[Nogrod]

Play-offs round 1, two games @ The Grey Havens

So it was to be quite an evening with football at the shining new Lhûnarena sold full already days before. The full capacity of the stadium was “only” some fifty-five thousand, but the surrounding Riverside Gardens and the park were hosting some two hundred to two and half hundred thousand fans and enthusiasts around the eight giant screens brought up around the stadium. Elves, the men of all ages and races, hobbits and even some dwarves were having an evening of fun and excitement ahead of them and many fast improvised stands were offering snacks, beverages, team-merchadise, pic-nic accessories, what have you.

One of the most popular entertainments aside with heavy speculation between friends and strangers and the general merry-making was the betting for the results: from small-scale betting between friends or newly-found acquintances over a pint to serious betting through both minor and major betting-agencies who had their own stands at the park as well. Interestingly enough the odds to win for both games were about even as the great number of homeside supporters evened out the betting of the game between the Havens and FC Valinor, whereas Real Valinor’s not that impressive tournament-trail clearly evened the bets between them and the strong-looking The Sea the locals seemed to favour as kind of a second “home team” anyway.


~*~

At 7pm the sun was still shining from the clear evening sky when the players from teams The Sea and Real Valinor ran to the field creating enthusiastic cheers from the crowds both inside and outside the stadium. The first game was about to begin and one could see the importance of it in the faces of the players while the official Arda Cup Anthem was played live by the Grey Havens Symphony Orchestra in the middle of the pitch.

After the necessary ceremonies the game was finally on. It was clear from the first minute that both teams had decided to start very carefully feeling for the opponent and their game. But with neither team willing to take a real offensive initiative or any risks whatsoever, the first half an hour of the game was actually a bit boring.

Towards the end of the first period both teams finally started to press on with their attacks a little more daringly creating a few nice chances to both ends. But with both teams really keeping their defences solid the few actual shots made were going wide because of the strict defending forcing the shots from bad positions or from too far away.

While the football enthusiasts had enjoyed the first half immensly as very skilled game from both sides and a remarkable tactical play, the less educated homeside fans were actually booing and whistling when the teams retreated to their lockers for the half-time. The Maiar-defence led by Ulmo had managed to make the feared Real Valinor attack quite armless but the Númenorians hadn’t been given any room at the other end of the pitch either.

But come the second half it was like a totally different game. Real Valinor had had it’s “scouting” done and was now pressing on for real into any weaknesses they had found on the first half. After some ten minutes of probing different variations Real Valinor started a full attacking phase. They seemed to avoid the center where Ulmo and Ossë were keeping their ground and came from both left (playing for Nerdanel) and right (playing for Miriel) while Arien made Ulmo and Ossë busy with her dangerous cross-runs in the middle giving them no pause to go and help the defenders on the sides.

And suddenly there were sparks all around when Real Valinor went on offence. The home-crowds were totally amazed by what they saw as no team had forced The Sea they had seen playing many games at their stadium into that kind of trouble. The attacks rained in both right and left: the saying that a “goal hangs in the air” was looking more and more true – untill it became a fact.

Tilion had caused a lot of trouble to the Sea’s defences with his aggressive runs deep into their defensive territory but at the 66th minute he managed to fool The Sea’s defences big time. Running deep into the left side of The Sea’s half he draw Uinen to come and challenge him. Getting rid of her with a neat trick he forced Ossë to rush down on him to prevent him from openly challenging Voronwë. With Arien making a steep run inside the box Ulmo had no chance but to follow her leaving Nerdanel open rushing in the second wave – and Tilion passed the ball neatly to her feet inside the box. Nerdanel scored booting the ball with a one-timer from the bottom of her heart making her first goal of the tournament.

The Sea tried to come aggressively forwards after being put one down to even the score as soon as possible, but Real Valinor was not yielding an inch and on the contrary gained more chances the more The Sea put an effort on offence. And with a nice counter-attack Caranthir sent the ball far forwards, after ripping it away from Andreth, and Miriel was suddenly in a running competition with Salmar going after the ball. Voronwë hesitated a moment at the goal as to whether to run for the ball or stay back ready for a shot, but as it instantly seemed Miriel was outpacing Salmar, he rushed for the ball as well.

Salmar was losing the fight and Miriel reached for the ball while Voronwë closed in from ahead… and it was close one! But Miriel did get the first touch chipping it with an elegant touch over the diving Voronwë. Avoiding a collision with the sliding keeper Miriel jumped up and waved her hand in the air while wittnessing the ball bounce into the goal. It was just such a cool finish!

With two goals down and only twenty minutes left The Sea faced a dilemma: go forwards with all you have and dare more goals by the Valinor team, or take it more carefully not opening your defences but still try to press for two goals. It seemed like an impossible equation.

The Sea fought bravely and even managed to create some pressure to the Real Valinor defences at times, but with the dangerous counter-runs the Valinor forwards kept The Sea at the bay.

Interestingly enough, the game ended with both teams shooting quite evenly (The Sea had 3 shots on goal vs. Real Valinor 4 shots on goal – overall 10 vs. 13), but Real Valinor won the game quite confidently 2-0. And there was no doubt as to which was the better team – even if the local supporters were not too happy about their favourites ending up as the losing side.

But whichever side, Rohan or Dwarves Utd., is coming to face them on the next round Real Valinor sent a message that they are on the top of their form and play intelligently for the result. Or who knows how they will play the next time, but this time it was a pure victory of tactics and great performance of some shining stars.

The Sea 0-2 Real Valinor
on target 3-4
tot shots 10-13
GOALS:
*66, 0-1 Nerdanel (Tilion)
*69, 0-2 Miriel (Caranthir)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Sea- Tar Aldarion
*Real- Nessa, Tilion



So all was set for the The Game in The Lhûnarena. At 9.30 pm the teams finally jogged into the field facing a mighty roar of the crowds. The sun was slowly setting and the lights had been lit over the stadium producing an awesome turqoish-white light over the pitch. Now the feeling was really up – and anyone questioning The Grey Havens’ lack of footballing culture was at least temporarily put to a shame.

There was a touching episode before the game began when after the official Arda Cup anthem Idril went to embrace her husband Tuor and their son Eärendil, and her daughter-in-law Elwing. In the spirit of football Maglor also shook hands with Cirdan and Elwing, and both Curufin and Celegorm were seen to exchange a few polite greetings with Olwë and Eärwen. The past was present and absent at the same time, but tonight they would be first of all playing football.

And it was a game to remember!

The home team started with flare and gusto making the crowds their twelwth player Eärendil had hoped for and they forced the game into FC Valinor’s side of the field. Idril came down to help the defences against the rolling attacks of her husband and son but it was not enough, as after seventeen minutes into the game the Havens scored! Eärendil put a nice pass from between Nahar’s hooves and Tuor managed to get rid of his wife to score a goal behind Huan from around the penalty spot! The crowds were going mad!

The Havens were causing the first serious upset of the tournament! They were leading the general favourites to win the whole tournament, the winners of the notorious group D – and they were not backing down after their goal either. On the contrary. With the crowds getting wild with their support they pressed on. But slowly their attacks wore down one after another and FC Valinor started keeping the ball more and more… and like a flash from the sky, at half an hour’s mark, Idril released Celegorm into a solo run and he basically ran over Cirdan just putting the ball into the goal after running Cirdan down.

After the equaliser the game went into a bit subdued mode as both teams were clearly looking for the half-time and neither wished to go there trailing the other team. So the first half ended with extremely sharp defending by both sides – and even if the crowds woke up every now and then after some nice performances of their homeside players and tried their best to beat their team into scoring, FC Valinor seemed to have no trouble keeping Tuor and Eärendil at bay the last fifteen minutes of the first half.

The shadow of all those drawn games played on the Lhûnarena at the group stage loomed heavily over the stadium during the half-time, but when the second half started those clouds of doubt were cleared for good.

The Havens started with even more fervor they started the first period and took the crowds along them. But after the few first minutes FC Valinor was coming back with even more stamina. Well, with more The Havens could handle it seemed. The game started to turn into a nightmare to the homecrowds as FC Valinor finally unleashed their offence full scale.

Olwë and Elwing were more busy than ever before trying to contain Curufin’s and Celegorm’s aggressive moves in the center, and Annael and Lindo ran their breath away trying to denounce the background runs by Argon and Yavanna at the sides – and Idril and Lórien were always dangerously looking on making sudden dashes forwards when FC Valinor was attacking keeping also The Havens midfield away from any offencive ideas. And Maglor could just make a dash from nowhere to penetrate The Havens’ defences. It was a nail-biting time for the home team fans – and a jubilee of offencive football.

Maglor made a dash and shot the ball with power into the post from thirty meters. The crowds sighed in relief, fearing the worst.

With Elwing’s one second error of judgement Curufin was released from her hold by a perfect pass by Yavanna, but Cirdan tipped the ball just inches away from the low-right corner of the goal with a wonderful dive. From the ensuing corner-kick Celegorm rose the highest and headed the ball just off the mark.

At hour’s mark FC Valinor had played the ball to and fro at The Havens’ side of the field for a few minutes searching for a route inside the box when Annael managed to cut a pass by Celegorm around the corner of the box and footed it away as far as he could – and seeing him kicking the ball with all he had to put in all the defenders dashed forwards to bring in the offside-trap.

But Curufin managed to stretch his boot in the way and instead of flying to the other end of the field the ball went high and towards the left. The havens regrouped as soon as they could with Lindo and Eärwen going for the high ball and Annael, Elwing and Olwë closing the center from the brothers and Idril who was dashing in with force.

Yavanna got the first touch of the ball from in front of Lindo and Eärwen and volleyed the ball diagonally forwards far over the heads of the players concetrated in the the middle of the edge of the box – and Argon was making a run for it behind the backs of the defenders on the right side – and he volleyed the ball as well, straight in to the roof of the net, leaving Cirdan no chance whatsoever letting the shot ring from some ten meters away from the goal.

It was just such an amazing feat the crowds fell totally silent for a fleeting moment before they all applauded it with it’s due – even if the home team supporters weren’t actually delighted of the goal. But it was just so great they just instinctually cheered for it after they reaised what they had seen.

The Havens was trying to fight back and put all it had on offence but FC Valinor was now on charge of the game and pushed them back time after time. And they were not sitting idle on their lead either, but went for offence almost as hard they did before their last goal – and little by little the balance was yet again turned towards the Havens’ side of the pitch.

The defences of The Havens were now more or less scitzophrenic about whether to especially guard Celegorm and Curufin or Yavanna and Argon, or the constantly running Idril, the unpredictable Lórien, the crafty Maglor… and while trying to make some forwards play themselves they soon realised they were going nowhere. And FC Valinor did hit into that confusion.

Yavanna was bringing the ball deep into the Havens territory by the left side and made a centering pass over the field. The defenders remembered the volley of Argon while seeing him running for it at the right side trailed by Idril – while Maglor was rushing forwards from left to the center… Yavanna’s pass forced the defence into a fast reaction-mode. Annael and Elwing rushed for Argon, Lindo caught Maglor’s dash from the corner of his eye and went for him and Olwë – as the old fox in the middle – stood firm keeping Curufin at bay and calling Eärwen to come and help in the center.

Annael, Elwing and Argon all jumped for the ball and Argon managed to head it back towards Idril who was running into the place. Without hesitation Idril centered the ball back but now towards the actual center. Maglor made a run turning towards the ball leaving Lindo behind. Seeing that, Eärwen dashed to cut Maglor’s route, but Maglor turned around seeing Celegorm runnning free in the center towards the left corner of the goal. Without a second thought he passed the ball sideways with the first touch. Now Olwë had to run for it and he charged Celegorm. Cirdan had ran forwards to almost reach the ball on Celegorm’s feet and Olwë was coming on him when he just passed the ball sideways again only to reach his brother who booted it in from the center of the field, just five meters away from an empty goal!

It was 3-1!

There were twenty minutes of the game left and The Havens sure gave their best. But slowly their efforts became less and less serious as they realised FC Valinor held them at bay at their will. There was no way for them to score against this team and the last ten minutes both sides more or less just kicked the ball around – even if at times the homecrowds tried to boost their team for an effort once more. But as the result of those efforts were more often than not tight situations at their own goal they finally decided they would not like to lose more than 3-1 and the last minutes went just kicking the ball around. Some people booed but most were just so taken by FC Valinor’s performance they felt wrong to boo on such a side even if their favourites had just lost a game. And FC Valinor had given both the home team and the spectstors a lesson in effective football. And in a beautiful game as well.

The crowds exiting the stadium and the parks were happy with one thing though: even if their team had lost, they had seen the undoubted champions play.


FC Valinor 3-1 The Havens
on target 8-4
tot shots 17-12
GOALS:
*17, 0-1 Tuor (Earendil)
*32, 1-1 Celegorm (Idril)
*58, 2-1 Argon (Yavanna)
*71, 3-1 Curufin (Celegorm)
YELLOW CARDS:
*FCVal- Maglor, Argon
*Havens- Angrod, Aegnor