Developers World Championship: Match Report - Spain v Honduras (Group H)

SPAIN Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior (Digital Legends)

VS HONDURAS Paratroopers: Air Assault (Software Factory)

Whilst the Spanish football team’s humbling loss to Switzerland over in Africa sent shockwaves through the sport, the nation’s 0-0 draw at our tournament barely raised a flicker in the app world.

But going on the offensive this lunchtime was Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior (on a month’s loan from Hong Kong), hoping to roundhouse kick-start Spain’s cause good and proper.

Defending the Honduran honour again in this Group H war of attrition was Software Factory’s tap-to-fire shooter, Paratroopers: Air Assault.

Both teams’ PR were guarded in the pre-game conferences, guaranteeing that their charges’ fists, knees, toes, heads, and rifles would do all of the talking on matchday.

Kick Off: 7.30pm, 21st June

The critical view: The Honduran side was visibly flagging from the get-go, since it hadn’t had a chance to fully recover from its ultimately unsuccessful exertions against Angry Birds.

Via a barrage of powerful goalkeeping punches, reverse kicks, and cynical grabs Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior comfortably controlled proceedings in the early going.

With a heavily customised combat style, (read 4-5-1), and malleable controls in midfield, the master of the Martial Arts was demonstrating a sporting prowess of a different kind in the iconic iStadium.

Paratroopers: Air Assault resembled a sitting duck at times, its OpenFeint integration often providing lone cover at the back. No amount of achievements, 30+ or otherwise, could prevent the Spanish team's opener, firing home a free-kick courtesy of their IMGA People’s Choice Award.

From his excellent vantage point, high up in his VIP turret, Honduras’ newly-installed director of football bellowed at his nation’s footballing elite to cut out the fancy flicks and focus on its simple, no-frills gameplay.

Whilst this renewed discipline might not have been enough to secure too many shots on goal, it did prove sufficient to blunt the furious onslaught from the Iberians, ensuring the Spanish couldn't truly relax as they returned to the half-time dojo.

This was still well and truly anybody's game.

Half time: Spain 1 – 0 Honduras The Fans’ 45: In truth, Digital Legends needn't have worried themselves too much, as it became very evident in the second half that the Honduran travelling fans hadn't made the long trip in any great number.

What was more surprising, though, was that even the promise of the first officially licensed Bruce Lee title on the App Store couldn't rouse the Spanish from their siesta; surely they hadn't ALL taken the day off to watch the footie?!

A frustratingly low attendance of partisan fans may have concerned the organisers, but the neutrals that made it along were treated to some real quality. Paratroopers: Air Assault, for instance, offered weapons upgrades galore on the bench and duly employed them to fire in from all angles.

Not to be outdone, Spain's ten combative, outfield, attacking performers were exhibiting the kind of flair roundly associated with the Iberian peninsula's players, making the most of Dragon Warrior's ability to learn new moves by adding a sweep kick or two to their existing trick bag.

Despite the obvious quality on show, without the fans' fervour it felt more like an exhibition match with neither side able to force a decisive opening and even the threat of an early exit for the Central Americans couldn't raise the tempo.

After three minutes of blood (and bloody) injury time, the referee called a halt to the tie, eliciting a sporting bow from Digital Legends to respect their valiant opponent's efforts.

Suffice to say, whilst it may have signalled the end of the Honduran's campaign, the result left Spain in a good position to push on to the knockout phase.

Full time: Spain 1 – 0 Honduras Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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