FIFA 06: The Rise of Amiens SC, Issue 5Jun 04 '07 (Updated Jun 11 '07) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line In this issue, we find Amiens second behind Lyon, but with a game in hand. Only six weeks to go!
Note: To find out more about FIFA 06 for the PC, please see http://www.epinions.com/content_267262135940 To fill you, the casual reader, in regarding this series of articles, I am writing this to chronicle my adventures in the outstanding sports computer game, FIFA 06. I am currently playing at the highest level, which has proven to be both exciting and frustrating to me, almost with equal measure. The events recorded here are based on in-game events in Manager Mode, in which I play 15 seasons as a manager of one or many clubs. I manage Amiens SC, which is now in Ligue 2 in the real world, but play in Ligue 1 in the game. April 15, 2007 Jacques Leroi here. At the end of Week 32 action, Amiens SC is at 24 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses, second behind Lyon because of goal difference, but with a game in hand. Here are the highlights of recent action in Ligue 1, the UEFA cup, and the League Cup, which Amiens won after a pulsating match against Rennes. Injury Woes Once again, star forward Josef Popovic was struck down with an injury, this time a metatarsal fracture in the match against Montpellier. The injury will sideline Popovic until the start of next season, July 2007. "This is primarily why we went out and acquired Dejagah," manager Guus Hiddink quipped. "I know I'll have a selection headache when Popovic comes back, but we really need to keep ourselves competitive in this final stretch." Third loss of the season Amiens SC suffered a demoralizing defeat at the hands of mid-table AS Monaco. A flowing move down the right flank by Marco Di Vaio was finished off by Christian Vieri shortly before the end of the first-half. Though Amiens conducted a relentless assault on Monaco's goal, it was not enough to defeat the principality side. "Gah!" David DeFreitas exclaimed. "Losing to Monaco is like getting kicked in the gut! Our expectations of ourselves have increased as the season has progressed; at the beginning of the season, I would have seen this as a good game, but now I see this defeat as ridiculous." Three victories over PSG in two weeks! Amiens showed a peculiar mastery over Paris Saint-Germain in a two-week span. The first victory was a resounding defeat of PSG with a score of 5-1 in regular season action; Lee Miller and newly-acquired Ashkan Dejagah scored two braces each. Five days later, Amiens faced PSG again in a League Cup semifinal. Once again, Amiens overwhelmed the shellshocked PSG side with three goals as Amiens cruised to victory, 3-0, which included a headed goal from Amiens favorite Thibault Scotto Di Porfirio. The following week, Amiens defeated PSG again, 3-2, in French cup quarter-final action. Though the score suggests a close game, Amiens led 3-0 throughout. PSG challenged with two late goals, but Amiens held on to advance to the semifinal against Lyon... "Our 4-4-2 diamond runs flawlessly against PSG, I cannot really explain why," manager Guus Hiddink commented. "When we run a diamond against a flat 4-4-2, Namouchi shines. In the third game, though, we started with a 3-5-2, which PSG exploited in our last third." UEFA Cup, Round 2 versus Fiorentina In a span of two weeks, Amiens SC got their first taste of UEFA Cup second round play ever in the history of the club against Italian side Fiorentina. The first leg, played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, started poorly with Amiens falling behind two Luca Toni goals in the first half; but, late in the second, new boy Dejagah pulled one back and secured a vital away goal. Nonetheless, Amiens fell to Fiorentina, 2-1. Conversely, the second leg at Amiens' Stade de la Licorne was a pulsating match. Amiens led 1-0 after a quick goal, but Fiorentina pulled one back to tie at 1-1. Amiens again led 2-1, but Fiorentina tied again at 2-2. Then, in the 81st minute, Dejagah poached a goal to take the lead at 3-2, which Amiens did not relinquish. Despite the second leg victory, Amiens bowed out of the UEFA Cup with a 6-6 aggregate, but ousted by away goals. "When Fiorentina scored their second goal," Hiddink said pensively, "I knew that we needed a two-goal victory to win. With two away goals, Fiorentina had our one away goal (scored in the first leg) bested. Sadly, we weren't able to get another goal, but I think we did well in our first foray into continental football." French Cup, semifinal versus Lyon Going into the French Cup semi-final against Lyon, Amiens SC had a record of two wins and zero losses against the classy Lyon side. This record boded well for Amiens going into the semifinal. But, contrary to what the record suggested, Lyon proved themselves to be dangerous by going up 2-0, including a freak goal from forward Sylvain Wiltord from an extreme angle to the keeper's far post and a failed clearance at the goal line. The first half ended at 2-0. Showing the fight and perseverance they have shown all season, Amiens clawed their way back with two goals of their own to force extra time, including another freakishly angled goal. In the first-half of extra-time, Lyon scored, but Amiens dramatically countered in the 105th minute. The second-half of extra-time was played with no change in score, resulting in the match being decided by penalties. In the shootout, Amiens' Seyhan made one save, but Lyon's Coupet made two saves. Amiens crashed out of the French Cup, 5-4 in the shootout. "I feel gutted," striker Lee Miller said, "I feel somewhat to blame, since my penalty was saved. But Coupet is world-class and a French-team goalkeeper. High praises to Lyon -- they played a good match." League Cup, final against Staid Rennais After dispatching PSG in short order, Amiens entered their second League Cup final in two years again Staid Rennais (Rennes). Amiens started the match poorly, and found themselves behind most of the match, 1-0. Yet, in the 72nd minute, Miller poached a rebound for a goal. Then, in the 81st minute (which is quickly becoming known as "the magic minute" by Amiens players), Dejagah slotted a rebound for a second goal to take the lead. Frantic defending ensued, but Rennes' last-minute push could not produce the goals to deny Amiens SC its second League Cup in two years. "I couldn't be happier," said defender Robert Pressley, "I am pretty lucky to have been scouted by this side. I was playing Conference football in England when the gaffer (Hiddink) gave me a call. This was a brilliant win -- not many of my mates can say that they've won two League cups and a second-division trophy like I have!" Note: To view Issue 6, please see http://www.epinions.com/content_5038186628.  |
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