[Nogrod]

Group D at Armenelos, round3

One of the most striking consequences of this year’s groupings is that Tirion has zero points from their two first games and is without a chance to qualify. Being put in almost any other group it is clear they would have been strong contenders to continue into the play-offs, but in group D their fate is sealed already before the last round.

Now the Númenorians are know to be patriotic, nationalistic and even a bit racist bunch of proud people, but they also have a deep-rooted football culture and are thus also able to value things worthy of appreciation. So when team Tirion arrived to the pitch they received huge applauses from the crowds. In the end the homecrowds cheered to both teams in the field: to FC Valinor because of their incredible skill and unrelenting stamina and to Tirion for their honourable fight combined with their ill-fate – it was to the Númenorians a game between heroes and tragic heroes, both descriptions Númenorians could identify with.

And what a game the crowds were offered! Neither team had anything at stake tournamentwise, so in that way they were both able to play a “pressure free” game. But it was clear from the very first minutes that both wanted to show who they are and how good they are – and neither team was willing to give in an inch.

Five goals, over forty shots, a bunch of tough but within rules tackling, fighting for every ball, speed, intelligence, great personal performances, awesome combinations, great shots, great saves and the game deciding goal only five minutes before the ending whistle. What else can a football-fan ask for?
The game rolled to and fro in an astonishing pace the first period with FC Valinor creating some of the more dangerous attacks, but Tirion had their fair share of chances as well including one shot hitting the post and another barely tipped over the crossbar by Huan. Still it felt more or less just that FC Valinor took the lead just before the half-time.

People talk about “will-goals” or “determination-goals”. Curufin’s goal was exactly that. He got a pass from Yavanna on the midfield and just pushed through the Tirion defences, even ignoring Thorondor’s effort of separating him from the ball. Finally he pulled a mighty shot past his half-uncle from close range leaving Finarfin no chances to deny him.

But Tirion gathered some added spirit to their effort during the break and came into the second half like a whirlwind. It was the first time in this tournament FC Valinor was forced into being the receiving side. Like in their previous game against Real Valinor, it looked like especially Eönwë, Finwë and Aredhel had grown in stature and even in size. But also the rest of them looked sharper, nobler, tougher… It’s not that players like Huan, Nahar, Lórien or the sons of Fëanor would be intimidated by that kind of show off. But it wasn’t a show off. They were really coming on FC Valinor faster, stronger, more determined… and Tirion did open with a flash.

Three minutes into the second half the whole Tirion offence rolled unstobbably towards the goal and plain opened the defence with their aggressive charge and astonishing passing. Coming near enough the goal Eönwë had the ball and challenged Huan one on one. The herald of Manwë pulled Huan close enough and then flipped the ball away from Huan’s reach - and Aredhel managed to dive to the ball despite Nahar’s effort of stopping her. Huan had been forced to surrender the first time in the actual tournament!

But there was more to come. Ten minutes later Ingwë gave an undirect freekick from forty meters, left of the box and shot it totally wide.But Finwë was first to pick it on the right side and after dribbling his wife he centered the ball towards the goal where the concentration had just started to loosen a bit. First it looked Aredhel was going to reach the header, but already in the air, at the last moment, she ducked her head down letting the ball go over. Huan was already on the move right anticipating Aredhel’s header when the ball flew just inches over Nahar’s back straight at Eönwë who headed it down to the low left corner of the goal leaving Huan surprised another time in ten minutes.

The mainly Númenorian crowds were pleased and some even joined Tirion supporters in their chanting. But when FC Valinor pulled itself together and kind of “changed gear” the same crowds were only happy to change their songs as now FC Valinor was showing them some really astonishing football –but Tirion was standing firm playing very impressive defence, something none had thought they could do.But when it is honour more than points that are at stake, then one can strech into remarkable deeds.

Tirion defences held the waves of attacks by FC Valinor for fifteen minutes but then the inevitable happened. And it was Curufin again. This time he got a centering pass from Idril the Silverfoot who had dashed to the edge of the field, and rushing from between Elenwë and Irimë he slid the low pass in from two meters.

The last fifteen minutes were a pure thriller. The game was even 2-2, but neither team seemed to accept a draw. The football fans were peeing honey. How wrong was it that Tirion had to drop out from the tournament now that they really showed their qualities struggling even with, and forcing the team most agencies would put as the number one favourite to win the whole Arda Cup 2012 into defence at times!

But in the end FC Valinor proved the stronger willed or just plain better. Or then it was just Curufin. He was in flames after the two first tournament games where he had been shadowed by his brother Celegorm, and it seemed there was no one that could stop him this day. Curufin scored his hat-trick with an impressive volley to a great long pass from the lower midfield by his broither Maglor. One rarely sees such goals: a thirty-meter high-pass and a turning volley – to the upper corner of the goal from just beside the box! It was just fantastic! The hats were being thrown into the field when Curufin made a celebrationary-run around the pitch to an unanimous standing ovation of an impressed crowd.

It was said before the match that this game had no signifigance. And tournamentwise it didn’t. But to everyone who was there witnessing the game – or to those who saw it live through Palantir Broadcasting Service (PBS) – it really meant something. To have lived such a game, to have lived such a game… it was something folks would tell their grandchildren about.

Tirion 2-3 FC Valinor
on target 7-9
tot shots 18-24
GOALS:
*38, 0-1 Curufin (Yavanna)
*48, 1-1 Aredhel (Eonwe)
*57, 2-1 Eonwe (Finwe)
*74, 2-2 Curufin (Idril)
*85, 2-3 Curufin (Maglor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Tirion- Mahtan, Thorondor
*FCVal- Celegorm


So all was set for the “main game” of the day. With such an appetizer as they had just seen it was hard to see how the feeling or intensity could rise any more, but it did; it skyrocketed, quite literally. When the home team marched into the pitch the noise was just ear-piercing: the drums, the trombones, the chanting… the waves going round the stadium incessantly for the first twenty minutes of the game… you name it.

But even if the game outshone the earlier one in emotion and feeling for the majority of the homeside fans at the stands, a football cognoscenti must have missed the flash and flare of the earlier game. Not that the game or the players were bad, quite the contrary: had it been played at any time or at any place it would have been a great match of the best talent for football in whole Arda to remember for a long while, but after the Tirion vs. FC Valinor –game it just didn’t feel like it. Like The Valmar Bells put it in their headline the following day, it was like “the great beauty produced by the harps of the Ainur in Aman fade in comparison to the Ainulindalë”.

The first half was goalless with Real Valinor creating slightly the more dangerous chances. Many fans of Real Valinor were happy to see the dynamic-trio Nerdanel, Miriel and Arien being fed better than in the earlier games creating a few good chances as their performance – or actually the lack of it – has been the main reason for the situation Real Valinor is. But Armenelos was not content on playing a second fiddle either and made some pretty good build-ups, even winning the possession on the first half. Real was just an inch sharper on the first period while Armenelos’ attacks ended up more often into shots out of target or them losing the ball just before they could shoot. In the latter case especially Caranthir and Tilion were forcing turnovers time after time creating some real frustration in team Armenelos.

The second half started in the similar vein and in the end Real Valinor produced a result. 15 minutes into the second half Tar Calmacil was carded for a late tackle on Arien, quite nastily to the ankle actually, just behind the box. Arien had to be aided by the first-aid staff, but she insisted to take the free kick herself. And what a shot it was! The ball went round the wall and suddenly bent steeply towards the other direction. Tar Atanamir had no chance. Real Valinor had taken the lead.

That made Armenelos to push it all in. They took the control of the game and came forwards like a tidal wave. But going all in carries with it the risks of counter-attacks and just ten minutes into the great pressure by the home-team Tilion stole the ball and sent it forwards to Nerdanel who sent it immediately forth to Miriel who broke away behind the Armenelos defenders and ran alone to face Tar Atanamir. And she scored with her speed totally outweighing Tar Atanamir’s effort of trying to keep up with her.

There was twenty minutes left and the home team was trailing with two goals. The crowds were stunned and quiet. It looked like Real Valinor was making it to the play-offs and Armenelos would stay in the group-phase.

Armenelos had no chance but to press on, but with a two goal lead Real Valinor clearly draw back more they had done earlier.

Tar Ancalimon shot it just wide from thirty meters free kick.

Ar Adunakhôr headed a corner from a great situation straight to Tulkas’ hands.

Ar Pharazôn made an astonishing bicycle-kick from in front of the goal but it was bounced back to the midfield from Rumil’s back.

Tar Miriel was just breaking through inside the box when Caranthir’s sliding tackle took her from the control of the ball.

Ar Pharazôn took a rebound from a shot by Tar Ancalimon and shot it from between two defenders – exactly out of reach from Tulkas but still inside the posts!

It was a goal! Armenelos was only one goal behind with… three minutes to go.
Real Valinor decided to play it safe and pulled everyone down leaving only Arien to threaten a break-through and thus forcing Armenelos to consider leaving at least one player to look after her. It was like a cat trying to attack a hedgehog: there was no way in for the cat. With the home fans supporting their own furiously the Armenelos team tried to crack the all-team defence of Real Valinor – and it felt like they banged their head on a wall that didn’t give in. They didn’t manage a shot in the last three minutes even if they tried their hardest. The hometeam had lost and were left in the group-stage.

The disappointment was huge. The empty feeling at the stadion was undescribable but overwhelming. After such experiences, after so many highs (the first game included) and the final hammering blow the stadion was awkwardly silent. It was like too much to bear. There were slow and silent tears in the eyes of many proud and bold Númenorians while many just swallowed them and bit their lip. The Númenorians were refusing to leave the stadium, like their staying would open up a window for a third period to be played or what not – which none of them of course thought would happen.

When the visiting fans and supporters of the other teams finally dared to start exiting the stands the Númenorians spontaneously started to sing “Númenor will never yield” with great emotion. It was moment everyone present would remember the rest of their lives.

Later both the organizing committee and the visiting foreigners were afraid of troubles during the night but nothing drastic happened. One Vanyarin elf had to be taken to a emergency care after being beaten up badly in a row in a local tavern, and a decent number of bruises and minor wounds were treated at the first-aid centers around the city. But the numbers were unexpectedly low regarding the expectations or horror-scenarios.

One thing that might have eased the feelings was that Real Valinor sent Nienna and Arien to represent their team into the post game press-conference. They both praised the Armenelos team, the local fans and the organising committee to the high heavens and bowed to the footballing culture of Númenor.

When asked by The Armenelos Times, do they feel they can represent this extraordinary group in the play-offs with honour when, so to say, their scoring powder has been so wet, Arien seemed relaxed when answering: “There’s no reason to reveal all your cards prematurely or to perform your best before the time it matters. Real Valinor will go far in this tournament, you bet, and it will be for the honour of the Númenorians as well to see that a team that so thinly won your team will cruise it all the way.”

Armenelos 1-2 Real Valinor
on target 4-7
tot shots 11-16
GOALS:
*60, 0-1 Arien
*71, 0-2 Miriel (Nerdanel)
*87, 1-2 Ar Pharazon (Tar Ancalimon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armen- Ar Gimilzor, Tar Calmacil
*Real- Nessa


Group D final results
FC Valinor 9 3-0-0 8-2
Real Valinor 6 2-0-1 4-5

Armenelos 3 1-0-2 4-6
Tirion 0 0-0-3 5-8

FC Valinor (D1) and Real Valinor (D2) to qualify.