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North Strathae and Oslanburg fail to qualify to 1579 Women's Brigidnan Cup
By Milena Baumgarten
Published: Marth 5, 1579


Goalkeeper Miett Szlávics became unexpectedly Keszaria's heroine in Herlev.


Herlev, Oslanburg - A piece of history died yesterday in Gladsaxe Stadium, Herlev. Keszaria, not Oslanburg, will qualify to the 5th Women's Brigidnan Cup, to be hold in Kazemura, after Oslanburg surprisingly lost against Keszaria at home. Oslanburg had participated in every Brigidnan Cup since 1563, but following the elimination of the Florinthian team in the qualifying group stage as well, the Lanlanian team becomes the only national team to have participate in every Brigidan Cup.

Oslanburg had won 1-2 in Keszaria, a result which was probably too short, as the Oslanburg team had dominated the match and had clear chances to increase their victory. Anyway, the result seemed comfortable enough to face not much challenges in the second match of the playoff, two weeks later in Oslanburg.

The first minutes of the match seemed to repeat that same patter, with the Oslanburgan team controlling the match, and having a few clear chances, which forced Keszarian goalkeeper Miett Szlávics to save the goal at least twice during the first fifteen minutes. It would the Keszarian team, however, who would hit first, after a corner kick on minute 21'. Keszaria striker Edina Ormandy headed to goal, which was cleared by the Oslanburgan goalkeeper at first, but the Keszarian defender Hajna Gabor scored without opposition almost on the goal line.

But Oslanburgan team did not lose the calm, as the Keszarian team needed to score another to goal to qualify, and kept controlling the match. They would effectively equalize the match on minute 44, before the end of the first half, when Oslanburgan striker Merete Daumberg scored the 1-1 after a long collective move by the Oslanburgan team, in which the Keszarian goalkeeper was not very fortunate.

The second-half started with a few clear chances by both teams, which they failed to score. It would be a 30-metre shoot by Keszarian captain Csenge Kálmán which changed the match, after her shoot was diverted by touching an Oslanburgan defender, surprising the Oslanburgan goalkeeper. Now the playoffs were unexpectedly equalised, and the Keszarian team came back to their defensive formation. No more goals were scored during the rest of the match and the extra-time, although the Oslanburgan team had a few clear chances saved by goalkeeper Szlávics, included a penalty kick failed by Daumberg only ten minutes before the end of the 120-minute match. Unexpectedly, the qualification to the Brigidnan Cup was going to be decided by a penalty shootout.

Players of both teams were not exactly impressive in the penalty shootout, with most penalty kicks being missed, ending in a final 2-1. But Miett Szilárd became the heroine of the night, after saving another three penalty kicks. Before Szilárd save her fourth penalty kick of the night, Merete Daumberg failed another penalty shooting wildly over the bar, while Kálmán's penalty kick was saved by the Oslanburgan goalkeeper. Following the last penalty kick, the Keszarian players celebrated their first qualification to a Brigidnan Cup as it was itself a title, while disappointed Oslanburgan fans started to leave the stadium, with some Oslanburgan players bursting into tears.

On the other playoff-match, Severyane qualified after defeating North Strathae 1-2 away. The Marzannan team had equalized the playoff quickly, after midfielder Aksyonova scored during the first five minutes. In the second-half, striker Bulgakova scored the second goal for the Severyan team. The Strathaen team tried to react, scoring their only goal in the injury time, but it was already too late, and Severyane could qualify to the Brigidnan Cup for first time, crushing the hopes of the Strathaen fans.