There seem to be a million "how did I loose?!?!??!" threads around, it gets frustrating. The easiest (not the best in some cases) answer is to remind people that there is indeed a random factor.
As a moderator on multiple sites and lists I empathize - getting bombarded with multiple threads on the same subject can be tiresome - but it also, usually, highlights a problem.
To be honest, I would not have posted this thread in the first place if all of the pieces added up in my mind. Losing is not a problem for me - it was the specific circumstances that perplexed me - a bot 2 levels lower, a Cup game in mid-rounds, an obvious team rating and talent discrepancy, etc.
I'm a fairly new player here (end of last season) - and on Hattrick the idea of a decent-strength team losing to a bot from two levels lower is nigh-impossible.
Of course this is a different game - and as a new game it has its own idiosyncrasies and growing pains.
Anyhow - a more detailed response would definitely have helped. Especially since even though YOU may have read a zillion, seemingly identical threads, I haven't unfortunately ;)
But all is good - I've refocused myself on opening up my team, and that individual game is history. Might as well consider this issue closed and we can all move on :)