The reality of holding a cup tournament in the time of COVID-19 caught up to us. The weekend started off with word on Friday that the Mid-Atlantic Region would have to reschedule its games due to the situation in Maryland. We all knew this was possible. The good news is that the party has moved to Virginia and will start play next week.

There is another reality to playing a cup tournament at this time: lightning. Stormy weather took out Saturday’s games in the Southeast Region. Even though Georgia Revolution and Savannah Clovers managed to get a half of soccer in, that game and the Chattanooga FC v Soda City game will be played in their entirety this Saturday in Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

But one region – Central Plans - did get to play its games this past weekend, and the results could not have been more different.

LONE STAR REPUBLIC 6 MANSFIELD REVOLUTION 0

MANSFIELD REVOLUTION 1 LONE STAR REPUBLIC 3

Let us not attempt to sugarcoat the opening game. Knowing that Mansfield was a relatively new club playing in a lower division of UPSL, the potential was there for a mismatch. And that is exactly what this game was. As bad as six-nil sounds, it could have been worse. Mansfield could do little in terms of generating any sustained offensive, while LSR just kept on creating scoring chance after scoring chance. Of the six tallies, some of them were real beauties. Thierry Assomoi’s curving cracker from outside the 18 at the 48th minute was highlight reel worthy. Assomoi and Fuad Faki would both tally twice in this game.

The Sunday game in Mansfield would be a little more competitive, with the Revs producing more chances on the offensive side. But LSR would eventually find the back of the net thrice. And when the third goal was scored in the 79th minute, you just wanted this all to end.

But then, in the 88th minute, a Revs player gets fouled just inside the 18. The ref indicated a free kick just outside the box, then changed his mind and awarded a penalty kick. Mansfield converted from the spot, making the aggregate a snug 9-1. Despite the late goal, Lone Star Republic held on and will now go to the championship game.

One thing you do notice when there is no crowd noise is the chatter on the field from players and coaches. And let me tell you, there was plenty of chatter in the second game. Heated chatter. The LSR backup goalie and Mansfield’s coach got shown yellow for their yammering at each other.

The best highlight on this two-game series? Drone footage! Yes - the LSR broadcast crew used a drone to get cool overhead shots during the game. Between the drone footage and the LSR broadcast crew’s use of the word ‘tasty’ with every other nice pass, you have the makings of a drinking game. Drone footage! Drink! Tasty! Drink!

GAFFA FC 1 LOUISIANA KREWE 0

GAFFA FC 2 LOUISIANA KREWE 3 (Gaffa FC advances on PKs 9-8)

Welcome to Poplarville, Mississippi! Louisiana Krewe and Gaffa FC found themselves here at Pearl River Community College for their two-game series. The Friday night game showed a Krewe team with a number of talented players up top, such as Alfi Conteh and Henrique Pimpao. Gaffa FC showed defensive strength, closing down the midfield, and a creative force in midfielder Elean Fajardo.

Both sides would create opportunities in the first half to no avail. In the second half, Gaffa FC would make the most of a 50-50 ball won in the air on the Krewe side of the field. Fajardo scooped up the ball dribbled quickly down the right side, fed a pass to forward Michael Durr who would bury it from a sharp angle just before the 57th minute.

Gaffa FC had the lead, but could Krewe find the equalizer? They huffed and puffed, throwing many a charge forward. But Gaffa’s defensive shape and pure tenacity kept frustrating Krewe, and in the end the one goal would hold up. But despite these two teams never facing each other, the intensity level steadily increased as the game wore on, and that intensity would carry over to Sunday.

Sunday’s game saw a change in venue, as heavy rain forced the game to be played on the turf at the football stadium (Friday’s game was played on the natural grass soccer field). The turf brought a faster pace to the game.

Gaffa FC applied further pressure on Krewe by scoring an early goal. A throw-in and a flick header would find that man Elean Fajardo who would direct a header to the upper corner. Just under two minutes, and Gaffa FC was now up 2-0 on aggregate. But Krewe would keep on pushing forward. And they would finally crack open Gaffa FC’s stingy defense.

In the 18th minute, Krewe’s midfield general Matheus Fulini Barrozo found a flying Pimpao with a perfect 30-yard pass on a line, beating two defenders and the keeper on the short side, leveling the game at 1 but still down 2-1 on aggregate. The half ended with the score still 1-1.

The second half began, and things got a little crazy late.

One of the second half subs brought on by Krewe was Nazeem Bartman, a player who was with Stumptown Athletic briefly in the spring. Playing on left side, Bartman would make a great run, feed a pass inside – but no one was there to take it. The defense attempted to clear, only to have one player bounce the ball off another and right back to Bartman. He turned and fired – and scored! 85th minute, and Krewe finally had a lead and evened up the aggregate. Overtime was needed.

And then things got crazier.

After a scoreless first overtime period of ten minutes, Gaffa FC got a golden opportunity early in the second overtime when Krewe goalkeeper Alvaro Garcia-Manero came out to try and beat a Gaffa player to the ball just inside the 18. He got all player and no ball, and a penalty kick was awarded. Forward Conner Johnson converted, and Gaffa had the overall lead again.

Krewe were not done. A foul would give Alfi Conteh a chance at a free kick from just over twenty yards out from goal. And he would send a low-flying rocket just inside the near post for a wonder of a goal to tied things up at 3-3 on aggregate. It would now come to penalty kicks.

And things got crazier still.

At first, no one could miss. I mean, no one. Six rounds, all goals. In the 7th round, Krewe goalie Garcia-Manero took the penalty and scored. But then in the 8th round, Gaffa FC goalie Callum Harley finally makes a stop – giving the captain Tom Cosgrove the chance to put it away. But NO - he’s stopped as well! Both players score in the 9th round. Then in the 10th round, Krewe defender Cristian Cubedo Amymerich drills the crossbar, and once again Gaffa FC could win it. Stepping up to take the penalty was Callum Harley, Gaffa’s goalkeeper. And he would not miss, drilling the ball into the upper part of the goal.

Gaffa FC had won it, 3-3 on aggregate, 9-8 in penalties. All in all, a great match from start to end.

- John Howard-Fusco