AM Chain Draft First Knockout Round

[2Smokeyy]

Spoiler: SMOKEYY JONES VS FEWTCH

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The fourth knockout game of the tournament sees the managerial duo of Smokeyy Jones take on Fewtch United, aka Randomiser FC. Will they able to get a result knowing there isn't a single coach on their bench?

The early indications are no as Smokeyy Jones dominate proceedings to start off. Michael Laudrup in particular is causing the opponents all sorts of problems popping up in different positions, and United struggle to keep track of his movement. He gets the ball of Matthaus and drives towards the box, before slipping the ball in to Messi...

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And his low shot just wizzes past the post!! He was inches away from the opening goal. Worrying signs for Fewtch United.

A few minutes later, Smokeyy Jones are on the attack once again with Neymar advancing down the wing. He toys the with the defender before firing in a low cross that's initially cleared, but only reaches Messi just beyond the penalty spot...

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This time the GOAT makes no mistake!! 1-0 to Smokeyy Jones as Messi slots it past his countryman in goal with a low bending shot!! A deserved lead after totally dominating the game to this point.

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Great celebrations from the holy trinity up front!!

The game looks like it's heading in only one direction as we kick off after restart. Smokeyy Jones win the ball back easily and look to monopolise the ball again, but this time a slip from someone named Jurgen Kohler presents the ball in a dangerous position for Fewtch United. Martial pounces on it and looks to have a go...

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The ball goes just wide!! A letoff for Smokeyy Jones who had started to grow complacent with their dominance!!

@2Smokeyy gets up off the bench to address his players:
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That seems to have woken the team up and they are once again on the attack. Some clever interplay between Neymar and Laudrup leads to an opening in the box for a certain Uruguayan...

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But he can't keep his shot down!! He should've tested the goalkeeper from there!!

Fewtch United manage to stem the tide of pressure and keep it 1-0 as we head into the break.

The second half begins with a surprising double sub as Forlan and Hagi come on for Neymar and Suarez. No indications whether it was injury related or tactical.

The change in personnel doesn't seem to effect Smokeyy Jones as they continue to probe in search of a second goal. In fairness to Fewtch United, they manage to limit their opponents to shots from distance that barely trouble the keeper as Smokeyy Jones struggle to find a clear way through.

With frustration starting to build slightly, Messi decides to take matters into his own hands. He vacates his forward position to come deep and demands the ball, before turning and driving at the defence...

He carries on gliding past opponents with ease as he closes in on the box...

After slight hesitation...the referee rules penalty!! Fewtch United are fuming, but Arsenal-Mania's ad revenue still isn't enough to be able to afford VAR technology!! Smokeyy Jones will have an opportunity to double their lead from the spot...

And the GOAT does it again!! Sends the keeper the wrong way to give Smokeyy Jones a commanding 2-0 lead!!

Not content with the two goal advantage, Smokeyy Jones win the ball back almost immediately after the kick off and look to hit Fewtch United on the break. They find their main man up front and let him go to work...

And he completes his hat-trick!! Some brilliant work from the Argentine to send two defenders the wrong way before finishing with his weaker foot giving Smokeyy Jones a 3-0 lead!!!

Fewtch United look a beaten side and with no manager to change things up, the game starts to settle down as we go into the final minutes. With minimal stoppage time expected due to a lack of changes, the game looks to be heading towards an uneventful ending until we see movement on the Smokeyy Jones bench...

It appears that @2Smokeyy has donned a kit and is attempting to sub himself into the game!! An unprecedented situation as the players and referee are equally confused!! The referee informs him that he was not registered with the playing squad and cannot come on!! He drops to the ground devastated:

Even without 2Smokeyy's contributions, his and @jones team will take some stopping with Messi in this kind of form.

Smokeyy Jones 3-0 Fewtch United

that was a class read lmao well worth it.

 

[A_G]

Spoiler: ONLYONES VS GDEEP ROVERS

Nevermind Liverpool-Everton, this is the real friendly derby. Although the buildup has been anything but, with GDeep refusing to look past “Henrygate”:


OnlyOne seems unbothered by the noise:


The pre-match handshake was cordial enough:





The game starts with both teams looking to press high up the pitch, so possession changes hands quickly early on. Ronaldo Nazario tries to pounce on a loose touch from Nathan Ake and has a shot at goal...



Early save for Szczesny!!

The GDeep Rovers grow into the game after sensing a weakness in the OnlyOnes defence and are back on the attack, with Bergkamp pulling the strings. He looks to thread a ball for Lampard who gets tugged back by Xavi...



First yellow card of the game.

The resulting free kick comes to nothing and as soon as Xavi gets the ball, he gets shoved to the ground with some force...the referee is walking over again...



Another booking, this time for the Dutchman. The bad blood between the two managers seems to be transmitting to the players.

The GDeep Rovers eventually win the ball back and continue to bomb forward at every opportunity. Sagnol gets free down the right and whips in a cross aiming for the edge of the box...



Bergkamp catches it sweetly on the volley....



Brilliant save from Szczesny!! It looked destined for the back of the net before the Pole got a firm hand to keep it out.

The OnlyOnes look to regroup with their manager belting out instructions from the touchline:

Whatever that meant, it seems to have had the desired effect as they break forward quickly to put the GDeep Rovers under pressure. They look to take advantage of their opponents lack of width as Mbappe gets the ball in a dangerous position. He squares up the defender before dropping a shoulder and bursting to the outside...



He gets clattered by Ashley Cole and the referee points to the spot!! Penalty to the OnlyOnes!!!

A debate ensues between Henry and Mbappe over who will take it, and the younger Frenchman gets the nod...



The referee blows his whistle...Mbappe with a stuttered run up....



Oh dear, he's put it wide!! Mbappe lowers his head as Henry glares at him!! Let's check on OnlyOne:

He knows how crucial the opening goal would've been!!

That scare causes GDeep's side to retreat slightly as the game descends into a slower, more tactical affair. As we go towards halftime, Lampard looks to break forward and exchanges passes with Pirlo. The Italian tees him up just outside the box and he has a go....


Just goes over!!! 0-0 at halftime.

The OnlyOnes make a change coming out of the break, with Hulk replacing Mahrez. The second begins much the same way the first ended, as both teams cancel each other out. The midfield battle is proving to be crucial, with GDeep playing a diamond and flooding the central zones. The OnlyOnes look to use their advantage out wide, with Henry and Mbappe constantly interchanging. The former gets played in on the left by Xavi and waltzes past Sangol on the inside...he aims for the far post...



Off the post and out for a goal kick!!! Henry beat the keeper all ends up but can't generate quite enough bend on the ball to keep it inside the woodwork!! He was inches away from opening the scoring.

GDeep senses a vulnerable moment in the game for his side and sends on Gabriel Batistuta. The Argentine gets an immediate opportunity with the ball at his feet and fires a shot at goal, but it goes over. Further substitutions follow for Rovers as they look to take back the initiative in the second half.

Pirlo gets on the ball in his own third and looks to find a pass, but before he can go through his options he has it nicked off his toe by Mbappe. The Frenchman gallops through the space left in behind and plays a reverse ball for Henry...



Off the crossbar!!! For the second time this half, Henry smashes the ball into the frame of the goal!! Somehow it's still 0-0 and his manager is starting to get wound up by what he's watching:

Into the last 10 minutes and nerves are starting to set in as both sets of players are desperate not to be the ones to make the decisive mistake. A few potshots from Lampard and Batistuta come to nothing, but GDeep Rovers have a corner kick. The ball comes in and initially gets missed by the players going for it before someone ghosts in at the back post...



Sonny Andersons scores!!! The super sub comes on and nods in at the back post to make it 1-0 to GDeep Rovers!!! Wild celebrations from the team and the manager:

With not long left to go, the OnlyOnes throw as many men forward as possible to find a goal. They pump the ball into the box but it gets dealt with by Stam and Nesta. With Rovers retreating, the ball comes right back down to their end of the pitch as the OnlyOnes look to create one more chance. Henry plays in Arshavin down the left and he dinks in a cross, but it gets cleared right back to him. He decides to play the ball along the ground this time and it finds Thiago, who shapes to shoot before playing Lewandowski through on goal...Barthez comes rushing out and Lewandowski calmly dinks the ball over him...



Cleared off the line!!! Yet another chance goes begging for the OnlyOnes as Cole makes a match saving clearance to deny Lewandowski!!

That proves to be the final action of the game as OnlyOne's side waste several incredible chances to score. A missed penalty, hitting the post twice and goal line clearance prove to be impossible to overcome as OnlyOne snaps post match:

A real smash and grab for GDeep...

OnlyOnes 0-1 GDeep Rovers

 

[Sapient Hawk]

Spoiler: REX ROVERS VS SAPIENT HAWKS

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The second of tonight's tripleheader features one of the biggest mismatches of the knockout stage, as commissioner Rex's side take on the motley crew assembled by @Sapient Hawk.

The Rex Rovers team have confused looks on their faces as they go through the pre-match handshakes with the Hawks. The opening kick-off sees a classic Sapient tactic as they start the game with Lorik Cana booting the ball as far as he can into the opposing half. The Rovers get on the ball quickly and look to play through midfield, but the hard nosed physical Hawks make it difficult with Cana in particular flying around tackling anyone in sight.

The Rovers manage to get free down the left and it leads to a Denis Irwin shot, but it's comfortably saved by Andre Arendse. The rebound comes out to Figo, who drops a shoulder and heads for the byline before aiming a cutback into the box...

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And it's struck home by Stoichkov!! A powerful finish into the roof of the to give Rex Rovers a 1-0 lead!! The Hawks' early resistance is broken!!

They respond to the setback by trying to get even more physical and press more intensely. They seem to be a step too slow in each challenge and eventually their main man in midfield pays the price:
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The Hawks' deep block is making it hard to play through, so the Rovers resort to shots from distance to test the keeper. The first few don't hit the target, until a clever first touch from Hernan Crespo gives him some space on the edge of the box. He swivels and aims a shot towards the far post...

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It cannons off the post!! The Argentine is inches away from doubling the Rovers' lead, and the Hawks the have the frame of the goal to thank!!

This passage of play gives the Rovers some more confidence and they come forward in numbers again, moving the ball quickly to find a way through. Irwin's cross is too high for Crespo and comes out to Figo, who plays it inside for Raul. The Spaniard shapes to shoot, but slips a pass through after the defender commits himself...suddenly Crespo is one on one with the keeper...

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And this time he finds the net!! 2-0 to Rex Rovers after a brilliant and unselfish bit of play from Raul!! The Sapient Hawks look to their bench for encouragement from the coach, but he seems more interested in the sandwich he's now tucking into!! This could get ugly for the Hawks!!

The teams go into halftime knowing that it will take a significant turnaround for the result to change.

The second half begins with a surprising shift from the Hawks, as they switch from a direct style to a more possession based approach. They look to work the ball and hope their physical advantage in midfield will overpower the more diminutive Rovers side. Cana drives with the ball and has a shot, but it's charged down by Zanetti. The rebound falls kindly for Dwight Yorke who doesn't think twice...

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He unleashes a powerful strike at goal...

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Stunning save from Casillas!!! He used all 5'11 of his frame to get a firm hand to the ball when it looked destined for the top corner!!! The first real scare for Rex Rovers and signs of life for The Sapient Hawks.

The uptick in play from the Hawks seems to spook the Rovers and they make several substitutions to wrestle back the momentum. They manage to see off the initial waves of pressure and are now back on the attack themselves. The newly subbed on Veron plays a one-two with Raul and seems to be through on goal...

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He was clipped from behind!! He goes down and after a few seconds of thought, the referee points to the spot!!

No arguments from The Hawks who realise it was a stonewall penalty, set to be taken by the opening scorer and Chicago Fire legend Hristo Stoichkov.

The Bulgarian steps up...

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Saved!!! Somehow the South African guesses the right way and keeps it out!! It's still only 2-0, although we're heading into the closing stages.

The Sapient Hawks look to throw men forward to at least get one goal and make it a nervous end to the game for Rovers, but the opposing defence stands firm. Another ball gets lumped into the box, and falls to the feet of Frank Sinclair after pinballing around...

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Frustration as his shot balloons into the crowd. That ends up being the last action of the match, as the Rex Rovers move on to the quarter-finals.

Rex Rovers 2-0 Sapient Hawks

Gg @Sapient Hawk was dreading a late winner from Mr Deane.



France vs Argentina 2018 WC vibes.

Well played @Rex Caudillo & good luck going forward.

I was hoping my chef's special delivered pre-match to the Rovers suite would've levelled the playing field.

Perhaps next time.

 

[The Ducking Duck]

All of the Henrygate drama for that?

 

[dashsnow17]

Lol he’s been done in by a player he’s never heard of

 

[OnlyOne]

Sonny Anderson? Really?

Also interesting Henry had a dreadful tournament, I see exactly what’s happened.

 

[OnlyOne]

What a sad little draft

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Gagan deeeeeeeep

 

[A_G]

Sonny Anderson? Really?

I couldn’t believe it either

 

[GDeep™]

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Feel like I’ve got justice for the whole draft.

 

[GDeep™]

Great write up btw @A_G. Thanks for the effort.

 

[GDeep™]

 

[OnlyOne]

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You’re a horrible pig.

 

[JMB]

All the time you talk about Henry and Mbappe... but I didn't see them today. I saw Sonny Anderson, that was key to the game.

 

[GDeep™]

Sonny Anderson was a top player btw, in today’s era he would be a top 5 world striker. Back then he was probably outside Europe’s top 20 due to striker depth.

 

[albakos]

Sonny Anderson was a top player btw, in today’s era he would be a top 5 world striker. Back then he was probably outside Europe’s top 20 due to striker depth.

Same like Lucas Digne

 

[dashsnow17]

All the time you talk about Henry and Mbappe... but I didn't see them today. I saw Sonny Anderson, that was key to the game.

Reading this in Hansen’s voice

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Sonny Anderson was a top player btw, in today’s era he would be a top 5 world striker. Back then he was probably outside Europe’s top 20 due to striker depth.

Goal record with Lyon was second to none.

 

[A_G]

Reading this in Hansen’s voice

Lawrenson would chime in with “Anderson could play for your GDeeps, your dashsnows, your 2Smokeyys of this world”

 

[JMB]

Reading this in Hansen’s voice

This was the voice I was aiming for.