[the phantom]

After the hard-fought surprise result of the first match, the crowds were mighty pleased and looking at the evening match as the cherry on top, and Gondolin and Utumno were keen not to disappoint. Gondolin came in with a hot offense, while Utumno had been just dominant on defense, and everyone wondered who would give way to the other.

Surprisingly it turned out to be the Angband offense looking the best in the opening minutes as the horses and great eagle of Gondolin were outwitted by the clever attacks led by Melkor and Thuringwethil, and the forwards Tilion and Gothmog were both set up nicely inside the opening 15, though they did not crack the scoreboard sending one over the top and the other wide.

But just a few minutes later Melkor again sent a floater to the opposite side for Gothmog and this time he made sure and got it down and Huor had no chance and it was 1-0 Utumno! The big bads then settled into a hold pattern for the next several minutes. Some fans even thought that they planned on doing it through the rest of the match. “After all,” they remarked, “They haven’t surrendered a goal yet this tournament. A one goal lead could be enough!”

But it was soon evident that the optimism was likely overdone, as Gondolin truly threatened Utumno in the minutes that followed. First there was a flurry of brilliant passes up and back through the middle that resulted in an uncontested Fingolfin shot from the top of the box, forcing Ungoliant to make her best save yet. Then there was a long ball controlled by Aredhel and sent over to a dashing Ecthelion who blasted a wicked bender from range that glanced off the outside of the crossbar. And finally there was Maeglin making the Balrogs look a bit clumsy as he dribbled all the way from midfield, weaving and ducking displaying excellent ball control, culminating in a drive that surely would have beaten Ungoliant if the final Balrog had not managed to get part of his foot on it and send it wide.

But just as the crowd grew certain that the equalizer was coming, Telvildo outfought his man for the ball and sent it back to a free Balrog (#5 to be specific) who immediately sent it high up the middle for a sprinting Melkor. Melkor had timed his run perfectly and brought the ball down on the first bounce with a perfectly in-stride touch and even the horses and Thorondor could not catch him before he gained a one-on-one with the goalie and put it in for the 2-0 lead!

The Gondolin supporters groaned and cradled their heads in their hands. This was not how this match was supposed to unfold! They had just spotted the defense with the most sparkling numbers in the tournament a two goal lead and had but one half left to make it up! And of course on the other hand the supporters of Utumno were singing and drinking with delight. For many the cup was already won, for they doubted seriously the ability of Vinyamar to challenge them in the finals.

The opening minutes of the second half did nothing to change the moods, as it was Utumno on the attack once again. But if the Gondolin fans were paying attention closely they noticed that at the least the attacks were no longer as threatening. Huor was ordering the defense in front of him with great passion, and they responded with full effort and heady play. Finally after the 60 minute mark possession started swinging back the way of Gondolin, and the Balrogs were made to sweat just as in the first half.

And then in minute 68 a shot in the arm for Gondolin- a goal! Eol gained the ball in the left corner and spun around his man, dribbled past another, then sent the ball whistling at the near post. Ungoliant got her claws on it but could not hold onto it, and the ball spilled right in front of Maeglin who wasted no time in burying the shot.

Gondolin was still down by a goal, but the fans and players all believed the equalizer could be had after the confidence boost from the first goal, and the shifting spirit within the stadium seemed to impact the players from Utumno, and they now looked to be playing not to lose rather than to win. Gondolin was less tentative and showed no fear and in minute 82 they celebrated wildly after Fingolfin pulled them level off an unsuccessfully cleared free kick from Rochallor.

Utumno looked stunned while all the players from Gondolin looked to be bubbling over with energy and confidence. Even the unshakable Melkor was visibly off his game. Fingolfin’s blazing eyes, clear powerful voice, and valiant bearing were just as they had been the night he had ridden to the doors of Angband and wounded the dark lord in combat, and Thorondor swooping about made the memory even more real to Melkor.

Utumno barely made it to overtime with the tie still intact, and it was obvious they were time-wasting and hoping to settle things in an end-game shoot-out. But Gondolin would not be denied, and 11 minutes into overtime Balrog #2 committed a desperate foul against Maeglin in the midst of a dangerous attack, and the “sharp boot” was awarded a free kick.

Utumno set their wall and Ungoliant waited grimly for whatever was to come, but she was hardly allowed a chance to move as Maeglin went direct at the goal and managed to put the ball right over the top of the wall and speeding into the very top corner for the lead!

The rest of the way Utumno did push for an equalizer, but their confidence had suffered such a gut-punch that they simply could not muster enough to challenge to gallant squad from Gondolin, and soon Utumno found themselves numbly exiting the stadium with the singing of the Gondolin fans ringing in their ears.

Gondolin 3-2 Utumno (OVERTIME)
tot shots 19-14
on target 9-6
GOALS:
*21, 0-1 Gothmog (Melkor)
*40, 0-2 Melkor (Balrog #5)
*68, 1-2 Maeglin (Eol)
*82, 2-2 Fingolfin (Rochallor)
*11, 3-2 Maeglin
YELLOW CARDS:
Gondolin- Eol, Asfaloth
Utumno- Balrog #3, Gothmog, Balrog #2