Group G @ Anfauglith
One game in Group G would be played at Tol-In-Gaurhoth's stadium between Angband and Imladris. And the other game at Anfauglith's Coliseum between Angfauglith and Tol-In-Gaurhoth. Before the two primetime matches kicked off two things were almost completely certain. TIG would advance and Imladris would be eliminated. There were circumstances which could prove these statements wrong, but most pundits said 2 halflings blindly walking into Mordor and destroying the ultimate ring of power is more probable. TIG doesn't give up a lot of goals and they're up against Angfauglith, who doesn't score a lot. So, the chances they lose by 2 or 3 goals is indeed improbable. Imladris would need Angfauglith to lose and to also beat Angband that makes up their -3 goal differential. They've been kept off the scoreboard by TIG and Angfauglith so far, and will have no lesser of a challenge against Angband tonight.
The starting of the match could not have gone better if Morgoth had sang the theme for it. Telvildo and Oikeroi were constants pests to the Imladris players. Not afraid of the band of Valar, Elven, and mortal players the cats had no problem sneaking by and stealing possession from right under their feet. Already in the 12th minute Angband got on the scoreboard from a screaming bullet off of Ancalagon's tail. Then a few minutes later Oikeroi quickly stole a pass from Galdor and tried to shoot a quick one in. Valandil stopped it, but couldn't hold on, and made a further mess trying to dive on the ball he fumbled, but Ulfast got to it first and punched it in. And just like that Angband was up 2-0 before the 20 minute mark.
The crowd was roaring cheers, even if it was in TIG, there was no shortage of Angband sympathizers and the TIG team had already convincincly defeated Angband, so they were just geared up for a bloodbath against the goodie Elven squad from Middle-earth.
Being up 2 goals, Morgoth switched to his shutdown defense that everyone in the stadium was used to seeing. Although, maybe in this case their pride led to overconfidence or they thought Imladris' spirits were completely broken from a poor tournament. It wasn't a particularly good attempt by Elladan. Carcharoth should have had an easy save but he was caught napping and it somehow got past him. No matter how it comes about, a goal is a goal. It counted and just like that Imladris felt they were back in the game.
Imladris tried to ride the positive feelings to the break and maybe get a quick equalizer, but Morgoth, angered by conceding a goal to Imladris was having none of it. Angband ordered his team into keeping possession for the remainder of the half and they were able to do so quite easily.
The 2nd half began and it surprised the crowd it was still a close game, because watching it just seemed Angband had a firm grip and everything was going exactly as Morgoth planned. But the scoreboard told a different story, even though if probably only the small Imladris crowd still believed their side could challenge the mighty power from the North.
Imladris would have no such halflings luck today though, the 2nd half was a defensive clinic in playing a possession game. Carcharoth could actually nap at the goal and not worry about anymore goals. In the 66th minute Angband sealed their victory, and it was none other than Morgoth himself scoring off of Ulfang's corner. It was now 3-1 and Imladris did not have the will to try to fight back as they had in the 1st half.
Imladris would have the long road back home with quite a disappointing group performance. Angband was sitting in 2nd place with 6 points and +2 differential. It put them in good position to advance, but whatever had happened at Anfauglith had the final say of which 2 advanced. So, what had been going on in Anfauglith?
Angband 3-1 Imladris
on target 8-3
tot shots 17-9
GOALS:
*12, 1-0 Ancalagon (Telvildo)
*18, 2-0 Ulfast (Oikeroi)
*31, 2-1 Elladan (Arahael)
*66, 3-1 Morgoth (Ulfang)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfang
*Imlad- Varda, Galdor
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Tol-in-Gaurhoth had "it" back. The intimidation, the swagger, the athleticism, everything that made the team a fearsome title contender year-after-year. But they felt like a road team for the first time in Anfauglith's massive stadium. Angfauglith fans had spent the hours before the match trying to convince themselves their team could score the multiple goals needed to steal one of the playoff spots. TIG was calm and confident though in their defense to get another win and go into the playoffs yet to even give up a goal.
Scoring on Angfauglith's stiff defense is still a tough challenge for anyone and there was no hope TIG could intimidate the Balrogs and Ungoliant, so they would need to rely more on their skills and a concerted team effort than they were used to. TIG was dominating possession, but without the fear factor, nor their full focus and heart to drive their attack Angfauglith's defense was having an easy time stopping the wolves.
TIG seemed to just be going through the motions, and in the 32nd minute it cost them when Ungoliant saved one of InzilWolf's half-hearted shots and the spider began a quick counter attack. The Balrog defenders burst forward, not at all confident in their mid-field players to get the job done. Eventually Haldir got the ball on the left flank and gave it up to Gothmog. Gothmog froze the wolf defenders just long enough to blast it past ShastaWolf. ShastaWolf was furious growling at his defenders for leaving Gothmog unpressured for that long and they needed to close down on the Balrog immediately.
Anfauglith Coliseum blasted it's warhorns and chants, they scored on TIG. Not even Morgoth could say he accomplished that and more importantly they held the lead, which also held going into the half.
That still didn't change the facts of the game, even losing 0-1 TIG would advance and advance as the group winner too. And when the halftime score in the other game revealed Angband was beating Imladris 2-1, Angfauglith fans realized they needed more goals.
No one had yet to score 2 on TIG and as correctly called by PhantomWolf, Gothmog is a fantastic forward, but he can't possibly take the ball from the defense and run the length of the field himself all the time. Angfauglith's mid-field was the weakest in the tournament and so TIG was having no problems controlling possession in Angfauglith's half. They still didn't seem to have the focus or motivation that was needed to score on the suffocating Angfauglith defense, organized in front of Ungoliant.
In truth, it didn't matter though, because they were still leading the group. But after seeing in the other match Morgoth put his team up 3-1 in the 66th minute, that brought more life to TIG's attack. Wanting to have no room for doubt now, and let 1st place slip away, at the 71' LegateWight passed it to PhantomWolf who put a wicked curve on his shot that even fooled Ungoliant.
TIG had levelled the match and that deflated the crowd who had been teased with the possibility of Angfauglith advancing, but now were facing the reality. It wasn't TIG's fault, they were a worthy and stout opponent. And Angfauglith had some of the most fearsome talent in the game today, so why had it failed to make the playoffs for the 2nd straight year? It was clear there were a lot of problems with the mid-field, but was that the fault of the mid-fielders or the way the investors (principally Morgoth) organized the team?
Angfauglith 1-1 Tol In Gaurhoth
on target 3-5
tot shots 8-14
GOALS:
*32, 1-0 Gothmog (Haldir)
*71, 1-1 PhantomWolf (LegateWight)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angfaug- Balrog#2, Gothmog, Haldir, Borlach
*TIG- SallyWight, Drauglin, Thuringwethil
Round 3 standings...
Code:
Group G W-D-L Pts GD
T-I-G 2-1-0 7 +4
Angband 2-0-1 6 +2
Angfauglith 1-1-1 4 -1
Imladris 0-0-3 0 -5
Exit interviews from the eliminated teams will come later.