[Nogrod]

The organisers weren’t given an easy time after the latest eruption of violence. The MEFA authorities were quite unanimous with it: the last games would be played for an empty stadium. The disaster of the last round was just out of bounds. Even Mordor had managed to host games in somewhat decent manner last year.

But everyone knew a game played without an audience was just not a game of football. Finally the MEFA authorities accepted the pledge of Melkor who personally promised to take care of the games (so against their former ruling of letting the security to him, AKM notes). He said he had “no problem in squeezing ten thousand goblins into liquid if needs be”, and he would threaten the crowds with that if they wouldn’t behave. The fact that the home team had been relegated already was also in favour of the decision. There wouldn’t be such crowds and the crowd-control might be easier. With an added promise from the Great Goblin that he would have tenfold guards patrolling outside the stadium and securing the camp of the visiting fans down the slopes of the mountain while the games took place, the MEFA finally agreed the games to go on, open to public.


A showcase of human fighting spirit!

To the surprise of the MEFA and the organisers the stadium got almost half-filled on the first game with Utumno against Numenor. The goodies – as had been seen – could only fill a tenth of the arena but clearly Melkor and Utumno draw a host of goblins and other creatures to the stands and away from the beer tanks. So the magic of football had lured even goblins!

To the disappointment of the homecrowd Utumno did not beat Numenor with their left hand. On the contrary. The Numenorians put up a stiff fight exhancing offense for offense and offering tight defence for tight defence. It also seemed that the mighty Balrogs or even Melkor himself had not the intimidating effect on the humans playing against them some goblins might have hoped for. It was a tight game.

A lot has been discussed about Numeror’s scoring-problem but this time one could say it was not only that which kept them goalless. The Utumno defence is one of the most formidable ones in the whole tournament and Ungoliant is turning out to be one of the best goalies this year. But Numenor defences led by the charismatic Tar-Telperion showed their abilities as well shutting Utumno offences more often than not to the midfield.

But luckily for Utumno, there was Tilion once again. This guy really rocks the arenas! Aided by the ingenious game-eye of Melkor, Tilion had a chance to finish the game at the 70th minute and he was not to miss! Melkor got the fast turn-around ball from one of the Balrogs downstairs and sped forwards like he was trying to break free with his superior speed. Three of the lowest Numenor defenders ran wild after him trying to corner him off as it clearly looked Melkor was dashing for the goal… But what did Melkor do when he reached the ball first? He suddenly stopped and passed the ball into the middle between the defenders, straight into where Tilion was rushing forwards in full speed following the captain. Tar Telperion had been shadowing Tilion and almost managed to nick the ball to herself but Tilion fooled her big time with a dribble that left the audience just voiceless! And so Tilion was released one on one with Tar Atanamir who was then given no chance.

So the crowds got what they wanted as Utumno beat Numenor, but Numenor also showed that if it was to qualify their opponents should not under-estimate them. It was the only team that had given Utumno a tough time.

Numenor 0-1 Utumno
tot shots 10-12
on target 4-5
GOALS:
*70, 0-1 Tilion (Melkor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Numenor- Tar Meneldur, Tar Cirytan
*Utumno- Tilion, Balrog #2


A lesson on emotion-control

The spectators in the stadium who had watched the first game mostly remained and against the general anticipation the arena filled for the game of the hometeam even if they had been relegated already. Most of them seemed to now hold dear the thought that their age-old enemies of Rivendell should not qualify either – especially as many agreed that Numenor had given a tough fight to Utumno and thus should earn their place in the qualifiers ten times before the nasty Imladris. And clearly many had just thought it would be more fun at the arena than at the strongly policed bars outside anyway. And sure it was a match between their own - even if the team were not that much their own (like eagles and the dwarves) – against the nasty elves.

Now Rivendell would have to win and win big to qualify and therefore the audiences were comfortably interested: that would just not do! There was a reason to flare up for the game, even if they knew Melkor would be a maia of his word and none thought of running a riot to test him. There was actually a special seat for Melkor in the middle of the main stand from where he was watching the match surrounded by his six Balrogs (and the forgotten eastern Balrog who had been nailed to the mountainside on the first day) and Ungoliant. A threat enough for the goblin-crowd to behave especially as they knew Thuringwethil, Tevildo and Tilion were also lurking around to act on any signs of violence.

The game itself was a thriller. The hometeam dominated the first half an hour supported by their fanatic homecrowds but somehow Rivendell defences and lord Elrond frustrated their efforts. On 35th minute Rivendell got quite an innocewnt-looking free-kick from more than forty meters. No one anticipated a straight shot, but Boromir made a rocket and hit the post. The nimble Arwen managed to get the ball before the trolls but didn’t shoot – like Landroval thought flying to cover the shot – but she passed it backwards to Arahael who shot from the bottom of his heart. And Rivendell was leading 1-0! After the goal Rivendell really pushed but the half-time intervened. They were now two goals away from qualifying and they knew that too well.

What actually happened in the beginning of the second half will be a subject of speculation for a long time to come. But what looks clear is that both the trolls and the goblins had decided to test Thorin’s temper. That was no hard task. Five minutes into the second half Thorin was in rage; after biting Tom to his ankle he wrestled the Goblin King down and tried to strangle him. It was a straight red card. No question about that. Tom was given a yellow card from unsportsmanlike conduct on the same occasion as the referee had heard him taunting Thorin with a remark that Thorin would play better if bagged and jellied first.

The tactics played out beautifully for the home team. Down one dwarf Rivendell was now attacking with a lot higher risk, but they had to attack. And so it befell that on 75th. minute Azog ended a fast counter-attack with a nice goal. It was the first goal on the tournament for the hometeam and the celebrations were accordingly wild. And as it actually broke the backbone of the Rivendell team (they’d had to score three goals in fifteen minutes to qualify) it was a magical moment of joy to the homeside fans. What a way to finish the tournamnet!

The hometeam didn’t qualify. It was never even near it. But how satisfying it was that they, with their cunning more than footballing skills, had made sure the Rivendell team didn’t qualify either.

Misty Mts 1-1 Rivendell
tot shots 10-11
on target 5-5
GOALS:
*35, 0-1 Arahael (Arwen)
*75, 1-1 Azog (Narvi)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Misty Mts- Meneldor, Narvi, Gwaihir, Tom, Durin
*Rivendell- Elrohir, Boromir II
RED CARDS:
*Rivendell- Thorin (50, straight red)



Final results, group E.
Utumno 6-0 9pts
Numenor 3-2 4pts.
Rivendell 2-4 2pts.
Misty Mts. 1-6 1pts.