by pmchugh on Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:23 pm
FA Cup
Red Stick Cajuns (LSU) v Emo United (sam)
The Final
With RSC narrowly losing out in the title race they will be desperate to get some silverware this season. They will also be looking for revenge because it was Emo United who took the title away from them in the last 5 minutes of the season. Emoās chances in the league fell away a long time ago but after 2 good wins against Norfolk and DDU they booked themselves a place in this final. Which of these giants will succeed in claiming the last trophy of the season?
Teams
Red Stick Cajuns (lsu)
1. Buffon, 30, World Class
2. Ashley Cole 27, Excellent
3. Clichy 22, Excellent
4. Quaresma, 24, World Class
5. Alonso, 26, Excellent
6. C. Ronaldo 23, Footballing God
7. D. Bent, 24, Excellent
8. Lucas 21, Very Good
9. Kranjcar 23, Good
10. Zarate, 21, Very Good
11. Huddlestone, 21, Good
Emo United (sam levi)
1. James 37, Excellent
2. Cannavaro, 35, World Class
3. Lahm, 24 Excellent
4. Elano 26, Excellent
5. Fabregas, 20, World Class
6. Rosicky, 27, World Class
7. Torres, 24, World Class
8. Todd 33, Good
9. Mendes 29, Very Good
10. Walcott, 19, Excellent
Match Report
The match is off and it didnāt take long for Red Stick to get their first chance of the game. Ronaldo took the ball past Lahm before crossing it deep into the box. It eluded everyone in the box and Quaresma picked it up on the other wing, he fizzed a low ball in along the ground and Bent sent it goal bound. James stuck out a leg and stopped it from crossing the line before getting up to boot it clear.
Red Stick continued to push on but Emo United were defending well and making it difficult to create many chances, they did however get one on 27 minutes. Alonso shot from all of 30 yards but it was easily caught by James. He threw the ball out to Cannavaro but he wasnāt paying attention and Bent took the ball and moved towards goal. He shot high and hard, it was heading in before James redeemed himself with a good save to take it over the bar.
Emo did occasionally push forward as well and with 5 minutes to go before half time they put on some pressure. Fabregas led a good spell of possession for Emo United and they advanced up the pitch. Fabregas found himself with some space on the edge of the box and he shot, the ball flew past the stranded Buffon but bounced back off the post. It fell to Torres who shot but this time Buffon was ready and he palmed it out for a corner. The delivery was poor but the clearance only went as far as Rosicky who shot narrowly wide.
RSC came back out in the second half at a higher tempo once more. It was long before they were in front of goal once more and this time it was a piece of magic from Quaresma that set it up. He played a one two with Clichy before skinning Elano, he pushed on to the by-line before cutting inside past Cannavaro. Ronaldo had made a run into the box and he dinked it thorugh to him, Ronaldo chested it down and volleyed it over the bar from close range.
The game gradually became more and more intriguing as both sides looked for a winner. Emo got the next chance on the hour mark. Elano played it on to Torres who turned and drove forward. Cole made a sliding tackle but the ball only went as far as Rosicky who then decided to shoot from range, it had the keeper scrambling and it dipped down under the bar only for it to come back off the post.
Just 5 minutes later it was Red Stick who had the chance. Clichy played a good pass up the field to Bent who had Cannavaro hassling him. Just before the tackle was made he laid it off for Ronaldo who moved in on goal. He knocked the ball through the keeperās legs and it was heading for the net before Lahm slid in to make a great clearance off the line.
Despite the 0-0 score line the game was fascinating to watch with chances at both ends, but as the time neared an end all the chances were coming at the same end. RSC piled on the pressure looking for that all important goal. Alonso gave it to Ronaldo who then passed to Bent and then it was returned to Alonso. Alonso spotted Quaresma free on the other side and played it through; the Portuguese winger hit it first time towards the top corner. James dived but couldnāt reach it, it swerved at the last moment and this took it wide of the mark.
Extra Time
The first 90 minutes ended goalless so it was on to extra time to sort out the two teams. Their was limited chances in the first period of extra time as both sides faded a little but RSC did manage to make one. Ronaldo played Alonso in on goal, but Alonso took too long to shoot and it he eventually had to lay it back for Ronaldo. He struck it first time through a crowd of bodies; well not straight through it took a big deflection of a defender that fooled James. It hit the back of the net and the celebrations began. Red Stick Cajuns 1-0 Emo United.
The match wasnāt over yet and as Emo United proved last week the match isnāt over till its over. In the second half of extra time they pushed forward to try level it up. Lahm played a cross into the box from a distance and Torres and Clichy challenged for it. Torres won and directed his header down and away from the keeper, Buffon could only watch in hope as the ball headed for the far corner, it hit its mark and we go to penalties. Red Stick Cajuns 1-1 Emo United.
Red Stick Cajuns 1-1 Emo United.
Ronaldo 100-----------Torres 115
Send in your takers and keeper dives. Pick either left, right or centre for each and note that this time it will be possible for your player to miss the target completely or your keeper to fail to save depending on ability and randomness.