ISML 2018: Winning From Within, Violet Is The Color
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
May 28, 2018
Match Day 7 of the 2018 International Saimoe League Aquamarine Period is history. In the Female Division, Nagisa Furukawa thumped Suzune Horikita 4268-2432, C.C. defeated Aria Holmes Kanzaki 3569-3030, Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Sora Kasugano 4567-2334, Megumin exploded past Mikasa Ackerman 3917-3376, Satanichia McDowell Kurumizawa scored the Upset of the Round, a 3323-2909 scalp of Shinobu Oshino, Chtholly Nota Seniorious routed Rena Ryuuguu 5480-1880, Chiyo Sakura fell to Yuki Nagato 3659-2733 and Elf Yamada defeated Akame 3746-3112.
Yukino Yukinoshita hammered Yuuki Konno 5430-2460, Yoshino silenced Nayuta Kani 3994-3060, Keiko Ayano prevailed over Hitagi Senjougahara 3343-3150, Shouko Nishimiya flew past Jibril 5659-2324, Umaru Doma won a 3620-3564 barnburner over Origami Tobiichi, Chihiro Hashima defeated Kokomi Teruhashi 3173-2926, Schwi Dola pumped Yui 4766-2547 and Utaha Kasumigaoka leveled Diamond 4025-3195.
Wrapping up Female Division action, Reina Kousaka lynched Chitoge Kirisaki 4176-1907, Sagiri Izumi slammed Nephren Ruq Insania 4231-2606, Tooru thrashed Phosphophyllite 5747-1647, Kirino Kousaka defeated Kaede Kayano 3725-2870, Sakura Kinomoto tore Tsubaki Sawabe apart 4749-2255, Eriri Sawamura Spencer chomped up Holo 4142-2869, Madoka Kaname eased past Kazusa Touma 3669-2864 and Kamui Kanna eased past Antarcticite 6404-1365.
In the Male Division, Li Syaoran defeated Ryuunosuke Akasaka 3374-3065, Tsukasa Mizugaki won the closest race of the round, a 2860-2857 snoozer over Sebastian Michaelis, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji pumped Keima Katsuragi 4424-2432, Tomoya Okazaki cruised past Tomoya Aki in a battle of the Tomoyas 3620-2017, Seijuurou Akashi hammered Victor Nikiforov 3218-1980, Riku Dola made it another Dola sweep with a 4353-2154 pounding of Makoto Naegi, Gintoki Sakata defeated Shuu Ouma 3413-2980 and Son Goku got off the schneid with a 3279-2479 annihilation of Tomoe.
Shirou Emiya hounded Katsuki Bakugou 4359-2210, Kousei Arima prevailed over Osamu Dazai 3422-2757, Taihei Doma crushed Dio Brando 3751-2226, Rintarou Okabe leveled Rentarou Satomi 4417-2237, Yuzuru Otonashi shot down Ren Amamiya 3686-2819, Akihito Kanbara dismissed Inuyasha 335-1981, Karma Akabane left Yuuichirou Hyakuya in the dust 4321-1882 and Kazuma Satou trounced Izaya Orihara 3656-2603.
Wrapping up Male Division action, Tatsumi defeated Erwin Smith 3199-2672, Saitama punched Tatsuya Shiba 3735-2687, Lancer impaled Meliodas 3868-2440, Light Yagami prevailed over Kotarou Tennouji 2962-2637, Kiritsugu Emiya thumped Ayumu Aikawa 4224-2366, Ken Kaneki crushed Hei 3521-2579, Kyousuke Kousaka made it a sweep for the Kousaka duo with a 3295-2820 win over Alphonse Elric and Yato won a 3361-3310 thriller over Astolfo.
Violet Evergarden is one of the favorites to win the ISML 2018 Winter Seasonal Diadem as seen in her spread-busting 8331-1176 hiding over Lacia. The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue will now tip Evergarden to win any remaining matches and is now placed as the odds-on favorite to win at 5/2. Popuko of Pop Team Epic will have it tough to stop Evergarden but she did acquit herself in a 3603-2572 victory over Kotoha.
Match Day 8 of the 2018 International Saimoe League Aquamarine Period is scheduled for May 29, 2018. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
Real Madrid: 2017-18 UEFA Champions League Winners
Gareth Bale scored twice off the bench as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kyiv to become European champions for the 13th time.
Bale's first was an 'I-was-there' goal, one to rival Zinédine Zidane, Mario Mandžukić and any other you care to name as the best in final history. Marcelo's cross from the left looked harmless enough, but the Welshman, 20 metres out, somehow contorted his body to hook the ball over his head with enough power that it fizzed past Loris Karius.
Madrid's dressing room celebrations
Quite the contrast to Madrid's opener on 51 minutes, when Karius attempted to roll the ball out to a team-mate only for Benzema to stick out a hopeful leg which turned out to be a goalscoring interception.
Isco had been denied by the crossbar shortly prior to that, but Liverpool – creaking ever since the talismanic Mohamed Salah had been forced off with a shoulder problem in the first half – were quick to dust themselves down after going behind. Indeed they were level just four minutes later, Dejan Lovren's towering header from a corner poked in by Sadio Mané at the back post.
That was as good as it got for the Reds, though, Bale almost single-handedly turning the tide back in Madrid's direction after coming on just past the hour. He struck his second with seven minutes left, a long-range shot that somehow squirted through Karius's palms, and – after Mané had struck a post at the other end – almost added a third when clean through moments later. Madrid and Zidane had already wrapped up their very own hat-tricks by then, though.
Man of the match: Gareth Bale
Bale: That goal is a dream come true
What an impact. He only got 13 minutes as a substitute in Cardiff last year, but had a far more telling role to play during his half-hour this time round. That first goal really was one for the ages. Peter Rudbæk, speaking on behalf of the UEFA technical observers, said: "The observers chose Bale due to his game-changing display off the bench and his outstanding acrobatic goal to put his team ahead."
Reporters' views
Joe Walker, Real Madrid (@UEFAcomJoeW)
There's a saying in Spain: 'El Madrid es el Madrid'. They are Madrid and they just get things done, no matter the situation. Tonight they were the better team and were able to take full advantage of the chances that came their way. Three in a row, Zidane absolutely got it spot on, and you wouldn't bet against a fourth next year either.
Salah's exit proved to be a decisive moment
Salah's exit proved to be a decisive moment
©Getty Images
Matt Howarth, Liverpool (@UEFAcomMattH)
Klopp's troops burst out of the traps and forced Navas into several good saves, but Salah's early departure proved to be the turning point. Liverpool players were inconsolable at full time, needless to say, but once the pain of defeat subsides they can look back with immense pride at their achievements in the competition this term.
Reaction
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach
Our achievement tonight is the most important thing – we have to congratulate the players because it's not at all easy to do this. There are no words to describe this. The amazing thing about this squad is that they don't have a ceiling. They are hungry for more and they've demonstrated that today.
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager
Congratulations to Real Madrid. [Salah's departure] was a big moment in the game. It was unlucky that he fell on his shoulder and it's a serious injury. We'll never know what would have happened if he'd played on. The shock was obvious and we dropped too deep. [Bale] was very decisive – the bicycle kick was an unbelievable goal.
Key stats
- Madrid are the first team to win three in a row since Bayern in the 1970s
- Zidane is the first coach to win the competition three seasons running
- Ronaldo first player to win five UEFA Champions League titles
- Bale is the seventh player to score twice in a UEFA Champions League final
- He is the first to find the net twice after coming on as a substitute
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