2026-01-28, 11:44 AM - Word count:
Part 1
Part 2
After all of the excitement before the WSFC started, and then the drama while the group stage was going on, we finally reached the Knockouts. East Europe managed to get a step further than last time. Now every game would be a new peak for the region. Naturally, the draw wasn't going to let East Europe off the hook. They would be drawn against the Asian Federation. The champions of Group B, having won all three of their games against Central America, Canada and South America. Scored 10 goals and only allowed 1. Definitely one of the favorites for the whole tournament, no doubt about it. All that was left to do was to start the quarter finals.
First Half
Asia would start the game off swinging. Peppering the East Europe goal with shots. Though most chances they created weren't of high quality, the fact they already had 7 shots by the 20th minute meant that they were keeping their opponent contained and playing on their terms. Asia knew that East Europe wasn't to be underestimated just because of their weaker players on paper. However, it would once again be East Europe who took the lead. After a blocked free kick by Dobrić in the 21st minute, he'd immediately get a chance to redeem himself by making a corner. Ceasare Pinkman would rise into the air and head it in past Takechi, making it 1-0 to East Europe. Asia would stay the more dominant side by the end of the half, having 13 shots to East Europe's 5, but the score would still say 1-0.
Second Half
Asia were out to right their wrongs in the second half. They couldn't win the B group only to immediately fall to a weaker team in the quarters. They would continue to pepper Mobek with shots but the Romanian proved too much for them and the East Europe defense would stay strong. Half of the second half would pass with no goals. Just as it looked like Eastern Europe would walk away with a smash and grab, Hashimoto would deliver a corner in the 72nd minute, Warrick would head it to the far post but not to score. It was instead a set up for Mizukana who'd smash it in past Mobek who was just too far away to reach. Finally 1-1, hope for Asia. More chances would come for Asia, 25 shots to 13, but they just couldn't find the back of the net twice as East Europe dug in defensively and prepared for extra time.
Extra Time
Both of these teams play with an aggressive and attacking style. Great to overwhelm your opponent, terrible as slug matches like this one. Despite the short break, both of the teams would go into extra time gassed. This would show most clearly with Bread Lasso coming off injured, luckily for East Europe, Leah Slothinson would be more than capable in replacing him. In the 103rd minute, after so much pain and suffering, Asia would finally find their second goal. A failed corner would see recycled possession with the ball ending up on the right side. Kilgannon would pass to Hashimoto, Hashimoto would pass to Panda, Panda would pass to Zhihao and he would shoot. Pinkman tried to get in the way but the ball just rolled off his ankle. The hero of the first half, dooming his team to a 1-2 loss. OR SO ONE WOULD THINK. If there is one thing you need to know about East Europe, is that we are really hard to put down. Asia would keep pressing and keep attacking, doing everything in their power to score a third and keep the Eastern European dream down but we would not yield. In the 116th minute, legs burning, lungs wheezing, vision blurring, Mobek would send a long ball to Dohbra. He'd get outmuscled by Hashimoto who'd pass it to Panda, Panda would pass to Warrick who then would make a poor pass that was intercepted by Sukzuki. Sukzuki would pass to Dobrić who stayed up front. In a quick decision, Dobrić would pass to Dohbra who was open, instead of trying to make the run himself. AND DOHBRA WOULD SCORE A BANGER OUTSIDET THE BOX TO MAKE IT 2-2. Both teams with nothing left in the tank, settled for penalties.
Penalties
East Europe would start with Predrag Dobrić lining up first. Send the keeper completely the other way, 1-0. For Asia, the first player to take the penalty would be the veteran Wang Zhihao. Exactly like his former teammate, sends the keeper the other way, 1-1. Second up for E.E. Juozas Kupinas, exact same penalty as the other two so far, 2-1. Next up was Emerson for Asia, who'd smash it down the center with no chance for Mobek, 2-2. Sukzuki then for Eastern Europe, shoots the other direction from his teammates and tricks Takechi, 3-2. Takechi wanted his get back so he stepped up next for Asia. Mobek did guess the right side, but Takechi shot it with no fear, 3-3. Fourth for E.E. was Smalls who would try the same side as Kupinas and Dobrić but unfortunately he'd get blocked, the first save of the shoot out, still 3-3. Hashimoto had the chance to put Asia up front if he scored but Mobek would deny him with a save of his own, still 3-3. Fifth and possibly last for East Europe was Coin Flip, the ever reliable defender picked right and kicked the ball so hard he ripped the net, 4-3. Fifth for Asia was Aoi, if he scores the shoot out continues, if he misses it is over. He lines up and shoots it strong and slightly to the left, but Mobek guessed correctly, denying him the goal. EAST EUROPE WIN THE QUARTERFINALS ON PENALTIES!
Asia put up a hell of a fight, and on any other day would have walked away as deserving winners. But not on that day. On that day Eastern Europe survived, because that's what they are best at.
This post was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by A.C. Romana and East Europe.
Part 2
After all of the excitement before the WSFC started, and then the drama while the group stage was going on, we finally reached the Knockouts. East Europe managed to get a step further than last time. Now every game would be a new peak for the region. Naturally, the draw wasn't going to let East Europe off the hook. They would be drawn against the Asian Federation. The champions of Group B, having won all three of their games against Central America, Canada and South America. Scored 10 goals and only allowed 1. Definitely one of the favorites for the whole tournament, no doubt about it. All that was left to do was to start the quarter finals.
First Half
Asia would start the game off swinging. Peppering the East Europe goal with shots. Though most chances they created weren't of high quality, the fact they already had 7 shots by the 20th minute meant that they were keeping their opponent contained and playing on their terms. Asia knew that East Europe wasn't to be underestimated just because of their weaker players on paper. However, it would once again be East Europe who took the lead. After a blocked free kick by Dobrić in the 21st minute, he'd immediately get a chance to redeem himself by making a corner. Ceasare Pinkman would rise into the air and head it in past Takechi, making it 1-0 to East Europe. Asia would stay the more dominant side by the end of the half, having 13 shots to East Europe's 5, but the score would still say 1-0.
Second Half
Asia were out to right their wrongs in the second half. They couldn't win the B group only to immediately fall to a weaker team in the quarters. They would continue to pepper Mobek with shots but the Romanian proved too much for them and the East Europe defense would stay strong. Half of the second half would pass with no goals. Just as it looked like Eastern Europe would walk away with a smash and grab, Hashimoto would deliver a corner in the 72nd minute, Warrick would head it to the far post but not to score. It was instead a set up for Mizukana who'd smash it in past Mobek who was just too far away to reach. Finally 1-1, hope for Asia. More chances would come for Asia, 25 shots to 13, but they just couldn't find the back of the net twice as East Europe dug in defensively and prepared for extra time.
Extra Time
Both of these teams play with an aggressive and attacking style. Great to overwhelm your opponent, terrible as slug matches like this one. Despite the short break, both of the teams would go into extra time gassed. This would show most clearly with Bread Lasso coming off injured, luckily for East Europe, Leah Slothinson would be more than capable in replacing him. In the 103rd minute, after so much pain and suffering, Asia would finally find their second goal. A failed corner would see recycled possession with the ball ending up on the right side. Kilgannon would pass to Hashimoto, Hashimoto would pass to Panda, Panda would pass to Zhihao and he would shoot. Pinkman tried to get in the way but the ball just rolled off his ankle. The hero of the first half, dooming his team to a 1-2 loss. OR SO ONE WOULD THINK. If there is one thing you need to know about East Europe, is that we are really hard to put down. Asia would keep pressing and keep attacking, doing everything in their power to score a third and keep the Eastern European dream down but we would not yield. In the 116th minute, legs burning, lungs wheezing, vision blurring, Mobek would send a long ball to Dohbra. He'd get outmuscled by Hashimoto who'd pass it to Panda, Panda would pass to Warrick who then would make a poor pass that was intercepted by Sukzuki. Sukzuki would pass to Dobrić who stayed up front. In a quick decision, Dobrić would pass to Dohbra who was open, instead of trying to make the run himself. AND DOHBRA WOULD SCORE A BANGER OUTSIDET THE BOX TO MAKE IT 2-2. Both teams with nothing left in the tank, settled for penalties.
Penalties
East Europe would start with Predrag Dobrić lining up first. Send the keeper completely the other way, 1-0. For Asia, the first player to take the penalty would be the veteran Wang Zhihao. Exactly like his former teammate, sends the keeper the other way, 1-1. Second up for E.E. Juozas Kupinas, exact same penalty as the other two so far, 2-1. Next up was Emerson for Asia, who'd smash it down the center with no chance for Mobek, 2-2. Sukzuki then for Eastern Europe, shoots the other direction from his teammates and tricks Takechi, 3-2. Takechi wanted his get back so he stepped up next for Asia. Mobek did guess the right side, but Takechi shot it with no fear, 3-3. Fourth for E.E. was Smalls who would try the same side as Kupinas and Dobrić but unfortunately he'd get blocked, the first save of the shoot out, still 3-3. Hashimoto had the chance to put Asia up front if he scored but Mobek would deny him with a save of his own, still 3-3. Fifth and possibly last for East Europe was Coin Flip, the ever reliable defender picked right and kicked the ball so hard he ripped the net, 4-3. Fifth for Asia was Aoi, if he scores the shoot out continues, if he misses it is over. He lines up and shoots it strong and slightly to the left, but Mobek guessed correctly, denying him the goal. EAST EUROPE WIN THE QUARTERFINALS ON PENALTIES!
Asia put up a hell of a fight, and on any other day would have walked away as deserving winners. But not on that day. On that day Eastern Europe survived, because that's what they are best at.
This post was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by A.C. Romana and East Europe.
![[Image: GmuKJta.png]](https://i.imgur.com/GmuKJta.png)
