James Williams - @CripsyAU

7 years ago

E-League stars fire on the world stage in Manchester

Last weekend in Manchester 128 of the best FIFA players in the world battled it out to be named the Spring Cup Champion.

Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) had three representatives including two from the E-League – Melbourne City’s Marcus Gomes, Sydney FC’s Marko. FUTWIZ Honey Badger was the other competitor from ANZ.

Here’s how they performed in Manchester.

The Swiss Style Format

Each competitor plays seven group games over two legs. If you win four games, go to the knockout stages. However, if you notch four losses you go home.

Gomes had the tough task of playing defending champion F2Tekkz in his first match-up, and unfortunately he found the task too difficult and couldn’t get the win. However, Gomes turned around his form, and by the time he faced his 7th opponent, he had already secured his place in the knockout stages. He finished with four wins and three losses.

Marko also started off with a loss but quickly got back to winning ways and by the time he reached his final match-up in Round 7, his record was 3-3 – meaning he needed one more victory to make the knockout stages. After a long back and forth game, Marko took the lead but a LONG range Ruud Gullit strike in the 119th minute took the game to penalties. Unfortunately for Marko, he couldn’t seal the deal and was knocked out in the group stages.

FUTWIZ Honey Badger had a blistering start winning his first match 7-3 on aggregate. He had two wins and two losses when he came up against one of the North America’s best in NYC_Chris. After losing 3-0 in the first leg, Honey had it all to do and he turned up when it mattered most, finishing the second match 7-1 and winning 7-4 on aggregate.

HoneyBadger needed to win his final match to progress to the knockout stages, coming up against one of Belgium’s finest – Gilles. In a tight and tense first match-up, Honey grabbed the victory 3-2 and then quickly took charge in game two winning 5-2 and setting himself up for a knockout stage clash against one of the world’s best Hashtag Agge.

Knockout Stages

HoneyBadger vs Hashtag Agge

One of the toughest match-ups of the first round of the knockouts stages, HoneyBadger took on Hashtag Agge, the two-time World Champion and one of the favourites to take the competition out. The first game was all Honey Badger’s; winning 3-0 and setting the tone for game two. Even though Agge got the win 3-2, Honey always seemed in control of the match-up and got the win on aggregate 5-3, which set up a Top 16 clash with German player Gotzery.

Unfortunately this is where Honey’s valiant tournament run ended as he was knocked out 6-3 on aggregate.

MarcusGomes vs Falcon Msdosary

Gomes played against fellow regional player Falcon Msdosary in the first round of the knockout stages and in game one it was an edgy affair finishing 1-0 at full time for Msdosary. In the second match Msdosary showed his class putting on a clinical performance defeating Marcus 5-1, finishing a 6-1 winner on aggregate. A respectable performance from Marcus to make it this far considering Msdosary would go on to win the Spring Cup!

Final Results available here.

 

A-League Men
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