TO THE QUARTERFINALS! Imperium National Team Trumps Blue Bottle Confederation 3-0

As the knockout rounds commenced, fans across the world were disappointed at Dreamistan's failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2093 Orbis World Cup. This failure unfortunately meant that the team would not compete with the United Imperium in competitive play. In their place, the Blue Bottle Confederation took the stage to try and take on the Imperium national team. The Blue Bottle national team is one of the strongest nations in the soccer world, with clubs from the country regularly competing in international tournaments, and with the national team itself regularly competing to the late rounds of continental competitions and World Cups alike. Yet in Uwistan, the team struggled, failing to win a single match and only making it out of the group because all other teams (Dreamistan and Southern Frogsia) were equally shambolic in their performances. 

On the other hand, the Imperium national team cruised its way through Randamie, Gavastek, and Bengal, winning every match, having the best goal differential in the entire World Cup group stage. Gio Reyna was the tied top goal scorer in the tournament, leading the Imperium along with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun. However, manager Erlan Holland (who had himself won the World Cup with the United Imperium 20 years ago) urged his side to stay vigilant ahead of the Round of 16.

You know, we had some good moments, we had some bad moments. Question is, can we replicate the good moments and cast off the bad ones? I think we can, but obviously we have to stay disciplined if we want to take down Blue Bottle.

The stage was set. Win, and the Imperium would go on to the final eight, staying alive in their quest for the World Cup. Lose? Well, this is the knockout stage. There's no coming back. Heritage or forgotten in history? It was time to find out.

The game started with a bang. Pulisic, Balogun, and Weah combined to bring heat against the Blue Bottle backline, immediately breaking into the box and consistently harassing goalkeeper Ben Parker. By the fourth minute, the deadlock had been broken:

Pulisic, another shot, Parker is really under a lot of pressure as he saves this one, Kuznetsov tries to clear it... here's Balogun... Parker saves again, but he can't hold on to it! This time it's Mckennie, who chips it back out to Pulisic... OH!!! SENSATIONAL STRIKE!!! CAPTAIN AMERICA WITH A DEVASTATING STRIKE!!! WHO ELSE?! WHO ELSE BUT PULISIC?!

This relentless attack let up somewhat after the first goal. Blue Bottle would get a couple of good runs into the attacking third, but Dest and Carter-Vickers held the back line for the most part. Then, in the 41st minute, the Imperium would get a counter-attacking opportunity:

Victor tries it, but he is all alone up there. Vickers and Zimmerman simply will not let him pass, and without any runs or help, that Blue Bottle side just isn't going to be able to score. TUIMNT ball. Adams holds off for now, surveying the pitch. Lobs it down the far sideline for Robinson. Robinson will cross it back to Dest on the other side of the box. Dest spins past a man, cuts back inside, shoots... AND SCORES!!! SERGINO DEST, TO MAKE IT A DOUBLE DECKER IN THIS MATCH!!! ANOTHER INCREDIBLE MOMENT, ANOTHER INCREDIBLE MAN!

However, Blue Bottle was not done. Kuznetsov, despite having absolutely no help in the box from his teammates (thanks in part due to the 5-4-1 formation Blue Bottle was running), still managed to create some dangerous attacking play for the opposition, although Goalkeeper Matt Turner did prove steadfast in maintaining the Imperium's record of having yet to concede a goal this tournament. Then, in the 76th minute, Kuznetsov (seemingly the only player on this team who actually was doing anything by this point), fouled Folarin Balogun in his desperation to stop the Imperium from scoring a third goal. However, his effort would be for naught as Balogun smashed home the pen, making it 3-0.

With that, the Imperium goes on to face an equally dominant opponent, Uwistan, now top scorers at this world cup after a 5-0 thumping of Novorossiya (the Imperium is on 13 goals as a team, while Uwistan now has 14 total goals). On the other hand, the Imperium has yet to concede in this tournament. But Uwistan is also the host of this World Cup 2093, so the stadium is sure to be deafening. The only question remains: will the Imperium continue their World Cup run, or will Uwistan take themselves to the semifinals on their home turf? Only time will tell.