ARDA CUP Football 2012

[Nogrod]

The Valinor-based teams took the trip south to play their second last friendlies at the great stadium of Gondolin, carrying the Angband team with them – and well, the secret was lost anyway so there seemed to be no problem with that. But the organisers were at the tip of their toes and scheduled the Angband match the first in the afternoon to avoid any troubles a late game might bring about.

Sadly team Angband and team Valimar were nowhere near to give it a go but passed the ball around – getting all the more careful as the clock ticked on. From the audience’s pov Angband’s sudden awakening 15 minutes before the end of the game was a happy thing, and Valimar reacted to it furiously, like a premeditated deal had been broken. So the last fifteen minutes offered the spectators some real drama and serious game, but nonetheless the game ended in a draw 0-0.

Angband 0-0 Valimar
tot shots 11-9
on target 3-3
GOALS:
*
YELLOW CARDS:
*Angband- Uldor, Balrog #1
*Valimar- Amras, Celebrian


But if the first game was a disappointment, the second one really made everyone forget about it. The beginning of the game between the two top seats Real Valinor and FC Valinor looked to be more of the same but slowly the match-ups started to ratchet up competitive fires. Caranthir, the Dark-brother, was trying to shut down his older and younger brother, while at the other end Maglor kept shadowing his mother and Indis was rivalling her husband’s ex- wife Miriel. And soon it was clear these were real match-ups.

It was the cousin to the Fëanor’s sons, Argon, who really made the impact in this game with his individual performances. FC Valinor cranked up the game on the latter half of the first period and Argon scored from a solo-run (after a nice freeing pass from Yavanna). And when he scored again quite early on the second period – this time with a decent header after a corner by Curufin – Real Valinor really had to step up to play for the victory even if they had started to play quite seriously already before that...

It was clear FC Valinor wished to win and Real Valinor wished to at least draw. After Arien reduced the FC Valinor’s lead to one goal the last ten minutes were just dazzling football with both teams playing it for real.

After the game Indis summed it most appropriately: “You know these family-affairs… there are always these emotions… I mean depending on a family…”

Miriel was not willing to make a clear reference to that, but stressed the fact that both teams would meet again at the group-stage in Númenorë and then everything would be open once again – and she quite happily cast the coat of the favourite to the FC Valinor team. “We don’t yet have our game as organized we’d wished it to be, but we’ll play better the next time”.

FC Valinor 2-1 Real Valinor
tot shots 16-11
on target 7-4
GOALS:
*34, 1-0 Argon (Yavanna)
*61, 2-0 Argon (Curufin)
*83, 2-1 Arien (Nessa)
YELLOW CARDS:
*FCVal- Penlod, Idril, Irmo, Indis
*RealVal- Nienna, Miriel


~*~


The Sea sailed south and harboured their vessels to the shores of Númenor and went to play a friendly there against the upcoming hosts of group D, Armenelos.

It was all friendly and courteous, and in the first half more of a walk-through than a competitive game. But both teams made it more competitive on the second half. After Ulmo scored on the 66th minute, The Sea tried to shut Armenelos down, but that only made the home team try more. Ar Adunakhôr evened the score ten minutes before the end and the draw was very well earned.

Armenelos is facing the toughest competition any team could fear for, but their captain Ar Pharazôn was confident – even if he himself hasn’t scored yet: “The friendlies have shown the Valinor teams are not only good on paper but in reality as well, but these have just been the friendlies… when the real games begin, we will show our qualities with our home crowds behind us. And before you ask me, no, I’m not worried about my scoring… I’m going to score when the goals are needed.”

Tar Minastir was there to speak for The Sea: “We have played even with Tirion so there should be no reason why we couldn’t beat Hithlum and qualify. Yes they come on you like a hurricane but we have a tough defence seasoned for that kind of onslaught – and their defence is vulnerable indeed. So we’re confident we’ll go through.”

Armenelos 1-1 The Sea
tot shots 13-12
on target 4-5
GOALS:
*66, 0-1 Ulmo (Tar Aldarion)
*83, 1-1 Ar Adunakhor (Tar Ancalimon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Armenelos- Ar Zimrathan, Tar Telemmaite
*Sea- Tar Cirytan, Osse, Tar Aldarion