Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Elmo

I predict that the fact that Mordor playing at home will result in massive hooligan problems with drunken orcs running rampage, and opposition fans and players disappearing off to the House of Lamentations.

And what's the exact problem here? Isn't this a game testing the sides? If a side can't take it, it should pull out of the tournament...

And if we have Boro as the referee there will be no problems as his horn will disquiet any mob you can imagine.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

And if we have Boro as the referee there will be no problems as his horn will disquiet any mob you can imagine. (Nogrod)

A horn enabling him to summon a van of security personnel unto him? Hooligans better watch out?

[the phantom]

Results are in for the first four groups. Nog and I will be giving match reports soon.

[the phantom]

--GROUP A RESULTS--

Michel Delving 1-2 Romena
shots 14-8
on target 7-5
GOALS:
*Romena, 19 (Isildur- Tar Palantir)
*Romena, 41 (Tar Palantir- Elendil)
*Michel Delving, 78 (Bullroarer- Pippin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Michel Delving- Gaffer, Pippin, Merry
*Romena- Vardamir
MATCH REPORT:
The stadium in Rivendell was split fairly evenly on this match. Hobbits have been hanging about Rivendell for quite a while and many of the Elves are quite fond of them. But as the boys from Romena were relatives of the Lord of Rivendell, they got quite a bit of support as well.

Michel Delving started quite aggressive, and tried pushing the ball forward with long passes. But Romena's defense got in the way time and time again. In the 19th minute Romena caught the hobbits running forward and stole the ball and pushed it back towards the MD goal with an advantage in numbers. Tar Palantir worked his way in close, made the goalie commit to him, and sent a perfect pass to Isildur who headed it in for the first goal.

Michel Delving began attacking more heavily than ever, but still couldn't get in close to their target. The MFs began sniping from distance, but none of the shots challenged the goalie too much. In the 41st minute Romena did yet another quick counter-attack, and this time it was Elendil finding Tar Palantir for the point blank header to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

Michel Delving came out more methodically in the second half. Romena seemed content to let the hobbits hold the ball so long as they didn't come into the forward third of the field. When they did, the Romena defense was stifling and they sent the ball back to the hobbit's end again and again. As in the first half the hobbits began settling for long shots, none of which threatened the goal seriously.

The hobbits finally broke through in the 78th minute. Pippin took the ball on the sideline and split a couple of defenders and ran towards the goal. When a third defender came to meet him he actually threaded the ball beneath the legs of his defender to a running Bullroarer who deflected the pass into the far side of the goal.

With the lead down to one, Romena no longer allowed the hobbits to hold the ball indefinitely but opted to control the ball themselves and basically played keep-away until the game's ending. Neither team gained a high quality scoring opportunity the rest of the way and the game ended a 2-1 victory for the Numenoreans.

Fornost 0-2 Rivendell
shots 4-6
on target 1-4
GOALS:
*Rivendell, 34 (Glorfindel- Elladan)
*Rivendell, 62 (Boromir II- Aragorn)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Fornost- Arathorn, Amlaith
*Rivendell- Gildor
MATCH REPORT:
The Rivendell crowd was loud and energetic for the night showdown between the host team and Fornost- loud but not hostile. Relations between the Rangers and Rivendell have always been warm, and the players and fans alike were very sporting despite the intense competition.

Throughout the contest both teams showed fantastic passing in the midfield but had terrible trouble cracking the defense of the other team. Rivendell's defense in particular was brilliant, never allowing any Fornost player any amount of room in the forward part of the field.

The only defensive error the entire game occured in the 34th minute. After finally getting the ball up into one of the corners in Rivendell's half of the field, Fornost came forward in mass to try and capitalize on the rare opportunity. A pass towards the center was deflected and the speedy Glorfindel immediately broke upfield. Elladen, the first to reach the loose ball, saw him and booted it upfield without hesitation. Glorfindel controlled the pass and continued his run all the way to the goal and chipped it in after getting the goalie to bite on a fake.

The rest of the game neither team was able to gain a good look at the goal. Boromir II's long-distance blast into the top corner of the goal in the 62nd minute capped the scoring.

[the phantom]

--GROUP C RESULTS--

Alqualonde 0-2 Formenos
shots 4-10
on target 3-6
GOALS:
*Formenos, 32 (Maedhros- Aredhel)
*Formenos, 66 (Feanor- Maglor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Alqualonde- Lindo, Cirdan, Frodo, Osse
*Formenos- Amrod
MATCH REPORT:
The buildup to the first game in the forest of Doriath was considerable. Posters displaying the teams' stars were everywhere, dubbing the matchup "Kinslaying II". As can be imagined the fans did not get along well, and insults and taunts were hurled back and forth.

"We'll have our revenge, you'll see!"
"Oh really? I heard instead of practicing you spent all your time designing your shoes!"
"Only some of it! We'll play better AND look better!"
"I've sure you've got some great strategies. After all, you are the ones who brought little bows and no armor to a sword fight!"
"Ah, but you won't be allowed your precious swords this time. We'll see who is the best without props!"

There would have been a great deal of fighting before and during the game, but Thingol had his full force of armed guards patrolling inside and outside the stadium, checking for weapons, and arresting those who got out of hand.

But despite all of the buildup the game ended up being rather one sided. Formenos completely controlled possession and spent a good deal of time passing around in the forward part of the field, looking for opportunities to score. At the 32 minute mark they capitalized as Aredhel beat her defender and gained a clear lane to pass to cousin Maedhros who had broke in front of the goal.

Alqualonde's only quality chance came just seconds before halftime when Caranthir, who was shadowing Gil Galad, hit a slippery patch of grass and went down. Bilbo sent a perfect pass to Gil who headed the ball back the other way towards the far post. But Huan went full stretch and poked the ball away with his fingertips.

The second half was yet more ball control from Formenos, with Feanor blasting a kick from the side that bent around the goalie and into the far side of the goal in the 66th minute. Play got a bit rough after that, with the frustrated Alqualonde players drawing three yellow cards in a very short span. Formenos did not respond in kind though, content with their lead and the points it would gain them for advancing out of group play.

Doriath 2-1 Isengard
shots 10-14
on target 5-7
GOALS:
*Isengard, 26 (Ugluk- Saruman)
*Doriath, 47 (Beleg- Dior)
*Doriath, 63 (Mablung- Elwe)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Doriath- Saeros, Nellas
*Isengard- Snaga, Lugdush, Quickbeam, Mauhur
MATCH REPORT:
The home bias was quite pronounced in this game. Though the elves are fans of ents, they simply cannot abide orcs, and were certainly not fond of Saruman.

But despite this Isengard was able to work the ball up the field throughout most of the game. At the 26 minute mark they took the lead as Saruman lobbed the ball into Ugluk who controlled it, spun around his defender and kicked it neatly inside the sidebar to open scoring. But unfortunately for Isengard, the goalie was Melian. She was outstanding, making two or three saves that most goalies would not have been able to handle. And so it was that Isengard found themselves up only one goal at the half.

Offensively during the first half, Doriath had a difficult time getting the ball through the midfield, though the few times they got it forward the attack showed promise, and it seemed obvious that given enough opportunities they would get on the board.

An opportunity came early on in the second half with crowd favorite Beleg taking a pass, juking his man, and powering the ball off the hands of the goalie and into the net. And then a bit later the solid Mablung kicked a pass straight out of midair past the Isengard goalie.

The crowd celebrated the win with feasting, but Thingol and his Doriath team headed straight home to rest up for practice the next day, which Thingol said they needed badly. "If my wife hadn't been amazing in goal we would've lost that game!" he told reporters. "We really need to up our level of play if we hope to challenge for the cup."

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Group D is up next!

All right, Finduilas, Guilin, emya Amarië? Minë, atta, neldë:

NAR-GO-THROND! NAR-GO-THROND!

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Nilpaurion Felagund

Group D is up next!

Results will be coming later today... Sorry to keep you waiting but... they're coming...

[Nogrod]

The first game in the Arda 2008 championships in Edoras had quite a crowd gathered to the central field of Meduseld. The mostly Rohanian crowd welcomed the teams to the afternoon match with an encouraging cheer. The mood was positive but also that of suspense as the home-team would play in the evening match. But there were also the fanatical supporters of the both teams who were easy to spot. The TV-close ups showed Mac and Rikae waving the T-I-G –flag and Saucie holding the BD banderol. The supporters of Mirkwood were a little more quiet but made their presence known with a low hum they produced as the referee blowed his whistle to start the game.



To the surprise of all the TIG fans the Mirkwood team took the command in the game in the beginning. Mirkwood was ultra-aggressive totally immobilising the TIG game. Sending long passes to the forwards when they had a chance they clearly tried to beat TIG with their own weapons. Already at the eighth minute it payed off. Scatcha headed in a beautiful pass by Grishnak and Mirkwood took the lead.

After the goal it soon became clear that the TIG had the upper hand in the midfield and thence of the game. Mirkwood was still able to come up with great performances within the 16 meter line but they led to no further goals.

The TIG finally held its act together and produced some beautiful football – even if helped by the lady Fortune at times. At 20’ Formendacil took a corner that hit Nogrod fighting with Gorbag on the back and before Oropher had time to realise the ball was in.

Before the half-time the phantom made a genious long pass letting Sauron break free. Deservedly or not the TIG was leading 2-1 when the teams turned off to the break.

TIG’s tactics of leaving the defence alone and hoping they could win the ball to pass it to the midfield they dominated and thence to attack proved to be a bad idea in the first minutes of the second half of the game. With a show of individual skill Scatha, receiving a long pass and beating two defenders (Hookbill ad Gwath), brought the score even at 54 minutes of game played.

Contrary to the estimates the TIG went to a defensive mode after the equalizer. That clearly baffled the Mirkwood team. And finally on the 71st minute Eomer managed to surprise Oropher with a long shot going beautifully to the top corner of the net.

The fans were happy for a game of five goals. But both sides thought they should have performed better.

Mirkwood 2-3 Tol-In-Gaurhoth
shots 13-13
on target 6-6
Goals:
*Mirkwood, 8 (Scatha- Grishnakh)
*TIG, 20 (Nogrod- Formendacil)
*TIG, 39 (Sauron- the phantom)
*Mirkwood, 52 (Scatha- Grimbeorn)
*TIG, 71 (Eomer- Lhuna)

Yellow Cards:
Mirkwood- Galion, Gorbag, Grimbeorn
TIG- Gwath, Lhuna, Hookbill

~ ~ ~

But the game of the day was Breeland against Edoras. As the sun was setting the arena got truly filled. All the people able to come had turned in for the game. The house was full now and the cheers and songs filled the air. The home crowd would settle for nothing but a victory.



Edoras started rolling the ball towards Bree goal with enthusiasm bursted with the encouragement by the crowd. Eomer, Eowyn and Eorl all tried the Old man Willow on their turn and only his great saves held the game even in the first minutes of the game. But as soon as the 14th minute Eomer headed a pass by Eowyn in and Edoras was on the lead.

The crowd went crazy.

At 33’ minutes Brytta made a beautiful goal from a free-kick making it 2-0 getting his foot in the right angle following Theodred's free kick from 40 meters.

One couldn't hear oneself even if one shouted.

But before the halftime Breeland showed they could silence the crowd and that they were not beaten yet. The BW threaded a beautiful pass through defenders to Ferny who approached from the side and headed it in. It was 2-1 as The teams withdrew for the half-time.


On the second half the game was much more even but then – in the middle of Breeland laying the pressure Eorl and Eomer got a breakaway. – and Eorl scored making it 3-1. One can't describe the noise of the crowd...

But it was not over yet… The Breeland team went all in the rest of the game and finally Tom Bombadill’s great yellow boots blasted a goal from a good distance right off the sidebar.

The final whistle ended the game for the explosion of the home crowd who sang their songs late into the night and to the early morning.

Home team winning, what could be a better way to start a tournament?


Breeland 2-3 Edoras
shots 8-16
on target 4-8
Goals:
*Edoras, 14 (Eomer- Eowyn)
*Edoras, 33 (Brytta- Theodred)
*Breeland, 41 (Ferny- The Barrow-Wight)
*Edoras, 60 (Eorl- Eomer)
*Breeland, 79 (Tom Bombadil- Butterbur)

Yellow Cards:
Breeland- Nob, Harry, Odo
Edoras- Aldor, Frealaf

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Ooh, Lhuna got a yellow card!

[the phantom]

Yes, she did. I believe it was for intentionally distracting the opposing male players with her smile. They made her play the rest of the game with a mask on.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Originally Posted by the phantom

Yes, she did. I believe it was for intentionally distracting the opposing male players with her smile. They made her play the rest of the game with a mask on.

The Helm of Hador, perchance? Or did a simple hockey mask suffice?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Nilpaurion Felagund

Ooh, Lhuna got a yellow card!

But does that have any consequences?

I think in the last tournament it meant something like -1/-2 for any player having the yellow card taker in her/his team...

But as you wish, as I think this is no major issue...