Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[the phantom]

(special thanks to Nogrod for writing this match up)

MATCH 4, AT NARGOTHROND

The stadium beneath the hills, the arena of Nargothrond, was packing up with the optimistic home crowd. Nargothrond had been pretty impressive during the group phase and the Tuna team – even if these fellows of them had lately started to show some qualities – was generally looked upon as no more than a mouthful for the hometeam… The Nargothrond team would go forwards to the semi-finals and the crowd was there to witness that fact.

But the Tuna supporters were gathering in numbers to the stadium as well singing their “Pure elven race” –songs making the general athmosphere a bit gloomy. Some of the home team’s supporters started to chant songs about Orodreth being the little brother of Finrod and thence the team being the little brothers destined to lose the game. But it took no time from the Tuna supporters to start their counter songs about the ages of the respective family lines in the field that quite shut the mouths of those home team enthusiasts that had begun the whole affair.

The game itself was hard fought but a pretty clean one. It could be seen that there were two teams of elves – or humans near to elves – playing in the field. Only three yellow cards were shown the whole match. That tells a lot about the spirit of the game. It seemed that the crowds had more tempers than the players who quite cordially tried to measure their relative skills. But that doesn’t mean the teams played it soft. On the contrary: it was a real fight in the field, but a good spirited one as both teams appreciated one another and played it rough but fair.

To the cheer of the home crowd the Nargothrond team took the lead on the 27th minute when Glaurung irresistibly broke through the Tuna defences and scored from a nice pass from Finrod. But it was just a few minutes before the half-time that Tuna made the game even with Miriel dribbling the whole human defence of Nargothrond. It kind of fit the situation well that the releasing pass to Miriel was given by Finwë… The home crowd was aghast in front of the skill shown forth by the elders of the Eldar.

With the support of the home crowd Nargothrond came forcibly back in the beginning of the second period. On the 62nd minute Glaurung draw the defence on him and then passed the ball cunningly into an empty spot which was first reached by Finrod Felagund. And the crowd went just mad with the goal!

But slowly it started to get real to the home team supporters that the Tuna team’s oldies in their forward were sooo dangerous and the defence of the home team was not up to the challenge. Many a nail was bit as the game continued. Would their lead stand the attacks of the Tuna?

It didn’t. On the 79th minute Finwë broke through after a nice pass by Mahtan and made the scoreline even. Then the referee blew his whistle.

The game went into overtime and the home crowd was getting all the more nervous remaining silent most of the time. But the Tuna fans were chanting and supporting their team to the fullest. Few as they may have been, they clearly outshone the home team fans.

And on the 19th minute of the overtime Miriel finally silenced the home crowd for good giving the visiting supporters reason to chant ever louder. Nerdanel played a nice wall with Finwë and got rid of the defenders at the edge of the box but she didn’t shoot as all the remaining defenders and Beor at the goal thought, but passed it diagonally to Miriel who hammered the ball into the empty net with force.

The home team and the favourites were beaten. The skill of the offensive stars of Tuna had just outshone the home team and there was nothing to complain. Nargothrond was just not up to the challenge and lost.

Nargothrond 2-3 Tuna (Overtime)
shots 11-17
on target 5-9
GOALS:
*Nargothrond, 27 (Glaurung- Finrod)
*Tuna, 38 (Miriel- Finwe)
*Nargothrond, 62 (Finrod- Glaurung)
*Tuna, 79 (Finwe- Mahtan)
*Tuna, 19 OT (Miriel- Nerdanel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Nargothrond- Barahir, Bregor
*Tuna- Duilin