[Nogrod]

The new-built arena of Eithel Sirion was just packed full when the evening game began. Everyone wanted to see the game many newspapers had named the Nirnaeth Arnoediad II. And that really seemed to be the name of the game. It was the heroes of men and elves against the mighty legions of Angband. The number of the neutral onlookers were scarce indeed.

And the match was worth the legendary foresightings! Were there ever two teams that could play the game as hard and beautiful than these! Many spectators thought they were looking at the final match of the tournament… or at least they thought the justice would deal these two teams to be the two best. The crowd was totally taken into the game. And the teams didn’t play it safe but went on to attack all of the time.

Both defences played astoundingly but the forwards of both of the teams were even brighter. The shots on goal went even in the end while both goalies performed their best.

The Mouth hit the crossbar on the 15th minute and Fingon himself made a powershot to the post on 22nd. It was everyone’s game then; the attacks following one another to both ends.

Finally Turin broke through the Angband defences by a pass by Fingon and hammered the ball in behind Carcaroth the terrible. The elven and human crowds were overjoyed. But only ten minutes later – five minutes to the half-time – the Angband team retaliated. Melkor just did whatever he wanted and blew the defenders away and then passed the ball to Ancalagon who scored with a mighty flash of it’s tail no one would have wished to stand in front of.

So the Angband-team came to the second half the more assuredly – and with the help of their crowds – they got the ball rolling. They pressed on and were finally rewarded of it. Gothmog the Balrog-captain took Gundor and Hador from their place, making them sacrifice themselves, but cunningly passed the ball to Melkor before the two had a chance to turn back. And lord Melkor didn’t hesitate. That shot would have fell a troll with it. So no wonder Huor had no chance. Angband was on the lead at the 64th minute.

But the Hithlum team was not beaten yet! They rolled a counter attack after another and finally the skill of their forwards paid off. Fingolfin chipped the ball behind the mighty Balrogs to Hurin who was running at top speed towards the goal. He volleyed the ball in and Carcaroth could just watch it speed into the net.

The referee whistled for the game to be even and both teams had their fifteen minutes of concentrating. But the overtime gave the game no result… It was clear Angband was trying the more but Hithlum defences held. The Angband crowd and parts of the T-I-G ones yelled mightily but to no avail. The extra-time ended with no goals.



It was time for penalty shoot-outs then. The supporters of both teams bit their nails as both teams had the most frightful scorers in their ranks…There was a real silence at the stadium when the shoot-out began.



Ancalagon the Black just dropped the ball into the spot and grinned to Huor. The referee whistled and Ancalagon was about to turn around when he – in the midst of his movement – just thrusted his tail to hit the ball, sending it exactly to the low right corner of the goal. But Huor had anticipated that and he got his fingers to the ball which then hit the post and flew away. Ancalagon had missed! The human and elven crowd went crazy.

Then Turin came and set the ball down. The Great Wolf Carcaroth stood still earning the cheers of not only the Angband supporters but also many of those for T-I-G. Turin took only a few steps backwards and then ran to the ball… and it was in! Carcaroth had anticipated the shot and flew to the right angle but was a micro-second late. Hithlum was on the lead!

Gothmog the ever terrible came for his turn to shoot. Huor is a valiant man but even his legs were shaking in front of the lord of the Balrogs. Gothmog burst into fire sending heatwaves up to the twentieth row of spectators and hammered the ball in before Huor had a chance to do anything.

So it was time for Fingolfin to make his mark. He remembered he had faced Melkor himself in a single battle, so a wolf would not be too much of a problem. He looked to the eyes of Carcaroth as he backed away from the ball and then ran for it. But it was an easy save…. if there is one. Carcaroth flew to the left side of his goal and knocked the ball away. The Angband crowd that had been silenced by the miss of Ancalagon now bursted alive and cheered loud and clear.

It was lord Melkor who went to shoot the next. Huor stood at the goal like a man but that was the best he could do. “For Galdor! For Húrin!”, he shouted before the ball went into the net. Angband was leading two to one. But there was the evening-shot still and Húrin took the ball.

There was vengeance in the air. The whole stadium could feel it. All of the crowd stayed silent as he backed away from the ball and concentrated. “For my son! For all those years!”, he finally wailed and hammered the ball in without giving Carcaroht a chance.

The game was even when the Balrog #6 came forwards. He would scare the Morgoth out of Huor. And it looked like it. He took a few steps and then blasted a shot that would have killed a roaring bull. But it went wide! It hit the crossbar but went away!

Not afraid of Gothmog, Fingon rose to his chance. He would be the valiant one to bring home the victory. But the boo’s of the crowd and the pressure of the Angband-Team were just too much for him. It was an easy save for Carcaroth.

The game was still even...

Ulfast the traitor took the ball to give Angband the victory. Afterwards many have speculated whether there would have been better choices… for Huor caught it!

So it was not over yet! Hador came forth and took the ball. “It’s not only the Nirnaeth Arnoediad but also Dagor Bragollach you should remember! The times and families go farther you wish to remember… and you evil should perish!”

He took the ball and banged it in without a further ado.

Hithlum had won!

Angband had been defeated!

The following rows should not be reported as not to encourage any more violence but let it be said a few got out from the stadium unbruised and they had a good time…



Angband 2-2 Hithlum (shootout won by Hithlum 3-2)
shots 15-17
on target 7-7
*Hithlum, 28 (Turin- Fingon)
*Angband, 40 (Ancalagon- Melkor)
*Angband, 64 (Melkor- Gothmog)
*Hithlum, 82 (Hurin- Fingolfin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, Balrog #5, Uldor
*Hithlum- Marach, Aegnor