The effort you put into this is massively appreciated by all of us Jay. Thanks again for continuing to do so.

Posted by pubmonkey on 7/13/2026 11:27:00 AM (view original):
The effort you put into this is massively appreciated by all of us Jay. Thanks again for continuing to do so.

You are welcome, as always.

First, I am happy to report that after an all day appointment, I have Internet service again...yay.

Second, we have our 7th Quarterfinalist as #16 Club Deportivo Baile Brian won on the road in their sudden death match-up against our #1 FC Winnipeg Royal Lions by a 1-0 margin, showing that seeding is just a number. After a pair of draws, these two clubs had another even game as the opening half went scoreless and most of the 2nd stanza as well. It was only in the 79th minute that forward Ivor Teevans found himself open in the middle when the ball was serviced in from the wing. Teevans redirected the flight of the ball and beat Winnipeg goalie Agoston Lázár to the far corner for the game and series winner, marking just the 2nd time a 16 has beaten a 1 in the First Round. A last ditch effort by the Royal Lions' Hassoun Desportes sailed harmlessly over the crossbar to end the Canadian squad's hopes of extending the series by another game.

The other sudden death game for the 2/15 series is slated for tomorrow. I'll grab the Bums Bracket action from today this evening.

The Bums got going this evening when #7 Jonzo's Gongers played host to #2 Hardknoxs F.C. and decided to use an interesting tactic in an attempt to throw off the competition. After not having much success in the Group Stage, the coaching staff gave 7 players age 23 years old or younger a cap. Considering that every Hardknoxs starter was at least 26, the contest was one of youth versus experience, with the expected result. Javaughn Galey scored twice for the Americans in their 4-1 win and Malachy Cadogan capped it off in the 78th when he took a corner kick and then headed in his own crossing pass to dazzle the Gongers fans. The Portuguese club actually didn't play badly, holding the game scoreless until the 50th and getting a goal from one of the few veterans to play as 28 year old Ander Calamaro tallied in the 74th.

There are two Bums games tomorrow, including the return game between the Gongers and Hardknoxs.

We have a series that won't end as the sudden death game between #2 Las Vegas Scorpions F.C. and #15 Swampdragons FC ended in yet another draw, the third in three games between the two clubs. The Scorpions jumped out to a 2-0 lead, helped out by a red card to dragons hothead Galtero Cristiani, who picked up two yellows in a 15 minute span. But a multiple goal lead and the home field advantage was not enough as the Scottish Dragons got a pair of late goals from Brazilian midfielder Tobias Márquez, the 2nd of which just squeezed by Vegas goalie Duysek Cernik in the 86th to level the game at 2-2 and the series at 5-5.

The teams will now travel back to Scotland where Swamp FC will host the next game (and send the next challenge.) Everyone else in the quarters will just have to wait it out and maybe watch the finals of that other tournament going on between Spain and Argentina.

The Bums Bracket has its first Semifinalist as #2 Hardknoxs F.C. (I keep spelling that team name wrong!) disposed of #7 Jonzo's Gongers to win the series 7-2 after today's 3-1 victory. Three goals were scored in the first 6 minutes of play land then the contest settled down as the Gongers stuck with their youth movement despite falling hopelessly behind in the aggregate. Rey Bejo scored unassisted in the 73rd on a great display of individual skill when he beat Gilberto Fajardo to the far corner with a curving shot that literally went around his outstretched arms.

Hardknoxs will await the winner of the #3 FC Kingston/#6 FC Cackalacky match-up, which completed its opening game this afternoon as Cackalacky won at home 4-3 to hold serve. Both teams traded goals in the first half as the halftime break with a 2-2 tie on the scoreboard. Adriel Rowley got what proved to be the game winner minutes after the 2nd half began when his rising blast got past Kingston goalie Kenyon Harris and just snuck under the crossbar. The series will go back to Kingston on the 17th to see if they can capitalize on their turn to play at home.

There are no games tomorrow in either bracket with the Bums resuming on Friday and the main draw awaiting for the 2nd replay of the 2/15.

It looks as if the 2nd sudden death game between #2 Las Vegas Scorpions F.C. and #15 Swampdragons FC will be on the 17th at 7pm. There is an earlier game that day between the two teams but it is at the wrong home field and will be ignored for the playoffs.