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| Knights promoted to Division 2... again! |
They've done it! Knights of Cydonia FC managed to clinch the point they needed against FC Dragoes in order to secure promotion back to Division 2. It will be the first time we've played at Division 2 level since Season 47, which was hardly the best of seasons for the club as we got relegated that season and accidentally bought a diva which wasn't compatible with the club. But things have changed since then and while many of the personnel are the same as that season (that was Drags' first season at the club) they're all significantly older and more talented now so we should be able to hold our own in Division 2.
FC Dragoes 1-1 Knights of Cydonia FC
Pereira '63
Massa '57
FC Dragoes
28 GK Almerino Lameiro
2 CB Neal Southall
5 CB Julio Barreiro
12 CB Lourenco Coentrao
6 DM Cosme Vilela
24 DM Belamiro Varelas
9 RM Simeão Anunciação
10 AM Inacio Armas
39 LM Ildefonso Galante
20 CF Aldair Lamego
29 CF Hipolito Ronalindho
Bench:
1 GK Homer Hargreaves
16 DF Ludwig Winroth
7 MF Henry Wielink
11 MF Francisco Pereira
27 FW Marega Taremi |
Knights of Cydonia FC
1 GK Ivan Drãgãnescu
2 RB Gicu Elen
5 CB Peter Enis
22 CB Daniel Urs
3 LB Matts Lagergren
6 DM Bagdasar Nazarian
8 DM Bert Sallqvist
7 RM Roberto Mora
10 AM Severino Motta
11 LM Silvio Sbaccanti
21 CF Dani Massa
Bench:
13 GK Hakan Pontare
4 DF Adri Pauwe
19 MF Barry Gifford
12 FW Leopold Mazurek
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The game was a very tight affair as we expected, we were the away team and FC Dragoes are a stronger side, so given we only needed a point from this game, well, provided Taunton couldn't win that is, then we were trying to hold out for said point, perhaps even sneak the win that would guarantee us promotion to Division 2.
Dragoes missed out on promotion last season and also lost the play-offs, so they will feel they should be playing in Division 2 at the very least. Lets not forget that they were in Division 2 the very first time we played them and co-incidentally the second game against them that season also saw us gain promotion, that time it was to Division 1! In order to assist their promotion challenge this season they have recruited title winning experience. Ildfefonso Galante won the Super League with the Punisher s in Season 53 and has also played in the XCL, starting the first leg of the Punisher s' defeat to Zacgold. That was one of his last games for the club as he was sold to Dragoes soon afterwards. He has been outstanding for them this season, with 12 goals in all competitions, 10 of which have come in the league. He was very good against us too but we managed to keep him from scoring.
The game was starved of chances in the first half but in the 29th minute Gicu Elen was booked for a rash challenge on Simeão Anunciação. The midfielder was seriously injured which meant that 22 year old midfielder Francisco Pereira had to come off the bench. Knights had the only chance of the first half but it didn't really come to anything.
Come the second half Knights managed to take the lead, Bagdasar Nazarian hit a long ball into the penalty area and there was Dani Massa rushing against Julio Barreiro. Massa successfully managed to win his battle and hit the ball into the back of the net, leaving Lameiro stranded. 1-0 Knights.
Unfortunately for us, the midfielder that came on to replace Anunciação wound up scoring the equaliser. Dragoes won a corner in the 63rd minute and Inacio Armas' corner was turned into the back of the net by Francisco Pereira. 1-1 and Dragoes were still looking to spoil the party!
The good news for Knights however was that Taunton were not winning against Fredrikstad. This in spite of the fact they were dominating the game and the Fredrikstad manager Macca had mysteriously disappeared since losing to us a couple of rounds ago, he was sacked a few days later. A replacement has yet to be found!
Despite Dragoes' best efforts they were unable to find a winning goal. With the game ending in a 1-1 draw it meant there was still a 4 point gap between the two sides. Crucially Taunton also drew 0-0 so the standings were exactly the same as before kick off only with all three sides at the top having one more point and there being one less game to play. Essentially, nobody could now dislodge Knights from top spot and promotion to Division 2 was confirmed.
Knights' players celebrated all night. The gamble paid of, the run of form we went on after selling de Graef was enough to carry us to the division title. But there is still a few squad issues we need to sort out. We still have a few compatibility worries from both Adri Pauwe and Barry Gifford who are both getting towards the age where compatilbility is going to matter a lot more. Both are still fair as things stand and probably need a lot more gametime in order to turn Good. If they are still fair after next season we may have to consider cashing in on them and buying a replacement that is Good compatibility but whether those exist is another matter altogether!
Whatever the case, we are looking towards our Division 2 future as this team enters its' prime years.
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