United Imperium National Team Ends 23 Year Trophy Drought With IFAPO Nations Cup Victory

Following a sensational victory against rivals Mexico in the IFAPO Nations Cup Semifinal, the United Imperium's national team found itself once again in a Nations Cup final, with a chance to win an international trophy for the first time in 23 years. Their last Nations Cup Final appearance ended in heartbreak. The 2091 Champions, Lazarusia, defeated the Imperium in Roosevelt 2-0. Then came the World Cup in 2093. That ended in heartbreak as well, after the Imperium lost in penalties to hosts and eventual champions Uwistan. The 2094 EFTA Cup (Euros) were no better, with the Imperium losing 2-0 again to Fallenz. Twenty-three years, since Carmichael led the Imperium to a 1-0 win in the World Cup Final in Western Maghreb. 

On the other side was one of the most entertaining Ecuador sides of recent memory. Led by Antonio and Enner Valencia, the Ecuadorians had a cinderella run, knocking off South American rivals La Plata and hosts Peru-Bolivia en route to the final. Would they win their first major international trophy tonight, and prove to the world they were ready to compete with the biggest names in sports?

Pictured: Fireworks Illuminate the Night Sky at the Estadio Nacional in Peru Ahead of the 2096 Nations Cup Final

The Imperium would be led by Christian Pulisic, the wonder kid who was instrumental in Continental FC's Club World Cup berth and European Championships for multiple nations. On the other end was Ecuador's Enner Valencia, the veteran striker who has also played a key role in winning major club titles in both European and South American Leagues. Like Pulisic, Valencia will look for his first major international trophy tonight. 

And with the world watching, with the Imperium and Ecuador dueling in the Andes for a coveted international trophy, the two teams got ready for the kickoff. Captain Enner Valencia would light the fire for Ecuador, making a dangerous run into the box and skipping past Joseph Scally, the young Imperium wingback. However, it would be the veteran center back, Cameron Carter-Vickers, making a textbook tackle to deny the early goal-scoring opportunity. Possession would quickly get turned around, as the Imperium would get consecutive shots from Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic, but neither of these shots would get converted. 

In the 42nd minute, the Imperium's pressure would pay off. Balogun would pass it in for Pulisic, who would chip it back to Weah, who would hit a sensational strike:

Weah, he's marked closely by Caicedo. Tim Weah, slides the ball past Caicedo with ease... picks it up again in the box, cuts past another man... AND WEAH BREAKS THE DEADLOCK! A SENSATIONAL STRIKE! YOU WON'T SEE A SHOT LIKE THAT EVERY DAY, NO SIR, YOU WILL NOT!

Pictured: Timothy Weah Celebrates the Opening Goal Against Ecuador in the Nations Cup Final

The half ended one nil. While the Ecuadorian side had put strong pressure on The United Imperium's National Team, it was the Imperium who had ended up striking first. Going into the half, it was clear that both teams were already starting to get a little tired. Fatigue would definitely play a role in the second half. And it continued into the second half. The Ecuadorian national team looked absolutely lifeless, prompting a substitution, with Gonazalo Plata replacing Angel Mena. The substitution paid off:

Scally, going to try and pass this one out... No, he's going to take it up himself. Now the pass in... INTERCEPTED BY VALENCIA! HE'S GOING TO GO DOWN THE FAR SIDELINE! Valencia cuts in, chips it up to himself... AND SLOTS IT HOME PAST THE KEEPER! WE'RE ALL LEVEL HERE IN PERU-BOLIVIA! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

Pictured: Antonio Valencia Celebrates His Sensational Equalizer with his Teammates

And all of a sudden, it was the Imperium who looked lifeless. Ecuador had capitalized on Scally's massive error, and the Imperium struggled even with basic possession. Ecuador continued to dominate, until Imperium manager Erlan Holland made a controversial decision, subbing superstar striker Folarin Balogun in for the largely inexperienced Ricardo Pepi. For a time, it looked like the move was at least somewhat effective, with the Pulisic creating the first chance for the Imperium in about half an hour. While Pulisic missed the shot, it set the tempo. The two teams would battle their way to the end of the 90 minutes. 

For the most part, the first half of extra time was uneventful, with both teams failing to enter the attacking third. However, in the 104th minute, Antonio Valencia would make an incredibly costly mistake. His chopping challenge on Antonee Robinson would see him receive his second yellow of the game, and the goal scorer would be sent off as a result. Going into the second half of extra time, Ecuador would find themselves a man down. However, the Imperium's poor attacking play was cause for hope for the underdogs. However, that hope would soon come to an end:

Giovanni Reyna, slides past two defenders, cuts in towards the penalty spot, spins back, he sends it back out to Pulisic. Pulisic hovers around the corner of the box, through ball to Reyna again, the inside cut... DO NOT SCRATCH YOUR EYES! YOU ARE NOT DREAMING, AMERICA! GIOVANNI REYNA IS THE MAN OF THE HOUR AS HE PUTS THE IMPERIUM BACK ON TOP! TWENTY THREE YEARS! TWENTY THREE YEARS THEY HAVE WAITED! SURELY NOW, THEY CAN WAIT TEN MINUTES! 

Pictured: Giovanni Reyna Celebrates the Go-Ahead Goal In the Nations Cup Final With Teammate Christian Pulisic

A yellow card for Moises Caicedo for dissent signaled the slow collapse of the Ecuadorian national team. The final ten minutes went by with bated breath, but the Imperium's fans could finally relax with the final whistle. Across the nation, Imperium fans cheered and jumped for joy. Twenty-three years. That's how long they had gone without a single trophy. Their wait was over. The United Imperium had done it. The drought was over. The United Imperium had become Nations Leagues Champions.

Pictured: The Imperium Celebrates the Final Whistle, Securing Their 2-1 Victory Over Ecuador in the Nations League Final