Tense finish instore for XFA

With the season due to end on Tuesday the top 5 teams in XFA premier are only separated by 10 points. Whats sure to be a tense tight finish to the title you can describe it as Sir Alex would famously call it sqeauky bum time.

Bostelle Vikings look the odds on favourite for the title. Leading the way currently with a 5 point but can't afford to get complacent and still have some tricky fixtures remaining. Leading the way currently with a 5 point advantage.

Liverpool Fc are next behind and have had a storming second half of the season after a a dissapointing start to the campaign. They boast the firepower of one Fernando Torres could he be the man to make the difference?

Superstar tradesmen are third but 2 points behind with Liverpool fc and a game in hand on the top 2. They will be looking to the pace and talent of Daniel sturridge in the final meeting with Botelle Vikings in what could make or break the season.

Tsapas FC are 4th after leading the way for much of the ealry part of the season but too many draws in the middle of the season seems like it may cost them. They boast the meanest defence and have the mesmerizing Sergio Aguero to call upon and recently acquried the Brazilian genious Kaka.

MicimackosTeam are currently sitting 5th another team that have been strong and contenders for much of the season. very organised and have the talents of Juan Arango in midfield to pull the strings have a game in hand on 4th and a better goal difference should it come down to it for deciding champions cup places come end of season.

The Tie of season that never was!!!

Now this may sound confusing but bare in mine its beta. What I'm referring to though is the UFFA Champs cup semi final between Superstar Tradesmen and Jason Robinson's The band. Now these ties much like the real champs league ties are over two legs.

1st leg From the Hob stadium.

Pre-match form had the tradesmen win the only encounter between these 2 sides. The tradesmen were looking for an away goal or two to make it easier for the second leg at home. They got one ealry on looking impressive during the early stages of the tie Daniel sturridge getting on the scoresheet in the 4th min.

In the second half the tradesmen collapsed follwing the sending off of Sergio Ramos. A Sobis hatrick an own goal and Fellah goal in injury time gave the band a healthy looking advatange for the second leg.

The game that never was.

El Diablo Arena Tradesmen needing 4 goals at least to give themselves a chance of getting through this tie. Now I have to get by on memory alone here. But an early goial seemed to loft the spirits a second after 20 minutes and it really was looking game on. The Band now looking for attacking options desperate for an away goal themselves to put the tie to bed then into the second half and 3-0 the tradesmen Jason was looking on in sheer horror and panic. Then suddenly momentum shifted again a silly sending off for the Tradesmen and a tense last 15 minutes to come. But incredibily 4-0 they just needed to hold for the last 10 minutes. When that man Sobis struck again with only a minute or so left. But out of nowhere deep in injury Trademen corner and Sonko far post and 5-1 we are going to extra time.

A tense 1st period of extra both side had chances but neither side could break through in this feast of attcking football. Then fate struck again just at the start of the second period of extra time an injury meant the tradesmen were down to 10 with 10 minutes left of extra time. But we will never know the outcome of this incredible tie as this precise point in the match the servers went down :(

The match was replayed with the band adopting a much more defensive approach and the Tradesmen winning the reply 1-0 but failing miserably to advance and Jason must feel like he had a get out of jail free card.

Ball and chain

Well theres a few things to catch up on but the 1st one for me is a congratulations to Dr Nik Reevito who was due to get married today. So Congratulations and hope the day went well for you and enjoy the honeymoon away in Greece/Cyprus I can't remember which. There was one burning querstion though.............did you wear the fabled red tshirt during the wedding? :p Lets hope that ball and chain handcuffs etc are not too tight when you get back and gw 4 hasn't turned to chaos with Phill banning everyone while you away.

So One night Only or one night not to remember? The event had its share of problems late start lots of lag, random bootings and some people just couldnt connect. I am told the data from the evening was invaluable to the SI tema in terms of getting the servers where they need to be. I know some people won't have enjoyed the experience but the time I did get in the gw was fun kind of and I got to catch up with a few old faces from gw 4.

One night only

So I haven't blogged for a bit since the breakdown in my xfa league last season. I have been busy trying to my team from slipping too far down the ranking ladder. I am so far 3rd in XFA prem but about 10 games in hand on the teams above. Got through the group stage in the UFFA champs cup so that wont get any easier from here on in. But strangely I find my team slipping down the world rankings am now 9th.

My post today though is about something SI have set up for a test tonight on some server changes they need as many people online as possible. So everyone is going to be transported into the gws 2-7 and assigned random teams and players for the evening. For those of us that have left other gws its a chance to maybe catch up. For people that joined later its chance to make a few new friends and a real party atmosphere is planned. So in the name of beta testing we get to have a bit of fun and possibly ruin teams etc for the night. Hopefully I can catch up with some of the old guys in gw 4.

Part 3

Superstar Tradesmen 1 Sporting Spalbeek 1

Another one of those games where the Tradesmen had probably done enough for a win but didn't quite get the result. De Smet got the opening goal of the game in the 40th minute when kucher for some unknown reason played a ball across the back 4 not to anyone in particular and left de Smet all the time in the world to latch on and score. The lead was shortlived though with Fernandao scoring just 2 minutes later A deep corner to far post knocked back and Fernandao buried the chance.

Superstar Tradesmen 1 Boca Juniros 1

If the manager of superstars had hair he would surely be tearing it out at this result. Dominated the game and still found themselves trailing after 53 minutes when leonel Nunez managed to lose his marker to tap in at far post. Then a second yellow was shown after Boca gave away a penalty only for Jussie to hit straight at the keeper. Sturridge was able to get an equaliser late on as ramon found him in space afer bringing down a corner and spining roudn to feed Sturridge.

Elssvill 0 Superstar Tradesmen 2

patience was the key here as Elssvill never threatened to score themselves but were intent on making life diffcult for the tradesmen denying them space and time and getting men behind the ball. It was Fernandao reacting quickest to Sturridges low drive that keeper could only plam away that opened the scoring. Emerson as a second half sub settled the points witha delightful chip over the keeper from the edge of the area.

Faccion All Star 0 Superstar Tradesmen 1

How the tradesmen only found 1 goal in this game I'll never some were saying extra firepower may be needed upfront. a scrappy goal Fernandaos shot saved stturridges rebound blocked and eventually jurado was there to tuck away. 15 shots at goal though and only 1 in the net was a cause for concern.

MU FC 0 Superstar Tradesmen 1

An early goal by Fernandao settled the nerves here a bit more Gapke feeding a throughball for fernandao and he cooly blasted into the top corner. A lack of ambition from MU FC meant that the Tradesmen had a pretty easy ride after an inspired performance from there keeper.

Superstar Tradesmen 0 Dragon Raja 2

The warning signs had been there in last couple of games and this was finally the game where poor performances cost them. Slipping back to 2nd in table as well after this result. Omar Ezparza opened the scoring a corner was not cleared. The second came from sloppy marking at a freekick runners not tracked and neat finish at the near post.

KKS Lech Poznan 1 Superstar Tradesmen 2

Josiel put Lech ahead in the 19th minute following up his saved effort. After that though is all about if the Tradesmen could and would respond in the right way. Sonko headed them an equaliser from a corner just 5 minutes later. intot he second hald Jussie found Sturridge in space and he produced a superb to smash home from an acute angle.

superstar Tradesmen 3 CSKA Capricorn 1

That man does it again a Fernandao hatrick destroyed CSKA and was about to set the tradesmen on a run which shaped their season. A trademark header from corner from corner for the opener, A tap in from sturridge's saved shot and a header from close range for the third. No more their play deserved today launching attack after attack on the CSKA goal.

Detroit Soccer Start 0 Superstar Tradesmen 1

The Tradesmen seemingly had just enough to see off a spirited display by Detroit. After the last meeting the game was always going to struggle to live up to expectations and thats exactly how this panned out. Fernandao's bullet header from the penalty area was enough to seal the win.

Superstar Tradesmen 3 Essentia 1

Gonzalez opened the scoring with a smart freekick from the edge of the box on 37 minutes. A throw in on right of the box was fed 1st time for Jurado to latch onto and hit 1st time into the bottom corner delightful passing. Emerson added the third in injury tiem when an awful back pass was presented to him and left him just the keeper to beat. The tradesmen seem to be really building momentum at the moment.

Superstar Tradesmen 1 OZK Hools 0

Not too many times this season the opponents have outplayed the hosts at EL Diablo Arena. Unfortunately though Hools had nothing to show for their efforts. The only goal this scrappy game came when Sonko headed home from a corner. The only other thing of note is the injuries to Kucher and emerson tho neither was as serious as 1st thought.

Real Milan 0 Superstar tradesmen 0
Another game lacking the drive to break through the Real Milan defence although having most of the ball and most of the chances it was defineatly a game to forget. Sebastien Frey the Milan keeper getting the man of the match award tells the story of the game.

Superstar Tradesmen 6 Faccion All Star 2

Back to vintage best here with another Fernandao hatrick and a brace from Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge opened the scoring from just inide the box shooting into top corner on 6 minutes. 23 Minutes and sturridge rounded the keeper to add his second. Just 2 minutes later sturrdge fed Fernandao and he slottted into bottom corner. On half hour sonko headed home a corner from the near post. Fernandao headed home unmarked 10 minutes later. On 50 minutes fernandao headed home his third from a corner. Faccion grabbed 2 goals late on but it was all over bar the shouting by then.

Arsevin 3 Superstar Tradesmen 3

An own goal from sonko was to cost the tradesmen all points here but it should never have really got that far. Jurado played sturridge a throughball and he beat the keeper at his near post. 2 fernandao penalties made it 3-0 job done or it should have been. Castillio somehow found the ball at his feet a coulple yards out and beat Harper. Defence failed to clear Blanco's shot and he made it 3-2. Then the unfortunate turned a cross into his own net.

Sporting Spalbeek 0 Superstar Tradesmen 3

Sturridge powered in the opener from the edge of the box to make it 1-0. Jussie's deflected finish found the top corner on the ht whistle to make it 2-0. The third was a rare headed goal from Emerson from a corner. The game was thougfh apart from the clincial finishing rather even.

Dragon Raja 1 Superstar tradesmen 1

Sturridge got the opening the tradesmen needed but ultimately it was to be fruitless today. Sturridge picked the ball up afdter a corner was cleared in his own half dribbled up the left wing past 2 defenders and unleashed a fierce drive into the far corner an unbelievable goal. But just 15 minutes later Kucher gave the ball away on edge of his own box Niang was able to pubish him for it. Worse was to come for Kucher though who was sent off for 2nd yelow late on.

Superstar Tradesmen 4 MU FC 1

The scoreline flattered a little as the game was more even then it looked. Fernandao from a corner opened the scoring and 4 minutes latter repeated the trick. Jurado added a third with his late trun into the box left him unmarked and knocked home a throughball. Then Jussie found Fernandao at far post and he knocked in yet another for his hatrick. Martins got a consolation late on.

Rothes 0 Superstar Tradesmen 5

Another game another Fernandao hatrick is there anyone who can stop him at the moment? Sturridge grabbed the opener outpacing a defender and slipping his shot past the keeper. Then Gapke beats the fullback crosses near post free header Fernandao. Nocerino found fernandao unmarked edge of the box 3-0. Then the third heading home from the corner. Jussie added the 5th in injury time.

Essentia 1 Superstar Tradesmen 2

Fernandao grabbed both goals as the drive to finish top is reaching its climax. Jurado to fernandao held off a challenge and smacked high into the roof of the net. The second after a scramble in the box from a corner. Things would get worse when Richardes was sent off. A goal back from james mcfadden gave them a glint hope but really the game was always out of reach.

Superstar tradesmen 2 KKS Lech Poznan 1

Fernandao gave them a perfect start intercepting a lazy backpass and rounding the keeper after 3 minutes. Then midway through second half a smart one two put in sturridge who drove past the keeper for 2-0. A late goal back for Lech was too little too late.

Superstar Tradesmen 4 Detroit soccer Start 1

Fernandao added his 3rd hatrick against Detroit for the season and all but wrapped up 1st in the league for the Tradesmen. Sturridge again with an early opener his pace and movement too much for the defence and powerful finish. Gapke fed fernandao and he finish from the tighest of angles. Then just beofre half time heading home sonko's flick on from a corner. The 3rd gapke again beating his man and this time fernandao needed 2 attempts to force it past the keeper.

CSKA Capricorn 2 Superstar Tradesmen 2

Fernandao knocked in after Gapke's cross was never cleared and Gonzalez freekick made it 2-0 but all eyes were elsewhere really as the tradesmen had wrapped up 1st place in the league. It showed as they the 2 goal lead slip in the second half.

OZK Hools 1 Superstar tradesmen 1

How they never won this game I don;t think they will ever understand let alone me. Early lead through Jurado and cruising through this game. Holls had just two shots al game and only 1 on target and the goal came courtesy of a Sonko own goal. Just about summed up luck on the day.

Superstar tradesmen 2 Real Milan 1

Final game of the season then and had to end it on a high no prizes for guessing todays goalscorers though. Fernandao from a corner trademark. Sturridge getting on the end of Gapkes long cross.

XFA season part 2

Dragon Raja FC 0 Superstar Tradesmen 0

A game to be forgotten were despite having double the amount of chances the shooting were left at home as failed to trouble the keeper time and again. The less said about this tedious affair the better.

Superstar Tradesmen 3 Faccion All Star 1

A brace from Tomas Banda including a stunning bullet finish from edge of the box to open the scoring got the tradesmen well under way. All star got an equalsier in the 1st half after ronald De Boer played a delightful throughball through was all they could muster. Bandas second beofre halftime after a cross failed to be cleared left the tradesmen all but clear with the points with Sonko adding another in second half.

Marinhense Under14 1 Superstar tradesmen 1

The early goal from super daniel Sturridge looked to be a sign of things to come in thsi game as the tradesmen dominated the game start to finsh but failed to kill off the opposition. A piledriver from 30 yards rescued a point for the outplayed Portugese side.

Superstar tradesmen 0 MicimackosTeam 0

A good display from from the highly placed challengers they had the share of the possession and chances but couldn't find a way to get that elusive goal. A game notable for for the bookings of the tradesmen. The tradesmen seemed to knocked off their stride with Daniel Sturridge also going off injured 1st half.

MicimackosTeam 1 superstar Tradesmen 1

A vasquez screamer from 25 yards opened the scoring here inside 2 minutes a goal worthy of winning any game really. Unlike the last minute the ball seemed glued to the tradesmen feet a think they got a verbal blasting after that previous meeting. Chances were fairly even though and the equaliser came after a corner was knocked back out to be crossed again and sturridge was unmarked to hit home.

Rothes 2 Superstar Tradesmen 1

Possibly one of the more most frustating performances of the season. Sonko scored early on from a corner onyl to get himself sent off 2 minutes later. another 5 bookings followed and some wodnr if the tradesmen were going to be left with 9 men at times. it was late on thouggh despite the numbers the game was going comfortably enough until the 78th minute. a shot that somehow beat the keeper from edge of the area then a few minutes later N'diaye hit a paeach from 25 yards keeper no chance.

Superstar Tradesmen 2 MU FC 0

Jussie playing a makeshift striker second half became the star in game where despite complete control it looked as if MU would holdout for a point even though they had lost their own star through injury in Martins. The 21st goal Jussie found half a yard of space from edge of the box and buried the chance. A clearance put Jussie held his nerve to knock over the keeper into the net for all three points.

Boca Juniros 1 Superstar Tradesmen 3

A fernandao penalty late on in 1st half got the trademen underway and he didnt wait long to add to his tally. A brilliantly worked goal sonko won the ball on half way line rolls into Jurado who splits the defence with a ball to sturridge who squared into the open path of fernandao and he blasted it home. Zuniga got one back when harper failed to hold a freekick and zuniga tapped in the rebound. Right at the death Sturridge springs the offside trap and neat finsh into the bottom corner.

Superstar Tradesmen 2 KKS Lech Poznan 2

Another game where the manager must be banging his head wondering what he has to do to get his team to win games like this. An Early goal from Sturridge after he was put through by Jurado rounded the keeper and smart finish into the empty net. Then came a sending off for the other side and on the half hour 2-0 after Fernandao penalty cruising. Then 55 minutes in a long kick from the keeper everyone seemd to be attracted to the header and player sneeks in behind to beat the keeper an awful goal from a defensive point of view. Then 74 minutes keeper comes for a cross never quite deals with it and tap in for the equaliser.

Superstar Tradesmen 7 Detroit Soccer Start 3

If ever anyone needed proof of how good and how much of a legend Fernandao is then this one game will sum it up nicely a double HATRICK from the man was more then enough to see off Jumpa Mann's Detroit. Fernandao gfot things going in the 10th minute after beating one man and driving into the top corner from just inside the area. 13 minutes Sturridge was in on the act outpaceing the defence on the counterand smashing home from edge of the box. 20 mintutes keeper does well to keep out Gonzalez freekick but unfortunately it falsl to Fernandao who knocks it in. Second half wasnt until 70th minute when Fernandao completed his hatrick heading home a corner. A couple minutes after a consolation goal from Ilhan for detroit. Then Ilhan volleyed home a cross and briefly looked as if Detroit were getting back into the game. The Fernandao took a throughball held off the 2 defenders to smash in from 6 yard box. A brilliant one 1 2 football Fernandao into Belghazouni and back to fernandao and smart finish into the corner. Dighuino headed home a corner for detroit to make it 6-3 but late late late on Fernandao gets a penalty and smashes it emphatically for his second hatrick. wow what a game!

CSKA Capricorn 1 superstar Tradesmen 1

Back down to earth with a bump here and very poor game in which a late goal from sub Victor Merchan had to rescue a point. A cross came over Fernandao was his usual nuiscance in the box and merchan reacted quickest as ball wasn't cleared. It could have been so diffrent tho If CSKA had hel on to the lead they had 8 minutes before. A ball upto the edge of the box and run not tracked allowed a shot from edge of the area 1-0

Essentia 1 Superstar tradesmen 2

Serge Gapke samshed the tradesmen into the lead on 29 minutesa as sonko laid back a pass
from a corner and Gapke hit 1st time. The seond followed just 4 minutes later as fernandao held the ball from a throw in laid into Emerson who jusrt drew a defender away to create a space for Jurado to run into from deep and place the ball into the corner of the net. A goal late on for Essentia little more then a conslolation. The Tradesmen now 3rd in the league and hoping to push on.

Superstar Tradesmen 2 Real Milan 0

A game where there wasn't a huge amount of chances on either side but Tradesmen were able to make the best of it. Emerson opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a smart run to get on the end of Fernandao's through ball and beat the keeper. Not until late in the second half Fernandao penalty made it 2-0. A pleasing result though with 3rd place beating 4th in the division.

Superstar Tradesmen 2 Elssvill 1

A poor start from the Tradesmen could have been costly if it wasnt for Daniel Sturridge to resuc them. On 18 minutes the keeper is completly beaten as hes out of place as an unxpected shot froma very narrow angle makes him look silly. Sturridge then started the comeback witha smart 1 2 with Fernandao and finish in the top corner across the keeper. wasn't until 80th minute that he was able to seal the points nicking the ball from a defender rounding the keeper and tapping into the empty net.

OZK Hools 1 Superstar Tradesmen 1

Confidence was high after 3 straight wins but this was not to be today after another game where not putting away chances cost the them 2 points. Fernandao headed the 1st from a corner and that was the only goal of the 1st half. On the hour mark poor marking from a cross left Coro alone from 6 yards was not going to miss. The point did take the Tradesmen upto 2nd in the table now though.

Superstar Tradesmen 3 Rothes 1

Revenge was on mind for the tradesmen and they quickly set about making sure it happened. Fernandao knocked in one of his trademark headers froma corner for the 1st. Sturridge witha wonderful finish for the second5 minutes into the second half. Iwelumo threatened to get Rothes back into the game late on heading home a freekick but Fernandao's shot was aved but rebound was knocked in by sub Emerson and the points were in the bag.

Superstar Tradesmen 5 Arsevin 1

Fernandao destroys another team with hatrick. A smart header from 6 yards for the 1st on 11 minutes. reacting quickest to Jurados saved shot left the goal open for a tap in for his second. Smashed his 4rd in second half after being found inspace by Merchan in the box. A header from Sonko and a close range finish Sturridge rounded off the scoring for the Tradesmen.