[the phantom]

--GROUP H--

Orcs, Trolls, Werewolves, and all manner of creatures filled the stands at Angband stadium. Thangorodrim was belching fumes into the air, covering the sky with a canopy of dark grey which blocked out the sun for the benefit of the many sun-allergic residents.

As the teams took the field curses and threats were hurled at both, but in particular the crowd gave Valimar a difficult time in hopes that they would be angry and distracted enough to be upset by Brethil. But as the game began it didn't look like that would happen. Valimar took control of the ball and moved it down with relative ease and began looking for opportunities to score. They tested the defense of Brethil a couple of times, and the third time they struck gold as Earendil passed expertly to Tulkas who chipped it in from short range.

Brethil got the ball in deep around the 25 minute mark, and after a couple of off-line kicks Haldir managed to direct one true, but Ungolient was there for Valimar to stop it. Valimar took control once again and kept things simple, not being overly aggressive. Eventually they found themselves in close to goal again, and this time it was Tilion sending an excellent pass from the beside the goal out to the front where Eonwe dove and headed it in for a 2-0 lead right before halftime.

The second half was largely controlled by Valimar, though they pushed the ball very little, conserving energy perhaps for their eventual showdown with Angband. Every time Brethil attempted to advance they were met with the staunch defense of Valimar, and Brethil never threatened again, managing only one shot the second half. Ungolient looked absolutely bored back in goal.

The crowd jeered and yelled as the teams went back to their locker rooms, but none of the Valimar players responded, preferring to let their playing do the talking.

Brethil 0-2 Valimar
shots 4-11
on target 1-7
GOALS:
*Valimar, 15 (Tulkas- Earendil)
*Valimar, 40 (Eonwe- Tilion)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Brethil- Brandir
*Valimar- Arien, Pallando, Radagast

When Angband took the field for their match, it was as if a volcano was erupting beneath the stadium. The roar of the crowd literally made the ground tremble (largely due to the many dragons in attendance), and Melkor and his minions waved gleefully at their supporters.

The game began with Angband on the attack, but the valiant squad from Annuminas always seemed to do just enough on defense to keep Angband from getting too good a chance. In the 18th minute Gothmog sent a blistering shot just inside the sidebar, but Arvedui laid out and tipped the shot away.

The ball ended up right in front of Elendur who sent a pass forward to Argeleb, and he dribbled past two Balrogs and lobbed one down field behind the Angband defense. Valandur outfought Uldor for control of the pass, wrong-footed the Balrog who had caught up to help, and blasted a shot into the top corner of the goal past the outstretched paws of Carcharoth to take the early lead!

The Angband crowd sat in stunned silence as the game resumed and Annuminas advanced the ball into Angband's half. At the 33 minute mark Araphor finally gained enough breathing room to try a shot and skidded one down low. Carcharoth was there to deflect it, but the deflection went straight to Arantar who tried to quickly punch it in. The shot went wide however and the crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

Melkor, shouted angrily at his team and they responded to his prodding, playing very good and aggressive all the way up to the half, challenging the defense and goalie of Annuminas several times, though not succeeded in scoring any goals. Both teams drew several yellows before the half.

When they took the field for the second half Angband once again rushed forward aggressively, and scored after a mere two minutes of play, with Gothmog redirecting a hard shot from Melkor. The Angband crowd began cheering again after that a bit, though they certainly had not regained the confidence and swagger that they entered the stadium with.

After that Annuminas tried pushing the ball forward aggressively. Several times Valandur and Araphor were able to gain control of long balls, but they weren't able to gain quality scoring chances. In the 61st minute Ulfast sent a long pass into the middle and Ancalagon kicked it brilliantly out of midair right into the goal.

For the first time since the outset of the game the crowd cheered in full force as all was right in the world once again. After that the Angband defense really locked down and kept Annuminas off the attack, and gained a couple of good scoring chances, though they weren't able to capitalize thanks to Arvedui. As the minutes ticked away the crowd roared louder and louder as Angband controlled the game more and more.

But with only six minutes to go Eldacar ran down a loose ball and lifted the ball down the field where Araphor knocked it down, split through two Balrogs and ran in for a one on one with Carcharoth and squeezed it past on the ground just inside the bar. The small section of Annuminas fans went nuts but the rest of the stadium went dead quiet.

Not content to tie, Angband immediately went full attack, but Melkor got a bit carried away and got his second yellow and was sent off the field. The last few minutes Angband appeared scared of making a mistake while shorthanded and tried to run the clock out. Annuminas tried to mount an attack at the end, but the defense held easily for the tie.

Angband 2-2 Annuminas
shots 15-7
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*Annuminas, 18 (Valandur- Argeleb)
*Angband, 47 (Gothmog- Melkor)
*Angband, 61 (Ancalagon- Ulfast)
*Annuminas, 84 (Araphor- Eldacar)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, Uldor, Ancalagon, Balrog #3, Balrog #4, Melkor
*Annuminas- Arantar, Tarandor, Tarcil, Valandur
RED CARDS:
*Angband- Melkor, 86 (2nd yellow)