Celebrations erupted across Koniglich Wasserstein and in a few other areas across Seora last week when they defeated Zwangzug, one of the historically strongest teams in the competition. Konrad Lorenz, who had already got four assists and two goals in the tournament, put a wonderful ball into the box for captain and central defender Alex Lange to head home at the back post. Koniglich were up a goal with only seven and a half minutes on the clock. Lange scored in a similar fashion against Saint-Domingue, and he proved it wasn’t a one off here. The 28 year old is an experienced defender, captaining the Western Wolves to winning in Stevemeve. There were some prominent attacks from Zwangzug in the late first half and parts of the second, but some last ditch defending from the likes of Lange, Kurt Keller and Karl Brandt pulled Koniglich through the worst of it, and when the final whistle was blown, they were still one goal up, securring an astonishing victory.
We were able to interview the team manager for Koniglich, Manager Thomi Vogel. Here's the interview's transcript.
Interviewer: You must have been pleased with the result today.
Vogel: Most definitely. All the odds were against us - facing the best team in our group away - and yet we won. Apparently, the stadium is "cursed" for the Zwangzug, but that’s simply superstition and I don’t believe in superstition. Konrad and Alex really pulled it out the bag when we needed them too and so thanks to them; we needed that. Great defending from all three of the back line as well.
Interviewer: You’re now placed eight out of ten in the table. Is this better or worse than what you have expected?
Vogel: Better, far better. We are pleased to get a win at all, let alone almost double figures by only halfway through. I think we have to see how the second half goes now; we’ll see what happens.
Interviewer: Who do you think, in your opinion, has been your best performing player in the first half of the tournament?
Vogel: If I had to choose one, I’d choose Konrad. The 23 year old right midfielder has got 5 assists and two goals in the first half of his tournament, and he is unbelievable of the dead ball. Other shout outs got to Hans, Marius, Lukas and of course Alex. But every single person on the team has played really well to get us to this stage.
Interviewer: What has been your favorite goal so far in the tournament?
Vogel: Lukas’ goal against Netop, for sure. We lost that game 5-2 but his beautifully finessed shot from the edge of the D but that goal was one of our highlights of the tournament. Konrad’s ball into him was also really good, the switch with the perfect amount of power and lift.
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your time, and I hope to see you in the finals.
Vogel: Thank you.
The manager of Zwangzug's team has refused to comment on their loss. Koniglich Wasserstein will continue in the tournament, and perhaps even the final match.
Love it!!
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