Arda Cup Soccer 2008

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--GROUP D--

Osgilath was bustling as in it’s heydays when the city prepared to host the final matches of group D of the Arda Cup. Two matches were on the schedule and what matches they were! First out was the showdown between Nargothrond and Lothlorien, a match-up between two strong Elven sides, with the much publicized sibling rivallary of Galadriel and Finrod Felagund as the highlight. Later, there was the game all had been anticipating with both exitement and apprehension: the meeting between the home team and their most bitter rivals, the Corsairs of Umbar. The Kin-Strife it was dubbed in the media, and the pre-match comments from both sides certainly lived up to this epithet. “They have polluted their blood with lesser men” said Castamir of Umbar to a MESPN- reporter. “There’s no way they can beat us with half-bloods such as Eldacar in their side”, he continued.

Osgilath on their side accused Umbar of spying on them, in an attempt to reveal tactical plans and set-play variaties. Falastur spoke on a press conference the day before the game: “We have found several cats sneaking around our training facilities and there’s little doubt where they came from. But my dear wife Berúthiel, you shall know your spying will avail to nothing. We will crush you tomorrow”.
"Employing a Nazgul shows they are no better than Mordor", Eärnil added.

As kick-off approached, many wondered whether Galadriel and her Lothlorien would improve from the lacklustre form they had been showing so far, and as the teams took to the field, the determination in the face of the lady was plain to see. Sadly, her winning mentality was once again missing in most of her team-mates, even though Lothlorien still had a theoretic chance to make it into the play-offs. Nargothrond, playing relaxed with nothing to lose, were simply a much better team this night. Led by midfield-maestros Finrod and Glaurung, the latter playing with real fire in his belly, the Beleriand side toyed with their Silvan counterparts. First they brought the tempo down to tire their opponents out chasing the ball around and then, suddenly, a change of pace and an attack with great movement and precision. In fact, Galadriel did well to restrict the Noldo side to two goals only.
The first came after 37 minutes of play, when Gwindor latched on to a pinpoint pass from the elegant Finrod and did well to finish with a low shot, despite the unnerving attention of Gollum grasping after his neck. Finrod himself also got of the scoresheet in the 61th minute, when he beat his sister with a curling right-footed shot from the left that nestled into the far corner. When the match was over, Galadriel looked distraught, and her mood was in no way lightened when Bregolas offered to exchange jerseys.

Lothlorien 0-2 Nargothrond
shots 7-15
on target 3-7
GOALS:
*Nargothrond, 37 (Gwindor- Finrod)
*Nargothrond, 61 (Finrod- Baragund)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Lothorien- Amroth, Nimrodel, Gollum
*Nargothrond- Barahir

When Umbar came out of the tunnel in their black jerseys, the boos and the jeers from the home crowd had to be heard to be believed. Outside of the stadium their bus had been attacked and almost turned over by a bunch of hoolingans ‘playing orc’ and the reception inside of it was no better. But there was a spark in the eyes of Castamir and his team when they huddled onto the pitch, avoiding best as they could the coins and pebbles hurled towards them from above.

As soon as play was underway it was clear this was going to be a match to remember. Osgilath were playing as there were no tomorrow and throwing caution to the wind, totally abandoning their usually so defensive gameplan. Umbar were hard pressed, but played a tactically sound game, trying to hit Osgilath on the break with quick counter-attacks on the flanks. But it was the home team which started best and after having missed two good chances early on Eärnil made the third one count, as he nodded home an Eldacar cross from 5 yards out. Umbar were soon back on level terms though, when Berúthiel, nicknamed the Queen, scored a sensational goal against the run of play. She showed almost cat-like agility when she leaped between two onrushing defenders with the ball between her feet, and finished the move off with a crisp left-footed drive beyond the reach of Romendacil in goal. It was 1-1 at half-time, a result that would see the home team advance to the next round.

It was not long into the second half before Umbar took a shock lead however. Once again “the Queen” was the inspiration for her team, as she beat two defenders and delivered a low ball across goal that was met by Angamaite at the far post for an easy finish. Osgilath were not startled however as there was plenty of time left on the clock and they felt they had the better team. Urged on by their fanatic supporters they played some very nice football too, despite of the pressure. Umbar was holding on though. Eldacar, having been taunted by Castamir for not being a real Numenorian, seemed determined to prove his detractors wrong. By far Osgilath’s best player for the night, he was tormenting the Umbar defence with quick feet and accurate passing. It was fitting that he was the one to bring the home team back on level terms in the 67th minute as he skinned Brodda on the right and dispatched a ferocious low drive from a tight angle. Pelendur in goal probably should have done better with it though, but he allowed it to slip under his arms despite having it pretty well covered.

The remainder of the game would go down to history, as the two teams went at each other with a fury seldom to be seen. Umbar, now needing a goal, tried to feed balls to Berúthiel and Nazgul #9 on the wings, who in turn looked to deliver crosses into the box for the tall Castamir, now often supported by Angamaite and Sangahyando. Osgiliath wouldn’t settle back into defence yet either, and really wanted a win in front of their home crowd. Eldacar looked dangerous everytime he had the ball at his feet, and Eärnil could and perhaps should have scored off one of his passes, but the forward was repeatedly and often unnessesarily caught off-side.
Eärnil was to regret his over-eagerness (something the Nazgul did not fail to point out) as Umbar once again silenced the home crowd. Unseen by his marker, Nazgul #9 managed to open up space for himself, and delivered a cross into the box which was met by Castamir whose bullet header hit the crossbar and went in with nine minutes to play. He pulled the black jersey over his head celebrating, and the crowd was furious when they saw a sceptre printed on his white undershirt.

Time was now running short for the home side, and their play was getting increasingly desperate, with hopeful long balls. Playing on injury time Osgilath finally got the chance they were looking for. Calimehtar’s attempted clearance hit an outstretched leg and fell perfectly for Eldacar, who looked certain to score. But Pelendur made up for his earlier error by making a fantastic save at full stretch, and then another one, as Ostoher followed up on the rebound. That was all Osgilath could muster, and as the referee blowed his whistle the Kin-Strife was over. They had lost. All was lost.

Osgiliath 2-3 Umbar
shots 15-12
on target 8-6
GOALS:
*Osgiliath, 27 (Earnil- Eldacar)
*Umbar, 38 (Beruthiel- Fastred)
*Umbar, 53 (Angamaite- Beruthiel)
*Osgiliath, 67 (Eldacar- Falastur)
*Umbar, 81 (Castamir- Nazgul #9)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Osgiliath- Cemendur, Ostoher
*Umbar- Calimehtar, Brodda

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D OSGILIATH

Nargothrond – Umbar 3-1
Lothlorien – Osgiliath 0-1

Lothlorien – Umbar 1-1
Nargothrond – Osgiliath 2-1

Osgiliath – Umbar 2-3
Lothlorien - Nargothrond 0-2

Final standings:

1. Nargothrond 7-2 9pts Q
2. Umbar 5-6 4pt Q
3. Osgiliath 4-5 3pts
4. Lothlorien 1-4 1pt