Des Moines Menace (11-5-2, 1st) at Orlando City FC (10-4-4, 3rd)

It's the Cannon Shot that does us in for this one. Twice they are able to create and exploit a gap in my defense and two different Forwards with that skill are able to beat a helpless Pressley. Cannon takes one back right before the half on a Rainbow Feint, but we run out of time looking for the late equalizer.

Final: Orlando 2, Des Moines 1
Goals: Cannon
Top Three: Burroughs, Cannon, Hoffman

Cannon - lvl 45
Burroughs - lvl 29

New England Revolution (8-4-7, 6th) at Des Moines Menace (11-5-3, 1st)

We get back on the winning side when Hoffman opens the game by dribbling right through the defense and past the keeper for a lead at the 4th minute. We're unable to add to the lead, but manage 60% possession and prevent them for using any skills.

Final: Des Moines 1, New England 0
Goals: Hoffman
Top Three: Hoffman, Guy, Burroughs

Swan - lvl 46

*We are now over 1000 fans and I expect that to only grow, so I buy the stadium upgrade to 2000 seats for $375,000.

Des Moines Menace (12-5-3, 1st) at Minnesota United (12-4-4, 2nd)

The biggest match of the season for us and a chance to avenge the 3-0 drubbing they gave us at home earlier in the season. After a scoreless 1st half, Cannon gets good position and places a perfect precision shot past the keeper. We have to survive several scares, including a one on one opportunity where Pressley makes a terrific save, and a corner, but we hold on for a huge victory.

Final: Des Moines 1, Minnesota 0
Goals: Cannon
Top Three: Swan, Arroyo, Burroughs

Metzger - lvl 51
Pressley - lvl 47

Richmond Kickers (7-3-11, 12th) at Des Moines Menace (13-5-3, 1st)

A really weird match. Richmond has a terrible keeper (defense of 33) and Hoffman gets a chance to score early on, but somehow gets denied on the dribble. Then we struggle to get another shot on this goalie because they have multiple midfielders with lvl 3 slide tackle, making it hard for us to hold up and set up our offense. Richmond fires no fewer than 5 shots on us, but Pressley comes up big. Then with time running out, we finally get a chance to get the ball to Cannon in position. He easily beats the keeper on the last turn of the game.

Final: Des Moines 1, Richmond 0
Goals: Cannon
Top Three: Arroyo, Cannon, Pressley

Barkley - lvl 55
Arroyo - lvl 48
Strong - lvl 48
Swan - lvl 47

Des Moines Menace (14-5-3, 1st) at San Francisco Deltas (5-5-12, 15th)

Now this was an exciting match. Those lvl 3 Rainbow Feint guys are always a problem for us and we fall victim to one 18 minutes in. Hoffman is able to immediately respond with a dribble right through the defense. In the 2nd half, Hoffman is able to hold up, avoid two tackles, then pass to Cannon in front of the keeper. Cannon converts the shot to put us ahead. However, we have to survive a late scare when they earn a direct free kick from just outside the penalty area. Instead of taking the kick, they pass to a Rainbow Feint guy, who beats the defender, but gets denied by Pressley.

Final: Des Moines 2, San Francisco 1
Goals: Hoffman, Cannon
Top Three: Hoffman, Burroughs, Cannon

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7-7-9, 10th) at Des Moines Menace (15-5-3, 1st)

Another wild one against a mediocre team. Cannon gets us started 34 minutes in with a precision shot that beats the sweeper and keeper. Late in the 2nd half, he misses a good chance to put us up 2-0. Then they hit a ridiculous long range lofted pass behind our defense and convert the equalizer. With three actions left, we turn to Hoffman. And once again, he dribbles behind the defense, breaks in, dodges tackles, and dribbles right by the keeper on the last action of the match.

Final: Des Moines 2, Vancouver 1
Goals: Hoffman, Cannon
Top Three: Hoffman, Burroughs, Cannon

Guy - lvl 69

Philadelphia Union (4-11-9, 10th) at Des Moines Menace (16-5-3, 1st)

Cannon succeeds in his first Rainbow Feint in a while and we take a lead into halftime. However, we fall victim to another lofted pass behind our line and Pressley gives an uncharacterisitcally poor effort on a shot, allowing them to equalize in the 72nd minute. We have two chances to find the winner, but come up short.

Final: Des Moines 1, Philadelphia 1
Goals: Cannon
Top Three: Burroughs, Cannon, Hoffman

Metzger - lvl 52

Despite that draw, we are in great position...

1. Des Moines - 54
2. Minnesota - 50
3. Orlando City - 49
-----------------
Puerto Rico FC - 41

With a 13 pt lead and only 5 matches to go, we clinch promotion if we win any of our remaining matches.

Des Moines Menace (16-6-3, 1st) at Louisville City FC (7-4-14, 13th)

Late in a scoreless match, Louisville's RD runs the entire length of the field and then fires an absurd long range angled shot that somehow goes in because both Pressley and Metzger rolled a 2. We're unable to complete a simple lofted pass on the ensuing kickoff and run out of time looking for the equalizer.

Final: Louisville 1, Des Moines 0
Goals:
Top Three: Strong, Hoffman, Guy

Barkley - lvl 56

*The good news is Puerto Rico lost, so we clinched promotion. Now it's just a tight race for the league title.

1. Des Moines - 54
2. Minnesota - 53
3. Orlando City - 52

San Jose Earthquakes (8-3-15, 14th) at Des Moines Menace (16-6-3, 1st)

And we continue our late season slide against terrible teams. They get in behind our defense for a Rainbow Feint at the 36 minute mark and we miss the only shot on goal we're able to get.

Final: San Jose 1, Des Moines 0
Goals:
Top Three: Burroughs, Arroyo, Strong

League title race...

1. Orlando City - 55
2. Des Moines - 54
3. Minnesota - 53

Des Moines Menace (16-6-5, 2nd) at Puerto Rico FC (12-8-7, 4th)

Pressley has lvl 3 Playing Out ability, which makes him incredibly strong against headers. And yet, in the 90th minute of a scoreless match, he rolls a 1 and Puerto Rico hands us our third straight defeat.

Final: Puerto Rico 1, Des Moines 0
Goals:
Top Three: Pressley (?), Strong, Arroyo

Burroughs - lvl 31

1. Orlando City - 56
2. Minnesota - 54
3. Des Moines - 54

Charlotte Independence (8-6-14, 13th) at Des Moines Menace (16-6-6, 3rd)

And we continue our bizarre run at the end of the season against crappy teams. They get on the board early on a Rainbow Feint. I put the two CD's together, but Barkley misses his tackle attempt. Cannon is able to equalize just before the half. Then they score again on a Rainbow Feint after another missed tackle. Once again, Cannon is able to find the equalizer. We have a chance for a final counterattack, but the pass gets intercepted.

Final: Charlotte 2, Des Moines 2
Goals: Cannon 2
Top Three: Cannon, Burroughs, Barkley

Swan - lvl 48

1. Orlando City - 57
2. Des Moines - 55
3. Minnesota - 54

Des Moines Menace (16-7-6, 2nd) at Chicago Fire (14-6-9, 4th)

We finally put together a spectacular performance to close the season. Cannon scores twice on Rainbow Feints and Hoffan adds a penalty conversion as we build a 3-0 halftime lead. Strong gets injured after the half and will be out for 4 months. We take it easy in the 2nd half and coast to victory. Even better is that Orlando City somehow lost to New England, so this victory won us the league title!

Final: Des Moines 3, Chicago 0
Goals: Cannon 2, Hoffman
Top Three: Cannon, Burroughs, Metzger

Cannon - lvl 46

Final Standings...



*We only scored 4 points in our final 5 matches, but that was still enough to win because Orlando and Minnesota had disappointing finishes as well.

*We get a nice haul of $2.1 million for winning the league.

*This is actually our first league win. Every other time we've promoted, it has been from the 2nd or 3rd place spots.

*I spend the extra glory we got on upgrading the scout assistant again. The transfer list now goes down to 22 yrs old. I felt this was necessary, because our youth pulls are no longer good enough to get playing time and the next Youth Academy level is worth $6.4 million.

*Cannon finished 3rd in the league with 20 goals.

*Burroughs finished 2nd with 10 assists.

*Arroyo finished 5th with 46 tackles.

*Pressley finished 8th with 15 saves.

*All goals scored...

Cannon - 20
Hoffman - 13
Edmondson - 1

Offseason activities...

*I renew Swan for 3 yrs, $400,390.

*As I know skills will be very important as we get higher and higher, I'm going to move to a LD-CD-DF-CD-RD lineup. It might make sense to sell Guy here, but I still want him stepping in front of shots. Instead, I sell Carrier for $3.99 million.

*I buy 26 yr old LD Goode, a lvl 58 player with 70 Def, 76 Ctr, and lvl 2 Long Pass. He cost $2.2 million.

*I renew Guy for 1 yr, $919,169. The 22 yr old Metzger will eventually take his spot if this new defensive alignment works.

*Hoffman is now 33 yrs old and has 8 months left on his contract. His value is only $351,000 if I sell him. I decide to keep him until he retires and renew his contract for 3 yrs, $878,353. I fully expect him to be a backup soon, but he'll be a good one.

*I was hoping to find a better Forward, and one may still come up as teams buy up some of the players on there. The good news is that Cannon will soon have lvl 2 Rainbow Feint.

*I'm left with $2.3 million in the bank. The entire goal here is to stay up. I've never been able to do that after first joining a league. The AI still lists us as a 2.5 star team. There are two 3 star teams. Everyone else is 3.5 or 4. This will be a challenge.

The 2031-32 Des Moines Menace

FC Dallas (0-0-0) at Des Moines Menace (0-0-0)

Hoffman gets us started early by earning and converting a penalty kick. We have trouble positioning our guys on counterattacks and Hoffman gets stripped several times as we try to add to our lead. Midway through the 2nd half, they take advantage of a gap in our defense to create a one on one situation, which Pressley gives a terrible effort on, and find the equalizer. We run out of time trying to find the winner.

Final: Des Moines 1, Dallas 1
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Hoffman, Goode, Burroughs

*Hoffman hit his group bonus and now has 106 control.

Des Moines Menace (0-1-0, 10th) at Real Salt Lake (1-0-0, 1st)

We have to sit Hoffman because he's winded from all his dribbling. Salt Lake dominates the 1st half with 72% possession, but we finally break through after the half when Cannon finds good position just outside the box and nails the shot. They get behind our defense a couple times, but Pressley makes some big saves and we notch our first Premier League victory!

Final: Des Moines 1, Salt Lake 0
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Pressley, Arroyo, Cannon

Goode - lvl 59
Barkley - lvl 57
Burroughs - lvl 32

Houston Dynamo (0-1-1, 14th) at Des Moines Menace (1-1-0, 6th)

Houston gets 5 shots on goal against, several of them when our defensive line was compromised. But this was a match that showed why Guy is so important. As a DF, he steps in front of any shot that goes through the square behind him. He did this multiple times in this match to keep it a scoreless draw. With time running out, Hoffman dribbles into the penalty area and earns a penalty. He converts the penalty to win on the last action of the game.

Final: Des Moines 1, Houston 0
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Swan, Hoffman, Guy

Guy - lvl 70
Swan - lvl 49
Pressley - lvl 48
Shepard - lvl 44
Willoughby - lvl 30

Des Moines Menace (2-1-0, 3rd) at Seattle Sounders (0-1-2, 16th)

What an ugly match. We dominate possession at 65%, but miss four really good chances to score - Cannon misses two one on one opportunities, Hoffman gets denied on a dribble and then he misses a penalty. Even worse is that our new LD Goode was injured and will miss 4 months.

Final: Des Moines 0, Seattle 0
Goal: None
Top Three: Pressley, Burroughs, Goode

Barkley - lvl 58
Metzger - lvl 54

Toronto FC (3-0-1, 3rd) at Des Moines Menace (2-2-0, 6th)

We dominate the midfield in this one, holding the ball for 73% of the time. This led to us taking 6 shots on goal. Hoffman converts an early penalty for the lead, but then Cannon misses three shots in one on one situations before finally prevailing on his fourth attempt to give us a 2-0 lead. Toronto creates soe gaps in our defensive line, but is unable to get the ball down the field to take advantage of them.

Final: Des Moines 2, Toronto 0
Goal: Hoffman, Cannon
Top Three: Hoffman, Cannon, Metzger

Swan - lvl 50

Des Moines Menace (3-2-0, 3rd) at Swope Park Rangers (0-1-5, 17th)

After a scoreless 1st half in which Pressley made several great saves, things pick up when the ball is rebounded to Cannon in the penalty area. A Swope defender makes a bad Slide Tackle attempt, sending Cannon out of the match and earning a penalty. Edmondson (who I brought in to take advantage of his Head Play skill) comes in to convert the penalty. Later in the 2nd half, Edmondson has the ball and a direct line of sight to the keeper. I try a power shot, just hoping to win a penalty and score on a header. However, the Swope keeper makes a terrible effort and Edmondson's shot goes in!

Final: Des Moines 2, Toronto 0
Goal: Edmondson 2
Top Three: Pressley, Edmondson, Burroughs

Willoughby - lvl 31
Hatton - lvl 29

NY Red Bulls (0-2-4, 16th) at Des Moines Menace (4-2-0, 3rd)

Well our unbeaten streak was bound to end sometime. We're dealing with severe fatigue issues due to several hot matches in a row. Without our RD/LD players, their Wing Forwards cause serious problems. One breaks through and nails a Cannon Shot. another earns a penalty and converts. We miss the only shot we get on goal.

Final: New York 2, Des Moines 0
Goal:
Top Three: Guy, Tellez, Metzger

Metzger - lvl 55
Tellez - lvl 35

*We now have a 5000 seat stadium.

Des Moines Menace (4-2-1, 4th) at Sporting Kansas City (5th)

And we just can't catch a break with injuries. Cannon gets fouled hard and is sent out of the game at the 28 minute mark. We can't convert the free kick. 12 minutes later, KC scores on a long range Cannon Shot. Hoffman gets a chance against the keeper, but his dribble attempt is denied. Our last long pass attempt gets intercepted.

Final: Kansas City 1, Des Moines 0
Goal:
Top Three: Shepard, Hoffman, Arroyo

Barkley - lvl 59

Rio Grande Valley (4-1-3, 8th) at Des Moines Menace (4-2-2, 5th)

Rio has an insanely good keeper, but I noticed one weakness. He has low control and no Playing Out ability. I sit Cannon for this match and bring in Edmondson for his Head Play ability. I also play Hoffman as CF to double his Head Play ability. I spend the whole match trying to score on headers. The keeper gets to one and we win a corner, but the corner goes nowhere. Then with time running out, my newly healthy RD Strong takes the ball along the flanks and gets to crossing position in two turns. He hits a great cross that Edmondson heads through for the winner!

Final: Des Moines 1, Rio Grande 0
Goal: Edmondson
Top Three: Edmondson, Arroyo, Burroughs

Guy - lvl 71
Swan - lvl 51
Burroughs - lvl 33
Edmondson - lvl 24
Dewitt - lvl 24

Portland Timbers (6-1-2, 3rd) at Des Moines Menace (5-2-2, 6th)

They win two penalties (one when Pressley failed to tackle on a 180 vs 53 roll) and convert both of them. We take on back when Cannon heads a cross home, but our chance at an equalizer flies out of bounds. It's the Wing Forwards who did us in again.

Final: Portland 2, Des Moines 1
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Burroughs, Cannon, Barkley

Des Moines Menace (5-2-3, 6th) at Minnesota United (1-3-6, 18th)

Minnesota plays a back line of 5 defenders on the 1st tile by the keeper. I'm not sure how other teams are owning them like they are, but we don't have the tools to crack this formation. I try some crossing, but it's a rainy day so that limits passing effectiveness. Minnesota never seriously threatens us, but I wanted more than a draw from this one.

Final: Minnesota 0, Des Moines 0
Goal:
Top Three: Strong, Barkley, Arroyo

Arroyo - lvl 50
Strong - lvl 50
Tellez - lvl 36

New York City FC (6-3-2, 4th) at Des Moines Menace (5-3-3, 7th)

We're really seeing the talent differences now. NYC has a 143 Accuracy Forward, who just takes a normal shot from behind the defense and it goes in. Cannon takes 5 shots on goal, three of them one on one opportunities, and misses them all because their keeper is rated 123.

Final: NYC 1, Des Moines 0
Goal: None
Top Three: Guy, Pressley, Metzger

National Cup - Round of 32 - Leg 1

FC Cincinnati at Des Moines Menace

We have a league match in three days, so I put several subs in, including backup Forwards Wilkerson and Edmondson. Cincy takes zero shots on goal and we maintain 74% possession. This helps get in position for two crosses, both of which Wilkerson heads home.

Final: Des Moines 2, Cincinnati 0
Goal: Wilkerson 2
Top Three: Wilkerson, Strong, Shepard

Metzger - lvl 56
Swan - lvl 52
Strong - lvl 51
Shepard - lvl 45
Wilkerson - lvl 25
Dewitt - lvl 25

What's your upgrade page look like these days?

Des Moines Menace (5-3-4, 7th) at Orlando City FC (5-2-5, 9th)

When things aren't going your way: Cannon misses his 50/50 change and then on the ensuing possession, Orlando fires a desperation shot that somehow beats both Guy and Pressley. Shrug. They had a red card at 52nd minute, but that actually hurt us, because it was harder to earn extra actions by passing through someone.

Final: Orlando 1, Des Moines 0
Goal: None
Top Three: Metzger, Arroyo, Burroughs

And nothing for the Forward Coach.

Colorado Rapids (5-3-5, 10th) at Des Moines Menace (5-3-5, 9th)

We finally get back on the win column in a very familiar way: Hoffman dribbles in and converts a penalty shot. Then we shut them down the rest of the way. I'm more careful than usual here, and made sure to reset my defensive line instead of going for the counterattack.

Final: Des Moines 1, Colorado 0
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Guy, Hoffman, Strong

Tellez - lvl 37
Burroughs - lvl 34

Des Moines Menace (6-3-5, 7th) at Columbus Crew (6-2-6, 9th)

Hoffman dribbles past the keeper to give us the lead just after halftime. Midway through the 2nd half, we get the ball to Cannon in front of the keeper. He now knows lvl 2 Rainbow Feint and beats the keeper on the 2nd roll. Columbus takes one back after getting behind our lines and earning a penalty on a bad tackle attempt. They convert, but can't come up with the equalizer as Guy steps in front of their last shot.

Final: Des Moines 2, Columbus 1
Goal: Hoffman, Cannon
Top Three: Hoffman, Pressley, Shepard

Guy - lvl 72
Barkley - lvl 61
Metzger - lvl 57
Swan - lvl 53
Strong - lvl 52

Montreal Impact (9-5-1, 3rd) at Des Moines Menace (7-3-5, 6th)

While we are still a 2.5 star team, Montreal is a 4.5 star team. Not only that, but they have the perfect combination of talents to stop us - an absurdly good shot stopping keeper (231 defense in goal) and he also has lvl 3 Reaction, taking away Cannon's Rainbow Feint. We try for a heading strategy, since that's where he's weakest, and start Edmondson and Wilkerson. We get several chances at crosses, but two of them are stopped by the keeper and the others are poorly hit. Meanwhile, Montreal finds a gap in our defense and exploits it with a long range Cannon Shot for the victory.

Final: Montreal 1, Des Moines 0
Goal:
Top Three: Burroughs, Metzger, Arroyo

National Cup - Round of 32 - Leg 2

Des Moines Menace at FC Cincinnati

We come in with a 2-0 aggregate lead. So once again I put in backups at forward, this time giving Lindsey a chance. He comes through, utilizing their poor defensive formation to find room for long range Cannon shots. He hits two of them in this match (for his first two goals for us) and Edmondson grabs another header goal as we win this going away. FC Cincinnati pulls back a meaningless goal late.

Final: Des Moines 3 (5), Cincinnati 1 (1)
Goal: Lindsey 2, Edmondson
Top Three: Lindsey, Arroyo, Shepard

Hatton - lvl 30
Dewitt - lvl 26
Edmondson - lvl 26

DC United (3-6-7, 16th) at Des Moines Menace (7-3-6, 6th)

Once again, we're facing a tough Keeper and they have RD/LD players in position to limit Cannon's Rainbow Feint. He gets denied twice and Hoffman gets denied once on a dribble int he 1st half. However, our defense plays solid and we're able to take the lead on a Hoffman dribble at the beginning of the 2nd half. Our improved skills in the midfield (Hatton now knows Slide Tackle) help us control possession and limit DC's chances of a comeback.

Final: Des Moines 1, DC United 0
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Hoffman, Arroyo, Hatton

Barkley - lvl 62
Metzger - lvl 58
Swan - lvl 54
Arroyo - lvl 51

National Cup - Round of 16 - Leg 1

Des Moines Menace at Vancouver Whitecaps

We get another good draw here as we get to face a First League team for the 2nd round in a row. And we get on the board early thanks to a Hoffman dribble. Despite dominating the game, we're unable to add to the lead and settle for a one goal victory. Arroyo gets hurt due to a vicious tackle only 2 minutes in and will miss the next cup match.

Final: Des Moines 1, Vancouver 0
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Swan, Hoffman, Burroughs

Hoffman - lvl 59
Swan - lvl 55
Strong - lvl 53
Pressley - lvl 50
Burroughs - lvl 35
Hatton - lvl 31

National Cup - Round of 16 - Leg 2

Vancouver Whitecaps at Des Moines Menace

Not the most inspired 90 minutes of football we've played. We manage 57% possession, but only one shot on goal - a Hoffman attempt to dribble past the keeper. But all we needed to do was prevent Vancouver from scoring and we do that to advance.

Final: Des Moines 0 (1), Vancouver 0 (0)
Goal:
Top Three: Swan, Hoffman, Burroughs

Guy - lvl 73
Cannon - lvl 48
Shepard - lvl 46
Dewitt - lvl 27

Winter Break...

*Ridiculously bad youth pull. A lvl 20 Amateur defender. This is where I wish we could loan players.

*I extend Shepard for 3 yrs, $355,041. A ridiculously cheap price.

*I renew backup CD Telle for 1 yr, $38,715.

*I renew backup winger Willoughby for 1 yr $17,150.

*Lots of other decisions to be made, but I want to wait for the transfer lists to refresh before doing so. I also bought a global list.

*We currently have $3.38 million.

I'm definitely happy with our performance in the 1st half of the season.

Des Moines Menace (8-3-6, 5th) at FC Dallas (7-4-6, 7th)

Hoffman gets in and beats the keeper 40 minutes in to give us the lead. Dallas gets three one on one opportunities against Pressley and he stops them all until the very last action of the game. We lose the positioning battle on the corner and Dallas finally beats Pressley for the equalizer.

Final Score: Des Moines 1, Dallas 1
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Pressley, Hoffman, Metzger

Metzger - 59
Barkley - 63

National Cup - Quarterfinals - Leg 1

Des Moines Menace at FC Dallas

This is the 3rd time we've played Dallas this season and the 2nd time in 3 days. It's also the 3rd time this season we've gone up 1-0 only for Dallas to be able to find the equalizer. We get Cannon in position for two tries at the Rainbow Feint, but both of them get denied.

Final Score: Des Moines 1, Dallas 1
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Burroughs, Metzger, Cannon

Real Salt Lake (6-5-7, 11th) at Des Moines Menace (8-4-6, 6th)

Real has a thin defensive line (they're playing a DM there) and a weak keeper, so we take advantage by having Cannon take any shot he can get against him. This results in two goals within the first 16 minutes. Then Lindsey adds to the lead when he finds a position for the Cannon Shot and executes it. We spend the 2nd half trying to find a hat trick for Cannon, but he gets denied twice.

Final Score: Des Moines 3, Salt Lake 0
Goal: Cannon 2, Lindsey
Top Three: Shepard, Cannon, Barkley

Goode - lvl 60
Strong - lvl 54

Houston Dynamo (6-3-10, 11th) at Des Moines Menace (9-4-6, 6th)

After a disappointing 1st half of the season, Cannon is on a roll to start the 2nd half. He gets us the lead late in the 1st half on a Rainbow Feint. Then midway through the 2nd half, he dodges a tackle, fires a difficult shot and wins a corner. The ensuing corner is headed home by Hoffman. Houston actually gets three direct shots at Pressley, but he has no trouble swatting them away.

Final Score: Des Moines 2, Houston 0
Goal: Cannon, Hoffman
Top Three: Pressley, Cannon, Hoffman

Swan - lvl 56

Seattle Sounders (3-3-14, 11th) at Des Moines Menace (10-4-6, 5th)

Cannon has his most impressive goal yet. He gets the ball right outside their defensive line. I see a path where he won't come in contact with the CD. So he uses Rainbow Feint on the DF, then uses it on the SW, and then uses it on the GK to score. His lvl 2 skill is what made it possible. After this, I sub him and Hoffman out (because Seattle's offense doesn't scare me at all) and let Edmondson try to hit some headers. No luck, but we still win comfortably. The bad news is Shepard got hurt yet again and will be out for 3 months. It's a good thing I have tons of midfield depth.

Final Score: Des Moines 1, Seattle 0
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Cannon, Pressley, Goode

Barkley - lvl 64
Metzger - lvl 60

*The 6-2-2 has been working so well that I decide to renew Goode for 3 yrs, $1.8 million.

National Cup - Quarterfinals - Leg 2

FC Dallas at Des Moines Menace

Since we scored an away goal at Dallas, we just need a scoreless tie to advance. Then the craziest thing happened. Hoffman gets the ball near the sidelines. He's not in position to use his break-in, so I just have him fire at the Keeper to hopefully win a corner. Somehow, this incredibly low percentage shot goes in! It may be the only normal shot on goal Hoffman has ever scored for us. In the 2nd half, Arroyo gets hit with a questionable red card and will be out for 3 matches. We have to survive a man down, but our wingback Goode has a great performance to help shut Dallas down.

Final Score: Des Moines 1 (2), Dallas 0 (1)
Goal: Hoffman
Top Three: Strong, Hoffman, Burroughs

Guy - lvl 74
Goode - lvl 61
Strong - lvl 55
Pressley - lvl 51
Lindsey - lvl 40
Burroughs - lvl 36

Des Moines Menace (11-4-6, 4th) at Toronto FC (11-2-8, 7th)

While we do have depth in the midfield, it has been weakened by a by injuries and red cards. Also, our cup run is making it hard to have fully rested players. I keep Cannon out of this one. Lindsey gets a chance to score early when he wins a penalty, but the penalty shot is denied. Hoffman gets a chance later, but his dribble attempt is denied. We're able to hold off Toronto's offense, but we missed our own opportunities to win.

Final Score: Des Moines 0, Toronto 0
Goal: None
Top Three: Burroughs, Strong, Hatton

Metzger - lvl 61

Swope Park Rangers (5-4-13, 16th) at Des Moines Menace (11-5-6, 4th)

38 minutes in, Cannon gets good position next to the keeper and beats him with a normal precision shot. And that's all we would need. Pressley has to make one difficult save, but we control the rest of the match via our wingbacks, who they cannot strip the ball from.

Final Score: Des Moines 1, Swope 0
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Goode, Pressley, Cannon

Barkley - lvl 65
Swan - lvl 57
Strong - lvl 56
Hatton - lvl 32

Des Moines Menace (12-5-6, 5th) at New York Red Bulls (10-4-9, 9th)

The Red Bulls have our worst nightmare, two wing forwards with over 100 control. I try a 7-1-2 to deal with this. It starts off well as Cannon gets in close on a counterattack and beats their superb keeper. But they manage to get a guy through our defensive line and earn a penalty, which is converted for the equalizer. We dominate the game and put 5 more shots on goal, but their keeper saves all of them.

Final Score: Des Moines 1, New York 1
Goal: Cannon
Top Three: Burroughs, Cannon, Strong

Cannon - lvl 49
Dewitt - lvl 28

National Cup - Semifinals - Leg 1

Real Salt Lake at Des Moines Menace

Fatigue issues continue to hurt us and we have to field a patchwork crew here. We can't get any offensive momentum going and Salt Lake manages to penetrate our line and beat Pressley twice. I try get some crosses going late, but we can't get the ball in position.

Final Score: Salt Lake 2, Des Moines 0
Goal:
Top Three: Goode, Hatton, Swan

Goode - lvl 62
Arroyo - lvl 52