Academy Matchday #3 - Winners, Losers & VAR Rants

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Another intense matchday in the SSL Academy League delivered everything - high-scoring battles, controversial penalties, dominant performances, and teams vowing revenge. From Jakarta's attempt to keep up with Port Royal’s firepower to Istanbul’s roughest night of the season, every game had its own story. Let’s break down the action, starting with a goal-fest between PS Jakarta and Port Royal FC.

Jakarta3:5  Port Royal - A Goal Filled Thriller

If you love goals, this was the game to watch. Port Royal FC and PS Jakarta went head-to-head in an end-to-end match that saw defenses struggle and attackers thrive. Right from the start, Port Royal took control, with B. Sinclair putting them ahead in just the 3rd minute. Jakarta responded quickly, as T. Takahashi found the equalizer in the 9th minute. But Port Royal kept pushing, and S. Albinson gave them a 2:1 lead in the 21st minute to close out the first half.
After the break, Port Royal continued where they left off. X. Kenderlin made it 3:1 in the 51st minute, but Jakarta refused to go down without a fight. D. Patterson’s 61st-minute goal brought them back to 3:2, setting up a tense final half-hour. However, Port Royal stayed composed, with S. Albinson securing his brace in the 80th minute, making it 4:2. A. Prince added another in stoppage time (91’), putting the game out of reach at 5:2. Jakarta managed a late goal from A. Cain (93’), but it was too little, too late.
Despite Jakarta making a real push for a draw at one point, Port Royal controlled the match and never let their momentum slip. Sam Albinson was the standout performer, earning Player of the Match honors with a dominant 9.5 rating.

Victoria Falls 2:1 Adowa Accra - A Battle of Bravery and Controversy

If the first match was all about attacking firepower, this one was a true fight. A physical, foul-heavy contest saw four yellow cards and plenty of heated moments. Adowa Accra struck first, with Z. Gibrahimovic finding the net in the 19th minute. But despite the early lead, that was as good as it got for the away side. From that moment on, Victoria Falls dominated.
The biggest talking point came in the 39th minute. The referee pointed to the spot after a questionable call in the box, awarding a penalty to the home side. Jay-Jay Okocha Jr. stepped up and buried it to bring the game level at 1:1. Adowa Accra players weren’t happy, and their frustration showed as the game got scrappier.
Victoria Falls kept pushing in the second half, controlling possession and testing Adowa Accra’s defense. Their persistence paid off in the 81st minute when Bartholomew-James-Junior-Junior slotted home the winner, sealing a 2:1 victory. His performance earned him Player of the Match with a solid 7.8 rating. Victoria Falls walked away with three points, while Adowa Accra left the pitch feeling robbed.

Stockholm4:0  Istanbul - A Nightmare for Istanbul

I won’t go into too much detail on this one, not because it wasn’t eventful, but because I was on the wrong side of it. Stockholm vs. Istanbul was supposed to be a clash of equals, with both teams coming in on two-match winning streaks. But what happened on the field was anything but even.
The match was practically over before it even got going. Stockholm’s T. Delvecchio put his team ahead just five minutes in and doubled the lead in the 13th minute. Istanbul never recovered. The second half saw more of the same. N. Jorgensen made it 3:0 in the 51st minute before adding another in the 88th to cap off a dominant 4:0 win.
For Stockholm, everything clicked. For Istanbul, nothing did. Every single player on our team had their worst night of the season, while Stockholm played like a well oiled machine. Jorgensen (9.1) took Player of the Match honors, with Delvecchio (8.9) right behind him. It was a humiliating night, but Istanbul won’t forget this one.

Atletico2:1  Sydney City - Missed Chances

The final match of the round had everything: an early lead, a controversial penalty, and a relentless away team that just couldn’t find the net when it mattered. Sydney City started strong, with L. Ashworth putting them ahead in the 8th minute. They kept the momentum going, controlling the tempo and looking comfortable. But one defensive lapse was enough to let Atletico back in. A. Ramos found the equalizer, sending the home fans into a frenzy. Then came the moment that had Sydney City fuming. In the 59th minute, the referee pointed to the spot for Atletico after what Sydney’s manager later described as "home fans pressuring the ref into it." M. Xavier made no mistake, converting for a 2:1 lead. Sydney didn’t back down, though. Despite Atletico’s 61% possession, Sydney was far more efficient with their time on the ball. They fired 17 shots, achieving more than Atletico’s. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 2.17, but the finishing just wasn’t there. Atletico held on, grinding out a tough win despite being under pressure for large parts of the game. S. Mitidiero took Player of the Match honors with a 7.9 rating, but Sydney’s K. Minjeong was right behind him at 7.8, proving how much of a fight the away team put up. In the end, Sydney will feel they deserved more, but Atletico walks away with the three points.

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And with that, here’s the league table after this matchday: