Middle-Earth Football World Cup 2007

[Sleepy Ranger]

Misty Mountains have already qualified for the next round. So far no team has been able to win all three matches. Misty Mountains are another team to have chalked up three points but will they also be able to get out of the group stages on a three match winning streak? Second place is very much in contention with all the other teams in the group very much able to seal it. Let's see how it goes.

Group E
Misty Mountains 2 - 1 Fangorn (Dwalin 34th, Stone Giant 54th) (Treebeard 88th PK)
Old Grey Hill 0 - 0 Tol In Gauroth

Neither of the two games were really all that entertaining. Misty Mountains kept their match lively with a fair host of chances but neither Old Grey Hill nor Tol In Gauroth could do much to save their game. T-I-G's poor discipline continued as Cursed Villager and Ordinary Villager were both SENT OFF in the first half. While this was the perfect time for Old Grey Hill to capitalize they failed to really do so which lead to this game being a very boring draw.

The first goal in the Misty Mountains game came when Stone Giant was tripped outside the area. Dwalin scored off the free kick after his shot deflected off the post and into the net. Early on in the second half Dwalin turned creator and crossed in an early ball to set up Stone Giant who blazed in a neat shot. All hope seemed to have faded for Fangorn now. If results stayed like this Old Grey Hill would qualify over them. Very late in the match Gollum took down Quickbeam in the area to give Fangorn a penalty. Treebeard calmly converted it. This goal may very well see them through.

Game 1:
Shots: 8(5) - 2(2)
Posession: 55 - 45
Game 2:
Shots: 1(1) - 3(1)
Posession: 43 - 57
Sending Offs: Cursed Villager, Ordinary Villager

Group E
1st- Misty Mountains (9pts, +4)
2nd- Fangorn (2pts, -1)*
3rd- Old Grey Hill (2pts, -1)
4th- Tol In Gauroth (2pts, -2)

PS: Fangorn go through due to a higher number of goals scored.

[Nogrod]

Welcome to the match reports on two odd matches. Nothing is then written in the stone after these matches… but from groups B and D we now do have something to report.

In group B Shire still stands a chance if they win Brethil confidently and Tuna beats Lothlorien at the same time. Shire’s goal difference is now -1 and Lothlorien’s +2. So Shire would be eager to score a lot of goals and wishing to see Tuna trash Lothlorien. Brethil will play only for their honour today.

Group D is the tightest one. Every team has a chance - all being on three points - so these will be games with all to win and all to lose for every team. They will fight for every ball like that was their last lifeline. We’re anticipating a clash of wills and skills when Mordor meets Dor-Lomin. Can Dor-Lomin hold on to the result-bringing swing they got into their last game against Tol-Eressëa or will the players of Mordor, infuriated by their first round loss to Roverandom, sweep them like they did to T-E? A draw will not be acceptable to either team.


Group B

Shire 2-0 Brethil
(Sam Gamgee 21st, Pippin Took 67th)

Brethil came into the game spiritedly, clearly caring for their reputation and wishing to show their qualities. Already at 3rd minute Hunthor’s nice long pass to Turambar left Shire’s defence unarmed within the scope of the rules. Rosie Cotton’s yellow card was deserved for the ugly tackle she performed.

Slowly Shire managed to make some counter-attacks and on 21st minute Sam Gamgee’s personal skill gave them the lead: a beautiful low and curved shot taken from the edge of the area went to the back of the Brethil net. Niniel had no chance there.

After the Shire goal Brethil started mounting some real pressure. Turin had two chances from breakaways at the latter part of the first half but the first time he shot it wide and on the other one Lobelia managed to save the day for the Shire-team.

Brethil came to the second half with a fighting attiutude while Shire just defended their lead. But the final nail to Brethil’s coffin came at 67th minute from the beautiful inswinging corner given by Sam and headed in by Pippin Took. After that there was no real game any more. Brethil seemed to settle with their destiny to drop out from the tournament being two goals down and it was just playing to and fro the last twenty minutes. Shire had the most chances in the end of the game but seemed to be shooting wide more than on the mark.

Shots: 8(3) - 5(3)
Posession: 47 – 53
Bookings: Rosie Cotton

Group D

Mordor 1 - 0 Dor Lomin
(Snaga 2nd)

Mordor was just fire and flame from the very first seconds on. And already at the 2nd minute the Witch-King’s nice pass within the box freed Snaga to hammer the ball in. It really was a shock-start for the Dor-Lomin team.

Dor-Lomin’s coach made a loud show of character and the team managed to tighten it’s defences after that first goal. Not that we could call this a game between two teams in any meaningful use of the term. Mordor had the ball and moved it from player to player but as Dor-Lomin had pulled all the players down – probably wishing for a sudden breakthrough - the game became boring pretty soon.

Mordor had the ball and eleven Dor-Lominers were always under the ball. Slowly the fire of Mordor died out and even they seemed to be content in just moving the ball from one to another at the second half.

Not a great match but Mordor did secure their qualification and sent Dor-Lomin out of the competition.

Shots: 3(1) - 0
Posession: 69 – 31