In one of the closest Pro League campaigns the winners and losers were all decided in a final day of dramatic action! At the top of the shop, just like last season, it was S.L. SabugAll and Neptune Knights who were battling for first and second but Askk United were also in the equation this time, adding a bit of extra spice.

After Round 13 the top three were S.L. SabugAll (25), Neptune Knights (23) and Askk United (22) and at the end of a very drawn out last round it was SabugAll that would take the Pro League title for the first time in 10 seasons and for their fifth top title in all.

Last season Pelikano’s boys lost the title by the tiniest of margins when Delta TL scored a late, late dramatic goal to win 3 – 2 and guarantee their own safety, while handing the title to Lizb’s Neptune. Pelikano was absolutely devastated but there was to be no repeat this time around as SabugAll secured the honour but they didn’t half do it the hard way, putting their manager, their fans and the board through the wringer right up to the final minute. Again.

SabugAll may not have got off to the most auspicious of starts winning 2 and drawing 2, both away, of their first 4 games, picking up 3 light injuries, 7 yellows and 1 red (Stelian Olnici) in the process. However, SagubAll were always in the top positions showing incredible consistency and determination to avoid last season’s painful finish and went on to win 4 of their next 5 games before suffering their first league loss (4 – 2  to Delta TL in Round 10).

Pelikano rallied his troops for their next match against fellow contenders Askk United and they won 1 – 0. They blitzed the Askk defence with 7 shots on target but a Kenneth Vennegoor strike was all they could take but it was enough, though, and they secured the points. It was just as well they did as tension and nerves seemed to creep into the squad, to say nothing of the usual suspensions and injuries that plague all teams during a season as the manager watched his team pick up 2 points from the last 9 to see out the title!

And Pelikano wasn’t the only manager having his heart tested by his squad’s on-field escapades! Despite doing everything she could to manage her team on three fronts, battling in the XCL and reaching the Pro Cup final, Lizb was having a nightmare end of season run-in. While SabugAll were beating Askk her Neptune Knights gave Bleu Tigers one of only three league wins all season by losing 2 – 0. Neptune were really never in the game having only 40% of the ball and no shots on target. They then lost two and drew one of the last three games to take only 1 point from those matches to finish the season in third.

Daftpegasus had the better closing session of the three managers. After the defeat to Pelikano, Askk drew with Cabbage FC, beat Delta 3 – 1 and drew the final game with Bleu Tigers to take 5 of the 9 points to sneak up to second place. Not bad for his first ever season in the top flight.

It was dramatic stuff right enough with the grand old trophy like a hot potato as it looked like no manager could hold it for more than a few minutes as each 90 minutes progressed through the final rounds of matches. It was thoroughly entertaining for the neutrals and anyone else watching without a vested interest in the teams battling it out.

Yet it was Pelikano and SabugAll that held out, doing just enough to reclaim the title they hadn’t won in 10 long seasons. And, playing both the other possible title contenders towards the end, he did it the hard way as the season was brought to a close!

Round 13 saw SagubAll earn a very hard fought point with Neptune, who had one eye on the Pro Cup final four days after this league tie. That point kept SabugAll out in front but Pelikano had defenders Qi-Yi Shentu and Don Huck carded so both were suspended for the final match with F.C. Barbosa and midfielder Kenneth Vennegoor and was now a doubt! Three key players he could do with for the final push.

SabugAll hosted F.C  Barbosa in Round 14. Barbosa, like Delta the season before were fighting for league survival and needed the points as badly as their hosts. Vennegoor made the starting 11, even if not 100% fit and, like the champions they are, SabugAll carried the game to the visitors but Barbosa stood strong and countered with great efficiency, if not accuracy as it was the visitors that had the most efforts on goal: 7 to SabugAll’s 4. Despite that, it was the midfield possession that won the points that, eventually, got the title.

When the MIB blew for time up there was a slight lull as the news of other results came through, calculators came out before bedlam erupted! Neither Neptune nor Askk could take advantage and Pelikano sealed it! But what a finish! It was, incredible, absolutely incredible.  SabugAll had won the league in the most dramatic fashion! First there was disbelief on the players’ faces then reality, smiles and many, many tears as everyone celebrated. What a way to win a league, what a way to end a season!  Amid the chaos Pelikano took a few minutes to speak to his opposite number and Vallfog congratulated him warmly, even though disheartened at his team’s departure from the top flight. Pelikano was quoted to Vallfog after the game “Well… Thanks mate! Last season, I lost the title at the last minute of the last round. Today I was already prepared for any negative surprise. It didn’t happen. I´m really sorry for your relegation but I´m, pretty sure you´ll come back stronger! This was an amazing season!”

It really was an amazing season, an absolutely brilliant finish and real commiserations must go to all the teams especially those who went down fighting. Every team played their part and every manager should take some credit for enthralling their respective fans and the watching millions over 14 extraordinary Rounds of glorious football.

Pelikano can now sit back and relax a little, he’s certainly the right! When he opens the trophy cabinet he can view the new trophy that sits alongside the two Pro Cup, 6 Divisional and 4 other top flight honours already gleaming back at him. But he’s never content to sit back and has already moved on Earl Morgan and Marcolino Vilhena for almost 10m econ between them as he looks to revamp parts of his squad for next season. Stelian Olnici and Alfred Wyatt have also left, while young Alexandre Praminho was dismissed, so the manager has a fair bit of work to do to add to his, now, 15 man squad. Olnici was the clubs joint top scorer with 7 goals for the season, alongside Kieran Buckfast, who has now announced that the coming season will be his last. That’s a fair bit of fire-power, skill and experience from any team but Pelikano has the savvy to rebuild and keep his team competitive, starting with the 3 youth signings Yan Kovalchuk, Florian Robaszek and Wilmar Gurella. These 17 year old, 4 skill youths could very well be the future spine of a winning team.

Daftpegasus can take great credit for his team’s efforts in their debut top flight season. Finishing second by ending the season the stronger of the main three was a fantastic achievement while Leslie Parr scooped the top goal scorer with 10 to his name. But it was his 5 wins and a draw in the first 6 Rounds that set Askk United up for a strong showing over the season. With his 19 men his squad looks very capable of doing even better in season 30 which will be the last for Rui da Silva after his recent retirement announcement. The 35 year old midfielder has played only 41 times so far, scoring 14 times and offering up 13 assists in his two seasons under DP and will be a big miss for Askk when he hangs up his boots. The boss has not been idle though and the recent sales of youngster Leroy Royston (Orange Leaf United) and Jay Bartley) helped finance the acquisition of pacey striker Marv Skinner for over 21.5m econ and who brings with him 40 career goals and 6 assists to the club, adding some serious firepower to the Askk front line.

What can you say about Neptune Knights? After the euphoria of last season’s success the end of season 29 was a bit of a nightmare for Lizb as her team only managed to take a single pint from the 15 on offer over the last 5 games. Yet the season started very brightly, despite the loss to SagubAll in Round 2: still buoyant after success they began the league campaign with a 4 – 1 win over Cabbage FC then, after the SagubAll defeat, won 14 of 15 league and Cup games, with one draw, that included 11 straight victories, before the defeat to Elvis in round that began the rot. That 4 – 0 hammering, when all the goals came in the second half, was as a result of tactical oblivion from Lizb and Neptune never recovered, and failed to win another league match. Lizb still has much the same squad, and it is a cracking squad to play with next season but don’t be surprised if more players follow the short-lived Bo Normelius out the door as she looks to make improvements for next season.

23 year old Romanian Whizzz had a great debut season after gaining promotion via the play-offs. Cabbage FC’s 6 wins and a draw were good enough to secure the league status for another season. Starting with a 4 – 1 defeat away to Neptune they won and lost games as the season progressed, bouncing around the relegation zone as they struggled to find any consistency. Cabbage then lost 3 on the bounce in Rounds 8, 9 and 10 and things didn’t look good with the drop beckoning. But Whizzz isn’t in the top 100 nationally for no reason and he rallied his troops, keeping faith with the same squad that gained promotion and turned it around by picking up 3 wins and a draw from the last four Rounds. Cabbage were the only team to win on the last day and their 2 – 0 win over Neptune moved them out Delta’s reach clear out in 4th spot while consigning Neptune to 3rd overall. He showed himself to be a shrewd and tactical manager, getting the best from his players over the closing matches. His squad looks nicely balanced although the front 3 will soon be nearing the ends of their careers. The recent new signing of midfielder Frans Kronman could indicate that Whizzz is looking beyond next season before he feels he can offer a serious challenge. Next season, however, he could be one to watch as he showed this time around that he can mix it with the best and get results when needed most.

FC Delta TL seem to be making a habit of leaving it late in the season to secure league status. Bravuta, at one time the world number 14 and twice Pro League winners (seasons 25 and 26), saw his team have another testing season that saw them win only 5 and draw 2 of their matches. That is not a great return for such an experienced manager playing in his 7th consecutive top-flight campaign and the third season in a row they have finished in 5th place. Then again, sticking to his policy it was two of his players that have blagged three of the player awards: Cyril Mentel took Points (16) and Assists (10) and Adisor Ofensivul was MVP with 12 XP11 shows. 2013 has seen the manager bring in only juniors from the youth academy, 9 of them in total with 3 of them sold off: Callum Brailey (Bota Dentro FC}, Ken Arthurs (Arranha FC) and Danny Pidgely (projavito) for over 4.5m econ in total. Bravuta obviously has much faith in the Arena Delta’s youth academy but, given the last 3 seasons, should consider one or two more experienced players if they are to improve their league finishes. That said, there is already significant experience at the club who are bringing on the youths nicely and, in a few short seasons, they really could be a team in a strong position to challenge for the title again.

After two seasons F.C. Barbosa drop back to Division 1a as they ended the season in 6th place, one of two teams on 16 points having won 4, drawn 4 and lost 6 games. Not one to sit on his laurels Vallfog and already made changes with the new season in mind. Recent exits are Richard Bach (Balotellis Superstars), Yago Jaime (Jönköpings Södras IF) and Joseph Dozzell (Eazy Riderz) earning over 10.5m econ for the war chest. So far only young ‘keeper Aitor Roja has been promoted to the first team but expect some signings as Vallfog adds to his 16-man squad as he builds a team to take on all-comers in Division 1 and bounce back up.

F.C Elvis join Barbosa in Division 1a as they finished the season with the same game stats but 4 goals worse off. Fairplayray has had 3 good seasons in the Pro League top tier, winning the trophy in season 27, Elvis’ debut season, a win that ended a 5 Division winning streak that started in season 23 with 4d. Last season they ended in 4th place but this season was too much of a stretch for his 16-man squad and they fell a point short of safety. Never notoriously active in the transfer market Fairplayray did sell Pavel Drobisz to Zöld Sasok at the start of the season and has recently moved on Jérémy Ritter to Posedatii CF for 8.6m, plus change. He has just added 17 year old Virgil Whitebread to the midfield but will need to make more changes if he wants to survive the rigours of a tough season ahead.

Division 1b sees the return of CipriM and his Bleu Tigers, the Division they won in season 28 to earn their place at the top table. The 14 points they earned were close, but not close enough, to stave off relegation. One more 3 goal win might have saved them from the drop but it was not to be as they found life in the Pro League difficult. CipriM has already made up a new plan and made sweeping changes as he heralds in a new youthful era at the Bleu Jungle Stadion. This month alone he has acquired 8 x 17 year olds, alongside 21 year old ‘keeper Kevin Mitchell, to add to his squad, financed by the sale of a couple youths and 3 seniors, earning him a tidy sum of just over 30m econ. It’s like a merry-go-round at the Stadion as the manager make sweeping changes for the future. It’s a risk, a big risk, but one that could pay great dividends in the near future. We wish him well

Pro League Season 29 final standings read:

1  S.L. SabugAll26
2  Askk United23
3  Neptune Knights 
4  Cabbage FC
5  FC Delta TL
6  F.C. Barbosa
7  F.C Elvis
8  Bleu Tigers

My dream team for the season lines up 4-4-2:

GK - Clark Terrar:  Askk United

D - Javi Quino:  S.L. SabugAll
D - Cordyline Australis: Cabbage FC
D - Hisashi Takemae:  Bleu Tigers
D - Luis Luz:   Neptune Knights

M – Cyril Mentel:  FC Delta TL
M – Leslie Parr:  Askk United
M - Kieran Buckfast:  S.L. SabugAll
M – Jay Olive:   Neptune Knights

F – Adisor Ofensivul:  FC Delta TL
F  - Eliot Burns:  Cabbage FC

Overall, it was a hard fought, exhilarating and compelling season for many reasons and Pelikano greatly deserved to win for keeping his side the steadiest, clinching the title after the heartache of season 28, and fully deserving of the honour for coming out on top after a very challenging campaign. The Xpert Daily caught up with the winning manager amid the chaos of celebrations to ask him a few random questions.


XD: Congratulations on your fifth Pro League win. How do you feel on reclaiming the league again, especially after the final day disappointment of last season?
P: Thank you! Well, after almost 7 years playing X11, the emotions are not that high as in the beginning. The target is always winning, but if something fails… that’s life. No more dramas. On the other hand, a victory is always welcome and flavourful. The guarantee of a good mood day!

XD: It was a tough final match against a team fighting for survival and you had to do it without a couple of key players in Qi-Yi Shentu and Don Huck, and, playing Vennegoor was risky after his injury in the Neptune game the round before: did you think before the game, given how things were panning out, that you would win the title?
P: Yep… I used a 5 skill young defender and an old player that played just once this season. I tried to explore the surprise factor. I also knew that a draw could be enough for my side and the main competitor needed a victory. I was confident. Unfortunately that result lead to the relegation of an old mate with his FC Barbosa.

XD: The last 2 seasons, in particular, have seen you been at the heart of some drama throughout both seasons, including those tense last day’s matches. Do you think that next season will live up to the quality of the last two?
P: Despite some great teams got relegated this season, I suppose the quality level will be maintained. Emotion is assured!

XD: You’ve also won your 6 Divisional title and 2 Pro Cups here so you obviously enjoy winning. Over the last 15 seasons you have played all but 2 of them in the top tier. What’s the secret of your success at this club?
P: Calm, perseverance, and a mixture of home grown players (long term success) and use of the transfer market (short term success). Easy :).

XD: You've been S.L. SabugAll since January 2007 which, in management terms, is a long time. What brought you here and would you consider leaving for another club?
P: This was, is, and will be my official team. When I leave it, I´ll leave Xpert11. Unlike other things in my life, here I like constancy.

XD: You have a 15-man squad and your oldest midfielder, Kieran Buckfast, is set to retire: are the wheels already in motion to increase your squad size, are you targeting any players or developing any youths with next season in mind?
P: The scouts are already looking for new players. Most probably, 3 young players. It is planned something like 12 skilled players and 6 young that should be developed.

XD: When buying players are there are particular qualities you look for?
P: I like to have some variety to be able to apply different strategies in each game.


XD: With a total of 7 teams on your CV you have been in this game for over 7 years but just who is Pelikano: enlighten our readers and tell us a bit about yourself outside Xperteleven.
P: Pelikano is now a grown kid that already has descendents… Graduated in Chemical engineering, he works in a high-tech company that is proving every day that Portuguese people are not that lazy and irresponsible. More, despite living near the Atlantic coast I visit as often as possible the place where I born: SABUGAL. My beloved Sabugal.

XD: Over your time here have you made any particular friendships or rivalries with other teams/managers?
P: So many… but, again, after 7 years now everything is with “pacific” mode activated!

XD: Finally, is there anything else you would like to add to this interview or say to your fellow managers? Any pearls of XP11 wisdom you would care to share?
P: Not really, I´m older and duller compared with some former interviews. Just a curiosity, though, after all this time I’m starting in a new league with the same guys of my very first league here – Sabugal Tarrento. This is a kind of back to basics!

XD: Thank you for your time Pelikano, enjoy the party.

Well, another great season is over and we now take a short break while the teams prepare to do it all over again in Season 30. Joining the top five we have the returning F.C. Steaua Oradea and newbies Glückauf Wadenbeisser and Nezgodni Momci. Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to the losers and wish all teams the very best of luck for the seasons ahead.
 

Pro League Cup review

The teams that would contest the Cup final were number 3 seeds F.C. Steaua Oradea and Neptune Knights, seeded at 253.

Steaua are coached by Radu10 from Ardeal, Romania, a historical region of western Romania bounded by the Transylvanian Alps and the Carpathian Mountains. A region of the world more commonly known simply as Transylvania and made (in)famous by Irish novelist and short story writer Bram Stoker thanks to his vampiric tales in his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula.

Radu has been with Steaua 2 years now and is currently guiding them through Division 1b at a canter, having sealed the Divisional title weeks ago. With one Round of matches to go they are very comfortably 9 points ahead of their nearest rivals in top spot, a position they have occupied since taking over from Munster Mayhem in Round 7. Twice previous Cup winners (season 25 and 26) Radu is hoping to make it a hattrick of victories in this competition.

From Lincolnshire, a historic county in the east of England, we have Lizb08 bringing her Neptune Knights to the Arena. The second largest English County, this ceremonial county has numerous famous people associated it including the likes of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Jim Broadbent, Jennifer Saunders and Ray Clemence.

Neptune, the surprise package of the Pro League last season, were going great guns this term as Lizb battles with Pelikano’s SabugAll. Lizb has been at the helm of her club for three years, guiding them to their current top flight status. Neptune’s previous Cup best was the last 16 in Season 25 and Lizb is hoping to add this years’ Cup to the trophy cabinet and could very well add the league title as well.

At international level the record between Romania and England since 1939 reads:

Played – 11
Won –3
Drawn – 6
Lost – 2
For = 10/Against = 10
Record: 54.5%

Steaua and Neptune went into the Final on the back of contrasting forms. Steaua were riding high after sweeping all aside to clinch the Division 1 title with games to spare and were looking to extend their unbeaten run to 27 games! Steaua’s last defeat was the final league game in the top flight to F.C Elvis (0 – 1) way back on the 29th July last season. Their incredible run started with a friendly against Sporting clube loulé (0 – 4) and they haven’t looked back since. Neptune, by contrast, have won only 3 of their last 10 games, in all competitions, with all 3 wins coming in this Cup competition. Battling on three fronts is a difficult task yet Neptune are still in contention as they defend the Pro League title of last season and are second, behind S.L. SagubAll, trailing by 2 points heading into Round 14.

To reach this years’ final Radu and Lizb had to overcome some quality opposition:

In the 2nd Round Steaua demolished TUDO NOSSO 6 – 0 home and away for a 12  - 0 aggregate score, matches that saw De Souza score a hattrick in the first leg and captain Paine score 5 in the second. They followed that up with wins over Boca Seniors F.C (0 – 3), Nottm Forest FC (0 – 1), F.C. Alcoholocaust (9 – 8 aet and penalties), RIPENSIA VIOLA (1 – 2), FC Stuparul Timisoara (1 – 2), F.C. Barbosa (0 – 2) and Black Squadron (1 – 2 aet) in the last 16.

Pro League Cup Quarter Final
Xpert Arena
25th October 2013
Referee: Manuel Ficuz (2/8)

F.C. Steaua Oradea (3) v Mornar Popaj (134)

Radu had seen his side score 27 goals for 5 against (not including penalties) as Steaua marched into this tie. Playing a 451 formation his team made this match seem harder than it was against their Division 2a opponents. Šiki sent out his team in an attacking 352 but thanks to solid Steaua defending they registered only a single shot at goal. After a dour first half, where neither side created anything, Steaua stepped up a bit in the second 45 and finally created enough chances to secure passage to the Semi Final with a 2 – 0 scoreline but lost Dustin Ford to injury two minutes after he made the breakthrough.

F.C. Steaua Oradea (Ford 56’, de Souza 79’) 2 - 0 Mornar Popaj


Pro League Cup Semi Final
Xpert Arena
1st November 2013
Referee: Wll Taykabribe (3/5)

Stiinta Cluj (6) v F.C. Steaua Oradea (3)

Steaua went out of the competition at this stage last season, losing 2 – 1 to eventual winners Askk United and this time round were paired with tough Division 3h opponents Stiinta Cluj, managed by Bogdan1919. Cluj had taken out the Pro League’s Bleu Tigers in the Quarters, were sitting pretty at the top of their Division and went into the match with a fair degree of confidence.

Looking to avoid a repeat of last season Radu was sticking to what his team does best and lined up in his traditional 451 to combat Cluj’s 352. His players wasted no times as they peppered the Cluj goal with a first half blitz that saw them score 3 goals from 6 efforts. In the 1st minute Wilfred Torpey was first to try with a great freekick but Aled Davies made an excellent stop. Denilson de Souza made no mistake 4 minutes later with a side-footed effort when he was picked out in the box by Torpey than captain Jody Paine tried his luck in the 10th minute with a powerful low drive that came back off the post. However, the first half wasn’t all one way traffic despite the brilliance of Waite, who was running the show with his vision and crisp passing and Paine showing he was a pain to the Cluj midfield. Bogdan’s team were managing to show they can also play a bit and moved the ball well, with pace and determination and, when the chance presented itself on 16 minutes, they thought they had pulled one back. Mirciulica Anca scored but Taykabribe wasn’t fooled by the hand the midfielder used to control the ball and, rightly, ruled it out.

Lanzo Manucci made it 2 – 0 on 24 minutes when he headed in Niall Bruce’s precision cross and 7 minutes later torpey tried again with another excellent freekick that Davies just got a fingertip to, tapping the ball up and off the post. On 33 minutes Artur Jansson tried to pull one back when he received the freekick but his weak effort was easily saved by Benone Secatureanu. Torpey was not to be denied a third time as he finally got one past Davies. The ball came out to him from a Steaua corner and he fired in a low drive under the Cluj ‘keeper. 3 – 0 at the break and Radu, still grim-faced, was nodding vigorously as he headed up the tunnel.

The second half saw a fair bit of action as Cluj took the ball and ran at Steau in an effort to redress the balance: Lanzo Manucci was yellow carded for a rash tackle on Bailey Naismith; de Souza missed with another side-footed effort; Lyle McDrain picked up his yellow for what looked like an elbow on Paine, and on 59 minutes Torpey found he was still having no luck with dead-balls – and the second half wasn’t even 15 minutes old!

Steaua eventually took the game by the scruff of the neck and really started to dominate their opponents yet it was Cluj that scored next. In the 72nd Bertram Marshland got free in the middle as he wriggled past Montragon. He fed Makary Szczucki in the area and the big defender made no mistake and shot past the ‘keeper. But there was to be no comeback as de Souza finished the tie off with a late, 87th minute, near post strike. 4 – 1 it finished to Steaua and the delight was obvious from Radu and his team as they had made it to another Cup Final.

Stiinta Cluj (Makary Szczucki 72’) 1 – 4 F.C. Steaua Oradea (de Souza 5’ & 87’, Manucci 24’, Torpey 41’)


Neptune Knights began their Cup campaign with an 11 – 0 aggregate demolition of Aldermaston FC. This was followed up with impressive wins over Boulder Crush FC (0 – 4), Nitramonia Fagaras (0 – 2) and Jekyll (0 – 4). They met hard Divisdion 3a opponents Nybro in Round 6, sweeping them aside 2  - 0 before conceding their first goals of the competition in the 3 – 2 win over 4e’s Magic Sponge X1. Neptune then needed a penalty shoot out to get past Lostboyz88 after the match ended 2 – 2 by the end of extra time. The last 16 paired Neptune with old foes Arctic Guerillas, currently in 1b, and a single strike from Jocke Carlsson with 5 minutes remaining pushed Neptune into the Quarters.


Pro League Cup Quarter Final
Xpert Arena
25th October 2013
Frank Redkard (4/8)

Neptune Knights (253)  v Pink Panthers (49)

Neptune Knights were now in uncharted territory, having never reached this stage of the competition before. They were drawn to play Pink Panthers from Division 4d and needed extra time and a penalty shoot-out to get past their lower league opponents who were Cup-seeded 204 places above them. It became a real battle in the congested midfield in front of virtually impregnable defences. Fikri Katmon gave the Panthers a second half lead just after the hour mark but Arne-Vidar Gullesfjord levelled it up 7 minutes from time to send the game into extra time. Both sides had chances but neither could take them so it came down to penalties in this tense yet exciting encounter. And was the Neptune players that held their nerve the better. Shinjiro Koyano missed the Panthers’ second spot kick to hand the advantage to Neptune but Jocke Carlsson missed Neptune’s third to keep the scores level. However, Adolfo Manetti then missed the very next kick while Shahin Mirzali send his right down the middle to take back the advantage for Neptune and, with the last kick, Amedeo Della Squitti missed the Panthers’ third penalty to send Neptune through to the Semi.

Neptune Knights (Gullesfjord 83’) 1 – 1 Pink Panthers (Katmon 64’) Neptune Knights win 4 – 3 (aet and penalties)


Pro League Cup Semi Final
Xpert Arena
1st November 2013
Referee: Dick Tator (8/8)

Rioderogo (138) v Neptune Knights (253)

Rioderogo were Neptune’s opponents for this tie: from Division 2d they were doing very well in their league, challenging for the title at the top alongside Athletic RFC. For Their manager, Doors, like his counterpart at Neptune, this was the furthest they had reached in the competition after seeing off Toze FC in the last round.

Despite their lower league status it was easy to see why Rioderogo were seeded so high as they took the game to Neptune from the off, dominated the play, controlled more of the ball thanks to the likes of Stig Holmetz in the centre of the midfield. He was at the heart of everything Rioderogo were doing and Neptune were having a hard time pinning him down. At the back Victor Österdahl was directing his defence to make life as difficult as possible for the Neptune front two.

That said Neptune, as experienced as they, are don’t play in the top flight for nothing and were not overawed by the pace and guile of their opponents. Shahin Mirzaii was doing his bit to get in amongst the Rioderogo players to break up play and set his own teammates to going forward. Bengt-Åke Öhnedal was doing likewise at the back as he bawled at his fellow defenders relentlessly throughout the game, making sure everyone was on their toes.

In the first half, especially, it was difficult to separate the teams as they went at each other and chances were at a premium. Two yellows for Neptune’s Mirzali and Jay Olive and one for Rioderogo’s Österdahl and one effort each was all they could manage. The first shot in anger came in the 40th minute and fell to Rioderogo’s Allan Cochrane but his headed effort that was easily saved. Crucially for Rioderogo, and despite being the more dominant side, it was Neptune who took their sole first half chance in the 44th minute. Abraham Beech found space out wide and sent in a tantalizing cross for Mirzali to head home and send Neptune up the tunnel a goal to the good.
In the second half Neptune came more into the match but Rioderogo still saw more of the ball. Neptune’s Abraham Green had he next effort at goal but miss-hit his shot making it easy for Burt Trent. Two minutes later Cochrane’s sensational volley from outside the area shaved the post with Mortimer rooted. As the midfields tried to contain each other the front men were challenging the defences, looking for space that wasn’t there as each side closed quickly and it was nearly a quarter of an hour before another chance was created. This time Rioderogo’s Güntekin Özgür was guilty of the miss, sending his blazing header well wide. The game continued at a fair pace and Palkó Sinku, on for the injured Cochrane, sent a shot miles wide: his powerful effort was more desperate than accurate as Rioderogo searched or an equalizer. Then, with 6 minutes remaining, the goal finally came: Stig Holmetz fed Warren Cowling wide left and the midfielder stepped inside and fired in a low powerful drive that Mortimer could do nothing about.

The joy on the Rioderogo bench was met by equal measure by the despair on the Neptune bench. Rioderogo were in the ascendancy with Neptune struggling to contain them. Doors was on his feet, prowling the technical area urging his men to give more while Lizb was screaming for her lads to get a hold of the ball and make it count. With 2 minutes remaining Marcel Sutter got on the end of a hopeful punt to head at the Rioderogo goal to no avail and as the clock ticked down to the 90 Neptune got the ball and, against the run of play, Green tricked his way into the box and went down. PENALTY!

Luis Luz, who picked up a knock I the 62nd minute yet struggled on, did a captains job. He picked up the ball and handed it to Bengt-Åke Öhnedal! The big defender wasted no time in placing the ball, took a short run and fired past Trent to send the Neptune bench wild. He was buried under a sea of players before the match continued on. Rioderogo pressed and pressed but they were undone and at the final whistle a dejected Doors cut a forlorn figure after he sent out his players to applaud the fans before heading up the tunnel, leaving him alone with his thoughts on what might have been as Neptune marched into the final

Rioderogo ( Cowling 84’) 1 – 2 Neptune Knights (Mirzali 44’, Öhnedal 90’ pen)


Pro League Cup Final
Xpert Arena
8th November 2013
Referee: Wanda Rinn (7/2)

F.C. Steaua Oradea (3) v Neptune Knights (253)

The final was now beckoning and would be contested by representatives from Romania and England. This one was going to be difficult to call and both had reached the final on the back of similar runs, scoring and conceding roughly the same the same number of goals. This had all the makings of a tight encounter but who would come out on top?

The teams for the starting 11’s were:

F.C. Steaua Oradea:
4-5-1

Goalkeeper – Benone Secatureanu
Defence – Niall Bruce, Ion Ababei Iulian, Isak Öhnedal, Wilfred Torpey.
Midfield – Lanzo Manucci, Jody Paine (C), Akono Waite, Garry Murchison, Raimundo Pulga
Forward – Denilson de Souza
Bench – José Sá, Pablo Montragon, Cal Wright, Lily Burton, Dustin Ford


Neptune Knights:
3-5-2

Goalkeeper – Quentin Mortimer
Defence – Luis Luz, Bengt-Åke Öhnedal, Elliot McStone
Midfield – Shahin Mirzali, Jean-Antoine Arron (C), Abraham Beech, Jay Olive, Kearney Furlong
Forward – Jocke Carlsson,  Marcel Sutter
Bench – Peter Fantenberg, Jacques-Yves Lay, Abraham Green, Bartholomew Myhill, Arne-Vidar Gullesfjord


Both managers understood that whoever could get that all-important first goal knew that their team had the capacity to see out a narrow victory and so packed out the midfields. This was by no means a classic: played at a good pace this was trench warfare as they drew up their lines and commenced a battle of attrition as F.C. Steaua Oradea and Neptune knights set about wearing each other down. This was toe-to-toe, in-your-face, football at the highest level as neither side wanted to concede but that shaved striking potency off both sides. The match would be won, not only, by the team that could cope with the tremendous effort and strain the best, but also by the team with the greatest desire and hunger so see out the fight.

As battle commenced it was the Division 1 team that took the game to their top-flight opponents looking to gain an early advantage. Led by the superb midfielder Akono Wait Steaua pushed at the Neptune midfield five, hemming them back as they battled for an opening and, with Raimundo Pulga alongside him, was incessant as he tested Neptune’s resolve. Yet, Neptune wouldn’t buckle and Jean-Antoine Arron was the most effective Neptune player and led by example, as a good captain should, putting himself in the mix, running at Steaua whenever he could and rallying his team to put themselves about more.

The battle raged around the centre and time and again Steaua would take the ball, pass it around as they probed for an opening but Neptune were giving their all to make their own possession count and release Jocke Carlsson on the Steaua defence. But Wilfred Torpey, a rock at the back for Steaua was having none of it and, beside Niall Bruce, another who was having a great game, sucked in everything around him, blocking the runs and picking out the passes for his team to start again. Frustration was starting to creep into some of the play, however, as neither side could make a telling breakthrough and Garry Murchison picked up game’s first yellow in the 21st minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The young midfielder will need to learn to control himself as his career progresses.
As the midfields played tit-for-tat the ball eventually found its way to Wait on the half hour mark for the first effort on goal but his well-placed shot came back off woodwork to the dismay of his manager. Radu was snarling on the touchline as he encouraged his team to give more. Torpey went down on 40 minutes as he bravely put himself in the firing line to prevent Carlsson reaching the ball but got back up after some treatment with the magic sponge. As the half was closing Steaua were in the ascendancy as they closed on the Neptune defence but Bengt-Åke Öhnedal and Luis Luz were proving to be as affective a barrier for Neptune as Bruce and Torpey for Steaua. Wait pinged the ball into the Neptune box and Öhnedal cleared to Jay Olive. The midfielder fed Marcel Sutter and, totally against the run of play he fired in a powerful shot for Neptune’s first chance on 44 minutes. With Wait closing he snatched at it and the ball went well wide and the half ended goalless, the players looking exhausted and the managers deep in thought.

Steaua started the second half much as they did the first, still the more dominant side but it was energy sapping stuff as they ran and tested Neptune who were chasing and harrying in good measure, matching the energy if not quite the craft. 6 minutes into the half and Murchison went down under a challenge from Carlsson but the sponge did the trick again and he got back up to run the knock off.  Lizb made the first change of the game with an hour gone. Unhappy with the contribution of Kearney Furlong, skinned by Wait several times already, she hooked him with Arne-Vidar Gullesfjord coming on.

The changes started a 10 minute spell where no Neptune player could touch the ball! With the bit between his teeth Wait directed everything Steaua was doing as he controlled the game yet Neptune still wouldn’t back off. Defending deep they kept out the Steaua attack through sheer will and determination as they fended off the Steaua onslaught. Elliot McStone met the full force of one such attack when he threw himself in front a Pulga power cross and needed some treatment for his troubles when ball met balls. Brave defending to say the least and he was able to carry on for the final 20 minutes. The Neptune front pair were tracking back and staying deep to upset the Steaua attack but Sutter let his asperity get the better of him and made a lunge at Murchison. Rinn, unsurprisingly, only issued a yellow and the relief on Lizb’s face showed the colour she thought it was going to be. Radu made his thoughts very clear by his tirade at the fourth official.

This was a real blood-and-thunder game. Both sides have shown before that they can play pretty football but this match wasn’t pretty: it was hard, sometimes brutal, yet still with sublime touches and passing as players, on both sides, had to show that they could fight when they had to.

Radu then decided to make a pre-planned substitution on 73 minutes when he took off Denilson de Souza for Dustin Ford. De Souza left the field to a standing ovation from both sets of fans, which was really nice to see.  After 18 seasons, 3 of them in the top flight, de Souza is hanging up his boots. The prolific front-man was practically a one-club man: signed from Fc Xoni in February 2008 after 2 games that saw him score one and provide one assist he signed on for 20.5m econ, and proved to be a real bargain. In a glittering career that earned him numerous merits including MVP, top goals scorer and most points he played 312 matches, scoring 152 goals, chipping in with 42 assists and earned only 1 red card that saw gained him 86 XP appearances. That’s some going and he leaves the club knowing that he has played a full part in returning Steaua to the top flight, although this final was still in the balance.

That brief respite over, battle re-commenced and 7 minutes later Wait was brought down on the edge of the box. Torpey placed the ball and waited for Rinn to settle the wall. On the whistle he paused then struck the ball up and over the wall to send it flying past Mortimer: GOAL! Steaua had finally breached the Neptune defence to go ahead and it was no more than their play deserved. Torpey was rushed by his cheering teammates and Radu was dancing a jig and, it has to be said, tried a sort-of flip that is better described as more triple soufflé than triple salco but you can’t blame the gaffer at showing his delight!  3 minutes later and Pulga had a great chance to double the lead from 6 yards but miss-hit his shot for an easy Mortimer save. Lizb was ranting at her players to stop getting drawn in and push out. She knew Steaua were in control but needed her players to respond and railed at them non-stop to get up field.  Neptune were under tremendous pressure at the back and were pressed deeper and deeper as Steaua, sensing blood, came at them in waves. Neptune just couldn’t get out their own half! And after 4 minutes of time added on Rinn finally blew for time up: Steaua had won their third Pro Cup!

What an exhausting 90 minutes! There were tears and cheers from the players and fans alike. Lizb, while not inconsolable, was obviously suffering the pain of defeat but still was able to rally her players and take them to applaud their fans who had given unstinting support throughout.

Radu, by contrast, had a mile-wide smile as he danced and celebrated with this players. They crowded round the other end of the stadium as they were swept along on a tide of joy from their own supporters. After such a testing game they had come out on top and were Cup champions.

F.C. Steaua Oradea (Wilfred Torpey 80’) 1 – 0 Neptune Knights

Possession: 56 - 44 (59 – 41); chances: 4 - 2 (1 - 1)

Defence 18                        Defence 14
Midfield 16                         Midfield 17
Offence 11                         Offence 15

Manager 4 Star               Manager 4 Star

Steaua        Man Of The Match  Neptune
Akono Wait                                   Jean-Antoine Arron


It really was a tremendous game of football and a fitting end to this seasons’ Cup campaign. This is Radu’s third trophy success and came at the end of a fantastic double winning season that saw him win 24 of 27 games, drawing only 3 with no losses. An amazing season for Steaua that even betters their League and Cup winning exploits of Season 25: Radu now has a double double to cheer about! Commiserations to Lizb after a great run and contribution to the final. She can still hold her head high after a great season.

Xpert Daily managed to catch up with Radu after his triumph. With a magnum under each arm he was gracious enough to speak to our reporter.

XD: Congratulations on your third Pro Cup win. How do you feel on reclaiming the Cup again this season?
R10: I feel very good, ecstatic and excited as I haven’t had too much time to invest in the game recently, it’s been a very busy time for me. To be honest I didn’t expect to win the Cup initially! My squad is younger than before and we started the Cup with more youth and less experience in the side so it is unexpectedly brilliant.

XD: You’ve also won your Division making this a double winning season and matching your feat of season 25. How does this double season rate compared to season 25?
R10: In season 25 was it much more involved, we had a better team strength and form potency over that season and I feel that I lost some of that for this season. But my victories have really cheered everyone up and there is now a great deal more enthusiasm to continue to build and match where I was a few seasons ago, even if I am getting older!
This was a successful season and I was confident of securing the title. The opponents we faced were not as strong as we’ve faced in previous seasons but still tough to play against and we managed to get through for a very successful season. In the Cup I wanted to get as far as possible to improve the value of the developing players and, as we progressed though each round, I eventually said that we must win it. Overall, it’s been a great season for this club.

XD: You've only been with F.C. Steaua Oradea since November 2011 and achieved some great successes. What attracted you to this club and would you consider moving on to another club?
R10: I was attracted by the great potential I saw at this club, both financially and in the value and development of players, I made a good choice coming here while thinking about rebuilding a team with a consistent performance. I have no plans to leave in the near future.

XD: Your 19-man squad looks nicely balanced with a mix of experience and youth. Do you have a plan to add to or sell on to change the squad with next season’s challenges in mind? Or do you feel confident in your squad’s ability in the return to the top flight?
R10: I do like to change parts of the team from time to time but not too much at once because then we will not perform well enough. As you see any team fails to win trophies if they cannot deliver consistent performances. I am considering selling on 3 or 4 players and replace them with 3 or 4 others, but only if they are, at least, as good for us to remain competitive next season.

XD: Denilson de Souza is hanging up his boots after a long and distinguished career. Was it a deliberate ploy to take him off so he could say goodbye to the fans?
R10: Denilson de Souza made his football career here and this season, in particular, he was formidable for us, so, yes, we took him off so he could say farewell to the fans. Unfortunately I need someone just like him as you see we only have one experienced striker. We need someone good, at least as good as Denilson, an accomplished scorer like a Ronaldo or Brazilian footballer.

XD: Do you think de Souza can or will be replaced?
R10: Categorically yes, any player can be replaced, but the problem is to have sense and patience needed to find the real player who is compatible with this team.

XD: Recently, we saw changes to the tactics page. What is your view on the new tactics page and do you think there are other areas in which you feel Xperteleven could be improved?
R10: I agree with the new changes and have no objections to the updates, although I think it would be better to make the game more complex on the playing side.

XD: You’ve been in this game for over 5 years now, with 4 teams under your belt, but tell us a bit about yourself outside Xperteleven, other hobbies and interests.
R10: I am a normal person and in my last year in college. My passion, as it is with many XP11 managers, is football. I once had aspirations in the real game but, unfortunately, was lazy on that side and I have not kept on at it. These days I only play occasionally. I would love and hope to, in the near future, travel across Western Europe, especially in England , France and Spain, countries full of history and many tourist spots to visit.

XD: Finally, is there anything else you would like to add to this interview or say to your fellow managers? Any pearls of XP11 wisdom you would care to share?
R10: Read the rules very well and trust yourself to live with the thought that dreams can become reality! Nothing is impossible if you just believe in yourself and work at it and you’ll soon start to climb the rankings and see that you understand the game.


That’s your lot for this season folks. Many thanks to both winning managers for agreeing chatting to us and taking the time out of their busy party schedules for the Xpert Daily masses. Congratulations again to Pelikano and Radu on their historic victories. Your Xpert Daily wishes everyone the best of luck for next Season.