Stunning both the fans and the pundits, the underdog Avalon FC pulled off a massive 2-0 win over Titans United, the league leader, in the historical Match 100; a season that was meant to be easy to predict is now different. The outcome that is now referred to as “the upset of the decade” has upset the championship race, causing celebrations all over the sense.
Avalon FC, which was basically at the bottom of the table in 12th place with only three wins the whole season, started the match with the odds of 25-1. The Titans, who had not lost any game for 18 consecutive games and also had the top scorer in the league, were supposed to easily win a routine match. On the contrary, the game turned out to be an event that witnessed Avalon’s sharp tactical discipline and relentless counterattacks disabled the Titans in front of the stunned 60,000-strong audience at the Titan Arena.
The first half was notable for Avalon’s resistance to the opponent’s frantic attack, particularly thanks to goalkeeper Lena Marquez with four significant saves. In a spectacular turn of events, the 19-year-old wingman, Javier Cruz, who was out of play, broke the tie in the 38th minute begrudgingly, as swiftly he capitalized on a defensive mistake to curl a shot into the top corner. The visibly frantic Titans, on the other hand, were unable to find their pace and instead spent most of their time in frustration as Avalon, with a compact defense, intercepted their star-studded attack.
The second half of the game was not short of drama. In the 63rd minute, Titans captain Marco Vieri got a red card controversially when he was accused of making a reckless challenge, which left him with no other option than to take his team down to 10 players. Avalon took advantage of that moment, with the striker Elara Voss making a two-nil lead after a fast counterattack. Despite the Titans pressure at the end, Avalon somehow managed to defend, thus Marquez saved a fingertip shot in the injury time thereby, keeping the sheet clean.
The responses after the game sounded unbelievable. Avalon’s coach, Carlos Mendez, put it this way: “Soccer is pure magic,” crying. “These players have hearts bigger than any stat sheet.” Titans coach Anna Kovac was honest: “We did not give the opponent their proper credit. Is this the best version of Avalon we have seen?” she asked.
The results are significant in scope. The Titans, who used to top the chart, are now only two points clear of the second. Avalon, on the other hand, is standing six points away from relegation and it seems that they have just woken up out of a coma and have ignited hope of a miraculous survival. The internet began to buzz when the hashtag #AvalonMiracle started to trend worldwide as experts were debating whether this was the new beginning for football.