Bucks Revolution manager CM stood with his hands in his pockets on the sideline at the end of his team's game against South West FC, a look of puzzled bemusement on his face whilst his players and staff ran to one another in ecstasy after they clinched the title on the final day.
CM's muted reaction stemmed from the fact that the manager hadn't even realistically entertained the idea of winning the league. His team had performed well all season but two heavy losses to league leaders ankaraakderespor had left them fighting for second place with AS Florentino, and pre-game this Tuesday they were 3 points off the leaders, as well as 4 goals down on GD. What followed was the closest league finish Bucks Revolution had ever seen, going down not even to goal difference, but to goals scored.
ankaraakderespor faced AS Florentino away, a fixture that no doubt benefitted Bucks - there had been a rock/paper/scissors theme with these 3 teams this season, with Ankara besting Bucks, Bucks besting Florentino and Florentino always fronting up against Ankara. This fixture was no different - Florentino took an early lead after 15 minutes and saw out the half comfortably.
Meanwhile, CM's team conceded their first goal since gameweek 8 as South West FC took advantage of a set piece. Fortunately, the team bounced back to equalise just before the break, and came out storming in the second half, scoring 2 minutes in. By the 76th minute they had managed to go 2 clear with a goal from all-time top scorer Micael Lindblom, who played his last game today, and the score hadn't changed in the other fixture.
This meant that Bucks were 1 behind on Goal Difference and would finish second, but a goal would put them equal on GD and 1 goal ahead in terms of goals scored. The game edged into added time, and when the whistle blew in the corresponding fixture, Florentino had triumphed against Ankara. Was there one last chance for Bucks?
In the dying seconds, 20 year old Kurt-Erik Edenbjörk received the ball 25 yards out to the right of the area. With the away fans begging him to shoot, he sold a dummy to the defender, curled a vicious shot into the corner of the net and wheeled away in delirium as players and staff alike raced towards him. Not only had he completed his first senior hattrick, but he had won the league for Bucks Revolution in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
In the end, the difference between Ankara and Bucks was minute - equal on +48 GD, but separated by 1 goal scored (Bucks - 57-9, Ankara 56-8) - CMs men will look back on the season and think how lucky they were to get 2 goals in their humiliating 5-2 defeat to Ankara earlier in the season. It was a fitting way to send off Lindblom, who has contributed so much to this club, and his legacy will hopefully inspire the team as they head into Div 5, looking for a resurgent climb up the leagues.
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