Tehel Cup Semifinal Predictions

So while you are all now expecting Rademaker to post his picks, He has abstained due to his teams run this deep. So instead you get my analysis on the Final 4. Deal with it.

Yemen Elite v FC Yemen:


A Yemen derby on the west side of the bracket was maybe the most intriguing match up possibility from the Elite 8 and we were lucky to get it here. Elite is looking to return to the finals for the second time in as many years. While their play in Tehel Cup remains steady dispatching a tough Lazio team, their overall form has been dipping. Suffering back to back losses to crash out of the playoffs Yemen now has only this years Tehel Cup to chase. Giving up 8 to Amherst Sharpshooters and Co must have the strikers on FC Yemen licking their lips. Let's talk about this FC Yemen team. Dare I call them the darlings of the tehel cup this year they have 3 Premier scalps to their names already in this Tehel run and look to make Elite their 4th. Clearly they are a dangerous offensive team maybe one of the best outfits in all of BDSL. On the flip side they can be a little leaky defensively but so far that hasn't hurt them. They still have Championship division playoffs too to chase so tough run of games for them. For me this game boils down to two things. One, what sort of line up will Faress have to play with on Thrusday and two, can FC Yemen turn this into a track meet. I really don't think Faress will let the younger Yemen brother punk them just yet. Hopefully they'll have they'll best team otherwise this pick is going to be bad. Either way should be a special afternoon atmosphere at West Seneca.

Prediction:
Yemen Elite 3 FC Yemen 2


Boomslang FC v Queenston FC:


Boomslang certainly deserved their win over us. I wish I had recapped it but I traditionally allow the winning team to post first if they post and Drew often does. Basically they outplayed us with a high pressure style and maybe coulda had 1 or 2 more. We maybe edged possession but they countered perfectly every time and Welsch Thomas and Baachs were everywhere it seemed all game. After talking to many who watched Boom on other occasions I heard the same thing "They played the best game they had all season". They question is now can they do that again vs the defending champs? Speaking of Queenston, this season has been so bland for them. Aside from a upset over Amherst Sharpshooters is been pretty ho hum. I have also heard the same thing about them all season from teams who play them. Basically the refrain is how do win games? I think even they would admit they aren't the best team at doing anything particularly well but they do everything well enough to always be dangerous. At times they have been seemingly been disinterested in this season but still again here they are in the semis defending their Tehel Cup crown. Hard to really understand them. A return to the finals would be the first in BDSL since the BSC Raiders did it in 2011-2012. Hard to say how this one goes really I can see either or. Heart wants Boomslang while head says Queenston. Screw it. AMERICA!!!!

Prediction:
Boomslang FC 2 Queenston FC 2 Boomslang FC 4-3 PKS

I'll throw my predictions in here also. I love Tehel Cup play and it kills me to have exited so early. Therefore, I've had the chance to watch a fair amount of Tehel Cup games this season. Maybe I can give some insight.

Yemen Elite vs FC Yemen
Having seen Elite play several times this year, I know they're a much better team than the 8-0 result against us last Sunday makes it seem. Elite had a very good season in Premier for most of the year and came close to a playoff berth. Mateo controls the midfield extremely well while Ali Adil and AM9 are both dangerous. Jordan England is also excellent in the back. What concerns me with Elite is a lack of commitment and the potential for poor attendance. It seems that FC Yemen has been pretty dedicated as they have had a great campaign in Championship this season. Championship teams have been on a good run in the cup the last few years (us, Queenston). I was able to watch some of FC Yemen's game on Sunday against Lykan after we played Elite. FC Yemen looked quick and explosive. Unfortunately for Elite, I think they may be shorthanded again. For this reason, I'm taking FC Yemen 4-2.

Boomslang vs Queenston
Boomslang has also had a good campaign in Championship with some solid adds to the roster this season. Welsh seems to be the main danger man with DiLorenzo gone. If Queenston can stop him, I like their chances. However, having played with Zack Thomas, he'll be tough to stop and he'll likely be the one feeding Welsh the ball. Queenston has had a very solid mid table campaign for their first season in Premier. They've always had a solid defense back stopped by Netter. I think they're actually much better going forward this year than last year. Their young guns (Suitor, Brady, Farrell, Dumond) are all very dangerous. In my opinion, Suitor has passed Miguel as the best field player on their team and is extremely talented. This one shapes up to be a really good game. I watched Queenston play an absolute snoozefest against GWB, but I think they show up to play today. While it pains me to think of having to listen to Queenston if they were to win another Tehel Cup, I do think they come out on top in this game. I think Queenston's attack is too much for the Boomslang defense (yeah, I know that seems weird). Welsh scores a goal from Thomas, but Suitor, Brady, Farrell and Dumond (along with Sims, Donner and Kastner) get 2 goals and come out on top 2-1. I'm thinking goals from Brady and Suitor.

I'll be at OPSC for the Queenston-Boomslang game. Both games should be great. Best of luck to all four teams.

Scary accurate predictions Trevor. Well done.