[the phantom]

--GROUP C RESULTS--

Alqualonde 0-2 Formenos
shots 4-10
on target 3-6
GOALS:
*Formenos, 32 (Maedhros- Aredhel)
*Formenos, 66 (Feanor- Maglor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Alqualonde- Lindo, Cirdan, Frodo, Osse
*Formenos- Amrod
MATCH REPORT:
The buildup to the first game in the forest of Doriath was considerable. Posters displaying the teams' stars were everywhere, dubbing the matchup "Kinslaying II". As can be imagined the fans did not get along well, and insults and taunts were hurled back and forth.

"We'll have our revenge, you'll see!"
"Oh really? I heard instead of practicing you spent all your time designing your shoes!"
"Only some of it! We'll play better AND look better!"
"I've sure you've got some great strategies. After all, you are the ones who brought little bows and no armor to a sword fight!"
"Ah, but you won't be allowed your precious swords this time. We'll see who is the best without props!"

There would have been a great deal of fighting before and during the game, but Thingol had his full force of armed guards patrolling inside and outside the stadium, checking for weapons, and arresting those who got out of hand.

But despite all of the buildup the game ended up being rather one sided. Formenos completely controlled possession and spent a good deal of time passing around in the forward part of the field, looking for opportunities to score. At the 32 minute mark they capitalized as Aredhel beat her defender and gained a clear lane to pass to cousin Maedhros who had broke in front of the goal.

Alqualonde's only quality chance came just seconds before halftime when Caranthir, who was shadowing Gil Galad, hit a slippery patch of grass and went down. Bilbo sent a perfect pass to Gil who headed the ball back the other way towards the far post. But Huan went full stretch and poked the ball away with his fingertips.

The second half was yet more ball control from Formenos, with Feanor blasting a kick from the side that bent around the goalie and into the far side of the goal in the 66th minute. Play got a bit rough after that, with the frustrated Alqualonde players drawing three yellow cards in a very short span. Formenos did not respond in kind though, content with their lead and the points it would gain them for advancing out of group play.

Doriath 2-1 Isengard
shots 10-14
on target 5-7
GOALS:
*Isengard, 26 (Ugluk- Saruman)
*Doriath, 47 (Beleg- Dior)
*Doriath, 63 (Mablung- Elwe)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath- Saeros, Nellas
*Isengard- Snaga, Lugdush, Quickbeam, Mauhur
MATCH REPORT:
The home bias was quite pronounced in this game. Though the elves are fans of ents, they simply cannot abide orcs, and were certainly not fond of Saruman.

But despite this Isengard was able to work the ball up the field throughout most of the game. At the 26 minute mark they took the lead as Saruman lobbed the ball into Ugluk who controlled it, spun around his defender and kicked it neatly inside the sidebar to open scoring. But unfortunately for Isengard, the goalie was Melian. She was outstanding, making two or three saves that most goalies would not have been able to handle. And so it was that Isengard found themselves up only one goal at the half.

Offensively during the first half, Doriath had a difficult time getting the ball through the midfield, though the few times they got it forward the attack showed promise, and it seemed obvious that given enough opportunities they would get on the board.

An opportunity came early on in the second half with crowd favorite Beleg taking a pass, juking his man, and powering the ball off the hands of the goalie and into the net. And then a bit later the solid Mablung kicked a pass straight out of midair past the Isengard goalie.

The crowd celebrated the win with feasting, but Thingol and his Doriath team headed straight home to rest up for practice the next day, which Thingol said they needed badly. "If my wife hadn't been amazing in goal we would've lost that game!" he told reporters. "We really need to up our level of play if we hope to challenge for the cup."