2025-10-10, 12:12 PM - Word count:
(This post was last modified: 2025-10-10, 12:14 PM by Lpapi. Edited 1 time in total.)
The race to win the SSL Academy is not mathematically over but the mood of Medellin's locker room following their 2-3 defeat to Istanbul was grim. I was left with no doubts about how they viewed their chances going into the final matchday. Port Royal holds a 3 point lead, but just as important is the +10 goal differential lead that Port Royal carries. Medellin's title challenge has come to an end.
Medellin's manager held a brief presser where he focused on the positives, stating "It shows our resiliency, that after we were down 3-0 the players fought back, scored 2 and had several chances to score the equalizer. It was one of those games where we outshot them 15-4, dominated possession but couldn't finish our big chances. I've got to give a lot of credit to the Istanbul crowd who made it a difficult atmosphere for us." When asked how he views the title race now that its almost certainly decided he had only one thing to say, "We're going to control what we can control, gonna go back home to Medellin and put up as many goals as possible."
Long after most had gone I found a despondent Lucas Peioxoto, still in his matchday kit, eyes still red from the tears that had fallen across the faces of many Medellin players earlier in the evening.
"Lucas, what's going through your mind right now?"
He kept his head low, "I was shit, one of our biggest matchdays and I couldn't contribute like we needed. Haven't been playing up to my standard the past few weeks and tonight the team suffered because of it. All I can do now is apologize to the fans."
"Would you still consider this season a success? Medellin did secure 2nd in the table and looks to have four prospects that could go very high in the upcoming SSL draft."
"The best part of this season was working with those guys and building each other up. I'm a much stronger player than I was at the beginning of the season. Second is an ok result but I promise that there isn't one person in the Medellin locker room that is satisfied with how the season ended."
"How will the team approach the final matchday with a game that has essentially no stakes for your seasons finish?"
"It's a home game. The hundreds of thousands of fans that supported us will be there, my family will be there, and the watchful eyes of the SSL will be on us. Every single player who walks out on the pitch will give their full effort, to pay our respects to the fans, each other, and Atletico Medellin itself. We don't know any other way."
Its been a long season for Atletico Medellin as they improved from their week 1 demolition at the hands of the eventual champions, Port Royal, to being tied for first in the table from weeks 9-12. Despite the disappointing finish to the title race I know the Medellin fans have greatly enjoyed this season and look forward to seeing what the Medellin graduates can do in the SSL.
Medellin's manager held a brief presser where he focused on the positives, stating "It shows our resiliency, that after we were down 3-0 the players fought back, scored 2 and had several chances to score the equalizer. It was one of those games where we outshot them 15-4, dominated possession but couldn't finish our big chances. I've got to give a lot of credit to the Istanbul crowd who made it a difficult atmosphere for us." When asked how he views the title race now that its almost certainly decided he had only one thing to say, "We're going to control what we can control, gonna go back home to Medellin and put up as many goals as possible."
Long after most had gone I found a despondent Lucas Peioxoto, still in his matchday kit, eyes still red from the tears that had fallen across the faces of many Medellin players earlier in the evening.
"Lucas, what's going through your mind right now?"
He kept his head low, "I was shit, one of our biggest matchdays and I couldn't contribute like we needed. Haven't been playing up to my standard the past few weeks and tonight the team suffered because of it. All I can do now is apologize to the fans."
"Would you still consider this season a success? Medellin did secure 2nd in the table and looks to have four prospects that could go very high in the upcoming SSL draft."
"The best part of this season was working with those guys and building each other up. I'm a much stronger player than I was at the beginning of the season. Second is an ok result but I promise that there isn't one person in the Medellin locker room that is satisfied with how the season ended."
"How will the team approach the final matchday with a game that has essentially no stakes for your seasons finish?"
"It's a home game. The hundreds of thousands of fans that supported us will be there, my family will be there, and the watchful eyes of the SSL will be on us. Every single player who walks out on the pitch will give their full effort, to pay our respects to the fans, each other, and Atletico Medellin itself. We don't know any other way."
Its been a long season for Atletico Medellin as they improved from their week 1 demolition at the hands of the eventual champions, Port Royal, to being tied for first in the table from weeks 9-12. Despite the disappointing finish to the title race I know the Medellin fans have greatly enjoyed this season and look forward to seeing what the Medellin graduates can do in the SSL.
![[Image: Allie-Bunson-Sig.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/W4Hpr5YM/Allie-Bunson-Sig.png)
![[Image: gmSTbwI.png]](https://i.imgur.com/gmSTbwI.png)
