2026-06-26, 07:48 PM - Word count:
Port Royal FC has quickly been filling up the roster. Going into this game we are up to 8 rookies on the team. We have 4 playing up top, a solid midfielder, 2 playing defense and the keeper. The first two matches of the academy season were just enough to get our feet wet. We rolled through a legends team and then had a poor showing against Jakarta, but that has all been for learning. Now, today against the Victoria Falls Eagles, we had a real contest.
The game gets interesting quick, where in the 2nd minute PRFC has a free kick past midfield. really we just pass it around for a bit and try to get the crowd into it. See, the crowd for our home games has a fun game where after a few successful passes, they start making noise for each further successful pass. It feels great because we know how into it they are. Anyway, after passing back a few times we let the keeper just bomb it downfield, and we are able to quickly regain possession. The play moves quickly as Bitner settles it and send it up to Newman. Newman has only been on the team for a few days, but the instant understanding he found with Velox here is incredible. They pull off a simple give and go. Quick pass out to Velox who places it forward right under the feet of Newman. He strikes it in stride with incredible power. The Eagles goalie gets two hands on it, but the power of the shot pushes right through and into the top of the new. I have heard that any goalie who gets two hands on it should always make the save, so perhaps it is Cain's fault on this one, but I will gladly give credit to Newman.
Just a few minutes later PRFC is at it again. They play it out of the back and are quickly able to get the team moving up field. Bitner again has the awareness to carry the ball and see what is happening. He lays it up to Velox who is making the run up the sideline. He takes the ball all the way to the edge of the 18 where he crosses it in to FOUR teammates just waiting to finish the task. Unfortunately the shot attempt was stopped by the goalie and a defender was able to head it out, ending the threat.
The next reasonable action was almost 15 minutes later when PRFC was awarded a free kick in a somewhat dangerous position. Thomas Thunder is the man who took this one while 7 PRFC players went into the box to make something happen. The initial free kick was easily headed away by a defender, but the large presence of green shirts meant Manchakoppa was there to set up another go. He took the ball to the corner before beating the defender and making a pass into the box. Thunder was there with his back to goal. He turned to his strong right foot and hammered that ball at the far post. This time the goalie was able to lay out and push the ball out for a corner. The first corner was nothing much and quickly resulted in a second corner. That one bounced around a bit before it dropped for the newest player Thor Bollrtoppari. He put in a really nice ball with the outside of his foot and after a bounce, Thunder got a head on it sending it right down to the foot of Munchakoopa. His strike was fierce, but too high.
The very next sequence starts with the Eagles playing it out from the goal kick. They get only 6 passes in before possession flips right back to PRFC. There were a few shaky moments in there but it got settled and the next break is on with a lovely ball to Munchakoopa running down the right side. He cuts it in a plays it to Bitner at the very top of the box, without a defender in 5 yards. This is exactly where Bitner rips it over the top of the new. Maybe next time.
At this point in the game (25th minute) PRFC has enjoyed 63% possession. 5 shots and 2 on target and an xG of 1.02. The Eagles don't have any shots and therefore no xG to calculate. This is where we find ourselves at what should have been the pivital moment. Starting with another corner kick, the ball is deflected back to the kicker. That is where PRFC has a nifty 3 pass sequence at the top of the box setting up a beautiful run by Cheeseburger. He is in clean past the defense and easily touches the perfectly placed ball into the back of the net. The tragedy on this play is the VAR came back with an offside ruling. The graphic displayed showed a freeze frame after the ball had already left the foot of Legend Lexington. Of course by THEN the striker was offside but for some reason the VAR did not properly take a picture at the actual moment the ball was struck. They need to fix the system if they want us to have continued trust in VAR.
EDITORS NOTE. I have been informed of an optical illusion in the replay system. The ball was passed providing a later touch which did in fact show Cheeseburger as offside. The robots win. For now!
This is where the game finally starts to shift for the Victoria Falls Eagles. It is still only the 30th minute when they get their first real chance with an open shot deflected for a corner. The corner itself did not produce much, but they did generate another chance right after it. Just like that the Eagles xG has emerged at a lovely 0.29.
PRFC has their next opportunity with a scary sequence to play it out from the back. They keep trying it even though the Eagles seem to be expecting it with a full press up top. In this case they clear it out and Thunder cuts in during his sideline run. He gets almost to midfield before seeing Velox making the run up the far side. He once times it up to Munchakoopa and just like that there are 4 PRFC players running at the back line of the Eagles. It seems he did not trust his eyes though, and after slowing it down the end up losing possession again. A subsequent Eagles corner resulted in a clear header that fortunately was just short of the net. Here is the first time the idea of playing from the back worked poorly. It was a clean turnover in our own third and the Eagles pounced. They got a shot of the post that was put right back in. This time it was the Eagles who got screwed out of their goal with VAR.
Almost right after PRFC has their next big break. It starts with a corner following the usual trend. maybe PRFC just has not focused on the heading part of the game cause it never works out. After the corner bounces up off someone's head, it is first touched by a PRFC player who plays it to the top of the box where Munchakoopa settles it and hammers a shot through the crowd and past the keeper. He definitely benefited from traffic in front of the net on that one. Lovely shot that oftentimes at this level goes sailing far over the top of the goal.
Now we have goals in the 2nd, 35th, and 37th minutes, but it is time for another? In the 40th minute the Eagles have a free kick on their side of the pitch. They chain together 8 passes starting from jarrow to muler, star, back to muler, Hawkins, Rashford, Hane, Noxus, and back to Hane for the 1 timer past the outstretched keeper. Seven players combined for the score in a great display from the Victoria Falls Eagles. In a tragic turn of events, the goal is disallowed by VAR. On the final strike, Star was barely in an offside position right in front of the keeper.
Another theme of the day is difficulties coming from PRFC trying to play the ball from the back. This time off the goal kick position was lost right away and the Eagles have a quick pass over the defender's head springing Hane straight at the keeper. In this case though he did not shoot quick and the defender could recover.
The last meaningful action before half started with a turnover in the middle of the field which resulted in Bittner running straight to an attacking position. He noticed Cheeseburger and Newman making runs, but they got caught in the offside trap. A real shame too because the pass through was perfectly weighted and Newman put it into the goal.
At the half the momentum of the game has evened out and what was once a dominant lead for PRFC is now only on the scoreboard, as the Eagles have a higher xG.
Coming right out of halftime, PRFC look like they have returned to form. Calm and methodical passing resulted in a nice cross that was cleared out by a defender being in the right position. Still, it is this kind of ball movement that PRFC have been very successful at this game. This continues in the 47th minute when PRFC manages to steal a pass and they get started on their clinical patient passing strategies. They pass it around a bit including 2 touches by the goalie. After 9 passes they get the ball to midfield and then out to the opposite side. Gerrard sees Thomas Thunder making a nice angled run toward the sideline to make space and taps the ball out into that space. Thunder settles it, finds a little space and sends in a perfectly arcing ball which finds the head of Munchakoopa! He does not miss this one and there are no VAR issues here! 3-1 PRFC!
Now that goal right there is the last time in the match that PRFC registered on the "Match Momentum" Chart. I would love to call it here, but I can't do that. We also need to see what went wrong. In the 50th minute the Eagles have their hopes dashed again by another VAR overturning what could have been a goal. It was an incredible display of talent to set up the opportunity.
In a quick highlight for PRFC, starting from playing from the keeper, they managed to get it wide to Velox who was making a deep run. He got past the defender and crossed it in to about 12 yards from the end line. My man Thomas Thunder does not have much for hops, but you would not have known that from this play here. He jumped over Hawkins but unfortunately did not get his head over the ball enough. It sailed over the top of the net.
PRFC is not done with their chances winning another battle and sending Munchakoopa down the right flank. After a cross and saving the ball from going out, he sets up Velox right at the start of the box. He sets up the legend player with a perfect opportunity, but he curls it just past the post. That might have done it if it went in, but no such luck was has for PRFC.
Right at the start of the 61st minute it all happened so fast. A corner for Victoria Falls just sneaks through and gets tapped into the back post. Tragic defense for PRFC on that one. On the ensuing kickoff, PRFC works to get something going. Passes it around back for a few before working it up. Again we find Thunder with the ball at his feet headed towards goal. Sadly maybe his pace did not keep up and he gets caught and dispossessed. They maintain possession and swing it back and then around to the far side. Velox makes another excellent run down the right side. He curls in and heads straight at the near post before laying a pass back to Munchakoopa who unfortunately puts it over the cross bar. Beautiful set up though all done by Velox.
On a corner kick from the Eagles, the defense manages to clear it quickly and then reposes with some great work by cheeseburger. a few little passes springs Thomas Thunder with a lot of open grass in front of him. He starts to turn inside to see his options, but then decides to blow past the defender again. He uses a strong shoulder to keep going and gets one on one with the keeper. He chose to take the shot and it went right into the belly of the keeper. Thunder unfortunately was not aware that he had Newman standing on the penalty spot completely unmarked. A tough result, but an exciting bit of speed from Thunder on display.
Following another PRFC corner kick, they were able to maintain possession, and do some passing trying to find an opportunity. It was the legend player Gerard who had another lovely pass forward to get Thomas Thunder past the defense again. This time the defenders closed in fast and the only reasonable option was to shoot. It was deflected wide for a corner, so perhaps the right decision to take the shot. Sadly the corner did not produce anything but a quick offside.
Next on an Eagles throw in deep into PRFC territory, they set up a lovely angled cross to the back post where Noxus gets his head on the ball. It first hits the post but he is quick to follow up and knock it all the way into the net. Just like that the game is tied up at 3 in the 71st minute. Just a few minutes later PRFC gives up possession trying to play it out of the back and gives up a total breakaway. It was very lucky that the shot went wide.
Yet another instance of PRFC playing it from the back goes wrong, this one in the 83rd minute. Two passes and a hit up field straight to the other team puts PRFC in a poor defensive position. Hane takes it down into the corner where Thunder tries to get in the way of the cross, but to no avail. There Star is making his run right in front of the keeper and it is flawless. Just like that another turnover turns into a quick strike for the Eagles.
At this point PRFC is looking for a last minute chance to tie the game back. They go to their best option so far, which is Velox making an overlapping run down the right side. He sends in an early cross, well timed as there are several teammates ready in the goal box. The initial header attempts just knock it down where a defender is quick to send it wide for a throw. It was a deceiving angle that make it seem like a real opportunity.
Unfortunately that was the last real chance before the final whistle blew. It was a particularly difficult loss for Port Royal and they surely had confidence early in the game that they would take this one. Perhaps a big benefit of the academy is learning some of these lesions. Better to learn how to avoid overconfidence here than next season when you are on a real pro club.
As far a Thomas Thunder's performance, you could see how his pace and acceleration might be of use going forward. He had a few opportunities to run past a defender and try to make a play.
The game gets interesting quick, where in the 2nd minute PRFC has a free kick past midfield. really we just pass it around for a bit and try to get the crowd into it. See, the crowd for our home games has a fun game where after a few successful passes, they start making noise for each further successful pass. It feels great because we know how into it they are. Anyway, after passing back a few times we let the keeper just bomb it downfield, and we are able to quickly regain possession. The play moves quickly as Bitner settles it and send it up to Newman. Newman has only been on the team for a few days, but the instant understanding he found with Velox here is incredible. They pull off a simple give and go. Quick pass out to Velox who places it forward right under the feet of Newman. He strikes it in stride with incredible power. The Eagles goalie gets two hands on it, but the power of the shot pushes right through and into the top of the new. I have heard that any goalie who gets two hands on it should always make the save, so perhaps it is Cain's fault on this one, but I will gladly give credit to Newman.
Just a few minutes later PRFC is at it again. They play it out of the back and are quickly able to get the team moving up field. Bitner again has the awareness to carry the ball and see what is happening. He lays it up to Velox who is making the run up the sideline. He takes the ball all the way to the edge of the 18 where he crosses it in to FOUR teammates just waiting to finish the task. Unfortunately the shot attempt was stopped by the goalie and a defender was able to head it out, ending the threat.
The next reasonable action was almost 15 minutes later when PRFC was awarded a free kick in a somewhat dangerous position. Thomas Thunder is the man who took this one while 7 PRFC players went into the box to make something happen. The initial free kick was easily headed away by a defender, but the large presence of green shirts meant Manchakoppa was there to set up another go. He took the ball to the corner before beating the defender and making a pass into the box. Thunder was there with his back to goal. He turned to his strong right foot and hammered that ball at the far post. This time the goalie was able to lay out and push the ball out for a corner. The first corner was nothing much and quickly resulted in a second corner. That one bounced around a bit before it dropped for the newest player Thor Bollrtoppari. He put in a really nice ball with the outside of his foot and after a bounce, Thunder got a head on it sending it right down to the foot of Munchakoopa. His strike was fierce, but too high.
The very next sequence starts with the Eagles playing it out from the goal kick. They get only 6 passes in before possession flips right back to PRFC. There were a few shaky moments in there but it got settled and the next break is on with a lovely ball to Munchakoopa running down the right side. He cuts it in a plays it to Bitner at the very top of the box, without a defender in 5 yards. This is exactly where Bitner rips it over the top of the new. Maybe next time.
At this point in the game (25th minute) PRFC has enjoyed 63% possession. 5 shots and 2 on target and an xG of 1.02. The Eagles don't have any shots and therefore no xG to calculate. This is where we find ourselves at what should have been the pivital moment. Starting with another corner kick, the ball is deflected back to the kicker. That is where PRFC has a nifty 3 pass sequence at the top of the box setting up a beautiful run by Cheeseburger. He is in clean past the defense and easily touches the perfectly placed ball into the back of the net. The tragedy on this play is the VAR came back with an offside ruling. The graphic displayed showed a freeze frame after the ball had already left the foot of Legend Lexington. Of course by THEN the striker was offside but for some reason the VAR did not properly take a picture at the actual moment the ball was struck. They need to fix the system if they want us to have continued trust in VAR.
EDITORS NOTE. I have been informed of an optical illusion in the replay system. The ball was passed providing a later touch which did in fact show Cheeseburger as offside. The robots win. For now!
This is where the game finally starts to shift for the Victoria Falls Eagles. It is still only the 30th minute when they get their first real chance with an open shot deflected for a corner. The corner itself did not produce much, but they did generate another chance right after it. Just like that the Eagles xG has emerged at a lovely 0.29.
PRFC has their next opportunity with a scary sequence to play it out from the back. They keep trying it even though the Eagles seem to be expecting it with a full press up top. In this case they clear it out and Thunder cuts in during his sideline run. He gets almost to midfield before seeing Velox making the run up the far side. He once times it up to Munchakoopa and just like that there are 4 PRFC players running at the back line of the Eagles. It seems he did not trust his eyes though, and after slowing it down the end up losing possession again. A subsequent Eagles corner resulted in a clear header that fortunately was just short of the net. Here is the first time the idea of playing from the back worked poorly. It was a clean turnover in our own third and the Eagles pounced. They got a shot of the post that was put right back in. This time it was the Eagles who got screwed out of their goal with VAR.
Almost right after PRFC has their next big break. It starts with a corner following the usual trend. maybe PRFC just has not focused on the heading part of the game cause it never works out. After the corner bounces up off someone's head, it is first touched by a PRFC player who plays it to the top of the box where Munchakoopa settles it and hammers a shot through the crowd and past the keeper. He definitely benefited from traffic in front of the net on that one. Lovely shot that oftentimes at this level goes sailing far over the top of the goal.
Now we have goals in the 2nd, 35th, and 37th minutes, but it is time for another? In the 40th minute the Eagles have a free kick on their side of the pitch. They chain together 8 passes starting from jarrow to muler, star, back to muler, Hawkins, Rashford, Hane, Noxus, and back to Hane for the 1 timer past the outstretched keeper. Seven players combined for the score in a great display from the Victoria Falls Eagles. In a tragic turn of events, the goal is disallowed by VAR. On the final strike, Star was barely in an offside position right in front of the keeper.
Another theme of the day is difficulties coming from PRFC trying to play the ball from the back. This time off the goal kick position was lost right away and the Eagles have a quick pass over the defender's head springing Hane straight at the keeper. In this case though he did not shoot quick and the defender could recover.
The last meaningful action before half started with a turnover in the middle of the field which resulted in Bittner running straight to an attacking position. He noticed Cheeseburger and Newman making runs, but they got caught in the offside trap. A real shame too because the pass through was perfectly weighted and Newman put it into the goal.
At the half the momentum of the game has evened out and what was once a dominant lead for PRFC is now only on the scoreboard, as the Eagles have a higher xG.
Coming right out of halftime, PRFC look like they have returned to form. Calm and methodical passing resulted in a nice cross that was cleared out by a defender being in the right position. Still, it is this kind of ball movement that PRFC have been very successful at this game. This continues in the 47th minute when PRFC manages to steal a pass and they get started on their clinical patient passing strategies. They pass it around a bit including 2 touches by the goalie. After 9 passes they get the ball to midfield and then out to the opposite side. Gerrard sees Thomas Thunder making a nice angled run toward the sideline to make space and taps the ball out into that space. Thunder settles it, finds a little space and sends in a perfectly arcing ball which finds the head of Munchakoopa! He does not miss this one and there are no VAR issues here! 3-1 PRFC!
Now that goal right there is the last time in the match that PRFC registered on the "Match Momentum" Chart. I would love to call it here, but I can't do that. We also need to see what went wrong. In the 50th minute the Eagles have their hopes dashed again by another VAR overturning what could have been a goal. It was an incredible display of talent to set up the opportunity.
In a quick highlight for PRFC, starting from playing from the keeper, they managed to get it wide to Velox who was making a deep run. He got past the defender and crossed it in to about 12 yards from the end line. My man Thomas Thunder does not have much for hops, but you would not have known that from this play here. He jumped over Hawkins but unfortunately did not get his head over the ball enough. It sailed over the top of the net.
PRFC is not done with their chances winning another battle and sending Munchakoopa down the right flank. After a cross and saving the ball from going out, he sets up Velox right at the start of the box. He sets up the legend player with a perfect opportunity, but he curls it just past the post. That might have done it if it went in, but no such luck was has for PRFC.
Right at the start of the 61st minute it all happened so fast. A corner for Victoria Falls just sneaks through and gets tapped into the back post. Tragic defense for PRFC on that one. On the ensuing kickoff, PRFC works to get something going. Passes it around back for a few before working it up. Again we find Thunder with the ball at his feet headed towards goal. Sadly maybe his pace did not keep up and he gets caught and dispossessed. They maintain possession and swing it back and then around to the far side. Velox makes another excellent run down the right side. He curls in and heads straight at the near post before laying a pass back to Munchakoopa who unfortunately puts it over the cross bar. Beautiful set up though all done by Velox.
On a corner kick from the Eagles, the defense manages to clear it quickly and then reposes with some great work by cheeseburger. a few little passes springs Thomas Thunder with a lot of open grass in front of him. He starts to turn inside to see his options, but then decides to blow past the defender again. He uses a strong shoulder to keep going and gets one on one with the keeper. He chose to take the shot and it went right into the belly of the keeper. Thunder unfortunately was not aware that he had Newman standing on the penalty spot completely unmarked. A tough result, but an exciting bit of speed from Thunder on display.
Following another PRFC corner kick, they were able to maintain possession, and do some passing trying to find an opportunity. It was the legend player Gerard who had another lovely pass forward to get Thomas Thunder past the defense again. This time the defenders closed in fast and the only reasonable option was to shoot. It was deflected wide for a corner, so perhaps the right decision to take the shot. Sadly the corner did not produce anything but a quick offside.
Next on an Eagles throw in deep into PRFC territory, they set up a lovely angled cross to the back post where Noxus gets his head on the ball. It first hits the post but he is quick to follow up and knock it all the way into the net. Just like that the game is tied up at 3 in the 71st minute. Just a few minutes later PRFC gives up possession trying to play it out of the back and gives up a total breakaway. It was very lucky that the shot went wide.
Yet another instance of PRFC playing it from the back goes wrong, this one in the 83rd minute. Two passes and a hit up field straight to the other team puts PRFC in a poor defensive position. Hane takes it down into the corner where Thunder tries to get in the way of the cross, but to no avail. There Star is making his run right in front of the keeper and it is flawless. Just like that another turnover turns into a quick strike for the Eagles.
At this point PRFC is looking for a last minute chance to tie the game back. They go to their best option so far, which is Velox making an overlapping run down the right side. He sends in an early cross, well timed as there are several teammates ready in the goal box. The initial header attempts just knock it down where a defender is quick to send it wide for a throw. It was a deceiving angle that make it seem like a real opportunity.
Unfortunately that was the last real chance before the final whistle blew. It was a particularly difficult loss for Port Royal and they surely had confidence early in the game that they would take this one. Perhaps a big benefit of the academy is learning some of these lesions. Better to learn how to avoid overconfidence here than next season when you are on a real pro club.
As far a Thomas Thunder's performance, you could see how his pace and acceleration might be of use going forward. He had a few opportunities to run past a defender and try to make a play.
![[Image: uF2FKWe.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uF2FKWe.png)
