New Nation, New Team
The Utanian nation is very new to the world, and it would be difficult to expect
that the team would have performed as well as it has so far. And yet, neither the
people of this nation, nor the players, the staff or the UFA are satisfied that
the very best Utania has to offer has been seen on the international playing field.
Appearances have been as follows:
IVEFA Vexcup 302
This tournament is yet to be played, but Utania has certainly put itself forward.
IVEFA Vexcup 301
Despite dogged determination from Coach George Newton, the Crusaders was shattered
with a disappointing two 2-0 losses at this tournament.
On December 9th, Utania was downed 0-2 by Vingarmark, despite strong vitriol
from Newton about how the Vinnish "were just not ready" for the world stage. It
seems they were.
And then, on December 12th, the team lost 2-0 to Eastern Delgamia, before a
crowd of 19,500. At the time, commentators described the Crusaders as "quite a
promising team" lacking training facilities.
Yet, the truth was that the UFA was not ready, still desperately trying to
evict the corruption from its midst, it was unable to provide the level of support
to the Crusader team that was required.
Goals: None.
Vexgames 301
In August 301, Utania participated in the Vexgames, and the UFA was called upon to
provide a football team to the Lamb's Cove games. Their first match was against
Morania on August 19, 301, in Lamb's Cove's Wyannoch University, before a crowd of
22,100. With Morania close to the games, thousands of fans packed the stadium and
provided moral support to their national team. The Utanian team, therefore, came out
fighting, Satura scoring the first goal in the 14th minute. The half ended with
Utania leading 1-0, but the Moranians fought back in the second half, scoring 24
minutes in. With the scores level, the game could have gone either way, but, twenty
minutes after the equaliser, Utanian defence lapsed and a second Moranian goal was
scored with only 90 seconds-plus extra time left on the clock.
Goals: Satura.
IVEFA Vexcup 300
On January 17th, 301ap, Utania played in her first Vexcup football tournament,
against Udan-Woo, and defeated the Wallabies 4-3 before a capacity crowd of
over 100,000 people in the Northway Coliseum, Westria. Utania was the "new kid" on
the old continent "block", and had much to prove.
David Satura was the first to score after only ten minutes, with a cracking
volley into the goals. The second would come after a Satura charge at goal was
fouled, and Satura would score off the penalty in the 43rd minute.
Udan-Woo would end the first half 2-0 down, but came back firing in the
second, scoring an early goal, before West replied 17 minutes later with Utania's
third. Four minutes later, and then another five minutes, Utanian defences had
been caught napping: two more goals to Udan-Woo set the scores level at the 83rd
minute mark, 3-3. Only an injury-time 91st minute goal by Satura pushed the score
4-3, and gave Utania her first international victory.
It being the first international Utania played, it raised expectations
greatly.
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IVEFA Vexcup 300, continued...
However, nothing would prepare Utania for the following 3-0 loss to Westria,
one of Vexillium's champion teams on January 21st.
The setting was at the same stadium, but this time with over 110,000 patriotic
Westrian fans screaming for their beloved Diamonds. Utanian players were simply
outgunned. Three Westrian goals in the 25th, 41st and 59th minutes would remain
unanswered throughout the entire game, though, not for lack of trying by the
Utanians.
Utania was credited with having done a lot better against Westria than the
hapless Wallabies -- who lost 6-0 -- and having performed admirably at this
tournament with one win and one loss.
Goals: Satura (3), West.
UOCFA 300
Utania's first international tournament was the Old Continent cup, and their very
first international match was against Armatirion, in September 300, when
paranoia of the superpower was at its height. Utania's team excelled, despite adverse
conditions in Ailati, drawing the match 1-1, with Satura scoring the first ever
international goal, eight minutes after the Armatirians went one up at the 31st
minute.
The tournament then had the Armatirians and Utania facing off at Luka's
National Football Stadium, here in Utania. In front of 69,000 screaming Utanian fans,
the game remained scoreless for the first half, and almost did in the second half,
until Armatirion's Dodds fouled veteran forward Jarama Kendol, 20m from the goal.
The ball curved over the defensive-wall, down into the corner, shaving past both
the crossbar and side post. The crowd exploded into rapturous applause and cheering,
spurring the defenders to hold the 1-0 lead, and for Utania to win its first
international face-off.
However, without mercy, the Utanian team was next to face Whitlam. Played at
Holy Imperial Park Stadium, Argaal, Namuria, the game was watched by 100,000 people
in the enormous stadium. Whitlam were very much stronger than the fledgling Utanian
team. Andrew Ramali was cautioned with a yellow card in the 24th minute for shoving
Whitlam's Sinisterfoot, and, under constant pressure, Ramali made the same mistake
twice, holding Sinisterfoot back from the ball by his jumper. It resulted in a
controversial second yellow card, and saw Ramali sent from the field. Whitlam got
a free kick, and Krizhobolya managed to turn the situation into a 1-0 lead they
would hold until half-time.
Shaken before the break, the 10-man Utanian side returned to the field with
renewed passion. Despite attacking the ball regularly, their one-man short in defence
paid dividends for Whitlam a second time, Al-Dhabi scoring in the 52nd minute. It
would be midfielder Graham Gaddich who would strike, sneaking ahead of the strikers
and ploughing the ball into the back of the net in the 68th. Unfortunately, Whitlam
would score again in a way that sent the stadium into a roar of approval. Fortunately,
though, there was only six more humiliating minutes for the defeated Utanians to
endure.
Utania ended the tournament with a 1-1 draw and 1-0 victory over Armatirion,
followed by a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Whitlam. Goals: Satura, Kendol, Gaddich.
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