Season 49, as with many seasons before, came to a close in typically dramatic fashion today. With 2 sides battling for survival and 3 challenging for the ultimate prize, there was so much to play for and so much to keep up with as the games kicked off in the late hours of the morning.
Our attention first turns to the Valley of Doom - the home ground of league leaders FC YHC who knew a win against the improving Leyendas del Ajedrez would secure them back to back titles, and take them one step closer to the top of the Super League pyramid. This was a challenging fixture on paper for the home side. Leyendas had boosted their giant-killing reputation just the week before with a thrilling 3-2 victory away from home against the fearsome Skärgårdsstigens ff.
The game itself, however, was less competitive than the paper suggested. FC YHC dominated from minute one, and 10 minutes before half-time had already put 3 past the visitors. The ever-present Alexander Englund opened the scoring in the 18th minute and turned assister for the third as he teed up striker Matt Goodfellow with a sumptuous corner. Maximiano Nóvoa assisted the other 2 goals as YHC cruised to the title. In the end, even injuries to Milinkovic-Savic and Goodfellow could not dampen the home team's spirits, and as the final whistle blew the crowd erupted in jubilant celebration. A big congratulations to this season's well-deserved winners FC YHC and their coach Irving 94, who has guided his team superbly over the last few seasons. Expect these lads to go far in the near future, with a young yet talented squad complimented by experienced veterans. Good luck in Division 2!
At the other end of the table, 2 teams battled to stay in Division 3A. Despite being 2 points behind their rivals, Te Fac Asa Cum Esti maintained the upper hand, playing at home against the bottom of the table Sol De Carnide, whereas Bucks Revolution (also at home) played the mighty Skärgårdsstigens ff, out for revenge after a devastating 3-2 loss last time out.
In particularly enthralling fashion, both home sides went behind towards the end of the first half, only for BOTH goals to be disallowed, Sol's Ivan Jesus da Costa and Skärgårdsstigens' Pyotr Rusinov both denied by the referee. The pressure began to mount on Revolution and Te Fac to pull a result out of the hat. A free-kick from Revolution's Brent Brennan skimmed the outside of the post early in the second half, and after an injury to star playmaker Oskari Mustajärvi, Revolutions' all-time greatest player Drew Coles was the man chosen off the bench to replace him. Could the fading star - making his final appearance in competitive football - roll back the years and create the winner for his side?
No; was the answer. In truth, neither side could produce many chances as the game petered out to a 0-0 draw. On any other day, Bucks would take this result, but they nervously waited to see what had happened at the end of the other match.
Meanwhile - Te Fac continued to pepper the Carnide goal, hitting the woodwork enough to become licensed carpenters - but the opposition just would not yield. Finally - in the 71st minute - Sol de Carnide upset the odds to score! It was a tidy finish from Adrien Silva and it looked like it would seal the fate of the home team, but they would not relent. They poured forward, desperate for 2 goals. In the 92nd minute, Lucas Beltrão drew them level. Did they have enough time to mount one final attack?
No. The final whistle sounded and Revolution survived relegation by the skin of their teeth. In truth, Te Fac Asa Cum Esti can count themselves incredibly lucky not to have won that game. At 6 chances to 1 and dominating possession, sometimes XpertEleven can be a cruel mistress.
And so ends yet another fascinating season. Best wishes to FC YHC on their journey up the divisions, and good luck to IvanFaca in the playoffs as they look to rise up the ranks as well.
From a Bucks Revolution perspective - we say goodbye to Drew Coles, a man who has almost twice as many goals and over twice as many assists as our next best player (who also has 30 more caps than him). Undoubtedly the greatest footballer in the history of our club, a man who put Bucks Revolution on the map, he will be sorely missed and our players will do what they can to honor his memory. Who knows what the future holds without him.
Another great season, good luck with the Change Reports everyone!