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At Eithel Sirion the party continued with a another two exiting games.

Match 3: Gelion vs. Rohan
First up tonight was Gelion vs. Rohan, a massive game for both teams. Gelion had impressed in their opening match against hosts Eithel Sirion, taking the lead and holding on to it well into the second half while playing some tight, tactical but also aggressive football. However, goals from Hador and Maedhros had meant that all the good work in the end proved in vain for the woodland side. Rohan on the other hand had a won their opening match against Dale and were looking to secure a spot in the second round with another win. Gelion could simply not afford to lose. Confidence was high in both camps ahead of the match. “I will not leave here empty-handed”, spoke Gelion forward Beren the Empty-handed. Eorl the Young of Rohan promised more goals from his boots. “I feel sharp and could have had a hat-trick against Dale. Perhaps it is time for one now?” the blond, star striker told a reporter.

As the game got underway it quickly became apparent that goals weren’t going to come easy for Eorl or for anyone else. Gelion had not changed their game-plan from the opening match. Once again they played a tight and aggressive defensive game, with all eleven men working hard to deny their opponents any space or time with the ball, thus snuffing out most attacking threats in its bud. And just like the match against Eithel Sirion they took a first half lead on a quick break. Wing-back Luthien stole the ball from Eorl and burst forward, playing in Amlach in the middle who in turn saw Beren sprinting away. The midfielder timed his through-ball to perfection, thus releasing Beren on a one-on-one with Fram and making a mockery of the Rohan off-side trap. The striker rounded the Rohan keeper and slotted into the empty net before celebrating the goal with luscious Luthien in almost x-rated fashion. None of the other Gelion players dared come close and many heads in the conservative crowd turned away.

In the second half Rohan rallied and went looking for a leveler, urged on by the sympathetic crowd. Yet it remained desperately hard to break down the Gelion defenses, led by the ever impressive Luthien Tinuvel. Helm, Eorl and Eomer did have a few half-chances, but the Rohirrim struggled to create clear-cut opportunities although they gained more and more of the ball-possession as the game progressed. Time was beginning to tick away all too fast for Rohan and towards the end Gelion was closer to a second than Rohan to a leveler as Beren hit the crossbar with a dipping shot in the dying minutes. 1-0 it finished and the Gelion players embraced each other with a determined look in their eyes. They knew this was a huge result for them but also that they had work left to do. The Rohirrim hung their heads low, eyes vacant, and left the stadium in silence.


Gelion 1-0 Rohan
tot shots 8-9
on target 4-3
GOALS:
*21, 1-0 Beren (Amlach)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gelion- Bereg, Haldar
*Rohan- Hallas, Firefoot, Eomer, Helm

Match 4: Dale vs. Eithel Sirion
In the evening match hosts Eithel Sirion was looking to add another three points on the board in front of their enthusiastic supporters. Their opponents Dale were in for a difficult challenge getting something from this match, and were probably well pleased with the earlier result which meant that they’d still be in contention for second round play even in the unfortunate event of a loss.

In order to surprise his all-star opponents Mayor Moneybags had made an all together unexpected tactical move. Seeing how his defense was struggling to contain Rohan the other night, and fearing that Eithel Sirion would prove an even tougher nut to crack, he’d moved Smaug down to the back-line. Smaug, wearing a black armband in support of his kinsman who fell, did not look happy with this decision. But although the great dragon is not a specialized defender, he certainly can put the fear into opponents, and in the early parts of the game the move seemed to be working rather well. The Eithel Sirion attackers ever so often found themselves staring straight down the gaping jaws of the dragon and lost control of the ball in a gasp of dread and horror. Yet, despite the unnerving presence of Smaug in the back line, Eithel Sirion was to take the lead. Fingon got away from his marker with the ball at his feet, tunneled Roac easily, and burst forward, looking certain to go all the way. Then, suddenly, Smaug stood in his way. And Fingon looked up without fear only to stare straight into the dragon’s big enchanting eyes and as he did he stopped dead with his arms hanging limply by his side. For a moment every player on the pitch stopped to watch the showdown, while the ball slowly trickled past the preoccupied dragon. But Gwindor did not only watch but reacted, and quickly rushed forward and passed the ball to a completely unmarked Nienor, who knocked the ball past a furious Brand who thought play had seized. Only when the ref showed Smaug a yellow card and threatened with worse did the dragon release Fingon, who looked bewildered and distraught. The dragon made a gesture to the referee as if to say "what did I do?" and smoke issued from his nostrils.

Within minutes Fingon the Brave recovered, and when he did he was the best player on the pitch. In the 30th minute his deft cross found Maedhros and the eldest son of Feanor scored Eithel Sirion’s second with a lovely volley. By now Smaug had returned to the front line, but as mighty though he be, there was little he could do to stop Eithel Sirion now, who knocked the ball around with confidence in front of their blissful home crowd. Fittingly it was man of the match Fingon who hit the last nail in the Dale coffin with a placed shot in the second half. In the stands the singing now reached epic proportions and in their glee the people could no longer descry the ominous twin peaks of the Thangorodrim in the distant North. Yet there they were, as ever.

Dale 0-3 Eithel Sirion
tot shots 7-17
on target 3-9
GOALS:
*19, 0-1 Nienor (Gwindor)
*30, 0-2 Maedhros (Fingon)
*62, 0-3 Fingon (Hador)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Dale- Smaug, Nain, Roac, Thror
*Eithel Sirion- Hador, Galdor, Gundor

Standings Group D
Eithel Sirion 2-0-0 5-1 6
Rohan 1-0-1 3-3 3
Gelion 1-0-1 2-2 3
Dale 0-0-2 2-6 0

Comments:
Nothing is decided in group D, except that Dale no longer can win the group. Dale still has a mathematical chance of advancement but will must beat Gelion comprehensively in their last match and are also reliant on Eithel Sirion defeating Rohan. Eithel Sirion needs only a point against Rohan to secure a spot in the knock-out stages.