2025-03-29, 06:12 PM - Word count: 981
The last matchday of the season has come and gone and both teams in this matchup did not have much to fight for as they found themselves in 7th and 8th respectively in the league standings with no opportunity to move up or down at this point. However, the teams of course would still be playing for pride and to show the world what they've got before the long offseason.
Catalunya was 4-0-9 going into the match and Romana was 1-0-12. Truly two titans of the SSL squaring off here today. Catalunya entered the pitch in a 2-4-4 formation with de Allie and Miedema as strikers, Fry and Bonito on the wings, Poggio and Nelson as the center mids flanked by the 2 wings backs Kamenova and Prusikin, backed by defenders de Trella and Van Garritsen. Vis Grappo would mind the goal. Romana came out in the classic 4-3-3 formation with Pinkman up top, Kronkowski and Justinussen on the wings, Kronus, Pedrillo, and Muller as the midfield trio, and Nunez, Blackman, Lavert, and Hoppity as the back 4. Neuer would be playing as the goalie.
The game started with both teams traded chances here and there, but neither finding too much success in sustaining offensive pressure or good possession play. In the 18th minute, AC Romana probably had the better of the play with 2 shots on target to Catalunya's 0 and a higher xG, as well as having 64% possession, Catalunya made the most of an opportunity. de Trella won Neuer punt out of the air and headed it down to Poggio, who combined with Nelson, Bonito, and Van Garritsen quickly worked the ball out wide to Prusikin who found themself in space on the right flank. After a dribble forward, Pruskiin found Nelson running forward towards the edge of the box, but Blackman would break it up with a well-timed tackle. Unfortunately for Romana, the ball began to bounce around, eventually finding its way out to Poggio for Catalunya at the top of the box. With a first-time volley, Poggio would slot in a pass to Bayley de Allie who would strike it home. Catalunya thought they had taken the league, but VAR said otherwise, as de Allie just barely mistimed his run and found himself offside. Romana dodged a bullet and a bad bounce and would look to maintain their better end of the play.
Romana would come back with another chance of their own, coming off a corner kick. Kronkowski swung the ball in from the left corner, sending a perfect cross to the head of Pinkman who sent the ball towards... and OFF of the far post! Romana was sure they had a goal, but the netminder's best friend said otherwise as Catalunya cleared the near goal out of their end.
About 1 minute later, Catalunya would have a corner opportunity of their own, with Bonito taking the kick from the right corner. The outswinger was cleared out by the Romana defense but was recollected by Bernardo Fry at the edge of the box on the right side. Fry found Bonito open streaking towards the goal, who received the ball and sent a cross to de Allie. The ball would not reach Catalunya striker, but instead would end up in the back of the Romana net as a product of a mistouch by Lavert who was trying to stop the pass across. A devastating goal for Romana to give up as they had been controlling the game thus far and just had a great opportunity of their own to score.
For the rest of the half, both teams would again trade chances, but it seemed like Catalunya was starting to get their rhythm, as they would surpass Romana in xG and shots on target. Romana still had the possession advantage with 60%, but it seemed like Catalunya was getting the more premium opportunities at goal. Romana has to be feeling a bit bad about how that half went, as it was very even, yet they find themselves trailing as a result of an unfortunate own goal. The good news for them is that the game is far from over.
The 2nd half began and both teams began playing with renewed energy and hopes to win the match. The teams would go back and forth, looking especially dangerous on corners, getting many opportunities from them. It was not until the 77th minute where we would see a break in the score, coming off yet another corner opportunity for Catalunya. Poggio took the kick from the left corner, an inswinger. The cross was pristine, and found the head of the giant, lumbering de Trella, who would head the ball into the top left corner for his first Major league goal, putting Catalunya up 2-0. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the match, Romana would be scrambling to answer.
Unfortuntely for Romana, they would be unable to muster up much of a response, as Catalunya largely controlled the ball for the remainer of the gain. Perhaps their spirits were broken from such a long season. It's hard to blame them. Overall, both teams fought hard, but with a little bit of luck and one moment of clinical finishing, Catalunya were able to win their 5th game of the season.
The player of the match went to Aart de Trella, CD for Catalunya who scored and made some excellent defensive plays, as well as a clear cut chance created. Despite the loss, Manuel Neuer had a solid game in net for Romana stopping 3 threatening shots to keep his team in contention to win. Both teams will look towards next season, hoping to be playing more meaningful games in the last matchday of the season. Until then, they had lots of work to do.
Catalunya was 4-0-9 going into the match and Romana was 1-0-12. Truly two titans of the SSL squaring off here today. Catalunya entered the pitch in a 2-4-4 formation with de Allie and Miedema as strikers, Fry and Bonito on the wings, Poggio and Nelson as the center mids flanked by the 2 wings backs Kamenova and Prusikin, backed by defenders de Trella and Van Garritsen. Vis Grappo would mind the goal. Romana came out in the classic 4-3-3 formation with Pinkman up top, Kronkowski and Justinussen on the wings, Kronus, Pedrillo, and Muller as the midfield trio, and Nunez, Blackman, Lavert, and Hoppity as the back 4. Neuer would be playing as the goalie.
The game started with both teams traded chances here and there, but neither finding too much success in sustaining offensive pressure or good possession play. In the 18th minute, AC Romana probably had the better of the play with 2 shots on target to Catalunya's 0 and a higher xG, as well as having 64% possession, Catalunya made the most of an opportunity. de Trella won Neuer punt out of the air and headed it down to Poggio, who combined with Nelson, Bonito, and Van Garritsen quickly worked the ball out wide to Prusikin who found themself in space on the right flank. After a dribble forward, Pruskiin found Nelson running forward towards the edge of the box, but Blackman would break it up with a well-timed tackle. Unfortunately for Romana, the ball began to bounce around, eventually finding its way out to Poggio for Catalunya at the top of the box. With a first-time volley, Poggio would slot in a pass to Bayley de Allie who would strike it home. Catalunya thought they had taken the league, but VAR said otherwise, as de Allie just barely mistimed his run and found himself offside. Romana dodged a bullet and a bad bounce and would look to maintain their better end of the play.
Romana would come back with another chance of their own, coming off a corner kick. Kronkowski swung the ball in from the left corner, sending a perfect cross to the head of Pinkman who sent the ball towards... and OFF of the far post! Romana was sure they had a goal, but the netminder's best friend said otherwise as Catalunya cleared the near goal out of their end.
About 1 minute later, Catalunya would have a corner opportunity of their own, with Bonito taking the kick from the right corner. The outswinger was cleared out by the Romana defense but was recollected by Bernardo Fry at the edge of the box on the right side. Fry found Bonito open streaking towards the goal, who received the ball and sent a cross to de Allie. The ball would not reach Catalunya striker, but instead would end up in the back of the Romana net as a product of a mistouch by Lavert who was trying to stop the pass across. A devastating goal for Romana to give up as they had been controlling the game thus far and just had a great opportunity of their own to score.
For the rest of the half, both teams would again trade chances, but it seemed like Catalunya was starting to get their rhythm, as they would surpass Romana in xG and shots on target. Romana still had the possession advantage with 60%, but it seemed like Catalunya was getting the more premium opportunities at goal. Romana has to be feeling a bit bad about how that half went, as it was very even, yet they find themselves trailing as a result of an unfortunate own goal. The good news for them is that the game is far from over.
The 2nd half began and both teams began playing with renewed energy and hopes to win the match. The teams would go back and forth, looking especially dangerous on corners, getting many opportunities from them. It was not until the 77th minute where we would see a break in the score, coming off yet another corner opportunity for Catalunya. Poggio took the kick from the left corner, an inswinger. The cross was pristine, and found the head of the giant, lumbering de Trella, who would head the ball into the top left corner for his first Major league goal, putting Catalunya up 2-0. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the match, Romana would be scrambling to answer.
Unfortuntely for Romana, they would be unable to muster up much of a response, as Catalunya largely controlled the ball for the remainer of the gain. Perhaps their spirits were broken from such a long season. It's hard to blame them. Overall, both teams fought hard, but with a little bit of luck and one moment of clinical finishing, Catalunya were able to win their 5th game of the season.
The player of the match went to Aart de Trella, CD for Catalunya who scored and made some excellent defensive plays, as well as a clear cut chance created. Despite the loss, Manuel Neuer had a solid game in net for Romana stopping 3 threatening shots to keep his team in contention to win. Both teams will look towards next season, hoping to be playing more meaningful games in the last matchday of the season. Until then, they had lots of work to do.
