Power League Cup review

Season 30 would see two teams from the Power League top flight take out all competition in their march to the Final. Bringing contrasting league forms into the match to do battle for the grand old trophy were 5th seeds MM United and Wasted Years, seeded 9th.

MM United were guided to the Final by their astute manager MarioMeirelles and, after a year as in charge of MM U, Mario was looking a nice anniversary present of the Cup to add to his incredible League title win in Season 29. Mario hails from Setúbal, the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal. A beautiful city located on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary, its main sports club is Vitória de Setúbal and main historical monument is the Monastery of Jesus. Setúbal can also boast such notables as Sabrina (Eurovision Song Contest 2007), José Mourinho (football manager) and Luís Buchinho (fashion designer).

Mario is currently rated as the 2nd best manager in Portugal, 6th in the world and he has been previously rated as 5th globally but his MM United have struggled this season in the league and were just shy of safety from relegation going into the Cup Final.

Wasted Years, managed by young Croatian Lerga, were playing in their debut season at the Power League top table. Lerga comes from Rijeka, a city in Kvarner, which is the principal seaport and third largest city in Croatia, located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. HNK Rijeka is Rijeka's main football team, although a number of other important sports are represented: RK Zamet (handball), VK Primorje EB (waterpolo), KK Kvarner (basketball) and ŽOK Rijeka (women's volleyball). But it’s not all about sports as the city also boasts monuments such as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Trsat, the largest centre of pilgrimage in western Croatia as well as the Old Gateway or Roman Arch, and personalities such as Aldo Lado (writer and directors) and Natasa Dorcic (actress).

Lerga is rated as the 2nd best manager in Croatia, 33rd in the world and he has been previously rated as 28th globally. His Wasted Years were on a run of 14 games without defeat before kick-off, a run that had seen them put themselves in contention for a shot at the Power League title.

At international level, FIFA the record the stats between Portugal and Croatia since 1996 (for Portugal) as:

Played – 3
Won –3
Drawn – 0
Lost – 0
For = 6/Against = 0
Record: 100%

Could Lerga achieve the win his national team haven’t yet managed or would Mario maintain Portugal’s dominance between these footballing nations? We would soon find out but, first, they both had to reach the Cup Final and overcome some quality opposition.

Entering the contest in the 2nd Round MM United shredded Alcolea F.C. (D5:22) 9 - 1 on aggregate with striker Augusto Silvestre bagging a brace each game. They followed this up with narrow 1 – 0 wins over E.T. CONQUENSE C.O. (D4n) and FC 47 (D2d) before sweeping aside SLB Iturama (D3a) 3 – 0. The 6th Round saw them safely past Street Sharks (D5:31) 2 – 0, then Jamseys Boys (D4e) by 2 – 1 with Marc Almheden holding his nerve to stick away an 83rd minute penalty with the scores tied at 1 each. Round 8 was a tough, testy affair with The Nightmare -INA- (D3h).  MM United needed late goals from Jonathan Nicolausson (84’) and Almheden (88’), after Nightmares’ Geraldo Onaga walked on 78 minutes, to secure a 2 – 0 win and passage to the Quarters Final.

Mario and his MM united boys were enjoying some Cup success in stark contrast to their indifferent league form and would now face a difficult Quarter Final to continue progressing.

Wasted Years stepped into the Cup fray in the first Round and, quite literally, wasted their opponents mizere (D7:4) 11 – 0 on aggregate, a result which set the groundwork for some astonishing goal scoring exploits as they marched through each round. DB TEAM (D7:114) were demolished 11 – 1 before Inchinnan FC (D7:109) were despatched 8 – 0 but at the cost of a serious injury to Troy Spriggs. Green Forest Club (D4i) were next to be ruthlessly put out in Round 4 by 5 – 1, then Jossies Heroes (D5:28) succumbed to two first half strikes to leave the tournament, losing 2 – 0. Wasted eased past Esteagua Nobebere (D3g) 3 - 0 in Round 6 with all 3 goals coming from defenders before pushing past AFC Kirkby (D3d) 2 – 0. Yellow Devils FC (D1a) scored 2 but conceded 3 in the last 16 and, although proving very tough opponents that showed better ball control and created 7 chances, one more than Wasted, they could not stop the top flight team and Leonardo Xavi Moro’s 83rd minute winner proved the difference, sending Wasted in the Quarters by 3 - 2.

Power League Cup Quarter Finals

Xpert Arena
15th December 2013
Referee: Michael Steen (7/2)
Kick-off: 16:30

Flaming Galahs (158) v MM United (5)

Mario’s team had dominated just about all their opponents so far to reach this stage and it was no different against their Division 3c opponents, carrying 57% of the ball. IrishPompeyBlue lined up with a 451 formation, and, against the run of play, his Galahs took an early 10th minute lead when Randy Howson headed in Dave Macphee’s early ball for his 6th goal of the Cup campaign. MM didn’t panic though and responded superbly. Led by midfield maestro Pasquale Beleno, at the heart of their immense 5-man midfield, they controlled the game end scored a deserved equaliser 8 minutes later. Gualter de Faria whipped in a corner and up rose Beleno to power home and level the match. Neither side were giving much away and the Galahs improved in the second half but MM united were still on top, taking the game to their opponents at every opportunity. It was an early second half breakthrough that won the game from another corner. This time Beleno took it and swung the ball deep to the far post where lone striker Jonathan Nicolausson shrugged off his marker to get his head to the ball to send it back across the ‘keeper and in. It was a cracking game of football with MM United worthy winners going through to the Semi final.

Flaming Galahs (Howson 10’) 1 - 2 MM United (de Beleno 18’, Nicolausson 52’)
Man of the Match: Pasquale Beleno

Xpert Arena
15th December 2013
Referee: Al Beback (6/3)
Kick-off: 16:30

Akis 11 (75) v Wasted Years (9)

Wasted Years started slightly better than their Division 3d opponents but lost defender Siwert Brändewall to injury early on with Fulvio Heras his replacement after only 8 minutes. With another 451 formation, Lerga set up well to counter Akis 11’s 352 and had to wait only another 5 minutes for his team to go ahead. Influential midfielder Ludano Mondini rose highest in a congested penalty box to head home from Ross McNamara’s corner. Number two took a further 23 minutes and this time it was Leon Deemer feeding off a McNamara short pass in the area to fire. Akis tried to keep it tight with a strong midfield show and a 3-man defence that were putting themselves about a bit. But they couldn’t keep Wasted out forever and the top flight team went in at the break 2 – 0 to the good having converted two of six chances.  Only two chances each were the showing in the second half and a series of substitutions around the 70 minute mark kept the officials busy. The game flowed nicely as both teams looked to squeeze the game and get that all important next goal. Sadly, for Akis, it was Wasted who got the goal when Guy Boyd over-hit a passback that passed Juan Hector and in to gift Wasted their third. It was a terrific showing from Akis 11 but Wasted stepped up enough in the second half to maintain their advantage, keep Akis out and progress towards the semis.

Akis 11 0 – 3 Wasted Years (Mondini, 13’, Deemer 36’, Boyd 57’ og)
Man of the Match: Ross McNamara
 

Power League Cup Semi Finals

Xpert Arena
22nd December 2013
Referee: Frank Redkard (4/8)
Kick-off: 16:30

 

SL Benfica 4ever (40) v MM United (5)

This semi-final was a real battle for defensive supremacy that went all the way past 90 minutes, past 120 minutes to a tense penalty shoot-out.

SL Benfica 4ever, previous Cup winners in Season 26, have been rising through the Divisions over the last 10 seasons or so and in Andrebenfica have a manager who knows his craft. Andre lined up with an unorthodox 532 to throw a curve ball at Mario and negate MM United’s midfield. It was a ploy that did its job for the 120 dramatic minutes. Mario decided on a 532 line up to utilize the class and skill of his midfield men and defend from the front to protect his back line.

As MM kicked off they went straight up-field, getting the ball to Jonathan Nicolausson who held the ball superbly as support arrived. Jimmy Hallgren was having none of it and set the tone in the first minute by play-acting as he went in for the challenge. Frank Redkard, everyone’s favourite MIB, saw through the play and issued the first yellow to the Benfica midfielder.

Christopher Steen was doing some sterling work, as any captain should, and led his line superbly, throwing himself into the tackle and urging those around him to pick up any runners trying to support Nicolausson. Benfica were hardly giving any space for United to work with and certainly no time on the ball as they started to pick up the pace after a minute or two to settle in, taking the game to United.
On 13 minutes, though, the first shot a goal came from United. Nicolausson cleverly dropped deep to lose his marker and received up a great ball from Beleno. He latched onto it and struck a tremendous volley from 25 yards but too close to Hjálmur Halldórsson who held easily.

That strike gave United the boost they needed to take control of the game and they dominated the reminder of the first half. Marc Almheden and Beleno were spreading the play, bringing others into the attack and they put on a tremendous midfield show to sweep past the Benfica midfield to get at the defence. They were gifted the freedom to show their class by their Jan Dafgård and co just behind them.

Myles Batty and Lazar Markovic were doing a power of running and getting plenty of service from deep, switching play and holding when they could. But every time they received there was a United defender applying pressure, squeezing them out and harrying them over every blade of grass. It was a terrific defensive showing that kept out the Benfica attack, enabling the United midfield to be first to the second ball and have another go at Benfica.

The pressure for Carlo Gonzalvo and by the 32nd minute he had joined Hallgren in Redkard’s book for having a dig at a passing United player. The wave of attacks continued from Hunted but kept breaking in the last third as Steen et al held their shape and composure for the remainder of the half. Both defences were immense in that first 45 so much so that Nicolausson’s 13th minute effort was all either side had to show for their efforts.

The second half was no different as both teams went all out for a win, relying on their different strategies to gain an advantage. Benfica played their tactics well, going long when they could and unerringly always finding the target of wither Markovic of Batty. While the United defence, at five on two, were able to handle their guile, break the attack and send their own midfield away to challenge the Benfica back line

Andre made a couple of changes taking off the exhausted Lazar Markovic and ineffective Dorindo Mesquita for Carl Goulding and Ivan Roca on 60 and 70 minutes respectively. The play flowed though, still mostly towards the Benfica goal. Almheden struck a terrific freekick in the 72nd minute but Halldórsson stretched out a long tight arm and tipped the ball just over. The constant flow was starting to show on other Benfica players next in the book was Christopher Steen for a handball on 80 minutes. He was followed 8 minutes later by fellow defender Mariano Muños for more simulation. It took a minute for the MIB to set the wall back but the ball was flicked to Beleno whose sweet half volley scraped the post on its way past. Redkard added on a few minutes of extra time, during which, Rei Artur went down under a de Faria challenge and was not able to continue. On came young Norman Davis but there was no time for him to get involved as time was up a minute later.

Extra time meant tired legs and a single mistake would prove costly. 4 minutes in and Nicolausson got his yellow for pulling Steen’s jersey and he was soon followed by Hallgren who got his marching order in the 98th minute for handling the ball. Now it really was crunch time for Benfica: down to 10 men with 22 minutes, plus stoppage, time still to play but at least they were able to see out the remainder of the first 15 without mishap. Andre was gesturing frantically at the short break, laying it out for his players while Mario was pointing and encouraging as he made his expectation known.

It was the 10 men of Benfice that started the second extra 15 the brightest as Andre’s players responded to his frantic talk. No more launching up-field, they held the ball, passed it well and kept it from United as much as they were able for nearly 10 minutes. United were not going to be denied an oppoerunity though and on 114 minutes Nicolausson broke free and fired the ball to the ‘keepers left but, also, narrowly wide, much to Mario’s dismay. The teams battled on and before you knew it the whistle blew. Now for penalties!

United won the toss and opted to shoot first. The first three penalties went like clockwork with United Almheden and Beleno and Benfica’s Steen all scoring. Batty, who had had such a great game sent his well wide, giving the advantage to United. Felício Armas could have put United 2 ahead but Halldórsson made a terrific stop before Carl Talley levelled things up

Dafgård put his away easily and it was advantage United once more. Then Garry Raith smashed his off the post, United’s Oscar Grady sent his miles wide and so it came down to Carl Goulding to level the tie and make it sudden death. He calmly placed the ball and stepped back 3 paces, eyeballed Hallander ran up and…sent the ball high! MM United were in the final! It was heart breaking for Goulding who was inconsolable at the penalty spot but oncontrolled delight for the United players who ran across the field to celebrate with their fans. It was a tense but fantastic game of football. If nothing else, SL Benfica 4ever have the consolation that they will be crowned Division 2b champions and be plying their trade in the 1st Division next season while, for Mario, he has a Cup Final to look forward to.

SL Benfica 4ever 0(2) – 0(3) MM United (MM United win 3 – 2 aet & pens)
Man of the Match: Bjarne Hallander

Xpert Arena
22nd December 2013
Referee: Justin Thyme (5/7)
Kick-off: 16:30


Leeds Legends (186) v Wasted Years (9)

Leeds were this seasons’ semi-final outsiders and ranked at 186 but they were not there just to make up the numbers. MAKIN77 had them playing well in Division 4f in second place by the time of this semi. With a couple of Manager of the Round awards under his belt this term the young English manager was no slouch and had some impressive wins already, not least of which was a 3 – 1 win over Jamtarts F.C. in the Quarters and a 4 – 0 trouncing of Eden Park Knights the round before. MAKIN knew Lerga was having a good season in the top flight and were very solid defensively, lining up his players 343 to have a crack at Wasted.

Lerga stuck with a 451, trusting his strong defence and midfield to cope with his lower league opponents’ strong front trio, especially the pacey Marko Östman. Lerga was taking no chances at this late stage of the competition, determined to reach the final.

Leeds kicked off and immediately passed the ball around their own midfield while the front three covered numerous angles up front to confound the Wasted defence. It was a full 4 minutes before a Wasted player touched the ball when Ross McNamara picked Dan-Åke Artursson’s pocket and fed Leon Deemer

Some terrific passing movements had the ball quickly up to Christoph Schnabel who took a hit, earning a freekick 25 yards out. Geraldo Verri wasted no time and lashed the ball round the wall and past Rogér Villa: 1 – 0 to Wasted with only 6 minutes gone. It didn’t bode well for Leeds but they were not lying down and, indeed, were spurred on by that setback, upped the tempo and showed tremendous energy throughout the half as they matched Wasted run for run and tackle for tackle.

Captain Villa was raging at the goal and spurred his players on to close quicker and defend from the front. MAKIN was gesticulating likewise on the side-lines, already wanting more from his players. Marko Östman responded a bit too strongly only 2 minutes later and went into Thyme’s book for stamping. A lucky boy to get a yellow for a challenge that could have been red.

The play settled down, with neither side able to gain advantage: McNamara was a rock at the back for Wasted as he strolled around the back-line making sure his defensive cohorts  were always in position, always aware and on their toes as Aarão Vitória, Östman and Artursson tried to run them ragged. Leeds’s front men were putting in a great shift, darting left and right, dropping deep, making angled runs, interchanging as they did everything they could to create the space to receive the ball.
However, the ball never reached them once in a pulsating first 45 minutes. With the likes of Ludano Mondini, Julio César Zuñiga and Leonardo Xabi Moro on top of their game, it was Wasted that ran the midfield more effectively. With 5 club legends in the midfield, including Gert van der Scheelen and Leon Deemer, it was always going to be tough for Leeds to match the guile and craft of Wasted’s midfield generals.

Yet, Leeds’ four of Manne Markstedt, Pierre Schillen, Ignazio Puertas and Quitério Vasques just about managed it by showing tremendous energy and resilience to get in Wasted’s faces, put themselves in the mix as they broke up play time and again. And each time they got the ball the final pass proved elusive as one of Wasted’s back four always seemed to get in the way, ensuring Alexander van Otter was having a quiet afternoon.

The same could not be said for Villa at the other end. On 23 minutes Moro had a pop from distance that had Villa scampering across and the ball sailed wide. 5 minutes later Zuñiga smacked a header off the right post with the ‘keeper beaten before he saved from a Christoph Schnabel diving header 3 minutes later. For all Leeds’ terrific endeavour Wasted were creating chances through some top quality midfield play and MAKIN was helpless on the side-lines. He did everything he could to encourage his team while Lerga, equally active in the other dugout, was showing he was not happy at the numerous misses.

On 33 minutes Villa was called into action again but his dive missed Schnabel’s but, fortunately, the ball came off the top of the upright. MAKIN saw Artursson go down under a challenge a few minutes later but the striker got back up to run it off. Zuñiga tried a chip on 39 minute from close range and, this time, saw the ball sail over Villa and drop into the net to give Wasted a 2 goal half time lead.

Leeds made one halftime change: bringing on Nolberto Corrales for Quitério Vasques. Wasted kick off and, again showed their midfield skills by shepherding the ball around and probing at the Leeds defence. Leeds hardly got a kick but their energy paid off when they did. Against the run of play Schillen took the ball from the toes of Moro and fed Puertas in the box. The striker took the ball in his stride and shot under Otter to make it 2 – 1 with 8 minutes of the second half gone and got a clenched fist salute from his manager.

Now it was Lerga that was looking anxious. His team doesn’t concede many goals and when they do it’s as if he takes it personally so he gave Moro some lip, showing exactly what he thought of it. However, 3 minutes later Wasted has restored the 2 goal cushion. Moro played a great pass out wide to Schnabel who fired in an early ball to the near post. Mondini out-muscled the defence to get to the ball first and head in number 3 as we approached the hour mark. At least Lerga now looked more satisfied.

Leeds’ Artursson picked up a yellow for making more use of his elbows than he should have shortly afterwards. On 68  minutes Villa made a great punching save from a Mondini header and got very lucky a minute later when Schnabel broke clear to score before Thyme blew for offside. The MIB got than one wrong but Villa didn’t care and got the ball back into play quickly as his team were chasing the game.

Leeds’ first half effort and energy was catching up on them though and Wasted showed a more dominant streak in the second half, Leeds were now relying more and more on the defence and the frontmen were deeper now than in the first as it was clear the midfield were all a half a yard short of the Wasted players.

Lerga took off Schnabel and van der Scheelen for Victor Bird, a surprise exclusion from the starting 11, and Troy Spriggs as he smelled blood and went for it. They continued to press the play and squeeze the midfield to create another opening but it was Leeds that tried next. Schilled picked up a rare loose ball and pinged one into the area that Puertas got his head to but Otter made an easy catch. The play continued towards the Leeds goal and Bird finally had an effort, in the 93rd minute, but his looping header sailed over.

The match finished 3 – 1 to Wasted but Leeds gave a real good account of themselves and the quality of Division 4 football. Both managers shook hands at the end and went over to say thank you to their respective fans. Disappointment for MAKIN but joy for Lerga as his Wasted Years were now in their first Cup Final.

Leeds Legends (Puertas 53’) 1 – 3 Wasted Years (Verri 6’, Zuñiga 39, Mondini 59’)
Man of the Match: Ross McNamara

 

Power League Cup Final

Xpert Arena
29th December 2013
Referee: Warren Peace (5/5)
Kick-off: 16:30

MM United (5) v Wasted Years (9)

Now was time for the final and it would be contested by representatives from Portugal  and Croatia in MM United and Wasted Years. They had already faced each other in the league twice this season and neither manager had been able to get one over the other as both matches in Rounds 4 and 11 ended in 2-all draws. But one of them had to win today.

In the run up to the final both teams had shown strong defensive capabilities and had conceded only 5 goals each. Yet, while MM United managed to score 25, Wasted Years had put away an incredible 51 goals. Even deducting the Round 1 eleven goal aggregate from Wasted they still had an impressive tally of 40 goals from Round 2 onwards. But, as the league encounters had already shown there was little between the teams as they strode onto the pitch.

The teams for the starting 11’s were:

MM United:
4-5-1

G: Bjarne Hallander (C)
D: Jan Dafgård, Kingsley Rossell, Felício Armas, Matt Fletcher
M: Oscar Grady, Jon Sahlman, Pasquale Beleno, Marc Almheden, Gualter de Faria
F: Jonathan Niclausson

Subs: Feliciano Carraça, Marinho Brandão, Augusto Silvestre


Wasted Years:
4-5-1

G: Alexander van Otter
D: Ross McNamara (C), Fulvio Heras, Geraldo Verri, Norman Poppe
M: Gert van der Scheelen, Julio César Zuñiga, Paul Valenzia, Ludano Mondini, Leonardo Xavi Moro
F: Victor Bird

Subs: Kieran Woodward, Troy Spiggs, Ginel Daniliuc, Leon Deemer, Christoph Schnabel

Mario’s MM United kicked off and quickly launched the ball up-field and it was easily handled by the Wasted defence. Quickly into their usual flow, Wasted took the ball back towards United as they looked for an early breakthrough. Victor Bird was a bit too enthusiastic and saw yellow in the 6th minute for bulldozing over big Kingsley Rossell to reach the ball.

Even with a congested midfield the pace was upbeat, both teams full of running, showing a determined attitude to win the ball from their opponents. It was good old fashioned toe-to-toe stuff that had the fans cheering from first to last.

Both sides looked hungry and up for the fight, building from the back when they could to pick up pace as they moved up-field yet were patient as they probed and pressed for an opening. For MM United Pasquale Beleno and Marc Almheden were immense in the middle of the park. They directed play, probed for a weakness and were a calm presence in a sea of frantic action. They were confident in the ability of their terrific back-line, with Felício Armas in particular having an outstanding match as he blocked, tackled like a demon and set up the play from deep. He was marshalling his defence superbly to ensure that Bjarne Hallander had as little to do as possible.

Across the field it was Ross McNamara that was running the show at the back for Wasted. Never one to shut up he maintained his focus and composure and, again, made sure that his fellow defenders were always on point, ready with the tackle and sweeping up the ball whenever it threatened van Otter. Another impressive defensive display that laid the solid foundation for the likes of Julio César Zuñiga and Ludano Mondini to show their brilliance as they picked out the passes and varied their attacking options to get that all-important opener.

With both back line’s on song it meant that the opposite strikers Jonathan Niclausson and Victor Bird had to so a lot of running, nipping at defenders while looking for the space to receive and strike. But chances would be sparse and if this match was to avoid penalties it would need someone to be expertly clinical if a chance fell their way.

Unfortunately, for Victor Bird, his neat chip on 17 minutes wasn’t good enough as Hallander stretched out a big glove, tipping the Wasted strikers effort onto, and over, the bar. Zuñiga made no mistake 7 minutes later. Mondini threaded the ball to Gert van der Scheelen wide right. A quick feint van der Scheelen played a reverse ball at pace towards Zuñiga who put his laces through the ball first time from almost 30 yards out. The ball bulleted past the stranded Hallander who didn’t even move. 1 – 0 to Wasted end the blue end of the stadium was up doing the bouncy, bouncy.

The battle in the middle continued at a frantic pace, both sides not allowing the other to settle on the ball by closing the space and picking up the runners. It was terrific Cup-tie stuff and as the half was closing it was MM United to were on the ascendancy, controlling the ball and the midfield and defence played keep-ball with patience and craft as they probed for an opening. But Bird’s persistence paid off 4 minutes before time as he ran down a long ball at the bye-line. He fed the ball back to Mondini whose terrific vision picked out Paul Valenzia. The unfortunate Matt Flether was caught ball-watching as Valenzia broke through the offside and with Hallander late in closing down, struck the ball under the goalie and in for a 2 – 0 lead at the break. It was a terrific goal, against the run of play, and Mario looked delighted to get his deflated players into the dressing room for the half-time chat.

MM United certainly seemed more determined in the second half. After some early Wasted pressure they took a grip and looked to pass Wasted off the pitch. At one point they strung 18 consecutive passes together but, still, couldn’t find a way through the impressive McNamara who was a rock at the back. The play raged around the centre of the pitch and time and again United would take the ball, pass it around as they probed for an opening but Wasted were giving everything, especially Mondini, to make their own possession count to release an attack on the United defence.

On and on they United charged, knowing that time was ticking away if they were to pull this one back. Armas was particularly vocal at the men just in front of him. They were making great, beautiful passes but not direct enough for the big defenders liking. He rallied his defence to push up a higher line, squeeze the space and make his midfielders find the telling forward pass.

His rallying cry nearly paid dividends on 82 minutes United’s more direct play enabled Wasted to take control of the ball and strut their stuff all over the pitch. But Armas stopped another attack and sent the ball to Sahlman who pinged the ball up to Nicolausson whose knock-down found Beleno. The midfielder struck the ball sweetly but saw his half-volley pass the wrong side of the upright.

It was a real fright for Wasted and had their manager racing from the dugout to give his team pelters. His men responded well and were back up the field in a flash, only to be repelled by the United defence who were hanging on superbly. Then, on 87 minutes, came the killer blow for United. Mondini fed through Valenzia again but this time Fletcher was watching the man and blocked him off before the Wasted midfielder could get a run on goal. Peace had no option but to send the defender for an early bath as the last man. The big man was gutted but was already walking before the card came out as he knew he’d taken one for the team. Wasted kept the ball and it was all United could do to hold on and hope for a break but it was not to be and, after 3 minutes of extra time, Peace blew for time up. Wasted were the Cup champions!

What an exhausting 90 plus minutes of fantastic football! Lerga was in tears along with his backroom staff and most of the players, others were just dazed but they all found their way over to their vocal fans and celebrated like there was no tomorrow.

MM United 0 – 2 Wasted Years (Zuñiga 24’, Valenzia 41’)

Possession: 48 - 52 (50 – 50); chances: 1 - 3 (0 - 3)

Defence 17                                           Defence 19
Midfield  16                                           Midfield  17
Offence  11                                           Offence  11

Manager 3 Star                                    Manager 4 Star

MM United      Man Of The Match      Wasted Years
Felício Armas                                      Ross McNamara


It really was an excellent and dramatic game of football and a brilliant end to this seasons’ Cup campaign. This is Lerga’s first Cup win that was very well deserved and set him up for an unbelievable season in the Power League. Commiserations must go to Mario whose team could really have done with the trophy to make something special from a disappointing season but still they should be proud of their Cup exploits and reaching the final.

 

Power League review

Wasted Years were crowned Power League Champions, Season 30, for the first time in the club’s history. That old adage “it’s not where you start but where you finish that counts” was never more true for this season: the one and only time Wasted Years topped the charts was Round 14 after a last day of dramatic action.

It was a truly epic debut season for Croatian manager Lerga and his rankings should certainly improve after he added this fantastic League title win to his recent Power League Cup triumph. Lerga had already gone on record stating that this had been a great season for him and his club and said in a recent press release, “The thing is,  only some kind of miracle should happen in the last round that we could become power league champions....”

Well, sometimes miracles do happen but the Croat has worked hard at the game, at his management skills and at building this team that put him in the position for the “miracle” to happen.

Lerga has been in this game since March 2006 and took over Young Guvnors, as they were known then, on 24th July 2012, changing the club name to Wasted Years only two days later. In his first season in charge (season 26) he guided the team to the Division 4m title and followed this up the following season by winning Division 3g. Season 28 saw Wasted Years finish second in Division 2c and qualify for Division 1 via the play-off. They then went on to win 1b in season 29 to automatically qualify for the top tier, and we now all know what happened next.

Wasted Years’ debut season in the Power League is certainly one Lerga will not forget. They started the season with a late, late win over Season 29’s runners up Miffchaser United. Verri’s 93rd minute winner secured the points that placed them 3rd after the first round of matches. A decent start then it all went South as Wasted drew the next three games before losing to Celtic Hoardes F.C. in Round 5. The slide down the table continued against The Meat Cleaver the following week. Dayslipper saw his boys dismantle Wasted in with a 31 minute blitzkrieg as Monteiro, Soares and Pãtru went to town on the visitors. Five bookings later van der Scheelen scored an 86th minute consolation but it was the relegation zone for Wasted as they ended Round 6 in the danger zone.

A painful lesson in how to play top-flight football but one that Lerga took on the chin, learned from and used to motivate his players for the rest of the season. Splitting focus between Cup and League campaigns was using all of Wasted’s reserve but they steadied the ship in Round 7 with a solid win over CFC Gun Crime that lifted them out of the relegation zone. This was their first of 6 wins, and 2 draws, over the next 8 matches as they crawled up the table but, still, no-one could have anticipated the finish that would unfold and see them take the title. They completed the double over CFC with an excellent 2 – 3 away win in Round 8 and followed this up with a well-worked 3 – 0 win over the, then, league leaders, The Meat Cleavers, to remain in 4th place, one point ahead of CFC. Meat Cleavers, though, dropped to second as Steaua RedBlue FC (under new manager Viberg and renamed A.I.K. in January 2014 but referred to as Steaua during this review) took over pole after they won 2 – 0 over Miffchaser United.

Wasted took over third spot from Celtic Hoardes when they beat them 3 – 1 the following week while Meat Cleavers and Steaua exchanged places at the top but, the following week, they lost a bit of ground by drawing with MM united while both Meat Cleavers and Steaua registered wins. Positional parity was maintained but Meat Cleavers were on 22 points, Steau 21 points and Wasted had 19 and were only 2 points ahead of 4th placed CFC.

Round 12 handed Meat Cleavers a points advantage as Steaua and Wasted played out a 2 – 2 draw while Meat Cleavers took the points with a 4 – 2 over CFC to move to move 3 points clear with two games to play. A week later Wasted would pull back those points and gain on the leaders, putting them onto their shoulders as they turned the final bend coming into the home straight.

Dayslipper had the chance to virtually clinch the title in the penultimate round as Meat Cleavers hosted Steaua but dropped the ball as his Cleavers could only manage a 1 – 1 result. The home team were dominant with 57% to 43% possession , and 5 – 2 (3 – 1) on chances, as you would expect from league leaders at home. But, the point was more valuable to Steaua and kept them within touching distance of the title. While Wasted pulled themselves level on 23 points with Steaua, taking advantage of the top teams’ draw, by defeating The Merry Pranksters 2 -1 at home.

Wasted were now in with a shout in the last round and drawn to play Miffchaser, a banker for the points you would think. The last games were crucial and this one was going to the wire as Meat Cleavers payed away to CFC who were battling for their survival, while Steaua had a home tie with The Merry Pranksters, also battling relegation! However, Lerga knew that it would still take a miracle for his team to come out on top, a string of result to go his way should he get that all important win in the last game. His team were level on points with Steaua but 4 goals worse off while Meat Cleavers had a clear 3 point advantage over both teams just below them. All Meat Cleavers had to do was not lose and the title was theirs.

But sometimes the Xpert gods do deliver and results, somewhat unexpectedly, all went the way of Wasted and it was all change after a dramatic last 90 minutes of action. Steaua and Merry Pranksters fired blanks at each other during a bloody battle that saw 6 yellows and a red card shown as they battled for very different reasons. A home win could have seen Steaua win the title, a 3 goal away win would have saved Merry Pransksters but the draw did neither side any favours and Steaua dropped to 4th and Pransksters were relegated!

Celtic Hoardes F.C. turned over Meat Cleaver 2 – 1. Ant-62 had his team fired up and they dominated the match in front of a packed out home crown at the Fortress. The Hoardes were fighting to gain second spot but needed the win and other results (Miffchaser to beat Wasted and TMP to beat Steaua) to get there. Celtic did their bit and were well worthy of their win. The league leaders struggled throughout and this defeat cost them the title on the last day.

Wasted, meanwhile, went tonto on Miffchaser: totally dominant on both possession (61%) and chances (0 – 11) the goals came in the 3rd, 26th and 81st in this bottom versus third clash. Lerga knew at half time that his team were top and Wasted came out still flying for the second 45. The manager was frantic on the touchline and kept glancing at his assistant who had a radio stuck to his ear. They were just waiting on Meat Cleavers scoring the goals that would kill off their title chances. But the goals never came! As the clock ticked down the nerves on the touchline were becoming frantic. When Deemer scored Wasted’s third Lerga grabbed the radio and planted his head against it. It was painfully slow, one goal was all Meat Cleavers needed, one goal, just one…but it never came and when Beback blew for time the radio went into orbit! Wasted had won! They had actually won the title!

It was bedlam on the pitch, in the dugout and at the away end as the miracle they had prayed for came to fruition and, boy, did they party: Wasted Years were Power League Champions for the first time ever! It was an incredible way to win a title, from relegation contenders before the halfway point to winners at the death. They finished on 26 points, the same as Meat Cleavers but 3 goals better off, and a point clear of Celtic Hoardes who moved up to third. It’s never been more true that it’s not where you are during the season but where you finish at the end that matters. And, for Wasted, at the end of 14 rounds of pulsating action, they were on top. Unfortunately, the radio has not been seen since.

Lerga has now won 4 League titles in 5 seasons which is a tremendous record that stands with the best of them. His record, experience and standing coming into the season would have alerted the other managers as to just how dangerous an opponent he would be. But this style of win was not in the game plan.

Completing an incredible League and Cup double in their debut season is an amazing achievement and one that was the realization of considerable team and management effort which was begun pre-season with some transfer tinkering in time for the first Round proper of the Power League Cup. Out went youth ‘keeper Stanisa Duvnjak and young striker José Miguel Ortigão netting Lerga nearly 11m econ for the war chest. Goalkeeper Hermínio Carolino was released from contract as surplus to requirements. Young frontman Kieran Woodward was brought in and has already given a decent return in his 11 games to date. Also added to the squad was back-up goalie Ginel Daniliuc, who has recently announced his retirement from the game, and together they cost a shade over 720k econ. A shrewd piece of business off the field and showed Lerga’s belief and trust in his squad with such minimal transfer movements.

Without trying to single out any players in particular there were two whose efforts went a long way to securing the silverware. Wasted had the third best defensive record and only second highest in the scoring charts for the season, with 27 for and 17 against, and only 5 clean sheets in the League over the campaign. But step forward defender Ross McNamara and striker Victor Bird.

At 36 McNamara is the oldest player at the club. A legend he has now racked up 300 games and chipped in with the odd goal and numerous merits along the way, He was a rock at the heart of the Wasted defence and alongside Norman Poppe, ensured that Wasted were tight enough at the back to give the other players time and space to play and win the games.

At the other end Victor was doing a grand job of filling the onion back. The 29 year old striker, another club legend with 141 games under his belt, has scored 19 goals this term, 8 in the League and 11 in the Cup. The prolific striker’s efforts earned him the Top Goal scorer merit and was well deserved.

Overall, the current squad is very deserving of any plaudits that come their way but none more so than the implicit trust of their manager. Lerga has every confidence that his players can match the exploits of this season and possibly even do better as they enter the lion’s arena that is the Champions League next season.

But, spare a thought for Meat Cleavers and manager Dayslippr, the only manager this club has ever had, losing the title on goal difference after a goalless draw on the final day. Just a single goal in that match would have earned them the title from a campaign where they spent 7 weeks in total in first place. Another top tier debutant after winning Division 1a in season 29 they could, so easily, have won the title, would have but for a single goal and, some might say, should have for the performances they have put in over a tremendous season. But, coulda, woulda and shoulda don’t play in this league but they should still be delighted at their final showing over the season. Dayslipper is a great manager and has always had his team moving up the Divisions, always improving as they strolled up the Division from D8 to the Power League during the last 18 seasons, picking up 4 gongs along the way.

The Abattoir owners should be proud of what the manager and team have achieved this season. It’s a good, solid 21 man squad that Dayslipper has on his hands. He is nothing if not an honest and loyal manager, looking to retain the quality he has and not making too much changes via the transfer market. His last sale was Ferdinand Barnes way back in February 2013 and, although 36 year old striker Salih Kocabal has announced he will be retiring at the end of the coming new season, Dayslipper has, so far, only purchased young frontman Calvin Wotton. This shows the degree of loyalty the manager has towards his squad and, with a better understanding of the demands of this league, Meat Cleavers will be worth watching next term.

Ant-62 guided his Celtic Hoardes F.C. to a third placed finish in his 6th season at this level. An experienced pro, he knows his stuff having finished second twice before and winning the title in Season 26. Like other managers, Ant may have been surprised at how well Wasted and Meat Cleavers have performed this season, but that won’t phase the Englishman. An experienced campaigner, he understands the game inside out, and was one of the many managers who saw Meat Cleavers as dead certs for the title. His quality was on display in the final game when he played for DV by sticking some youngsters in the team and gave retiring captain Joe Young a cracking send off. Leaving with the captain were juniors Wyatt Harmer and Luther Lewington for a few econs keeping Ant’s squad trimmed at 19 players that still has 9 legends among their number. Ant already knows his aims for improvement next season so we could see one or two more changes before 31 gets underway.

Steaua dropped from second to fourth on the last day, finishing one point behind Celtic Hoardes. Ionutz1983 got them into the top flight via the play-off’s after finishing second in Division 1b in season 29 so it was disappointing to see him depart the club a couple of days before the last match with the team still in with a shot at the title.

Taking over is Viberg, a young Swede with nearly 8 years Xpert experience and currently ranked at 566 in Sweden and 2632 in the world. His first task was to rename the team as A.I.K. as he sets about tackling the rigours of this level. He doesn’t have a large squad to choose from with 15 players and the recent statement from Lou Ackleigh that this will be his last season was a bit of a blow. At 36, the A.I.K defender has decided to hang up his boots but will play on for one more season to help the new manager settle in. Viberg has already added experienced midfielder Valentino Panadic and striking prospect Chris Astley to the squad while selling on John Obymichel as he starts the rebuilding programme. We wish him well.

Ending the season with a draw gave Seachel the point CFC Gun Crime needed to avoid the drop. They ended the season on 18 points, one more than season 29 champions MM United. Seachel is always looking to improve the team, develop the players but it almost backfired as relegation loomed. In the last game he went defensive and shut up shop in the last game. He did enough to secure safety by the slimmest of margins and will play Power League football for the 6th consecutive time next season. Overall, he is happy at the development in his squad, already stating “The squad’s average skill is the highest it's ever been but will it be enough for the new season, only time will tell.” Time indeed. Always working away the manager knows he will be losing Kai Luger and Charles Browning, both club legends that are retiring after next season. He has a nicely balanced 18-man squad to choose from having recently added Aaron Beck and Nouel Minard after selling on Talitha Browning, Anton Flohr and Talitha Ruger in December. Next season should see CFC Gun Crime show their real strength and, possibly, contenders. We shall see.

MM United will play in Division 1b next term. A very disappointing show from the defending champions of Season 29 and MarioMeirelles is obviously disappointed at leaving the Power League after only two seasons. It was a difficult season for MM and his team, they were never really safe at any point, managing to get as high a 5th by Round 6 for one week only. As the defending champions more was expected but they failed to deliver and a Cup Final place, while a brilliant achievement, wasn’t enough to make for a satisfactory season. Yet it was not through a lack of effort on the part of manager or players. They managed only 3 league wins all season but were the draw kings with 8 matches that hampered their season, including the last day game with CFC that ensured the drop. There is certainly nothing wrong with the 16 players MM has at the moment but he has shown a ruthlessness that is needed in times of change by moving on Feliciano Carraça and Gualter de Faria. Joining the club are Marcelo Márcico and Riken Boroja while Daniel Migueis steps up from the juniors as MM prepares his side to take on all-comers in Division 1 and a swift return to the Power League.

Waynederanged sees his Merry Pranksters play in Division 1a next season after their 7th placed finish their reward for a poor second top-flight campaign. His opponents next season would do well to remember this is the same manager that won 5 titles in a row to get to the Power League for season 29 and Waynederanged will be looking for those kind of results to win again and be promoted. A bit of good news followed a poor campaign when all the squad signed on for at least two more years. And the manager has added defender Stig-Olof Björkander by promoting him from the juniors giving him a solid looking 19 players going into the next season. His management savvy and squad abilities make him a real contender for another title next season.

Woeful best describes Miffchaser United’s season. Just woeful. From 14 games they picked up only a single point all season, thus ending 5 years at the top table, dooming them to life in 1b in Season 31. Footballfever took over from Coach84 last October. They had just secured their first, and only, league point 3 days before and the new boss got a win in his first match: 1 – 0 over Turnbulls Tornadoes XI in the Cup. But it seemed the writing was on the wall and Miffchaser failed to earn another point for the rest of the season. However, Footballfever was learning about his new team and looked to get as much development as he could. Now with the season over, he has set about making his own mark on the team. Already out in December went Ashton Thurston, Lennox Roseblade and Derek Bergman, and following them out the door was Verner Arnelius as Footballfever added econs to the war chest. Gilbert Fröberg, Wallace Chopra (from the juniors) and Elton Guterstam have been added to the first team giving the gaffer 16 men to play with as he strives for some stability within the  team and build for a challenge next season.


Power League Season 39 final standings read:

1  Wasted Years
2  The Meat Cleavers
3  Celtic Hoardes F.C.
4  Steaua RedBlue FC
5  CFC Gun Crime
6  MM United
7  The Merry Pranksters
8  Miffchaser United

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

G – Ben Glock: CFC Gun Crime

D – Ross McNamara (C): Wasted Years
D – Geraldo Verri: Wasted Years
D – Lou Ackleigh: Steaua RedBlue FC (now A.I.K.)
D – Burt Pethick: The Meat Cleavers

M – Pasquale Beleno: MM United
M – Kai Luger: CFC Gun Crime
M – Rafael Felipe: Steaua RedBlue FC (now A.I.K.)
M – Cris Vassell: Celtic Hoardes F.C.

F – Victor Bird: Wasted Years
F – Codrut Pãtru: The Meat Cleavers


Congratulations to Lerga and Wasted Years for a season they will remember forever: League and Cup double success is a fantastic achievement. Commiserations to the losers and good luck to all for next season. The Xpert Daily managed to catch up with Lerga while he was busy celebrating, well-oiled but definitely not letting go of the two trophies he was clutching:


XD: Congratulations Lerga. Season 30 has been absolutely brilliant for Wasted Years and you have now added the Power Cup and League Title to the cabinet. How does it feel adding these two trophies to your Tipodrom Liga and Balkan Liga, with Wasted Years?
Lerga: As you can imagine, the feeling is incredible....the truth is, I never really thought that this could happen....I mean, there are so many great managers here, and so many strong teams...after being more than seven years at X11, it all makes sense now.

XD: The first 6 league games saw you drop some points (1xW, 3xD, 2xL) so were you concerned for your league status at all?
Lerga: At that point I was thinking only how to save myself from relegation in order to try again one more time next season, especilly after we lost an important match against Meat Cleavers because I totally forgot to set up tactics! I was so angry after that stupid defeat, but it proved to be a critical point to turn things in right direction.

XD: You rose through the league places steadily as the weeks progressed from Round 7 onwards but was there ever, at any point, a time when you thought “hang on, we can actually win this”? Also, your previous Power Cup best was two Semi-final appearances (seasons 26 and 27), was there a particular Round this season when you thought you could go on and win the Cup?
Lerga: Cup and the League are two different stories. In the Cup I was just playing match by match, with some strange self-confidence, feeling that Wasted Years can beat anyone, even in the final. On the other side, after the poor start in the League, finally from round 7 we started to play better. But I always knew that we were also depending on other teams’ results, all the way to the final round when we managed to reach the finish line just before our opponents. Through the whole season, the title for WS was so, so far away....I never really thought that we could do that.

XD: How were your nerves during the last match? You started the game in third place but were on top before half time. Did you watch the game through your fingers?
Lerga: I started that last match with two youngsters in the first squad, because I honestly thought that our chances are just theory. Meat Cleavers needed just one away point for the title, and also, Steaua needed just an easy home win against an already relegated team to be champions. My nerves went crazy somewhere after halftime, when I realized that the miracle for Wasted Years actually can happen!

XD: You joined the club in Season 25, way back in July 2012. Finishing 3rd in your first season you have excellent record, before this term, of 3 Divisional gongs and now the Power League and Cup double since taking over. Did you see this degree of potential when deciding to be manager? What attracted you to this club?
Lerga: You had to have to be blind not to see potential of that team 5 seasons ago. I was surprised when I took over, among almost 20 candidates. My first feeling was happiness, but, right after that, came the fear, with one question: Am I capable to lead these guys to the title one day? Fortunately...

XD: Is there any significance to you changing the club name to Wasted Years?
Lerga: Well, before I took over this team, I just left Classic league after long, long campaign with my first love Superhik FC. That story ended up with disappointment, and I was so in the bad mood thinking about spending time at X11, instead of somewhere else. Wasted Years is a great song from Iron Maiden, one of my all time favourite bands, and that name for the club seems to me just right at that time.

XD: Your 17-man squad looks good with only two youths at the moment and 13 legends on the books. Do you have any plans to add to or sell on to change the squad with the challenges of next season ahead? Or do you trust your squad to deal with these challenges?
Lerga: After the CR, my decision is to keep going without buying or selling any player. We are still strong enough and not that old for one more great season.

XD: You have recently turned 40 and have been in the game 7 years come March 2014 so are there any special friendships and/or rivalries that you have enjoyed as manager of the Wasted Years?
Lerga: Yes, I have just recently turned 40. What can I tell you? I still really like to play and, of course, I'm not gonna be here forever, but I'm not leaving in the near future either. All my rivals and friends in X11 come from my domestic league called PDL. It is one of the oldest and surely the best league which attracts managers from the areas of former Yugoslavia, mostly from Croatia and Serbia.

XD: What attracted you to the game of Xpert Eleven in the first place and what motivates you to carry on?
Lerga: I was invited into a PDL because those guys who created the league missed one manager to start it. They sent me an SMS and the rest is history. My main motivation is the interaction between managers, and good fun....just playing matches is not enough.

XD: The game itself has seen some changes in recent months. What do you think of these changes and are there any changes or improvements that you would like to see added?
Lerga: Changes are always good, but I think that is very important that playing a game should not be too complicated. Improvements? Seems to me that now, some formations like 4-5-1 are in favour against any other, especially classic 4-4-2 formation which is so, so underestimated, and also is unrealistic.

XD: Tell us a bit about yourself outside Xperteleven. What do you do in the real world, are there any other sports you are interested in, other hobbies or interests?
Lerga: In the real world I am husband and a father of two kids working as a store manager (lol) in a big supermarket and, as you can imagine, there is not too much free time in my life. I like every kind of sports, especially football and basketball, books, internet, travelling whenever I can.

XD: What inspires you in life, do you have any “heroes” you look up to?
Lerga: No heroes: in these ugly times we are living in a hero is everyone who live their life in a honest way.

XD: Finally, is there anything else you would like to add to this interview or say to your fellow managers?
Lerga: Greetings to all managers here at XP11, especially to my friends and rivals in PDL. Best wishes for all in 2014!


That’s it for another season folks. Many thanks to Lerga for agreeing to be interviewed and taking the time to speak to the Xpert Daily masses and congratulations again to him and Wasted Years on such a historic season.

Your Xpert Daily wishes everyone the best of luck for Season 31.