Group E at Erebor & Mirkwood
The last games of group E would be played at Mirkwod and Arkenstone Arena at Erebor. The hosting side Erebor would meet Misty Mountains at their home stadium inside Erebor while Wilderland would meet the already qualified Eriador at the stadium of the Enchanted River just south of the Elven road in Mirkwood.
The Mirkwood Stadium with it’s blueprint seats of different shapes and sizes and prespun webs for spiders hanging over it was once again crowded by a host of different creatures from ents to Nazgűl and elves to spiders.
The Eriador fans were facing a kind of a “first world problem”. With their own team already qualified – actually as the number one of the group – they could just enjoy the game. But if they thought about which other team they would wish to qualify most of them would have probably thought Wilderland with the bunch of elves and ents in its ranks. For even if the two other teams had great Eagles in them they were mostly composed of dwarves, men and creatures of darkness. But how to cheer for the team that is playing against your own team – or to really boo to them from the bottom of your heart if you want them to succeed rather than the two others playing another game far away?
For all the other teams and their fans it was a thrilling situation before the last games as every team had a chance to qualify – and not to. Before this round Wilderland had two points and Erebor and Misty Mts. one each. So if Erebor and Misty Mts. draw their game Wilderland could qualify even if it lost with one goal. But if either Erebor or Misty Mts. won the game between the two, that team would go to four points requiring Wilderland to win the game against Eriador to qualify.
What that means is that even if the main sight of both Erebor and Misty Mts. will be on just winning the game (and hoping Wilderland will not win Eriador), Wilderland will wish to score as many goals as possible in case of tied points. And looking at the perspective of a draw between Erebor and Misty Mts. they’d want to score a lot as well just to have a chance.
So every team but Eriador wishes to score as much as possible… and with teams whose philosophy in general is “outscore the opponent” facing this kind of a round, well there just couldn’t be better starting point for a last round, now could there?
Mirkwood
From early on it was clear both teams were starting it carefully – or then Eriador was just gracefully elegant in shutting Wilderland down. The farther the period went the more one started to think in the latter vein as the oftentimes wildly attacking Wilderland was plain denied their normal offensive game by Eriador’s tight defences. But focusing on that Eriador itself had only rare chances of making a difference in offence.
It was not exactly unentertaining, but Wilderland were just not willing to change gear in any definitive way in fear of opening a path for counteroffencives that might ruin their chances depending on what went on in the other game – and as long as it was a draw in the other game they would have been fools to take big risks early in the game.
Erebor
In a total mirror-image of the game in Mirkwood the one between Erebor and Misty Mountains was all fire and brimstone from the very beginning. No mercy was asked and none was given – and when the referees cut into the game it seemed both sides despised their efforts to create order – although they were only too happy to gain nice free kicks from good positions.
In the Erebor defence the great eagles Meneldor and Landroval were responsible for keeping Durin’s Bane at bay while Thorin Oakenshield insisted on keeping Azog in control… two great eagles against a great Balrog, or Thorin vs. Azog… it was some true wrestling of both physics and wills.
On the other end Misty Mts. played more of a position defence than guarding certain persons with Caradhras and Watcher closing the center and William the Troll and Gwaihir going around them trying to cut any passes inside the box or physically removing ones trying to come too near the center – and at times they were actually given strong support by the Great Goblin coming that much down to assist.. but even if they seemed to be insurmountable for the humans like Bard and Brand, Smaug and the Nazgűl didn’t seem to care but rushed through and beside them on their will – creating a lot of struggle and mayhem as they went. Just think of Smaug getting mad at Caradhras and then Caradhras retaliating Smaug’s offences…
It was not a game for the weaker souls – especially if one took in the stakes they were playing: the winner would qualify (most probably) and the draw would be bad and would require a game like 5-5 or something to give either team a chance of qualifying.
Mirkwood
Coming towards the half an hour marker the game was still even and Eriador was blocking Wilderland’s efforts mostly on the midfield while concentrating themselves on the few counterattacks – which were only quite dangerous at best. NogWight did boot one relatively good shot from about 25 meters but it went a meter wide and Glorfindel’s header from a corner got tangled in Skinbark’s boughs.
But as the other game was still 0-0 it would mean that Wilderland would follow Eriador into the qualifier games and thence the feeling was more or less reservedly easy – like both teams played it for real but then again didn’t.
Erebor
There was no sign of the leasurely pace of the game played in Mirkwood deep inside the lonely mountain.
On 27th minute Narvi and Rumil played themselves sneakily inside the box past the Eagles but Thorin was there to greet the two and cut the last pass that would have let Narvi to score from in front of an empty net. The two dwarves nodded to each other courteously but there was no friendship there as this was a game of life and death.
From the next offence to the other end Nazgűl #7 got the ball on the corner of the box while pressed by Gwaihir. With a sneaky backwards-pass he managed to draw the great Eagle with him and away from the ball for the short monent for Smaug to sniff the situation: grasping the ball with his right wing while curving sharply to the left he managed to pass the Watcher. Meeting Caradhras Smaug crashed head on to the mountainside while dribbling the ball from his right wing to his left and giving it a hammer-like blow Chief Wolf had no chance of getting as he had no line of sight for it behind Caradhras.
The Lonely Mountain burst with cheers so loud it felt the whole place was indeed trembling. Erebor had taken a step forwards to qualify!
Mirkwood
After the new situation from Erebor was announced at the stadium of the Enchanted River in Mirkwood it got Wilderland to suddenly burst into a totally different fight. With Erebor leading the other game Wilderland was suddenly blocked from the qualification. The abrupt change of gear created problems for team Eriador and they seemed to struggle with accomodating themselves to the new pace set by their opponents. With the roar of the crowds of local Silvan elves, Noldor, ents, huorns, and dark creatures of every kind Eriador supporters found themselves outnumbered for good- and the balance of the game suddenly shifted.
For a while Wilderland managed to break the hedgehog-defences of Eriador with their fervour – and that was enough for them. After a few unsuccesful efforts Thranduil finally found Scatha parking in front of the Eriador goal with Gil-Galad sadly late from his duties and Asfaloth only beginning to gallop that way.
Even Elrond’s skills were no match against the Great Worm from close quarters – and the impressive tail-swing almost broke the net. It was 1-0 for Wilderland and they had a tight grip on the qualification again! It’s probably needless to say the crowds were just going crazy.
But after the goal Eriador kept their calm and concentrated firstly on avoiding any more setbacks from the now very self-confident opponent – and Wilderland was not able to capitulate their high and finally even they looked at the clock and shared the hope of retreating to the half time with these numbers and not ones worse than these.
Erebor
After Smaug’s goal the game had become even more rough as Misty Mts. was having none of losing and Erebor would not give in an inch of their precious lead… but with about ten minutes to go of the first half the news from Mirkwood kind of changed it all.
Wilderland was leading – and Eriador was not known of scoring a lot anyway – so was all their struggle in vain? Was Eriador giving in purposefully aiding some of their friends in Wilderland to qualify against all of us in the field here? That kind of things should not make a difference for professional players but it clearly did – and the last ten minutes the intensity of the game just collapsed even if no one kind of meant it to collapse. Somehow the energy was gone.
HALF TIME
Mirkwood
It was clear Wilderland was looking at the other game and came for the second half with a much easier pace playing through the defence first – so unlike you’d anticipate from them. But it was a wise tactics for by keeping their lead they’d win the game and secure their qualification whatever happened in the other game
Eriador was not going to attack like maniacs either but played it safe and sound like they tend to play. But with the slight passiveness of team Wilderland Eriador actually started to get a hold of the game a little by little. Eriador was not a team that would lose purposefully but they wouldn’t over-stretch their attack either without thinking of the defence first.
Erebor
Misty Mountains had gathered all their will-power during the half-time and came to the second half blazing with fire and brimstone. They were attacking again like madmen more or less totally ignoring their defence with only a goal in mind – and thence hopefully starting the fight for the qualification for new.
Erebor had anticipated an effort from the Misty Mts. but with Wilderland leading the other game they were not in their greatest spirits and thought the other team would be in the same mind-set – and were totally unready to answer to the total onsalught by their opponents. With the aid of their homecrowds they slowly started to pick up on their defence and to pull together but it was exactly then – at the worst possible time – that Misty Mts. equalised.
And in what a way it happened! Durin’s Bane forced himself to the goal and finally got a pass from Azog drawing all the defenders to him - but he passed the ball backwards after seeing there was a clear shot for Rumil who ran in and booted it with all his might leaving Beorn quite helpless with it. And so the Lórien elf silenced the whole Lonely Mountain – except the fans of Misty Mts. who were going crazy with the equalizer!
Wilderland was still going to qualify but if there would be a change in the game between Eriador and Wilderland, then Misty Mts. was back in the game again. They had no say in the other game, but they were doing their part – and many in the audience started to fear the home-team was not… now where was their effort to fight?
It is a rare thing dwarves or the darker creatures pray for the elves to score – but now everyone at th4e Arkenstone Arena was crossing their fingers for Eriador to come back to the game in Mirkwood.
Mirkwood
Meanwhile back in the jungle… well forest, Wilderland kept on defending their lead with Eriador slowly but firmly pressing the game to the Wilderland half of the field. But compared to the match played in Erebor the energy and the tempo of the game was probably not even half of that.
Erebor
At 64th minute Bolg gets a second yellow card and is immediately shown a red by the referee! The home team or their fans can’t just quite understand what happened. Thorin is close to gain a yellow card himself running after the referee and complaining wildly – happily for Thorin the referee didn’t see him going to Bolg and punching him straight in the face after being forced away from the referee by his team mates.
But the row had started… The dwarves were booing both to the referee and Bolg – and well to goblin-spectators as well. The goblins were naturally taking none of it but jumped on the dwarven supportets. In no time the fight spread all over the stands.
It was finallly suppressed by the Eagles, Smaug, Durin’s Bane and Caradhras – together with some of their kin from the audience picking up a policing duty. Only a few dwarves and goblins were foolish enough to try and continue rebelling facing that kind of “peace officers”. After th last rebel-rousers had been kicked off from Erebor the game was ready to continue – although in a quite a reserved mood.
Mirkwood
Eriador had the command of the game now but they were not raining offences towards Wilderland but rather building the attacks slowly controlling the game to their liking.
And sure it had been a question of time Eriador evened the game… and it was a neat combination as well.
Arador sent a cross from the left towards NogWight who was breaking in from between the ents – but seeing Isildur on the move diagonally behind him NogWight let the ball go through as he was in a too tight a position between the ents. As soon as the other defenders realised it they instinctively turned towards Isildur – which meant that also Radagast from the right took the lean towards the son of Elendil only to realize that Glorfindel had time to make that extra inch from behind him to reach the one-timer pass from Isildur’s boot – and to head it in!
All those in the audience appreciating football were thrilled with the smooth team effort and neat execution of the goal – but most booed to it as with that goal Wilderland’s chances of qualification were yet again a goal away, against a team that looked like it was superior on every front and annoyingly confident.
Erebor
With the news from Mirkwood The Arkenstone Arena just burst alive after few minutes of tension and nervous anticipation. The game was on again! But the homeside was one player short!
Oh, the anguish of the home-crowd! Now it was all up to their own team and they were shorthanded!
Despite their lack of a player Erebor started pressing heavily towards the Misty Mountains defences creating the most dangerous chances of scoring with Smaug booming a “winger” just over the crossbar and Bard forcing Chief Wolf into a parade save tipping it wide by an inch.
Mirkwood
Wilderland was in between the rock and the hard place. And they decided they’d try to break through. With the leadership of Scatha and Thranduil they forced their attacks on only to find themselves contained just half-way between the center and the box. Eriador was just too good in containing their passing lines.
With Isildur and Glorfindel mainly hanging around the center ready to take a run Wilderland was not able to rise all their players up – but with Arveleg, Arador and NogWight running around to intrude the one with the ball Wilderland found little time or space to build up anything either as Eriador’s defences held their lines admirably close preventing any clear lines for passing.
And so it ended. Eriador allowed Wilderland to take one point with them but the still qualified as team number one from group E – and that was enough for them. Wilderland’s fate would be up to the other game then – which was running late now because of the incident with Bolg’s red card.
Both the crowds and Wilderland players were keeping their breath after the ending whistle for any news from the other venue…
Erebor
83 minutes on the clock! Erebor is pressing on with the attack – Brand takes a shot! And it is headed out by Caradhras.
A corner. Bard gives a swerwing ball into the middle. William heads it upwards beating Nazgűl #7 for it. Orophin dives before Dain and kicks the ball forwards with a one-timer before the ball comes down humiliating the dwarf with shooting it from above the dwarve’s head.
For a moment everyone just watches the ball go high and towards the Erebor side of the field – and Beorn starts jogging towards the midfield to catch it as to play it back as soon as possible.
Suddenly there is this odd feelling of something being going on even if you didn’t quite know what was it. Meneldor and Landroval shrieked at the same time and took it to their wings rushing high up.
A shadow went past the arena and there was a hissing sound coming from nowhere only to sweep across the field before anyone could react but the two Eagles who were sudenly seen diving behind their leader playing on the opposite side.
Gwaihir was diving down with speed only a few spectators could follow beaking the ball in front of him as he dived (the AFA rules denied flying creatures to carry the ball while airborne) and after passing Beorn who was just emerging as a bear to reach farther Gwaihir winged the ball towards the goal some thirty meters from it. Narrowly escaping a clash Landroval shrieked and took off while Meneldor dived after the ball… he managed to hit the ball with the tip of his right wing diving towards it just in front of the goal – but it was not enough! It changed the trajectory of the ball but didn’t prevent it from going inside the goal.
Misty Mountains were leading! Just six minutes before the final whistle – and they had one player advantage… which they held into. And Misty Mountains qualified in front of the astonished home crowds.
The violent clashes between the dwarves and goblins after the game are a story of their own not touched upon here but it looks doubtful Erebor will be hosting any games in near future because of what happened.
But it was clear Bolg was not welcome to Erebor any more – and some even whispered he had made it on purpose and was thus not only a clumsy and violent freak but also a willing traitor who would be hunted down if ever seen near Erebor.
Be that as it may, Erebor was out.
Results:
Erebor 1-2 Misty Mts
on target 5-7
tot shots 14-14
GOALS:
*28, 1-0 Smaug (Nazgul#7)
*53, 1-1 Rumil (DBane)
*84, 1-2 Gwaihir (Orophin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Erebor- Thorin, Bolg, Meneldor
*MMts- Watcher, William, Rumil, Azog
RED CARDS:
*Erebor- Bolg (64, second yellow)
Eriador 1-1 Wilderland
on target 3-4
tot shots 10-11
GOALS:
*34, 0-1 Scatha (Thranduil)
*70, 1-1 Glorfindel (Isildur)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Eriador- Araphant
*Wilder- Nazgul#3, Imin
Code:
Eriador 7 4-2
Misty Mts. 4 5-5
Wilderland 3 6-6
Erebor 1 4-6
Eriador advances as E1
Misty Mountains advances as E2