Group B produced our first bit of simultaneous last match drama. China were set to face North Korea in a match that would determine group positions. North Korea were playing their last game, while China was preparing for the Playoffs. In the other match, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia met for a spot in the second round. The Saudi's would only need a draw to grab the second spot in the group. Recent history has Uzbekistan with only 3 victories in 9 tries against the Saudis. China would open up the days goal scoring when terrible defensive play would allow a bouncing ball to fall to Sun Ke who would strike to put China up 1:0. Uzbekistan wanted to get in on that fast action, and succeeded in going ahead of Saudi Arabi 1:0 when in the 2nd minute Sardor Rashidov would streak down the right hand side and beat the keeper wide. Sun Ke would strike next for China, scoring his second off a crossing ball with his head. China were heading into halftime up 2:0. As the second halves would start, it would North Korea who would pull one back when off a strong attacking move when Jong Il-gwan's shot would strike Chinese forward Gao Lin in the 56th minute. Just four minutes later, the other game would see it's second goal. Uzbeki defender Vitaliy Denisov would pull down Naif Hazazi in the box earning a yellow card and giving away a penalty kick. Though Ignatiy Nesterov would correctly guess the shot would go to his right, he couldn't get low in time to block Mohammed Al Sahlawi's hard kick. Momentum seemed to be swinging Saudi Arabia's way. While North Korea would continue plugging away, their best two chances to tie the game went wide of goal, and struck the crossbar. China would walk off the field knowing that they would play Australia in the Quarterfinals. Back in the other match, Uzbekistan would take the lead in the 71st minute off of substiute Vokhid Shodiev's header. With everything to play for, Saudi Arabia would push forward leaving themselves vulnerable to counterattack, and that's just what Uzbekistan did. In the 79th they would press down the left hand side and find a wide open Sardor Rashidov in the center of the field who easily beat Waleed Abdullah for his second goal. As the final whistle blew, the 3:1 victory would mean that Uzbekistan would advance to face South Korea. Four years ago these two teams would meet in the fourth place playoff. The Koreans won by the final of 3:2. This year's matchup is a rematch that could go down as the best match of this tournament.
China PR 2:1 DPR Korea Uzbekistan 3:1 Saudi Arabia
IoannesNix: China PR 0:1 DPR Korea Uzbekistan 0:0 Saudi Arabia
Scriptor: China PR 2:1 DPR Korea** Uzbekistan 2:1 Saudi Arabia
Artifex: China PR 1:2 DPR Korea Uzbekistan 2:1 Saudi Arabia
Quaesitor: China PR 2:1 DPR Korea ** Uzbekistan 2:4 Saudi Arabia
Praeceptor: China PR 0:2 DPR Korea Uzbekistan 1:1 Saudi Arabia's
Group B finished play with China in the top spot. Our final standings for the group were:
Scriptor/Quaesitor: 5/1
Artifex: 3/0
Praeceptor: 2/1
IoannesNix: 2/0
As a result of their tie, Scriptor and Quaesitor have each earned the Group B bonus point. The Bonus Bonanza question brought forth answers of teeth, his soul, his mind, the skin on his knee, and his hair. All answers were wrong. Scriptor once bit the very tip of his tongue completely off. Therefore, no one gains this Bonus Point.
STANDINGS:
19/4
16/6
15/4
14/5 YC
6/3 YC
Scriptor has jumped into first place with two correct picks, one bonus point for correct score, and a share of Group B's bonus point. The battle for second has tightened as three players are now within 2 points of each other. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Praeceptor sits far in the back with only 6 points. It's a disappointing showing, but maybe she can pull off the big upset.
Until tomorrow and Group C's conclusion,
The Grand Salmon Alpaca
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