Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[Nogrod]

So it was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the sea that was to hold the final match after Saturday's odd events. Even Thingol had come to the stadium for the final game and together with Melian they honoured the occasion by singing in the opening ceremony to the full house gathered to see the final under the great halls laboured by the elves and dwarves together in times long ago.



Menegroth was deemed by the MEFA authorities to be a symbol of friendship between races – even if the later history has kind of darkened the view – and looking at the homesteads and histories of the teams playing it looked very suitable indeed for gathering the maximum number of fans.


There was a host of crowd from the surrounding areas; from Hithlum, Gondolin and Nargothrond, from Brethil and Amon Rhûd, from Himlad and Taur-Nu-Fuin, and of course from Menegroth itself. Following Gondolin's example the authorities had done their best to aid bringing about the feeling of a sporting celebration and they had succeeded. Even after the earlier events the visitirs were yet again just stupefied by the joy and chanting around them, the free wine-stands beside the fountains of silver and the snack-bars (free as well) around the basins of marble. The woven hangings and the carved figures competed for the visitor's attention while the songs and pre-match speculations did their best as well to dampen the memory of yesterday.



There was a feeling of a great sporting event in the air once again.



And finally the hour came and the teams walked to the full-packed stadium to listen to the enchanting song sung by Thingol and Melian to open the game… After that the players shook hands and the captains exchanged small emblems and shook hands with the referees; Nienna the main referee and supporting referees Gandalf and Radagast. The crowds cheered in anticipation.



From the very beginning of the game it was clear the Formenos defence was playing an outstanding game. The feared Hithlum forwards were denied any opportunities and were kept in check from the first minutes on. The three brothers and their nephew just took away the time and space from the High King Fingolfin, Húrin and his son.



At the other end daddy Fëanor accompanied by his eldest son and the White Lady of Gondolin created havoc in Hithlum defences but Huor stood stern like a rock between the poles denying their efforts one after another. Huor made five saves before the half time while Huan only got one ball to catch!



Just a few minutes before the half-time the efforts of the Formenos team were paid off. Aredhel gave a corner and Maedhros came true to his nickname and rose the tallest of all heading the ball irresistibly into the net and giving the elven team the lead. And that was a justified lead.



The second half began with careful play by both teams but at the 60th minute the Hithlum team was kind of awaken – most probably because of the bellowing of their coach Rían. They were taking risks now. Húrin and the valiant Fingon started playing like forwards and the wing-defenders Galdor and "Hador the hero" started coming upwards with runs deep into the Formenos defence from behind the midfielders.



And they were beginning to make it… but on the 74th minute Formenos team hit back.



Fëanor had told his second son to take the place in the lead of the midfielders for a change and stay a bit higher as he had ran too much in the game and was looking like he was wearing himself down. He would himself take a place lower and run for the ball. Hithlum was pressing on in the Formenos area when after a shot Huan passed the ball fast to his master who immediately sent it to the lower midfield where Fëanor volleyed it up forwards to his son who was running already for the goal past the stupefied central defenders Marach and Gundor. And with his dad's beautiful long pass Maglor was free, one on one with Huor. And he didn't miss his chance. The elven crowds just went mad on it.



Any team would have laid their heads low and accepted the defeat. Two thirds of the crowd were roaring victory-chants, they were two goals behind with only fifteen minutes to go and the opponent's defences just seemed solid as a rock. But Hithlum would not bend nor break.



So the Hithlumians threw it all forth. And on the 83rd minute they actually got their reward. Although the manner it came about was quite unordinary.



Frustrated with yet one again attacking manoeuvre that had backfired and brought the ball back to the midfield, Túrin who got the ball from Fingolfin around 45 meters from the goal decided to just go for it. It was an absolutely ridiculous curving blast there ever was, but it went in! Huan had not anticipated the shot as he had been instructing the defenders just when the ball took off from the boot of Gorthol. He tried to make a save but was just a bit too late the ball flying past his paws by an inch.



The hope was rekindled in the hearts of the men and women in the crowds. There was a chance still.



But time was against the valiant heroes of Hithlum for against the organised and effective defence of Formenos they didn't stood a chance to score in the last ten minutes. So when Nienna whistled the game over the crowd exploded. Their favourites had won the Arda Cup 2008!



Led by Fëanor's fiery spirit the Noldo-elves had shown their qualities and were unquestionably the best football team in Arda. But the "never giving up" –attitude, the unbelievable stamina, the blazing attacking trio of Fingolfin, Húrin and Túrin, and the rough road the whole Hithlum team did go through would go to the annals as well. It may be that Armenelos, Tol-In-Gaurhoth or Gondolin had better teams but unlike them Hithlum went to the final and even if it got beaten it lost with honour.

Formenos 2-1 Hithlum
shots 15-11
on target 8-4
GOALS:
*Formenos, 40 (Maedhros- Aredhel)
*Formenos, 74 (Maglor- Feanor)
*Hithlum, 83 (Turin- Fingolfin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Formenos- Curufin, Aredhel
*Hithlum- Hador, Fingon