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the phantom · 08-01-2008, 06:34 PM

After the expertly played first game in Minas Tirith the crowds could have gone home happy. But there was another match yet to played, and it had the attention of all in the city.

On the one side was some of the greatest men of the first age with the mighty elven lords that they fought alongside. On the other side- Numenorean royalty.

The many elves who had made the journey to watch the semifinals were behind Hithlum. The men in the stadium were split, but the greatest share of the Gondorians intended to cheer for their Numenorean fathers. And so it was that when the teams entered Armenelos nearly felt at home.

But Hithlum did not seem to care at all, and started the game off attacking with everything they had. Early on it looked like a repeat of the Armenelos-Gondolin game, where Gondolin surprised the Numenoreans early but Armenelos wore them down by the end. Only in this game Armenelos did not appear quite as panicked, having encountered a potent offense in the last match. But also it appeared that Fingolfin and the mighty men of the north would be less likely to be beat up or worn down by Armenelos. Hithlum kept the defense on its heels for most of the first fifteen minutes, and at minute 17 they drew first blood as Hurin found his son for the lead.

After this, for the first time in the match Armenelos began looking dangerous, but Tar Ancalimon botched their best scoring chance with a wide kick and Ar Pharazon's rocket was poked away nicely by Huor.

And then Hithlum came storming back up the field and pretty much controlled the rest of the half, adding yet another score in the 38th minute as this time Turin was the provider and Fingolfin headed it in easily. At the start of the second half Hithlum kept up the pressure, and only a fantastic save by Elros kept them from pushing the lead to 3-0. Hithlum was simply the better team it seemed.

But slowly and surely they were pushed back and Armenelos began seeing a bit more action. By minute 60 the game was being played mostly on Hithlum's side, and the supporters of Armenelos began chanting. It had taken longer than against Gondolin, but the fans were sure of what was happening. Hithlum had worn themselves out a bit, and Armenelos had been banging them up the entire game. There was going to be a comeback. The fans knew it.

At minute 69, everyone knew it as Ar Pharazon suddenly made the defenders look a bit slow with a brilliant solo run into the box, and dumped it off last minute to Tar Minastir who pounded it past Huor to cut the lead in half!

The next fifteen minutes featured great skill by the Armenelos forwards, moving the ball around and looking for the perfect opening, taking shots only when they liked them. Hithlum held a couple times, but at minute 84 their luck ran out as Ar Adunakhor was left free just outside the left corner of the box and he blasted a shot to the far side post to tie the game!

Those who had travelled from Numenor went berzerk, and the folks from Gondor celebrated a little less loudly, but quite vigorously all the same. The Hithlum defense and midfield largely had the deer-in-headlights look, but Turin and Fingolfin up front still looked determined and did their best to fire up the rest of the team. "This isn't over!" yelled Turin. "We can still win this!"

But as overtime began the crowd could see no truth in these words. Armenelos continued to look quicker and stronger- how could Hithlum hope to prevail in overtime? But as overtime played out it seemed that in fact Hithlum had no intention of prevailing in overtime, but rather hoped to survive it and hang their hopes upon their prolific kickers in a shootout.

Armenelos seemed to realize this and tried to end the game in overtime, but the Hithlum defenders always seemed to do just enough to muddle things up and clear the ball back downfield. Twice Armenelos had decent chances, but Huor saw both openings well and positioned himself for the save. Time ran out, and the shootout commenced- Armenelos first.

Ar Pharazon looked angry that the game was not over already as he took his place, and he channelled that anger into the ball and sent it screaming in for the 1-0 lead. But kicking after him for Hithlum was Turin, and so it was no surprise that the score was soon 1-1.

Next up was Tar Minastir and Fingolfin, both of whom made excellent kicks, only to watch the keeper make a diving stop. After two rounds, it was still 1-1.

Tar Ancalimon shot next for Armenelos, and the crowd groaned as he sent his shot wide of the post. With a chance to take the lead, Hurin stepped up and delivered a bullet to the lower left corner, but Elros finger-tipped it into the post and away from the goal to preserve the tie.

As Ar Adunakhor set the ball down, the stadium went silent. Each side had only two kicks left, and the score was tied. The silence was broken like a thunder-clap as Ar Adunakhor's kick screamed past Huor and nearly shredded the back of the net. Armenelos had the advantage!

But Fingon had been in tight spots before, and he calmly delivered a perfect shot to even the shootout at 2-2 with only one kick left for each side!

Ar Gimilzor went low and left, but Huor went low and left as well. Save!

And then Hador stepped up. Their last game against Angband had ended in a shootout, and it had been Hador scoring the winning kick. And so with the game on his shoulders yet again, Hador approached the ball and banged it low and left. Elros leapt left as well and got a hand on the ball. The ball deflected upwards, but not enough! It hit off the crossbar and bounced down hard on the inside of the goal line!

Hithlum had won in shootout yet again! They were through to the finals!

Armenelos 2-2 Hithlum (shootout won by Hithlum 3-2)
shots 19-18
on target 10-8
GOALS:
*Hithlum, 17 (Turin- Hurin)
*Hithlum, 38 (Fingolfin- Turin)
*Armenelos, 69 (Tar Minastir- Ar Pharazon)
*Armenelos, 84 (Ar Adunakhor- Tar Ancalimon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armenelos- Tar Ciryatan, Ar Gimilzor, Tar Ancalimon
*Hithlum- Marach, Hurin, Gundor, Angrod
SHOOTOUT:
Ar Pharazon, Armenelos- GOAL
Turin, Hithlum- GOAL
Tar Minastir, Armenelos- SAVE
Fingolfin, Hithlum- SAVE
Tar Ancalimon, Armenelos- MISS
Hurin, Hithlum- SAVE
Ar Adunakhor, Armenelos- GOAL
Fingon, Hithlum- GOAL
Ar Gimilzor, Armenelos- SAVE
Hador, Hithlum- GOAL

08-01-2008, 06:34 PM	#141
the phantom Beloved Shadow Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Stadium Posts: 5,971	After the expertly played first game in Minas Tirith the crowds could have gone home happy. But there was another match yet to played, and it had the attention of all in the city. On the one side was some of the greatest men of the first age with the mighty elven lords that they fought alongside. On the other side- Numenorean royalty. The many elves who had made the journey to watch the semifinals were behind Hithlum. The men in the stadium were split, but the greatest share of the Gondorians intended to cheer for their Numenorean fathers. And so it was that when the teams entered Armenelos nearly felt at home. But Hithlum did not seem to care at all, and started the game off attacking with everything they had. Early on it looked like a repeat of the Armenelos-Gondolin game, where Gondolin surprised the Numenoreans early but Armenelos wore them down by the end. Only in this game Armenelos did not appear quite as panicked, having encountered a potent offense in the last match. But also it appeared that Fingolfin and the mighty men of the north would be less likely to be beat up or worn down by Armenelos. Hithlum kept the defense on its heels for most of the first fifteen minutes, and at minute 17 they drew first blood as Hurin found his son for the lead. After this, for the first time in the match Armenelos began looking dangerous, but Tar Ancalimon botched their best scoring chance with a wide kick and Ar Pharazon's rocket was poked away nicely by Huor. And then Hithlum came storming back up the field and pretty much controlled the rest of the half, adding yet another score in the 38th minute as this time Turin was the provider and Fingolfin headed it in easily. At the start of the second half Hithlum kept up the pressure, and only a fantastic save by Elros kept them from pushing the lead to 3-0. Hithlum was simply the better team it seemed. But slowly and surely they were pushed back and Armenelos began seeing a bit more action. By minute 60 the game was being played mostly on Hithlum's side, and the supporters of Armenelos began chanting. It had taken longer than against Gondolin, but the fans were sure of what was happening. Hithlum had worn themselves out a bit, and Armenelos had been banging them up the entire game. There was going to be a comeback. The fans knew it. At minute 69, everyone knew it as Ar Pharazon suddenly made the defenders look a bit slow with a brilliant solo run into the box, and dumped it off last minute to Tar Minastir who pounded it past Huor to cut the lead in half! The next fifteen minutes featured great skill by the Armenelos forwards, moving the ball around and looking for the perfect opening, taking shots only when they liked them. Hithlum held a couple times, but at minute 84 their luck ran out as Ar Adunakhor was left free just outside the left corner of the box and he blasted a shot to the far side post to tie the game! Those who had travelled from Numenor went berzerk, and the folks from Gondor celebrated a little less loudly, but quite vigorously all the same. The Hithlum defense and midfield largely had the deer-in-headlights look, but Turin and Fingolfin up front still looked determined and did their best to fire up the rest of the team. "This isn't over!" yelled Turin. "We can still win this!" But as overtime began the crowd could see no truth in these words. Armenelos continued to look quicker and stronger- how could Hithlum hope to prevail in overtime? But as overtime played out it seemed that in fact Hithlum had no intention of prevailing in overtime, but rather hoped to survive it and hang their hopes upon their prolific kickers in a shootout. Armenelos seemed to realize this and tried to end the game in overtime, but the Hithlum defenders always seemed to do just enough to muddle things up and clear the ball back downfield. Twice Armenelos had decent chances, but Huor saw both openings well and positioned himself for the save. Time ran out, and the shootout commenced- Armenelos first. Ar Pharazon looked angry that the game was not over already as he took his place, and he channelled that anger into the ball and sent it screaming in for the 1-0 lead. But kicking after him for Hithlum was Turin, and so it was no surprise that the score was soon 1-1. Next up was Tar Minastir and Fingolfin, both of whom made excellent kicks, only to watch the keeper make a diving stop. After two rounds, it was still 1-1. Tar Ancalimon shot next for Armenelos, and the crowd groaned as he sent his shot wide of the post. With a chance to take the lead, Hurin stepped up and delivered a bullet to the lower left corner, but Elros finger-tipped it into the post and away from the goal to preserve the tie. As Ar Adunakhor set the ball down, the stadium went silent. Each side had only two kicks left, and the score was tied. The silence was broken like a thunder-clap as Ar Adunakhor's kick screamed past Huor and nearly shredded the back of the net. Armenelos had the advantage! But Fingon had been in tight spots before, and he calmly delivered a perfect shot to even the shootout at 2-2 with only one kick left for each side! Ar Gimilzor went low and left, but Huor went low and left as well. Save! And then Hador stepped up. Their last game against Angband had ended in a shootout, and it had been Hador scoring the winning kick. And so with the game on his shoulders yet again, Hador approached the ball and banged it low and left. Elros leapt left as well and got a hand on the ball. The ball deflected upwards, but not enough! It hit off the crossbar and bounced down hard on the inside of the goal line! Hithlum had won in shootout yet again! They were through to the finals! Armenelos 2-2 Hithlum (shootout won by Hithlum 3-2) shots 19-18 on target 10-8 GOALS: Hithlum, 17 (Turin- Hurin) Hithlum, 38 (Fingolfin- Turin) Armenelos, 69 (Tar Minastir- Ar Pharazon) Armenelos, 84 (Ar Adunakhor- Tar Ancalimon) YELLOW CARDS: Armenelos- Tar Ciryatan, Ar Gimilzor, Tar Ancalimon Hithlum- Marach, Hurin, Gundor, Angrod SHOOTOUT: Ar Pharazon, Armenelos- GOAL Turin, Hithlum- GOAL Tar Minastir, Armenelos- SAVE Fingolfin, Hithlum- SAVE Tar Ancalimon, Armenelos- MISS Hurin, Hithlum- SAVE Ar Adunakhor, Armenelos- GOAL Fingon, Hithlum- GOAL Ar Gimilzor, Armenelos- SAVE Hador, Hithlum- GOAL __________________ the phantom has posted. This thread is now important.