E.W.O.S #10: Matchday 3, Part II
More brackets!
It’s time for the final group matches in Divisions 1 and 2!1
Division 2:
Featured Match 1: Group C, Cabo Verde vs. Haiti2
Not the largest of crowds at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg for this one, only 32,000, but it’s still a critical match as exactly one of these two teams will advance; a draw will be sufficient for Cabo Verde. Haiti struck first with two Derek Etienne goals, one in the 6th minute and one in the 15th minute. Cabo Verde struggled to keep the ball much in the first half, and things were looking a bit desperate as the teams went into the halftime locker room. Cabo Verde subbed on Júlio Tavares at halftime, and were rewarded with him searing one into the back of the net in the 55th minute. This turned Cabo Verde on, and the pressure began to mount for Haiti. Cabo Verde outshot Haiti 5-1 in the first 43 minutes of the second half, but Cabo Verde still trailed. Cabo Verde had a corner in the 88th minute with everyone pushed forwarded. The ball was horribly misplayed and Haiti had the break on, with Etienne completing the hat trick on a run two-thirds of the way up the pitch. Haiti won the match 1-3 and advanced to the Round of 16 and a match with Northern Ireland in Bloemfontein.
Featured Match 2: Group E, Honduras vs. Vietnam
With Bosnia and Herzegovina just needing a point to win the group, and Papua New Guinea eliminated, this match decides advancement. A draw is enough for Honduras; Vietnam needs a win. Vietnam looked good as they opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a strike from Nguyễn Văn Quyết. Honduras retaliated 5 minutes later with a searing long ball from Bryan Acosta. The back-and-forth possession continued until Nguyễn Tiến Linh would find a hole in the Honduran back line in the 44th minute, to give Vietnam the 1-2 lead at the half. The second half opened with a quick blitz and Romell Quioto finding the net to level the match within 30 seconds of the start of the second half. Nguyễn Quang Hải scored in the 63rd minute to provide Vietnam with some hope. But 10 minutes later, Alberth Elis would put the match back on level footing. Vietnam would get super aggressive in the final 15 minutes, pounding the back line 8 times. But this also can leave a team open, and Honduras pounced and Elis scored again, putting Vietnam away, 4-3 final, and sending Honduras into the Round of 16 for a date with the Republic of Ireland in Pretoria.
Match Results:
Group Standings:
Some Thoughts: Estonia defeating Venezuela to advance was likely the biggest upset, and that match almost got featured (instead of the Group C match), but I like goals.
The Bracket:
Division 1:
Featured Match 1: Group B, simultaneous look, Congo DR vs. Chile and Norway vs. Greece
Going into the final matchday, Greece is at 6 points, and Norway and the DRC are at 3 points, so anything can happen! The first halves were not the most eventful. Erving Haaland’s goal in the 22nd minute was the only serious action of either first half. This put Norway in the driver’s seat to advance as teams headed into the halftime locker room. But Chile came roaring ahead to start the second half, Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal each putting one over the head of the DRC keeper and into the net in the 50th and 54th minute respectively. This didn’t mean a bunch, though, as 3 points did not look to be enough to get out of the group with Norway holding onto their lead. Even when a penalty would be called and Tasos Bakasetas would convert from the spot to even the match for Greece in the 67th minute, Norway still felt fine, as a draw would be enough here, unless the DRC could come back and cause some problems. Unless, that is, Norway conceded again. But in the 78th minute, Dimitris Pelkas slipped one from the wing ,around the post, and into the net, to give Greece the 1-2 lead, and that let Greece finish the match with a perfect 9 points… and Chile would advance in 2nd place on goal difference.
Featured Match 2: Group F, simultaneous look, New Zealand vs. Italy and Scotland vs. Iraq
Before we start the matchday, Scotland is eliminated and Italy is already through. Iraq is three points back of New Zealand, but the All Whites have Italy left and surely Italy can win that match, right? So all Iraq should need to do is beat Scotland. Both matches ended their first halves 0-0. For the second half, we now take you into the mind of an Iraqi fan watching their match at the Estadio Nacional de Chile in Santiago.
Okay, Italy should find the net eventually, we just need to score… YES! THERE IT IS! Aymen Hussein with the goal! …did he just score another 20 seconds after the restart? YES HE DID! WE’RE CRUISING NOW! …Scotland’s passing looks really bad right now, did they just kick it right to Hussein Ali WHO SCORES! UP BY 3! Okay, we should have this… … {now 69th minute} what was that? Lyndon Dykes unmarked in the box, tap in, and it’s now 1-3. Okay, that’s fine, the exact score doesn’t matter, we got this, and Italy has to score eventually. {9 minutes later} What are we doing out there? Miserable pass in the back, giveaway, and… yep, it’s in. Ryan Christie scores. 2-3. We’re going to blow this, aren’t we? … {now 87th minute} Ali is down… and it’s a penalty! Hussein will shoot… AND GETS THE HAT TRICK! 2-4, okay. Hey, what’s going on in Antofagasta right now? Still nothing? {2 minutes later} Hey, score update from the other match… this might be what we’re looking for… CHRIS WOOD? WHAT THE…? ITALY’S LOSING?!?
New Zealand defeated Italy 1-0, winning the group and making Iraq’s 2-4 victory over Scotland moot.
Match Results:
Group Standings:
Some Thoughts: Both Peru and Chile advanced (just barely, in Chile’s case), but have put themselves in the position of playing their knockout rounds no longer at home — now in each other’s country. New Zealand screwing with Italy is very on brand, and everyone playing knockout matches in Peru groans as they now have to deal with the Italians on their side of the bracket. Colombia is just a complete failure; far too sloppy to concede 3 to Israel like that.
The Bracket:
It’s going to be a while before I get to the knockout matches, as I’m going on vacation soon. I am considering setting up a release to go off during my trip, but if it does it will not be an EWOS post. I’ll probably get the Round of 16 going in about a week.
Have some buttons before I go:
2! actually does equal 2.
This was by far the hardest feature choice to make, but overall I’m satisfied. Hey, aren’t you just glad I stopped featuring Group B for once?