The Dragons were flying high coming into this game, with the league's best goal differential (+14), offense (2.36 goals per game), and defense (1.36 goals against per game) as they sought to defend their Season 2 Thaler Cup championship. The Paladins, meanwhile, had slipped all the way to fourth place primarily because of their defense (1.93 goals against per game, vs. last season's 1.30). Perhaps it was memories of their epic extra-time victory over the Dragons in the Season 1 championship game, but something certainly brought out the best in the Paladins, who played a nearly flawless match and cruised to a 3-1 victory on the road. Superstar forward Belisarius went a long way toward expunging his reputation as a playoff choker by scoring his first two career postseason goals. The only downside for the faithful of Mithras was that key midfielder Theophilus picked up two yellow cards and thus will have to sit out the championship game.
Semifinal 2: Troya Nova Imperials (2nd place) vs. Riverton Racers (3rd place)
The Imperials were runners-up for the Cup last year and just completed their best-ever regular season. Their offense was barely league-average, but they won a lot of close, low-scoring games thanks in part to a stellar 1.43 goals-against per game, which was tied for second in the league with their first-round opponent, the Racers. It was Riverton's solid offense (2.21 goals per game), however, that allowed them to leap over the Paladins and the Prospect Pioneers in the final regular-season game and claim a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. This game started off quietly with a scoreless first half, but the teams combined for four goals in a wild second frame. Early in extra time, Racers midfielder Haelmoren scored from long range to make it 3-2, and the side from Riverton managed to kill the clock and secure their place in the Thaler Cup championship.
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