Developers World Championship: Match Report - South Korea v Canada (Last 16)

SOUTH KOREA Zenonia 2 (Gamevil)

VS CANADA Zombie Attack! (IUGO)

Following this afternoon’s incredible fight back against a popular Serbia, nobody was particularly keen on now facing this resilient nation at this year’s tournament.

The two countries competing for the dubious right to challenge a resurgent USA in the quarter finals, then, were South Korea and Canada.

Having finished unbeaten in its group, the South Korean side were considered genuine contenders for the iPhone Game Developers World Championship crown.

Gamevil’s RPG, Zenonia 2, may only have scraped a 1-0 in the group stages, but its cerebral approach was considered vital...especially when confronted by a horde of brain-dead forwards.

Zombie Attack!, a tower defence title from IUGO, was caught wandering aimlessly in its first appearance of the tournament against Gameloft's N.O.V.A., and despite taking a chunk out of the fancied French, ultimately were left tasting defeat.

The sensible money was on South Korea to progress, since its first round campaign had been almost faultless.

Sense wasn’t necessarily a factor, though, when it comes to flesh-eating zombies, so all eyes turned to the referee for the opening bell of this delicious bout. There may have been Zs on all sides, but no-one was sleeping through this one.

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 27th June

The critical view: Kicking from left to right in the evening haze, Zenonia 2’s four midfielders sought control of the park immediately. With licence to roam freely, the quartet of warriors foraged in two units, looking to unpick the Canadian defence.

Of the foursome, the most fearsome striker of a ball was Shooter, who never shied away from a 25 yarder, if the opportunity even partially arose.

Zombie Attack! by contrast had been very sluggish early doors, in fact the only real impression it was leaving was on the opponent's limbs. Not that this was an entirely unsuccessful approach, though, a particularly horrific biting challenge halfway down the shin leaving one of South Korea's danger men requiring lengthy treatment on the sidelines.

During the stoppage, the Canadian team sought sanctuary under a hastily-erected shack protruding from the away dugout. Encouraged by its long-surviving manager, Zombie Attack! proceeded to get stuck in. For 15 brutal minutes IUGO's undead wanderers traded attacks with their opponents, exchanging a range of turrets and weapons for South Korea’s 152 maps and 98 quests.

Despite the considerable firepower on show, neither side managed to force home an advantage, leaving it scoreless at the break.

Half time: South Korea 0 – 0 Canada The Fans’ 45: For the first time at this year's World Championships, a prized Bronze Award had gone unnoticed by the officials. The South Koreans' trinket had disappeared into thin air at some point during the opening period.

Fortunately for the Asian fighters, their companion fairy, seated in the heavens among Zenonia 2's vocal support, produced an identical trophy with a single wave of her wand.

With an opportunity created, Gamevil's playmaker made the most of his enriched skills on the edge of the box before slipping Shooter into the 18-yard arena for a pvp challenge against the keeper. Which they duly won, finishing with aplomb.

The undeadlock had been broken by a moment of magic, and as the South Koreans poured forward, Zombie Attack!'s tall backline was teetering on the brink.

IUGO's flamboyant sporting director, Sarah Thomson, did her best to rouse the boys, but, whilst she undoubtedly gifted the TV cameras some attractive cut-away imagery, even the app world's version of Karren Brady could do nothing to turn the tide on the pitch.

In spite of Canada's assured tilt control of the Adidas-manufactured footy, they simply didn't have enough up front to breach the impressive South Korean armoury of characters, classes, and quests and Zenonia 2 held on for victory.

All over the nation online battles came to a halt and experience points were abandoned, as the streets were lined with celebrating crowds.

Full time: South Korea 1 – 0 Canada Final Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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