 | It was a season Chaos Shumen fans and even critics will remember and cherish, as the side whose sole target was reaching round 7 of the competition went all the way to the semis and put up a good fight in their last match, where many believed they didn't deserve to go out. As the bundle of emotions is still tightly bound and too confusing to put into words, here's a quick look at how the streak started, pressed forward and ultimately - ended in class.
Early rounds:
Accumulating a total of 37 shots on target in their first 4 rounds, Chaos were unsurprisingly in the draw for Round 6 as neither side had the class or luck needed to put up a good fight. With a total goal difference of 12-0 and a memorable 5-0 win away over Ashesdreamteam (3365), fans were getting ready for the real tough fixtures that would undoubtedly start coming up.
The away challenges:
What followed was one of the hardest fought wins for the Shumen side with opponents Oxo Utd playing a great home game that not only saw them score 2 against the formerly impenetrable defense of Chaos, but also taking the game to Extra time only to lose after 2-3. The next game with Syracuse FC was worrying manager chaosmaster even more with suspensions and mid-season injuries still lingering, but a cool 2-0 win surpassed the manager's target of Round 7 and took the side to the last 64 teams remaining.
The turning point:
In a draw that contained more than 50% of clubs that would have likely stopped Chaos' streak, one was desired by all - the 1000+ ranked Neberukantis. Luck smiled on the Shumen team like never before, not only presenting them with the seemingly weak team, but also granting the home advantage. How dearly underestimation could have cost chaosmaster ... Playing only 3 reserves almost proved fatal, as the underdog took the game all the way to penalties where luck was simply on Chaos' side again. But from every disaster comes some good - the tactical experience gained by the manager was at the base of his upcoming success which also involved 6 consecutive wins in his local division - the Manta Premiership.
Expert challenges and penalty thrillers:
Holmfirth Whites (78) were the first top 100 side to face Chaos and the home advantage was the only thing keeping the team somewhat relaxed. With the slight tactical and formation corrections made by the manager, the 1-1 full time score was all the away side could manage and 2 goals by youngster Baird in extra time sealed a record Round 10 for Chaos. The following away draw against IanD's Altostone City (66) seemed like the end of the road, but despite the manager's satisfaction with simply going this far, the side pushed their resilience to the limit and in Chaos' second penalty shoot out, they were luck to win again. If this was a game written off by critics, the following neutral venue match against Fighting Mongoose (26) was considered almost a formal game. And yet luck and the random generator had other ideas ... including yet another penalty thriller that secured Chaos a place in the last 4!
The (undeserved?) end:
Fingers were crossed very tightly ... 'just not Ciudad' prayed everyone from the Shumen fan and staff base and their prayers were answered - the next opponent would be Thor's Spirit Of St Louis. 'We can win this!', 'It's not good, but it's still possible to reach the final' and other such chants full of hope were filling the locker room of the Chaos squad. But luck finally turned it's back ... or was it simply SoStL T Dark's class? The answer will always be arguable, but the 2 goals scored from 3 shots on were enough for the formal away side to secure their first Super Cup final and to end the fairy tale this season was for Chaos.
In the end a memorable season is hours away from finishing. Will this be the sole amazing run in the club's history or is this just a sign of things to come? Time will tell and I can't wait :) |
