Arda Cup Football 2010

[the phantom]

Fresh off of their dismantling of Thangorodrim, Valimar was riding high heading into the playoffs. “I think we’ve finally got it right this year,” commented Eonwe after group play was wrapped up. “We’ve got a great mix of talent and attitudes. Some of us fire up the guys who are too passive, while they in turn calm down the hot-headed ones. Our balance is right where it needs to be.”

The home favorites were matched up against the grizzled veterans from Norbury, who had managed to advance out of a tough Group C after a close loss to the dominating Mithrim (2-1), a tie with annual competitor Nargothrond (1-1), and finally a victory over the new but dangerous team from Pelennor (2-1). In an effort to make the match more interesting, many columnists attempted to point out the tough road Norbury had navigated, but it was not holding water with most of the populace, as Valimar’s competition wasn’t exactly easy (Bywater and Thangorodrim), and they had been much more impressive in friendlies.

And in the build up to the match, the guys from Norbury didn’t seem to disagree in the least, showering the Valar and company with an obscene number of compliments. Goal-keeper Arvedui, for instance: “I’m not looking forward to facing Valimar. They have so much talent, and stay on their game so well. Naturally I’m going to compete as hard as I can in an honorable fashion, but I’m not expecting to be around for the quarterfinals.”

Some version of “We’re going to try darn hard but probably lose” seemed to be the lone sentiment the Kings and Rangers of the North wished to express. Most fans and pundits thought the whole thing rather ridiculous and shameful, but a couple sports writers had a different view.

“This is brilliant gamesmanship by Norbury,” said one columnist yesterday in the Arnor Sun. “Valimar is a team that plays better when inspired. Just look at how they played against Thangorodrim. You don’t want to do anything to stir them up. Norbury is doing a great job of making sure they won’t be playing a ramped up opponent.”

No one knew for certain what the facts were behind Norbury’s behavior, but the time for pre-game strategy was over. It was time to play the game.

The stadium in Valimar offered plenty of support as the home team trotted out, but it was noticeably calmer than it was for the match against their hated foes from Thangorodrim. When Norbury entered there was not the roar of boos, but rather polite applause. If Norbury’s aim had indeed been to appease team Valimar and their supporters, their efforts seemed to have worked.

As the match began the home side looked a step slow where as Norbury took off like a rocket, giving it all they had. Before Valimar could recover Araphor and Aranarth busted the offsides trap and put the ball in for the 1-0 lead, and the crowd was silenced in only the sixth minute! But at the least the team on the field was shaken, and Valimar got serious after that. Manwe and the defense stopped everything before it started, and the midfield worked it up to Arien and Eonwe and let them go to work.

But Norbury was battle-tested and saavy, and Arvedui was a rock between the posts, and so despite their best efforts Valimar could not grab the equalizer. By the time the half arrived, the crowd was feeling better about their chances and they were starting to get back into it. Norbury was playing well, but they couldn’t keep Valimar off the board forever.

Only twelve minutes into the new half, it was the hero of the Thangorodrim game, Arien, who put the home team on the board. For the first time the stadium bells were struck and the crowd started to make some serious noise, though the length of the celebratory cheering was cut short by the antics of Norbury. Following the goal, all the lads from Norbury trotted over and patted Arien on the back, or shook her hand, congratulating her on the effort. The keeper, Arvedui, actually waved to get her attention and made a show of clapping, to all eyes quite sincerely impressed by her goal.

Some fans expressed shock while others laughed, but it certainly threw them off rhythm of their cheers and the stadium grew a bit quieter. It seemed to impact the Valimar players as well, as they seemed just a touch less aggressive when play started again. Norbury continued to defend doggedly, but any time there was extra contact they apologized. The combination of fine team defense and attitude totally sucked the air out of the Valimar attack, and the game settled into the midfield, and the minutes ticked away with neither side gaining a decent chance for the winner.

With less than ten minutes to go, Arien and the Blue Wizards tried to pep things up and put the match away, but the rest of the team didn’t have it in them or simply wouldn’t follow their lead, and quite soon time was out and it was overtime!

As extra time began the crowd seemed to finally wake up to reality- this was the PLAYOFFS and it was win or go home! Their team just had to win, at all costs! As the crowd support kicked in the team on the field looked to have new life and came forward with new resolve, building up the attack. Less than ten minutes in Tulkas was barely denied off a header rebound, and the crowd groaned. Five minutes later Eonwe went up high on a corner and put it into the corner of the posts, only to have Arvedui tip it up and over. The Norbury keeper was really on his game much to the dismay of the crowd.

In the 18th minute it looked like Valimar was set to break through at last, when off a counter there was only Valandur left to face a charging Eonwe and Arien, but Valandur faked his commitment brilliantly and managed to toe away Arien’s pass to Eonwe. Quickly to the loose ball was Malvegil, who whirled and sent it deep down the right side with no hesitation, catching everyone going the wrong direction- except Malbeth. The famed Seer was already breaking (perhaps aided by his gift of sight?), and he controlled it and broke in from the corner towards the goal. He dribbled right past Manwe and Pallando, and put on the brakes to let Vana rush past, then sent it perfectly over to Araphor who was just an inch ahead of Alatar. The inch was all he need, as he deflected it perfectly back across to the far post, catching the keeper Namo diving the opposite way to cover the near post.

Team Norbury’s small section of fans went completely nuts, but the team on the field restrained any celebration and merely took their spots. Team Valimar tried desperately for the equalizer in the final minutes, but they just didn’t have their edge, while Norbury’s defense was better than ever, buoyed up by the success they were having against the vaunted Ainu. At last when the final second disappeared from the clock, Norbury let loose and celebrated like they had won the Cup. They knew going in that the only way they could win was to suck the competitive juices out of their opponents, quiet the crowd, and play a near flawless game, and they had done all three! Improbable as it was, they were through to the quarterfinals!

Norbury 2-1 Valimar (OVERTIME)
tot shots 7-13
on target 3-6
GOALS:
*6, 1-0 Araphor (Aranarth)
*57, 1-1 Arien (Varda)
*18, 2-1 Araphor (Malbeth)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Norbury- Argeleb
*Valimar- Arien, Vana, Pallando, Yavanna