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Ahead of the deciding matches of Group A, the tension in Moria was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Adding to the importance of the games themselves, there were rumours aplenty circulating that two Angband stars, Hurin and Gwindor, had plans of defecting from the team. According to a reliable Elf source the duo wasn’t happy about the situation and how they had to do evil in order to stay loyal to the club. Fans will also remember the question-marks regarding how they were signed in the first place. It was said that Morgoth, then team leader, had “given them an offer they couldn’t refuse”.

Although Angband had played well this far, they still needed a result against Alqualonde to ensure advancement, and internal strife like this wasn’t welcome, should these rumours be true. Alqualonde was a difficult opponent too, and had a chance to leapfrog Angband and advance to the last 16 with a win.

For the majority of ticketholders however, the evening game between Moria and Minas Tirith was even more interesting. In order to advance, the home team was looking to put their defeat to Angband behind them and at least hold the resilient Mannish team from the South to a draw. The sentiment among the main part of Moria supporters though, both Dwarves and Orcs, was that their team would crush the petty humans. Aragorn and his teammates would have something to say about that no doubt.

Match 5: Alqualonde vs. Angband
Moria’s underground stadium was completely sold out, and for the first time this year Angband also came with a group of maybe 500 travelling supporters. They were menacing figures clad in black hooded robes and unlike the traditional fans they did not cheer or clap their hands to support their team but remained silent. “They are here to make sure no mistakes are made” said the neutrals, referring to the defection-rumours. The presence of Orodreth, Finrod and Túrin among the crowd only added to the suspense, and many now doubted that the two talked about players would be in the Angbad line-up. As the teams came out of the tunnel however, Hurin and Gwindor were among the Angband starting eleven - both stone-faced, showing no emotion. They were to play a key role in the match. The Alqualonde fans were far from silent though and proudly raised their banners - a white swan against a blue backdrop – in defiance of the odds that were against them.

Some had thought Angband would defeat Alqualonde easily if they played as rough as Moria had done on the opening night, but although the Northerners certainly tried to intimidate the Elves, the only thing they got for it was another yellow card for Ulfast. Alqualonde wouldn’t back down and their quick passing game gave Angband a lot of trouble right from the start. The Iron Hells also played some good football, mixing up their play well, so their opponents never knew what to expect, but possession usually belonged to the Swan team, who were doing most of the attacking. Ancalagon almost opened the scoring with a smoking shot from the edge of the area early on, but Alqualonde struck back, and had two excellent opportunities of their own when first Cirdan and then Frodo had shooting opportunities in front of Carcaroth, but the wolf came up with an answer for both.

Gwindor was playing like a man possessed, and in the 23rd minute of the game, he went on an amazing slalom run right through the heart of the Alqualonde defence, beating three players before squaring the ball to Thuringwethil, who had an easy task side-footing the ball past Olwe. It was a great goal, wholly made by the ex-Nargothrond player, but he did not celebrate the goal, only nodding in the direction of the black figures in the stands.

Alqualonde did not give up though, and led by Cirdan they raised the tempo even more, pushing the Angband players deep into their own half defending. Angbad almost killed the match off before half-time though, when Gwindor broke free on the counter attack and hit the post after playing a one-two with Hurin, but the score remained 1-0. Only a few minutes after the break Alqualonde was right back into the game though. Eärwen played in Osse, who took the ball past Uldor with his first touch, and fired in a low shot past a diving Carcaroth with his second.

A draw wasn’t enough for the Aman side though, and they kept on pushing, and not without creating chances. In fact, Angband were under severe pressure, and if it wasn’t for an inspired moment from Hurin and Maeglin, they might well have lost this match. The goal came in the 68th minute. Gwindor played a long ball towards Hurin, who met the ball with Amandil close behind. But instead of controlling the ball, Hurin just flicked it over the head of the surprised opponent, turned and ran past him. With space opening up Maeglin made a strong run towards the Alqualonde goal. He received the ball in his stride, faked a left-footed shot to get inside Frodo, and then curled a beauty past a helpless Olwe with his favoured right boot.

Now Alqualonde was in a very difficult position. They needed at least two goals in 20 minutes, and this was not within their powers tonight. When Cirdan hit the post with a header in the 85th minute, they knew this was not their night and that Angband would prevail. At the full time whistle, the black figures clapped their hands briefly but without joy, as if to say: “good enough work, lads, but don’t get careless!” There wasn’t much celebration among the Angband players either, but a fair bit of relief. They seemed more afraid to fail than eager to win.

Alqualonde 1-2 Angband
shots 12-11
on target 5-6
GOALS:
*23, Angband (Thuringwethil, Gwindor)
*51, Alqualonde (Osse, Earwen)
*68, Angband (Maeglin, Hurin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Alqualonde- Uinen, Osse
*Angband- Ulfast, Drauglin

Match 6: Moria - Minas Tirith
After the exiting Angband and Alqualonde supporters made their way out of the Stadium, the Moria fans started to arrive, hours ahead of the match. There was no sign if strife between the different fractions now, and all were fully behind their team, singing and drinking together. This was their night and no one would take it from them. When the teams finally made their appearance, the atmosphere was at a boiling point, and the noise could be heard even in the woods of Lothlórien many miles away. The Moria players waved to the crowd with stern faces, and the beards of the Dwarves were gleaming in the torchlight. Stern also was Aragorn, and by his side the brave Boromir. A win was absolutely necessary tonight, but they’d seen to worse and lived to tell.

Azog and Durin’s Bane kicked off the game and the crowd almost brought the roof down as the home team went on the attack directly. Even wing backs Gwaihir and Othar came forward, and Minas Tirith were pressed back, defending with all eleven ten men. Early on it was like a siege, and Moria were buzzing like bees around and inside the box, but Denethor and the other White City defenders are experienced top professionals and allowed their opponents space only were they could afford it. Thus, Moria failed to create any clear cut opportunities, and numerous crosses into the box were usually headed clear easily by the tall Minas Tirith defenders.

A miss by Durin’s bane in the 13th minute proved costly. His played a sloppy pass in the centre when the whole Moria team was pushing up, and his ball was intercepted by Boromir, who laid it back to Mardil, and took the run upfield. Mardil returned the favour by lifting a high ball over the Moria defence. Boromir beat Durin for pace and lifted the ball over the Watcher, who could only watch as the ball slowly bounced over the line. The crowd was stunned, but soon grew noisy again, urging their team on. But now Minas Tirith had the match just the way they wanted, and drew back again, defending deep while waiting for the opportunity to counter-attack, knowing that they had the quality up front to make it pay.

And pay it did. Once again a Moria mistake proved their undoing. This time it was Thror who dallied with the ball and Aragorn who robbed him. The White City captain played a quick ball up to Beregond, whose early cross found an unmarked Calimehtar who headed into the far corner. Right before the break Aragorn almost made it three with a snapshot had the Watcher beaten, but snuck just past its left hand post. The home crowd was in shock, and the half time was met with whistles and a dissatisfied murmur. The small group of Minas Tirith fans was ecstatic, naturally.

After the break, the match continued much like it had been before the break. An increasingly frustrated Moria team had up to 70 % of the possession, but managed to create few real chances. A desperate Durin’s Bane started to shoot from the most hopeless position, or tried to dribble his way into the crowded Minas Tirith penalty area, but he was getting nowhere. Durin also got increasingly upset with how the Balrog threw away possession, and once again the two got into a heated argument.

In the 57th minute Moria was handed a gift however. An innocent-looking cross came in, and Ondoher was to clear it with a volley, but somehow he kicked a hole in the air. The ball hit his supporting leg instead and rolled invitingly to Azog, and with the White City defenders moving up, expecting a clearance, he saw Balin all alone in front of the goal, and it was elementary, just tap-tap and Moria had reduced the lead. This sparkled a slight resurgence from Moria, and their attacks had a bit more venom to them now, but still Minas Tirith held firm.

15 minutes later, Durin’s Bane, who was having a real stinker, for once managed to break loose from his marker, but his shot wasn’t up to par, and was picked up by Etchelion. The Balrog went down on his knees, head in hands, and as he got up another quick break was on for Minas Tirith. Boromir, Aragorn and Mardil was three against two, and with Aragorn going left, and Mardil going right, forcing the two defenders to cover the angles, an opening came for Boromir to take the ball straight through the middle. Just as he prepared to shoot Durin left Aragorn and rushed to make a challenge, but then Boromir released the ball, and Aragorn was one-on-one with the Watcher, and a striker of his caliber don’t miss opportunities like this. Minas Tirith had restored their two-goal advantage, and Moria wasn’t to rise again. Durin was once again furious with his Bane. Had the Balrog not sulked over the missed shot, and back-tracked instead, Minas Tirith wouldn’t have had numerical advantage on the break and the goal might have been avoided, he reasoned. Now darkness gathered around the Balrog, and sparks were flying.

As the full-time whistle approached, and The Moria crowd realized than they would likely lose, the Orcs looked realy to riot, and sharp objects began to rain onto the field. But as the whistle blew, an exceptional event changed everything. Durin’s Bane had practically stopped playing for the last tem minutes or so, and when the match was over, he turned to Durin. His shadow rose like two vast wings as he made his way to the Dwarf, and the torches were dimmed. Soon the wings – not actual flying wings mind you, wings of shadow! -loomed over the small but unbent figure of Durin, who looked like a mouse standing his ground against a huge hunting Owl. For a moment complete darkness fell, only to be interrupted by a flashing light, as a flaming white blade crashed down, then darkness again. When the veil was lifted again, the Balrog was gone, and Durin lay on the ground dead. The Orcs were terrified, and scurried back to their lairs deep in the mountain. The Dwarves immediately forgot about the defeat, and went down on their knees weeping and tearing their beards. How could this have happened? It is only a game, they cried. The Minas Tirith players were also downcast. This tragic event had taken away all the sweetness of victory. They were through to the last 16 however.

Minas Tirith 3-1 Moria
shots 12-11
on target 6-4
GOALS:
*13, Minas Tirith (Boromir I, Mardil)
*34, Minas Tirith (Calimehtar, Beregond)
*57, Moria (Balin, Azog)
*75, Minas Tirith (Aragorn, Boromir I)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Minas Tirith- Telumehtar
*Moria- Thorin, Ohtar

Final Standings: Group A

Team..............W D L GF GA P
1) Angband......2 1 0.. 6 - 4 7 Q
3) Minas Tirith...1 2 0.. 7 - 5 5 q
2) Moria............1 0 2.. 5 - 7 3
4) Alqualonde....0 1 2.. 5 - 7 1