Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[Nogrod]

It was clear from the early morning hours on that Gondolin was the place to be that day. The whole city was buzzing in anticipation of the day’s matches. The home team had secured their place in the final 16 with stunning performances creating a real football-madness in the city. And there was lot to cheer for the elves who had adopted their kinsmen from the Tuna team as their second favourites.

"The Rock of the Music of Water" -stadium was sold out already before noon and it was bursting with chants, dances and the waving of flags a few hours before the first match of the day. Whatever the Ereborians said about being quietly scorned the general mood was that of peace, love and harmony – and sunshine.

The first twenty minutes of the game between Erebor and Tuna were marked by extra-careful play from both sides. The stakes were high as the winner would get through the next round of games and the losers would be sent home. To Tuna even a draw would suffice. The crowd lived passionately with the game even if it wasn’t any great drama in the beginning. But at 22nd minute the stadium was suddenly silenced. An innocent looking attack turned into a disaster for the Eldar team as Girion released Smaug free to roam. The dragon wiped Elenwe and Guilen out of the way and banged the ball in giving Orodreth no chance.

Even if – and partly just because of – Erebor made it a tough game in the end, and especially Girion, Smaug and Bard were a constant threat on the Eldarin goal, the elves will remember the game as “the game of the founding mothers”. There was no question about the heroines of the game. Though football enthusiasts will remember it also as the game of the founding father. The way Finwë supported his wife and daughter-in-law by attracting the attention of the defenders with his constant dashes to and fro really created the space the women needed to roll their show.

Miriel scored one of the most beautiful goals in the tournament so far at 31st minute volleying the ball into the upper corner of the goal from mid-air. Nerdanel got room for the pass after Finwë had made a distractive run the opposite way drawing Thorin and Thror with him. The great roar and cheer of the crowd must have been heard far outside the vale of Tumladen.

Erebor came to the second half full of energy and their efforts were rewarded at 51st minute when Girion managed to break free with a nice pass behind the defenders by Bard. But after that goal which put Erebor in the lead again the real show started. During the last half an hour it seemed there were only three players in the field and a bunch of statists standing around watching their performances in awe. With a bit more accurate shooting the game might have ended 2-5 or 2-6. Such was the hurricane that devastated the Erebor defences making the crowd go just wild.

Nerdanel’s constant runs into the tip of the attack and the astonishing agility and creativity of the duo supported by the intelligent counter-runs by Finwë were just poison to the bit clumsy and slow dwarven defence. Finally Nerdanel brought the game even on 68th minute after one of the neatest passing-shows seen in "The Rock of the Music of Water" –stadium. Miriel’s winning goal was no poorer. The duo just tore the defence apart and in the end fooled Bain at the goal as well. Either one could have scored the goal but finally Nerdanel offered her mother-in-law the honour of making the winner.

One thing is now certain. Whoever meets the Tuna team the next round will need a lot of feet in their downstairs…

The crowd was more than happy with the result and the singing went on the whole hour the interval between the two games lasted.

Erebor 2-3 Tuna
shots 12-14
on target 6-7
GOALS:
*Erebor, 22 (Smaug- Girion)
*Tuna, 31 (Miriel- Nerdanel)
*Erebor, 51 (Girion- Bard)
*Tuna, 68 (Nerdanel- Miriel)
*Tuna, 77 (Miriel- Nerdanel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Erebor- Thror, Thrain, Bard
*Tuna- Ingwe

The athmosphere was jubilant as the evening-game began and the crowd got just what it wanted even if the game as such wasn’t a classic at any standards. The two teams were just on so different level in what came to their individual skill and tactical prowess. Though it must be acknowledged that the Gondorians fought hard the first fifty minutes against a far superior opponent. But after Ecthelion turned the numbers at the scoreboard into 3-1 they finally gave up. And the last half an hour was mainly kicking the ball from one to another as both teams had had enough.

Maeglin pulled the home team to a lead on 18th minute with nice header after a freekick given by Eol. Eol himself finished the 2-0 goal after Penlod’s shot deflected back from Minalcar’s back offering him a sudden opportunity he was not hesitant to use.

In the first minutes of the second half Gondorian efforts were finally rewarded with a goal. It was a nice run by lord Imrahil and Faramir from Anardil’s brilliant long pass that resulted in a nice two on one attack and a goal.

But Gondolin wasn’t in a mood for any uncertainties. A nice dribbling by Eol created him the room to pass the ball backwards to onrushing Ecthelion who hammered a real killer into the back of the Gondorian net from 18 meters.

The homecrowd was satisfied with the day and all except a few Ereborians cheered for a great tournament. It had been a great group from which the two best teams had clearly gotten forwards.

Gondolin 3-1 Gondor
shots 15-11
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*Gondolin, 18 (Maeglin- Eol)
*Gondolin, 38 (Eol- Penlod)
*Gondor, 51 (Imrahil- Faramir)
*Gondolin, 59 (Ecthelion- Eol)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gondolin- Salgant, Penlod
*Gondor- Minalcar, Calmacil


------
E GONDOLIN

Erebor – Gondor 2-1
Gondolin – Tuna 3-2

Gondor – Tuna 1-3
Erebor – Gondolin 1-2

Tuna – Erebor 3-2
Gondolin – Gondor 3-1

1. Gondolin 8-4 9pts. Q
2. Tuna 8-6 6pts. Q
3. Erebor 5-6 3pts.
4. Gondor 3-8 0pts.