[Nogrod]

AC Beleriand vs. Real Valinor
By the AKM


Many eybrows were raised when it was told by Melkor’s press-secretary that the game between AC Beleriand and FC Valinor would be the afternoon-match and thus, in a way, the game between Hithulm and T-i-G had been promoted to a kind of the “main game on the day” –status. So while making concessions with the clearance of the ever-present smoke and darkness, and forcing off the trembling of the earth, Melkor was still able to humiliate the greatest heroes of the High-elves and the Ainur.

Even with the smoke and darkness gone the stadium under the pillars of Thangorodrim was imposing enough to make weaker mortals and even elves shudder with unnameable anquish. But despite that the stadium was filled to the brim for the first game – and with the rays of the afternoon sun finally reaching the plains and greeting the spectators to mark the beginning of the game the overall mood was actually lifted. And people were actually praising Morgoth for his benevolence – which was a real annoyance to some of the Valar present. “He just lifts a burden for a moment he has himself imposed in the first place” they complained, but enjoying the rays of the sun was enough to most lesser souls – and the feeling was high when the game began.


~*~

The name of the game was soon revealed to everyone. To counter – or to actually prevent AC Beleriand’s possession-play – FC Valinor was pressing heavily the AC Beleriand midfield and defenders forcing them into errors and creating nice opportunities from stealing the ball – but when AC Beleriand managed to get past the pressure and get the ball up to their famous “diamond” of brothers Angrond and Aegnor, Eöl and Fëanor, the FC Valinor defences were having hard times to keep their own goal safe. The result was a nightmare to any coach but extremely spectator-friendly play with great chances of scoring at both ends from the get-go.

Some analysts at Tar-Eldar Network had pointed out that it would be very important for FC Valinor to get the first goal, hopefully early on to the game, so that they could force AC Beleriand to play more openly. But that was exactly what did not happen.

On the contrary AC Beleriand scored the first goal of the game at the 22nd minute after a beautiful cross-passing by the “diamond” which totally ripped the FC Valinor defences apart and left Fëanor no problems finishing it off from close quarters.

After the goal it seemed for a while FC Valinor was too dumbfounded to actually do anything as their scenario had failed totally – and AC Beleriand took advantage of that by taking the possession of the ball and building up their attacks slowly but dangerously. But FC Valinor was not going to leave it at that, and little by little they started to get the hang of the game once more and started coming more aggressively towards the AC Beleriand players – it cost them a few yellow cards but it did change the spirit of the game and AC Beleriand was once again forced to fight an uphill struggle to bring the ball upwards and basically rendered them unable to make long possessions.

All that was cut off by the half-time whistle.


It was clear both teams hade been thinking about their best strategies during the half-time and came to the field both with some brand new ideas. FC Valinor had clearly decided to fall back with their pressure to both avoid more cards but also to contain AC Beleriand’s attacking quartet. The idea was simply to let the AC Beleriand to possess the ball and bring most of their team up to the attack and then by a quick steal let their strong forwards Celegorm and Curufin make their way through the field from the center of the fied where they would be waiting for the occasion – the speed of Yavanna and sharpeness of Argon’s long passes would be instrumental in that, of course. And they could deliver the ball up fast.

Sadly from FC Valinor’s point of view AC Beleriand had dropped the idea of possessing the ball away and was going for very straight and fast offence with a lots of players left downstairs to keep the lead secure instead.

Suddenly there was a total misbalance on the field. FC Valinor’s fastbreaks were futile as Celegorm and Curufin faced four to six defenders in front of them. And FC Valinor’s attempts at “containing of the diamond” were more or less pathetic compared to the speed especially Fëanor and Eöl went left and right and to and fro searching for room to be passed the ball to – totally breaking the diamond-formation the defneces were trying to defend against.

And so it was that Fëanor striked again before FC Valinor had had time enough to correct their tactics enough. It was a nice centering from close to the corner-flag Eöl gave and Fëanor just plain outmanouvered his son Maglor (whom he had always considered a kind of a sissy coming too much to his mom) and booted the ball in behind Huan with fierce force.

On top of other problems FC Valinor had it seemed not to be Huan’s day – it was two goals from four shots towards the goal. 50% is not exactly what one is used to from Huan.

Even if their father was celebrating his second goal, it was not in the spirit of Fëanor’s sons to give up – even to their dad. To the amazement of all the spectators and even AC Beleriand players it seemed that Thorondor, Eönwe and Yavanna seemed to suddenly to grow in stature while all the three sons of Fëanor began to radiate some holy (or unholy) glow – and Huan was roaring wildly like giving a battle cry. Even many dark creatures on the stands were frightened by the show-off.

It was a kind of “put away tactical finesse, we come now for real” –moment. And FC Valinor really started to play like there was a fire in their back. They were on the skin of everyone trying to possess the ball and getting it themselves they came forwards like a hurricane aiming just towards one place, AC Beleriand goal.

Suddenly the cards were turned upside down and AC Beleriand which had more or less commanded the pace of the game thus far were forced to draw back towards their own goal under the pressure of the whirlwind called FC Valinor. Even Fëanor seemed helpless to turn the tide – and Fingolfin and the Balrog were having their hands and feet full, unable to strech everywhere when other defenders seemed to fall.

Eönwe led many of the attacks like a herald of Mänwe should in a time of trouble, and so awesome he was the orcs and goblins in the stands had to shut their eyes – only the Balrog in the defence could face him and keep him from scoring with ease. Yavanna had grown and turned into a fearsome white-green light swirling around the field making the rest of the Melkor’s minions at the stands to cry in pain – and only Rochallor and his master Fingolfin were steady enough to contain her – but sometimes it took both of them to do that.

Which left Fëanor to deal with his two mighty sons who were pressing towards the goal relentlessly.

And so it was in the end that Curufin, the son who it was said was most like his father, forced his way away from his dad while Celegorm held him at bay – and with the accurate pass from Argon received the ball around the penalty spot. Shooting from the bottom of his heart Curufin left Marach no chance whatsoever to pick the shot.

It was a one goal game again and there was about twenty minutes left. It was building up to be a great finale for the game. The spectators were all standing now.

FC Valinor didn’t ease up their game a bit and AC Beleriand was in great trouble.

On 73rd minute Eönwe broke free from the Balrog’s guard and fired a booming shot to the crossbar from the edge of the box making the crowds to let out a loud “Oooh!”.

Two minutes later Yavanna got Fingolfin and Rochallor to stumble on each other and got free only to be denied the ball by a last-second slide by Aegnor. From the ensuing corner Findis headed the ball just inches away from the post.

On 78th minute it was Curufin and Celegorm –show once again. Fooling their father they passed the ball between themselves and were getting open to shoot when Rochallor galloped to the scene at the last moment and kicked the ball off the field and high up to the stands.

Fëanor was yelling at his team – and so was Fingolfin, and the Balrog… They were gathering strength for the last ten minutes. And it seemed to ease their plight for a moment. For a long time AC Beleriand was able to go for an attack – and it was actually only a cool save by Huan that prevented AC Beleriand from taking the quite unassailable – and against-the-odds – lead 3-1 when Eöl was set free to run one-on-one with Huan.

With “all or nothing” game at hand FC Valinor was not taken back by AC Beleriand’s newly found spirits but pressed on with all they had to throw on attack.

On 83rd minute Thorondor winged the ball towards the upper-right corner of the goal from a great center by Yavanna but Marach tipped it away. Yea. Even Thorondor had come up at the last minutes and FC Valinor was leaving their defences to chance now. It was a goal or nothing.

On 86th minute Argon managed to dribble Denethor and was left open to give a perfect pass towards the middle from between Rochallor’s hooves – and Yavanna dashed to it leaving Fingolfin behind. Sliding to the ball she tipped it forwards… and Marach dived for the save… just missing the ball by an inch… and the ball rolled… to the post!

There was a great sigh from the audience. And then Imlach booted the ball far to the other side of the field forcing a host of FC Valinor players to run for their money to catch the ball before the AC Beleriand players could break through – which was in the end shot back to the AC Beleriand side of the field by Huan coming off from his goal to meet the ball.

There was only two minutes left of the game and FC Valinor was having the game stick on the AC Beleriand half of the pitch. With the exception of Huan who was impatiently strolling around the center-circle of the field all the players were deep in the AC Beleriand half.

The clock was ticking away the precious seconds.

FC Valinor defenders were passing the ball around 40 meters away trying to find any free spaces to pass the ball forwards while being harrassed by AC Beleriand’s few forward disturbers (Angrod, Aegnor and Eöl who were really giving them a rough time). Itseemed totally deadlocked – until Angrod charged Maglor to the ankles and the referee called a free kick from 35 meters. There was one minute on the clock.

After a short discussion Thorondor and Eönwe stood behind the ball and all the others took their places around the edge of the box held closely by AC Beleriand players.

Thorondor took off towards the ball with one great swing of his wings but just as he was reaching the ball he actualy dived forwards and Eönwe dashed into a run. It took the defenders a moment to realise what was going on – and then it seemed late to move…

When Thorondor was just about to pass the defending line Eönwe’s hammer of a kick was flying forwards – and Thorondor turned a bit sideways mid-fly in the air to accommodate the onrushing ball and to… yes, wing it in!
Among the astonished players the Balrog was awake though and not only saw what was going on but was also able to act. With a flash of an eye he produced something totally controversial: his wings!

In a flash and clash of wings Thorondor tried to steer the ball into the net… and was denied by the Balrog’s wing sending the ball high up into the air and flying off the stadium’s walls.

After a short discussion between the referees it was judged as a throw-in for FC Valinor. The clock was already ticking overtime…

It was going to be the last chance.

Yavanna went to give in the throw. Curufin demanded the ball and so did Celegorm – while Eönwe was calling for the ball at the other side and Thorondor at third. Even Huan had come forwards and showed his eagerness to give the last shot.

Willing to try the last card Yavanna threw the ball to Huan who ran for it and gave it a shot of a lifetime – from the power of the shot the ball sped through the air with incredible speed and past the defenders… only to miss the post by half a meter.

With Marach getting the ball back from the stands and readying to kick the opening shot the referee finally blew his whistle. It was game over.



AC Beleriand had advanced to the final. But surely, not without a fight.


AC Beleriand 2-1 FC Valinor
on target 5-7
tot shots 14-17
GOALS:
*22, 1-0 Fëanor (Angrod)
*55, 2-0 Fëanor (Eöl)
*68, 2-1 Celegorm (Argon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACBel- Angrod
*FCVal- Celegorm, Thorondor