The Underdogs Rise and the Giants Fall in Round One of the AFC Championships

Nico Bennett
Nov 19, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Nov 21, 2024

November 19, 2024

By Nico Bennett, AFC Correspondent

Arcandias – In a night of high drama, intense rivalry, and upsets, the Arcandian Football League (AFC) kicked off its 2024 Championship with the first round of matches last Saturday, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating postseason. With 20 teams vying for the coveted title, only 8 made it to the playoffs, and they brought the heat in this opening round.

Upset of the Night: Glint FC Falls to Ignis United

The biggest surprise of the round came at Valora National Stadium, where Glint FC, the AFC’s top seed, was knocked out 2-1 by Ignis United. Despite a strong start from Glint, Ignis’ defensive play and a late goal from Javier Lopez secured the upset. “We played our hearts out,” said Ignis coach Gabriel Mendes. Ignis United will now face Nova Magna FC in the 2nd round.

Alvoria FC Edges Porto Solis FC in a 3-2 Thriller

In a thrilling local derby, Alvoria FC triumphed over Porto Solis FC 3-2. After leading 2-0 at halftime, Alvoria had to hold off a strong comeback from Porto Solis. A late goal from Manuel Lima sealed the win.

Arcanum now advances to face Velorum FC, who easily beat Quarry Town FC 4-1.

Manuel Lima celebrates after scoring the decisive goal against

Porto Solis FC. (Photo by Ian Greene, Arcandian Sports Media.)

In other matches, Thalassa FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lagoon City FC, while Velorum FC demonstrated their dominance, easily defeating Quarry Town FC 4-1. Velorum’s André Costa was the standout player of the match, scoring a hat-trick and further proving why he is considered one of the league’s finest talents.

The first round has set the stage for what promises to be an electric continuation of the AFC Championship. With upsets and thrillers, it’s clear that this year’s league is full of surprises. The semifinals will kick off next week, with the matchups as follows: