Playing for Nothing Like it Was Something, or When the Two Best Teams Forget How To Play

 

The final day of Group C saw the eliminated teams of Qatar and Bahrain closing out their tournaments. Simultaneously being played elsewhere in Australia was a battle for the top spot of Group C. Iran and United Arab Emirates both came into this match with two wins. The better goal differential meant that United Arab Emirates would win the top spot with a tie. For Iran, they would need a win and nothing else. The action picked up quickest in the consolation match where Mohammed Muntari's header would strike the post missing the chance to put Qatar up early. Not to be outdone, Bahrain would also hit the bar off of Sayed Shubbar's header, and this looked like a match of whatever you can do, I can do better. Some fancy passing and calm head in front of goal resulted in a 35th minute goal by Shubbar who looked to make up for his earlier miss. Hasan Al Haydos would tie the game in the 68th minute when his free kick would slip under the wall and into the goal. For these two Middle Eastern rivals, this game was on like Donkey Kong. Not to be outdone again, Sayed Ahmed Jaafar would score a beautiful, bending, long shot in the 82nd minute that would give The Red a victorious exit. The other match would see Iran and United Arab Emirates find ways to miss the goal. You could see the frustration building in the players. The deadlock would finally be broken in the closing moments of the match when a crossing ball would find Reza Ghoochannejhad head right in front of goal. Reza would deflect it over the keeper, and though there would be cries of offsides, Iran would walk away with the winning goal. 

Iran 1:0 United Arab Emirates          Qatar 1:2 Bahrain

Scriptor: Iran 2:0 United Arab Emirates          Qatar 2:1 Bahrain

IoannesNix: Iran 1:0 United Arab Emirates** Qatar 1:0 Bahrain

Artifex: Iran 2:1 United Arab Emirates            Qatar 3:0 Bahrain

Quaesitor: Iran 3:2 United Arab Emirates        Qatar 2:2 Bahrain

Praeceptor: Iran 1:0 United Arab Emirates**   Qatar 2:1 Bahrain

Firstly, congratulations to Quaesitor for identifying The Silence of the Lambs as the answer to yesterday's Bonus Bonanza.

Onto the final standings for Group C:

Scriptor: 5/1

IoannesNix: 4/2

Praeceptor: 3/1

Artifex: 2/0

Quaesitor: 1/0

Scriptor has been awarded the Group C bonus point. 

Iran now await the runners-up from Group D, while United Arab Emirates will face the winner of Group D. Here are our current standings.

STANDINGS:

21/5

18/7

16/6   YC

16/4

8/4   YC

Scriptor has widened his lead in first. Quaesitor is making a late push, and finds himself in third with more bonus points. World Champion Praeceptor is far in the back of the pack. One final day of group play tomorrow leaves the players with a last chance to pick up a few points before the playoffs burn to an end. There are a total of 5 points that a player can earn on the final day of group play. Two correct picks are hard to do, and picking the correct score twice is even harder, but there is always the Bonus Bonanza.

Rest well, players, for tomorrow is a big day.

The Grand Salmon Alpaca