[Boromir88]

The matches at Gorgoroth Stadium were completely sold out within an hour. The Mordor teams were playing the outlanders and depending upon certain circumstances 1st place was still anyone's for the taking. Although coming into the day the overall belief was Barad Dur and Barrow-Downs would advance to the playoffs since they would have to have meltdowns against their opponents to not qualify.

Match 5: Barad Dur vs. Breeland
In the afternoon match, the Orcs and sinister creatures, who packed the stadium and easily outnumbered the Bree supporters. The orcs were rowdy, loud, and extremely arrogant since Barad Dur had tied Barrow-Downs, and Barrow Downs took care of Bree 3-1. In fact, Breeland has looked lost, and out of place, on the pitch. "This is in the bag, as a win for the Great Eye" rumbled the crowd.

However, as it often is with Bree teams, once you overlook them and think the unathletic bums will be a cake walk they will give you a bunch of fits. It's frustratingly difficult to figure out Bree, because the team complains how they always rely too much on Bombadil. But when Bombadil does show up to play the rest of the team does nothing and expect Bombadil to win it all alone. It was much of the same story today.

In the first period the Bombadil and Barrow-wight duo dominated the playing field. In fact, as we were mere minutes from the half-time whistle the crowd was pleasantly surprised to see the score was tied 1-1. They couldn't remember Barad Dur ever gaining possession let alone scoring a goal, that is how dominating the B & B Bree Boys had been. The orcs actually became a bit hopeful, if Barad-Dur could withstand that onslaught and still leave the first period tied they could easily win with a well-played 2nd period.

However, with mere minutes remaining to break, Bree would grab the lead again, driving a dagger into the hopes of Barad Dur fans. Who other than Bombadil and the B-W striking again to put Bree up by 1-goal right as the half whistle blew. Now the mood in the stadium wasn't about surviving the 1st tied and winning it in the 2nd, but hoping for a draw or at least a 1-goal loss, since Bree would need to win by 2 goals to knock Barad Dur out.

When the teams were heading to the locker room, the reporters flocked to Bombadil as no one had seen him for weeks.
"Tell us how big that last goal was for your team Tom?"
"Hey ho. Merry Dol! Talk to el Capitan-o!"
"That was spectacular footwork. We have never seen anyone handle the ball with such skill and ease before. Will we see more of that in the 2nd?"
"Hey-do. Razzly-Dazzly Tom. Game over Bombadillo! Merry dol."
"Are you guaranteeing a Bree victory!?"
But Bombadil did not answer, he just walked away. The reporters tried to follow, but the Barrow-Wight who had been at Tom's side the entire time gave an icy-cold stare, and the flock of reporters dropped to the ground in terror. That did not prevent the Gorgoroth score-board operators from flashing on the board "Bombadil guarantees it's game over for Barad Dur!" The Barad Dur friendly crowd was worked into a frenzy because of that message, when in all likelyhood Tom just meant that the game was over for him!

It didn't matter to them what Bombadil actually meant by "Game Over," when Bree stepped onto the field at the start of the 2nd the stadium shook with anger. Bottles and scraps of meat were thrown at them. Jeers of "Arrogant pigs!" were shouted and "What is Bree but a place for the ignorant round men to lie in the mud with dogs!" Stadium crew were finding it very difficult to try and keep the field clear of trash and other objects. The situation was getting dangerous and the head ref was threatening to cancel the match which would disqualify Barad Dur. It wasn't necessary as when Sauron walked onto the pitch, the place fell silent.

He walked towards the side line and picked up a bottle which was still half-full of orc-draught. Sauron handed it to an orc in the front row saying: "What a waste of your $5 drink." The horde of Orcs burst out in wicked laughter and Sauron gave the officials enough time to clear off the field, so they could actually begin play. Instead of spending their energy hurting Barad Dur by rioting, they focused on helping their team in traditional orc fashion - mocking and taunting the opponent.

Captain Strider would try to make you believe that his team's performance wasn't effected by the constant taunting of the crowd, but it probably was. At least on offense they were unable to do anything. And it certainly effected the Barad Dur defenses who began playing inspired and fed off the crowd's energy. Roheryn kept Bree's defense together much better than their previous match, but in the end without Bree being able to muster quality attacks, their defense had no hope. They could not hold out indefinitely against a team which had several 2nd age heroes AND Sauron on offense.

When Sauron got the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute the crowd went berserk. They knew right then Barad Dur was going to win. And how fitting it was that Sauron would score the final goal for his team in group play. Barad Dur might have been fortunate to survive the B&B onslaught in the first, but they certainly deserved this win by how they came out and played in the 2nd. One Mordor team was in, now for the other.

Barad-Dur 3-2 Breeland
tot shots 16-15
on target 8-8
GOALS:
*17, 0-1 Bombadil (Barrow-Wight)
*36, 1-1 Gil-Galad (Naz #7)
*44, 1-2 Bombadil (Barrow-Wight)
*69, 2-2 Isildur (Sauron)
*81, 3-2 Sauron (Isildur)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Barad-Dur- Isildur, Elendil, Fellbeast
*Breeland- Lumpkin, Roheryn

Match 6: Barrow-Downs vs. Gorgoroth
Coming after Barad Dur's win, the Gorgoroth crowd was confident (and drunk). They would point out how they tied this team during the friendlies, and Castamir would continue to win as he did for Minas Morgul and Umbar in the previous tournaments. However, the thing about this other BD team, is it just seems like nothing gets under their skin. Even in a hostile land, and wondering where the hazy brown overcast suddenly came from, they were not dismayed. They could draw or afford to lose by 1-goal and still advance, but something tells me 2nd place wouldn't be good enough for the Barrow Downs. They wanted blood tonight.

It didn't take long for Barrow-Downs to jump out to a lead, but it did come from an unlikely player. Usually preferring to play balanced and not the hyper-aggressive style they did as wolves the defenders don't venture too far up field. However, BD had an early corner, and since they were playing for the win, wanted to take advantage. Phantom would take the corner, but he did not launch it into the box, instead he just passed it on to sally, who quickly sent it to Skip who was about 10 meters outside the penalty area. What were they doing? It looked like Skip was trying to find the tall form of Nogrod, but Gorgoroth's defense looked just as confused, as they packed the box. But Skip had a lane to shoot the ball through, and since no one came out to challenge, he had the time to get off a great shot, putting it just beyond the reach of Shelob. The giant spider may have reacted a bit slowly, not picking up the ball well, and not expecting the shot, but it was still a fine piece of striking, squeezing the ball through an open lane and into the back of the net.

The Gorgoroth crowd was stunned, they didn't seem to realize how or what just happened. All they knew is their team was already down 1-0 within the first 15 minutes. Even up 1-0 Barrow-Downs did not stop pressing the attack. They wanted 1st place, which meant they needed a 2-goal victory or they needed to score more goals. Besides their defense had been suffocating Gorgoroth's attack all day so far. Although, this rather new aggressive style from the Barrow-Downs cost them mere minutes before the break.

All day BD was trying to take advantage of Nogrod's height over the smaller orc defenders for Gorgoroth. However, this time Nazgul #1 anticipated the pass and quickly delivered the ball up-field to King Dead. Gorgoroth was on the counter, and it was finished by none other than Castamir, who had his 3rd goal in as many matches. Eomerwarg didn't have a chance, but BD's defense would not be dis-heartened.

They had only allowed Gorgoroth 2 shots on target in the 1st. Their defense was completely suffocating, but in the attempt to actually finish at the top of the group, they were out of formation and out-manned. Or to put it in yeomen terms for the readers who don't closely follow football, they got caught with their pants down. It wouldn't happen again.

In the 2nd Barrow-Downs began taking it to Gorgoroth, but also Skip kept his defense back to make sure Gorgoroth couldn't start another counter, which they were so proficient at creating. Also, the true ingenuinty of the 'Downers was clearly seen in the 2nd period. It was as if the entire 1st half was to make Nogrod a diversion. The orc-loaded defense of Gorgoroth, were primed to believe BD would continue trying to take advantage of Nogrod's height. So, they focused on stopping him, but completely forgot that wilwa was just as dangerous, because of her elegant and graceful footwork with the ball.

Before Gorgoroth could make the adjustment wilwa banged a shot off the post, and Nogrod was able to clean up the rebound putting Barrow-Downs back on top by a goal. Then in the 70th minute, she's involved again, only this time wilwa broke past 2 defenders. Phantom delivered a sharp pass, and it was perfectly placed for her. Wilwa didn't have to make any uncomfortable adjustment to try to get off an awkward shot, she just had to re-direct the ball's path, knocking it past Shelob. And again 5 minutes later, wilwa nearly got a 2nd goal, but Shelob made a good save and gobbled the shot up.

They were so prepared in the 2nd to stop Nogrod, before Gorgoroth knew it, wilwa beat them with a pass and a goal, and they the home crowd was now down 3-1, and could have easily been 4-1.

With the 2-goal lead, and with around 15 minutes of game left, the Barrow-Downs focused on protecting their lead, as it would mean they clinch 1st in Group B. Yet again another display of wise strategy, because as seen in the 1st, Gorgoroth's are experts at counter-attacks. However they couldn't just turn on the burners like Dol Guldur or Gondolin could. They needed to build pressure and tire out the opposing defense, before being able to take advantage. With how well-rested, and prepared BD's defense was from having an easy 2nd period (courtesy of wilwa and company), they easily rose to the challenge; getting a solid 3-1 victory as well as 1st place.

Fortunately one team from Mordor advanced, or I doubt even Sauron would have the control to calm the whole anger of Mordor, like he did in the afternoon match. The 'Downers were confident, because group winners hold big rewards. They could now return to Tyrn Gorthad Stadium and play in front of a friendly, passionate home crowd for their first playoff match. Also, this means they get the 2nd place finisher of Group G, which is yet to be determined, but most experts say it will be Gondor and not the feared juggernauts of Gondolin.

Barrow-Downs 3-1 Gorgoroth
tot shots 12-8
on target 6-4
GOALS:
*13, 1-0 Skip (Sally)
*42, 1-1 Castamir (Angamaite)
*55, 2-1 Nogrod (Wilwa)
*70, 3-1 Wilwa (Phantom)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Barrow-Downs- Nerwen, Sally
*Gorgoroth- Gollum, Gorbag, Earnur, Grishnakh

Group B Standings
Barrow-Downs 2-1-0, 7, (+4) Q
Barad Dur 2-1-0, 7, (+3) Q
Breeland 0-1-2, 1, (-3)
Gorgoroth 0-1-2, 1, (-4)