[Boromir88]

GROUP D @ Dol Amroth

The 2013 Arda Cup was finally ready to kick off. Up first was the Group D matchup between FC Valinor and Isengard. FC Valinor come in as strong favorites to contend for the cup this year, and were expected to sweep their group without breaking a sweat, against 3 low budget Middle-earth squads. Although, expectations are quite different from performance when the real games begin.

In the pre-game conference, Saruman was in confident spirits despite what many in the media were calling Isengard as the first sacrificial lamb to FC Valinor's sublime skill. Saruman feels the side he put together this year is a strong one, and will be able to handle the "weak and idle" team from the West. Several even left convinced Isengard would not only win their group but could win the whole tournament.

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But when the game began under the sweltering afternoon sun, the spell Saruman placed on the media during the pre-game conference was broken. And even though it took over 30 minutes before FC Valinor scored the opening goal, the mirage had lifted.

FC Valinor opened the game with their testing phase, working the ball in Isengard's half and around the penalty area. Isengard did well defending at the opening, but they simply couldn't win the ball and when they did cut off one of FC Valinor's passes, it wasn't long before Curufin easily stole it back from the treeish Isengard defenders.

In the 31st minute what felt like a long over-due occurance, Yavanna scored the opening goal. After that, the flood gates opened and Isengard unravelled. 3 minutes after Yavanna's goal, Maglor boomed a pass from mid-circle, and Curufin easily won the ball from Mauhur, sprinted by the Ents and scored. Then 5 minutes after that FC Valinor had a free kick and Curufin put hit such a wicked curve that his father would be proud of, it was 3-0 FC Valinor within a span of 10 minutes.

Isengard's spirits were broken and the 2nd half seemed more like a formality, as Isengard still couldn't win possession, but FC Valinor wasn't trying to push for more goals and they kicked it around the mid-field. Despite the slow pace there was still time for another FC Valinor score. Curufin was pushing for a hat-trick and rocketed a shot but it hit off the top post and Argon cleaned up the rebound.

Isengard began the game actually with a crowd advantage, not only because their fans outnumbered FC Valinor's, but the neutral Gondorians in attendance, even if awed by the great Elves, Valar, and hound Huan didn't feel any real connection towards those players. Where they knew the Isengard team and whatever happened in the past, Saruman had been regarded as a friend. But by the 2nd half, most Isengarders left humiliated, and the neutrals remained in the stands now partying with FC Valinor's fans for the sheer greatness they witnessed today.

Isengard 0-4 FC Valinor
on target 1-7
tot shots 7-14
GOALS:
*31, 0-1 Yavanna (Elemmire)
*34, 0-2 Curufin (Maglor)
*39, 0-3 Curufin
*61, 0-4 Argon (Curufin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Isengard- Wulf, Lugdush, Wormtongue, Lurtz
*FCVal-

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Seaside Financial Field was packed to the brim for the 2nd match between Barad-Dur and Gondor. FC Valinor had dismantled Isengard so both felt if they could get a win today they could be in control of their own fates. A draw would be most unfortunate because then they'd have to rely on outside factors like goal differential and not trying to lose as badly to FC Valinor as Isengard did. And of course, you always want to defeat your bitter rivals. The crowd was split pretty much evenly, most Gondorians came to Dol Amroth to cheer for their home team, because the other Gondorian team, Minas Tirith, were playing over seas in the Group F of death. However, Sauron bought up thousands of tickets (then re-sold them at a bargain price in Mordor) as soon as sales opened, to assure a large party loyal to Barad-Dur would be in attendance. Hundreds of Isengarders returned to cheer for Barad-dur and hoping to see a much better team than their own). There were very few neutrals in the crowd, and they were likely only Curufin, Eonwe, Huan and Celegorm who came to the game to scout their future opponents.

For as excited and tense as the emotions were in the stadium, the game began rather flat. Everything from the passing to the players running appeared in slow-motion and of lesser quality after many had just witnessed FC Valinor's performance. But that didn't stop the crowd from exploding in the 25th minute. Anarion has become a difficult player to pin down. Meneldil sent a cross into the box, Alatar was challenging Anarion, but Anarion managed to win the header, heading it backwards to the open Turambar, who was running in towards goal and rifled it to the top of the net.

Gondor switched to their defensive plan of bogging down the mid-field and halting any Barad-dur's attacks before they could seriously threaten the defense. Still Barad-dur was pushing hard for an equalizer before the halftime whistle, but Gondor's lead held.

Crowd emotions were amping up now, after brewing up during the break (and the crowd could stop to get pints refilled). Gondorians were hoping for some more breathing room and therefor Anarion would get slightly more aggressive to push for the 2-goal lead. But the Orcs, Easterlings, Pirates and other baddies were beating their drums and stomping their feet hoping to spirit their team into an equalizer.

To the dissatisfaction of the Gondorians, it was Barad-dur who came out more aggressively. Sauron was working ever harder for an equalizer and as you often see when teams turn conservative to protect 1-goal leads, the lead will fail eventually. The problem playing to protect a lead is you can't afford making a mistake, you have to play nearly flawless defense. While Barad-dur was finding it exceptionally difficult to get through Gondor's mid-field, Castamir managed to provoke Earnil, and the ref decided to award Barad-dur a free-kick (plus book Earnil) after Earnil pushed Castamir in the back.

Sauron wanting to seize the opportunity commanded Alatar to come up and take the kick and get more bodies in the box. Alatar expertly hooked the ball over Gondor's defensive wall, and how Sauron managed to slip past Eldarion for an open header, in front of the keeper, Imrahil, no one knows. But it happened and the game was tied. You could hear groans and curses come out of half the stadium, but they were soon drowned out by the other half which began cheering wildly.

If the game started rather flat, it picked up in the middle, but the end fell even flatter than it began. The crowd was wanting to see great performances from their heroes. Performances worthy of the record books that would win it for their team, as well as break the back of their rivals. Yet, sadly, the crowd did not get what they yearned. Both teams desired to start with a win and 3 points, but appeared more afraid of losing than desiring a victory. Barad-dur and Gondor would play the remainder completely unrisky, and rather uninventive football. Thus Group D ends their round 1 games in a 1-1 draw.

Barad-Dur 1-1 Gondor
on target 6-4
tot shots 14-13
GOALS:
*25, 0-1 Turambar (Anarion)
*72, 1-1 Sauron (Alatar)
YELLOW CARDS:
*BDur- Alatar, Fellbeast#1
*Gondor- Earnil I, Eldarion

Standings (after Round 1):
FC Valinor, 3 pts, +4
Barad-dur, 1 pts, 0
Gondor, 1 pts, 0
Isengard, 0 pts, -4