Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[the phantom]

As the second match at Romenna prepared, the noise began to build. The elves from Gondolin joined by some of their brothers from Formenos and Tuna began singing lines praising Gondolin and its long-enduring beauty. But louder than these songs were those sung by the men of Numenor who made up the larger part of the crowd.

It started with pockets of hard-core Armenelos supporters singing various Numenorian anthems, and the less rabid men of Romenna slowly joined in, caught up in the spirit of the game, and soon all of the Numenoreans were united in support of the team from their land.

First out of the lockers was Gondolin, and the elves whistled and screamed wildly and the men clapped loudly. But then, out ran Ar Pharazon, Tar Minastir, Elros, and the rest of the Armenelos squad who had dominated the tournament so far, and the stadium shook from the yelling and stomping.

From the start it was obvious that Gondolin wanted to challenge the defense that had not yet surrendered a goal, and challenge it they did. Quick cuts, sudden runs, and precise passes the likes of which Armenelos had not seen in the tournament thus far caught them rather off guard, and their defense looked a bit panicky.

In only the 13th minute of the game Eol sent an excellent pass across the box and mighty Ecthelion drilled the ball past a helpless Elros and the elves of Gondolin blew horns and rang bells in celebration. The Armenelos defense could be cracked!

The Armenelos forwards, who had barely been within yards of the ball, berated the defenders and shouted at them to wake up and show some pride. For the next several minutes the defense tightened up and forced Gondolin to stay mostly in the midfield, and it was during this lull that the crowd for the first time had a chance to see what the forwards for Armenelos had been doing since the beginning of the game- crashing the defenders.

It was obvious that the Numenoreans believed they could use their great size and strength to bang up the players for Gondolin, and they were doing everything they could to create hard contact between them and their opposition. A couple of times in particular it appeared that an Armenelos player purposefully turned his head so he couldn't see where he was going and charged full speed towards a place where he thought a Gondolin player might be found. But of course the players would act surprised when the contact happened, as if they were not actually seeking it, and they got away with quite a bit that perhaps another ref would have carded.

But as it was Gondolin withstood the assault for the time being and kept trying to press the attack. Towards the end of the half however their offensive players seemed to be worn out by their constant runs (which Armenelos had been defending better after the first goal), and Armenelos began to control the ball.

Finally just minutes before the half Armenelos had their shot and converted as Tar Ancalimon headed a pass from Ar Adunakhor, not into the goal, but across to Tar Minastir who put it in with a head bump of his own. Halftime came and the score was tied at 1-1.

During the half the fans from Gondolin seemed confident that their players had displayed the greater skill and would be rewarded during the second half, but the Numenoreans believed that they had weathered the storm and would come out strong in the second half.

But it was the fans of Gondolin that proved correct. As the second half started the players for Gondolin looked refreshed and extra quick, and Armenelos was forced back onto their heels. Eleven minutes into play, Idril sent a long pass to Maeglin, and he beat his defender and sent a lovely shot just inside the post for the 2-1 lead.

For the next ten minutes the defense of Armenelos continued to look ragged and pushed to the brink, but they did just enough to keep Gondolin from widening the lead and continued being extremely physical with them, even drawing a couple of yellow cards.

As time began running down Armenelos seemed to recover fully and began pressing the defense of Gondolin. At minute 79 the stadium erupted as Ar Pharazon forced in a corner from Ar Adunakhor and the score was tied! As the end of the game approached, Armenelos started to look a bit quicker than Gondolin over most of the field, and Gondolin tried desperately to score quickly and end the game. The crowd was against them and momentum had turned, and physically the rough play seemed to be taking its toll on many of them.

But the Armenelos defense held easily and overtime began after a break that, to the players from Gondolin, seemed all too short. But nevertheless the break did energize them, and they got off a couple of good shots early on in overtime, but Elros was equal to them and denied the hidden city the victory it craved. As the minutes ticked by Gondolin began slowing down again, and Armenelos pressed forward, smelling blood.

In the 21st minute of overtime the hammer fell- Ar Gimilzor sent it forward to Tar Minastir who spun round his defender and swiftly delivered a screaming kick to the top corner of the goal. The stadium exploded with sound as the fans of Numenor pounded drums and hammered their armored chests as they let loose with triumphant yells.

Gondolin still had eight minutes in which to score, but they never came close, as Armenelos closed in with more fire and energy than ever and suffocated Gondolin's attack.

Armenelos was through to the semis!

Armenelos 3-2 Gondolin (overtime)
shots 15-13
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*Gondolin, 13 (Ecthelion- Eol)
*Armenelos, 42 (Tar Minastir- Tar Ancalimon)
*Gondolin, 56 (Maeglin- Idril)
*Armenelos, 79 (Ar Pharazon- Ar Adunakhor)
*Armenelos, OT 21 (Tar Minastir- Ar Gimilzor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armenelos- Tar Gimilzor, Tar Atanamir, Tar Minastir, Ar Zimrathan
*Gondolin- Meleth, Rog, Turgon

[Nogrod]

The new-built arena of Eithel Sirion was just packed full when the evening game began. Everyone wanted to see the game many newspapers had named the Nirnaeth Arnoediad II. And that really seemed to be the name of the game. It was the heroes of men and elves against the mighty legions of Angband. The number of the neutral onlookers were scarce indeed.

And the match was worth the legendary foresightings! Were there ever two teams that could play the game as hard and beautiful than these! Many spectators thought they were looking at the final match of the tournament… or at least they thought the justice would deal these two teams to be the two best. The crowd was totally taken into the game. And the teams didn’t play it safe but went on to attack all of the time.

Both defences played astoundingly but the forwards of both of the teams were even brighter. The shots on goal went even in the end while both goalies performed their best.

The Mouth hit the crossbar on the 15th minute and Fingon himself made a powershot to the post on 22nd. It was everyone’s game then; the attacks following one another to both ends.

Finally Turin broke through the Angband defences by a pass by Fingon and hammered the ball in behind Carcaroth the terrible. The elven and human crowds were overjoyed. But only ten minutes later – five minutes to the half-time – the Angband team retaliated. Melkor just did whatever he wanted and blew the defenders away and then passed the ball to Ancalagon who scored with a mighty flash of it’s tail no one would have wished to stand in front of.

So the Angband-team came to the second half the more assuredly – and with the help of their crowds – they got the ball rolling. They pressed on and were finally rewarded of it. Gothmog the Balrog-captain took Gundor and Hador from their place, making them sacrifice themselves, but cunningly passed the ball to Melkor before the two had a chance to turn back. And lord Melkor didn’t hesitate. That shot would have fell a troll with it. So no wonder Huor had no chance. Angband was on the lead at the 64th minute.

But the Hithlum team was not beaten yet! They rolled a counter attack after another and finally the skill of their forwards paid off. Fingolfin chipped the ball behind the mighty Balrogs to Hurin who was running at top speed towards the goal. He volleyed the ball in and Carcaroth could just watch it speed into the net.

The referee whistled for the game to be even and both teams had their fifteen minutes of concentrating. But the overtime gave the game no result… It was clear Angband was trying the more but Hithlum defences held. The Angband crowd and parts of the T-I-G ones yelled mightily but to no avail. The extra-time ended with no goals.



It was time for penalty shoot-outs then. The supporters of both teams bit their nails as both teams had the most frightful scorers in their ranks…There was a real silence at the stadium when the shoot-out began.



Ancalagon the Black just dropped the ball into the spot and grinned to Huor. The referee whistled and Ancalagon was about to turn around when he – in the midst of his movement – just thrusted his tail to hit the ball, sending it exactly to the low right corner of the goal. But Huor had anticipated that and he got his fingers to the ball which then hit the post and flew away. Ancalagon had missed! The human and elven crowd went crazy.

Then Turin came and set the ball down. The Great Wolf Carcaroth stood still earning the cheers of not only the Angband supporters but also many of those for T-I-G. Turin took only a few steps backwards and then ran to the ball… and it was in! Carcaroth had anticipated the shot and flew to the right angle but was a micro-second late. Hithlum was on the lead!

Gothmog the ever terrible came for his turn to shoot. Huor is a valiant man but even his legs were shaking in front of the lord of the Balrogs. Gothmog burst into fire sending heatwaves up to the twentieth row of spectators and hammered the ball in before Huor had a chance to do anything.

So it was time for Fingolfin to make his mark. He remembered he had faced Melkor himself in a single battle, so a wolf would not be too much of a problem. He looked to the eyes of Carcaroth as he backed away from the ball and then ran for it. But it was an easy save…. if there is one. Carcaroth flew to the left side of his goal and knocked the ball away. The Angband crowd that had been silenced by the miss of Ancalagon now bursted alive and cheered loud and clear.

It was lord Melkor who went to shoot the next. Huor stood at the goal like a man but that was the best he could do. “For Galdor! For Húrin!”, he shouted before the ball went into the net. Angband was leading two to one. But there was the evening-shot still and Húrin took the ball.

There was vengeance in the air. The whole stadium could feel it. All of the crowd stayed silent as he backed away from the ball and concentrated. “For my son! For all those years!”, he finally wailed and hammered the ball in without giving Carcaroht a chance.

The game was even when the Balrog #6 came forwards. He would scare the Morgoth out of Huor. And it looked like it. He took a few steps and then blasted a shot that would have killed a roaring bull. But it went wide! It hit the crossbar but went away!

Not afraid of Gothmog, Fingon rose to his chance. He would be the valiant one to bring home the victory. But the boo’s of the crowd and the pressure of the Angband-Team were just too much for him. It was an easy save for Carcaroth.

The game was still even...

Ulfast the traitor took the ball to give Angband the victory. Afterwards many have speculated whether there would have been better choices… for Huor caught it!

So it was not over yet! Hador came forth and took the ball. “It’s not only the Nirnaeth Arnoediad but also Dagor Bragollach you should remember! The times and families go farther you wish to remember… and you evil should perish!”

He took the ball and banged it in without a further ado.

Hithlum had won!

Angband had been defeated!

The following rows should not be reported as not to encourage any more violence but let it be said a few got out from the stadium unbruised and they had a good time…



Angband 2-2 Hithlum (shootout won by Hithlum 3-2)
shots 15-17
on target 7-7
*Hithlum, 28 (Turin- Fingon)
*Angband, 40 (Ancalagon- Melkor)
*Angband, 64 (Melkor- Gothmog)
*Hithlum, 82 (Hurin- Fingolfin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, Balrog #5, Uldor
*Hithlum- Marach, Aegnor

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Ack! I do believe any slight chance of me snatching the win has vanished. I must say I was slightly disappointed with those I had expected big things from. Who knew that the pressure could get to even the most diabolical fiends?

[the phantom]

Do not fear, Eomer. There may yet be hope. We shall see when Nogrod comes out with the fantasy points. But just glancing over the thread it looks like several people lost half of their fantasy team or more, so this round will hurt others as well.

Who knew that the pressure could get to even the most diabolical fiends?

Well remember, diabolical fiends specialize in attacking opponents, as in stabbing and beating, and that is not allowed on the soccer field. With that strength taken away the playing field is much more level.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

[Nogrod]

The AKM has watched closely the matches of the second round of the play offs and has decided the following...

Five stars will go to:

Maedhros of Formenos
Tar Minastir or Armenelos
Elrond of Rivendell

Three stars will go to:

Hador of Hithlum
Melkor of Angband
Huan of Formenos
Fëanor of Formenos
Sauron of Tol-In-Gauroth

One star will go to:

Nogrod of Tol-In-Gaurhoth
Drauglin of Tol-In-Gaurhoth
Turin of Hithlum
Hurin of Hithlum
Huor of Hithlum
Gothmog of Angband
Elros of Armenelos


Update on the total tally coming tomorrow...

[Nogrod]

The crowds were flocking to the Stadium of the Sun in Minas Tirith. It was finally time for semifinals and the teams going to the finals would be decided on this day. Even if it wasn’t actually anyone’s homefield – and that was exactly why it had been chosen – all the tickets were sold well before the afternoon the first game got rolling, and a host of elves and men from up north from so much earlier times were packing the seats as well as those weird-folks from Tol-In-Gaurhoth.

The sun was shining and gracing the games with its presence and in it’s own way blessing the new stadium that was called stadia Anor. The expectations were high indeed as the people were looking forwards to see some of the best football Arda could provide today, and the games looked even as well. So everything could happen.

The first game was that between Formenos and Tol-In-Gaurhoth. The appearing into the stadium of Sauron himself caused some disturbance in the home crowds. Happily in that regard, the stadium was built into the Pelennor fields in front of the city - well, where would you fit a stadium of 100 000 people inside the terraced city with long cultural traditions the local museum department watches over jealously? So the people seemed to be in the end able to get over with his presence, for the sake of football that is.

It was a beautiful game. Like some commentators aptly described it as “chess on the green field”. But unlike chess games that are normally not found too compelling but only by the enthusiast of the game, even the lay-people who do not follow football too much were just drawn into the game and stayed in it’s grip to the very end.

The determination and concentration of both teams was just marvellous as they were very well aware of the other team’s capabilities, one mistake and the opponents would use it to their advance. But the astonishing combinations, the virtuoso-like dribbling, the unexpected passes that made the crowd to “ooh!” everytime just took one’s breath away. And even how masterful the attacking movements were, the other team seemed to always be up to it’s task in countering those moves with even more brilliant ones.

On half-time the game was still 0-0 but no one complained for the lack of goals. The crowds had seen football of the highest level today and they knew it.

Finally at 62nd minute there was a goal. After a small misunderstanding in the midfield between Eomer and the phantom, Aredhel managed to take the ball and as the T-I-G defences were just pulling their line up Aredhel’s fast pass surprised them on the move and the referee saw no offside there as Maedhros and Fëanor ran after the long pass. The defenders turned around and ran after them but were a step behind all the time. And forwards like Maedhros and Fëanor don’t let you get them… Even if Draugluin had played beautifully the whole game even he had no chance to match the elven lord and his eldest son with a ball alone.

But the goal only made the T-I-G team try harder. In about ten minutes they got their equalizer – and looking at the game it was an earned one. It was the phantom’s magic heel once again. Lhuna sent the ball to the edge of the box where the phantom took it down his back towards the goal and without even a glance he just passed it backwards with his heel. And Sauron had anticipated it throwing Curufin away from his way and hammering the ball in with a one-touch shot via the pole before the Formenos defenders had any chance to stop him.

But so it was that the great T-I-G was this day barred from further goals by the exceptional defences of Formenos and especially the mighty Huan who just stopped the rest. But Fëanor had his say on the game yet.

Just two minutes before the full-time Fëanor tricked the ball from Nogrod who had come down to aid the defences - but was no defender - quite easily. Fëanor then took two defenders with him and managed to get rid of them for the crucial second when he passed the ball backwards to Aredhel who had sneakily followed him - and the third defender was keeping Maedhros at bay! And Maedhros had just parked himself with Gwath so that Draugluin had no visibility whatsoever. Aredhel shot fast and accurately to the upper right corner leaving Draugluin no time to react when he realised what was happening.

The home crowds jumped up in joy and gave their loudest cheer to the elven team. Their favourites were winning in the end of the most exciting game of football ever played in Minas Tirith. That was a perfect afternoon for the Minas Tirithians.

T-I-G team fought bravely and played sensational football but in the end the Formenos defences led by Huan were just able to keep them at one goal for the first time in the tournament – and thanks to the forwards, especially Fëanor, they were able to outscore them by one goal.

So it was Formenos to the finals and T-I-G to the bronze-game.

Formenos 2-1 Tol-In-Gaurhoth
shots 15-13
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*Formenos, 62 (Feanor- Maedhros)
*TIG, 73 (Sauron- the phantom)
*Formenos, 88 (Aredhel- Feanor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Formenos- Curufin, Caranthir
*TIG- Thuringwethil, Nogrod