[Shastanis Althreduin]

As the fourth quarterfinal match got underway, the weather decided it wasn't going to co-operate. Rain had been threatening all day, and as the first minutes of the match began, the sky had finally had enough. The match between Rohan and Real Valinor would be played in the rain.

It wasn't a hard rain, but the players were wet and and irritable all throughout the first half. Horses especially are known for disliking being wet, and it may have been due to that that Arien was able to slip around the defensive Rohan line of sodden, mournful horses to knee in a linear shot from Nerdanel at around the sixteen-minute mark.

Having let in a goal so early, of course, meant the Rohan players went into the half with even less morale than normal. Nothing particularly changed for them in the second half, either. In comparison, Real Valinor was cheerful, but still anxious about the weather, as lightning flickered across the sky and thunder continued to cause spectators to duck in cover. Early on, some makeshift leather awnings were produced so that the fans stayed relatively dry, but no leather awning could stop the wind blowing torrents of water up under the covering. The end result was a group of spectators that weren't quite as soaking wet as the players, but only barely.

Real Valinor came into the second half ahead by one, but they didn't let that lull them into complacency. As the half started, Enerdhil had a bit too much enthusiasm in chasing the ball and slip-slid right into Rohan's King Dead, who, already down on account of the rain, was less than happy about an opposing player tackling him into the dirt. The altercation that followed was a bit blurred for some on account of the rain, but both players walked away with the only yellow cards of the match.

Sadly, that was the last real bit of spirit Rohan showed in the match. At just over an hour, it was again RV's Arien that scored for her team, this time off a hefty bicycle kick from Miriel.

The game basically fell apart after that, as both teams agreed to end it and get out of the weather. Rohan was saddened by their loss, but "on the bright side, at least we lost to a fantastic team like Real Valinor." (Gandalf was heard to say this to console a downcast Radagast, who was taking the loss a bit hard. There was ale involved.)

So, with a 2-0 victory against the horse lords, Real Valinor advances to the semifinal round!




Rohan 0-2 Real Valinor
on target 3-7
tot shots 13-15
GOALS:
*16, 0-1 Arien (Nerdanel)
*62, 0-2 Arien (Miriel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Rohan- King Dead
*Real- Enerdhil