Cup Of Harmony Final

Going with speed and attacking flair, Manager Ufwurz the Furious made three changes to the side that defeated Spaam in the semifinals. Speedy right back Ufdush the Nasty replaced tough defender Mausnik the Cleaver. Versatile defender Ghazukh the Burner then switched to centre back. Zagag the Sleak won a starting spot up front over target man Ashmazh the Tough. The largest surprise was that Ufwurz dispensed with tradition and did not start with a defensive midfielder. Gabdul the Looter started in the hole behind the strikers, aged defensive midfielder Krumsnak the Sneaky was dropped completely from the squad, and atttack-minded Ghazghash the Sleazy slotted into central midfield. Given these changes, it was obvious the Furious one was going to go all out for victory and attack The Weegies at every opportunity.

After a stirring rendition of the national anthems by Vorros the Wise, the match was underway. The raucous crowd did not have long to wait to cheer. Zagag the Sleak nearly opened the scoring in the first minute of play. His hard shot off of a Gabdul the Looter feed was well saved and held on to by Weegie goalkeeper Tommy Devopoulos. The visitors then had a shout at goal a few minutes later, but striker Andy Quattro blazed one over the bar. Ghazghash the Sleazy then replied with a stunning goal on eight minutes to give the rambunctious masses a moment of glory. Bagdreg the Mauler’s diagonal ball released Akhklash the Emaciated down the right side. Approaching the corner flag, the Emaciated one sent a looping cross back to the semicircle at the top of the box. Ghazghash volleyed the cross first time and smashed the ball towards goal. Devopoulos had no chance as the ball rocketed into the side netting, just inside the far post. The Sleazy one ran off in celebration and the home crowd roared with joy. Warnocks Wizards 1, The Weegies 0.

The visitors were clearly rattled and the Red and White Wizards pressed their advantage. After three successive corners were successfully dealt with, the home side doubled the lead on 16 minutes. Ghazukh the Burner stole the ball from Peter De Bruis in midfield and passed it off to Ghazghash. The Sleazy one chipped the ball over the defense, releasing Zagag the Sleak. With the last defender Kevin McDonald viciously bringing down the Sleak one with a chance at goal, the referee correctly played the advantage as Zagag, before he was brought down, coolly laid off a cross field ball to the onrushing Ishklash the Snooty. The Snooty one nutmegged keeper Devopoulos and walked the ball in to the net for a 2-0 lead, setting off ecstatic celebrations around Fortress Warnock and the Empire. The referee awarded McDonald a red card, and The Weegies were really up against it. This ushered in a celebratory period where the Red and White Wizards kept possession of the ball, as every pass was greeted with a cheer of "Opa!" from the enchanted multitude of Wizardites in attendance. The score at half time was: Warnocks Wizards 2, The Weegies 0.

After a stirring halftime show including a reprise of Wizards Without Hats performing "The Harmony Dance" and a Cup of Harmony closing speech by Minister for Sport Ufhur the Hated which included an important announcement (see related story below), the teams took to the pitch for the second half. The Red and White Wizards were content to sit on their two goal lead, and while they enjoyed large periods of possession, did not really threaten the Weegie goal. Zagag had the only real chance of the half, but he missed a sitter from eight yards. The 10-men visitors gamely tried to find a way back into the match, and were it not for fine play once again from Ghazukh the Burner and Shagrukh the Strongclaw in defense, and Ishhak the Smasher in goal, they may have made things interesting. Jamie Smith was stripped of the ball by the Burner, denying him a clear shot on goal. Shagrukh likewise prevented Fred Kincaid from scoring on a corner, the Warnocks Wizards captain just challenging the Weegie enough to force him to head over. Ishhak the Smasher made a fine save on a Peter De Bruis free kick, diving down to his left to preserve the clean sheet. With the last of The Weegies efforts thwarted, the referee called for full time, setting off wild celebrations both inside Fortress Warnock and throughout the Empire of Warnocks Wizards as a whole. The Red and White Wizards had won the Cup of Harmony!