[Nogrod]

Group G


Before the final games at Valmar it was clear that Valinor was through to the knock-out phase and Gondolin’s story would end this year into the group-play. But Beleriand and Pelori were still contending for the other qualifying post – and actually, if Pelori would win Valinor they would claim the number one seat of the group and avoid meeting Doriath on the second round of qualifiers although then most probably forced to meet Westernesse on the next. Most pros agreed the position on the upper quarter was the tougher one for Group G, but it was not an uncontested belief. Be that as it may, it’s obvious there are no easy games reaching final four, or even eight, and winning the championship would require the team to win every game after the group-rounds.


~*~


Many Gondolian players and supporters had shown openly their dismay over the Nogrodian-issue and voiced their support to both the players and fans of team Beleriand, but that didn’t seem to affect their willingness to play against them seriously, even if they had no chance of qualifying themselves. But looking at the poor performance of team Gondolin this year it is understandable they didn’t want to return home with only lost games under their belt and be compared to teams like Shire-Bree Utd. or Mithrim.

And they played a very entertaining and even game – rekindling the discussion some media had entertained before the group-phase of whether this group was just too strong compared to many others and whether they both would had qualified in other groups – leading to the discussion about Manwë’s role once again pulling the strings behind the curtains to his whims. Whatever the case, both teams showed a lot of talent and fighting spirit – and with the fate of the second qualifier at stake the audiences were given a treat indeed.

Gondolin went into the lead on 24th minute when Salgant’s big shot hit the woodworks and Turgon shoved the rebound in from close range. But Beleriand equalized before the half-time with Aegnor’s great run on the flank and crossing that found Belegund’s head from between the Gondolian defenders.

The second half was no less exciting as both teams fought seriously for the win. Due to the differences in strategies Gondolin seemed to have more of the possession and it actually created a few more quality-shots, but Beleriand was always dangerous when it got the ball and had it’s fair share of scoring-chances.

But after some few nice opportunities on both sides of the pitch it was Gondolin who took the lead again with Egalmoth scoring his first goal of the tournament from an ingenious single-performance by Idril who had been getting warmer game by game – but to both it applied they had performed well under the level that had been anticipated from them.

Getting the lead again half an hour before the end Gondolin dropped back a bit flexibly strengthening the defenses on the cost of their attacking power. With some more room to breathe in the midfield Beleriand went for it with all they dared. Even if they were forced to meet a few really frightening counter-attacking by Gondolin, the tactics eventually paid off and a fair ten minutes before the final whistle the game was even once again. After a strong pressure around Gondolin’s box Nellas finally found a gap from between the defenders and Marach made a rightly timed run for it while Nellas, who was very much used to work with men, delivered. And Marach scored with a kingly shot the leader of men should.

Beleriand was deliberately after one more goal the last ten minutes, but Gondolin heightened their defenses and started pressing the Beleriand forwards and midfielders again shutting them off from any decent scoring-positions while making quick counter-attacks in hopes of scoring themselves, but also for keeping the Beleriand defenses on full alert.


The game ended a draw. It was a disappointment to Gondolin, but to Belerianders it was a huge disappointment. Somehow they had believed in their qualification all the time. Forcing Pelori to a draw had really heightened their spirits and even if they were hard-pressed also in this game they still thought they had what it takes to qualify from this tough a group. But it was no to them this time.

The feelings were quite mixed in the post-game press-conference where the representatives of both teams were questioned by the media. Marach was adamant about the talent and skills of his team and actually blamed both the AFA- and hosting-organisations. “We would have qualified in almost any other group. And we will be demanding a public inquiry into what happened with those dwarves coming innocently to support our team. That you can understand has stressed the players as we haven’t been able to get rid of the feeling the local authorities have something against us – or at least something against us having a fair chance in the competition.”

When asked whether he had nothing to blame himself for, he first denied there being anything, but after some pressing he was willing to admit they could try to get into the recruiting business earlier the next year to get a bit more of the huge Beleriand talent brought into their team as well.

When asked about the dwarves he had this to say: “Well, they are naturally upset and feel wronged, almost attacked upon personally, and they will not leave these lands with any warm memories. And they are determined the case should be studied and those responsible punished, how high that chain of wrongdoers might go. But I’m afraid you’re not going to see Telchar and Gamil Zirak representing team Beleriand the next year as they seem to be having something on the works they’re not willing to disclose of quite yet. But I don’t know anything more about it.”

Turgon on the other hand seemed much less self-confident, and at times he looked more like confused facing the critical questions.

The AKM: “It seems that not only many fans of Gondolin but even some of the players are asking whether they backed the wrong house this year. Many seem to be yarning back to Maeglin and Aredhel to lead the team. What is your take on these views?”

Turgon: “Well… well, I can’t know what other people think or be responsible for them… That might be the view of some, but you must ask them.”

Gondolin Evening Standard: “Are you going to cling on the captaincy or are you ready to give up on your own initiative?”

Turgon: “Deals are always affairs between two sides and I think it is premature to jump into any conclusions now… but, erm… well I can see such a future where I’d need to reconsider my place in the tournament.”

Beleriand 2-2 Gondolin
tot shots 13-14
on target 5-7
GOALS:
*24, 0-1 Turgon (Salgant)
*40, 1-1 Belegund (Aegnor)
*60, 1-2 Egalmoth (Idril)
*77, 2-2 Marach (Nellas)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Beleriand- Telchar, Daeron, Angrod
*Gondolin- Meleth, Salgant, Thorondor



With the afternoon game ending as a draw both Valinorian teams were through to the knock-out phase. That in turn focused the dynamics of the late game into the battle-out between Manwë and Tulkas; the battle between conservative defensive football vs. a more flaring, attacking style of the game. Some commentators even talked about the stakes been a lot higher this way than they would have been if it had been “only” a question of qualifying.

Everyone knows the Valier have and have had some disagreements between them, but through history they have always been quite good in handling the media hiding most inner rifts away from the public. And you all have probably heard those rumors about the compilers of Valaquenta sentenced to solitary confinement at some remote location to the farthest west of the West – or even to the abyss by some rumors. But here the rift was open and public. Tulkas had challenged Manwë stealing part of his team with him and openly announcing he’d play different, and he’d play better; not contending himself to play one goal wins deliberatively as to keep things calm and friendly. And now with nothing else to play for the game was clearly reduced (or elevated, actually) to a contest between the superpowers and their different ideologies – on a Valar scale, like it was no row over different views of say Gondorians and Rohanians, or the orcs of Orthanc vs. the orc of Sauron.

And what a classic the audiences witnessed in Valmar that evening! If you have a frend who says he doesn’t understand why football is such a great sport by some people, get the official dvd/Blue Ray from the AFA-licenced dealer nearest to you and show him this game. If your friend doesn’t become a football fan the AFA will be returning half of the purchase price to you!

Now the game would have been great just because of the highest possible quality of the players on the field (resulting in some most dashing individual & team performances seen in this year’s tournament) and the stakes the teams were playing (which could be sensed in the field with both teams playing every situation to the end with stamina – but also as the unceasing attentiveness and nervousness of the crowds creating the athmophere to the game). But it had yet another facet that originated from purely tactical issues, but which really set this game alight. And that was, that both of the teams wanted to possess the ball, to have it with their team, to build up great combination-attacks with chains of quick passing. And they normally had it their way as they normally dominated the field with their individual skills and tactical wisdom many other teams lacked. But now they had more or less an equal opponent who was not ready to give in an inch. “The ball was fought over more fiercely than the Silmarils in the past” – like Hunter U. Nogson put it in his tweet.

But there was also a tactical difference between the teams – which actually did a lot to affect the outcome of the game. Pelori plays a defensive and conservative game which means they have the philosophy of “defense first” – and thus attack rather with longer preparation and longer chains of passing taking care always they have their back secured if they happen to lose the ball at some stage of the build-up. Valinor on the on the other hand plays balanced game where they do not wish to either send everyone up or pull everyone down, but want to maintain a balanced spread of players throughout the field at all times – which enables them to do some flashingly fast turn-overs sending the ball from their own box to the opponent’s box with three or four mid-ranged passes in a question of seconds in the best situation – or to exert a really tiring pressure to the opponent’s build-up being spread evenly on all areas of the pitch and thus giving the opponent no free-rides while they advance.

But yes, the game itself. As many had anticipated, team Valinor came into the game with furious energy while Pelori played more coolly – which didn’t mean they played it sloppily or passively, had they done either, Valinor would have scored immediately. But with tough defensing they managed to suffocate the Valinor attacks time by time again. Then again, when Pelori gained the control of the ball the Valinor-players were immediately on them and Pelori’s slow build-ups were challenged left and right all over the field until the ball was stolen and Valinor went for it with 110% energy again only to bang their heads on the toughest defense.

That is the basic view of half one. Which gives one just a rough outline of the overall dynamics of the half. But what performances! What fighting! Nerdanel and Miriel threatened the Pelori defenses a few times slipping off the pressure – but one time it was Manwë who stretched to a fabulous save, another time it was the post (which didn’t stretch) that denied them a goal. Arien’s free-kick from 20 meters went just a few inches wide in a situation where Manwë was clearly late, while Yavanna’s genius high-shot over Manwë, who had come a bit too long way forwards from his goal when Namo lost the ball, landed on the roof of the goal.

But Pelori had their chances as well. Quite early on the game Pelori were building a pressure when Lórien seduced both Tulkas and Vairë to him and fooled them with the last second pass to Eönwë – who missed the goal just barely left to shoot from a totally open place. Varda forced Ingwë to a few spectacular saves on the first half from some neat build-ups of the whole offense of Pelori – the last one of them Ingwë managed to tip away with his fingertips just barely as the ball hit the post then and went over the line.

The following corner-kick produced the first goal of the match. Eönwë gave the corner sending the ball into the crowded center in front of the goal. Indis got her head on it and headed it forwards… but it landed straight on Nienna’s feet 25 meters from the goal. The rush in front of the goal got out of order for a moment, the defenders looking for the nearest target they should tie down as Pelori attackers were trying to relocate - and Nienna looked like she was going to return the ball back into the front of the goal for a header. But she didn’t. Instead, Oromë made a run away from the goal and towards Nienna who saw his sudden move and passed the ball towards him – and Oromë performed a wonderful turn-around kick from full speed getting both the defenses and Ingwë by surprise. It happened like in two seconds of which on the latter second the defenses realized what was happening but by then they had no time to react. And the shot was perfect; to the upper left corner of the goal far out of reach for Ingwë. Just four minutes before the half-time Pelori had taken the lead!

The second half began with more or less the same. Oftentimes when football commentators write this sentence they actually mean “it was soo boring the second half as well”. But not this time! It was exactly the similar kind of action packed, beautiful, hair-raising, talented, tough… you name your superlatives-game like the first half.

But the tactical imbalance between the teams some keenest eyes might have noticed on the first half started to show more openly on the second half. So while Pelori had everyone defending when Valinor was attacking – even Eönwë and Varda were seen tackling the opponents deep down in their half of the pitch – Tulkas kept on with his balanced spread of players. And that lead to nasty situations the few times when Valinor was not able to break the Pelori passing-game as then the defenses were easily outnumbered as Nerdanel, Miriel and Arien were especially told not to run to the help of them – and even Yavanna and Olwë were strongly discouraged by Tulkas to meddle in the affairs lower their places in the field. And from one just this kind of situation Pelori made it 2-0.

With some quick passing from about 30 meters to the box Pelori managed to create a 4 against 3 situation. Oromë and Ilmarë took with them a defender each (Tulkas was especially following Oromë after his goal and Ilmarë made a fake diagonal run forcing Vairë to trail him) thus leaving Eönwë and Varda together against Indis – and Lórien played the ball fast to the two who with a few touches got behind her. Varda served and Eönwë hammered the ball in from a few yards right of the penalty spot leaving Ingwë no chance.

That was so unexpectable! Pelori was leading 2-0 less than half an hour to go! The crowds had seen an even game, they had seen Pelori going 1-0, they had seen all that had happened on the second half… but if you had asked a random spectator, who would score next, 70% would have said Valinor. But was not what happened.

Anyway, Valinor started a unforeseen fight back. They had almost half an hour – and they went for it with all they had. There were only few major attacks built up carefully by Pelori during the rest of the game. Valinor players were just all over the place cutting any lines of passing from the Pelori if Manwë’s team managed to steal the ball for a moment – and getting the ball back to the team Valinor, in a wink of an eye they were on full attack again. But the Pelori defense was tougher the crowds had ever seen.

Many football aficionados use the term “Manwë’s defense”. It means a defense so thick and tough the opponent has no way of getting through. Now this had to be “Manwë’s defense 2.0”. For had there been any lesser team against Valinor that last half an hour Valinor could have scored ten goals or something. Nerdanel, Miriel and Arien were showing both their skills and dedication to the fullest with stupendous tricks with all the heel-passes, dribbles, fake-runs turning into real runs, switching of places… you call it. And Yavanna, Estë and Nessa were giving the defenses hard times as well.

If someone hadn’t noticed it yet, Tulkas’ team was a real female powerhouse! Especially in this game where Ingwë had allowed two goals (even if the execution of the shots had been of master-level), Tulkas and Vairë had not been able to shut out the Pelori offence everytime and Olwë had been quite invisible. But the ladies really made a show of the last half an hour.

And they scored on 79th minute. The goal had been “hanging in the air” for quite a time, but a fair ten minutes before the final whistle Arien, Miriel and Nerdanel found the right footmarks sawing the Pelori defense into pieces. In all fairness one would call for the rule a goal could have two passers put on record in football like in ice-hockey – but it’s such a conservative sports any such idea will take a thousand years to become reality – like video-checking or anything.

This time it was Arien who was left with no mark on her statistics even if she was an integral part of the goal both building up the situation in the first place and then on the decisive moment drawing both Nienna and Námo on her and passing the ball to the two others. That doesn’t mean Nerdanel’s trick freeing herself from Gwaihir wasn’t spectacular, or that Miriel’s shot when hard pressed by Nahar wasn’t pure genius; not the least as coming from between the legs of the mighty horse Manwë had no chance to see it coming and was totally out of the whole situation.

The last ten minutes were just the greatest thriller one could buy a ticket for. Valinor were pressing even harder for an equalizer and Pelori gathered all their players under the ball. Some even claim they saw Manwë having sweat-drops on his forehead which for a goalie were not so much from the physical exercise but the mental tension.

But Valinor ran out of time. They had two decent opportunities to score in the last ten minutes, but on the first one Gwaihir managed to divert the freeing pass by Nerdanel with the tip of his wing at the last moment and on another Arien dived just a few inches short of a pass from the flank by Yavanna.

Pelori won the game and the group. Manwë was smiling calmly but not too cordially not to outrage his brother any more. Tulkas was clearly enraged but held himself under control with all the brothers and sisters and Maiar and high-elves around.

But Manwë did approach his brother pulling off his Pelori jersey while he came closer, and offered his shirt to him willing to exchange it to his shirt, like the traditional football gesture goes showing the player who suggests the change appreciates you or holds you in a high esteem, or stresses your friendship over a heated game. In front of the tens of thousands Tulkas had no chance but to accept the offer and he pulled off his shirt as well and gave it to Manwë. The crowds cheered with the gesture of fairness and friendship, but it was clear that to Manwë Tulkas’ shirt would be a trophy of his victory over the brother who tried to rebel, but for Tulkas it would be a bitter reminder of his brother beating him. No surprise Tulkas didn’t pull Manwë’s shirt on him – and Manwë didn’t want to provoke him anymore and also left the stadium his torso naked only hanging Tulkas’ shirt in his arm.

A small incident was though recorded by the media when the teams walked out of the field and into the locker-rooms. For Nessa and Oromë chanced to come walking side by side. Then Oromë had looked at his sister with a smirk and asked: “Wasn’t your mighty husband of the opinion that one goal wins are boring?”

After that the accounts spread and no one knows for sure how it continued as they went into the tunnel leading into the lockers right there, but some media report that Nessa had hit her brother, while some others say she just ignored him; but there is also the story that Nessa had been quite upset calling her brother a traitor, and that had he just answered the call of Tulkas, things would be a lot better.


Tulkas never appeared to the after-game press-conference, but Manwë did, even he was sparing his words. Actually he only wished to make a statement. It was short, and went like this:

Manwë: “I’m not going to answer any questions tonight. But I will make a statement. I know there has been a lot of controversy over this group in general and there will be some of this game in particular. Now you are free to think about both of them as you like. It’s not our duty to be your thought-police. But we – and here I mean myself and the honourable defender of my squad, Mandos, Namo to some, – are the ones to interpret Eru’s vision and we are in charge of executing it. It is a heavy duty and it might go sometimes against what we would will ourselves, and we do feel burdened obeying the vision. But that’s what we have to do. I know this will not answer directly to the two questions you wish to ask from me, but to those of you wise enough, you’ll see I have come clean with it. Now thank you all for your interest, but this is it this time.”

Pelori 2-1 Valinor
tot shots 14-16
on target 7-6
GOALS:
*41, 1-0 Orome (Nienna)
*63, 2-0 Eonwe (Varda)
*79, 2-1 Miriel (Nerdanel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Pelori- Gwaihir, Nahar
*Valinor- Yavanna, Indis


Final results, Group G

Pelori 7p. 5-3(+2)
Valinor 6p. 7-4(+3)

Beleriand 2p. 4-6(-2)
Gondolin 1p. 4-7(-3)

Pelori will face the runners up from Group B and Valinor will meet the winners of group B.