[Nogrod]

The first game of the second round in Edoras was a real deathmatch between two teams that had lost their first games. A defeat in this game would practically end all the hopes for the losing side whereas a win today would keep everything in their own hands (a win in the last match would qurantee them a place in the next round).

Both coaches had clearly pressed the point as the teams played an outstandingly offensive game providing entertainment for a full house of football fans gathered to the stadium. It was a hot afternoon for the goalies on both ends of the field.

Like in its first game Mirkwood took the control of the game in the beginning with an aggressive playing style. The pressure lead to an early lead already on the 9th minute when Legolas headed the ball in from a corner by Thranduil.

Mirkwood never gave away the control of the game but with the individual skill of its few players and even some luck the Breeland team managed to stay in the game keeping the Mirkwood defense at its toes.

After quite a low key performance in the first game The Barrow Wight started showing his qualities and Tom Bombadill demonstrated why he’s thought to be one the best forwards there is in the northern Middle Earth. The Mirkwood side relied much more to a team effort as they seem to be having – against all expectations – quite a balanced team who despite the racial tensions seems to be quite proud and willing to play together for their homeland.

After Barrow Wight’s sensational cannonball he shot from 35 meters brought the game even, the Mirkwood team’s pressure led them to a lead once again before the half time after Grishnakh was passed free in to the box by a nice pass by Legolas.

But Breeland did hang on and equalized the game again after the second half of the game had been played for only four minutes. The dynamic duo of The Barrow Wight and Tom Bombadill fooled the whole Mirkwood defence and Tom ended it with a ferocious kick from his much feared yellow boot.

Mirkwood continued pressing and took the lead the third time at 64th minute. Nob was forced to tackle Legolas as he was about to break free from which he was rightly shown a yellow card. Grimbeorn shot the free kick hitting the post. Scatcha who had excelled in the first match was the first one to get to the ball and he hammered it past Old Man Willow who had no chance to readjust his position.

Many thought the game was packed but they were wrong. The duo BW & Tom did it once again. At less than ten minutes of the game left they forced their way through the Mirkwood defence and silenced it’s supporters by bringing the game even for the third time.

The crowd was entertained with great performances and a lot of goals and excitement, and both teams still had their dream alive of making it to the second round of matches. The somewhat feared clashes between the supporters of Breelanders (who called the Mirkwoodians “eastern mongrels”) and Mirkwood fans (who called the Breelanders “bun-hearted westerners”) happily never took place as both team and their supporters seemed to be happy with the result.

Breeland 3-3 Mirkwood
shots 14-19
on target 7-10
GOALS:
*Mirkwood, 9 (Legolas- Thranduil)
*Breeland, 24 (Barrow Wight- Ferny)
*Mirkwood, 38 (Grishnakh- Legolas)
*Breeland, 49 (Tom- Barrow Wight)
*Mirkwood, 64 (Scatha- Grimbeorn)
*Breeland, 81 (Tom- Barrow Wight)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Breeland- Sardoc, Nob
*Mirkwood- Galion, Grimbeorn, Lagduf

Many were afraid that the winners of the first leg of matches would be playing it safe today against each other. But they were proved wrong as soon as the game started. Both teams fought fiercely for every ball and tried to shoot always they had even the slightest chance of doing it.

The Tol-In-Gaurhoth team gave the home crowd shock-treatment by taking the lead already at the 8th minute. Sauron passed the ball backwards with his heel like he knew the phantom was breaking free. The phantom seldom misses a one on one with the goal keeper and it was no different this day.

With the backing of a roaring crowd the home team stood up and started to fight back. With Eorl controlling the team play Edoras rolled over the middle field and came nearer and nearer scoring a goal. After 31 minutes of play Eomer finally exploded the stadium with the equalizer they deserved. Just before the half time the crowd went totally mad as Eorl himself booted the ball in from in front of the goal after a nice pass by Eowyn.

The crowd sang songs of victory through the intermission.

But the Tol-In-Gaurhoth team was not ready to surrender that easily and from the very first minutes of the second half on, that became clear to the homeside fans as well. T-I-G forced the Edoras team to run for their lead by passing the ball ever faster and as both teams continued the hard game the home team started to wear down as the game went on. This was clearly visible in the number of bookings the homeside received in the second period.

At 59th minute T-I-G got it’s earned equalizer as Formendacil headed irresistibly a free kick given by Eomer in. The hometeam tried to turn into offence once more but it had clearly lost its legs and after just defending the beginning of the second period it seemed hard to them to change the tempo and focus of their play – even if Eorl’s great individual play gave some hard times to T-I-G defence.

And so it happened that at the 78th minute the amazing duo Sauron – the phantom whose passes seemed to find each other every time they were on offence together silenced the crowd once and for all by giving the T-I-G the lead.

Edoras threw in all it had to throw during the last minutes but the T-I-G team-defence held and the visitors took the valuable points.

With the win Tol-In-Gaurhoth secured it’s place in the second round of games that start after the group-phase. The enthusiasm could be seen in the faces of the many T-I-G supporters caught by the cameras after the final whistle. Mormegil, Feanor of the Peredhil and Boromir LXXXVIII (not to be muddled up with Boromir I or Boromir II) were passing a bottle of sparkling wine and singing while Valier and Naria were blowing empty ones trying to dance at the same time.


Edoras 2-3 Tol-In-Gaurhoth
shots 18-16
on target 8-8
GOALS:
*TIG, 8 (the phantom- Sauron)
*Edoras, 31 (Eomer- Theodred)
*Edoras, 43 (Eorl- Eowyn)
*TIG, 59 (Formendacil- Eomer)
*TIG, 78 (Sauron- the phantom)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Edoras- Brytta, Aldor, Eowyn, Frealaf, Eomer
*TIG- Cailin, Formendacil, Thuringwethil


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B EDORAS

Mirkwood – Tol in Gaurhoth 2-3
Breeland – Edoras 2-3

Breeland – Mirkwood 3-3
Edoras – Tol in Gaurhoth 2-3


1. Tol in Gaurhoth 6-4 6pts
2. Edoras 5-5 3pts
3. Breeland 5-6 1pt
4. Mirkwood 5-6 1pt

The last matches:
Mirkwood – Edoras
Tol in Gaurhoth – Breeland