In front of a record breaking gate - the highest since the new start from season 17 - the Renegades faced Divine Rat for the 6th time. So far DR had only one win, but that was also the only play-off match so far!
The Wood Elves had hired a wizard, two babes and some extra training to equal the strength difference. They showed up with only 10 of their own players, just one Wardancer, and a journeyelf. DR had 14 players, although they where one Gutter Runner down.
And DR kicked the ball to the cheering of their 50.000 spectators. Very soon GR had taken the lead with a TD by Die Ann-Lischen: 0-1.
With all those fans a pitch invasion was almost a given thing and it took down 4 elves and 3 rats. Still DR did not get into great position, but a great turn ensued where De Puta Madre!! BH the Ioanacious and Loke KOed sole Wardancer Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2.. And then Jesus completed to Holy Spirit for DRs first TD 1-1.
With babes around the KOed elves came back most of the time, which was not the case for DR. Still the elves soon got into trouble after a failed dodge from Mega Belastende!. And when they had to stall a turn, suddenly Holy Spirit leaped in and stripped the ball from Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2.. Jesus then managed to pass to Buddha who was then in scoring reach. But Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. made up for this by taking the thrower down, and the elf thrower Celebrian Stormcrow who had a great match, connected with catcher Roharra for 1-2.
It did not take long before DR had tied by God, but before this happened Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. had SI Holy Spirit, so bad that even the apotech could not prevent the Runner from missing the next match!
On top of this a Quick Snap gave the elves and easier chance to one turn, but still Die Ann-Lischen had to negotiate God, but after three dodges away from the diving tackling tackler, God failed to shadow after the catcher who then made the TD for 2-3. The catcher learned his first skill from this.
DR had a very slim chance for a one turner, due to the side stepping elves, and even with another pitch invasion… It did not take the right elves down for DR to surround the side steppers, and no attempt was made as the only rat stunned was their thrower Buddha.
In 2nd half DR received first. With only two runners DR came under pressure, and Jesus had to take a serious chance passing to God marked by two elves. But the catch was managed and then the TD for 3-3 was secured.
And then a pivotal moment in the match arises when DR comes blitzing out and Jesus ends up in a cage catching the kick. Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. leaps in but even though that went fine, neither his tackling abilities or strip ball helps. And when Jesus leaps away his diving tackle also fails to have any effect as Jesus scores for 4-3 bringing DR ahead in the match for the first time.
The next drive becomes very ugly for the elves. Jesus takes the ball from Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. again. It ends up in three rats TZ including God! Never the less Die Ann-Lischen gets the ball, although Jeg er Mega Bitter!! who handed it to her, almost fell when dodging away from Loke. And just when the tying TD seems secure the catcher falls over the invisible EZ line. The crowd then throws it half way up DR's pitch. And here Jesus grabs it. He cannot be caged, at least not when Pluto fails a dodge. So Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. then takes Jesus down and gets the ball again. But Jesus is not stunned, so For a Gracefull Death! has to foul the runner to prevent the stripper from doing his worst. The foul works, Jesus is KOed, but the side stepping elf is thrown out.
And to make matters worse Poseidon then manages to take down Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2.. But now the teams only has 6 vs. 7 players on pitch, and DR cannot retrieve the ball. So in the end Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. gets the ball and stalls a turn more, and in the last attempt to put pressure on the elves a double skull stops this and in the dying seconds of the half the match is tied 4-4 by Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2..
This means overtime! DR still has 11 players ready vs. 9, but Jesus stays KOed. Still they receive the ball and God keeps the ball deep, the sole runner on pitch.
This is then the time where a lightning bolt hits God (reverse image there :D ) and takes him down, as the wizard finally comes into play. Luckily for DR God remains conscious and the ball is out of reach for Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2.. But his TZ comes onto the ball. A special match between these two side stepping blodgers with tackle diving tackle ensues. The ball is on the ground in their TZ and stays there without any of them getting down for some time, while the clock is ticking for DR.
Finally Buddha manages to get into the haze as well and picks the ball up next to Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2.. Time draws out like a blade, while Buddha makes a spilt second decision, on weather to pass the ball under the nose of Wardancer Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. (an interception would almost for sure mean a TD for him). But the chance is taken and the ball ends at God who then runs all he can out of Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. reach.
Instead Mega Belastende! makes the blitz, but fails to take God down only pushing him closer to the EZ and this of course result in a TD for 5-4 in spite of the wizard..
Jesus still fails to come back, but the one turn attempt by GR is hindered by the pouring rain that starts tormenting the tired players, and Roharra fails to catch the ball due to the rain.
As if this was not enough a riot ensues and before the elves gets under way with their last offence half of their overtime has gone, and the ball lies in the rain close to the "wrong" side of the LoS. But at least Jesus is still KOed and with more amazing passing by Celebrian Stormcrow (he learned a new skill from his 7 completions of the day) the ball is suddenly in a semi cage with Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2..
DR still has a descend chance to stop the TD with God on the loose. Also DR has more team practice to draw on for a possible penalty shoot out. But exactly this also means that when Loke rolls (another) double skull the RR is saved and Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. has a free TD for 5-5.
It now seems like a penalty shoot out, but wait, Jesus thinks better of it and decides to wake up to take part in the now possible one turn attempt. Especially with only one side stepper left as the other was thrown out when KOing Jesus.
It would still have been difficult, but then an inspired move sees Jesus save the day with a quick snap, and God catches the pass from Buddha (his fourth completion of the day) and hands it to Jesus. But oh no the ball slips in the rain, but phyew a RR well spend. Jesus has the ball in scoring reach, but it is not safe yet, and now both teams have the same amount of RR for a penalty shoot out. But Jesus saves DR with a leap and then running all he can and it is a TD for 6-5 the end result and DR are in the finals!
Jean-Claude Forfanden d.2. received the MVP for his amazing work, all alone did he cause trouble for DR and he SI Holy Spirit. This SI rat received DRs MVP for taking the sole hit for the team. He will sadly miss the final.
With the huge crowd DR received a very large winning after the match, and now has lots of money to spend in/on the final! And of course their FF increased to a staggering 15!
