Developers World Championship: Match Report - Serbia v USA (Last 16)

VS USA Doodle Jump (Lima Sky)

After Saturday’s entertaining, exhausting, and exhilarating Last 16 fare, the attendant press pack presumed a more relaxing afternoon would be on the cards.

Serbia and USA had other plans.

With major casualties from the group stages and big names dropping like iPhone 4 calls, these two challengers sensed that a genuine shot at the Pocket Gamer Developers World Championship was possible.

Eipix’s penalty shoot out challenge game, Golman, had produced one of the greatest comebacks of all-time to seal top spot in Group D.

Evoking memories of THAT Istanbul night in 2005, the Serbs recovered from a 3-0 deficit to level proceedings in the dying seconds as their fans went wild.

What made the resurrection even more miraculous was the nature of the opposition. Oft-described as the David Beckham of the App Store (i.e. good-looking and popular with great control, but, ultimately, rather simple), Flight Control was simply powerless to prevent Golman’s stunning turnaround.

In Serbia’s path this time round, another iPhone icon in the shape of Doodle the Doodler and his dangerously addictive jumping title.

Lima Sky’s multi-million selling Doodle Jump was the bookies’ overwhelming favourite at 2/5, but, in this competition, form didn’t necessarily count for a whole lotta’ beans...

Kick Off: 3pm, 27th June

The critical view: From the kick off, it was clear that the
Americans meant business. Their four-legged winger had a distinct advantage when dribbling at pace and he was running rings around the opposing left back.

It came as no great shock then, when, after 7 minutes of concerted pressure, Doodle skinned the Golman fullback for the nth time and cut back a peach of a cross for his striking partner to dispatch. One-nil to the Doodler!

Keen to press home the advantage, the USA’s head coach unveiled a heavily modified stars and stripes flag on the halfway line.

Stitched into the lining were an Apple Design Award 2010 and the prestigious PG Silver Award among countless others. Being deeply patriotic souls, the American players duly fed off the jingoism, saluting smartly, and pledging allegiance before rising highest to every 50/50 headed challenge.

Bouncing off tackles left, right, and centre, the freshly psyched up Doodle Jump ignited a secreted jetpack to propel a rocket of a shot past the virtual goalie for number two.

Somewhat shell-shocked, Golman was having to resort to cynical push challenges in order to keep the score down and avoid further humiliation before the break. It worked though, for America’s rhythm had been disturbed, and the half petered out.

Eipix's fiercely partisan following had sold cars, homes, and grandmothers to watch their heroic compatriots here In Bath, England.

Once settled in the iStadium, the Balkan reception party afforded Golman the kind of tumultuous backing that sends shivers down all who witness it.

Not coincidentally, the Serbs' leading goalscorer was adept at winning penalties. After changing boots at half time and customising his jewellery, the hotshot European induced a pair of out-stretched legs inside the penalty area. He never looked like missing the resulting spot-kick.

For once, the spring was missing from Doodle the Doodler's step and the American team was staring into a black hole. History was repeating itself.

When Golman's merciless smack talking proved too much for America's midfield general, the Yank enforcer lashed out and duly received his own marching orders.

The resultant free kick was Darren bent expertly around the wall, dipping just beneath the bar and it was all square once more at 2-2. Game on!

Although the US fans were shouting for their team, Doodle Jump's integrated Facebook and Twitter were not connecting with enough of them. Hope was visibly draining, along with some of their previously abundant energy, in the face of Golman's relentless barrage The American team was simply hanging on.

With the final whistle fast approaching, and with it a blessed chance to regroup; it looked like they'd done just enough to survive. At least that's how it looked until, with just seconds remaining the Serbians' unfurled a massive banner featuring their online leaderboards.

To the evident horror of the US management the Serbian fans somehow managed to turn the volume up to 11, drowning out the strains of Springsteen and vuvuzelas alike and stirring Eipix's army into one last push.

The long ball wasn't properly cleared and when it popped up on the edge of the box, Golman was on hand to unleash a ripper of a volley past his opposite number that was literally sucked into the net by the travelilng fans.

USA hearts sank, the whistle was blown and Serbian voices erupted in untamed joy...but it proved to be short-lived. A flag had been raised on the far side and the referee had run over to consult with his assistant.

Had he seen an infringement? He was certainly deep in discussion and seemed to be taking an age to make a decision, so it was hardly surprising that virtually every player on the pitch converged around him amidst increasingly chaotic scenes.

Finally, a decision was made: the referee indicated a push on the edge of the box and the goal was ruled out.

The Americans had been handed a lifeline and naturally the Serbians didn't take it at all well, leading to several yellow cards for dissent as the referee tried to restart with a free kick. More worryingly for the Serbs, their previously boisterous fans had fallen silent in the fracas, just as well they hadn't seen the replay on the big (iPad) screen as that looked a very soft call - there could have been a riot.

When order was finally restored, the game kicked off for literally thirty seconds before the teams were corralled back into the dressing room, the Serbian players still surrounding the officials. Extra time beckoned, and it was surely the US who now had the momentum.

Extra time: Having weathered the storm, it was all about longevity here and the US were not to be found wanting either for athleticism or app upgrades.

The Serbians were still reeling from the disallowed goal when the Lima Sky coach brought on his super-sub, the super summer soccer 1.2 upgrade, featuring special footie-themed levels and a whole new playing style.

With fresh legs the new man literally bounded through the midfield, spraying balls across the pitch and always running for the return. And it was from just such a one-two pass that the Doodler tilted his shoulder and leapt effortlessly above his (high-score) marker before striking firmly through the legs of a leggy-looking Golman.

Eipix's team simply looked shell-shocked now and even their amazing fans had begun to lose belief. Indeed, as the last 15 minutes ticked by, it seemed as though they were just going through the motions without any real spark. After 180 minutes of dramatic comebacks and playing at the very top of the game, if not above, they simply didn't have anything left to give.

Hence, it came as no surprise when the Americans sealed the result with 3 minutes left on the global leaderboard. Skipping over challenges so weak they looked like they'd been mailed in by a friend via Facebook, the super-sub worked an opening on the edge of the box before crashing in a shot with such force it almost broke the crossbar on its way in. The sense of relief on behalf of the whole Doodle squad was palpable and, in truth, the final whistle probably came as a blessing for the Serbians too.
There was no disgrace in this defeat. Golman had played a blinder and come within a whisker of pulling off arguably the shock of the tournament. They clearly understood the part played by their twelfth man too, and despite aching limbs, embarked on a lap of honour returning the applause of the fans.

Meanwhile, after shaking hands with their opponents, the Lima Sky boys formed a huddle with team-mates from Spore Origins and Space Miner. It'd had been a close run thing today and they'd come within seconds of Doodle jumping back on a plane home, but ultimately they'd done just enough to see it through and would live to fight another day in the quarter finals against either South Korea or their northern neighbours Canada.

Ultimately, though the app store was the real winner today, with England shot-down on penalties, France bombed out by the Serbs and now Team USA sent bouncing home. The global quality in-depth was there for all to see. Could this amazing tournament possibly throw up any more drama? You'll have to stay tuned to Pocket Gamer to find out! Final score: Serbia 2 – 4 USA (a.e.t)

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