[Nogrod]

It was going to be more than just a football match. Local newspapers talked of “Pelennor Fields revisited” and Eowyn and Theoden assured the public in an interview: “We have beaten those monsters once so we’ll be able to beat them this day as well”. But it was clear the four Nazgul, or Gothmog, or the Mouth would not let the strawheads humiliate them a second time. And they had performed superbly this far in the tournament playing in one of the toughest groups in the whole games.

The organisers had been anticipating a host of visitors but when they started arriving in hordes the day before the game it was soon realised there was going to be a legion of them. Reserve units of the mounted-guard were called in duty from the surrounding countryside, additional camping areas were marked and facilities added.

Some newspapers estimated afterwards that there had been as much as 25 000+ visitors to the game from outside Rohan: Corsairs from Umbar, black Numenoreans, Haradrim, Easterlings, orcs and beasts and a big host of Gondorians willing to see king Eärnur once again – and also friends of the Eorlingas from Minas Tirith.

Some people had protested at the time when the Meduseld-arena was built that it was crazy to build a 60 000 people stadium in the middle of Rohan. But this day it was filled to the last seat and still a number of people were left outside the stadium as it just couldn’t take in any more spectators (the maximum capacity had been already broken by some three thousand spectators).

And the feeling inside the stadium! It was just astonishing. Many locals were wondering whether there could be so many colours in the world; or so different melodies and rhythms… And still underneath the carnevalistic chanting and drumming there was a darker undercurrent there. Losing was not an option to the supporters of either team and no one could predict how the disappointment of the losing side’s fans would erupt. For one of the teams the tournament would end this day.


The game itself started with some probing from both teams. To the joy of the home team fans it was Edoras that slowly got the upper hand in the match. Minas Morgul’s defence was one of the toughest in the tournament but it wasn’t exactly the fastest. And there the speed and agility of Eowyn and Eomer made a difference. And they worked really hard. With their constant runs they opened holes in the Minas Morgul defences and created scoring opportunities.

But all that was possible only with Edoras’ royal midfield controlling the middle-field sovereignily with the help of the mearas. Due to different pre-game tactical decisions the Minas Morgul midfield, the two Corsairs and the Queen, were all the time facing five players of the opposing team and thus rarely managed to pass the ball on to their forwards. But when they managed it, it was immediately dangerous – like when Beruthiel managed to dribble away two opponents and to pass the ball to Castamir running at the sideline. Castamir outran Elfwine and then passed the ball into the middle where Eärnur got rid of his marker and volleyed the ball just a little wide.

But finally at 32nd minute the home team got what it duly deserved – and the home crowd burst into cheers. With fast paced sprints and some instinctual passing Eowyn and Eomer opened the whole Minas Morgul defence. Eowyn’s last pass surprised all as she passed the ball not to Eomer who was heading for the post for a free scoring opportunity, but to Eorl who was keeping up with the younger forwards and had been left alone for a moment when all the defence was buzzing around Eowyn and Eomer. Eorl hammered the ball in from 18 meters with force that left the Mouth no chance.

After the goal the Witch King dropped a little backwards to aid the midfielders and that did balance the fight there a bit, but Edoras was still controlling the game in general. The home crowd’s chanting grew more confident with the passing of every minute and with the referee whistling the half-time the fans were singing songs of victory. Even the die-hard Minas Morgul fans had to admit that Edoras was the better team on the first half.


Minas Morgul had changed their tactics a bit for the second half. The Witch King and Eärnur had fallen backwards leaving Castamir as the only forward up high. That finally evened out the midfield but left the game imbalanced as the Edoras half of the midfield was heavily manned and the Morgul side was almost empty.

And what would the quick-footed Eowyn and Eomer do given such a space to roam? Well, they made a goal! The two ran the Morgul defences into disarray once again – and finally with the help of Aldor Eowyn managed to send Eomer free to score.

The home crowd went wild. 2-0!

But then the Witch King stepped forwards and gathered the team around him. No one knows what they said to each other or what witchcraft was performed. The referee tried to get the game to continue but the Morgul team was locked into a tight group for a minute or so, until a terrible shriek and wail burst from the Morgul team - so terrible even the orcs in the audience were scared to death by it.

And the Edoras team soon realized they were playing a totally different team they had played the first hour against. The Minas Morgul team was now aggressive and fast. It looked like the Witch King was everywhere. After one shot to the crossbar and another just barely fisted wide by Theoden the Edoras defence started marking him with two defenders when ever it was possible. But when the Witch King was drawing the defenders to him Queen Beruthiel took the lead in the Morgul attack.

Still even guarded the Witch King was a formidable player. At 71st minute he gave an ingenious pass to Queen Beruthiel who was able to slip past the two great mearas – like she had mind over them as she had with her infamous cats – and to the horror of the home crowd she scored. A nice chip flipping the ball with the outside of her foot past diving Theoden and into the back of the net. She truly deserved that goal.

The home team fans were nervously watching the game-clock. Twenty minutes to go. The biting of the nails began but most of the visitors got lighted up and the horns and drums were playing once again. Morgul attacks rained on Edoras’ defences which did hold, until they broke again, just five minutes before the full-time

The Witch King went for the ball together with Shadowfax and they collided slightly. The Witch King flew in the air and landed on the ground laying there immovable. Shadowfax has sworn afterwards there were no actual physical crash between the two but the WK had just flown on his own. The issue remains unsettled but as soon as the referee had whistled the Morgul team a free kick the WK had risen up with clearly no injuries of any sort.

The free kick was clearly a practiced trick. The Witch King, Castamir and Eärnur all three packed into the middle at the edge of the box. When Beruthiel started running towards the ball to kick it they all spread: The Witch king to the left and Eärnur to the right… and Castamir started running back! The WK and Eärnur draw some defenders with them and Castamir the middle ones but just as they realised there was something wrong there Castamir had already turned on his heels and was sprinting forwards again – following the ball Beruthiel had sent him behind the defenders. When the defenders had turned around it was already too late. Castamir sent a rocket just below the crossbar leaving Theoden king no chances. The game was even and it ended even.

Edoras had pulled their ranks together during the pause before the overtime and the game was quite balanced. Both teams had some scoring chances but as they both played now carefully wishing to avoid any mistakes the overtime ended goalless. So it was to be a penalty shoot-out.


The tension was just unbearable. Many spectators were told to have fainted even before the first shot of the shoot-out was made. After the tossing of the coin it was decided that Edoras would start shooting.

Eorl himself walked to the spot and adjusted the ball. He looked totally calm and concentrated. He looked kingly indeed! After setting the ball he took only a few steps back and then looked at the Mouth to the eye – or to the place where the eyes should be. “Forth Eorlingas!” he suddenly bellowed and hammered the ball in to the top left corner of the goal. The stadium exploded and they shouted: “Forth Erolingas! Forth Eorlingas! Forth Eorlings!”, from the bottom of their hearts.

But the shouts and cries of joy died down as soon as they began as the Witch King walked to the box and took the ball. He took a bit longer distance from the ball than Eorl, hissed slowly something no one could hear or understand and then went to it. Just a he was touching the ball in full speed he somehow managed to halt his movement and the swing of his leg. Theoden dived to the lower right corner but the Witch King stood still and waited. The two stared at each other, Theoden lying on the ground and the WK standing by the ball. The stadium was totally quiet as people were holding their breath. “Aren’t you once again humiliated before the eyes of your people and your forefathers Theoden king?” The Witch King hissed mockingly “Now rise, you unworthy image of a king that I can see you crawl another time”. Theoden spat at the ground his eyes flickering with anger as he pushed himself up to all fours. “Over my dead body, you beast!” he yelled at the Nazgul. “As you wish, you piece of sad flesh…” the WK replied and shot the ball with all the power human and superhuman he had – straight towards Theoden’s head. Theoden ducked the ball only by an inch. Had it not killed him with the impact it would anyway have ended Theoden’s game right there. Such a power was in that shot that it tore the fastening hooks of the net from the grass and the ball rolled behind the goal and slowly to the first rows of spectators.

After the staff had readjusted the net the shoot-out continued. It was 1-1.

It was Eomer’s turn to shoot. The Eorlings prayed and bit their lip still disturbed and anxious of what they had just witnessed. Eomer took his time to concentrate. Then he went for it. The Mouth dived to the left and the ball went to the left… and wide! Eomer had missed the goal! The Eorlings were just shocked! It just couldn’t be!

Castamir walked to the spot looking very much confident. Some say he even flashed a malicious smile to Theoden to disturb his concentration. It didn’t look like Castamir was making an effort in front of 60 000 spectators for which of the teams would go forwards. It looked like he was back in the yard kicking the ball with other children. And that of course was the impression he wished to deliver to shake Theoden’s shattered confidence even more. And as fitting, Castamir took the shot casually – but the shot was anything but casual. It was aimed straight to the lower left corner of the goal, but Theoden guessed it right! It was a save! The crowd didn’t believe it at first but when they finally did they burst into wild cheers. There was hope again!

Eowyn was next and the crowds cheered to their beloved lady. She looked very much determined not glancing to the sides at any point. The shot was good. It went straight to the lower left corner of the goal but somehow the Mouth had got it right and tipped it wide with his fingers. The orcs were cheering.

So the last king of Gondor before Aragorn’s rule walked to the spot. If Eorl had looked kingly, so did Eärnur. People were impressed, even Theoden was. But Theoden had his confidence back now, he would not need to bow before any king. But Eärnur just hammered the ball in. Theoden did guess it right but the ball was so fast there was no chance he could have stopped it even if his fingertips did touch the ball as it went in. Minas Morgul led with two goals to one after three shots from both teams had been given.

Then Shadowfax trotted to the field raising the hopes and cheers from the home crowd once again. It was clear to anyone seeing the situation from a closer range that the Mouth was not at all happy with needing to stand up against a powerful meara. It looked like the Mouth was uncomfortable, insecure even. And Shadowfax shot the ball in so confidently it brought tears to many fans’ eyes. It was a masterful execution. The Mouth was left standing on his straight feet when the ball was already in the net.

But when Queen Beruthiel came forwards the home crowd’s hearts sank once again. She had really been the Queen of the match organizing all the deadly attacks the Morgul team had made when the WK was guarded. Her movements were elegant when she walked in, adjusted the ball and made an evaluating gaze at Theoden while slowly walking backwards from the ball. No one of the home crowd dared to boo or whistle. She froze for a second and then ran to the ball like a big cat and shot… to the post! Theoden had guessed totally wrong and dived to the other side but Beruthiel hit the post! It was 2-2 after four shots delivered by both teams! The game was on!

Felarof came forwards as the last of the five from the home team and the spirits were rising once again. People thanked the gods for the choice as the Mouth had clearly had it hard with Shadowfax already. Felarof tried to challenge the Mouth with it’s piercing gaze but the Mouth had lowered his head refusing to face the great meara. The referee blew his whistle allowing the shot to be taken but the Mouth was still just looking downwards standing still. Felarof waited a moment for the Mouth to lift his head but as he didn’t Felarof went for the shot. Just as the great meara was about to shoot the Mouth suddenly got electrified: he jerked his head up and roared like thunder with his mouth fully open stretching his limbs wide. Felarof was not intimidated by that, nor could anyone say the great meara would have been seriously startled, but it looked like it had an effect on Felarof’s concentration and the shot was far from perfect. And the Mouth fisted it wide!

It was all up to a single battle between Khamûl and Theoden. If Theoden was to win the competition would continue one pair against one pair until the other team would win. If Khamûl was to prevail it would be all over for Edoras. The orcs and easterlings cheered for their champion and the Eorlingas were crossing their fingers if they could manage it from the shaking.

“Would you crawl for me too, you pitiful king of the strawheads?” Khamûl hissed softly when he had adjusted the ball to it’s place and looked at Theoden. Theoden remained still and silent looking at the Nazgul to the eye without blinking. He would not be drawn into that banter a second time. “This time, this field… there’s no one to save you. You’ll have to stand alone, on your own.” The Nazgul turned to look around to the crowds and then returned his gaze to Theoden. “They’re watching you Theoden king, your people, your ancestors… are you ready for the task? Are you fit enough to fight?” Theoden remained silent just staring back at Khamûl. They stood like that staring at each other for a moment. It was silent. The silence of 60 000 people is something far beyond describable, but it was there, the silence of 60 000.

Finally Khamûl made his move. He sprinted with amazing speed and shot the ball to the upper left corner. And Theoden was following the shot! His fingertips touched the ball swerving it away from its original trajectory… the ball hit the crossbar… then the post… then Theoden’s back… and it was in! Minas Morgul had won!

No one could explain the emotions running with the home team supporters. The Eorlingas were beaten. The motley crue of visitors (25 000 of them – except the Rohan-friends of Minas Tirith) jumped up and started chanting, dancing, singing, beating their drums, blowing their horns… and the home crowds just sat still trying to understand through their tears what had happened.

Minas Morgul was through and the glorious Edoras was out. It was not just a bitter moment as it would live in the memories of people for their lifetime.



Edoras 2-2 Minas Morgul (SHOOT-OUT 2-3 to Minas Morgul)

shots 14-19
on target 6-8
GOALS:
*32, Edoras (Eorl, Eowyn)
*53, Edoras (Eomer, Aldor)
*71, Minas Morgul (Beruthiel, Witch-King)
*85, Minas Morgul (Castamir, Beruthiel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Edoras- Aldor, Eowyn, Frealaf
*Minas Morgul- Sangahyando, Castamir, Beruthiel
SHOOT OUT:
*Edoras- Eorl (G), Eomer (M), Eowyn (S), Shadowfax (G), Felarof (S)
*Minas Morgul- Witch King (G), Castamir (S), Earnur (G), Beruthiel (M), Khamul (G)