So the first Quarter-Final we had Group A winner Kent against 4th place in Group B and knock-out debutant Obers facing off. This was always going to be tough for Obers and from Kent’s point of view it seemed like a dominant victory for Kent when he scored in the first half from a cross and then Obers was put to the sword when he missed a big chance, with Kent doubling his lead. So a brave but ultimately futile attempt from Obers who enjoyed a successful return to the tournament fold. Kent marches on to the semi-finals!

Group B’s winner Tyke faced off against 4th in Group A Marky, ST Mirren v Ross County. A mini-classic started off with Marky dominating but going unrewarded as a simple cross was punched into his own net by Marky’s keeper. He rallied from this big time and got the lead at 2 – 1 come HT. However I came out fighting but my break once again came from this delightful hero of a keeper (to me!) who let the ball roll straight across him for my player to have an easy finish. Momentum switched after this when Marky fouled my player to leave him with ten men and a penalty conceded, a penalty which was converted, albeit poorly when it was fired down the middle and assisted by Marky’s keeper who parried it meekly into the net, I swear I’m not making this chit up. Frustration got the better of Marky when he gave away a second penalty and red card, which I smashed home. Quite an unbelievable keeper performance for all the wrong reasons saw Marky go out and Tyke through to the semi-finals.

Tournament favourite Viva had the team everybody wants in the SPL with Celtic took on Saggy who had Inverness in this Quarter-Final match. Saggy dug deep into his tactical nous for this one frustrating Viva’s Celtic with him citing lack of opportunities throughout the game. Not quite sure when Saggy’s goal came, but come it did and he took a 1 – 0 lead. I do know that Viva had a golden chance at the end of the game, but fired it high and wide to disappointedly for him (and my prediction) to go out of the tournament. Saggy wins his first ever knock-out game and progresses to the semi-final with clear joy at the result.

This last Quarter-Final saw the impressive knock-out debutant 1man go up against the draw specialist Monica. They didn’t give much away about their first match all I know is it was a mini-classic 2 – 2 with Mon snatching an equalizer in the dying minutes to potentially break 1man’s semi-final dreams. So on to golden goal and 1man’s spirit was clearly not broken as he went on to get the golden in the 60th min, well he got three of them in fact winning 3 - 0! Read the rules next time lads, we do golden goal only. If Mon had scored first, but 1man won 2 – 1 that would’ve messed up progression. Anyway well done to 1man 3 – 2 golden goal victor in his first quarter-final match, Mon is left to rue this shock defeat.

The first semi-final pitted Kent against Tyke. Tournament veterans will know how this one has always gone with Kent having won all seven (think it’s seven) matches against Tyke they have ever played at the officially tournaments. It was the battle of the Saints! Johnstone against Mirren. Kent started off quite well creating a few half-chances only to be stunned when I took the lead on the 15th min, capitalizing on a highline defence to go 1 on 1 with the keeper and put it away. Kent pretty much dominated the rest of this half but I managed to keep him at bay and wasn’t overly troubled until right at the end of the first half when he rounded the keeper and my defender knocked his striker down and nothing was given, I dodged a bullet there. The second half wasn’t the mass onslaught I expected, yes Kent had his chances, but so did I. I even missed a penalty mid second-half and a few other decent chances, dare I say it, but I think I was the better player in the second-half I shut him out well and won my first ever match against him 1 – 0! Kent was clearly disappointed with his earliest exit since the PS4 era begun and only his second defeat, but he needs to bounce back if he wants that fifth title. Tyke however, defied the odds and reaches his fourth final!

The second semi-final was the battle of the unexpected and kind of expected players when 1man faced off for the second time against Saggy. The last match saw Saggy edge 1man out 2 – 1. This match saw Saggy dominate (in his words) the first half, but it would be 1man who took the lead thanks to a penalty just at the end of the half. However Saggy has a habit of bouncing back from setbacks quite well and soon had 1man pegged getting a goal straight off from the second half with another two quickly following. A fatigued and maybe shocked 1man could not muster any clear cut chances and Saggy was entering dreamland when he secured his first final spot in a 3 – 1 win. 1man however can hold his head up high, his job now is not to slide back into mediocrity and build on this tournament performance.

So whatever happened in this final we were going to have a winner who had never been champion before with experienced final veteran Tyke in his fourth final appearance against Saggy who was contesting his first final in only his second tournament. This may have shown as Tyke scored what is probably the quickest goal in tournament history going 1 – 0 up with 1:31 on the clock. However parity was soon restored with me frustratingly conceding on the 5th minute. Conceding after scoring on fifa often has devastating consequences as Saggy scored again in the 16th min to go 2 – 1 up in this final match. What followed was a cagey match with Saggy not wanting to commit too forward and me not wanting to concede what probably would’ve been a killer 3rd goal against his defence. I had a few half chances, one that hit the bar, but Saggy held firm and unlike our group match where I was victor, this would be Saggy’s final and his title edging this tense match 2 – 1.

So commiserations to myself, losing yet another final, final number four! Damn. However well done Saggy it’s too early to say if you’ll be one of the best players we’ve ever had in these tournaments, but you’ve done something most entrants won’t ever do and won a title. So well done to you on your maiden title and I hope to see you in many more tournaments to come.

Apart from the delay between groups and knock-outs (looking at you 1man) this has turned out to be quite the tournament, defending champion out in the groups, no-hopers suddenly becoming world-beaters and ultimately a new name in the hall of fame. Serie A next time folks, see you there!

VIRUS

That Viva fella sounds dangerous. I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.

You should enter the tournaments nadeem_2099

I would enter but this Viva fella seems a bit fishy tbh. I've heard he sends abusive messages after games if he loses and threatens to hack your account.

No that's Willy

Just hack him back if he does!

Nadeem, Didn't realize you here too

Sounds like a good tournament hope to see you at next tournament but i run in a F1 league (yes sad i know but been there 4 years) but it runs every other week so no guarantees

I'm sure it was viva. He has anger management problems as once he nearly beat someone up when they said Jack Wilshire is a better player than Paul Scholes. He is a total nutter.

comment by Arsene Wenger's water bottle supplier (U10240)
posted 2 minutes ago
Nadeem, Didn't realize you here too

Sounds like a good tournament hope to see you at next tournament but i run in a F1 league (yes sad i know but been there 4 years) but it runs every other week so no guarantees
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Who are you? I don't know your username smh?

Wait a minute........
An Arsenal fan AND he watches F1, I only know one person, nando is it you?

It was fantastic Wenger, a classic.

Virus

When is the Serie A tournament

In 2016