Arda Cup Soccer 2008

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Originally Posted by Nogrod

I
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.

Hm. I never should have transfered Eöl. But I must say, I'm really surprised to see the Dark Elf excel under the bright sun of Tumladen, and getting along so well on the pitch with his Noldori teammates.

[the phantom]

--GROUP F--

The first game upon Taniquetil between Armenelos and Helm's Deep sparked little interest among the local football fans. Armenelos was already assured a spot in the playoffs, and Helm's Deep had already bought their tickets for a swan boat back to Middle Earth.

The game everyone was waiting for was the finale between the host Taniquetil and the scrappy patchwork team from Amon Rhud. No one expected Taniquetil to have much trouble with their opponent, but as many pointed out no one expected Taniquetil to have such a close game with Helm's Deep, and certainly not lose 3-0 in their second game. And so it was that though they held a great advantage there was a splinter of fear in the minds of the Taniquetil supporters.

The first game was poorly attended. A very small group of travelers from Rohan was there to cheer on Helm's Deep, and the few Numenoreans who had been allowed into Valinor were cheering for Armenelos. Most of the several thousand Numenoreans who made the trip were denied entry, and thus were on their tall ships gathered around the palantir to watch the contest.

But it wasn't much of a contest at all. After Helm's Deep got off a surprising flurry of shots right in the first couple of minutes, Armenelos took firm control as Ar Pharazon rocketed in his fourth goal of the tournament. Only minutes after that he threatened to score again, only this time after he had drawn everyone to him he chipped it over to Tar Minastir who tapped in the point blank shot for a 2-0 lead. After that Armenelos pretty well coasted through the rest of the game. The only other score was at minute 62 when a Helm's Deep defender mishandled a pass and Tar Minastir pounced on it and banged it home for the final 3-0 tally.

The final whistle sounded and the Numenoreans left the stadium chanting loudly. They had swept the group. They had conquered the blessed realm.

Armenelos 3-0 Helm's Deep
shots 15-7
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*Armenelos, 8 (Ar Pharazon- Tar Ancalimon)
*Armenelos, 20 (Tar Minastir- Ar Pharazon)
*Armenelos, 62 (Tar Minastir)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armenelos- Tar Atanamir, Tar Telperien
*Helm's Deep- Helm, Goldwine, Fengel

As the start of the second game approached the stadium filled like a water bowl, till the fans were practically spilling over the top edge. Everyone was quite anxious. "We're Taniquetil!" said one. "We shouldn't be playing for our lives in the final match! What's wrong with us?"

But the game kicked off and the fear was dispelled as Taniquetil took immediate control of the ball and began working it systematically around the pitch, looking for the perfect opening. The boys from Amon Rhud had been trained well and had big game experience from their days playing for titles with Turin and Beleg, and they were able to do just enough to keep Taniquetil from getting what they wanted.

But at minute 20 there was a small opening, and Varda rifled a pass to Lorien who tried to redirect it in, but it missed just wide. And then at minute 31 there was yet another golden opportunity, but Manwe's well placed shot was barely saved by Ebor. The crowd groaned collectively. "Convert already!" screamed a drunk Maia.

And he didn't have to wait long. At minute 40 Thorondor swooped down in front of the goal and Lorien found him with an accurate pass and suddenly it was 1-0. The Taniquetil crowd, who had had so little to cheer about the previous game, roared thunderously. It was impossible to hear anything else the rest of the half.

During the break the fans made their way to the concession stands and restrooms, and the mood was festive with much high-fiving and chest-bumping. For the first time in the tournament everyone was feeling good about their team. As the second half started those feelings grew stronger, as Taniquetil's smothering defense lived up to its billing and shut down Amon Rhud completely, giving them no good chances to equalize.

At minute 65 Taniquetil nearly took a two goal lead, but Ebor got a fingertip and Varda's header and it bounced off of the sidebar. As time wound down the crowd started singing the praises of the Valar, and all over Valinor Elves and Ainu wore broad smiles.

And then at the 87 minute mark- disaster!

Amon Rhud was awarded a corner kick, and Algund boomed the ball and curved it away from the goal and the massed defenders, directly to Androg who had started in close to goal but ran out to meet the ball. As the ball sped towards him Androg, whose back was to the goal, left the ground and kicked the ball violently over his head and backwards towards the net. The ball passed directly between the heads of two Taniquetil defenders and past the reaching Mandos and straight on into the goal!

The Amon Rhud players went wild and their celebration could be heard throughout the silenced arena. Play restarted and Taniquetil tried desperately to score, but quick scores were not their forte and the game ended at 1-1.

Taniquetil's goal differential for the group was -2. Amon Rhud's was -1.

It was over. Taniquetil was eliminated.

Amon Rhud 1-1 Taniquetil
shots 6-8
on target 3-4
GOALS:
*Taniquetil, 40 (Thorondor- Lorien)
*Amon Rhud, 87 (Androg- Algund)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Amon Rhud- Forhend, Gethron
*Taniquetil- Este, Thorondor

[the phantom]

--GROUP H--

The final games for Group H were a hot ticket. Orcs were standing on street corners selling them for twenty times what they payed for them originally- and people were buying! The stadium would not be empty for the first game as many others had been for the final round, for both games had playoff hopes riding on them.

Valimar and Angband were set to play each other in the night match, and both sat at four points in the group with a +2 goal differential. A loss by Annuminas in the first match would guarantee both a spot in the playoffs. But if Annuminas won, as most expected, they would take the points lead and either Valimar or Angband would then have the opportunity to eliminate their bitter foes by defeating them and allowing Annuminas to advance with them.

Many fans of Valimar and Angband could not decide which scenario they wanted to see. "Well, I'd feel much safer if Annuminas lost or tied in the first match, but at the same time I'd just love to see Angband have to stay home for the playoffs," said one Valimar fan, expressing quite well the conflicting emotions of many of his fellows.

As Annuminas took the field they looked grim and determined, but so did their foes from Brethil, who did not intend to return back to the forest without picking up a point, or at least scoring a goal. The match was intense, and rough, with neither side willing to give an inch. Both teams had their chances, but the defenses held. The deadlock was not broken till more than half an hour into the match when Annuminas counter attacked quickly and Araphor was able to find an open Arantar for the header.

After the half both teams came out and worked as hard as ever, only this time it was Brethil who was rewarded in the 67th minute on a goal by Haleth. Many of the Valimar and Angband fans cheered, knowing that a tie would clinch it for their teams, but Annuminas ignored the crowd and kept fighting valiantly for the win.

In their first match against Angband, Araphor scored after minute 80 to score a tie. In their next match with Valimar it was again Araphor scoring after minute 80 for the tie. And unbelievably, for the third straight game Araphor came through yet again in the final minutes, scoring the game winner off of a nice feed from Valandur. The Annuminas section screamed with joy and the Valimar and Angband fans bit their nails in worry as time ran out and the whistle sounded.

Annuminas had taken the points lead in Group H.

Annuminas 2-1 Brethil
shots 14-11
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*Annuminas, 36 (Arantar- Araphor)
*Brethil, 67 (Haleth- Hunthor)
*Annuminas, 81 (Araphor- Valandur)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Annuminas- Arveleg, Arantar, Elendur
*Brethil- Hunthor, Dorlas, Handir, Manthor

As the final game prepared to start, the pro-Angband crowd began working itself into a frenzy. Orc captains round the stadium encouraged their troops not to be nervous, but rather confident that their team would prevail so long as the crowd was behind them. The crowd for the most part took this advice to heart, and so it was that Angband trotted out to wild cheers and Valimar to rumbling boos.

As the game progressed it was clear that these two titans were evenly matched. The heroic Eonwe, Tulkas, and company pushed hard, but the mighty Balrogs pushed back. The skillful Istari and Ulmo defended brilliantly, but Ancalagon and Gothmog up front gave them everything they could handle.

Both sides forced a narrow save by the opposing keeper, but at minute 29 Earendil fired such a pin-point rocket that even Carcharoth couldn't do anything and Valimar took the lead. The crowd was not deterred, however, and continued supporting the home team loudly. Shortly before the half they erupted as Ancalagon pounded in the equalizer.

As the second half rolled along the intensity and tempo increased, and cards had to be handed out. In minute 62 the crowd was quieted a bit for the first time as Earendil sent in a screamer that bounced off the post straight to Eonwe who sent the rebound in for the lead. But Angband came storming back, building up the attack, and at minute 75 it was Melkor himself taking matters into his own hands, running in and deflecting Gothmog's pass into the back of the net to pull even yet again.

As the seconds ticked away both squads seemed determined to eliminate their foes from contention, but the defenses held, and the game ended with a 2-2 tie. Many of the fans were confused, wondering what that result would mean for the group standings. And then the group point totals flashed on the screen.

Annuminas- 5
Angband- 5
Valimar- 5

A three way tie!

And then the goal differentials-

Annuminas +1
Angband +2
Valimar +2

The orcs and dragons sent up a mighty cheer as their team would be advancing to the playoffs. The only question left- who had won the group? Valimar or Angband?

Angband 2-2 Valimar
shots 13-14
on target 5-7
GOALS:
*Valimar, 29 (Earendil- Tilion)
*Angband, 42 (Ancalagon- Melkor)
*Valimar, 62 (Eonwe- Earendil)
*Angband, 75 (Melkor- Gothmog)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, Balrog #3, Balrog #2
*Valimar- Pallando, Orome, Tulkas

[Nogrod]

The next day, after the games of the second round, some pretty serious incidents of violence bursted out in the open. Many orcs felt it was incomprehensible that some of their fellows had cheered and partied even if the home team had not won the Hithlumians. It made them look at this game called football with even more suspicion they had before. It was clearly a degrading game able to make decent orcs into love-babbling losers. And they would have none of that. Here and there gangs of drunken anti-football youth attacked orcs wearing football garments, scarfs or carrying flags or banners. No need to add they also ran on any visiting football fan they could lay their hands onto.

The tally of the day was 43 killed, 72 wounded and bruised plus 287 jailed for violence. Due to their carefulness only 3 tourists were killed and 14 maimed.

MEFA protested for the violence and threathened to cancel the last matches if the organizers couldn’t solve the problems. And the organizers managed to perform a miracle. With good relations to the government they managed to impose a martial law for the last day of games.

Every street and corner was filled with orc-guards. The stadium and it’s surroundings were heavily guarded with a hand-picked battalion chosen from those who were football-positive in the elite troops of the army. There were also special patrols checking the inns and pubs to see whether anything was brewing under cover.

So the games of the third round began under a relative peace.

Hithlum and Minas Tirith offered the handful of spectators quite a nice match and some beautiful saves by both goaltenders. Minas Tirith’s players had their chances in their own hands and they had clearly decided to give their best. Especially in the defence the self-denying tactics of the Minas Tirith team frustrated the feared Hithlum forwards. It seemed every player gave all he got to the game.

And Minas Tirith was not bad in the offence either. It was only because of the alertness and a few spectacular saves by Huor that kept Minas Tirith at bay. The continuous long runs made by the strikers and mid-fielders challenged the Hithlum defence and resulted finally in a 1-0 lead on the 29th minute when Earnur slided the pass of Boromir in from near the post.

But slowly the Minas Tirith team started to wear down. It was clear they were not up to playing in such an intensive manner for the full 90 minutes. And little by little their attacks became more sporadic and less fast, and little by little their pressure on the Hithlum forwards lessened. And that was the beginning of the end for Minas Tirith.

Giving space and time to players like Turin and Hurin is always a bad idea for the opposing team. But that was just what Minas Tirith had to do as the whole team had run themselves quite exhausted already before the half-time whistle.

Hurin thanked for the space left him and passed the ball nicely behind the defence-line where Turin had hurried himself and the game was even on the 41st minute.

Minas Tirith’s players managed to keep the game tied in the beginning of the second half after having rested for the intermission but soon their feet became heavy again and Hithlum took the control it never lost. On 68th minute Hithlum finally got what it quite frankly deserved.

Turin gave the corner. First it looked like it was a bad one as the ball flew high up past the goal. But as the defenders took their move to reposition themselves nearer the ball – or made it for it – they realised that Fingon had been waiting for the ball there far on the right side of the goal. And he headed it straight back to the left side where Hurin now had all the space and time he needed to just put the ball in. Had Ecthelion II not played one of his best matches the numbers could have been far worse for Minas Tirith.

So Minas Tirith lost the game and will now pack for home while the frighteningly solid-looking Hithlum team will proceed on the next rounds.

Hithlum 2-1 Minas Tirith
shots 15-13
on target 8-6
GOALS:
*Minas Tirith, 29 (Earnur- Boromir I)
*Hithlum, 41 (Turin- Hurin)
*Hithlum, 68 (Hurin- Fingon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Hithlum- Aegnor, Marach, Angrod
*Minas Tirith- Telumehtar, Beregond

The arena was not full as the evening game began. The unrest and all the police-operations had clearly affected the possible spectators. Many had been afraid to turn in for fear of getting beaten.

That was sad as the game was pretty entertaining in the end – and looking at the teams it was all too clear it would not be a game for sissies or child-soccer. At some points a more sophisticated football fan might have asked himself whether it was rather rugby the teams were playing but the referee held a permissive line as not to be the decider of the outcome. And it was also clear that even this “easier” crowd of football loving orcs was intimidating enough for any referee.

To the great joy of the home crowd – and relief of the organizers – the Mordor team really showed it’s qualities on the first half getting an unbeatable-feeling 2-0 lead after a nice show of talent and boldness, especially that of the Witch King and the Mouth. The two arranged both goals each one scoring once. It was clear there was a better team and a weaker one in the field.

The two-goal lead slackened the Mordor team a bit and gave Moria a chance to come back to the game. After some nice tries in the beginning of the second half Moria finally scored. While Durin and his Bane were tightly watched by Shagrat and Gothmog there seemed to open room for Azog and Bolg to play. And they used it beautifully. Azog passed from near the corner-flag to the corner of the box where Bolg took the ball, dribbled Nazgul #7 off and passed it back to Azog who had been left totally unguarded as he had crept nearer the goal. Shelob had been anticipating a pass to the back-corner and was late from the shot.

Unfortunately for the Moria-side it didn’t take long for the Mordor team to set the arena on fire with a 3-1 goal. Khamul saw the opportunity as Watcher was wandering far away from it’s goal and sent a long pass to Nazgul #3 who in turn sent a high ball over Wathcer and into the net just below the pole.

Moria managed to come yet one goal behind before the game ended but no one actually believed they could equalise. And they didn’t.

The home crowd was overjoyed for the victory and the entertainment, and under a heavy police surveillance they poured out from the arena to fill their mugs in the nearby pubs specifically reserved for football fans. The night was less violent the pessimists had predicted. Partly due to the fact that the home team had won.

Mordor 3-2 Moria
shots 17-12
on target 8-5
GOALS:
*Mordor, 28 (WK- Mouth)
*Mordor, 39 (Mouth- WK)
*Moria, 53 (Azog-Bolg)
*Mordor, 63 (Naz #3- Khamul)
*Moria, 81 (Bolg- Azog)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Mordor- Naz #4, Shagrat, Naz #5
*Moria- Narvi, Great Goblin, Durin, Ohtar


------------------
G MORDOR

Hithlum – Moria 3-1
Minas Tirith – Mordor 1-2

Minas Tirith – Moria 2-2
Hithlum – Mordor 2-2

Hithlum – Minas Tirith 2-1
Mordor – Moria 3-2


1. Hithlum 7-4 7pts. Q
2. Mordor 7-5 7pts. Q
3. Minas Tirith 4-6 1pt.
4. Moria 5-8 1pt.

[the phantom]

Angband and Valimar were the top two teams from Group H, but as their pts, goal differential, total goals scored, and head-to-head were a wash, it was decided that a shootout would break the tie between them.

Each team sent their five best scorers to take a shot at the opposing goal. The highest total would be declared the group winner.

A coin was flipped and it declared that Angband would be the first to shoot.

Ancalagon- score
Eonwe- score
Gothmog- score
Tulkas- save
Melkor- score
Earendil- score
Ulfast- score
Tilion- score
Balrog #5- save
Orome- save

Angband wins the shoot-out 4 to 3. They would represent Group H as the 1 seed, and Valimar as the 2 seed.