Developers World Championship: Match Report - Portugal v Ireland (Group G)

PORTUGAL Colorix (Awesome Software) VS

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Plants vs Zombies (PopCap)

Monday marked the final round of games in Group Stage 2 of the Pocket Gamer iPhone Game Developers World Championship.

In the day’s 12pm encounter, the two not-so-lucky losers from the opening round of Group G fixtures, Portugal and Republic of Ireland, squared off in the cool, midday Bath air.

As was noted during the tournament’s opening ceremony, 30 of the 32 competing squads contain three games.

Unfortunately for the Portugese national squad, its iPhone Gaming Association did not submit three entries before the designated deadline meaning the Portugese coach had been compelled to field Awesome Software’s match-three puzzler, Colorix, in all three of its group games. Tiring for everybody concerned and certainly not the ideal conditions under which to take on one of the tournament's very best players.

Looking very much at home on the pristine turf, an imposing backline of Plants and an attacking trident of Zombies stood waiting. Yep, thanks to an Irish grandmother (and a lot of development work from their offices on the Emerald Isle), PopCap was taking the field for the Republic of Ireland.

Kick Off: 12.30pm, 21st June

The critical view: Without standing on ceremony, the Republic of Ireland planted its well deserved Gold Award right in front of the fourth official, hoping for an early breakthrough...that duly arrived.

PvZ had produced the fastest goal of the tournament so far, timed at 43 seconds. Unbelievable scenes here at iStadium!

That crisp strike was only the first of many, Plants vs Zombies clearly had their (pea)shooting boots on and Portugal’s visually arresting puzzler was losing its marbles under wave after wave of pressure from the tower defence PC port.

Colorix’s lack of multiplayer in defence was proving a problem; only its double taps for extra speed and Bronze Award allowed it to recover some truly desperate situations as the Popcap side probed for a second.

Against the run of play, Colorix launched an inventive counter-attack. Weaving intricate shapes down the lawn, the Portugese strikers engineered a wonderful one-two combo that culminated in an explosive equaliser from 10 (front) yards.

Stunned into action, Ireland retaliated even more aggressively, forcing numerous last ditch tackles from the southern Europeans on all 26 of the zombies pouring into the box.

Something had to give, and sure enough the Irish eyes were soon smiling once more. After its midfield moved through all 50 levels and exercised some sublime drag-and-drop control to create space in the box, PvZ launched a peach (well, Melon) of a shot into the net.

With just minutes to go they notched another, literally bowling over the Portuguese defense with their inventive mini-games before tapping in a cross with one of numerous beautiful finishing touches. Even the post-goal celebration was something to behold, as a gaggle of zombies executed an impromptu Michael Jackson Thriller tribute at the corner flag.

Half time: Portugal 1 – 3 Republic of Ireland The Fans’ 45: The ever-colourful and raucous Eire fans made their way across the Irish Sea in relatively modest numbers, those choosing to stay behind perhaps disappointed by the absence of any network integration and only two game modes in Plants vs Zombies.

Those members of the Green and White army in attendance were however richly rewarded by a continuing display of class touches, some tongue-in-cheek humour, and an impressive performance by the lawnmower-shaped goalie.

We particularly enjoyed the arrival of Crazy Dave as a second half substitute, who reversed his Winnebago onto the pitch and displayed some very special moves and a lot o' dribbling.

Portugal's netminder was doubtless considerably less amused though, especially when one of Dave's searching long balls bizarrely rebounded off a rake hurled onto the pitch by Irish fans and bobbled into the bottom corner.

Despite spirited protests from Awesome Software, the goal stood to complete a miserable night and, for that matter, a decidedly unsatisfactory tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo's compatriots.

Whilst Colorix hadn't let its nation down (not in the manner of the French team and management in South Africa, anyway), ultimately it was undone by a lack of depth and support in the squad (okay, so maybe a bit like the French).

Full time: Portugal 1 – 4 Republic of Ireland Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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