ARDA CUP Football 2012

[Shastanis Althreduin]

As the fourth quarterfinal match got underway, the weather decided it wasn't going to co-operate. Rain had been threatening all day, and as the first minutes of the match began, the sky had finally had enough. The match between Rohan and Real Valinor would be played in the rain.

It wasn't a hard rain, but the players were wet and and irritable all throughout the first half. Horses especially are known for disliking being wet, and it may have been due to that that Arien was able to slip around the defensive Rohan line of sodden, mournful horses to knee in a linear shot from Nerdanel at around the sixteen-minute mark.

Having let in a goal so early, of course, meant the Rohan players went into the half with even less morale than normal. Nothing particularly changed for them in the second half, either. In comparison, Real Valinor was cheerful, but still anxious about the weather, as lightning flickered across the sky and thunder continued to cause spectators to duck in cover. Early on, some makeshift leather awnings were produced so that the fans stayed relatively dry, but no leather awning could stop the wind blowing torrents of water up under the covering. The end result was a group of spectators that weren't quite as soaking wet as the players, but only barely.

Real Valinor came into the second half ahead by one, but they didn't let that lull them into complacency. As the half started, Enerdhil had a bit too much enthusiasm in chasing the ball and slip-slid right into Rohan's King Dead, who, already down on account of the rain, was less than happy about an opposing player tackling him into the dirt. The altercation that followed was a bit blurred for some on account of the rain, but both players walked away with the only yellow cards of the match.

Sadly, that was the last real bit of spirit Rohan showed in the match. At just over an hour, it was again RV's Arien that scored for her team, this time off a hefty bicycle kick from Miriel.

The game basically fell apart after that, as both teams agreed to end it and get out of the weather. Rohan was saddened by their loss, but "on the bright side, at least we lost to a fantastic team like Real Valinor." (Gandalf was heard to say this to console a downcast Radagast, who was taking the loss a bit hard. There was ale involved.)

So, with a 2-0 victory against the horse lords, Real Valinor advances to the semifinal round!




Rohan 0-2 Real Valinor
on target 3-7
tot shots 13-15
GOALS:
*16, 0-1 Arien (Nerdanel)
*62, 0-2 Arien (Miriel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Rohan- King Dead
*Real- Enerdhil

[the phantom]

The Game Within the Game

Every year the Phantasy Competition is nearly as exciting as the play on the field, and this year is no exception. Here’s what the competitors had to say when we asked them for a brief quote.

Boro: In the upper ranks again, though too far back for my liking. If only my pre-tourney predictions would hit, maybe I could close the gap.
Eomer: I don’t know why I’m not allowed to field a team made entirely of Wargs. I’ll be appealing this.
Eonwe: TIG wouldn’t have been eliminated so early if SteveWight had been on the team. Just saying…
Galadriel: Only my second year, and I’m within easy striking distance of Eomer and Kuru. I’ll be finishing in the top half this year, and next year- winner.
Gwath: They’re going to have to seriously consider naming the Phantasy Championship “The Gwath Award”.
Inzil: Not going quite as planned, but at least I’m beating that blasted Legate.
Kuru: Whew- these several-week Phantasy contests aren’t exactly in my wheel-house. We Dwarves are natural sprinters, you see.
Legate: This noob is two up from the bottom and I’m about to pass that annoying Inzil. Watch out next year, because I’m seriously getting the hang of this.
McCaber: This is like golf, yes? Lowest score wins?
Morm: I maintain my faith in my squad members, whether they’ve been eliminated or not. That’s the sort of chap I am!
Nerwen: Curse those Cupkicks! I’m supposed to be the girl that challenges the boys every year!
Nilp: Gwath is a baby gazelle, and I’m a lion. I think we know what’s going to happen in this chase.
Nog: How can I continually come so close and not take the top?! Grrr… I’m getting there no matter what it takes!
Sally: Look at me way up here, hee hee. Poor little Boro and Shasta are going to be so annoyed when I beat them.
Shasta: Sally said what?! Oh, it is ON! I’m passing her up.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Bracket:



Power Rank:



(Teams in bold are semifinalists; teams in italics are eliminated.)

Greatest gain:

• +8 Real Valinor
• +1 AC Beleriand

Greatest loss:

• -12 Shire-Bree United
• -3 Rohan
• -2 Minas Tirith

The Power Ranking is based on the aggregate of offensive and defensive ranking, combined with the adjusted goal difference rank of each team. The listed offensive and defensive rankings are from the actual numbers by the teams, and not adjusted. Ties are broken by a) win-draw-loss record; and b) goal difference.

The offensive ranking is based on the goals scored per game throughout the matches. Ties are broken by a) greater number of shots made on target per game; and b) greater number of shots made per game.

The defensive ranking is based on the goals allowed per game throughout the matches. Ties are broken by a) least number of shots allowed on target per game; and b) least amount of shots allowed per game.

Top Individual Performers:
(Players in italics are from eliminated teams.)

GOALS + ASSISTS

6+1
Curufin (FC Valinor)

4+3
Anarion (Gondor)

4+2
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Glorfindel (Eriador)

4+1
Gothmog (Gondolin)
Smaug (Erebor)
Beren (AC Beleriand)

4+0
Arien (Real Valinor)

3+3
Sauron (Barad-dûr)

3+2
Bombadil (Shire-Bree United)
Celegorm (FC Valinor)

3+1
Túrin (Hithlum)
Finrod (Nargothrond)
Witch-king (Eriador)

2+3
Maeglin (Gondolin)
Beleg (Doriath)
Míriel (Real Valinor)
Eöl (AC Beleriand)

1+3
Tevildo (Angband)
Eärendil (The Havens)
Thranduil (Erebor)

GOALKEEPING

1. Beorn (Erebor) - 23/27 (85.19%)
2. Théoden (Rohan) - 17/20 (85.00%)
3. Elrond (Eriador) - 21/25 (84.00%)
4. Marach (AC Beleriand) – 12/15 (80.00%)
5. Manwë (Valimar) - 12/15 (80.00%)
6. Ungoliant (Anfauglith) - 11/14 (78.57%)
7. Huan (FC Valinor) - 18/23 (78.26%)

[Nogrod]

GAME 1

B1 Eriador 10-4
5-0-0
34,5% 29 (71) – 25 (67) 84%

C1 Erebor 10-4
4-1-0
31,25% 32 (81) – 27 (70) 85,2%


Had we been asked before the tournament which team would win a crucially important match between Eriador and Erebor, we would probably not have hesitated too much to say Eriador would win. And we would have given at least the following reasons. First, while Smaug is a dangerous striker Glorfindel and The Witch King form a much more dangerous duo. Secondly Erebor may boast of the eagle defence but eagles has been proven shifty the earlier years – while Eriador has the best goalie aka. Elrond to whom you can’t even compare Beorn to.

Having seen first the friendlies and then the games that had a stake we have to say all the above is more or less rubbish now.

Let’s start with the forwards: Glorfindel (4+2) and Smaug (4+1) seem neck to neck in effectivity, but The Witch King has played a bit under the expectations (3+1, though). Meanwhile Bard the Bowman (3+0) has risen from nowhere while Thranduil (1+3) is their passing genius. So far from Eriador being stronger the numbers suggest the teams are quite even in their attack. And in the last two games Erebor’s attack has looked like the deadlier one indeed.

What comes to the defence, the talk about the Eagles being hazards in the defence has yet to materialize. Meanwhile they have done some pretty good work – and it would be shortsighted an stupid to say they wouldn’t match the defence of Eriador led by Gil-Galad and Malbeth. The most interesting detail on that is that even if Erebor played 120 minutes against FC Valinor (who made a dashing 9/23 shots against them) the numbers in the defence are still that even – meanwhile Eriador played Minas Tirith... So if there is an edge on one defence over anpther we’d say Erebor is in a sharper condition right now.

And the golkeepers then? Beorn just happens to be the sensation of this season! With numbers Beorn is better than Elrond himself – but especially his performance in the game against FC Valinor showed his qualities! So we can’t put Eriador ahead even with the goalkeeping…

Now the stats are so close and both teams are top quality ones, so it will not be an easy game to predict, but if forced to say which team has the edge we’d say it is Erebor. Eriador might have tougher defence than FC Valinor but they’re galaxies away from their offence – and if Erebor managed to keep FC Valinor at bay for almost 90 minutes, they should have no problem keeping Glorfindel fronm scoring.

The AKM predicts:

Erebor wins 1-0 (or 2-1 extra-time)



GAME 2


D2 Real Valinor 8-5
4-0-1
32% 29 (74) – 22 (62) 77,3%

G1 AC Beleriand 13-3
4-1-0
37,1% 35 (83) – 15 (50) 80%


The stats are pretty straightforwards: AC Beleriand is the favourite to win this game. AC Beleriand scores more and shoots more while allowing less goals and shots. But, and unsurprisingly there is a “but”: Real Valinor has had clearly a tougher schedule – even if it can be argued that AC Beleriand hasn’t had the easiest schedule either.

It is a no-brainer that getting oneself forth from group D and then from the first playoff round against the winner of group E was a far greater deed than to qualify from group G and beat the second team from group B. No-brainer or not, but many people tend to forget that when they get excited about the stats only – or that Fëanor plays for the AC Beleriand. So the stas might not tell the truth.

It is also interesting to note that the match-up favours both teams in different ways. Now both teams have won all their games except one. Real Valinor had problems with an especially strong attacking team (FC Valinor) and AC Beleriand sure is one. Then again AC Beleriand’s only point-loss came against a fairly balanced offencive-oriented team (Doriath) which Real Valinor seems to be.

That said, AC Beleriand’s defencive stats look pretty awesome even if they haven’t exactly met any offencive “powerhouses” – and Real Valinor has a full day’s work to get a decent amount of shots towards Marach to score.

But before declaring AC Beleriand the slight favourites to win the game we must add two disclaimers. Firstly, Real Valinor’s attack has been very efficient when they have needed to be that, and whatever some people say, their attacking trio is still one of the deadliest – and with a different schedual their numbers would be different as well. Secondly, we have both Fëanor’s mom and wife playing for the opposing side: what is their effect on his game?

The AKM predicts:

The game ends 1-1 or more probably 2-2, AC Beleriand wins on extratime.