Season 5 – League Match #14
Neon Genesis Evangelion vs. Screamin’ Seamen
Date: February 15th, 2004
Venue: Shinji’s Stadium (Erie, PA)
Attendance: 63,251 (67,000)
Weather: Overcast
This season we finish things off on the road, with no small task ahead as Neon Genesis Evangelion lay in wait for us on their home turf. This is the club that has been neck-and-neck with Big Reds for the majority of the season, and with one last gasp at winning the series title.
A quick glance at the table, however, and one realizes that the season is all but over already. With a goal differential lead of ten, Neon Genesis Evangelion have to pray for, namely that Sweden Heights, who seem destined for a relegation match, somehow manage to steal a point from Big Reds. At the same time, they must be victorious over us today as well.
Previous Meetings
(W) 12/22/2002 – Neon Genesis Evangelion 2, Screamin’ Seamen 3
(W) 3/9/2003 – Screamin’ Seamen 3, Neon Genesis Evangelion 1
(W) 5/11/2003 – Screamin’ Seamen 4, Neon Genesis Evangelion 2
(L) 6/1/2003 – Neon Genesis Evangelion 3, Screamin’ Seamen 1
(W) 8/10/2003 – Screamin’ Seamen 5, Neon Genesis Evangelion 0
(L) 10/12/2003 – Neon Genesis Evangelion 4, Screamin’ Seamen 0
(L) 11/16/2003 – Screamin’ Seamen 0, Neon Genesis Evangelion 2
We started out strong in our history against Evangelion, but have obviously struggled against them as of late. And to be frank, I expect us to continue to struggle today. Our lads gave their all last week, and though we came up short against WoM FC, a third place finish is still likely ours. Unless the same miracle that Evangelion is looking for happens and Sweden Heights upset Big Reds, our final placement is decided.
Formation: 3-5-2
Tactics: Normal
Starters (# appearances, *s last time out)
Keeper: #1 Cornelius “Corny” Jernigan (72nd career appearance, ****)
Right Wingback: #5 Arlen “Headcase” Lucas (77th career appearance, ****)
Central Defender: #2 Cameron “Big Mac” McDonald (31st career appearance, ****~)
Left Wingback: #22 Tyler Willard (52nd career appearance, ****)
Right Winger: #16 Reg Nichols (30th career appearance, ***~)
Inner Midfielder: #19 Gino Behling (15th career appearance, ****)
Inner Midfielder: #10 Milan Dufek (13th career appearance, ***~)
Inner Midfielder: #8 Javier Tejeda (12th career appearance, ****)
Left Winger: #9 Ad Taxwell (7th career appearance, ***~)
Forward: #25 Fidel Lourenso (87th career appearance, ****)
Forward: #12 Guido Metman (125th career appearance, ***~)
Team Captain: #12 Guido Metman
Set Pieces: #22 Tyler Willard
Substitutes
-Keeper: #13 Darryl Read (32 career appearances, ***)
-Defender: #24 Sven Svensson (112 career appearances, ****)
-Midfielder: #4 Jaimy van de Kerkhof (17 career appearances, ***)
-Forward: #14 German Galvez (40 career appearances, **~)
-Winger: #23 Ivan Richardy (15 career appearances, ***)
Our lineup remains the same as last week, with English winger Ad Taxwell seeing Sunday action for the second week in a row.
Our lads will be giving their all today, in an effort to do whatever we can to secure a third place finish. But as was mentioned earlier, it’s practically in the bank as it is.
Match Report
PRE-GAME
63251 spectators had come to Shinji's Stadium this cloudy day.
EVA started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Åkesson - Runesson, Mårtensson, van der Tempel - Kalnins, Andersson, Taylor, Fortune, Tudela - Lachance, Kowalski.
Screamin' tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Jernigan - Lucas, Mcdonald, Willard - Nichols, Dufek, Behling, Tejeda, Taxwell - Metman, Lourenso.
FIRST HALF
EVA seemed to prefer attacking in the middle.
Many thought Huey Kowalski ought to have been awarded a penalty shot in the 10:th minute, as he went down trying to circle the visitors keeper Cornelius “Corny” Jernigan.
The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 in the 24:th by a breakthrough from Andrejs Kalnins, who unaided came in out of the right wing hooking the ball over the visitors keeper.
EVA put themselves up 2 - 0 when Jörgen Andersson broke through on the right, leaving the entire defensive box behind him.
In the 32nd minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Stanley Lachance dashed through, knocking home 3 - 0 for EVA.
The referee showed EVAs Junior Taylor the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.
3 - 0 was the half-time score. EVA held the ball, with a clear 63 percent possession rate.
SECOND HALF
Jörgen Andersson of EVA received a yellow card in the 54:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Huey Kowalski sprang high, as always, and was very close to scoring with a header after a corner, but missed just barely.
Stanley Lachance increased EVAs lead to 4 - 0 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right.
The fortyfive minutes were dominated by EVA, with an impressive 64 percent possession of the ball.
POST-GAME
EVA´s best player was Jörgen Andersson. However, Jon Mårtensson made a disastrous appearance.
The most dominating Screamin' player was without a doubt Tyler Willard. Milán Dufek was a disappointment, however.
Final Score: Neon Genesis Evangelion 4, Screamin’ Seamen 0
Goals
None
Cards
None
Player Ratings
Jernigan: ****
Lucas: ****~
McDonald: ****~
Willard: *****
Nichols: ***~
Behling: ***~
Dufek: ***~
Tejeda: ****
Taxwell: ***~
Lourenso: ***~
Metman: ***~
Team Match MVP: #22 Tyler Willard
Team Ratings
Screamin’ Seamen
-Midfield: Passable (6)
-Right Defense: Supernatural (14)
-Central Defense: Magnificent (12)
-Left Defense: Brilliant (11)
-Right Attack: Outstanding (10)
-Central Attack: Formidable (9)
-Left Attack: Brilliant (11)
-Experience: Poor (3)
-NSI: 85
Neon Genesis Evangelion
-Midfield: Outstanding (10)
-Right Defense: Formidable (9)
-Central Defense: Outstanding (10)
-Left Defense: Formidable (9)
-Right Attack: Brilliant (11)
-Central Attack: Excellent (8)
-Left Attack: Brilliant (11)
-Experience: Poor (3)
-NSI: 88
Comments
A disappointing way to end the season, to say the least. It felt like we deserved a better result than a 4-nil drubbing today, but a large part of that had to do with our as-yet inexperienced midfield. The kids we have playing in the middle just didn’t have much left in the tank here at the tail end of the season, especially with all the extra effort they put into last week’s match. Our strikers were often in good position for scoring chances. The midfield just couldn’t get them the ball.
Series Scores and Standings
-Big Reds locked down the series title in convincing fashion, demolishing Sweden Heights, 5-nil.
-Croats in Miami concluded their shameful slide to sixth place, losing to Ramblers at home, 3-2.
-WoM FC and Harrisburg Harries, both doomed to demotion, fought to a 2-2 draw.
No. Team Played Goals Pts. NSI
1. Big Reds 14 40-5 35 87
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion 14 36-12 35 88
3. Screamin’ Seamen 14 26-21 22 85
4. Ramblers 14 25-28 19 72
5. Sweden Heights 14 26-30 19 46
6. Croats in Miami 14 33-29 16 55
7. WoM FC 14 20-39 13 66
8. Harrisburg Harries 14 8-50 4 63
Judging by their performance, it appears that Sweden Heights have subscribed to the Croats’ “let’s lose on purpose and get a relegation match” school of thought. I’ve come to expect this sort of opportunistic (and unrealistic) type of thing from the management of the Croats, but not from Sweden Heights. Needless to say, I have little respect left for either club.
The good news is that we did indeed clinch our second consecutive third-place finish, guaranteeing us yet another season in The Series Of The Beast [tm]. Considering that we began the season with a brand new (and very young) midfield, I’d say we’ve done pretty well for ourselves, and could very well contend for the series title next season.
Up Next: Our last friendly match of the season. Stay tuned!