Last time out we outlined our new tournament - the Nations Cup. We also found out which 54 teams have qualified for it. Here's a reminder:
We are going to break this down into stages - a set of rounds to determine which teams qualify to meet the teams from the division above. So for example, the twelve teams on the left-most column above will compete in Stage 1, which has two rounds to determine who goes through to join the next twelve teams in Stage 2.
Today we're going to go through Stages 1, 2 and 3. So let's just get to it!
Stage 1
This is the only stage where teams randomly receive a bye. I say randomly, but when I put the teams into FM19, it just so happened to be the four teams at the bottom who are the lucky ones. Oh well, congratulations to Guam, Afghanistan, Comoros and Mauritania.
Round 1
The draw for the remaining eight teams is:
Today we're going to go through Stages 1, 2 and 3. So let's just get to it!
Stage 1
This is the only stage where teams randomly receive a bye. I say randomly, but when I put the teams into FM19, it just so happened to be the four teams at the bottom who are the lucky ones. Oh well, congratulations to Guam, Afghanistan, Comoros and Mauritania.
Round 1
The draw for the remaining eight teams is:
Gambia had the easiest time, as two goals from Ibou lead them to a 3-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. South Sudan and French Guiana also progressed comfortably, both winning 2-0 over Aruba and Benin respectively. South Sudan's second goal came from a ludicrous 40-yard own goal from Francois Croes, overhit and into the bottom corner. The closest game was between Eswatini and Vietnam, and it was the round's only Asian side which claimed the win, Romario Kortzorg's finish proving enough.
Round 2
So the four winners from the previous round join the four teams with a bye. This is the resulting draw:
So the four winners from the previous round join the four teams with a bye. This is the resulting draw:
Guam were bottom of the world rankings until an excellent display in their group. However, they came crashing back to earth when Gambia struck inside the first 60 seconds. The African side looked a cut above all game, recording a comprehensive 6-1 win to qualify for the next stage. Vietnam also got through with ease, 4-1 victors over Afghanistan in the first all-Asian match. Comoros and South Sudan looked to be heading for extra time until the 76th minute, when Ahmed Mogni headed the winning goal for Comoros.
The round's best match was between Mauritania and French Guiana. Each team lead only to be pegged back, and at 2-2 we went to extra time. Despite Mauritania shading the run of play, it was French Guiana who found a winning goal, Randdy Taubira poking home from a free kick to earn his side a 3-2 victory.
Stage 2
Round 1
So, it's Comoros, Gambia, French Guiana and Vietnam who join the 12 winners from Division F. This is the largest round of the whole tournament. Here is the resulting draw:
Round 1
So, it's Comoros, Gambia, French Guiana and Vietnam who join the 12 winners from Division F. This is the largest round of the whole tournament. Here is the resulting draw:
It proved to be a cruel round for the four sides through from Stage 1. Gambia went down 1-0 to Kenya thanks to a thunderous strike from Dennis Oliech, whilst a brace from Rhudy Evens wasn't enough to prevent French Guiana slipping to a 3-2 defeat against Central African Republic. Comoros lead Chad 1-0, but Misdongarde Betolngar equalised to take us to extra time, before netting another to earn a 2-1 victory. The toughest defeat, however, was probably Vietnam's, who out-shot Belize 34-11, but somehow let a 1-0 lead turn into a 3-1 extra time defeat.
Elsewhere, Kareem Knights lethal long-range shot looked to have won the match for Guyana, putting them 2-1 up in extra time against Angola, but the African side battled back to win 3-2. A bad-tempered game between Singapore and Madagascar saw the former battle through 2-1, whilst Tanzania overcame Rwanda 1-0 thanks to a single penalty. Finally, Lithuania - who won all 6 games in their Nations League group (a record shared by only them and Panama) kept up their 100% record with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Dominican Republic.
Round 2
So, every match in Round 1 was decided by a single goal. Will the second round be as close? Here's the draw:
So, every match in Round 1 was decided by a single goal. Will the second round be as close? Here's the draw:
Fumiya Kogure got the round off to a flyer, with a long-range fizzing shot to give Singapore an early lead against Angola. It was level two minutes later, but Singapore were 3-1 up at the break. Éric Bokanga's powerful shot brought Angola back into it with 10 minutes remaining, and Yano scored a late equaliser to take us to extra time. This time there were no goals in extra time and we went to penalties. It all came down to Pirolito, who put his spot kick away to earn Angola victory!
This wasn't the only shootout of the round. Despite going down to 10 men thanks to two yellow cards in a minute for star man McDonald Mariga, Kenya held on for a 0-0 draw against Lithuania. A high-quality shootout saw only one miss - from Lithuanian right-back Rolandas Baravykas - meaning Angola secure a very unlikely victory!
Chad and Tanzania also got through 90 minutes with no goals, but there was one in extra time, as Karl Max Barthélémy prodded in the only goal of the game to win it for Chad. Belize, meanwhile, were making do without two of their front 3 due to injury, but still had enough to secure a 1-0 win over Central African Republic - the only normal-time win in the round.
Chad and Tanzania also got through 90 minutes with no goals, but there was one in extra time, as Karl Max Barthélémy prodded in the only goal of the game to win it for Chad. Belize, meanwhile, were making do without two of their front 3 due to injury, but still had enough to secure a 1-0 win over Central African Republic - the only normal-time win in the round.
Round 3
And so to the final round of the stage. It's unfortunate that only two sides get to progress from the initial field of 16, but that's how it is. The sides playing in this round have an additional motivation as whoever wins will become the first sides to win three matches in the Nations Cup.
And so to the final round of the stage. It's unfortunate that only two sides get to progress from the initial field of 16, but that's how it is. The sides playing in this round have an additional motivation as whoever wins will become the first sides to win three matches in the Nations Cup.
Set pieces were the order of the day for Chad, as a free kick and a penalty saw them go 2-0 up on Angola. But their opponents had already come from behind twice this tournament, and they did so yet again - Nando Rafael and Bokanga scoring to take us to extra time (again). The momentum was now with Angola, and two more for Bokanga and one for Job saw them fly through 5-2 victors!
Pablo Tun got the Unbelizables (yes, that's Belize's actual nickname) off to a good start with a lovely strike from the edge of the box. Kenya were level from the spot, but a penalty the other allowed Marcos Souto to restore Belize's lead, which they held on to for victory!
Stage 3
So, Angola and Belize join Panama, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Jordan, Guatemala and Ethiopia in the third stage of the Nations Cup. From now on, the pattern will be the same: two rounds to decide the two teams to progress to the next stage.
Round 1
So, Angola and Belize join Panama, Ivory Coast, Kosovo, Jordan, Guatemala and Ethiopia in the third stage of the Nations Cup. From now on, the pattern will be the same: two rounds to decide the two teams to progress to the next stage.
Round 1
After 90 minutes without a goal, Angola head to extra time for the fourth time out of four. Amer Deeb's penalty finally gave Jordan the lead, but once again Angola come back, Amaro poking in. It takes us to a shootout, and finally Angola's luck runs out, as Chara's miss is the only one. William Zapata's fine finish looked to have secured the victory for Guatemala, but a late Kosovo penalty took this game to extra time as well. Kosovo struck through Arsen Sykaj, but José Contreras equalised to take this one to penalties as well. After Mentor Mazrekaj's miss, Daniel Alberto Carou held his nerve to put Guatemala through!
A burst of four goals in a 30-minute spell either side of half time had Ivory Coast and Ethiopia level at 2-2, and that's the way it stayed, meaning we went to yet another shootout! This one saw more misses, eventually being settled by Dwait Estafanos putting it away to secure the win for Ethiopia. So, the final game was the all-North American tie between Panama (remember, with a 100%) record, and Stage 2 qualifiers Belize. Twice Panama took the lead only for Belize to level. Was this one heading to yet another shootout? No, because Pablo Tun's smashing shot from 30 yards proved enough to secure a fourth victory for Belize!
Round 2
So to the final round for today. Can Belize's... unbelizeable... run continue? After becoming the first team to beat a side from a higher division, they will have to get past Jordan. Meanwhile, Ethiopia face Guatemala in the other battle to get to Stage 4.
So to the final round for today. Can Belize's... unbelizeable... run continue? After becoming the first team to beat a side from a higher division, they will have to get past Jordan. Meanwhile, Ethiopia face Guatemala in the other battle to get to Stage 4.
The last normal-time victory by more than a single goal came in Stage 1, so one was overdue. Guatemala obliged with a very comfortable 4-1 victory over Ethiopia, even if they did have to come from behind. The other game was much more even. Jordan's Ulrich Kapolongo missed an early penalty, but made up for it when he scored a brilliant goal in the second half. Time was running out on Belize's fairytale campaign when Zé Santos scrambled in an equaliser with 10 minutes to go, and 4 minutes later Sergio Quinónez poked home to secure another fantastic win!
So, today we've had 28 matches to ultimately decide that North American sides Belize and Guatemala will move onto Stage 4 with the Division D winners. Below is the progress made by each team so far:
Next time we'll cover Stages 4, 5 and 6. Who will make it through to join the Division A sides? Surely not Belize?