The United Imperium Trounces Bengal 3-0 in World Cup Opener Match

Earlier today, the IFAPO World Cup 2093 kicked off, with The United Imperium National Team (TUINT) squaring off against the Bengal national Team. The match is a big occassion: since the 2073 World Cup in Western Maghreb(the first ever Orbis World Cup, which took place even before IFAPO existed!), The United Imperium has not won a single international trophy. Sure, club teams from the United Imperium has seen success internationally, with Continental FC competing in the Club World Cup, but the team which actually represents the country? It has been in a long drought. It looked for a moment like that drought would end with the 2091 Nations Cup which was being hosted in the United Imperium, but in a heartbreak, the Imperium National Side lost to Lazarusia, 2-0, in the Final, on their own home turf.

With the World Cup on the way, the Imperium team made some changes. Firstly, they managed to secure dual-national Folarin Balogun to play striker for the international lineup. This change was desperately needed, considering the shambolic state of the Imperium's attacking play to this point. Second, major renovations to the training grounds were made, so that the team could be more effective in its practice and preparation. Some changes include new state-of-the-art turfs, new and improved film rooms, and a world-class gym. The team has also made use of analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize training plans for the players as well as make better strategies for gameplanning against opponents. Finally, the national team released a new home kit for the 2093 World Cup (the team has opted to stay with their current away kits for the competition).

Pictured: The new home kit for the United Imperium National Team ahead of the 2093 World Cup, manufactured by Nike

With these new preparations, the team set out for Uwistan. TUINT was to play in Group A, against Randamie, Socialist Republic of Gavastek, and Bengal. If the Imperium finishes in the top two spots of Group A, it will qualify for the knockout stages.

The first match of the Group (and the tournament as a whole!) was the Imperium against Bengal. The first match of the World Cup started slowly, with Bengal dominating possession initially. It looked like Bengal would continue to control the game, as Captain Christian Pulisic landed a chopping challenge on Sunil, leading to the first yellow card of the match being given to the Imperium. In spite of the error, Pulisic showed tremendous leadership, bouncing back to score the first goal of the World Cup:

Weah puts a hopeful cross into the box... its headed out by Rahim, but poorly, he's going to pass back to Kumar, who passes-Pulisic intercepts it, he's off balance... HE SCORES!!! CHRISTIAN PULISIC WITH THE SENSATIONAL CHIP PAST SINGH!!! CAPTAIN AMERICA PUTS IT PAST MR. HIMALAYA TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK!!!

The momentum after that completely changed: already with the Imperium in the lead, a fatal error was made by Bengal when Sukhwinder delivered a chopping challenge against Gio Reyna, leading to a red for Sukhwinder. Bengal entered half time down a goal and a man.

As the second half opened, both teams traded chances, but nothing stuck. The back and forth continued, but this time, the onus was on Bengal, as they were down and desperately needed to avoid conceding further. Unfortunately for Bengal, Miles Robinson would score to make it 2-0.

The pass by Sunil is intercepted... Vickers down the sideline, he cuts it back inside. He's going to lay it off to Dest who barrels down the wing. Gets past one man, then two, chips it into the box... THE IMPERIUM SCORES AGAIN! MILES ROBINSON, ABSOLUTE CARNAGE! A VENOMOUS SRIKE TO PUT THE IMPERIUM IN THE DRIVERS SEAT HERE IN UWISTAN!

But the final nail in the dagger was yet to come: In the 78th minute, Gio Reyna was fouled on the edge of the box. Penalty! Up stepped Balogun:

Pulisic is going to give up the penalty to Balogun, a very interesting move. This is Folarin Balogun. In his debut for The United Imperium, what a way to do it. The team has already won the match, bar any insane comback from Bengal. But here comes Balogun, and if it all goes to plan, he's the one to sink Bengal once and for all. He steps up... AND SMASHES IT HOME!

The United Imperium would close out the first World Cup match of the tournament with a dominant win. Elsewhere, Socialist Republic of of Gavastek would defeat Randamie 2-1 to also secure 3 points in Group A. The next Imperium match will be against Randamie. Will the Imperium continue their winning ways, or will they fall short in international play once again? Only time will tell.