I hope you've enjoyed this brief little tournament! We've seen some serious drama, some great storylines, and now we've got the big final to look forward to.
This is how the quarter-finals onward have panned out:
This is how the quarter-finals onward have panned out:
Yes, the final is Rome vs. Manchester. With the latter being taken to penalties by Nis, and extra time by Amsterdam, Rome stand alone to have won all their games in normal time.
Ahead of the final, Rome are dealt a major blow as Daniele De Rossi's accumulation of yellow rules him out of the final. In comes Andrea Bertolacci, although with no natural DM Rome change to a flat three in midfield. Up front, Gianluca Caprari has struggled, so he is replaced by Federico Macheda... the former Man Utd youngster! Manchester, meanwhile, have no reason to change, so they name the same XI that faced Nis.
Ahead of the final, Rome are dealt a major blow as Daniele De Rossi's accumulation of yellow rules him out of the final. In comes Andrea Bertolacci, although with no natural DM Rome change to a flat three in midfield. Up front, Gianluca Caprari has struggled, so he is replaced by Federico Macheda... the former Man Utd youngster! Manchester, meanwhile, have no reason to change, so they name the same XI that faced Nis.
Marcus Rashford's pace has had defences terrified all tournament, and he creates the first chance of the final with a strong run and a shot fizzed just wide. It's Manchester who are playing much better in the opening exchanges, and they get reward for their pressure as a challenge by Luca Antei unfortunately flies into the path of Danny Welbeck, who calmly slots it past Pigliacelli!
Manchester scent blood, but as they push up they give up a glorious chance for Rome to level. Alessandro Florenzi provides a fine run through the middle, and is played in, but skies his effort when he only had Sheffield Wednesday's third choice keeper to beat. A few minutes later Bertolacci plays a fine ball out wide for Matteo Politano, and the wingers low cross is met by Macheda, and it flies in for the leveller!
Suddenly Rome have the momentum, and they capitalise on it fully as they take the lead with a wondergoal! Antonio Candreva chips a corner to the edge of the box where Florenzi is waiting, and the Roma midfielder belts it into the top corner!
Rashford goes close from range, before Florenzi nearly adds a second with a snapshot from a rebound. That appears to be that before the break, but in added time Blackett trips Florenzi on the edge of the box, and Candreva steps up to scorch the free kick beyond Kieren Westwood - Rome lead 3-1 at the break!
Rome are in total control of the match, and Manchester don't have amazing options on the bench. They elect to bring on Zach Clough for Ravel Morrison, who has been struggling for fitness all match. And they get the start they needed, as a rapid counter-attack results in Welbeck slipping Rashford through, who makes no mistake - 3-2!
It was a bad mistake to allow Rashford space behind, but Rome do it again and the Man Utd striker tests Pigliacelli with a dinked effort from the edge of the box. Manchester bring on Adam Clayon for Ahmad Benali, and go close again through a Rashford-led breakaway. The England striker is everywhere, and he should score from Welbeck's cross, but his effort is parried behind. It's extreme pressure from Manchester - and they finally level, through an unlikely source! A corner is cleared, but Watmore plays it back in where James Tarkowski has found some space, and buries his header!
Manchester are bossing it now. Rashford finds space yet again, but is denied by a desperate challenge from Antei. It goes to Watmore, who waits for the chance then delivers it to the far post, where Danny Welbeck is there to head Manchester ahead!
Rome bring Caprari on, but they are struggling to see the ball in midfield in order to get the ball upfield. A free kick presents a chance to get the ball into the box, but it's cleared and suddenly Manchester have four against three. Clough breaks through one-on-one, and unselfishly squares it to Watmore (who has been sensational today) to poke in Manchester's fifth! With only 7 minutes remaining, that must surely be the game won?
Maybe not - Rome pull one back! A hopeful ball into the box by Candreva is into Macheda, and he fires it low beyond Westwood... but there's only a couple of minutes left...
It's not enough time - Rome can't get the ball past Tarkowski and Jagielka, and the final whistle means that MANCHESTER WIN THE EUROPEAN CITY CUP!
WHAT A MATCH! Frankly, ridiculous!
And that's that! That was fun... maybe I'll get the time to do this all over again for FM19...
If you've enjoyed this series, do make sure you have a read through the main one I do on this website, the Draft World Cup!
And that's that! That was fun... maybe I'll get the time to do this all over again for FM19...
If you've enjoyed this series, do make sure you have a read through the main one I do on this website, the Draft World Cup!