Arda Cup Soccer 2008

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Much has been written elsewhere about the splendour of Gondolin and every lover of football owes gratitude to Turgon the king for easing the otherwise so strict travelling restrictions to and from Tumladen, thus enabling matches to be played at this fair venue. The visiting fans of Umbar, notorious for their irreverent behaviour, also came here displaying their best side and they marvelled at the high white walls of the city, the shining fountains and the images of the two trees in the king’s court. Few had expected Umbar to survive the group stages and the travelling fans were happy just to be here and watch their heroes play for further glory.

As the stadium filled up commentators noticed that many Gondolin-fans now were sporting Eöl-jerseys, a proof of the attacking midfielder’s increasing popularity. The Dark Elf, as he is known here, was not always a popular name in the gift-shop though. When news first came out that he would represent the city most fans were ill at ease, despite of his undoubted talents. Among other things, it was said he would be detrimental for team morale due to his documented dislike of the Noldor and that he couldn’t perform in sunny weather. So far these fears have been unfounded. In fact, during the group matches he had been perhaps Gondolin’s best player, scoring twice himself, setting up three goals for his teammates and linking wonderfully with his son Maeglin. He has constantly refused to answer any questions from the press however and doesn’t seem to celebrate his team’s goals with much gusto. But as long as he keeps delivering top notch performances on the pitch, the Gondolin fans are willing to forgive almost anything.

As the game kicked off Eöl was soon in the thick of the action again, this time for the wrong reasons. His strong run into the Umbar box was picked out by the ever impressive Turgon, and as Calimehtar came in for the challenge the Dark Elf went down like he’d been shot! Parts of the home crowd were appealing for a penalty while not a few of them stirred uneasily, some even booing. If there had been contact, it was slight indeed, and the home fans did not appreciate this kind of unsporting behaviour. Neither did the ref, who showed Eöl a yellow card for diving.

Now the pirates of Umbar had done extremly well to beat their great rivals Osgilath in the round robin, but they were having a difficult time making an impression in Gondolin. The home team’s sublime skill made it hard for them no get much contact with the ball, and when they did manage to get hold of it, they were quickly closed down and forced to try difficult passes and dribbles, often resulting in mistakes and turnovers. Cheered on by their supporters, Gondolin were getting a firm grip on the match and in the 27th minute they also took the lead. Idril dazzeled the crowd with some nifty footwork before delivering a hard, low ball towards the near post which Ecthelion pounced on, rifling a shot into the roof of the net from 5 yards out. 14 minutes later goalscorer Ecthelion turned provider as he unselfishly squared the ball to Maeglin who made no mistake with the open goal at his mercy, efter the two had beaten the Umbar offside trap for a clear run at goal. As the half-time sounded the anachronistic Mexican wave was rolling around the stands and extatic Gondolin fans were singing songs of impending glory.

If the Umbar-fans had any hope for a miracle, it was was soon to be shattered, as Gondolin were three goals up only four minutes into the second half. The goal came when Maeglin fired off a shot from distance that took a wicked deflection off his father’s back, leaving a dejected Pelendur with no chance to save. This was Eöl's third goal of the tournament, although he knew little about it himself. Now the game was in practicality over, and Gondolin eased off the pace somewhat, conserving enery for the later stages of the tournament. Umbar did manage to pull one goal back when Tuor - having had little to do all night - failed to handle a Queen Beruthiel shot that bounced awkvardly in front of him and allowed Castamir the Ursurper to pounce on the rebound. But it was little too late for the pirates, who now face the long journey back to their distant shores without the spoils. This Gondolin side however looks supreeemly confident, and they will be looking forward to their quarterfinal whether they play Doriath or Armenelos.

Gondolin 3-1 Umbar
shots 16-10
on target 8-6
GOALS:
*Gondolin, 27 (Ecthelion- Idril)
*Gondolin, 41 (Maeglin- Ecthelion)
*Gondolin, 49 (Eol- Maeglin)
*Umbar, 82 (Castamir- Beruthiel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gondolin- Eol, Rog
*Umbar- Nazgul #9, Angamaite, Brodda

[Nogrod]

The Armenelos stadium is situated just in the shadow of the tower and the citadel raised by Elros himself. The proud team of this magnificient city had humbled their opponents game after game admitting no goals this far in the tournament. They had promised to stick to the principle in the playoffs as well. But today they were facing a team which was also known for it’s defensive qualities, the infamous “girdle of Melian” being their last stand.

On the match-day the daily newspapers reported widely on the earlier play-off games and every single one pointed out to the number of first-born teams going forwards. “An end to the rule of the First-born!” shouted Armenelos Times in it’s front page. “Only elves and weirdos through this far!” screamed The Númenorian – pointing to the T-I-G team with the latter expression.

The around thousand supporters from Menegroth and it’s surroundings didn’t feel themselves so much welcomed but happily there were no serious incidents either. The elves were treated cordially by the organizers and the home crowds were behaving themselves for there was still the pride in them, and beating visitors with numbers wasn’t exactly honourable.

The game itself was pure Nirvana to the home crowd and a valley of tears to the guests. The home team took a complete control over the midfield from the very beginning and never gave it back again. That meant that the Doriathians had only a few decent attacks in the whole game as they were forced to play long passes to their forwards which the solid Armenelos defence handled with professional effectiveness.

In the attack the Armenelos team was as impressive. The home team scored twice in the first period. First Ar Gimilzor ran the ball in from a beautiful long pass from Tar Telperien who was still up after a corner kick. On 34th minute Tar Minastir was freed with Tar Ancalimon’s neat pass and he gave Melian no chance.

An interesting feature of the game was that Luthien had marked Ar Pharazon personally and managed to make him almost completely invisible for almost the whole first half. It was clear the goalmaker wasn’t happy for the overcoat watching and following his every step and effectively shutting him out from the game. So he went on playing rough with her, bumping and crashing with her whenever possible. In the end that paid off as his size and strength wore her down. On the 73rd minute Ar Pharazon got what he had yarned for the most: a goal in front of the wild-going home crowd. That goal finally ended Doriath’s hopes of getting back to the game and the last twenty minutes the teams mostly just passed the ball to and fro with no actual fighting over the ball anymore.

It was clear the better team, the far better team, won. And no one has yet scored a goal behind Elros! The team had stuck to it’s principle and the parties after the match at Armenelos were quite a sight! “Armenelos rules” was sang through the night in every pub and taverna of Armenelos.

Armenelos – Gondolin will be a classic! For example The Arda Kicker Magazine holds these two to be the best teams in the whole tournament. Sadly only one of them can go it all the way to the end.

Armenelos 3-0 Doriath
shots 16-8
on target 8-3
GOALS:
*Armenelos, 18 (Ar Gimilzor- Tar Telperien)
*Armenelos, 34 (Tar Minastir- Tar Ancalimon)
*Armenelos, 73 (Ar Pharazon- Ar Adunakhor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armenelos- Tar Calmacil, Tar Atanamir
*Doriath- Saeros, Elwe, Mablung

[Nogrod]

There are only a few who have passed by the mighty gates of Angband and the towers of Thangorodrim and returned safe and sane. The Angband authorities had promised a safe return to every football fan wishing to witness the first ever international football match in the Iron Prison. But only a handful of visitors finally came, mostly adventurers and die-hard fans, and it’s rumoured that many of them will not be seen anymore.

But the mighty Númenorians of the north accepted the challenge and went into Angband to fight. Although it has to be said that even they were a bit uneasy as they walked to the greyish field – the previous gladiatorial arena turned into a soccer field – surrounded by more than a hundred thousand orcs and beasts of various kinds and facing the Angband frontline: Ancalagon the Black, The Great Gothmog and lord Melkor himself…

To the honour of the Númenorians it must be said they got there in the first place and played the full minutes and that even if they were the underdogs also in the game itself they never surrendered but played their best to the final whistle; they even managed four shots on the goal guarded by Carcaroth. But still that “best” wasn’t even near giving them any chances that evening in Angband. Without Aragost’s parade-savings the numbers would have been far worse.

The script of the game was clear from the first minutes onwards. Angband took the possession of the ball and seldom lent it back to the Númenoreans. Lord Melkor seemed to orchestrate the whole game; he was not only the conductor of his orchestra but sometimes it felt he was indeed composing the whole game, the events and movements within it as well.

The stars, the soloists who blasted the arena into an ear-deafening roar, were the greatest of the winged dragons and the lord of Balrogs. But they shone not only because of their individual skill and brazen style but also because of the trimmed team lord Melkor had organized to play behind them, supporting them and handling everything else but the scoring.

The two goals were a kind of mirror images of each other. On 32nd minute Ancalagon just bullied himself past Aravir and Argonui and Gothmog made the pass just in time to avoid the offside -call. Then Ancalagon took the ball with it’s back letting it roll down on it’s spine and finally blasted the ball in with a stupendously fast dribble of it’s tail from an angle Aragost anticipated the least. On 66th minute it was Ancalagon’s turn to break the offside-trap and send Gothmog free. His dribbling was also astonishing and some even say he used his wing in it while others doubt it because they don’t think Balrogs to have wings in the first place.

But the better team won once again and the Fornost players got safely out from Angband guarded by lord Melkor’s personal guard and accompanied to the gates by Ancalagon and Gothmog themselves. During the festivities after the game some three hundred orcs and lesser beasts has been reported killed this far. About the visiting fans no word has come yet.

Angband 2-0 Fornost
shots 16-9
on target 8-4
GOALS:
*Angband, 32 (Ancalagon- Gothmog)
*Angband, 66 (Gothmog- Ancalagon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Balrog #3, Ulfast
*Fornost- Amlaith, Arassuil, Arahad


PS. tp, if you wish these to be in order I will remove this last one to be after your upcpmong last (game7) when I wake up... but I'm going to sleep now and thought someone might have time to check this...

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Football often gets publicity for all the wrong reasons, as a small minority of so called fans have tarnished the reputation of the great majority who only wants to have a good time and support their team. But football can also unite, and it was a heartwarmning sight when the travelling Mirkwood fans started to arrive at Lake Mithrim. Here were Woodmen, Elves, Orcs and even a few monstrous spiders singing and drinking together, all cheering for their interracial team. During the night before the match, Legolas fan-girls could be seen walking hand in hand with well-behaved Orc captains, and spiders were playing football in the parks, using all their legs trying to dribble off laughing Elves and men. If there only were more scenes like this in Middle Earth.

Most of the talk prior to the game had been centred around Turin though, as it always is whenever this man is involved. Perhaps the greatest mortal striker ever to have played the game, Turin can put the fear into any defence, and his fantastic goals against the mighty Angband, while playing for little leaguers Amon Rhud and Brethil, will always be remembered in the footballing community. Yet, the well travelled star has never won any titles, and despite all the bright promises his arrival to a new team often brings, his employers usually regret signing “The Black Boots” before the end of his stint. “Son of ill fate” he’s been called, and few are surprised these days if the striker suddenly miskicks a clearence for a spectacular own goal when it matters the most, strikes down a teammate or gets himself sent off when he would have been needed the most. Now, playing for Hithlum, Turin says that he is content and that his fans have nothing to worry about this time: “All that stuff is in the past, it matters not. I look ahead. Here at home in Hithlum, playing with my father, I’ve found harmony. Some say I’m cursed, but Hurin has told me that’s not true, and he’s heard it straight from the horses’ mouth, he says.” When asked if he would have liked to play with Morwen and Nienor too, the temperamental forward left the room with a fierce spark in his eyes and refused to answer any further questions.

Ahead of the match Hithlum was heavily favoured by the bookies and as play got under way it became clear that the Mirkwood defence were in for a hard day’s work against the all star line-up of the home team. Only a few minutes into the game Turin rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot on the turn. Hithlum continued to come forward in wave after wave and in the 12th minute Hurin released Fingolfin with a clever through ball. The high king showed great composure in front of goal, chipping the ball over the legs of the onruhing Oropher and into the net.

Mirkwood did not give up so easily though. Urged on by their small but vocal supportergroup, they slowly began to work themselves into the game. Up front, Legolas, Thranduil and Scatha are a threat to any team, and now they started to see more of the ball. Legolas tried his luck with a few long-distance shots, and Scatha, the heavy centretank, was a real nuisance for the Hithlum defenders. In the 27th minute Mirkwood rolled up a great move. The ball moved from player to player as if tied to a string, and when Grishnakh was released by Legolas, Gundor came late for the challenge and tripped the long-limbed Orc inside the box. The referee had no hesitation as he showed Gundor a yellow card and pointed to the spot. It was a penalty kick! Scatha, having scored from 12 yards earlier in the Cup, seemed eager to take it but team captain Thranduil took the ball away from him and placed it on the spot himself. He took a deep breath and fired a low drive towards the left hand post, but Huor guessed correcly and palmed it away at full stretch. Scatha looked very upset while Thranduil buried his head in his hands. But in the meantime play was underway and Hithlum started a quick counterattack. Fingon got the ball on the right and advanced with it towards the box and the defenders who were backing down. He then played a great diagonal ball to the left for the unrushing Turin who with his first touch took the ball into the box, cut inside Galion with his second, and fired an unstoppable right-footed shot high into the far corner of the net with his third. With a fist raised in the air Turin quietly celebrated the goal, before being mobbed by his teamates.

Now there was little drama left in the game. Mirkwood continued to try, but their collective backbone seemed to have been broken by the second Hithlum goal, and their attacks were now mostly consisting of individual efforts. Scatha in particular semed unwilling to pass the ball to any of his teammates, repeatedly trying to dribble his way past the Hithlum defence without much success. Hilthum always looked more likely to score more goals than Mirkwood to reduce their lead, and in the 44th minute they did. Once again Turin was the inspiration as he left the Mirkwood defence for dead before delivering a pinpoint cross that his father easily headed home.

The second half was slow-paced but still gave the crowd two more goals to cheer about. The first one came from Mirkwood and brought some hope back for their supporters, now getting along less harmonically in the stands. Scatha was the scorer and it was perhaps the best goal of the game. Mirkwood were awarded a freekick 30 yards out. Grishnakh rolled the ball a few yards to the right for Scatha who hit a ferocious, rising thunderbolt that hit the crossbar and went in behind a surprised and startled Huor in the Hithlum goal. There was no sign of joy in Scatha’s face however as he pushed the defenders away and gathered the ball to place in in the midcircle again.

But if the Mirkwood players and fans had hopes for a comeback, they finally faultered in the 72nd minute when Fingon scored his second goal of the tournament with a curling shot from the edge of the area. The match ended 4-1 and it had been a very impressive performance from Hithlum. Their defence looked solid and up front, few, if any teams, can match the brilliance of the black boots of Turin supported by Fingolfin the Brave, Fingon the Valiant and Hurin the Steadfast.

But now the dreaded Angband awaits. Hurin and Fingolfin will once again stand face to face with Morgoth, mightiest among footballers, while Fingon will clash with his nemesis Gothmog again. Turin will also be desperate for pay-back against Melkor, who’s taken so much away from him. Will they get their revenge, or will the Dark Lord prevail as he ever has in the past? Whatever the outcome, this clash of the titans is not to be missed.

Hithlum 4-1 Mirkwood
shots 21-11
on target 10-5
GOALS:
*Hithlum, 12 (Fingolfin- Hurin)
*Hithlum, 29 (Turin- Fingon)
*Hithlum, 44 (Hurin- Turin)
*Mirkwood, 59 (Scatha- Grishnakh)
*Hithlum, 72 (Fingon- Angrod)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Hithlum- Gundor
*Mirkwood- Nazgul #8, Muzgash, Grimbeorn, Galion

[Nogrod]

The Arda Kicker Magazine is dealing it’s points for performances on the first round of the play-offs.

Five stars go to:

Miriel of Tuna
Tar Telperien of Armenelos
Elrond of Rivendell

Three stars go to:

Hurin of Hithlum
Fingon of Hithlum
The Mouth of Mordor
Glaurung of Nargothrond
Finrod of Nargothrond
Aragost of Fornost
Oropher of Mirkwood
Beor of Nargothrond

One star will go to:

Gothmog of Angband
Ancalagon of Angband
Maedhros of Formenos
Fëanor of Formenos
Ecthelion of Gondolin
Maeglin of Gondolin
Turin of Hithlum
Finwë of Túna
Carcaroth of Angband
Elros of Armenelos
Melkor of Angband



The top of the AKM stars after the first play-off round is over is the following:

13 stars
Miriel of Tuna
Elrond of Rivendell

11 stars
Hurin of Hithlum
Tar Telperien of Armenelos

8 stars
Elros of Armenelos

7 stars
Maeglin of Gondolin
Carcaroth of Angband

Bubbling under in six points: Eöl, Huor, Celeborn, Erestor, Gandalf, Gildor, Tar Atanamir, Tar Ciryiatan… and in five: Ar Adunakhor, The Barrow Wight, Finwë, Huan, Scatha, Tar Palantir… and a countless number of lesser stars.

Stay tuned with the channel... erm... buy the next issue of the AKM!

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Bracket-Elf is here!

(I haven't information on hosts for the quarterfinals, so I wasn't able to make distinctions. )

EDIT: Hm, this is a better-looking bracket, I'll keep it.

[the phantom]

The quarterfinals are coming soon!

Two sites have been chosen to host the quarterfinals- Eithel Sirion and Romenna. These sites were chosen to host because they have good facilities and are accessible to fans of all four teams.

At Eithel Sirion-
Rivendell vs Tol-In-Gaurhoth
Angband vs Hithlum

At Romenna-
Formenos vs Tuna
Armenelos vs Gondolin