[Nogrod]

The home fans packed the early match as everyone wanted to see how the two other teams competing for the second qualifying position would fare against each other: with a win either team would make strong claim for that place. The northeners were especially afraid of Pelennor’s victory as that would put the hometeam in a clear disadvantage. Nargothrond win would leave everything to their own hands (feet). There was a lot at stake this day.


An undecider indeed!

There were all the ingredients of a classic there for the afternoon game. The stakes were high as the winner would take a remarkful leap towards qualifying and both teams would kiss their dreams of advancing a goodbuy if they lost. Also both teams had now a chance to show their qualities as on the first round of the games Pelennor had been plain overrun by the class above Mithrim and Nargothrond had been shut off from making a good game because of the enthusiastic defence of the hometeam. And of course there was the issue of being the elders and the younger generation of heroes…

And on many standards it was an entertaining game: both teams went for the possession of the ball and neither withdrew their game in general; there were four goals in the match and some really beautiful saves and attempts at the goal, not to talk of some nice developments and tricks. But it still never turned into a classic.

Legolas providede the fangirls a cause to scream their throats out with an early goal – and some of them and their friends seemed to realise that lord Imrahil was quite hot too. King Felagund’s equaliser in the end of the period was earned but not in any way flashing. Earned after some hard work that is. Pelennor came to the second half with some added spirit and managed to score early again but the longer the game went on the clearer it seemed that Nargothrond would eventually come equal – and they did it roughly ten minutes before the final whistle.

It was clear neither team wished to risk losing - even Nargothrond’s pressing on the second period hadn’t been a full-blown attack but always building the attacks carefully from the defence onwards - and so the last ten minutes were more or less careful passing of the ball from both sides leaving the spectators with a kind of an anti-climax.

Nargothrond 2-2 Pelennor
tot shots 13-11
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*14, 0-1 Legolas (Imrahil)
*42, 1-1 Finrod (Finduilas)
*56, 1-2 Grimbold (Duinhir)
*78, 2-2 Mablung (Finrod)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Nargothrond- Baranor, Guillen
*Pelennor- Grimbold, Snowmane, Windfola



An issue of work-ethics.

The hometeam supporters had realised the meaning of the earlier draw quite clearly. Some of them even got into the idea that the draw between the two would somehow mean their own team had better chances in the game against Mithrim. And in a sense they were right as the fanatic home-support beat the team Norbury into it’s clearly best performance thus far.

The match itself was quite straightforwards. After the initial burst of the full crowd-encouraged hometeam, Mithrim started to set the pace of the game resulting with a nice header by Beleg behind Arvedui on the 33rd minute. And Mithrim controlled the game for the rest of the period even if Norbury team clearly wished to fight back. On the second half it seemed Mithrim was more or less happy with the game and Norbury managed to make some counter-attacks finally resulting in an equaliser.

If Celegorm and Curufin had been praised for their play in the first game, in the beginning of the second half they were playing just sloppy leaving Araphor totally free in the middle as they thought already of going forwards when Gelmir had taken the possession of the ball. But Argeleb cut the pass from Gelmir and sent Araphor one-on-one with Huan. And it was 1-1. The homecrowd went totally nuts with equaliser.

Mithrim found work-ethics enough to lay pressure on Norbury’s brave defences and they really made Arvedui sweat in between his posts. It is a remarkable fact that they made three of their total of seven shots on goal during that ten minute period after the equaliser… and it was no surprise Túrin made a goal with the last one, a fiery volley from around the penalty spot.

The homecrowds were pleased with the performance of their own team and they were now certain they woud beat Pelennor in the last match to qualify. But the independent observers were raising their eybrows at team Mithrim’s performance. It sure is a sign of a good team that they can win games even with a half-effort, but how does that kind of playing style fit the pace of a tournament? If they allow themselves to play half-hearted in one game – and possibly in the next as well as now they are the winners of the group already – how would they stand to occasion when the real games begin? Also there was some discussion of Túrin’s temper to always do things alone. It was an old story but suddenly it was rekindled after the match as he clearly tried himself quite a many times when passing would have been a better option – and maybe the final numbers would have been different as well?

And then there was the third party thinking whether Norbury's defences were actually just very good...

Mithrim 2-1 Norbury
tot shots 13-8
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*33, 1-0 Beleg (Turin)
*65, 1-1 Araphor (Argeleb)
*77, 2-1 Turin (Hurin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Mithrim- Androg, Morwen
*Norbury- Aranarth, Arveleg

Mithrim ...........6......6-1 .....+5
Nargothrond....2......3-3......+-0
Norbury ..........1......2-3.......-1
Pelennor..........1......2-6........-4

Mithrim will face the second best team from group F in the qualifying round however they fare against Nargothrond. The winner of the Norbury – Pelennor match will qualify to the next round unless Mithrim isn’t interested enough in winning their game. A draw between Norbury and Pelennor will not do to either team.

Last matches:
Nargothrond – Mithrim
Norbury - Pelennor