[Nogrod]

The crowd at Osgiliath was full of pride as the city had earned the right to host the Arda 2008 games. All the people had gathered to the stadium and naturally people from Minas Tirith were crowding the place as well. But it was not an all-Gondorian event as the staunch groups of Umbarians and elves from Lothlorién had come to witness the games and to cheer for their team with their colourful masks and ear-catching chants.

On the afternoon match Nargothrond was calling the shots from the very first minutes and they played creatively letting all the players to make their mark on the game. Even if the tallies talk of somewhat even game the truth in the field was different. Nargothrond controlled the ball and had the quality chances. At 22 minutes Glaurung breathed the ball in from a superb pass by Finrod. It was just pure luck the numbers were only 1-0 at the halftime.

Nargothrond stroke again in the beginning of the second half when Barahir tossed the ball in after Beren’s beautiful shot at the post. Umbar side got heated and started getting yellow cards for their frustrated and late tackles. Suddenly Nazgul #9 took the ball from the Nargothrond defence (Bregor and Belegund were not agreeing which one of them should take the ball) and thanked with a score. That was a beautiful piece of individual talent even the supporters of Nargothrond had to admit and just watch in awe.

Sadly for Umbar the goal didn’t lead to a group effort but to more individualism and more foul play. At 74 minutes – playing at one player advance after Brodda had got his second yellow card – Gwindor sent a free kick to the high corner of the net sealing the victory for Nargothrond.

There was no question on which side the crowd cheered for.


Nargothrond 3-1 Umbar
shots 15-10
on target 6-3
Goals:
*Nargothrond, 22 (Glaurung- Finrod)
*Nargothrond, 49 (Barahir- Beren)
*Umbar, 61 (Nazgul #9)
*Nargothrond, 74 (Gwindor)
Yellow Cards:
Nargothrond- Gelmir
Umbar- Ulrad, Brodda, Folcred, Beruthiel
Red Cards:
Umbar- 71, Brodda (second yellow)



But the match of the day was clearly to come. The team of Lothlorién would measure the home team and the tension got ever higher. There was no empty seat on the stadium as the referee whistled the game open.

First both teams played it safe and the game was mostly boring. Lothlorién tried to build up some nice attacks but the Osgiliath’s defence held. The support of the home crowd encouraged the players to give their best in defence.

Slowly the initiative turned to the Osgiliath team and at the second half the crowd went wild. Lothlorién players had started to frustrate and had taken a few yellow cards when after one of them (Gollum hanging on the shirt of Telemnar) Ostoher took the free kick fast releasing Hyarmendacil to face Galadriel one on one. And it was a goal!

After the goal Lothlorién was unable to make it a game and it was indeed Osgiliath who had better chances of furthering their lead. Happily for Lothlorién Galadriel managed to boost her defence to not allow any more goals.

As the referee whistled the game close the crowd went wild cheering, singing and dancing away from the arena.


Lothlorien 0-1 Osgiliath

shots 8-11
on target 1-5
Goals
*Osgiliath, 65 (Hyarmendacil- Ostoher)
Yellow Cards:
Lothlorien- Gimli, Nimrodel, Gollum
Osgiliath- Falastur, Eldacar