[Nogrod]

Group C @ Doriath


If one would have to name the hottest game of the first round there would be perhaps two or three candidates; perhaps Erebor vs. Wilderland in Group E with the full weight of the importance of the game and the flare of the both attacking sides, or maybe Angband vs. Tol-In-Gaurhoth in Group G with two extremely tough teams fighting it out. But the AKM would choose the game between Hithlum and Real Valinor even if one could argue that the two teams are favourites to qualify from their group anyway so it’s not that much a game of death as such.

Real Valinor are the champions from the last season and they have shown in the friendlies that even without Arien they are serious contenders to renew their title. Let’s remind our readers for just one single fact: last season Real Valinor lost to FC Valinor twice with no uncertain terms but went on to claim the championship with some confidence. This year they draw with FC Valinor in the friendlies – so one could say that they are a better team this year than the last year… and they were already champions last season. Go figure that.

Hithlum on the other hand has put in all their financial resources to fight seriously for the Cup this year and their offence with Túrin and Beleg looks the most intimidating – especially with Hador rising to his level in the friendlies (2+0 in two games) and the ever-dangerous Húrin parked in the middle of the offence. With a Balrog and Hador’s sons in the defence it should not be up to their defence either. Although many hold Huor to be a questionmark at the goal as he skipped the last season. But with a man like him you know that even his performance on a bad day would be a great achievement to a lesser one.

And it is clear neither team is prepared to lose a single game – even if some analysts hold Hithlum’s two draws in the friendlies a discouraging omen telling they are not up to the task this year either – while Real Valinor’s beating of Valimar confidently 3-1 is to many a sign of the sheer brilliance of the team. But the difference between the teams would be soon found out.

“The Cave” was full already for the afternoon game as everyone wanted to see the two teams included in the short list of the “most talked” teams of the tournament (add to them AC Beleriand, T-I-G and FC Valinor and there we kind of have it). Tulkas and Hador led their teams to the field showing great respect to each other following the fair play theme Menegroth had created for this year’s tournament. The Breelanders in the audience stood in awe for the nobility and both inner and visible strength radiating from the men of old while the elves recognized their partners of the days gone by with accepting embrace, but with the entrance of the Valar, Maiar and the noblest Noldor everyone just held their breath. The spectators knew they were witnessing something out of ordinary indeed.



The game itself was just as intense and high-quality everyone had hoped for. Both offences created beautiful combinations and chances at scoring but to counter that both defences played superbly forcing the shots from difficult angles allowing minimum reaction time to the strikers. During the first half an hour Real Valinor had probably a little more of the possession but Hithlum had probably an inch better chances at scoring – when Miriel suddenly exploded the stadium with a beautiful cross-run sweeping in Nerdanel’s inch-accurate pass from the air past Huor – leaving him standing in awe to the exact finishing of the great striker.

Many people seem to have forgotten that Nerdanel and Miriel had their dynamic duo already before Arien joined them – and now they showed why they are so feared by the opposite defences all over Arda. That was just fantastic.
After the goal allowed Hithlum put in a new gear and you could see the seriousness of their effort from Túrin’s game – he, and all Hithlum players, were chasing every ball, fighting for every possession to the end – and his eyes, which were shining steel and determination. And the sudden flame of Hithlum forced even a team like Real Valinor to draw back a bit to better contain the massive attack Hithlum was bringing forth.

Real Valinor managed to keep Hithulm at bay most of the time, even quite comfortably at times. Nienna was superb cutting passes into the box while Nahar and Ingwinion took care of Túrin and Beleg – and even Tilion worked hard in the defence running after anyone who was looking dangerous. But the sheer determination and number of chances Hithlum created led to the inevitable result.

Hithlum scored the game even just one minute before the half-time!

Hador gave a pass diagonally backwards from the edge of the box and while the defenders were busy closing any further passing-lines Húrin ran for the ball and booted such a swerving boomer into the upper-left corner of the goal even Tulkas had no chance of picking it.

Whether Hithlum had just exhausted themselves with the dynamic rage of the last fifteen minutes of the first half and never recovered or whether they were too happy to draw or whether it was something else no one will probably ever know. But the second half was just a Real Valinor show.

It was a different game on the second half. Real Valinor was in the driver’s seat commanding both the tempo and where the game was played. Moving the ball quick from player to player exhausted the Hithlum squad who were always running a bit late after it.

So if it was determination that decided the latter part of the first half it was confidence that decided the second half.

Balrog #5 was forced to take a yellow card when Oromë was breaking through into the box with the ball and the giant was just late. From the ensuing free-kick just inches behind the edge of the box Oromë himself made one of the greatest goals of the first round sure to end up in most of the YouTube compilations. He booted a cannon of a shot that swereved around the wall put up by Hithlum and before Huor realised it was not going wide after all it was too late for him to react as the ball went in hitting the post first.

Real Valinor was not finished with claiming the lead once more but continued dominating the field leaving little or no room for any counterplay ti Hithlum – even if they had a few controlled attacks and Túrin’s one fiery shot missed the post only about half a meter. But Real was the team calling the shots now – and it was no wonder they actually scored yet one more time about ten minutes before the end.

This time they just saw the defences open with criss-crossing passes finally leaving Nessa to just move the ball into the empty net from one meter’s distance. And many were just amazed of the energy Tilion had rushing to the last pass – it seemed to be true he flourishes immediately when he’s not just following Arien everywhere.

Sad for team Hithlum but in the last ten minutes of the game Real Valinor was actually closer of making it 4-1 than Hithlum was to cut the lead into 2-3. It had been an unexpectedly uneven game – even if some reporters were nodding their faces knowledgeably with the “what did I say” –look. Happily those few would be soo very wrong in their next predictions that no one cared.

Hithlum 1-3 Real Valinor
on target 5-9
tot shots 14-22
GOALS:
*29, 0-1 Miriel (Nerdanel)
*44, 1-1 Hurin (Hador)
*61, 1-2 Orome
*79, 1-3 Nessa (Tilion)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Hithlum- Arroch, Balrog#5
*RealV- Nienna



If the team Hithlum can be called a kind of an family-affair the same could be said of Doriath as well with Elwë and Melian and then their grandchild Dior with Elwing – and their forefathers and daughter – form the core of the team aided by a few of Elwë’s trusted elves. But talking about quality and family: many missed Beren and Lúthien.

Shire-Bree on the other hand looked more like a mötley crew of vagabonds and strangers walking into the bright lights of the Menegroth Stadium: a wizard, a great white horse, three Nazgûl, a beast, a couple of hobbits and men (of which one didn’t look exactly sporty)…

So when the hometeam took the reins into their hands with their organized play, most of the homeside-fans relaxed and cheered approvingly for a nice evening of football. But not everyone was happy with the seeming grip Doriath had on the game – for Gandalf was tricksy and with the two Nazgûl up front (and that odd but sturdy hobbit Bandobras Took) they were actually able to sneak in chances of scoring every now and then – and even if Doriath held the ball most of the time Shire-Bree did actually produce the better chances. And as the first half went on it became quite evident even to the blindest home-fans: these oddballs were challenging Doriath seriously – and that instead of a walk in the park they faced a serious struggle to win the game.

Towards the end of the first half the Shire Bree was actually calling the shots while the hometeam just tried to keep the ball out from the scoring-distance. It had so turned over that it was the Doriath fans and players who were relieved with the half-time whistle.

But Doriath-team had done some serious soul-searching during the half-time and came to the second period with a totally new energy. They were confident but not over-confident, playing now with a full 100% concentration. And they scored a goal in three minutes with Elwë sliding in a perfect pass by Mablung! And the crowds regained their confidence once again.

And it was obvious the second half was a much better football than the first as now both teams were playing seriously – and to the astonishment of the homecrowds it was an even game indeed. At times Doriath was able to press the game down to the Shire-Bree side but then on another the quests took the initiative and forced the game to the other end.

But the farther the clock ticked the more careful or unrisky game Doriath started to play to save their lead – and the more they left room for Shire-Bree to manouver. With Khamûl hitting the post less than ten minutes before the end the homeside fans went on gnawing their fingernails.
From the next attack Elwing managed to cut the releasing pass by Gandalf to Nazgûl #6 and Melian took care of heading the ensuing corner far away to the midfield.

On the next Elwing jumped in front of the crossing by Bandobras and Nimloth swept the ball away from Ferny’s feet from the throw-in.

Five minutes before the full-time Daeron slided late on Butterbur’s ankle giving Shire-Bree a free kick.

All three Nazgûl and Gandalf gathered around the ball at the 35 meters the kick would be given while Dior was organising the defences in to a wall where both Gildor and Shadowfax were trying to fit in.

Finally the referee blew his whistle and all the three Nazgûl and Gandalf rushed forwards at the same time. The Nazgûl were faster and while Khamûl was coming straigth towards the wall of defenders (and Shadowfax and Gildor who were pushing the defenders aways as hard as they could), Nazgûl #6 was rushing past the wall from left and #4 from right.

There was a moment of confusion and whilst most defenders tried to stand the center to stop Khamûl, Shadowfax and Gildor, Galadhon and Nellas fell to the sides to shadow the Nazgûls rushing forwards from the sides - and with Gandalf’s kick finally in the air and flying towards left and Nazgûl #6 Daeron also left his place from the edge of the wall to pursue the beast.

And there was the trick! Nazgûl #6 had no intention to possess the ball or put it forwards – even if Shadowfax, Khamûl and Gildor were making leaps forwards – and made Melian, Elwë and other defenders to fall in with them effectively breaking the defensive wall. But the Nazgûl just played it back diagonally to Gandalf who had meanwhile ran forwards and a little right to gain a free line to shoot – and with the combination of Dior concentrating on the other end of the goal and the power of Gandalf’s shot the ball went into the net just beside the right post before Dior had a chance to even try and stop it.

The Shire-Bree fans were exploding with righteous-joy while the homecrowds were silenced for good. It was four minutes of the game left and the game was even.

And it ended that way even if both teams made a decent try to change it at the last minutes – but it was clear that both teams were afraid of losing more they were keen in winning the game at the last minutes.

So Shire-Bree had forced the hostsinto a draw and no one could say the result was unfair.


Doriath 1-1 ShireBree United
on target 3-5
tot shots 9-12
GOALS:
*48, 1-0 Elwe (Mablung)
*86, 1-1 Gandalf (Nazgul #6)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath-
*SBUnt- Ferny, Khamul