Majatran Cup X - 3228

[Hugh Green]

It's that time again! The tenth edition of the Majatran Cup is coming to Solentia! After comments last time, it was agreed by a room of small urchins that Vorona couldn't actually play in the Majatran Cup, due to that treaty having been signed by the long-since overthrown colonial government. Davostan have withdrawn from the treaty. As of December 3227 12 eligible teams are thus signatories to the treaty.

Format: There will be 4 groups of 3 teams. Each team shall play each other team in their group twice, and the two top teams from each group will go to the quarter-finals.

The draw:The teams were split into three pots, based on their performance in the most recent edition of the cup, and one team drawn from each pot went into each group.

Group A: Solentia (Hosts), Cobura, Jelbania

Group B: Barmenia, Zardugal, Deltaria

Group C: Selucia (Champions), Badara, Cildania

Group D: Kafuristan, Quanzar, Beiteynu & Jutridan

As ever, results will be processed by way of www.random.org.

[zlopado]

This is, obviously, no contest, as Coburans are naturally superior to citizens of other nation (although the Deltarians are almost as good as we are). The non-Coburans winner last time cheated with steroids, obviously. In light of this, we demand all steroids be banned.

Eric Rivers,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Republic of Cobura

[kylejenkins27]

Deltaria has trained extensively since our loss in the last games, we hope for a better showing. My administration will be in attendance at the cup.

Frank Todd
Governor of Deltaria

[Hugh Green]

Let the games begin! First off, we have the hosts Solentia and Group A.

(Day 1, Opening Ceremony) 3 - Solentia V Cobura - 0
(Day 4) 3 - Cobura V Jelbania - 1
(Day 7) 3 - Jelbania V Solentia - 4
(Day 10) 4 - Cobura V Solentia - 0 >>>On day 13, Jelbania would need to win their match against Cobura in order to have a slim hope of qualifying.
(Day 13) 0 - Jelbania V Cobura - 0 >>>Solentia would need to win their last match to be group winners, but had already qualified.
(Day 16) 3 - Solentia V Jelbania - 0

An easy ride then for both Solentia and Cobura. Jelbania go home with a single point.

Team - W - D - L - GF - GA - GD - Pts
Solentia - 3 - 0 - 1 - 10 - 7 - +3 - 9
Cobura - 2 - 1 - 1 - 7 - 4 - +3 - 7
Jelbania - 0 - 1 - 3 - 4 - 10 - -6 - 1

[Hugh Green]

Group B
Barmenia, Zardugal and Deltaria.

After fighting words from the Governor of Deltaria, lets see if his team can deliver! Top seeds in this group are 3222 finalists Barmenia.

(Day 1) 0 - Barmenia V Zardugal - 4
(Day 4) 1 - Zardugal V Deltaria - 1
(Day 7) 0 - Deltaria V Barmenia - 1
(Day 10) 4 - Zardugal V Barmenia - 4
(Day 13) 1 - Deltaria V Zardugal - 1, >>> With this result Zardugal were guaranteed qualification. Deltaria now had to beat Barmenia in their last match in order to qualify.
(Day 16) 3 - Barmenia V Deltaria - 3

Ach, the talk was tough but the form was poor in the end! Deltaria couldn't manage a victory, but still came away with three points.

Team - W - D - L - GF - GA - GD - Pts
Zardugal - 1 - 3 - 0 - 10 - 6 - +4 - 6
Barmenia - 1 - 2 - 1 - 8 - 11 - -3 - 5
Deltaria - 0 - 3 - 1 - 5 - 6 - -1 - 3

[Hugh Green]

Group C
With reigning champions Selucia, Badara and Cildania.

(Day 2) 0 - Selucia V Badara - 1
(Day 5) 2 - Badara V Cildania - 2
(Day 8) 1 - Cildania V Selucia - 2
(Day 11) 1 - Badaria V Selucia - 1
(Day 14) 0 - Cildania V Badara - 2, >>> Cildania will have to beat Selucia by 2 goals in order to qualify on goal difference.
(Day 17) 2 - Selucia V Cildania - 4

What a shock! The champions of 3222 go out in the first round!

Team - W - D - L - GF - GA - GD - Pts
Badara - 2 - 2 - 0 - 6 - 3 - +3 - 8
Cildania - 1 - 2 - 1 - 7 - 8 - -1 - 5
Selucia - 1 - 2 - 1 - 5 - 7 - -2 - 5

[Hugh Green]

Group D
Kafuristan, Quanzar and Beiteynu & Jutridan

(Day 2) 0 - Kafuristan V Quanzar - 4
(Day 5) 4 - Quanzar V Beiteynu & Jutridan - 0
(Day 8) 4 - Beiteynu & Jutridan V Kafuristan - 0
(Day 11) 4 - Quanzar V Kafuristan - 4, >>> Quanzar qualify with that victory, and it's not looking at all well for Kafuristan. Beiteynu & Jutridan need a victory to ensure their qualification, though even a draw would make it very unlikely that they would fail.
(Day 14) 1 - Beiteynu & Jutridan V Quanzar - 1, >>> Kafuristan now need to beat Beiteynu & Jutridan by four goals, which would level the goal difference and put them through on goals scored!
(Day 17) 4 - Kafuristan V Beiteynu & Jutridan - 0

4-0 victories are surely going out of fashion now surely...

Team - W - D - L - GF - GA - GD - Pts
Quanzar - 2 - 2 - 0 - 13 - 5 - +8 - 8
Kafuristan - 1 - 1 - 2 - 8 - 12 - -4 - 4
Beiteynu & Jutridan - 1 - 1 - -2 - 5 - 9 - -4 - 4

Kafuristan go through on goals scored, surely the narrowest of margins!

Quarter Final Draw

Day 21

Solentia V Kafuristan
Zardugal V Cildania

Day 22

Badara v Barmenia
Quanzar v Cobura

[Hugh Green]

Quarter Finals

Day 20

4 - Solentia V Kafuristan - 3

(2) 2 - Zardugal V Cildania - 2 (1)*

Day 21

0 - Badara V Barmenia - 4

0 - Quanzar V Cobura - 2

Semi Finals

Day 24

0 - Solentia V Zardugal - 2

Day 25

(3) 0 - Barmenia V Cobura - 0 (2)*

3rd Place Play-offs

Day 29

0 - Solentia V Cobura - 4

The Grand Final

Day 30

2 - Zardugal V Barmenia - 1

Congratulations Zardugal!!
Commiserations to Barmenia on their second successive loss in the final!
A big thank you to the nation of Solentia for hosting this year's cup.


*Penalties