team, playing out of the Marconi Stadium.
Iustitia City will host all of the Group II matches, which will be played in either the Marconi Stadium or the Iustitia City Athletic Compound (ICAC). Marconi Stadium can host 60,100 spectators and the ICAC can seat 33,000 persons.


Lumeniola
Lumeniola, the city of light, consistently ranks among the top Maximusian cities to live in. From safe streets to ample amenities, Lumeniola has practically anything a visitor could want in an urban vacation. In addition to hundreds of boutique shops, venues, and eateries within the city limits, Lumeniola is situated in the rolling hills of western Hampton, surrounded by world-renowned vineyards and orchards. A city bifurcated by the mighty Boenecca River, visitors may enjoy choosing a side in the friendly East Lumeniola v. West Lumeniola rivalry. In major league football, West Lumeniola is represented by the Lumeniola FC Sparks, while East Lumeniola generally supports the Lumeniola AC Vines.
Lumeniola will host all of the Group III matches, which will be played in either the Granite Park Arena, which is in East Lumeniola, or Stalton Grounds, which is in West Lumeniola. Granite Park can seat up to 34,600 spectators while Stalton Grounds has a maximum seating capacity of 39,393 persons.

Perra
Perra, though the smallest of the host cities, is the nation’s undisputed football hub. It is home to the MLAF  headquarters and the Maximusian Football Hall of Fame. Once an unassuming, blue-collar railroad town, Perra has transformed into a vibrant and rapidly growing urban nexus over the past two decades. It is the perfect jumping-off point for visitors looking to explore the Maximusian northeast. An elevated train connects most of the city’s hotspots, including the historic downtown district and the now-famous Alta Boulevard, home to many clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues. For the more outdoor-adventure-oriented visitors, opportunities to hike, climb, camp, and fish are less than an hour away in the Kapoulon foothills. Perra’s local MLAF team is the Perra FC Vanguards.

Perra will host all of the Group IV matches, which will be played in either the Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center or the Tannus Bank Stadium. Tannus Bank has a maximum seating capacity of 20,401 spectators, while the Mallory Gildon is equipped to seat as many as 53,750 persons.

Out of Character Information:

At the end of each week, brief game summaries will be posted by the host for every group stage match. These match summaries will contain information on goals scored (when and by whom), other notable player events (such as penalty kicks or yellow cards), and general notes on the course of play. Fan reactions, changes of strategy, and off-pitch player antics are left up to participating nations to roleplay out. All styles of roleplay are welcome and there is no length requirement to post.

If a participant is planning on roleplaying something with a lasting impact on the tournament, it is preferred that they notify/speak with the host and/or other involved participants before doing so. Such actions may include serious player injuries, terrorist threats to the stadiums or athletes, or mob/protest/riot events.

Groups

GROUP ONE

• Elalia
  
• Trive
  
• Milintica
  
• Slokias Islands
  

GROUP TWO

• Xiomera
  
• Greater Acadia
  
• Huenya
  
• Wosteaque
  

GROUP THREE

• Libertas Omnium Maximus
  
• Serriel
  
• Laeral
  
• Grundhavn
  

GROUP FOUR

• Lauchenoiria
  
• Eiria
  
• Gardavasque
  
• Lehvant
  

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INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION
Football Championship 2022

Week One Schedule
8/22 - 8/28

ELA v. TRV - Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium
FSI v. MLA - Bailey Sports Center

WTQ v. XMA - Marconi Stadium
HNA v. GAC - Iustitia City Athletic Center

LOM v. GHN - Granite Park Arena
LRL v. SRL - Stalton Grounds

GDV v. EIR - Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center
LHV v. LAU - Tannus Bank Stadium

[Grundhavn]

Lumeniola, Libertas Omnium Maximum

"Man, you're telling me our first game is against the hosts? No way we're winning that one!" The shrill voice of midfielder Asger Svendsen could easily be heard across the locker room as the Grundhavish team undressed after their latest practice.

"No worries, Svendsen, it won't be you getting your ass kicked, 'cause you'll be glued to the end of the bench," sniggered Bent Troelsen, one of the backup strikers.

"Hey, take it back, you spoiled pissant!"

"Make me, bricklayer!"

The two, the one from the working class Dockworkers' Football Association, the other from the upscale Kingschurch Football Association started towards each other and looked like they were about to come to blows, a powerful voice boomed across the room, "For helvede! Jespersen, stop the two of them!"

Axel Jespersen, a 2-metre, 101-kilogram behemoth of a man stood up and seized both of them by their collars, holding them apart. In his gruff bass, he said, "Holde kæft, klaphater! Berthelsen has something to say."

The owner of the powerful voice strode into view. It was Magnus Berthelsen, first-string goalkeeper and captain. "Listen up, idiots. Neither of you are probably playing, and fighting each other won't change that. We have a real game tomorrow and we need everyone if we expect to get a result. Sit down, both of you. Davidsen will be here in a minute."

Everyone sat down, with Mikkelsen keeping a close eye on Svendsen and Troelsen. Moments later, in entered a paunchy, middle-aged man, who walked confidently to the front of the room.

"All right, boys," he said, "I've heard some talk that we're under a lot of pressure tomorrow because we play LOM in our first game. They're going to blow us out of the water, or so the gamblers say."

He smiled. "Well, I'm here to tell you that they can all blow it out their asses. What pressure? All the pressure is on LOM. They're hosting the tournament, they're opening their own tournament against us. They're about 200 times our size, both in population and in square kilometers. Everyone expects them to wipe us off the map. So we're in a win-win situation, and they're in a lose-lose. If they win, they get no credit and we get no blame, because that's what's supposed to happen. If we even keep it close, they'll be blamed. A draw's as good as a win to us and a loss to them, and if we somehow come out on top, well, then, their tournament's probably over before it began. We're a tiny city-state, they're a major regional player; they'll be playing to avoid embarrassment, while we'll be playing to snatch anything we can."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Now, a word on strategy. These boys will need to score a bunch of goals to make it look like they're as much better than us as everyone says. Their new coach has promised a more aggressive strategy as well. That means they will be pressing. When you press, you lose, because you're trying so hard to avoid failure, it loops back on you. They play a 4-4-2, so our back 5 should be more than able to handle it. Their midfielders will push up as well, because we outnumber them their strikers, and I wouldn't be surprised to see aggressive fullbacks as well. This leaves them vulnerable to counterattacks. Mikkelsen, Vilhelmsen, I'll expect you to leak out whenever we win possession to support Lind and Jacobsen. As for our midfielders, I don't need you to push hard. Just control the middle as best you can, control possession. Stop them from overwhelming us with relentless attacks and then find a spot to get the ball to someone up front. Stand strong, men. We can do this if we stick together. Defend, defend, defend, and then strike when the time is right."

"Finally, as for players to watch out for, it's Brookshire up front, team captain and all..." As he continued, the mood was changing in the locker room. Pressure was falling away. Maybe they could do this after all.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION
Football Championship

Week One
8/22-8/28

Elalia v. Trive

0 - 1

@ Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium

The Trivian national team triumphed over Elalia in a hard-fought 1-to-0 match. Both teams presented an extremely strong defense and the ball, for the most part, remained locked in the middle of the pitch for the better part of the first half of the match. The most notable play of the front-45 began in the 23rd minute, when Elalian attacking midfielder Rodolfo Oddo managed to slip the ball through the stalwart Trivian line of defense. Oliviero Gervasio received the ball from Oddo and took the shot, but it was expertly blocked by Hugo Schenniev. The only goal, scored by Markus Fedorov in the 53rd minute, was the culmination of an impressive series of plays early in the back-45 by the Trivian national team. No additional goals were scored, but a last-second kick by Ottone Vincenzo nearly evened the score. It, too, was blocked by the impenetrable wall that was Schenniev.

Goals:
(TRV) Fedorov '53

Slokias Islands v. Milintica
5 - 1
@ Bailey Sports Center

In the highest-scoring match of the tournament, Slokias Islands bested Milintica 5-to-1. Despite an extremely lackluster opening by the Milintican defense, conceding two goals within the first 20 minutes of the match, the tropical nation’s team tightened their ranks and mounted an impressive counterattack in the final minutes of the first half. In a bold move that seemingly caught Slokasian defenders off guard, Tlapopichtl broke away with the ball in the game’s 43rd minute and scored the Milinticans’ only goal of the match. Their momentum, however, was lost during half time, and the Slokasian team entered the back-45 like a hurricane. Within five minutes, Abad Ali, a Slokasian midfielder, seemingly effortlessly converted an unassuming corner-kick by Joel Luna into a solid goal. The real star of the second half, however, was Alex Dizon, the 35-year-old Slokasian captain, who scored two back-to-back goals within eight minutes of each other. Pairing these two goals with one he scored in the 17th minute of the match, Dizon became the first hat-trick scorer of the tournament.

Goals:
(FSI) Ignacio '04
(FSI) Dizon '17
(MLA) Tlapopichtl '43
(FSI) Abad Ali '50
(FSI) Dizon '76
(FSI) Dizon '84

Wosteaque v. Xiomera
0 - 1
@ Marconi Stadium

The much-anticipated Wosteaque v. Xiomera match was expected to be a veritable clash of titans, and it did not disappoint. Despite only one goal being scored, ending the match 1-to-0 in favor of Xiomera, fans witnessed many memorable charges and defensive plays by both sides. Fans also witnessed an incredibly aggressive⸺sometimes physically so⸺game played by the Xiomerans. While no players were given red-card suspensions, Toquina and Catlotzin were both chastised and yellow-carded for “overly aggressive” slide tackles in the 30th and 66th minutes of play, respectively. Notably, the referee's decision not to bench Catlotzin in the 66th minute had a profound impact on the course of the game, both frustrating and apparently discouraging the Wostequean national team. Just three minutes after the card was given. Pantlotoa, a striker for the Xiomeran team, successfully out-dribbled the Wostequean defense and scored the only goal of the match, ending a 69-minute stalemate. The yellow-card call was reviewed by tournament officials, who concluded that the referee’s decision was not unreasonable, but this was little solace to the irate Wostequean fans. In the hours following the match, several small-scale fights broke out at various bars and clubs around Iustitia City between Xiomeran and Wostequean supporters. Fortunately, no large-scale brawls ensued, and only minor injuries were reported.

Goals:

(XMA) Pantlotoa '69

Huenya v. Greater Acadia
0 - 3
@ Iustitia City Athletic Center

Greater Acadia shut out the Huyenans in a 3-to-0 victory. The Huenyan national team put up a valiant defense but were ultimately overwhelmed by the highly disciplined Greater Acadian squad. In the early minutes of the match, it appeared that Huenya, a nation still reeling from its recent civil war, would be able to hold its own against the imposing Acadian team. Two strong drives, both led by Huenyan midfielder Yuchic, appeared very promising, but were ultimately thwarted by the impregnable Acadian defense. The Huenyan defense finally buckled in the 30th minute of play, when Dominique Brodeur broke away with the ball and scored the Acadian team’s first goal of the tournament. Maurice Kasenga, a Greater Acadian midfielder, quickly emerged as the undisputed “man of the match,” alone possessing the ball for as long as the entire Huenyan team combined. As the game progressed, Kasenga was instrumental in cementing Greater Acadia’s victory, assisting Bell and Beauchamp’s goals in the 49th and 74th minutes of play, respectively.

Goals:
(GAC) Brodeur ‘30
(GAC) Bell ‘49
(GAC)Beauchamp ‘74

Libertas Omnium Maximus v. Grundhavn
3 - 0
@ Granite Park Arena

The Maximusian Javelins skewered the Grundhavn Swans in a 3-to-0 shutout victory. Despite a resounding win, fancy footwork by Thor Mikkelsen resulted in Luke Brookshire, the Maximusian team captain and star striker, losing possession of the ball in the 50th minute and twisting his ankle in the process. He was last seen limping to the medical tent but is expected to fully recover before the end of the group stage. Earlier in the game, Brookshire scored an elegant goal, out-dribbling Axel Jespersen of the Grundhavn defense before sinking the ball from long-range. Credit is due to Magnus Berthelsen, the Grundhavish goalkeeper, whose stellar diving-save prevented Colter from widening the gap in the 50th minute of play. Instead, substitute midfielder Aiden Walters, who did not even touch the pitch until halftime, accomplished what Colter could not, scoring the only goal of the back-45. Despite not being a starter for the Maximusian team, Walters exhibited some of the tightest ball control of any player in the tournament thus far. 

Goals:
(LOM) Colter '18
(LOM) Brookshire '41
(LOM) Walters '58

Laeral v. Serriel
3 - 0
@ Stalton Grounds

The Laeralites bested the Serrielans in a 3-to-0 shutout victory. Perhaps it was the familiar climate, but every single member of the Laeral national squad appeared poised and in-command for the duration of the match. Hao Jiang, assisted by midfielder Lin Fuhai, scored an early goal, juking the Serrielan defense with a fake pass before running the ball into range and taking the shot. Thomas Zhao capped off the Laeralite team’s formidable performance with two back-to-back goals in the final 30 minutes of play. Zhao nearly entered this tournament’s catalog of hat-trick scorers, had it not been for the quick reflexes of Tevrat Gursu, the Serrielan goalkeeper, who blocked the Laeralite striker’s buzzer-beater chip shot. Though the squad from Serriel mounted a formidable defense, particularly as the front half of the match wound down, they were never able to place a shot on-goal. Despite their team being unable to defy the odds and win the day, Serriel fans showed up in great numbers for the game and made their presence known in the stands. It takes a very dedicated fan to fly halfway around the world for a football match, but there was no shortage of Serrielans willing to make the arduous trip for their team.

Goals:
(LRL) Jiang ‘23
(LRL) Zhao ‘62
(LRL) Zhao ‘75

Gardavasque  v. Eiria
1 - 0
@ Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center

In a tight, low-scoring match that went into overtime, Gardavasque managed to eke out a 1-to-0 victory over the Eirians. For both teams, the stars of the show were their respective defenders. Throughout the entire 90 minutes of regular play, only one kick, a finessed full volley by Gardavascan forward T. Alamo was able to land on target, though it was swatted at the last minute by Eirian goalkeeper Jason Ivanovich. By the halftime mark, the match was in a dead stalemate and, excluding a fast and violent (but ultimately fruitless) push by Eirian midfielder Chris Stevens and striker Declan Simmons in the 60th minute, the game remained relatively deadlocked for the remainder of regular time. In a total inversion of the cadence of play, overtime made up for what the first 90 minutes lacked in fast-paced action. An incredible drive by Gardavascan forward Glenpark in the 14th minute of overtime finally broke the stalemate, much to the dismay of Eirian fans. Undeterred, however, the Eirians mounted a counterattack. As the clock ticked towards 120 minutes, the Eirian team’s plays grew increasingly daring, with Luc DeLeroy attempting an incredibly long kick from outside the box, only to be thwarted by the long reach of Gardavascan goalie Portraro. Fans on both sides were on the edge of their seats until the very final moments of the match, but the Erians were ultimately unable to close the gap in time.

Goals:

(GDV) Glenpark '108

Lehvant v. Lauchenoiria
3 - 0
@ Tannus Bank Stadium

The Lehvant v. Lauchenioria matchup was expected to be a scorcher, but no one could have anticipated just how hot the Tannus Bank Stadium could get. On Perra’s hottest day since 1989 (with temperatures exceeding 97 degrees Fahrenheit), Lehvant was able to best the Laucheniorian national team in a 3-to-0 shutout victory. The Lehvantians started strong and kept it up until the end, hammering away at the Laucheniorian defense as they went. Reynaud Kardan scored the first goal in the 36th minute of play,receiving a well-placed pass from Baptiste Sayyadi and dropping it just outside of Laucheniorian goalkeeper Lino Chavarria’s reach. The Lauchenoirians did what they could to hold the line, showcasing the exceptional footwork of Gorbold, Macey, and Mendoza, all defenders, in the process, but were not able to sustain their defense through the second half of the match. Sayyadi quickly emerged as the playmaker of the match, not just setting up favorable shots for his teammates, but also making an exceptionally elegant and successful slide tackle on Lucas Clement, a Lauchenoirian midfielder.

Goals:
(LHV) Kardan ‘36
(LHV) Dupont ‘53
(LHV) Giroux ‘76


Summary Information
Players of the Week: Schenniev, Dizon, Pantlotoa, Kasenga, Walters, Zhao, Glenpark, Sayyadi
Injuries: Brookshire (ankle, minor)
Yellow Cards: Toquina, Catlotzin
Red Cards: None

A Look Ahead
Forecast(F):

• Litudinem: Low of 74, High of 88
  
• Iustitia City: Low of 69, High of 87
  
• Lumeniola: Low of 64, High of 83
  
• Perra: Low of 58, High of 93
  

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Week Two
9/19-9/25

Milintica vs Elalia
0 - 3
@ Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium

If there’s only one team that significantly evolved their strategy from last week’s matches, it would have to be the Elalians. Their plays were sleek, clean, and brutally successful at besting the Milinticans, who they shut out in a 3-to-0 triumphant victory. Milintican defenders held the line for as long as they could, and Tlacampan demonstrated just what a talented athlete he was, successfully capturing the ball from the Elalian attack twice in the early minutes of the game, but this defensive wall crumbled quickly under the relentless Elalian attacks. In the 30th minute of play, Iacopo, receiving the ball from Yildirim, fired the ball into the corner of the Milintican net, narrowly eluding Cuautlotzin’s grasp. Once the Milintican wall fell, there was no restoring it, and the match’s second half was a bloodbath. In the back-half, Vincenzo and Antonis scored within just eleven minutes of each other, and the Milintican attack was unable to outmaneuver the formidable Elalian defense. With two losses under their belt and 8 goals conceded, it would take a miracle for the Milinticans to proceed to the quarterfinals, but stranger things have happened. On the other hand, this win for the Elalians may very well offset their loss against the Trivians.

Goals:
(ELA) Iacopo ‘30 
(ELA) Vincenzo ‘53 
(ELA) Antonis ‘64 

Trive vs Slokias Islands
1 - 1
@ Bailey Sports Center

In a highly perplexing match, neither the Trivian team nor the Slokasians were able to come away with a definitive victory. Instead, the highly anticipated match ended in a draw, with one goal on the board for both teams. For a while, the Slokasians looked like they were going to come away with a slim victory, breaking through the Trivian defensive bulwark five minutes before the end of the first half and scoring the first goal of the match. This goal, scored by Ignacio, was the culmination of a relentless series of pushes by the Slokasian attack, and looked like it could be the start of a proper onslaught, but whatever momentum had been accumulated during the front-45 was lost during half time. The Trivians entered the back-45 with a vengeance, securing control of the field and landing a shot on goal, though it was deflected by Keith Yuen. Undeterred, Volkov evened the score for the Trivians in the 61st minute of play. Despite the best efforts of the Trivians, though, their momentum, too, let out after their first goal, and the match ended in a draw, which was no-doubt discouraging for both teams. In a final bid to resecure control of the ball, Slokasian defender Ochoa attempted a haphazard slide tackle, and was carded for the overly aggressive play.

Goals:
(FSI) Ignacio ‘40 
(TRV) Volkov ‘61

Greater Acadia vs Wosteaque 
2 - 0
@ Marconi Stadium

In a triumphant 2-to-0 victory, the Greater Acadian team managed to best the Wosteaquans during their decisive confrontation at Marconi Stadium in the heart of Iustitia City. Wosteaque, despite displaying a series of exceptionally strong defensive blocks, continued to have difficulty landing coordinated attacks, a problem that has dogged them throughout the tournament. For whatever reason, it seems that the Wosteaquean attack ran out of momentum before coming in range of the goal during each potentially advantageous push of the match. The Acadian attack, on the other hand, was ferocious and coordinated. Once again, Kasenga quickly emerged as the undisputed controller of the mid-field, setting up Ciancio for a wide-open, lethal strike in the 19th minute of play. Before the end of the first half, Beauchamp also sent a well-placed corner kick into the net. The Wosteaquean defense stepped up their game in the match’s second half, thwarting a strong drive by John Hood and preventing the Acadian’s from putting a third goal on the board, but their efforts were decidedly too little, too late. Acadian fans were ecstatic following the conclusion of the match, as their team is now a top contender for progressing to the single-elimination stage of the tournament. On the other hand, the disappointment of Wostequean fans was tangible as they departed from the stadium following the match.

Goals:
(GAC) Ciancio '19
(GAC) Beauchamp '44

Xiomera vs Huenya
0 - 0
@ Iustitia City Athletic Center

Many were concerned that the match pitting Xiomera against Huenya would cause very real tensions between the two nations to come to a head, but few could have predicted that the full-time whistle would blow without a single point on the board for either side. This was what came to pass, however, and the heavily favored Xiomeran national team was unable to eke out a goal against the Huenyans, who dug in from minute one, determined to hold their own. The match proved violent, both for players and fans alike. In addition to yellow cards awarded to players on both sides of the pitch for excessively aggressive tackles, a massive brawl occurred in the stands following a failed shot on goal by Axonotl. Stadium guards were quick to respond, and the fight was quickly broken up, but several brawlers were hospitalized for their injuries. All injured individuals are expected to make a full recovery, though the Iustitia City Police Department announced that it is still investigating the event to identify those responsible for instigating the confrontation. Following the forcible dissolution of the brawl, the match proceeded without incident and, excluding the bookings awarded early on in the match, the Xiomeran and Huenyan sportsmen remained cordial towards one another. While this was certainly not the definitive win the Xiomerans were looking for, they still have another chance to secure a spot in the single-elimination stage of the tournament if they can best the undefeated Greater Acadians next week. As for the Huenyans, fans may find solace in the fact that their team held its own against a statistically favored opponent, even if they ultimately came up short of a resounding win.

Goals:
None

Serriel vs Libertas Omnium Maximus
1 - 1
@ Granite Park Arena

In a perplexing match, the Maximusians were unable to pull off a home-turf win against the Serrielans, with both teams trading goals for the full 90 minutes and ended the match in a 2-to-2 draw. Despite a promising start, with Walters breaking away from the Serrielan defense and scoring the first goal of the match in the 23rd minute of play, the Serrielan retaliation was swift and effective. After al-Hakim captured the ball from the Maximusians just a few minutes later, he excellently set up Hadi for a scoring shot. The match remained deadlocked until the halftime whistle blew. Reeling from their inability to dislodge the formidable Serrielan defense, the Maximusians opened the back-45 with a series of exceptionally aggressive plays, one of which paid off. After Cooper managed to chip the ball in beyond al-Edris’ reach, however, the Maximusian onslaught came to an abrupt halt. Try as they did, the Maximusians were unable to execute another definitive assault for the remaining duration of the match. Despite their loss of inertia, the Maximusian team held out hope that that could stave off the Serrielan’s counterattack, and nearly succeeded. As the minutes ticked down, the Serrielian team became increasingly desperate to even the score. Their break came in the 80th minute, when el-Sabet outmaneuvered the Maximusian defense and sank the ball with great poise and precision. The Maximusian team is no doubt reeling from the outcome of this match, since their fate in the tournament now rests on their performance against the undefeated Laeralites.

Goals:
(LOM) Walters ‘23  
(SRL) Hadi ‘39 
(LOM) Cooper ‘49 
(SRL) el-Sabet ‘80 

Grundhavn vs Laeral
0 - 1
@ Stalton Grounds

In a bitterly fought tussle, the Laeralites defeated the Grundhavn national team 1-to-0. Energy in the stadium was high for both teams, despite the relative size differences between Laeral, a nation of 80 million, and Grundhavn, a nation of just 300,000. It would seem that Grundhavn’s plucky contingent of fans were undeterred by last week’s less-than-favorable outcome and were present in even greater numbers during the match against Laeral. The match, itself, proved to be quite tight, and both sides showed moments of incredible grace and professionalism on the pitch. The Grundhavn offense, however, was unable to break through the impregnable wall of defense created by Benjamin Germain, Laeral’s goalkeeper. Erik Lind nearly landed a slyly executed volley in the 30th minute, but Germain responded with lightning reflexes and stagnated the Grundhavn advance. Following Erik’s meretricious kick, the Laeralian team responded quickly with a forceful counterattack culminating in the only goal of the match, scored by Launey in the 40th minute. The second half of the match did not see a goal scored by either team but did bear witness to some incredible footwork by Laeralite midfielder Jules Song, who recovered the ball from the Grundhavn attackers on two occasions, both times carrying out some of the most precise slide tackles of the tournament. Despite a second loss for Grundhavn, fans of the microstate’s football team will no doubt return to their hotels or rentals satisfied that they witnessed an incredibly hard-fought match. The Laeralites, on the other hand, have much reason to celebrate. Their position in the single-elimination stage of the tournament was secured by this win.

Goals:
(LRL) Launey '40

Lauchenoiria vs Gardavasque
1 - 0
@ Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center

In a complete reversal of their performances last week, the Lauchenoirians narrowly but definitively defeated the Gardavascans in a 1-to-0 victory. Though the match’s first half was exceptionally slow moving and deadlocked, it was as if the Lauchenoirians gained a second wind after emerging from half-time. For roughly twenty-five minutes, the Gardavascan defense held off the Lauchenoirian blitz, but eventually succumbed to superior footwork. The only goal of the match came 61 minutes in, when Lauchenoirian striker, Caelan Potter, broke away from the Gardavascan defense after receiving a pass from Soler, sprinted the ball all the way into the box and scored against Potrero. The Gardavascans were unable to even the score before the end of the match, putting both teams in a peculiar position. Since both Lauchenoiria and Gardavasque have won one and lost one match, neither are guaranteed a spot in the single-elimination state, so fans of both teams will have to wait until next week to see if their country will be progressing.

Goals:
(LAU) Potter '61

Eiria vs Lehvant
3 - 1
@ Tannus Bank

Reeling from their defeat last week, the Eirian national team returned to the pitch a more disciplined and ruthless fighting force, ultimately defeating the Lehvantians in a 3-to-1 victory. Even within the first minutes of the match, it became evident that the team that had walked off the pitch in defeat last week had returned an entirely new animal, and the Lehvantians were ill equipped to take on this beast. Despite the change of fortunes, Levant played a tight game, nearly scoring in the 18th minute, only to have the ball stripped from them by a last-ditch slide tackle from Grigorjevs. This turnover, however, proved fatal. After Grigorjevs recovered the ball, he blindsided the Lehvantians with a long pass along the side of the pitch to Evans. Evans outmaneuvered the Lehvantian defense, who were initially slow to respond to the turn of events and scored just a minute after Grigorjevs’ tackle. Seventeen minutes later, the Eirians scored again, this time by Simmons, who received a pass from Frenya-Sulet. Despite a valiant Lehvantain counteroffensive, little headway was made before the halftime whistle. Emerging from half-time, apparently refreshed and regrouped, the Lehvantians successfully maintained control of the ball and fought their way up the pitch. Their efforts culminated in a goal by Amir Dupont, who painstakingly ducked and weaved his way past the Eirian defense in the 54th minute of play. For a few minutes, it seemed that the Lehvantians might be able to turn the game around, but this was not the case. Undeterred by the apparent shifting of the tides against them, the Eirians tightened their defense in the final minutes of the match and beat back the Lehvantian assault. Just before the full-time whistle, Evans broke away with the ball and widened the score gap, dashing any hopes the Lehvantians might have had of forcing the match to end in a draw. Even with the half-time whistle blown, the fate of both teams in the overall tournament remains tentative, since both Eiria and Lehvant have one win and one loss behind them. With only one match remaining for both teams, everything rests on their performance next week.

Goals:
(EIR) Evans '19
(EIR) Simmons '36
(LHV) Dupont '54
(EIR) Evans '83

---

Summary Information
Players of the Week: Iacopo, Yuen, Beauchamp, Axonotl, al-Hakim, Launey, Soler, Evans
Injuries: Brookshire (ankle; recovered)
Yellow Cards: Tecama, Xolotzintl, Ochoa
Red Cards: None

Standings: 
6 Points: Greater Acadia, Laeral
4 Points: Trive, Slokias Islands, Xiomera, Libertas Omnium Maximus
3 Points: Elalia, Lehvant, Eiria, Gardavasque, Lauchenoiria
1 Point: Serriel, Huenya
0 Points: Wosteaque, Milintica, Grundhavn

Teams in bold have qualified for the quarterfinals.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Week Three
9/26 - 10/2

0 LHV v GDV 0
Fans of both the Lehvant and Gardavasque national football teams likely went home disappointed tonight after an underwhelming performance across the pitch. The stakes were high. A win by either team would have meant qualification for the tournament stage, while a loss would spell certain doom. Despite all that hung in the balance, no goals were scored, although a heroic, if futile, drive by Kardan and Dupont in the 20th minute of play nearly ended the stalemate. A Gardavasquan corner kick taken by Glenpark and put on goal by Alamo in the 66th minute looked similarly promising, but was intercepted by the stalwart Lehvant defense and goalkeeper. Despite a deadlocked final game of the group stage, Lehvant will proceed to the knockout tournament of the IDUFC, narrowly beating out Gardavasque with more cumulative goals (4-1) and equal points (4 each).

2 LAU v EIR 0
Lauchenoiria secured their advancement to the knock-out phase of the tournament in an impressive two-to-zero trouncing of the Eirian national team, dashing the Eirians’ hopes of advancement in the process. The Lauchenoirians started off strong and never let up the pressure, scoring a goal in the 12th minute of play, with Rios recovering the ball from Eirian striker Simmons, and expertly passing to Melendez, who shot on goal. The Eirians solidified their defensive position significantly in the second half of play, but were unable to survive the Lauchenoirian onslaught. Growing desperate, Eirian midfielder, Christopher Stevens, was carded in the 61st minute for an illegal slide tackle on Augusto Soler. Despite their best efforts, the Eirians were not able to close the gap, and even conceded an additional goal, scored by Potter of the Lauchenoirian team in the 80th minute.

1 WTQ v HNA 2
The story of the Huenya v Wosteaque match was a classic David and Goliath, with the plucky and underfunded Huenyan national football team toppling the gargantuan Wosteaque machine, who have been having an uncharacteristically poor showing throughout this tournament. Although neither team will be advancing to the single-elimination knockout stage of the tournament, the Huenyans no doubt will be able to return in triumph to Chuaztlapoc with a solid win on the world’s stage under their belt, an impressive feat for a nation which did not even exist during the IDUFC in Legionas, two years ago. The Wosteque national team can at least boast a strong showing, despite the heartbreaking 1-to-2 loss. Vitins scored a goal in the 10th minute of play, dangling a tantalizing, if ephemeral shred of hope before his teammates and country. Unfortunately for the Wosteaqueans, the Huenyas were just warming up. Striker Ahuin of Huenya scored in the 40th minute, closing out the first half at a draw. The second half of the match proved to be a slower, more conservative performance by both teams, although the Huenyans were able to end the goal drought in the 76th minute with a goal scored by Cuillo.

1 XMA v GAC 0
In a much anticipated matchup, the two strongest contenders in Group B of the tournament refused to disappoint fans. Although the seemingly indomitable Xiomerans took the day, with an excellently placed chip shot on goal by Axonotl in the 59th minute of play, both teams will be progressing to the single-elimination tournament, with Xiomera snagging the second seed position. Although the match ended with only one goal on the board, the Greater Acadians did not go gentle into that goodnight, controlling the ball for nearly 48% of playtime. Despite a shot-on-goal by Michael Bell (GAC) in the 21st minute of play, he was unable to shoot past Atzipal, the Xiomeran goalkeeper, who is among the best keepers alive today.

1 ELA v FSI 0
The Elalians narrowly defeated the Slokaisians in a slow-paced but expertly played 1-to-0 match, guaranteeing the Elalians a spot in the single-elimination final stage of the championship. The Slokaisians, despite a crushing loss, will also be progressing, thanks to an exceptional early tournament performance. The only goal of the match, scored by Vincenzo in the 38th minute of play, was the result of an impressive breakaway which will no doubt make its way into virtually every IDUFC ‘22 highlight reel. Despite qualifying, both Elalia and the Slokais Islands were unable to secure high seed positions in the single elimination tournament, so a steep uphill battle is ahead of them for the IDUFC trophy.

1 TRV v MLA 1
Trive’s performances in past IDUFC tournaments have been remarkably fascinating to follow. At times extraordinary, at times atrocious, but certainly never uninteresting, Trive may be finally shaking its unique reputation with a decidedly vapid performance against the Milinticans, ending the match in a one-to-one draw. Perhaps more painful than the reality of a draw for the Trivians is the knowledge that failing to one-up the Milinticans prevented them from qualifying for the single-elimination stage of the tournament. If the Trivians had managed to score just one more goal, defeating the Milintica team, they would have qualified. Regardless of the implications of the tie, two solid goals were scored to create that final stalemate. The first of these goals was scored in the 12th minute by Trivian striker Volkov. The final tie-setting goal was scored by Haare in the 69th minute of play.

3 GHN v SRL 0
Although progression to the single elimination tournament was a nearly forgone conclusion for the Grundhavn national football team as they entered the final match of the group stages with two losses under their belt, the Grundhavn team was eerily determined to take the Serrielans down with them, practically curb stomping the Serrielans in a three-to-zero shutout victory. The goals came fast from the Grundhavn side and they came hard, quickly silencing any hold-out hope on the Serrielan side that they might be able to eke out a victory and qualify for the single-elimination stage in the wake of a Maximusian loss against the slightly favored Laeralites. In the tenth minute of play, Erik Lind scored on al-Edris, the Serrielan goalkeeper. He was quickly followed by Jacobsen in the 19th minute. Unwilling to go home without a goal in the second half of play, Erik Lind returned to the spotlight once more in the 57th minute to score one last goal on the world stage. For the Grundhavn team, the match was their opportunity to go out in a flame of glory, while the Serrielans saw their otherwise impressive IDUFC run end not with a “bang,” but with an unceremonious whimper.

2 LRL v LOM 2
The Laeral v Libertas Omnium Maximus match was always going to be a fierce fight, especially since qualification for the single-elimination leg of the tournament was at stake for the Maximusians. Although qualification was assured for the Laeralites, a win against LOM during this critical match would be enough to earn them a top seed position and a real glimpse at the IDUFC finals. For both teams, their respective positions were all too familiar. In 2020, the stakes and matchup had been nearly identical, with the Laeralites besting the Maximusians zero-to-one and preventing them from qualifying for the single-elimination leg of the championship. This match, however, would be different. While both teams were out for blood in 2020, the game was calculated and reserved, played with poise and guile, rather than brute strength and brutality. This match was nothing like 2020. Starting the match off right, Song, a Laeralite midfielder, was yellow carded early in the first half of the match for an illegal slide tackle on Maximusian striker, Colter. Colter, who took the penalty kick, was able to score on Germain in the 21st minute, but the Maximusians quickly lost their advantage. In the 38th minute of play, Jiang scored on Vanderbilt. His teammate, Launay, replicated the goal mere minutes later. Just as the opportunity to qualify began fading before the Maximusian national team’s collective eyes, the half-time whistle blew, giving both teams a chance to regroup. The second half was somewhat more reminiscent of the 2020 game, with both sides’ defenders, rather than attackers, making most of the critical plays. In the 73rd minute, however, Brookshire scored a final goal, bringing the game to a draw. Despite the best efforts of both teams, this draw could not be broken. Although neither team hoped for such an outcome, both will ultimately qualify for the single-elimination final stage of the tournament. Laeral, despite their draw with the Maximusians, have seeded the highest of any team in the tournament.

Standings:
Zero Points: Wosteaque
One Point: Milintica, Serriel
Three Points: Grundhavn, Eiria
Four Points: Slokais Islands, Lehvant (8th seed), Huenya, Gardavasque
Five Points: Libertas Omnium Maximus (6th seed), Trive (7th seed)
Six Points: Greater Acadia (3rd seed), Elalia (4th seed), Lauchenoiria (5th seed)
Seven Points: Laeral (1st seed), Xiomera (2nd seed)

Seeding is based on performance in group stages and overall goals scored (in the case of point ties). Unseeded teams did not qualify for the single-elimination stage.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Quarterfinals
10/7 - 10/8

2 LRL v LHV 0
The Lehvant national team did the impossible last week, surviving an incredibly competitive group stage, beating out better funded and theoretically favored squads to progress to the knock-out phase of the tournament, but they were unable to make lightning strike twice against the top-seeded Laeralites. Following an unremarkable game against the Maximusians, there was some concern among Laeral’s supporters that the team had lost their nerve. However, Laeral’s elegant, decisive victory against Lehvant on the pitch today has no doubt silenced all but the most ardent of these nay-sayers. The Laeralites were out for blood, dominating the game with a slew of aggressive offensive drives in the first thirty minutes of play. Shi Huiwen scored the first goal of the game in the 26th minute of play, receiving a graceful pass up the center of the pitch from his teammate, Hao Jaing. Despite their best efforts, the Lehvant national team spent practically the entire match on the defensive, desperately holding out against the relentless barrage of the Laeralites. A valiant drive by Lavinge (of Lehvant) was thwarted by De Armas at the start of the back-45, who recovered the ball via a skillful slide tackle. Just minutes later, it looked as though Lehvant’s Amir Dupont would tie the game up, but his kick deflected off the Laeral goal’s crossbar. Still up by only one goal, the Laeralites successfully cleared the ball following the return corner kick and allowed their offensive momentum to carry them to another goal. In the 60th minute of play, Jaing scored against Lehvant’s goalkeeper. With their morale no doubt shattered, the Lehvant team was unable to make another meaningful offensive drive against the Laeralites, almost conceding another goal in the 81st minute, which was caught at the last possible instant by Lehvant’s keeper. The final whistle blew, ending the Lehvant team’s meteoric run in disappointing defeat. For the Laeralites, however, this win was just what they needed to prove that their top-seed slot had been well earned. None can dispute that the Laeral national team is a force to be reckoned with in this tournament, but can they go all the way and bring the trophy back to Laeralsford?

1 ELA v LAU 3
Throughout the course of IDUFC history, there have been so many exciting upsets and upsettingly lopsided massacres that a match progressing pretty much exactly as expected may seem a novelty. However, that was essentially what spectators witnessed during the Elalia v Lauchenoiria confrontation, a cleanly played match culminating in the predicted conclusive Lauchenoirian victory. Following two back to back goals in the front-45 by Lauchenoirian striker Caelan Potter and midfielder Lucas Clement, the outcome of the match was never again seriously in question, but the Elalians refused to be shut out. Elalian midfielder, Ulviye, recovered the ball from Macey and drove it into the box in the 50th minute, passing to his teammate, Gervasio, who scored against the Lauchenoirian GK. The remainder of the second half passed with no significant drive by either team until the 76th minute. Determined to advance his team’s lead, Antunez (Lauchenoiria) executed a risky tackle, dislodging the ball from Elalian defender Aniketos’ possession. Rios and Suero made the drive up the field, with Suero ultimately scoring on Kostis, the Elalian keeper. While a one-to-three loss is not the match that any fan wants their team to go out on, the Elalians played an extremely tight game with few glaring hiccups. The Elalians were simply outplayed. For the battle-hardened Lauchenoirians, they say nothing is proven until it can be repeated, and this was the team’s third consecutive overwhelming victory. The Lauchenoirians are certainly proven, but whether or not they have the skills to go all the way to championship victory remains to be seen.

2 GAC v LOM 1
Nothing stings quite like a home-turf loss, such as the Maximusian defeat at the hands of Greater Acadia this week, ending their bid for the championship title. Conversely, Greater Acadian fans have much to celebrate. A hard fought, well earned win is their team’s ticket to the semifinals, a hair’s breadth from total victory. Playing in a light, cool rain—perhaps indicating an end to the heatwave that has been plaguing the tournament since September—the Greater Acadian national team came out swinging, scoring their first goal within ten minutes of the  starting whistle, a portent of ill performance to come for the Maximusians. While attempting to secure the ball from Greater Acadia’s Walter Barrie, Robert Laing lost his footing on the slick turf, tripping up fellow defender James Oakley and giving Barrie the opening he needed to score against Maximusian goalie, Johan Vanderbilt. Down a goal so early, the Maximusians locked in their defense as best they could, but were only able to land a single shot on goal, which was blocked by Andrey Vroskin. In the second half of the match, the rain intensified and both teams became a bit more sloppy. Luke Brookshire scored in the 63rd minute, juking Markus Garfield and lobbing the ball in, but his point was quickly matched by an elegant goal via corner kick conversion from Ray Ciancio at minute 70. Growing increasingly desperate as both the storm clouds and final whistle loomed near, midfielder Bruce Allen was carded following an illegal tackle attempt on Bernard O’Kane. Allen’s booking soon became irrelevant, however, as the final whistle blew with the Maximusian team still one goal too short. A despondent Maximusian fanbase, the majority of spectators, filed out of the arena with heads held low (often under the cover of umbrellas or ponchos), while the small but vocal contingent of Greater Acadian supporters could be heard carrying on in the bars and clubs of Lumeniola well into the night, commemorating a critical victory on Greater Acadia’s path to the finals.

2 XMA v TRV 1
The Trivian national team’s 2022 IDUFC run has been bizarre, to say the least, but certainly not disinteresting to follow. They began with an expected-yet-decisive-victory, but languished their way to the quarterfinals with two consecutive draws. Regaining the same passion and vitality that carried them to their only tournament win, a victory against Elalia in the first week, the Trivians returned to their A-game for one last time against the heavily favored Xiomerans, but were unable to prevail, losing by one goal. The Trivians may have been bested, but they made the Xiomerans work hard for their victory. The match’s opening was slow and methodical, with both teams essentially tussling for control of the ball in the center field for much of the opening minutes. An unfortunate out-of-bounds pass by Trivian midfielder Aleksandr Kuznetsov ultimately gave the Xiomerans the opportunity they needed to emerge from the quagmire. Tetli threw the ball inbounds to teammate Catlixa, who used the newfound momentum to rush the Trivian defense, break through their ranks, and score on Hugo Schenniev in the 18th minute. The Trivian national team retaliated in kind, applying tremendous offensive pressure to Xiomeran defenders and placing two shots on goal in quick succession. Both times, however, Atzipal was able to clear the incoming shots. In the match’s second half, the Xiomerans once again emerged from the gate strong, with Axonotl expertly outmaneuvering Bogdanov and Konev and scoring in the 49th minute. As the match wore on, however, the Xiomerans began to show increasing signs of fatigue, losing possession of the ball during key drives and failing to capitalize on Trivian oversights. The Trivians, facing a shut-out loss, capitalized on the Xiomeran’s lassitude and made one final push in the 83rd minute. Fedorov passed to Volkov, who outflanked Toquina, passing back to Fedorov, who finally landed a goal on target. The ball just barely slipped passed ever-vigilant Axonotl’s grasp, earning the Trivians their final goal of the tournament. This small triumph proved bittersweet, however, as the Trivians were not able to score again before the final whistle. Despite displaying some signs of weariness at the end of the match, the Xiomerans comfortably defeated a formidable adversary and demonstrated that their high seed position was well earned.

Bracket (after Quarterfinals)

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Semifinals
10/10

1 LRL v LAU 2
Far from any cocoon, the Butterflies will fly to the finals following a stunning 2-to-1 defeat of Laeral in overtime. Despite emerging from a devastating civil war just five years ago, the Lauchenoirians have had a historic run, clawing their way, tooth and nail, to win their group, despite competitive adversaries, and breezing through the quarterfinals with a decisive victory against Elalia. Their run continues. For the Laeralites, however, an upsetting loss will once again place the IDUFC finals match tantalizingly out of reach (at least, until 2024). Despite a discouraging outcome, supporters of the Snow Leopards can at least acknowledge their team put up one hell of a fight. Although the match began with a first half which saw a slight Lauchenoirian advantage in terms of total possession, no goals were scored by either team. Defenses dug in and both teams played impeccably, with an impressive long kick just outside of the box by Zhao being effortlessly blocked by Chavarria in the 33rd minute of play. Not to be outdone by the Laeralites, Augusto Soler of Lauchenoiria placed a similar shot on goal six minutes later, which was blocked by Bejamin Germain, Laeral’s keeper. No coach wants to see a blank scorecard at the 45 minute whistle, and stern talks were no doubt given in the respective locker rooms for both teams, because the back-half saw a far more aggressive game. Lauchenoiria hit the ground running, relentlessly pushing against the Snow Leopard’s defense and eventually breaking through. Caelan Potter, the Lauchenoirian striker who has managed to score in all but one of his matches this tournament, added another notch to his storied belt with a hard-hitting kick from inside the box in the 67th minute. Despite being down a critical goal, Jules Song, a Laeralite midfielder, capitalized on the apparent split-second lapse in concentration of the Lauchenoirian defense following their momentous goal. Receiving the ball from Jiang following a tussle after the kickoff, Song expertly navigated the ball up the field and brought the score to a draw in the 74th minute. With neither team willing to mount a high-risk attack so close to the end of the match and with scores deadlocked, a dangerous standoff ensued. The 90 minute whistle blew with both teams tied, leading to the first overtime of the tournament. Maybe it was something in the air; a desire to end the knock-down, drag-out fight at any cost, perhaps, but the Lauchenoirians returned to the field a new team. Following the kickoff, things almost immediately began to go downhill for the Laeralians. Gujiang lost possession of the ball in the 99th minute (three minutes into overtime because of stoppages) to Grenville and the Laeralian midfielders, who had been surging forward, became briefly disoriented. Capitalizing on the fleeting moment of Laeralite bewilderment, the Lauchenoirian offense was already moving in on the goal. Securing their advancement to the IDUFC grand finals, Lauchenoirian striker Tom Melendez scored in the 105th minute. Try as they did, the Laeralites were unable to even the score before extra-time expired. Although not quite a David and Goliath story, the Lauchenoirians have much to celebrate, toppling the undefeated first-seed after a lengthy fight. For the Laeralites, it’s off to the showers and then to bed with much to ruminate on. The Snow Leopards will have one final shot at redemption, the third place match, before their flight home to Laeralsford.

4 XMA v GAC 0
In life, there are good days and bad days. There are bad days and worse days. There are worse days and, lastly, there was the Xiomera v Greater Acadia match for the Greater Acadians. What began as a hopeful match for the Acadians, at only a minor theoretical disadvantage against the Xiomerans, quickly turned to frustration, from frustration to desperation, and from desperation to despair. When the final whistle blew, the Xiomerans had flogged the Acadians in a 4-to-0 trounce. The match began with little indication that the Acadians’ best moments in this tournament were behind them, winning the face-off and making the Xiomeran defense put their steps in, but the Maple Leaves were quickly overwhelmed by superior footwork and a more aggressive playstyle. Etzauhtlel began the Xiomeran onslaught with a chip-shot goal in the 18th minute. Reeling from an early blow, the Acadians pursued a higher-risk, higher-reward strategy through the remainder of the first half, attempting long passes and chancy tackles, but these tactics failed to close the goal gap. Tilmatzontl scored in the 40th minute, receiving an elegant pass from Catlixa and capitalizing on a gap in the Acadian defense. The second half of the match fared no better for the Acadians. Despite a near-miss kick by Acadian attacker, Constantopolous, in the 59th minute, the Xiomeran defense did not weaken or show the same signs of fatigue that plagued the team during the later stages of their match against Trive last week. Following the failed kick by Constantopolous, Toquina returned the ball to play, passing to Tilmatzontl, who drove the ball into the Acadian goal box. Faking out the Acadian goalie, Tilmatzontl passed at the last second to Axonotl, who scored. As the walls began to close in on the Acadians and all seemed lost, Gangne was tripped up by an illegal tackle by Milequi, who was, in turn, carded. Taking the penalty kick, the final opportunity for the Acadians to begin closing the goal gap, Andrew Beauchamp missed the goal by inches. A collective sigh emanated from the Greater Acadian spectator section; the gig was up. To add insult to injury, however, the Xiomerans were not satisfied with their victory, and reengaged the Acadian defense at full throttle in the final minutes of the game. At minute 89, Pantlotoa drove home one final goal for the Xiomerans, ending the match at a 4 goal advantage against the Acadians, the most significant victory of the Xiomerans’ tournament run. In 2020, the Xiomerans failed to win a single match and were eliminated in the group stage. Now, just two years later, the Golden Sun Empire is within spitting distance of the IDUFC trophy. The stage is set. All that remains is to play the final match of this tournament, Xiomera v Lauchenoiria. The Xiomerans have the advantage on paper, but will this be sufficient to carry them all the way to ultimate victory?

Bracket (after Semifinals)

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Third Place Match
10/12

1 LRL v GAC 0
The name of the game is redemption. 16 teams want it, two have the opportunity to compete for it, and only one will achieve it. Emotions always run high during third place redemption matches, and the Laeral v Greater Acadia clash was no exception. The stadium was packed. A lively mix of Laeralite and Acadian supporters, locals, and even many fans of eliminated teams, eager to witness the tournament’s second biggest spectacle, came out to experience what shaped up to be one of the most exhilarating redemption matches in IDUFC history. Despite only a single goal on the scoreboard at the final whistle, both Laeral and Greater Acadia played exquisitely. The beginning of the match even seemed to favor the Acadians, who played their most aggressive opening minutes this tournament and nearly landed a goal at minute 22. A chip shot kicked by Brodeur missed just wide of the goal. Although it did not result in a shot on goal, just minutes later, Acadian player John Hood managed to intercept a throw-in from Fuhai, who then unsuccessfully rushed the Laeralite goal, only to lose the ball to an expert tackle by Song. In the second half, the Snow Leopards dug in, matching the Maple Leaves’ aggressive strategy with their own all out offensive drive. This gambit ultimately paid off. Jiang scored on the Acadian goalkeeper in the 61st minute of play, finally alleviating the match’s score drought. Jiang’s goal was met with a resounding roar of approval from the Laeralite section of the stands and a decidedly meeker round of forlorn booing from the Acadians. As the game wound to a close, the Acadians were unable to match Jiang’s goal. The final whistle blew and the Acadians left the pitch with no goals to show for their efforts. "Runner up to third place" is not the title the Maple Leaves hoped to earn in this tournament, and many fans left the arena with a look of melancholy about them, but they should find solace in the knowledge that the Greater Acadian national team has proven this year that it cannot be underestimated. A number of particularly enthusiastic (and probably inebriated) Laeralite supporters, on the other hand, wasted no time in rushing the field, whooping and cheering for their team. Following two quite average performances in past IDUFC tournaments, a place on the podium has finally confirmed what many sports fans have postulated for years, that Laeral is and remains one of the most formidable national teams on the planet.

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Final Match
10/13

XMA v LAU
In IDUFC history, there have been few matches as heavily anticipated or as history-defining as the Xiomera v Lauchenoiria confrontation. On one side of the pitch, a representative of the continent of Caxcana and the culminating product of Xiomeran meritocracy stood poised to strike, like a viper in the reeds. Opposite the Xiomerans stood the tournament’s dark-horse, the Lauchenoirians, representing the continent of Hesperida and underdogs the word over. Rivals on the pitch and, increasingly, in the political realm, the gravity of this final showdown could be seen reflected in the stern scowls and grimaces of both Xiomeran and Lauchenoirian competitors as they shook hands before the whistle, preparing to engage in one of (if not the single most) monumental matches of their careers. The match began with some of the highest caliber of athleticism and finesse we have seen this tournament, and neither team let off the throttle for the duration of the fight. Make no mistake, it was a fight, and a high scoring one, at that. Tetli, a rising-star Xiomeran midfielder, scored the first goal in the 25th minute, receiving a pass from Cozcatzin, who stripped the ball from Lauchenoirian possession. Seven minutes later, the Xiomerans once again scored, with Hualquina receiving a throw-in from Cuhzompal and chipping the ball into the goal, just out of reach of Lino Chavarría. At half time, spirits in the Lauchenoirian supporter’s section were at an all time low, but their sighs quickly turned to enthusiastic whoops as the Xiomeran team began to run out of steam. A lethargic kick by Etzauhtlel, which was easily intercepted by Chavarría at minute 48, revealed the first signs of weakness in the Xiomeran assault, a chink in the armor which the Lauchenoirians were fast to exploit. Lauchenoirian defender Orellana scored against Atzipal during a free kick following the carding of Cozcatzin for an overly aggressive tackle, bringing the score to 2-1, in the 52nd minute. Nine minutes later, the Lauchenoirians tied the match. Reed Brandon, shooting from well outside of the goal box, scored a long-distance goal, leaving Xiomeran defenders and members of his own team left in a flabbergasted daze for a few moments. By sheer force of will, the Lauchenoirians had offset a two point goal deficit in just nine minutes flat. Scrambling to regain control of a game which had initially appeared to be theirs for the taking, the Xiomerans returned to the attack, winning the face-off following Brandon’s goal, but were unable to make it through the Lauchenoirian defensive line. Right until the very end, the fate of the championship hung in the balance. As the 80th minute turned to the 81st, an eerie silence fell about the stadium. The match’s deciding moment came, as so many historic events have come, from a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it error, a stumble by Tochtli, allowing Lauchenoirian attacker Stewart Steffen to break away with the ball and boot it into the Xiomeran goal. The roar which erupted from the stands following Steffen’s goal, a mix of curses and praise, was deafening. Although the Xiomerans desperately fought to regain their advantage, or at least return to a tie, there was simply not enough time left in the match. The Lauchenoirians won the 2022 IDUFC grand final 3-to-2. Shocking no one, a number of rowdy Xiomeran and Lauchenoirian fans began to spar as soon as the final whistle blew, in a shouting match that was quickly terminated by stadium officials as soon as the first punches were thrown, but the majority of spectators, Xiomeran and Lauchenoirian, alike, remained in a sort of stunned silence. The Xiomerans quietly filtered out of the stadium over the following minutes, while Lauchenoirian spectators, gradually recovering from the shocking victory, resumed their earlier cheering. Green and white confetti was dumped on the arena and a number of distressed Xiomeran players could be seen angrily flicking paper shreds from their hair and shoulders as they left the pitch. The time of the Xiomerans may come, but not this year. Tomorrow, the solid silver IDU Football Championship Trophy will accompany the Butterflies on their return trip to Buttercity. Until then, the Lauchenoirian national football team will get to enjoy one evening in Litudinem as champions.

Bracket (after Finals)