iLandslaget - Swedish team

[PeterMeter]

Tonight marks the end of this, the fourth, season for iLandslaget. It's been a season of mixed fortunes for the high flying team, starting with the failed Cup adventure ending with a knock-out on away goals against Italian team Cristian FC rated at 35.3*. Results 3-3 at home and 1-1 away highlighted defensive worries in the team which had to be adjusted.

The team responded admirably though, winning the opening tie 7-0 away. iLandslaget went undefeated for most of the season, drawing with Glory United in the fifth week of the season but otherwise claiming the 3 points in every League game. It took until the 27th week of the season until iLandslaget found themselves on the losing side of a League Game, losing 3-1 away to JustLeet FC, who ended up finishing in the 2nd place. The League title had been secured in the 24th week of the season so players were rested, and substitutes given a chance to shine. There were worries if the players' morale would drop in the build up to the Champions League final which was to be played that same night.



On the other side stood a team that advanced from the same group that iLandslaget won, Vaegina SC. Two wins left room for the Swedish team to maybe underestimate the Indonesian team led by Nanok Blank.
iLandslaget dominated the proceedings though, and the strike partnership of Gerailton de Souza Rodrigues and Gary Clancy which has proven so successful during the season led the team again. Gerailton opened the scoring in the 24th minute, assisted by Clancy, and the Swedes had a firm hand on proceedings dominating the shots on goal and the possession. In the 52nd minute new signing Jonas Jörgensen was given a chance to shine. Gary Clancy added to the scoring in the 82nd minute, unassisted. It would be Gerailton who closed the game and the scoring though, again assisted by Clancy, burying the definitive winner in the 89th minute with iLandslaget bringing the trophy back to Stockholm for the second consecutive year!

The Champions League in stats: a goal difference of 43-11 showed a somewhat tighter competition. iLandslaget lost two games, both replays in the knockout-phases with a 0-1 defeat to Dalibor FC in the Quarter Finals and then a 3-4 defeat to Mete FC in the Semi Finals. There was also a draw in the Group Phase against Barcelona.

The team saw some changes in the latter half as well. Two players were brought in and four players left. Patrick Ponce, a U-21 graduate was deemed not worthy and was sold for 324,000 shortly after having gained promotion to the senior squad. Gregory Bennet, the french back-up keeper, who had one of the longest patches of bad form ever, was eventually sold for a fee of 1,710,000. Jonathan Fullerton, the right sided defensive midfielder, was let go as well for a fee of 2,150,000. Lubomir Skukalek, the czech defender and defensive midfielder who was one of the longest serving members of the team, was eventually let go for a fee of 1,660,000. Last but not least, on the eve of the final day of the season, young Romanian left-sided attacking midfielder Viorel Mesaros left the club for a fee of 1,940,000.

Two new additions were made in the last few days of the season; danish defensive midfielder Jonas Jorgensen was added for a fee of 3,680,000 (4T) while valued at 4,810,000 and Juan Gamarra, a young argentinian striker, was added for a fee of 4,840,000 (9T) on the 27th day of the season.

The squad on the last day of Season 4:


Gerailton de Souza Rodrigues picked up most of the Individual Prizes this year, winning the Golden Shoe, the Assist League as well as the PA's Player of the Year-Award.