This is the review for the Fifa ‘Portuguese League Tournament’ I hope you enjoy it.
After all three groups suffered from withdrawals, Group A was contested by Terry, Sideshow, Analog and Junior. Terry and Junior with Benfica and Porto respectively were naturally the favourites to progress. Terry despite suffering a 1 – 0 setback against Analog, devoured Junior in a 3 – 0 victory then edged passed Sideshow with a 1 – 0 victory this was enough to see Terry secure a rare progression as group winner. Junior however suffered another setback when he drew a blank with Sideshow who’s 3 – 0 victory against Analog saw him steal second place with Junior’s last gasp 2 -1 victory against Analog got him third place, but was it enough? Thankfully for him it was and a humiliating exit was averted. Analog however talked the talk, showed a flash of brilliance by beating Junior, but it wasn’t enough and he collects this group’s wooden spoon.
Group B was a real group of death containing May, Ludy, Kent and JAG. May who finished a humiliating bottom in his last tournament was clearly up for it this time by whooping JAG to the tune of 3 – 0, edging Ludy’s Sporting Lisbon 1 – 0 and fighting out a 1 – 1 draw with his bogey player Kent. This saw May deservedly top this difficult group and through to the quarter-finals. JAG however clearly couldn’t cope with the difficulty of the group, a strong 3 – 3 draw against Ludy showed an initial sign of promise, but a 1 – 0 loss to Kent sealed his fate with him collecting this group’s wooden spoon. So with second place up for grabs Kent squared off against Ludy. Kent almost always has the edge in these encounters, but the might of Ludy’s Sporting Lisbon saw him trounce Kent to the tune of 4 – 1 and take second place via goal difference, Kent in typical Kent style, was reprieved by being a best third-place finisher thus also progressing.
The final group: Group C was contested by current champ SpursBoy, last tournament’s runner-up Tu Meke, Tyke and Oscar. If Spursboy had a strategy he certainly executed it well by beating Tu Meke 2 – 0 and Tyke in a whopping 4 - 0 to take first place and instantly put the threats to his progression on the backburner, however he did suffer a black mark in the shape of a 2 – 1 dead rubber (to him!) defeat to Oscar. Oscar however didn’t manage to do the goods before that game losing to Tyke 2 – 1 via virtue of a last minute wonder free-kick and a close 1 – 0 defeat to Tu Meke resulted in him lumbered with the wooden spoon for his consecutive tournament. So it was Tu Meke against Tyke and an extremely close game finished 1 – 1 with Tyke’s thrashing of SpursBoy coming to haunt him in more ways than one, firstly Tu Meke finished second via virtue of goal difference, secondly Junior and Kent both had better records in the third place finishers, so that was Tyke out, right?
Portuguese Tournament Review & Awards
posted on 18/9/13
Now this first quarter-final was supposed to be between Sideshow and Terry. In one of the cruellest ironies I’ve ever seen in this tournament, Terry’s PS3 malfunctioned on him leaving him no choice but to forfeit what was probably his best ever chance of winning this thing. So due to me having the best record of the non-qualifiers it would be me and CD Nacional against Sideshow and his Estoril. In an even first-half where Sideshow scored for me to promptly equalize Sideshow took control in the second half scoring midway through and late on to win the match 3 – 1. Sideshow earns his spot in the semi-final, whilst I must admit I took no pleasure in replacing Terry and wasn’t enthusiastic about this match at all and it showed in the performance.
Next up was Kent and Junior, Kent was always going to struggle in this match having Rio Ave FC and Junior having Porto. However if anybody can upset the odds then its him, he went 1 – 0 up and things were looking good, until the dreaded fifa ‘pot luck’ corner resulted in a Junior equalizer. Junior wasn’t going to let Kent get away again and dominated pretty much the rest of the game winning 3 – 1 and into the semi-finals. Brave effort from Kent with a completely chit team.
Now in a Group B re-match May once again took on Ludy with May hoping for the same result no doubt. I don’t know much about this match I expect it was pretty defensive knowing the style of play of both players, but it was a reverse scoreline from the last time with Ludy winning 1 – 0 and May with V. Barcelos despite a valiant effort was out. Ludy once again eliminating the competition!
The last quarter-final saw another couple of group opponents get re-acquainted with SpursBoy and Tu Meke squaring off. A much closer match than the group stage one, but in the end the same winner was to be had, with SpursBoy yet again continuing his winning streak over Tu Meke in a 1 – 0 win. Unlucky Tu Meke, is this a fifth title for SpursBoy?
In this first semi-final despite the difference of quality in the teams I expected a close match between Junior and Sideshow. I’m not sure who scored first or what, but both players complimented each other on a tough match which saw Junior secure his place in the final yet again beating Sideshow 2 – 1, must’ve have hurt Sideshow to miss out on the final again, but I’m sure his time will come, Junior is going for title number three!
The second semi-final saw Ludy face his first ever opponent at this stage in his last tournament when he took on SpursBoy. If you think last time Ludy got his tactics spot on, then this was a total master class as SpursBoy couldn’t get near Ludy with Ludy destroying him on the counter attack to win this match 3 – 0 and continue his unprecedented winning streak over SpursBoy and more importantly secure a place in the final! SpursBoy’s reign is over, but his position as number one in the rankings is firmly secured.
What I billed as a once only final between Ludy and Junior in the Championship tournament has just happened to come once again, could Ludy finally beat Junior in the main event? Well in yet another attack v defence match between these two Junior took the lead with a precise over the top ball. Then would go on to double the lead when he arrived at Ludy’s byline and cut the ball to the edge of the box and slotted home. The match finished 2 – 0 and Junior wins his third title! Ludy showing a remarkable turnaround from whipping boy to tournament elite, all he needs is that title and it may well be coming folks.
Junior showed a classic tournament performance of edging the group stages and then turning it on when it really matters: in the knock-outs, this saw him go level with Voom on three titles, only SpursBoy has more. He might not be as good as Voom or SpursBoy, but he sure knows how to win a tournament, never ever write this guy off.
I think I’m going to host a couple of more tournaments on PS3 and on Fifa 13 before we start with PS4 and Fifa 14. However I must admit it’s beginning to grind me down chasing after people who just have no intention of playing despite signing up, also during tournaments with players disappearing for absurd reasons whilst 1. I have to constantly re-arrange the format and 2. I’m a player too I want to concentrate on my own performance in the tournament rather than constantly having to deal with childish behaviour. At the end of the day I’m only the half-way point in this set-up I need you guys to co-operate to make it smooth as possible. Alas those who have took time to read this review are most likely those who turn up, don’t act like children when things don’t go there way and just get on with it, for that I thank you.
posted on 18/9/13
Awards
Winner: Junior x3
Runner-up: Ludy x2
Overachiever: Ludy
Underachiever: Analog
Most goals scored: Junior – 12
Least goals scored: Tu Meke, Analog - 2
Best match: Ludy 3 – 0 SpursBoy
Worst match: Sideshow 0 – 0 Junior
Best goal difference: SpursBoy +5
Worst goal difference: JAG -4
posted on 18/9/13
Great stuff again tyke and well done for organising, I don't know how you can be bothered with it when people muck you about, I am glad you do though as you can't beat a tyke fifa tournament! Looking forward to the next tournament already
posted on 18/9/13
great review tyke
and thanks for putting up with all the stress, we really appreciate it
posted on 18/9/13
Cheers lads
posted on 19/9/13
Great review Tyke
Glad the next tournament is still on PS3, looking forward to that
posted on 19/9/13
Great to see the enthusiasm is still there Terry, especially after what happened.
posted on 22/9/13
I'll be back Ludy
posted on 26/9/13
Fantastic as ever.