Arda Cup Football 2009

[Boromir88]

Well I would actually like to keep my head referee job, that way you can be assured all the matches are refereed without any biases.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Well I would actually like to keep my head referee job

You should take part in the game Boro! Just try it once!

[the phantom]

If you haven't seen on the Phantasy thread, the TIG roster is settled now and everyone just needs to get their selections in for teams and predictions before the tournament can start.

The schedule for the first round of group play-

GROUP A
Angband vs Minas Tirith
Alqualonde vs Moria

GROUP B
Arnor vs Helm's Deep
Mirkwood vs Nargothrond

GROUP C
Gondolin vs Hithlum
Isengard vs Minas Morgul

GROUP D
Eregion vs Mordor
Erebor vs Osgiliath

GROUP E
Doriath vs Lothlorien
Armenelos vs Dor-Lomin

GROUP F
Dorthonion vs Edoras
Shire vs Taniquetil

GROUP G
Gondor vs T-I-G
Brethil vs Tuna

GROUP H
Amon Sul vs Valimar
Bree vs Romenna

[Nogrod]

The Arda Kicker Magazine has analysed the different bettings by the betting-agencies and has combined them with the views of their staff to generate this pre-tournament analysis.




On group A most betting-agencies are putting their two cents for Angband rallying through the group. The pure master-evil of the team led by Ancalagon the Black, added with the outstanding characters like Maeglin, Hurin and Gwindor looks mighty threathening team indeed to go for it all the way – if they can pull a team-effort of it.

On the second place the views seem to differ. Some note Moria’s sturdy home-team with solid defence and amazing attack (Durin’s Bane especially). Others wonder how the home team can live up to the expectations and bring the Alqualonde team forwards as a possible runner up in this group. Surely forwards like Cirdan and Osse should not be ignored – and somehow the betting-agencies have left Idril with no star! Watch out for her performances!

The fate of Minas Tirith seems to be decided already before the games have begun. But if Boromir and Aragorn are up to the moment in the attack and Echtelion raises to the occasion in the goal, then the MT defence led by Nazgul #5 could just make life hard to the other teams wishing to score easy wins on them.

---

On group B Nargothrond seems to be the clear favourites and the team looks solid even if it has no super-heroes in it. But players like Glaurung and Beren should guarantee their performance.

Interestingly enough the numenorian team from Arnor has been raised to be seriously contending for the second place. The defence of the team sure is solid and the team’s spirit should be good, but one wonders whether the pure genius, malice and wisdom; and the sheer power of the Mirkwood-team will not overrun them? It is possible the Mirkwood team just cleans the table and takes the pole position leaving the two others to fight for the second place. Or then they crumble down because of the possible inner tensions.

And Helm’s Deep might just shuffle a card or two there as well. There are no celebrities in the team but stiff defencive play with Helm able to score – and a great team spirit that Nargothrond and Mirkwood might be lacking...

---

Group C seems to be the clearest beforehand. Every agency wagers heavily on Hithlum and Gondolin to go forwards from the group – in that order. The Minas Morgul-team and Isengard should bite the dust – if they can do even that. That is according to the pre-tournament bettings. But here the AKM dares to disagree, again.

Hithlum sure looks like a contender to go all the way to the finals. With one of the best goalies in the tournament (Huan) and a solid defence to help him it will be a tough time for any team to score against them. But Hithlum also boasts one of the strongest forward-pairs in Maedhros and Fëanor. Beating this team will be hard indeed!

Gondolin looks also solid, but clearly they are only the second favourites of the group. If someone wished to make risky bets then group C might be a place for one for it’s clear Gondolin’s team is not so strong it used to be and the contenders might arrange some surprises.

Namely, the cunning of players like Wormtongue and Saruman, the sturdiness of the ents and the sheer stamina of the orcs might surprise the visitors to the games organised by Isengard.

Also Minas Morgul -team is not a band of push-overs but a solid team led by the Witch-King making the scores added by his two ringwraith-mates and the Mouth of Sauron backing up the defence!

---

On group D Eregion seem to be the favourites followed by Osgiliath although some agencies have given low turn-outs to bets on behalf of Mordor- and Erebor-teams as well indicating that there is no clear consensus of the matter.

AKM agrees with that Eregion is the team to go through to the next stage. Looking at the talent and experience both at the downstairs (Elrond, Gandalf) and on the attack (Eärendil, Gil-Galad, Glorfindel), this might be one of the teams that surprises the audiences by going really far in this tournament.

But after that things become murkier. Osgiliath has played solidly in the pre tournament matches and even if their players are not household names in every corner of the Middle-Earth they have a line-up equal to any good team in the tournament.

But when talking about a football tournament one should never under-estimate the power of Mordor – even if their master Sauron defected to another team and also the Witch-King chose another team this year. The defence of two Nazguls organized around Shelob is one of the firmest in the tournament and the cunningness of Gollum with the ruthless orc-commanders in the lead might bring forwards some surprises to teams who look at the Mordor-gang as an easy meal on their way to glory before them.

Erebor is the host, but it also boasts a dragon – and no lesser dragon than Smaug – in it’s line-up. Added with a solid dwarven defence and some individual finesse and power by players like Bard, Nazgul #7 and Beorn the team Erebor is everything else than an easy prey.

---

Group E looks to be the hairiest and most difficult to predict. Different agencies give very different predictions and it all looks like a wide open field for any bounty-hunter to score some very important points to top their competitors in betting. Looking at the star-players it looks like Armenelos, Doriath and Lothlorien are quite evenly matched but then again Dor-Lomin has the dynamic duo of Beleg and Turin leading their attack.

Armenelos surely can boast of high-value players like Tar-Atanamir, Tar-Telperion, Sauron and Ar Pharazon. That team rarely fails. The question though is, how will the presence of Sauron affect the general mood of the team?

Lothlorien will have a solid defence led by Galadriel but will their offence (Celeborn, Haldir) score enough to beat the adversaries?

Doriath will have Maglor, Eöl and Elwë in the front so they should really do some heavy scoring but how is their defence? Melian is one of the best goalies around but will the downstairs support her enough to win the games?

Or will the outlaw-spirit just embrace the team Dor-Lomin to the victory with the dashing forwards? A tough group to call indeed!

---

On group F the Taniquetil-team looks like the favourites of the group but then the situation becomes muddled. All the other teams have been ranked high on some betting-agencies, which makes it hard for the common-guy to read the results easily.

Looking at the stars of Taniquetil and the sheer experience of the team it looks like here we have a team that should be there in the finals. But then again Taniquetil failed massively in the last tournament and it remains to be seen if they have been able to recollect themselves. These players should arose awe and wonder in the opponents but they have the aura of failure on them as well. So how will it be this time?

Edoras might be the next contender. They have the horses in their squad, which might be hard to play against with the adversaries. They also have some quality players even if the betting-rankers haven’t notified them accordingly – like Theoden in the goal and Eowyn and Eomer on the front.

Dorthonion has been called high in the predictions as well. The question just remains if these guys can come up with the stamina and virtue of the old. Can Beor, or Barahir take the lead in a team with great players of the second-fiddle?

The hosts, Shire, might also prove themselves a team ready to surprise in front of their fanatic crowds. Even if their line-up doesn’t look too packed with celebrities, players like Bullroarer Took, Samwise Gamgee, the old Maggot – and the dwarves – might prove to be the ones to beat!

---

There is only one favourite in group G and that is – to the point – the Tol-In-Gaurhoth –team. That team just has it. The stamina, the wickedness, the strength, the cunning, the joy, the techniques, the bravado, the mastery… AKM totally agrees with the betting-agencies with this.

From the other place to the next round there will be some competition though.

The hosts Tuna are a worthwhile contender. Their frontline bursts with heroes of the game like Miriel, Finwë, Nerdanel and Finarfin and having Aulë to tend the goal is no weakness to the team.

But Gondor might make it as well. Their trio in front; Imrahil, Faramir and Boromir is almost as good or better any other team can put forwards. But their downstairs is a bit unknown and prone to give up with pressure – just think has Gondor ever succeeded without outside help – and with this tournament none is forthcoming.

Even if one agency has put Brethil to go forwards the AKM-board thinks that highly unlikely. They may not be easy adversaries to anyone but the team just lacks talent and stamina to win a game. One of the probable “no-winners” in this tournament.

---

Even if not all agencies put Valimar through it’s clear they’re the favourites of the group H. Just looking at the line-up should send shivers to the opposing sides: Ungoliant, wizards, balrogs, Melkor himself, Tulkas… That’s just super! If these guys lose, they will lose to the inner discrepancies and fights more than to the team playing against them.

But who will go forwards as the other team?

Many agencies give low turn-outs for Bree meaning that Bree might be a real contender here. And the team looks tough enough – and they’re hosting the tournament. With Old Man Willow at goal, Tom Bombadill making the goals with the Barrow-Wight and aided all around by the quick hobbit-feet, the team looks like able to generate a few surprises.

But Romenna is a solid squad. Their defence is one of the best in the tournament and having Tar Miriel and Tar Palantir in the front doesn’t exactly make them a handicap-team in this tournament.

Amon Sûl should be counted as the black horse of the group. No one believes in it’s success but maybe that’s just where they will strike? Accepted, they have one of the weakest line-ups in the tournament but you should also be not too confident with a team that has Elendil in it…



-*~*-
Always remember to purchase your latest copy of the Arda Kicker Magazine!
-*~*-

[Nogrod]

Related news by Arda Kicker Magazine.


On the betting agencies Tom Bombadill, Ancalagon the Black and Turín are the favourites to win the top scorer trophy.

With top assists there are no clear patterns; but Gandalf, Smaug, tp, Melkor, Fingolfin, Finduilas and Aredhel figure high in the betting.

On the betting of the total point-getter it's clearly Melkor's game by the betters.


By the agencies, the favourites to win the tournament are:

Hithlum 43%
Eregion 29%
Dor-Lomin 14%
Valimar 14%

With this and other projected results, the Arda Kicker Magazine feels both free and willing to disagree.

The betting offices have been wrong from the time immemorial...

But let's see the games and the actual results!

[Boromir88]

Arda Cup 2009 - Press release

In a press conference before the start of the 2009 Arda Cup, tourney officials made note for the implemetation of a new rule. It is called "the instigating penalty," and states: any player, in the last 5 minutes of a match, who starts a fight or is solely in the game with the objective to injure, maim, or destroy an opposing player, will have to complete 96 hours of community service and be forced to witness Gandalf uncloaked. The referees officiating the match are responsible for enforcing the instigating penalty. Players who are penalized can not protest the decision, but the Tournament officials will review every case, and can overturn any decision.

Tournament referee, Boromir88, was asked to comment on why the officials felt this rule was necessary and he responded: "This rule is in place to protect not only the players, but you the fans. Drunks and football do not mix. Too many matches end with fans destroying property, setting fire to everything, and causing serious injuries to other fans. We believe that some players purposefully play dirty as a way to energize their fans, especially towards the end of a match and if their team is losing. This type of dirty play only fuels hostility and violence in the fans. The rule will make players think twice before they stoop to deplorable tactics towards the end of a match."

I asked Boro for clarity on what he means by dirty play and deplorable tactics, but he would only say the refs would look at any player who starts a fight within the last 5 minutes and determine whether the player started the fight with the intention of inciting violence, or a riot in the crowd. He would also add "referees should look at players who commit aggressive fouls late in the match and whether their intention was to injure another player." When presented with the fact that this rule is a load of mumakil waste, because it relies on the referees' judgement of a player's "intentions," and who were the "some players" he believed purposefully played dirty, Boro reverted to his old self by saying "No comment," but actually having a comment: "I will be watching Tom Bombadil very closely."

[skip spence]

Throughout the ages, the Dwarves of Khadad Dum have jealously hoarded their treasures behind strong gates of mithril, all to often shut to the outside world. Since the Kingdom was selected to host group A of Arda’s premier football tournament, these gates have finally been opened again, for the treasure the Dwarves now seek is one that cannot be found even in the richest vein of their ancient mines - a price more precious than true-silver, or the seven rings of old: the very trophy of trophies, the Arda Cup itself.

In order to compete for this elusive treasure the Moria team must first do battle with three highly skilled opponents. By the grace of Eru, the divinely talented Alqualonde have travelled back along the straight path, seeking glory once again in Middle Earth. From the cold and cruel Iron Mountains in the North, Angband has also come, a name rightly feared across the footballing world even without their legendary leader Morgoth, who’s surprisingly departed for rivals Valinor. The forth team in this tough group is Minas Tirith, led by captain and superstar Aragorn II, with more goals to his name than there are Orcs in Mordor. The Iron Hells will be slight favourites to win this group, but all four teams are strong, well capable of beating anyone on a good day.

For the opening match of the tournament, Angband was to play Minas Tirith. As the two teams passed the garlanded arch of the east gate of Moria, they first crossed the slender bridge of Khadad-Dum, and then matched a furlong into the mountain, and finally ascended two flights of stairs to find themselves in a vast pillared hall, lit by sunlight entering through deep shafts in the ceiling and countless torches burning fiercely with white and scarlet flames. The hall was fashioned so that the pitch of natural grass, which had been transported here piece by piece from the green valleys far below, could be seen in the bottom centre of it, like a radiant emerald more than a hundred metres below the ceiling and the top of the oval, marble stands climbing steeply along the walls. Here 70 000 Dwarves, Orcs, Elves and Men were seated, each one cheering for their favourite team. The stage was set for a feast of football, and what a stage it was.

Match 1: Angband – Minas Tirith

Finally the wait was over and right after kick-off the action was fast and furious. The mighty Angband immediately came racing out of the gate with wave after wave of furious attacks. Minas Tirith was hard put to defend their keeper, but with strikers like Boromir and Aragorn, they were always a threat on the counter attack. Angband struck first however and took a deserved lead in the 26th minute. Hurin, booed each time he touched the ball by a group of Dor-lomin fans who were present, showed his quality by beating Ondoher on the right and crossing into the box where Ancalagon the Black met the ball with a flying header that Ecthelion had no chance to stop. Moments later new signing Gwindor had an excellent opportunity to make it two, but he froze in front of goal, allowing Denethor to make the tackle. Instead it was Minas Tirith who scored next. Ulfast played a backpass towards his own goalie, but Aragorn, ever able to read the minds of his fellow Men, anticipated the move and came face to face with the red maw of Carcaroth, rushing away from his line to close the angles. The approach of the Angband keeper was so terrible it startled even the brave Aragorn, who could only toe-poke a weak effort straight at Carcaroth. The rebound however fell kindly for midfielder Mardil, who took a touch and send the ball into the open net past the stranded goaltender, making the halftime score 1-1.

After the break Angband went looking for a winner right away. Tevildo started to have a cat and mouse game with Earnil on the left, creating many chances for himself and his teammates. In the 55th minute he clawed himself past his marker and hit a volley that rocketed against the bar, and a few minutes later his cross was met by the head of Ancalagon, who again rattled the Minas Tirith woodwork. A Angband goal seemed inevitable, and in the 65th minute it finally came. Ancalagon, whose aerial strength was a nuisance all night for the Minas Tirith defenders, headed a long ball back to Tevildo, who faked a long-distance shot and with cat-like agility danced past two defenders to get himself into a good position in the penalty area. Gwindor, wide open in the centre, would have been disappointed not to receive the ball in the first place from his selfish and ball-hugging teammate, but when a shot finally came in from a tight angle Echtelion could not hold on to the ball, giving the Elf the chance to slide in and put the rebound into the net. Angband was rampant now and looked set to increase their lead ever further, but once again it was Ulfast the Accursed who let his team down. Already in the book for a late challenge in the first half, the Angband defender seemed to get provoked by a comment by Denethor, and responded by pushing the White City defender, who immediately fell to the ground, apparently in agonizing pain. The referee had no choice but to give Ulfast his second yellow card, despite the protests of his teammates, and despite the apparent ease in which Denethor got back onto his feet after the ref’s decision. This opened a window back into the game for Minas Tirith as Angband pulled back defending their lead with a man short. The equalizer came with ten minutes to play as Mardil sent an early cross into the area which did not look too dangerous, but Boromir managed to push himself past his marker and get a toe to it. Carcaroth blocked the shot and the rebound was a 50-50 affair, but Boromir fought bravely and hurled himself forward to get a second chance, and then a third, and finally, on the forth attempt he found the net, which proved to be the last significant event of the game. This Angband team without Morgoth has showed that it still has a very potent offence, but there will be question-marks regarding its defending in the matches to come.

Angband 2-2 Minas Tirith
shots 15-9
on target 8-4
GOALS:
*26, Angband (Ancalagon, Hurin)
*38, Minas Tirith (Mardil, Aragorn II)
*65, Angband (Gwindor, Telvildo)
*79, Minas Tirith (Boromir I, Mardil)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, Gwindor, Balrog #5
*Minas Tirith- Denethor II
RED CARDS:
*Angband- Ulfast, 74 (second yellow)

Match 2: Alqualonde – Moria

As the host team entered the field the noise in the great hall was deafening. From the deep places below there was a drum-beat: Doom, boom, doom, it went, driving the Moria supporters into a frenzy. The Dwarves were beating hammers onto anvils while the Orcs were singing harsh songs of ridicule, and the Alqualonde players were looking rather daunted as they came out in their bright jersey. As play came underway, it became clear that Moria was determined to keep it that way, playing a very rough and physical game to disturb their more technically gifted opponents. As the size of the pitch was intentionally made rather small, Alqualonde found it hard to find space for their usual passing game, and the five man midfield of Moria, led by the imposing Durin’s Bane, completely dominated the proceedings, leaving the Elves with very little time on the ball. Alqualonde quickly reverted to plan B however and started to play long balls up towards target-player Cirdan, who had a great height advantage over the diminutive Moria defenders. In the 17th minute Cirdan also gave the Aman side the lead, as he towered above Durin and scored on a looping header. His effort was applauded by most of the Dwarves, who were appreciative of his long and well-kept beard, but the Orcish hooligans in the stands got furious when they saw it, and quite a few scimitars were produced that had somehow been snuck past security. On the field Durin and Durin’s bane got into a heated discussion over the marking on the goal, and a riot seemed inevitable, but much thanks to the fence separating the Dwarven and Orcish supporters everything eventually calmed down enough for play to continue.

The Moria team now seemed on the brink of losing control, and was rather lucky not to get a few red cards as the tackles got more and more brutal. But they also started to create some real chances. As the crowd got behind their team more and more, the goals also came. In the 31th minute Durin’s Bane easily brushed aside Frodo in the penalty area, and squared the ball to Narvi, who scored from close range. Right after half-time they took the lead, as Azog scored with a screamer from just outside the penalty area. Alqualonde had not given up though, and even though Gwaihir had managed to contain Cirdan in the air, they started to play better and better as the match progressed. Having missed a few good opportunities to score already, the equalizer came in the 62nd minute when Osse rose like the crest of a foaming tsunami-wave, and nodded his wife Uninen’s cross into the net. Now it looked like the match had ebbed out, and another draw was on hand, but with ten minutes to play, a piece of individual brilliance settled the contest. Narvi found Durin’s Bane in the centre, and he took on the Alqualonde defence on his own, beating one, then two, then three players. Frodo made a last ditch attempt to stop the Balrog, but it was a task beyond him, and he could only watch as the ball was rifled into the back of the net. The supporters went wild and as the full time whistle blew, celebrations that will go on well into the night started. The Moria crowd was well pleased with what they had seen tonight.

Alqualonde 2-3 Moria
shots 10-10
on target 4-6
GOALS:
*17, Alqualonde (Cirdan, Idril)
*31, Moria (Narvi, Durin's Bane)
*49, Moria (Azog, Thorin)
*62, Alqualonde (Osse, Uinen)
*80, Moria (Durin's Bane, Narvi)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Alqualonde- Eriol
*Moria- Ohtar, Thorin, Thror, Durin, Balin

Standings: Group A

Team________W D L GF GA P
1) Moria______ 1 0 0 3 - 2 3
2) Angband___ 0 1 0 2 - 2 1
2) Minas Tirith_ 0 1 0 2 - 2 1
4) Alqualonde _ 0 0 1 2 - 3 0

[the phantom]

When Mirkwood won the bid to host Group B of the Arda Cup, a fierce battle ensued between Elves, Men, Orcs, and... things.

The woodmen were the first to lay claim. "The games should be played here, on the western side of Mirkwood!" they insisted. "We've cut ourselves homes right back into the wood, and we know the woods well. Much of our blood has been spilled defending our homes here."

But the spiders and other beasties didn't agree in the least. "You had to defend your homes from us, and why? Because you drove us from our rightful place! We've lived in this forest for many years. You should've stayed on the Anduin. You late-comers have no claim!"

"If that is the case," answered the Elves, "Then surely you deny your own claim. We were here before the forest turned dark. Before it even became Mirkwood."

"Ah, then you admit that it was us who made this forest what it is!" returned the evil creatures. "The bid was awarded to 'Mirkwood', not 'the forest which used to be Mirkwood'!"

In the end, Arda Cup officials stepped in and ruled that if a place could not be agreed upon, they would award the bid to another location. That threat was enough to bring a scrap of unity to the residents of the forest, and they built a great new stadium in the midst of the forest, just south of the Elf road where the enchanted river crosses. The stadium seats were built in many different shapes and sizes so as to accommodate beings of all types. There were even prespun webs stretched between the field lights to provide a perch for the spiders.

As the games neared, spectators came in by the thousands. Hastily built hotels surrounding the arena provided food and bed, and a place for fans to discuss the upcoming matches. A handful of families from Eriador had braved the passes of the Misty Mountains to support Arnor, and could be heard far and wide declaring this year as "our year". "These players tied Angband and Valimar last year in Group play, and now we've added Isildur. It's our time!"

There were also a few men from Rohan there to support Helm's Deep, though far more of them had traveled to the Shire to support Edoras. Oddly enough, some men of Rohan showed up in support of Mirkwood, due to Lord Fram's presence on the team. "He's a dragon-slayer, and a forefather of the Rohirrim. How can you not support him?"

And of course there were Elves. Thranduil's people arrived in great numbers to support their lords who would be playing for the Mirkwood team, but there were also a few Elves from the west who came to watch Nargothrond play.

The woodmen and a few men from Long Lake who came supported Mirkwood for the most part, mostly because of Grimbeorn, though some of them adopted Nargothrond due to Beren and the father of dragons, Glaurung. But it was certainly Mirkwood who had the most support. All the denizens of Dol Guldur were completely behind their representative Nazgul and the fearsome Scatha, and so it was that the stadium was certain to grant Mirkwood a clear home-field advantage.

********************

ARNOR VERSUS HELM'S DEEP

The first game of the day featured Helm's Deep and Arnor. The stadium was disappointingly about half full at the start of the game, though it had filled by halftime.

As Helm and company emerged out of the tunnel onto the field, they appeared to be confused. "All right men- up onto the ramparts and make your bows ready!" shouted Helm. "If we gain the high ground first-" But then he saw that there were no ramparts, nor was there high ground. "What the devil?!" shouted Gram. "A flat battlefield? But we don't have our horses!"

Hama rolled his eyes and yelled, "I've been telling you all along! We're playing football!! Not fighting! Do you believe me now?! See?! There's the goal right there, and the ball, and the refs!! FOOTBALL!!"

Helm quickly regained his composure. "All right then, men, it's football we're playing! Take a position, and remember, you have to use your feet!" With far more order than one would think, the Helm's Deep players took places on the field and began practicing, passing balls around to each other. After a couple minutes, Arnor came out onto the field and warmed up alongside them. Isildur in particular looked full of swagger, and the fans from Arnor were extremely vocal.

Right from the first pass it was Arnor who looked to attack, but Helm's Deep was stingy and cluttered things up again and again in the back third of the field, though they weren't able to mount any sort of counter attack. In the 29th minute Arnor gained a corner, and Arantar booted it to the far side of the goal where Isildur used all of his height and met it perfectly to send it inside the post for the lead.

The rest of the first half was played in the midfield for the most part, with each side only gaining one decent shot, which both goalies were equal to.

Arnor came out energized for the second half, and held the ball for several minutes before Isildur gained position inside and was given the ball. He used his size to shield the ball from Theodred and curled around him, made a brilliant move past Folcwine, and found Araphor on the run with a perfect pass and Araphor made no mistake and gave Arnor the two goal lead.

The action was slow from then on, with Arnor being content to hold their lead and play prevent defense against Helm's Deep. It worked fine until the 80th minute and Helm "Hammerfoot" blasted a shot from 30 meters out perfectly into the top right corner. But that was all the scoring for the day, and Arnor left with 3 points in hand.

Arnor 2-1 Helm's Deep
shots 10-9
on target 4-4
GOALS:
*29, Arnor (Isildur, Arantar)
*58, Arnor (Araphor, Isildur)
*80, HD (Helm, Hama)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Arnor- Argeleb, Valandur
*Helm's Deep- Brytta, Helm

MIRKWOOD VERSUS NARGOTHROND

Despite the stadium's vastness, it could not contain the crowds that showed up for the night match. After the Helm's Deep and Arnor fans vacated their seats, there weren't nearly enough empty chairs to accommodate the hordes of Orcs and companies of Elves lined up outside. Even the spiders ran out of room and began spinning new webs across the field. Head ref Boro88 had to call in a crew to stop them from putting webs in places that were likely to get hit by the ball during the match.

In the end they allowed everyone in and there was standing room only. The aisles were packed and there were Orcs perched atop the skyboxes, stacked one on top of the other. And so it was that when Mirkwood trotted onto the pitch, the noise was nearly deafening, and a nearly equal volume of booing greeted the favored group-winner Nargothrond.

As play began, it was all out war on the field. Tough collisions and hard tackles were the order of the day, and the refs were keeping their cards in their pockets and letting them play. The Mirkwood forwards pushed with all of their great skill, but Luthien and the sons of Feanor were up to the task. On the other end it was the same story, with the wizard, Radagast, the Ent, Treebeard, and the bear-man Grimbeorn holding the line against the dangerous scorers from Nargothrond.

Both dragons gained an opportunity for their side, but the GKs stopped the shots cold, and the crowd roared in appreciation of the good play. But that sound was nothing compared to the riotous screaming that broke out at the 33 minute mark when Scatha drew first blood and put the home team ahead on the scoreboard.

But the team from Nargothrond was not so easily shaken, and their competitive will held firm through halftime, and at last they equalized a few minutes after the half as Mablung found Beren with a pinpoint pass. The crowd was not discouraged however, and urged their team forward. But it was Nargothrond who once again took charge, and at the 77 minute mark Finduilas was awarded a kick from a foul on Treebeard for "rooting" (when a tree or ent which sticks roots into the ground and has them emerge at another spot on the field to contact the ball or an opposing player). Her kick was barely tipped away by Oropher, but it rebounded off the post and was booted in by Glaurung, and Nargothrond took the lead on the home team, 2-1.

Mirkwood tried desperately to equalize, but the defense of Nargothrond was solid and refused to let Mirkwood's forwards run free. At last in the final 10 minutes Legolas gained a step on Luthien and Thranduil hit him with a pass, but his shot was tipped away by Orodreth and the score held. The home fans left the stadium down-hearted, but not completely depressed. Nargothrond had been the heavy favorite, and they had played them tough. Surely they still had a good chance of advancing. But they knew Helm's Deep and Arnor would have something to say about that.

Mirkwood 1-2 Nargothrond
shots 11-9
on target 4-4
GOALS:
*33, Mirkwood (Scatha, Thranduil)
*52, Nargothrond (Beren, Mablung)
*77, Nargothrond (Glaurung, Finduilas)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Mirkwood- Treebeard, Fram
*Nargothrond- Gelmir, Mim, Beren