Nordic Storm dominates Raiders Tirol 39-16, exposing challenges in Shuan Fatah’s rebuild

By John Mahnen

The Nordic Storm are beginning to look like exactly what the European Football Alliance hoped they would be: stable, explosive, physical and already synchronized. The Raiders Tirol, meanwhile, are beginning to look like something very different from the preseason vision sold in Innsbruck.

Game Summary
Nordic Storm defeated the Raiders 39–16 at Gladsaxe Stadium, moving to 2–0 while handing Tirol a second straight painful defeat to open the EFA season. After giving up 58 points to the Munich Ravens in Week 1, the Raiders allowed another 39 in Denmark. That makes 97 points conceded in two games, a number that no amount of “process” language can fully soften. The game summary shows Nordic winning the quarters 13–0, 0–3, 6–7 and 20–6.

Coaching Perspectives
The backdrop made the result even sharper. In the buildup, Raiders head coach Shuan Fatah framed the early struggles as part of a longer “Tiroler Weg,” emphasizing development, continuity and the need to fix defensive communication after the 58–30 loss in Munich. He praised the offense’s 30-point Week 1 showing and said the defense’s problems could be identified and corrected on film.

That is fair as a long-term philosophy. Fatah is not a random appointment; ELFpedia describes his return to Innsbruck as the defining feature of the Raiders’ 2026 season, noting his previous title-heavy tenure with the club from 2011–2019. But two weeks in, the short-term evidence is harsh. The Raiders are 0–2, have been outscored 97–46, and still look too loose defensively and too inconsistent situationally to be considered among the immediate EFA title contenders.

Nordic Storm’s Success
For Nordic, head coach John Shoop, offensive coordinator Stephen McCusker and defensive coordinator Mark DeLeone deserve the credit. The staff has continuity where it matters, and the 2026 roster still revolves around a core that includes quarterback Jadrian Clark, running back Glen Toonga, receiver Brendan Beaulieu, tight end Roberto Miranda, and defensive backs such as Luke Glenna, Macéo Beard, Brandon Bryant and Mitch Fettig. EPFR lists Shoop as head coach, McCusker as offensive coordinator and DeLeone as the new defensive coordinator, with Nordic carrying 30 returning veterans around 22 new signings.

First Quarter Highlights
The opening quarter set the tone. After an early empty possession, Clark and the Storm found rhythm through Toonga and the passing game. Toonga’s running softened Tirol’s front, and Clark repeatedly attacked the middle and seams. The key early sequence included a 56-yard strike to Roberto Miranda, followed later by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brendan Beaulieu. Clark then found Miranda for another short touchdown, giving Nordic a 13–0 first-quarter lead after one made and one missed conversion sequence.

Raiders’ Opportunities
The Raiders did have chances to steady the game. Quarterback Steven Krajewski connected with Aaron Jackson, Marco Schneider, Adrian Platzgummer and Lukas Haslwanter, and offensive coordinator Max Kössler again had moments where the passing game looked capable. Kössler, who joined Fatah’s staff as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, was brought in to lift the offense, and there are flashes of that.

But flashes are not enough against Nordic. Tirol’s first real scoring drive stalled in the red zone and ended with a Jonata Loria 37-yard field goal early in the second quarter. A special-teams opportunity followed when Schneider forced a fumble on the kickoff and John Levi Kruse recovered, but the Raiders could not convert it into points, with Loria later missing from 44. Just before halftime, another promising Tirol threat died when Macéo Beard intercepted Krajewski at the 6-yard line.

Defining Themes
That was one of the game’s defining themes: Tirol could move, but Nordic finished. The Raiders produced drives, but too often those drives ended in kicks, turnovers, punts or frustration.

Third Quarter Action
Tirol’s best stretch came to start the third quarter. Krajewski hit Jackson for 40 yards, then found Platzgummer for 12 to set up Tobias Bonatti’s 4-yard touchdown run. Loria’s PAT cut the deficit to 13–10 and briefly suggested the Raiders might have stabilized.

Nordic Responds
Nordic answered like a contender. Clark immediately hit Beaulieu for 39 yards, then worked the ball through Jakob Green, Edvin Almeida and Miranda before Toonga finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown. The two-point attempt failed, but Nordic had restored control at 19–10.

Fourth Quarter Developments
The fourth quarter turned the result from convincing into damaging. Jonas Fuschelberger intercepted Clark to give Tirol a chance, but Krajewski gave it right back when Brandon Bryant intercepted him on the next possession. Nordic turned that mistake into another Clark-to-Miranda touchdown, this one from 6 yards, stretching the lead to 25–10.

From there, the Storm kept leaning on Toonga. The British running back, finally healthy and central to the offense again, punished Tirol with steady gains before breaking a 19-yard touchdown run to make it 32–10. The Raiders answered late through a Krajewski touchdown pass to Haslwanter, but the two-point try failed. Nordic then recovered the onside kick and added one final exclamation point: Clark to Beaulieu for a 39-yard touchdown with 1:36 left.

Game Conclusion

Krajewski’s final possession ended with another interception, this time by Bastian Laugesen, and Clark kneeled out the win.

For Nordic, this was a complete performance rather than a perfect one. Clark threw an interception and the Storm had penalties and conversion issues, but the offensive structure under Shoop and McCusker is already clear. Clark has answers. Toonga gives them balance. Beaulieu remains a matchup problem. Miranda looks like a major red-zone and seam weapon. DeLeone’s defense, meanwhile, created three interceptions and repeatedly forced Krajewski to play from behind.

Tirol’s Evaluation

For Tirol, the evaluation is more uncomfortable. Fatah and general manager Ulz Däuber can rightly argue that this roster is being rebuilt around younger Austrian talent and that continuity cannot be manufactured in two weeks. That was the public message before the game. But the Raiders are not a new club, and Fatah was not sold as a caretaker. He was sold as the return of the Raider way. So far, the defense has not looked remotely like it.

Was Däuber wrong again on the head coach? That is too strong after two games, especially with Fatah’s résumé. But it is not too early to say this is not what the Raiders envisioned. The offense has enough pieces to compete, with Krajewski, Jackson, Schneider, Platzgummer, Haslwanter, Bonatti and Tim Tonko. The defense, however, has not gotten off the field, has not limited explosive plays, and has now been hit for 58 and 39 in consecutive weeks.

In a six-team league, there is nowhere to hide. Nordic looks like a championship contender. Tirol, for now, looks like a rebuild trying to convince everyone it is still a contender.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
Nordic Storm – Brendan Beaulieu 23-yard pass from Jadrian Clark, Alvin Gustafsson PAT good. Nordic Storm 7, Raiders Tirol 0.

Nordic Storm – Roberto Miranda 1-yard pass from Jadrian Clark, PAT no good. Nordic Storm 13, Raiders Tirol 0.

Second Quarter
Raiders Tirol – Jonata Loria 37-yard field goal. Nordic Storm 13, Raiders Tirol 3.

Third Quarter
Raiders Tirol – Tobias Bonatti 4-yard run, Loria PAT good. Nordic Storm 13, Raiders Tirol 10.

Nordic Storm – Glen Toonga 1-yard run, two-point try failed. Nordic Storm 19, Raiders Tirol 10.

Fourth Quarter
Nordic Storm – Roberto Miranda 6-yard pass from Clark, PAT missed. Nordic Storm 25, Raiders Tirol 10.

Nordic Storm – Toonga 19-yard run, Gustafsson PAT good. Nordic Storm 32, Raiders Tirol 10.
Raiders Tirol – Lukas Haslwanter 6-yard pass from Steven Krajewski,