Arda Cup Football 2013

[Nogrod]

Here's The AKM's short report from Valinor as the AKM is going to cover two games from there live as the games take place.

It is going to be a footballing nirvana in Valinor – after the ban of last year a total of three games of the eight first round matches will be played on sacred soil. Three group-winners from eight groups is a serious show by which Valinor challenges even Beleriand for the highest quality of football on Arda.



Real Valinor would be playing in Valmar at Tulkas’ and Nessa’s home stadium – well at their home to be precise. As everyone familiar with the Book of Lost Tales knows, under the tower of bronze and wide arcade of pillars of copper Tulkas has a court for visitors to play and rival each other in feats. During the time it was enlarged into a stadium for all kinds of competitions from pankration to javelin throwing and running – and finally to suit also football with a capacity of forty-five thousand specatators.

As one can gather, it is not the greatest stadium in size but it has history of thousands of years as a ground for feats – where young Fëanor showed his might as well as all the Maiar and some of the Valar who took part in the famous games of Tulkas. It was here Eönwë had shown his might the first time forcing the great Oromë himself into a draw in wrestling, it was here Nessa had outran Arien in the famous duel days long past… and it was called plainly “the Court”.

Now some called it “the court of Tulkas”, some called it “the court of laughter” or “the court of strength” – and some even called it “the court of fallen heroes”, referring to the games lost by even the greatest heroes on that stand facing even greater heroes… but everyone knows it with the name “the Court”.

The MESPN has already reported on the problems at Valmar’s Grand Stadium and it’s environment – where Manwë’s Valimar will be playing their first play-off game – so we need not delve into that. We only feel it decent to report that a few Wights did dare to venture to the outskirts of the great city but seeing Tulkas’ guards around his homestead they made the wise decision to retreat. Manwë might have his rule but Tulkas is not known to be lenient against anyone he thought was not deserving it.




While team Tirion would be playing against Real Valinor in neighbouring city of Valmar, their joint stadium at the city of Tirion upon Túna would be occupied by the city’s other Arda Cup team FC Valinor playing against the Misty Mountains from the Middle Earth.

The stadium is called “The Terrace of Túna” – or TT among the locals. It was built at the lowest terrace of the inner city towards the sea, under the shadow of Mindon Eldaliéva and it’s famous silver lantern shining to the sea and not far from the great square where the White tree used to flourish.

The stadium itself doesn’t boast the history of Tulkas’ Court or the grandeur of Manwë’s Grand Stadium at Valmar, but especially to the Noldor that is their stadium – and during winter-season both Tirion United and Tirion City play on that field. So it is the heart of Noldorian football – and with space up to almost sixty-thousand spectators – it is also spacious enough to host even bigger games.

As MESPN reported, Finwë had received a permission from Manwë to be able to enforce some tougher rules on vandalism and general ill-behaviour in the city. Now he would not be looking after them personally and Ingwë would also be playing at Valmar, but the brothers Curufin and Celegorm have promised publicly to look after the general safety of the city – with the reaction that Manwë has appointed Eönwë and Argon to act as lieutenants to the brothers with their own orders straight from him. And it is also rumoured that the high numbers of the Great Eagles coming to the city on the eve of the games is a part of the package Manwë and Yavanna had made with Thorondor.

Be that as it may, it looks like any rebel-rousers from the Misty Mts. fan-club might meet a stiffer and quicker justice the Wights faced at Valmar during the group stage.

[the phantom]

“Remember three years ago…” was the most commonly heard phrase when folks were discussing Arnor versus Valimar. Valimar had won their group while Arnor had finished second, Valimar was ahead on differential while Arnor was behind, Valimar had played tougher competition, etc… All of the arguments favored Manwe and company, and yet “remember three years ago” kept creeping into the picture.

The team-names weren’t exactly the same then (Norbury instead of Arnor), but many of the players were the same. Six of Arnor’s players were on that Norbury squad, and five of Valimar’s players are the same, including Manwe, Namo, and Arien. There was just too much similarity to get through analysis without bringing it up. But could the men of the North really pull it off again?

Most thought not, and some for a surprising reason—The Witch King. As a rule his presence had improved the squad, but most thought the Valar would not look kindly upon his presence. Part of the reason the Arnorians had been able to upset Valimar previously was they had made certain the Ainur were at peace and not feeling riled by the presence of evil or bad sportsmanship, but Witch King wasn’t exactly a cuddly monkey. “The defenders and Manwe in goal will see him coming at them and be inspired to really play their A-game,” said MESPN’s Philip McPhantom. “And at the other end—Arien should be able to provide their jumpstart.”

And most of the fans crowding into the grand arena of Valimar were hoping he knew what he was talking about…

*************************

The men of Arnor were just as organized and focused as Valimar feared they would be. They defended doggedly, made the smart passes, and they had a smart adjustment—placing Witch King in a more passive role in the midfield and hoping he wouldn’t offend Manwe from there, and also he encouraged his very small group of Orc-supporters to wear festive garb and refrain from shouting profanities.

But despite these carefully laid plans and good execution, the beautiful faces that filled the arena didn’t look fretful, because Valimar was still controlling the game. They looked just sharp and professional, always a step ahead, and it was only a matter of time before the game was in hand.

Arvedui was sweating between the posts as Vaire sent one just over, Irmo hit a post, and Arien forced him to make two tough saves. The Valimar faithful were just grinning ear to ear and gasping with every attempt, and just after half an hour they were finally able to celebrate in full as the scoring was finally opened—Arvedui only barely deflected an Arien shot with the tip of his foot, and Irmo knocked the rebound down with his chest and immediately sent it in for the goal!

The Arnor squad gave each other reassuring nods and put on grim smiles—they were doing things right, and just had to hope that Valimar couldn’t sustain their level of play. But after the goal Valimar continued owning things like it was their destiny, and before the Dunedain could escape into the halftime break Valimar struck again. Ingwe sent in a picture perfect corner topspin corner that curled down precisely where Arien was headed, and she rose up and met it at the top of her leap and sent the ball forcefully into the back of the net!

During the break the section of Arnorians started pulling out their comfort food and favorite depression-breaking drinks already. Their squad was quality, but scoring two or three against Valimar seemed out of the question. Their entire plan had been to make the first half be fast and uneventful to shorten the game, and they had failed. And the smiling, singing Valimar fans knew it too.

When the second half started it was almost a slap in the face to see Valimar now sending around time-wasting passes and doing with precision what Arnor had tried to do the first half. Now it was Manwe wanting time to move quickly and uneventfully. Arien wasn’t entirely pleased to be reigned in, but she assented to the change of course gracefully. Realizing the way things were and seeing the minutes slip away Elendil and friends began to get more aggressive with their passes, trying to send through-balls from the back. Araphor and the front midfielders started looking for any opening through which to send a miracle shot, but they were for the most part deflected before they reached Manwe, or floated harmlessly by well away from the goal.

Finally as time neared 70 minutes the Witch King asked for the okay to be aggressive for himself, and seeing no other options the rest of the team agreed to it. As he had tried nothing the entire game (and Valimar knew exactly why), they just let him run right past on the right side, almost as if he was a passing bird that had wondered onto the field. Argeleb sent it forward at the perfect moment and hit Witch King in full stride, and he was headed towards Manwe one on one as Namo and Este rushed up from behind.

Just before Namo and Este converged on him he sent a drive—but no! It was a brilliant fake, and both defenders bought it as did Manwe, and seeing Araphor rushing in from the corner of his eye Witch King sent it over and forward and from point blank Araphor finished efficiently. Valimar’s lead was down to one goal!

A couple of the Valimar players looked worried, but Namo and Manwe calmed them, saying that Arnor had used the only trick they had in reserve, and that they would not threaten again. And to make this prediction come true Valimar somehow raised their quality of play, despite the fact they’d been playing as well as ever. Arnor could get nothing done at all as time approached 80 minutes, and Witch King found himself perpetually shadowed. After time passed 80 minutes Manwe, leaving nothing up to chance, asked Arien to come back and stick to Araphor like glue. His reputation for late-game heroics could not be ignored.

With the whole team focused on keeping the ball away from their goal, it was just too large an obstacle for Arnor to overcome, particularly as they grew less sharp through their frantic desperation. Soon the bells were ringing and the crowd was singing and the players were joining in. Arnor had battled bravely but Valimar just proved too much for them to handle.

In postgame interviews, the Valimar players expressed hopes that Angband would be their next opponent. “We’d love the opportunity to oust Morgoth,” said Arien. But Manwe assured everyone that they would plan to give it their best effort no matter who the opponent was. During the Arnor interviews, the players seemed mostly pleased with their year. Malbeth had this to say: “We made the playoffs and only lost narrowly on the road to a team with a payroll 34 million higher than us. That’s hardly failure. We’ve got a good core here and I imagine most of us will be back next year, with just a tweak here and there.”

Arnor 1-2 Valimar
on target 5-8
tot shots 14-17
GOALS:
*32, 0-1 Irmo (Arien)
*41, 0-2 Arien (Ingwe)
*69, 1-2 Araphor (WitchKing)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Arnor-
*Valimar- Elenwe, Este

[Nogrod]

A great host of Noldorian and Teleri-elves travelled to their neighbouring city of Valmar to witness the game between their team Tirion against hosts Real Valinor – even if the other Tirion-based team FC Valinor would be playing at home. But there sure were enough elves to fill the stadium at Tirion upon Túna as well.

It was clear the home team was the favourite of the crowds – as well as betting agencies. Fex. every bet made on the Barrow-Downs had Real Valinor (and FC Valinor) to qualify from the first qualifying games. But the supporters of Tirion were not that easily discouraged: their team had left Ulmo’s The Sea behind them in the group phase and played even with the mighty Nargothrond – and in the friendlies they had drawn with Melkor’s Angband and won Gondolin quite confidently. Sure Real Valinor was one of the hot teams but who could beat them if not Tirion?

And that was exactly what nagged the supporters of Real Valinor deep inside them… who could beat them if not Tirion? Well FC Valinor was a monkey on their shoulder looming heavy but it would be the next round only, they said to themselves. Surely, it was no walk in the park for Real Valinor from now on. What encouraged the fans though was the thought that if they got through from the next few matches (if they got through the next two they’d most probably meet nothnig less than AC Beleriand!) they would be so strong as to be more or less invincible – for who could claim as tough a schedual than them – and every win would make them stronger! They just had to win some real big games before that – and game one was now about to begin.

Tulkas’ Court was filled to the last seat and the standing areas were packed to their full capacity. The crowds consisted mainly of elves with some Maiar and Valar attending – the few Balrogs were easy to spot from the crowds while the men of the first age blended in the general athmosphere a lot better – and nobody probably noticed the handful of hobbits but the ticket-office.

*********************

And what a game it was!

Many in the audience anticipated the home-team to dominate the game – after all they had drawn 2-2 with FC Valinor and beaten Manwë’s Valimar 3-1 in the friendlies – not to talk of them bathing the mighty Hithlum 3-1 and Elwë’s Doriath 2-0. But facing a strong elven defence and aggressive attack it proved to be as hard for Real Valinor the Tirion fans had hoped for – and Real fans had feared of.

The three sons of Fëanor proved especially hard to get by for their mom and grandmom – giving hard times to Oromë as well with their solid power. On the other end Finwë and Aredhel made Nahar and Nienna to run for their money and stature while Mahtan forced Tilion to stay alert downstairs efficiently denying him chances of making any daring runs forwards to support the attack.

The game was pretty even for a long time with both teams making a good effort but being denied by the solid defences of the other. Towards the end of the first half Tirion started to gain something like an upperhand of the game and was able to flow a few dangerous attacks against Real Valinor’s defence.

At 40 minutes Tulkas was barely able to tip Aredhel’s close effort off the post and a few minures later Finwë’s mighty boomer from twenty meters went just inches over the crossbar. So to the embarrasment of the hometeam fans the game was not only even in numbers come halftime, but it was also feeling like Tirion was slowly calling the shots.


But the home team came to the second half with a fury – and the crowds went crazy! Real Valinor had been somewhat passive on the first half but now they came to the game with full energy – and the sons of Fëanor had their hands full in the defence when Real Valinor unleashed their attack, this time led by Oromë himself. Tulkas was leading the game from behind and Nessa was was calling the shots behind the attack – in good understanding with her brother up front. But that didn’t mean Nerdanel or Miriel would have fallen back to be mere statists – on the contrary; with their deep runs inside the Tirion defences they were a constant threat.

At 58 minutes Nerdanel missed a header from just a few meters in front of an empty goal being forced to make it from an unbalanced position. Two minutes later Finarfin showed some real master-class goaltending reaching for the cannon Oromë fired from the corner of the box gluing the ball to his gloves from the top left corner of the goal when the crowds were already standing up to cheer for a goal.

But as it so often happens in football, when a team is not able to use their initiative succesfully to score the opponent strikes from behind the corner…
Tirion had a few quality counter-offences while Real Valinor was running over their defences – and at the 70th minute Rumil was actually able to send Finwë into a break-through. Facing Tulkas alone he sped towards him – and Tulkas leaped towards Finwë… just before the evident clash Finwë leaned heavily to the left like he was going to duck Tulkas that way – and Tulkas followed him. Just before losing the control of the ball Finwë gave it a nudge with the tip of his boot – and the precision of his timing was just astonishing! Tulkas had just given up his balance to rush on him when he chipped the ball from between Tulkas’ legs and while being buried under the mighty Vala the ball rolled into the goal!

Tirion was in the lead!

It was clear Real Valinor had to put even more effort in to their attack – and that opened new chances for Tirion as well – and Tirion was not going to play a second fiddle anyway, but actually rolled some definitive attacks towards Real’s defences every time they had a chance. It was fingernail-biting time for the crowds on both sides…

At 78th minute Miriel hammered a mighty volley from the edge of the box only to be denied by the post.

At 83rd minute Aredhel slided a nice centering by Rumil just inches off the post.

At 85th minute Finwë missed a nice header from the close quarters and it went high up.

At 87th minute Nessa gave a corner and Oromë dived to head it… IN! It was a goal!

Real Valinor had evened the game three minutes before the final whistle! The homecrowds went wild with celebration while the Tirion fans were forced to realise the game had just started anew – just as they had started to feel good that their team was going forwards from this game…

It was overtime then. Half an hour overtime and if that wouldn’t make a difference, then it would be a penalty shoot-out. The stakes were high indeed.
With the “sudden death” rule both teams started the overtime quite carefully as a single mistake might prove the downfall of the whole team. But little by little it started to look like Tiron was more satisfied of the two to the way things were and Real Valinor was starting to show clearly as the team more hungry for a win – and those little differences accumulated into sharper and weaker performance in the field.

And it was a tactical misjudgement that made the difference in the end – and why there was no penalty shoot-out. The sons of Fëanor thought Oromë to be their primary threat after his goal and Nessa was their target number two because of the role she had organizing the offence – but you only disregard Nerdanel and Miriel on your own expense…

So leaving only half of Amrod’s energy to play against his grandma while looking more after Oromë was the error number one as Miriel took away from her overcoat quite easily. But leaving Irimë to play against Nerdanel alone was just a disaster. Outpacing her shadow Nerdanel had no problem to head in the millimeter exact pass by Miriel leaving Irimë’s brother Finarfin no chance to save it.

It was just six minutes from a penalty shoot-out that Real Valinor nailed the game.

Tirion had showed that with a tight elven defence Real Valinor’s offence could be brought into a halt and with a quality offence they could be scored against – but Real Valinor just showed the width of their offence: if you take Oromë and Nessa out Miriel and Nerdanel will score in the end – and if you take the ladies out the Valar will score.


Tirion 1-2 Real Valinor (OT)
on target 6-6
tot shots 16-16
GOALS:
*70, 1-0 Finwe (Rumil)
*87, 1-1 Orome (Nessa)
*24, 2-1 Nerdanel (Miriel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Tirion- Amrod, Mahtan
*RealV- Nahar


Real Valinor goes through to the quarterfinals.

[Nogrod]

Tirion upon Túna was not exactly bursting with visitors even if this was one of the few chances for anyone from the Middle-Earth to make a trip to the Sacred Lands. And the reason was obvious: despite the “open seas” policy publicly announced by the Valar there were not that many ships to offer the crossing after the group stage – and there had been these rumours of tighter rules at Tirion which scared even some more peaceful travellers – especially as the games could be seen through the Palantir Network all around the Middle-Earth anyway.

But the locals really filled the stadium. Even with the strongest supporters of team Tirion away to watch the game of Tirion vs. Real Valinor at Valmar there were hosts of elves willing to see their “team of the town” FC Valinor to face the Middle-Earthians. And they were pretty confident FC Valinor would make it through easily against these oddballs from the far away ME where everything was minor in every way.

Even with the scarcity of transport there was a strong contingent of Misty Mountains supporters at the stadium in the end – fenced off from the rest of the crowds into the one end of the stadium. But with their enthusiasm and numbers of some seven to eight-thousand they were able to make a difference to the mood of the stadium forcing the locals to sing and shout not to be overpowered by the small but loud group of fans of the visiting team.

The goblins were the most numerous of the guests, then came the dwarves, wolves and trolls. There were also a few of the creatures of the deep old times and some Balrogs in the crowds – as well as a clearly visible host of Great Eagles who – even if they were there markedly also on a security mission - were supporting either team, so some of them clearly supported the visiting team.


***************************

The game itself wasn’t exactly something you would tell legends about to your grandchildren.

Misty Mountains started the game bravely trying to make a game and Durin’s Bane created some real trouble in the FC Valinor downstairs forcing Eönwë and Thorondor to play it for real at the first ten minutes – but other than that the Misty Mountains offence was kept at bay with what seemed like a half-hearted effort. Now you ask how about Azog? Well Maglor held him with a decimal effort compared to holding the Gap of Maglor against Melkor…

Misty Mountains soon learned they had nothing to throw at FC Valinor but some long shots hoping for the best. But even that realiztion was preceded by a goal by the home team.

FC Valinor started the game with an easy pace just to get the hang of their opponent – and finding it lacking any decent threat they tried a few offences of which the second brought results already at 18 minutes. After William’s late tackle on Curufin he took the free kick himself targetting his brother running timely to the corner of the goal and heading the ball in comfortably behind the Chief Wolf like fooling a pet – well with Celegorm you’d figure he’d know something about the canine creatures and their ways…

The goal was something of an anticlimax to the game as the Misty Mountains seemed to draw back in fear of a bad beating but FC Valinor didn’t seem too enthusiastic to press on either as it seemed they had the game sovereignly under control – as they had.

And so it went that even without any real effort FC Valinor scored another goal before halftime when Curufin broke free from the box with a genius cross-pass by Yavanna and booted the ball in from in front of the Chief Wolf.

The game seemed over at the half time.

Misty Mountains came to the second half with an effort but was shut down the tighter the more they tried – and they soon gave away the game for good. FC Valinor was just a level too hard an opponent for them. Leading 2-0 FC Valinor had no reason to press either but took the second half of the game as a nice pressure and passing practise.

In the end it was not only the visiting fans who were discontent but also the homecrowds started booing towards the end as they wished to see goals and to feel some excitement. But FC Valinor knew they had a few levels stronger opponent to face on their next game and were not willing to exhaust themselves in this game that was a walk-through for them – and thus resisting the calls of their supporters they were content to just pass the ball around and keep Misty Mts. at bay when they tried to attack.

Finally the referee whistled the game to end. 2-0 was a result flattering the visiting team – the home team clearly was not interested in trying to win more.

Although, and to be fair, one reason for the low numbers would also be in the fact that even if there was a wide gap between the the team’s qualities the defence of the Misty Mts. with Caradhras, Gwaihir and Watcher was tougher FC Valinor might wish to admit: getting past them would have required some work and a tougher effort which FC Valinor was not willing (or able) to make this evening after they made their two goals securing their lead.


Misty Mts 0-2 FC Valinor
on target 3-6
tot shots 8-13
GOALS:
*18, 0-1 Celegorm (Curufin)
*45, 0-2 Curufin (Yavanna)
YELLOW CARDS:
*MMts- William, GreatGoblin, Watcher
*FCVal- Eonwe, Indis


FC Valinor goes through to the quarterfinals.

[the phantom]

Many were lamenting the fact that Angband and AC Beleriand were forced to play in the first round—particularly fans that were fearful their team would lose. Though nearly all of them expressed confidence in their side in surveys and the like, it was safe to say that half of them were consumed with private doubts. And how could they not be looking at what they were facing?

Angband had the quickness of Oikeroi and Telvildo supporting thundering strikes, intimidating size and aerial speed of Ancalagon, while they defended with the reflexes of Umuiyan, the size and power of a Balrog, and no less than Morgoth himself. On the other side was the quick creativity and ball skills of Eol and Feanor supported by the sons of Finarfin, and their defense featured a Balrog of their own, as well as the swift-hoofed Rochallor and the leadership and valor of Fingolfin.

MESPN head football analyst Philip McPhantom had this to say: “Without even thinking about it I’d pick either of these squads to defeat half of the teams in the playoffs, and there’s no team I wouldn’t give them a good chance against. Both of these two have championship potential, there’s no doubt.”

But one of these squads would have a short stay in the tournament, leaving with disappointed fans and some big bills to pay off. And everyone knew that these two wanted to win very badly, not just for themselves, but to send the other squad packing. What else could anyone expect when it was Morgoth versus Feanor—forever foes on and off the field…

****************************************

The area at the southern end of Lake Mithrim was well prepared to host the first round of the playoffs—they’d been preparing since the groups were announced after all. Some thought it was the height of arrogance, but more level heads recognized it as a good bet that had paid off. AC Beleriand was the heavy favorite to win their group, thus there was a good chance they’d be hosting in the first round.

The locals were mostly Elves, and though only some were former followers of Feanor, all were happy to have his team based there, as it brought in money when they used the practice facilities and updated the arena, and of course when they earned home games. The stadium had at one time been more famous—back when Feanor first arrived in Middle Earth he and his sons set up shop there briefly and even won the historic North League a couple times (and the Champion’s League to boot). But eventually they left and though Fingolfin’s Noldor kept things going for a while, in the end all the big stars moved on to other locations—Eithel Sirion, Tol Sirion, Himring, Gondolin, etc., and the stadium fell into disrepair, and eventually parts of it were demolished (empty seats were bad to look at) or converted—the upper west-side was sectioned off by walls and became a theater.

But since AC Beleriand had headquartered themselves at North Mithrim the arena had reclaimed the lost seats the previous season, and in the off-season they restored the top sections of the north and south sides, pushing the capacity close to 60,000. There were already plans in the works to rebuild the eastern end of the stadium in the next offseason, but as it was the stadium resembled a horse-shoe which was mostly open on the east side.

The field itself was a subject of great controversy, as Feanor and his helpers had installed an improved version of the same sort of play surface that he used of old in his underground arena at Foremenos (as many know the surface was eventually outlawed by The Blessed League & thus replaced with a more natural-feeling turf). Many objected to the new surface at Mithrim, saying that football was “meant to be played on grass”. Feanor, however, scoffed at the idea. “It is traditionally played on grass, yes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be played on other surfaces, nor does it mean that grass is inherently superior merely because it was used first. I mean—this isn’t the year zero any more! The field we installed here gives a more consistent and true bounce across the entire field and provides surer and more consistent footing for the players as well.”

The entire field was essentially a thin layer of somewhat rubbery padding over top of perfectly flat and polished stone. Cleats were not worn, as there was nothing to dig into. Instead relatively flat-bottomed shoes were used, and if players were smart they also had material around their elbows and knees to protect against burn-marks from hard skids. And of course it was this exact factor that many objected to—one simply could not slide on the Mithrim field. It had just a bit too much grip for it.

MESPN head football analyst Philip McPhantom had this to say of the surface: “It favors folks with quick feet, plain and simple. You can’t get away with sliding into folks to stop them, but rather a defender just needs to stay upright and try to stay in front of the attacker and deflect any attempt to move or pass past them. Also, accuracy on passes and the like is more obvious as the bounces are quite consistent, and spin on the ball can really make a difference on the hop, thus those with a very deft touch can execute passes here that they couldn’t on another surface. All in all I’d say it would favor AC Beleriand against most competition, but the Werecats of Angband will probably find it to their liking as well. In this matchup the advantage is probably negligible.”

****************************************

Folks had turned up in huge numbers to witness the first round clash of the titans, and naturally many had not been able to snag tickets. The stadium support was about 80% for ACBel, but outside the stadium the crowds were roughly even with Angband so close in proximity. The locals weren’t that pleased to see Angband as the opponent as it upped the chances of vandalism, so they were taking precautions with large numbers of neighborhood patrol groups, and in fact some of the residential areas were entirely blocked off, and to enter one had to show proof of residency or have someone with proof of residency stake a guest-claim.

When the sun ducked below the edge of the arena the teams made their way out for their final warm-ups. The stadium was already filled to the brink and folks were even gathered on the tops of high nearby buildings to get a look in at the match. Feanor and ACBel looked quiet and focused, while Angband glared at their opponents and at the crowd constantly and made an occasional violent gesture (either to rile up the opposition or just to pump themselves up). Soon warm-ups were done and the ref was setting the ball, and with a swell of shouting from the crowd the game was under way!

The folks there to see a quality contest were definitely not disappointed. The tricky dribbles of the skill players had the crowd oohing and aahing, but the stout defenses could not be penetrated with just one good move, or even two. Help came to the right places at the right time, and when a defender was temporarily on an island and needed to stop, he somehow always came through well enough to keep the scoreboard untouched.

It was past 20 minutes when a keeper was finally forced to make a save—Carcharoth expertly batted away a one-timer from Aegnor after Feanor deftly passed him open. Fans from both sides applauded, for the ACBel fans were pleased their side was now threatening, while the Angband fans were pleased Carcharoth was on his game (they knew he’d have to make a couple saves to win this).

It appeared as time moved along that ACBel was gaining the upper hand, penetrating deeper into the offensive zone and only barely missing opportunities for attacks on quality crosses and the like. Angband seemed to be on their heels. But the game can change quickly, and so it did on this evening. Angrod found things entirely shut down on his side and he sent a ball back to Fingolfin to reset things and gain some space, but the pass was a little low and left and Ulrad believed he was the intended target as he could not see Fingolfin closing from 20 yards behind him and a bit to his side.

Ulrad took two quick and frantic steps back and left and leaped up to bring the pass down to his feet, as he was afraid if it got past they would lose possession or worse, that it would lead to a dangerous break-away. And in fact his efforts led to exactly what he feared, as the ball got a bit away from him, and Oikeroi pounced on it in a flash and played a brilliant pass forward, slicing across the back and bottom of the ball so that it lofted perfectly over Fingolfin and the Balrog but then bounced fairly sharply sideways before reaching Imlach and Rochallor. It fell directly to where Ancalagon was winging his way upfield, and the dragon in one fluid movement landed already in rotation and boomed a spinning tail-shot from the high point of the bounce.

The defenders had no chance of getting in the way of the high-flying rocket, and it snuck in just below the crossbar on the far right side and Marach’s best leap wasn’t nearly enough to be in time. Angband was on top!

The Angband fans went nuts, and it almost sounded like it was a home game for them. They had seldom been this loud before, and it’s easy to see why they were so excited with the lead against their bitter foes. They had a chance to oust Feanor and Fingolfin in the round of sixteen! The Elves grimaced and some put their hands over their ears, as they simply could not stomach the cruelty of the well-known game-ditty the Orcs launched into, which was first heard in the violent days of the first age…
“Come play our team lads and soon you’ll know harm,
Your posts will seem far apart like Gelmir’s arms,
Your offense soon shackled like Maedhros’ wrist,
All realms we have bested & you’re next on the list,
Gondolin Nargothrond where did you go?
Wiped clean away by superior foe!
…

And that snippet is perhaps the cleanest and least harsh bit of the whole.

Meanwhile it was decision time on the field, and Feanor and Fingolfin were discussing options. Of course ACBel needed a goal more now than ever, but both brothers were hesitant to increase the emphasis on their attack, as Angband preferred the defense-first approach anyway and had quite a good counter-attacking game (well of course with Ancalagon on the field). The risk of suddenly falling behind by two goals was judged to be too great a risk, and thus ACBel maintained course—after all they had appeared to be gaining ground before Angband’s quick strike.

But ACBel soon found they no longer held the upper hand. Their confidence and energy high and focused clearly on the task, Angband’s level of play was definitely higher, and things were quite even, and it was really a toss-up as to which team would score next. At 37 minutes Feanor got his first quality look, as he managed to outmaneuver both Umuiyan and the Balrog and gain a quick snipe, but again Carcharoth was on top of things. At minute 41 it was Angband’s turn, as once again Oikeroi fed it to Ancalagon up high, but this time he was a bit farther out and Marach managed a tough save—the ball curved wickedly at the end and nearly got in.

Finally it was halftime, and the Elves felt a good deal of relief. Morgoth may be a good tactician, but they had faith in Feanor and Fingolfin’s ability to come up with something during the break, whereas they figured the longer Angband had the one-goal lead the more they’d withdraw and defend, and if ACBel was allowed to bring its full offense to bear then surely they’d get the equalizer.

The half opened and Angband attacked with fury, but Feanor and Fingolfin had bet Morgoth would do exactly that and were prepared, and they very nearly got loose on the break going the other direction (Aegnor’s shot was just a bit tall). Upset that his gamble had been sniffed out and snuffed, Morgoth fell back to defend more strictly than in the first half. This too was what ACBel expected, and they wasted no time in applying full pressure, with Fingolfin and the Balrog charging forward in support, and the defenders had to be aware of them and position themselves appropriately between them and the goal, for both of them had strong legs from distance.

Finally at minute 59 ACBel came through with the goods! Fingolfin had it on his toe and while folks were concerned with him Angrod found some space left and forward and Fingolfin found him quickly, and while the pass was on the move so were the other attackers, and Angrod instead of receiving it just deflected it on to Eol who wrong-footed Ulwarth and skidded it low past Carcharoth, and the diving Umuiyan couldn’t catch it in time. The game was beautifully level!

Both sides appeared to get jittery and nervous after that—perhaps not certain what course of action would prove best, or perhaps just petrified by the high stakes. But doubtless nearly everyone was having a bit of trouble holding onto the ball, and passes went a bit awry and decisions weren’t quick. It was obvious many of the players just had too much on the mind—that always leads to slow decision making. Feanor and Ancalagon though seemed unaffected, and both quite obviously wanted their side to just feed them. Both tried, but with possession so spotty the only way to get it to them was long balls, and while both of them managed to haul in a couple they were unable to break through the teeth of the defense.

As the time ticked through the 80s both sides started to pull back, apparently content to reorganize before overtime, and just wanting to make another go of it then. But at 85 minutes Angband went all forward, and initially things looked promising, but suddenly Angrod dashed in front of an Ulfast pass and went the other way with it. Aegnor was with him and Eol and Feanor were out at the sides and Angband rushed to recover. Angrod sent it to Eol, he sent it to Aegnor who immediately tipped it on to Angrod. Angrod had half a step on the Balrog who was trying to harass him (their hands were at war, gripping jerseys and trying to bat the other arm aside). Suddenly due to a bit of a stiff-arm jab he had separation, and he boomed it at the goal!

There was a dark blur and the ball was rebounding back out towards midfield. The terrible speed of Ancalagon in full flight left the ACBel fans groaning—he had winged his way from the other end in time to get in the way! A few immediately shouted that he’d illegally blocked the goal with his wings, but the replays proved those with sharper eyes correct—he had met it cleanly with the side of the spikes that ran up the back of his neck.

But ACBel had come too close to be comfortable, and Morgoth knew he’d been fortunate that Ancalagon had spotted the development early and chosen to rush after it as opposed to waiting to attack again (not to mention he wasn’t too deep into the offensive zone to begin with as he was preparing to make a dash). Morgoth called all the troops back, and in the closing minutes ACBel tried for another chance, and they did force Carcharoth to catch one, but it was too distant and floaty an effort to give him trouble.

As the teams prepared for overtime, the excitement in the stands mounted. Fans could be heard commenting, “This is the clash of heavy-weights we were promised!” But of course given who the foe was they’d rather have the match over and in the win column, but at the same time, perhaps they’d enjoy the win more if it was a nail-biting historic win that catapulted them on to an Arda Cup championship. “If they get through this one then there’s no need for them to lose after!” was heard from supporters of both clubs.

As overtime got started both teams appeared to be feeling the other out, and there was no sudden rush by either side. Most of the commentators believed that Morgoth was fine with things going to a shoot-out, but MESPN’s Ruharg disagreed on the broadcast. “I do think that Carcharoth would have an advantage, but when you stack up the shooters then the option doesn’t look so good. With the accuracy and experience combined with solid shot-power you figure Feanor and Eol will be money. Morgoth and Ancalagon are a very solid 1-2 as well, but I’d give the edge the other way in a shootout. Then for option 3 they could both toss a Balrog out there so that’s a wash, but then there’s number 4, where I’d give an edge to Fingolfin over Telvildo. After that it’d be the sons of Finarfin against the two cats—a close contest but maybe a slight edge for ACBel yet again. And if it happens to go past that Marach has got quite a nice shot, and he’d definitely have the edge against any from Angband. Frankly I think the shootout is too risky. Morgoth will want to end it with a counter or set piece during the 30 minutes.”

And Ruharg must’ve indeed had a flash of insight, for his words rang true. After settling in Angband looked very conservative but then launched a full rush on a possession change at 8 minutes (but they gave it away in short order). Then at 11 minutes Telvildo clearly seemed interested more in earning a corner than working the offense as it was, and in fact he earned it. Morgoth and the Balrog tried to bully their way in and make a clear space for an Ancalagon tail shot, but Fingolfin made a strong move past Oikeroi and with a great leap got in the way of the tail’s backswing, which caused the shot to be missed badly. Fingolfin got quite a nasty cut across his shoulder from Ancalagon’s scales, but at such a tense moment he probably didn’t feel a bit of pain.

Then it was ACBel’s turn to threaten. Umuiyan found himself in close to the goal marking Feanor. Feanor bodied up on him, spreading his arms and keeping Umuiyan firmly on his back by back-pedaling. Umuiyan sensed danger and tried desperately to step around, but just as he made his step left Feanor burst forward away from him. Cursing inwardly Umuiyan took off after him, but the damage was done, as Feanor definitely had separation. And what Umuiyan couldn’t see while he was concerned with Feanor had already happened.

Aegnor had made a nice move towards the box behind Feanor and seeing what was happening he knew Feanor wanted it in front of him, but Aegnor didn’t have the angle to send it himself, so, hoping Eol had spotted it as well Aegnor skipped the ball across to Eol breaking in from the opposite side. And sure enough, Eol immediately headed it to Feanor moving forward. Angrod had the Balrog pulled to the side and Fingolfin was keeping Morgoth too nervous be down in support and Ulwarth was closer to the left post—in that split second as Eol’s pass went at Feanor it was obvious to everyone in the arena that Feanor had a free shot at the goal. For a lesser player a deflection out of midair wouldn’t be a goal in the bag, but Feanor’s touch was just other-worldly. The ball would go precisely where he wanted, end of story.

But no! He went down! Somehow someway he still managed to reposition his body mid-fall and send in a header that Carcharoth barely saved, but everyone knew he’d be getting another shot at the goal anyway. Knowing he was dead in the water, Umuiyan had made a mighty spring forward and managed with an outstretched hand to get a hold of Feanor’s trailing ankle. It was slyly done, and Umuiyan continued his motion through into making it look like he was attempting to plant all four feet for a spring in front of the ball (he was a cat creature after all and did occasionally go to all fours). The ref must’ve been unsure of exactly how Umuiyan had caused Feanor to go down, because he only showed him a yellow.

But it was a penalty awarded to Feanor nonetheless, and the Elves were high-fiving in the stands. Carcharoth was a good keeper, but this was Feanor on a penalty—the guy that could, when showing off in warm-ups, hit a chosen post ten times out of ten. The goal was as good as on the board as far as the Noldor were concerned. Sometimes the worst pain can come from having the highest confidence shattered unexpectedly, and the fans were setting themselves up for horrific disappointment… but it wouldn’t happen on this day. Feanor was flawless, and Carcharoth even guessed correctly but the ball was just too fast and too accurate, and it kissed the bottom of the crossbar as it snuck into the top right corner. ACBel had the lead back!

There was no guessing to be done about the strategy now. ACBel had to lock Angband out of their goal for 16 minutes and it would be over, while Angband would obviously be coming with every gun blazing. Morgoth led the surge forward, but to no avail. Long series of passes and sustained attack wasn’t their game—at least not against a foe such as ACBel, and they kept losing the ball. At one point Feanor sent word through Angrod and Aegnor to the defenders, and the next time the defenders got a hold of it Fingolfin called for it and immediately launched it deep and right. Clearly that’s what Feanor had asked for in his message.

With the defenders up to support the attack it was a mad dash back, and Feanor received it and darted in towards the box. Feanor made Ulwarth look like a statue with a sharp cut then held off the Balrog and darted behind him with a sneaky spin pushing the ball with his heel, and then he took a quick snipe. Morgoth came diving in from behind and just barely managed to send the ball up and off course, and though Feanor slapped his thigh in anger he quickly flashed a grin to the crowd, for he knew he had given Angband something to think about.

And sure enough, the next time Angband turned it over ACBel lofted it down to Feanor again, and though the pass wasn’t on-target enough to get to him (plus there were too many defenders around), Angband had been forced to dash back in panic, showing respect for Feanor’s abilities, and that made them just that much more tired coming forward. Indeed Ulwarth and his kin had sagging shoulders after nearly 120 minutes of chasing the Elves around, and the cats looked a bit frazzled as well. As the seconds ticked away it became obvious that the equalizer just wasn’t going to come. ACBel actually started holding the ball instead of kicking it away, and while their passes were crisp Angband just didn’t have the legs to chase the ball around.

At last overtime was run out and the ACBel players met in the middle of the field and embraced! The crowd was throwing confetti and yelling and laughing, while the Orcs and their friends were scampering out, not so much angry as they were cowed. ACBel had been a step better, and they knew it. A couple Angband players looked as if they’d shake hands briefly with the opponents, but like sheep they turned and followed Morgoth into the locker room. He was furiously glaring at the ground, determined not to observe Feanor in celebration, probably because it would infuriate him beyond all reason.

ACBel was through to the quarterfinals to play Valimar!

Angband 1-2 AC Beleriand (OT)
on target 4-7
tot shots 11-16
GOALS:
*28, 1-0 Ancalagon (Oikeroi)
*59, 1-1 Eol (Angrod)
*13, 1-2 Feanor
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACBel- Aegnor, Ulrad
*Angband- Ulfast, Morgoth, Umuiyan

MESPN Postgame Interview

MESPN: So, Morgoth, what’s the thought at the top of your mind?

Morgoth: We were so close to a title.

MESPN: But you didn’t even make the quarterfinals.

Morgoth: Any squad would have lost today. ACBel playing their best and at home—this was championship caliber, and we almost beat them.

MESPN: So you believe they will go on to take the title?

Morgoth: If they play like this, yes.

MESPN: And you believe you would’ve beat any other team today?

Morgoth: Yes.

MESPN: So despite losing some money this year you probably don’t see a need for big changes then?

Morgoth: No.

MESPN: Do you have any off-season tweaks in mind?

Morgoth: Yes. I have a very minor position swap in mind for two of my players, and I’m fairly certain an old acquaintance is wanting to come help us out next year.

MESPN: Can you give a name?

Morgoth: Well…I know it’s considered bad to sign a player with two left feet, but if they have more than enough right feet to balance it out I’d say it’s okay.

MESPN: Ah—say no more.

Morgoth: Any more questions? It need not be said that I’m not really in the mood for it.

MESPN: No, that’s fine. See you next year.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Weathertop Arena
Eriador vs Barad-dûr

The Arda Cup returns once again to the home stadium of Eriador, Weathertop Arena. Sitting on a saddle between Amon Sûl and Fortress Hill, the 95 000-capacity stadium is an engineering marvel of the Northern Kingdom, a footballing jewel of steel and glass.

There remained a few hours before kick-off, and yet Weathertop Arena was already filled to the brim, with seventy-five thousand Eriador supporters, including the famed Northern Wall supporters’ group, chanting, cheering, and banging drums. Not to be outdone, Barad-dûr sent a twenty-thousand strong contigent of Orcs, Trolls, Black Númenóreans, Haradrim, and Easterlings, all determined to make the atmosphere as favourable to Sauron as possible.

When the teams walked into the pitch, there was loud applause from most of the audience, but some wondered why the Northern Wall was quiet. Soon all eyes turned on them when, as one, they all raised a black card, turning their sections into a wall of black. A second later, some black cards were replaced with white, and on the wall of black there appeared the emblem of Elendil, seven stars and one white tree. Another second, and above the tree and the stars appeared the Arda Cup, the long-desired treasure that they came close to last year. Most of the other Eriador supporters applauded the fine choreography, and even some of the Mannish Barad-dûr supporters appreciated their display. But they believed that, while the Eriador supporters showed such co-ordination in the stands, their own team were more co-ordinated on the pitch. Eriador’s front four struggled to combine against so-so defensive teams, putting just four past their three opponents, whereas the Sauron-led front line scored the same number of goals against their opponents, which included a cup favourite in FC Valinor. With their improved defence, they could frustrate Isildur and company, and with their still-potent offence, they could surely put one past Elrond.


[Eriador in white and black; Barad-dûr in red and black.]

The first half of the game was a cagey affair, as expected of a knockout tie, when teams are more concerned with conceding a goal than scoring one. With Eriador’s three offensive midfielders marked closely by Barad-dûr’s midfielders, play remained confined mostly in the middle of the pitch. Isildur, frustrated with the lack of service he was receiving, dropped deep to receive the ball, and in his place as leader of the line moved in Glorfindel. But the Númenórean was shadowed by Pallando, and the Noldo was double-marked by Sangahyando and Alatar. Any attempts by NogWight or Arveleg to play either of them in were cleared comfortably by Fellbeast #1 or Grishnákh.

It was the same story when Barad-dûr had the ball. Since their three midfielders were marking their Eriador counterparts, none of them was free to move the ball forward when they recovered possession. Berúthiel, who was playing higher up the pitch than the other midfielders, tried to drop deeper to receive the ball from them, but Eriador’s left-back Arwen shadowed her and gave her no time to turn with the ball. The few times Barad-dûr got the ball to Sauron, he was guarded tightly by Arador and Araphant, and his attempted forward passes were intercepted or blocked before they could reach Castamir.

The only free players on either team were on the same side of the pitch: Eriador right-back Asfaloth and Barad-dûr left-back Fellbeast #2. But both were poor on the ball, easily conceding possession whenever they were closed down by the opposing midfielder on the same wing. At one point Asfaloth tried to play a one-two with Arveleg to release him behind Herumor, but his pass was a touch too heavy and it zipped past Arveleg’s feet for a throw-in.

When one recalled the metaphor of football as chess on grass, this was perhaps one of the images that comes to mind—a closed game, with pawns (midfielders) locked tightly against each other, allowing no space for either side to break through and allow the stronger pieces (forwards) to threaten the enemy’s position. The only noteworthy moment of the half came when Sauron abandoned trying to get the ball to Castamir and drove forward himself—he dribbled past Araphant with ease, but when Gil-galad stepped up to check his run, he was unable to get past the Elven-king despite his shoulder drops and step-overs, and Araphant recovered to take the ball from him.

Soon the half-time was blown. Both sets of supporters were relieved not to have conceded, but they were clearly worried about where the game’s breakthrough would come from. The two teams’ most creative outlets, Sauron and Glorfindel, were double-marked for most of the game, and none of the other players stepped up to take their place. Some Barad-dûr fans pondered whether Alatar could move forward in support of Berúthiel, outnumber Arwen on the right wing, but that would leave Glorfindel with only Sangahyando to track him. Alatar’s timing of his forward run must be perfect.

The second half had barely begun when what they had predicted came to pass—Glorfindel lost possession as he tried to make his way past his markers, and Alatar was off like a bolt down the right wing. Berúthiel moved infield, giving Arwen a horrible choice: let Alatar continue his run, or leave Berúthiel unmarked. She chose the latter option, moving out to check the Blue Wizard’s run. Alatar then laid off the ball to the open Queen of Gondor, who skipped past Arador’s sliding challenge and got into Eriador’s penalty box. She stopped when Aragorn stepped up to challenge her, but she back-heeled the ball to Sauron, who shot between Aragorn’s legs. It was a slow ball, but Elrond was unsighted by his own defender and late to make his save. However he managed to stretch enough to push the ball into the post with his fingertips. What a fine save by Elrond! And a marvellous effort by Sauron!

The first corner kick of the game happened after fifty minutes has passed. Berúthiel took it, a perfectly-taken kick that seemed to served the ball on a plate for Castamir. But Elrond got a palm on it before the Barad-dûr forward could connect with it. Elrond’s clearance fell to Aragorn, who sent the ball long to Isildur. The Eriador forward headed it into space—and there was Glorfindel to take it in stride. He dribbled past Alatar and rounded a fellbeast, but Grishnákh was there to stand as the last sentinel, covering the angles with his long arms. Glorfindel faked a shot and passed sideways to a charging NogWight. The Eriador midfielder booted the ball with all his might—over the crossbar and into the stands! The Eriador fans groaned, and NogWight struck the ground with both fists in frustration. He’d blown a clear chance in a game where they were hard to come by.

The rest of the second half resembled the first—a midfield slog where every pass forward led more to a clearance or interception than to finding a teammate’s foot. Eriador kept a lion’s share of the possession, but the biggest problem was that the players who had most time on the ball—Arveleg and NogWight—were excellent at link-up play, positioning themselves to receive a pass, finding the open teammate, and getting the ball to him, but didn’t have enough technical ability to dribble their way past a determined marker.

The second half ended with the game still scoreless. With both teams gassed out due to the chasing and pressing and movement, extra time also ended with little of note. The two teams have to be separated with penalty kicks.

Barad-dûr: 
Eriador:

Barad-dûr won the coin-flip, and they elected to shoot first. Sauron stepped up first, barely acknowledging Elrond as he placed the ball on the spot. After taking a few steps back, he charged towards the ball, then slowed down a step before taking his kick; Elrond dove hard to the right, then realised too late that Sauron was waiting for him to move. He then pinged the ball towards Elrond’s left-hand post, becoming the first player in the game to hit the back of the net.

Even some Eriador fans were impressed by Sauron’s penalty kick. They hoped that he was the best of them, and that none other of the Barad-dûr players could fool Elrond like that.

Barad-dûr: O
Eriador:

First to shoot for Eriador was Isildur. His was a fiercely-struck rising ball that clanged off the crossbar then crashed hard into the net before Grishnákh could move a muscle. Elrond shouted, ‘Isildur’, warning the striker that his shot was a risky one that could have missed the goal entirely. The son of Elendil shrugged, as if to say, ‘Well, it went in.’

Barad-dûr: O
Eriador:   O

Next up for Barad-dûr was Castamir the Usurper. Here we take time to evaluate that quality all top goalkeepers have: presence, the ability to affect a shooter’s psyche just by being there. Some goalkeepers have presence by dint of their appearance: Huan, Ungoliant, and Beor in bear form are examples of this. Elrond, on the other hand, forged his presence through reputation. He was a top-drawer shot-stopper with excellent reflexes and an uncanny ability to read plays. Most attackers who get into a one-on-one situation with him remember all this, conscious of the fact that they have only a few chances to score against him; this would sometimes cause them overthink their choices and blow their shot. This was exactly what happened to Castamir. Locking eyes with Elrond, he wondered where best to place his shot to fool him, decided to slot it to the right, then despaired as he scuffed his shot, with Elrond saving it easily.

Barad-dûr: O X
Eriador:   O

On the other hand, Grishnákh, despite his appearance, wouldn’t inspire fear in the Kings of Men and the Eldar. He was proving to be a good goalkeeper, but he had not yet built up a reputation. Glorfindel stepped up to the spot and completely fooled him with a left-footed shot that he sent right, with the Barad-dûr goalie diving the wrong way.

Barad-dûr: O X
Eriador:   O O

Eriador fans cheered. They could smell blood. If Elrond could make one more save, it would put tremendous pressure on Barad-dûr . The next to shoot for them was Alatar. He decided to forgo trickery, firing a powerful low shot for the left post that Elrond could not get to in time despite guessing the direction correctly.

Barad-dûr: O X O
Eriador:   O O

Next for Eriador was Gil-galad. Like Sauron, he started with a fast approach but slowed down on his last step before taking the kick. Grishnákh dove right, then realised that he had been fooled when Gil-galad fired a waist-high shot dead center.

Barad-dûr: O X O
Eriador:   O O O

After Alatar the shooter for the Black Tower was his fellow Blue Wizard Pallando. Like Alatar, he decided to send the ball to the left. But his shot wasn’t powerful enough, and Elrond got a fingertip on it to push it past the post. Weathertop Arena exploded with cheers. What a save! The next shot for Eriador could win it!

Barad-dûr: O X O X
Eriador:   O O O

The new player, NogWight, walked out of the centre circle to take that lonely march to the penalty spot. The stadium was silent. Can he do it? What would he do? Eriador fans asked. They didn’t know enough about their offseason signing to trust him with what could be the final shot. Also, didn’t he miss that chance earlier…?

But NogWight didn’t miss this time, sending a rocket of a shot into the top-left corner, giving Grishnákh no chance to get to it.

Barad-dûr: O X O X
Eriador:   O O O O

He’s done it! He’s won the game! Elrond and the rest of the Eriador team chased after the Wight as he wheeled away from the penalty box into the touchline. Grishnákh refused to get up from the ground as the Blue Wizards went up to console him. Meanwhile Sauron’s eyes were locked on the Wight who had just eliminated his team, the player whose signature he almost had shortly before the tournament began. Would the results have been different had he been playing for him? He would never know.


Exit interviews shall be provided in The Matchday episode next week.

Barad-dûr 0-0 Eriador
(Eriador wins on penalties 4-2.)
Total Shots
7-9
Shots On Target
2-3

YELLOW CARDS
3-2
BDR: Fellbeast #2, Herumor, Angamaitë
ERD: Gil-galad, Aragorn

SHOOTOUT:
1-0 Sauron (goal)
1-1 Isildur (goal)
1-1 Castamir (saved)
1-2 Glorfindel (goal)
2-2 Alatar (goal)
2-3 Gil-galad (goal)
2-3 Pallando (saved)
2-4 NogWight (goal)

[Boromir88]

-----

Gondolin 1-3 Tol In Gaurhoth
on target 4-8
tot shots 12-20
GOALS:
*6, 1-0 Maeglin (Tuor)
*38, 1-1 InzilWolf (SallyWight)
*62, 1-2 PhantomWolf (BoroWolf)
*75, 1-3 Thuringwethil (InzilWolf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Gondolin- Elemmakil, Galdor, Aranwe
*TIG- BoroWolf

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

High Faroth Arena
Nargothrond vs Hithlum

The last sixteen fixture between Group F winners Nargothrond and Group B runners-up Hithlum was to be held in Nargothrond’s High Faroth Arena.

The forty thousand Nargothrond supporters and twenty thousand Hithlum supporters who managed to buy tickets for the first knockout round tie made their way through the narrow paths beside the banks of the river Narog before climbing up the High Faroth. They then made their way down inside the mountain itself; the arena was built inside the cliffs whose slope they have just climbed. Many among the sixty-thousand strong crowd of spectators saw construction just outside the Doors of Felagund; scaffolding surrounded the skeleton of what looked like a stadium. The more informed among the crowd told their neighbours that it was to be the Narog Bridge, a forty-thousand capacity arena that would give Nargothrond a second stadium to allow them to host group stage games in future Arda Cups.

In the meantime, High Faroth Arena would host its third last sixteen tie. The previous two ended in heartbreak for the hosts; they hoped that after tonight’s game they would be further in the Arda Cup than they ever had before.

But they were up against Hithlum, a team, like Nargothrond, with a talented attack and a revamped defence. While most of the media’s attention had been on Curufin, Fëanor, and Arien, Túrin had quietly scored thrice and made one goal in three games. Even the home faithful were resigned to the fact that Hithlum would score; their hope was that their team would score more.


[Hithlum in yellow and dark red; Nargothrond in green and yellow.]

It seemed that barely had the referee blown the opening whistle when Nargothrond opened the scoring. While Morwen kept an eye on her daughter and Hador tracked Finduilas, Bëor was left free in the Nargothrond midfield. Receiving a pass from Arminas four minutes into the game, he sent a long ball to Finrod, who dropped a little deeper to escape Balrog #5’s attention. Glaurung drifted left, acting as if to receive a pass from the Nargothrond captain, which forced Aradan to follow him and the Balrog to keep an eye on him. Finrod then dinked the ball over the top of Hithlum’s defence; Gwindor dashed past Arroch, and, receiving the ball parallel to the touchline, volleyed the ball into the top left-corner of Huor’s goal on the turn.

It was an impressive goal, and even many Hithlum fans thought so, though they were more focused on haranguing Arroch into keeping better tabs on the Nargothrond winger. It would be a long night for Hithlum if they couldn’t stop Gwindor—many of them still had memories of his first-half hat-trick against them in a friendly last year.

Fortunately for them, Hithlum would reply after five minutes. Balrog #5 easily dribbled past Finrod’s pressing and advanced the ball. Túrin twisted and turned in the penalty box, as if to create some distance between himself and the centre-backs. Arminas and Baran were too pre-occupied with him to notice Húrin outrunning Guilin as the Balrog sent a deep cross. Húrin met the ball at the far post and powered a header past Orodreth.

The game was barely ten minutes old, and both teams were already on the score sheet. It seemed that the game would be decided by who would prevail: Gwindor’s pace, Finrod’s trickery, or Glaurung’s strength for Nargothrond, or Beleg’s touch, Túrin’s instincts, or Húrin’s energy for Hithlum. After Húrin’s goal, both teams settled down from the chaotic opening spell into shape. Túrin dropped in on Bëor when Hithlum is out of possession, ensuring that the holding midfielder is not left alone to initiate the home side’s attack. This move, however, removed a key penalty box presence for Hithlum. Húrin did his best to make up for his son’s absence, leaving his right wing spot to become the most forward player. In order to avoid marking confusion, Guilin left the Hithlum forward to left-sided centre-back Baran and positioned himself to sweep up behind him instead.

After the two goals in nine minutes, it took twelve more minutes for the third goal to come. Balrog #5 once again brushed past Finrod’s pressing, but Nienor did well to slide in and dispossess the advancing defender. With such a gaping hole in the Hithlum defence, Glaurung took advantage and slithered past Aradan. Nienor easily played the dragon in, and his screaming tailer left Huor clawing after air. Glaurung spouted flames in celebration of his goal, and he was duly carded by the referee for it.

Nargothrond were hardly a team to sit on a lead, especially against an attacking force as menacing as Hithlum’s. They pursued a third goal relentlessly, leaving themselves open at the back and leading to nervous moments for both sides. In the thirty-fourth minute, Balrog #5 intercepted a Finrod through pass for Gwindor and once again dribble forward. As Nienor tried to steal possession from him, Morwen was left unmarked and received a simple pass from the Balrog. With Nargothrond in disarray, Túrin sprinted past Bëor and Arminas and controlled Morwen’s pass, forcing the Noldo to bring him down just inches from the penalty area. It was a yellow card for Arminas and a free kick for Hithlum. Túrin took the free kick, and he slid the ball under the wall as they jumped up together. His shot had enough pace that the moment Orodreth noticed what had happened the ball had already crossed the goal line and found the net.

The two teams would take a 2-2 score line into the break. In the second half, Hithlum realised the need to keep Glaurung under control and match Nargothrond’s numbers in the midfield. Balrog #5 advanced from the defensive line and marked Glaurung as a holding midfielder. Gundor tucked in to become another centre-back. Meanwhile, Aradan moved higher up the pitch to track Nienor; his stamina was better suited to a running battle than to a battle of strength against a dragon. Morwen marked Finduilas, leaving Hador free as left wing-back. Beleg played the same role, but on the right, and Húrin permanently became a second centre forward; he dropped deeper to mark Bëor when Nargothrond were in possession, leaving Túrin to become a more consistent penalty box presence. Their formation was a 3-5-2 that almost became a 3-3-4.


[Nargothrond in green and yellow; Hithlum in yellow and dark red.]

Nargothrond’s attack seemed to be stymied. Gwindor could no longer gain space on Arroch and his girth was enough to block his shots and crosses. Balrog #5 kept Glaurung in his pocket, the same way Balrog #2 did last year for Anfauglith. And Finrod could no longer find space to work his magic in; Gundor followed him all over the pitch, confident that Galdor was there to sweep up behind him. In the meantime, Nargothrond’s back line no longer had a spare player, and with strikers like Túrin left alone against a so-so defender, that surely meant trouble for Orodreth.

But it Hithlum took thirteen minutes after the restart to beat him; Húrin and Hador combined on the left to get to the byline. Húrin sent a cutback zipping across the face of the goal, and Beleg beat Barahir, getting a boot in to redirect the ball into the net.

The Hithlum supporters roared. They finally took the lead! and they looked to be in control of the game. On the other hand, the faces of Nargothrond fans were deathly pale. A spirit of ‘here we go again’ seemed to have descended on their team, and only Glaurung was showing any spirit to fight back. Even Finrod looked clueless as to how to turn the tables on Hithlum.

As they pushed forward for an equaliser, they were dangerously open on the break. With quick players Hador and Beleg supporting the attack from the midfield, the Nargothrond back four would find themselves swamped as soon as Hithlum recovered the ball and got past the home team’s press. It took some impressive saves and clearance to keep Túrin and company at bay, but after nineteen minutes, disaster struck.

Nienor and Finduilas passed their way out of Hithlum’s midfield pressing and got the ball to Glaurung. But the dragon was easily outmuscled off the ball by Balrog #5. He then sent a long diagonal to Beleg, who crossed for Túrin. He leapt over Arminas to get a head on the ball, but Orodreth was there to cover the angles. Túrin, however, was in no mood to be denied; his reverse-spin header went past Orodreth’s outstretched right hand and swerved into goal. It was like a chip, but only with his head.

The Hithlum crowd seemed to have taken over the stadium. The Nargothrond faithful were stunned to silence, and their away fans’ cries of ‘Túrin, Túrin, get it in!’ reverberated off the dome of the High Faroth and filled the arena.

The Nargothrond players were about as clueless as their supporters. Gwindor’s attempts to beat his marker got nowhere; Glaurung couldn’t hold the ball against the Balrog, and Finrod, with no one to create for, tried to dribble his way to Huor’s goal, but was easily repulsed by Galdor and Gundor.

Two minutes before time, Gwindor managed to gain a metre from Arroch, but Finduilas’s through ball for him was intercepted by Morwen. She dinked the ball over the dangerously high Nargothrond back line, and Hador took her pass in stride. He easily rounded Orodreth and slotted the ball in for the dagger.

When the final whistle was sounded a few minutes later, Hithlum tried to walk off the pitch impassively, as if they had just done their jobs, but a grin spread on Hador’s face, and Húrin laughed in reply. Clearly, winning in such impressive fashion, and with everything clicking together for the team, spread a spirit of cheer among them. Soon they were arm-in-arm, shouting, ‘Quarterfinals, quarterfinals,’ which the Hithlum fans soon echoed. Meanwhile, for Nargothrond, Glaurung dashed off the field in fury, and while the rest of the team bowed to their supporters, a lot of them clearly looked like they didn’t want to be there. So they were left behind in the round of sixteen again… while it was an improvement on the last two years, it didn’t feel like an improvement at all, neither to the fans nor to the team.


Exit interviews shall be provided in The Matchday episode next week.

Hithlum 5-2 Nargothrond
GOALS:
4, 0-1 Gwindor (Finrod)
9, 1-1 Húrin (Balrog #5)
21, 1-2 Glaurung (Nienor)
34, 2-2 Túrin
58, 3-2 Beleg (Húrin)
77, 4-2 Túrin (Beleg)
88, 5-2 Hador (Morwen)

Total Shots
23-20
Shots On Target
12-8

YELLOW CARDS:
1-2
HTH: Húrin
NGR: Glaurung, Arminas

[Boromir88]

Nutty, nutty week and hopefully it's not too anti-climatic but really need to get the scores up so we can all get moving on the next round. Stories will be filled in by tomorrow:

Anduin 1-2 Armenelos
on target 6-5
tot shots 13-11
GOALS:
*51, 0-1 TarAncalimon (ArAdunakhor)
*70, 0-2 Elros (ArPharazon)
*88, 1-2 Eorl (Boromir II)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Anduin- Fram
*Armenelos- Tar Calmacil

Next match: Quarterfinal Armenelos vs. TIG in their first rematch since the thrilling Bronze medal game of 2008. When TIG walked away with a controversial 3-2 victory.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Bracket:


Power Rank:



(Teams in bold are group leaders; teams in italics are eliminated.)

Greatest gain:

• +5 Valimar, Armenelos
• +4 Barad-dûr
• +1 Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Hithlum, Eriador, Arnor

Greatest loss:

• -7 Angband, Nargothrond, Gondolin
• -3 Tirion
• -2 Misty Mts

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 throughout the matches. Ties are broken by a) greater number of shots made on target; and b) greater number of shots made.

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

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

GOALS + ASSISTS

5+1
Túrin (Hithlum)

4+2
Curufin (FC Valinor)

4+1
Arien (Valimar)

4+0
Scatha (Wilderland)
Glaurung (Nargothrond)

3+2
Hador (Hithlum)
Eöl (AC Beleriand)
Maeglin (Gondolin)

3+1
Maedhros (Inter Beleriand)
Sauron (Barad-dûr)
Argon (FC Valinor)
Ar-Pharazôn (Armenelos)
Ancalagon (Angband)
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Tuor (Gondolin)

2+3
Finrod (Nargothrond)

1+3
Míriel (Real Valinor)
Yavanna (FC Valinor)


GOALKEEPING

• 88.89% – 08/09 – Huan (FC Valinor)
• 87.50% – 14/16 – Tulkas (Real Valinor)
• 84.62% – 11/13 – Elrond (Eriador)
• 83.33% – 20/24 – Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)
• 83.33% – 10/12 – ShastaWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)

[the phantom]

MESPN Quarterfinal Round Table
Live from Armenelos

Philip McPhantom: The playoffs are in full swing, and we’re here to discuss the past and predict the future. I’m Philip McPhantom, MESPN Lead Football Coordinator, and with me I have the dragon Ruharg the Red, the lead sports editor of Monster Magazine, and Ar-Tar-Aradil, sports writer for Westernesse Weekly and president of the Numenorean Association for the Advancement of Football.

Ruharg: Greetings.

Ar-Tar-Aradil: Good to be here.

P McPhantom: We’re here in Armenelos, one of the two sites for the quarterfinals. But before we set up those matchups, why don’t we reflect back to the first round. Starting from the top—what did you think about Valimar’s victory over Arnor?

Ar-Tar-Aradil: We pretty much nailed this one. I remember Ruharg and I were very much in agreement that Arnor would try to play nice and slow things down, but that Arien would wreck the plans.

Ruharg: Yes, I felt good about that one when I saw the score line. And viewing firsthand, you saw what we expected?

Ar-Tar-A: Indeed I did—Arnor managed to avoid cards and they kept Witch King hidden a bit so as not to arouse the wrath of the Valar. All in all it was quite a good gameplan and well executed, but Valimar was just better.

PMcPhantom: We’ll move on to what may have been the biggest match of round 1, AC Beleriand vs Angband.

Ruharg: Another one I had right. And Ar-Tar had it as well, though I was more correct if I may say so.

ATA: That’s fair—I did say AC would win “solidly”, and it ended up being a closer fight.

R: Well, before the tournament these two I had rated as the top two, so I figured it would be close.

PMcP: What made the difference in the end?

R: That quartet up front for AC just created too many chances to be denied forever.

ATA: It really says something of them, because Angband’s defense was quite good.

PMcP: It was definitely fun to watch—fantastic play on both sides. And now let’s move on to the other overtime game, Real over Tirion.

ATA: Now this one I was the one more correct than Ruharg.

R: Heh heh… yes, I don’t believe I’ve ever felt so foolish on a correct prediction.

PMcP: Ah, that’s right—you both said Real would win, but Ar-Tar said it’d be tight and low-scoring, whereas Ruharg—

ATA: I believe his words were “free pass to the quarterfinals”.

R: Now, now, do you have to start pulling out direct quotes?

ATA: Ha ha, sorry. I’m just feeling so good about seeing this ahead of time.

PMcP: Indeed, it seemed that Tirion was in fact uniquely equipped to slow down Real. The Sons of Feanor nicely hamstringed their mother and grandmother for most of the match.

R: But they got it done in the end. Good effort and perseverance.

PMcP: How about the other Valinor match?

R: I just watched the replay of it this morning, and it was… weird.

ATA: That’s what I thought. FC really seemed to rein things in that second half, and I wouldn’t think they’d be the ones to do that.

R: Yeah, once they had Misty on their heels I figured they’d go for the throat, but it was as if they weren’t getting any joy out of it or something.

PMcP: I wonder if this is a more serious squad this year after that infamous upset last year after they were looking so unbeatable.

ATA: Yes, perhaps they were looking at injury risk and not getting themselves tired out for the next round etc. plus just wanting to prove to themselves that they could decide to shut down an opponent and then do it.

PMcP: How about the big shootout match?

R: I got it wrong. We were right that it would be low-scoring, but I bet on Sauron.

ATA: I bet on Eriador’s midfield, on the other hand, and lo and behold the midfielder NogWight comes through in the shootout.

R: Sauron had to be upset about that one, seeing as Nog nearly signed with Barad-Dur before the season, but elected to go with Eriador instead.

ATA: It begs the question—would Barad-Dur be going through if they had signed NogWolf?

PMcP: Just goes to show that every signing matters. Now how about Hithlum and Nargothrond?

ATA: We definitely had it right that there would be heavy scoring.

R: Unfortunately I had Nargothrond scoring more. And really as I watched that match I found myself wondering why on earth I didn’t take Hithlum. Nargothrond had Turin, Hurin, Beleg, and Hador running at them. How could they not give up 5 goals?

ATA: Ha ha, I know what you mean. That’s why I went with Hithlum. If a team doesn’t have an A-level defense then they’re toast.

PMcP: You guys both were right on TIG and Gondolin.

Ruharg: Yes—Gondolin just couldn’t handle the attack, though it was nice to see that they made TIG work at the back, and even scored on them once.

ATA: It made the game much more interesting with Gondolin grabbing the early score, but in the end it seemed inevitable that TIG had it.

PMcP: Last game—Anduin and Armenelos.

R: And this one officially made this round a bad one for me. Barad-Dur, Nargothrond, and Anduin all lost, which puts me at 5 and 3.

ATA: I’ve lost track of things—you don’t happen to know my record, do you?

R: You know good and well how it stands.

PMcP: Yes, Ar-Tar, let’s not pretend to be modest, go on and blow your own horn.

ATA: Well, since I have your permission—I went 8 and 0 in the first round! Well done, me!

R: Well, you were bound to pick Armenelos, seeing as you’re from there.

ATA: Now now, I gave tactical reasons as well.

PMcP: Why don’t we go ahead and give predictions for the next round, and see if Ar-Tar can stay perfect, or if Ruharg and catch up to him…

ATA: I was waffling for a bit on AC versus Valimar-

R: Oh come on, how can you be unsure on that one!

ATA: It isn’t as easy as that! Valimar has been very sharp, and Arien’s scoring touch makes them more dangerous than ever.

R: But look at their defense. They just don’t have the right personnel to contain that AC offense.

ATA: But there’s always a chance for some righteous rage, which really ups their level. I mean—AC does have a Balrog on the squad, and that could set them off.

PMcP: Are you justifying picking Valimar, or justifying waffling on choosing AC?

R: Ha ha! He’s probably overthinking things trying to preserve his perfect record.

ATA: I’m just saying it won’t be a blowout.

R: But you’re choosing AC, right?

ATA: Yes, yes, I’m picking them. But only by a goal.

R: I’d guess 3-1.

PMcP: Well, that’s a clean sweep of picks there. How about the battle of the Valinors?

R: Now this match deserves some waffling.

ATA: Indeed! And what a great matchup! Everyone’s been looking forward to this.

PMcP: Indis will likely end up on Miriel quite a bit—the wives of Finwe doing battle. And then Maglor will be asked to take his mum out of the equation from time to time. Then two of the most dangerous defenders to make a run forward will be on the field, Eonwe and Tilion, and two fantastic keepers in Huan and Tulkas…

R: Anticipation is half the fun, isn’t it?

ATA: *sigh* But we have to choose between them…

PMcP: I’ll go ahead and volunteer that I have FC.

ATA: So do I. With those defenders and keeper they are able to slow down opponents without having to over-commit, and if the opposition dares to try and win a numbers battle up front they are just asking for Curufin to score on a counter.

R: But Nahar and Nienna will be back there to stop him, and Ingwion and Tilion will be close behind marking his outlets. Really I don’t think there’s an advantage to be gained here, so the difference will be the experience and will to win—advantage to the defending champions.

PMcP: While I agree with that statement to an extent, that they would have that intangible edge against every squad in the field, I don’t think they have it against FC. FC and Real have played three times and Real has never won. I think FC just has their number, and perhaps it is in Real’s head at this point.

R: I disagree. Real’s best result, a draw, is the most recent, so I believe they have faith in themselves, and believe that they are now due for a win.

PMcP: We’ll see. And now onto Eriador and Hithlum.

ATA: Opposing strengths for certain. Elrond is so good between the posts, and he organizes things well in front of him, and he has great players to work with at the back.

R: Yes, Gil-galad, Aragorn, Arwen, Asfaloth… Most every squad would envy a back line like that, but, but- look at who is attacking them this round.

ATA: Turin, Hurin, Beleg, and Hador, and of course Morwen, Balrog, and Aradan lending support from time to time. I agree—that’s scary stuff.

PMcP: Who emerges as the victor then?

ATA: I see this match as being a product of the opposite matchup—Eriador’s offense versus Hithlum’s defense. I think the Balrog will have to lend heavy help to contain Glorfindel, so that takes him out of the other end.

R: But I see Galdor and Gundor doing decently against Isildur and Arveleg, and with Arroch there to lend help doesn’t Hithlum stack up pretty well?

ATA: NogWight and the other midfielders will push the advantage back to Eriador. They’re too good to discount, and their offense is flexible enough to allow scoring to come in from anywhere depending on what the defense is doing. They’ll get numbers on Hithlum, because we all know that the Hithlum attackers won’t want to help at the back, as they’re always waiting for counters.

R: Which they will get, and that’s how they’ll score.

ATA: I think the back four and Elrond can handle it. They play off-the-ball defense very intelligently, and Elrond himself is always good for a miracle save or two. I’ll say Eriador 2-1, perhaps in overtime.

R: Hithlum 2-1.

PMcP: All right then, on to the final contest, Armenelos against Tol-In-Gaurhoth.

R: Picking your home friends again, Ar-Tar?

ATA: If they should win I would be quite overcome with joy, but no, sadly I cannot bring myself to pick them.

PMcP: Well, I’m the only one then. I figured Armenelos’ patience and execution might be what it takes to tempt the aggressive monsters into making mistakes.

R: That’ll be the gameplan I figure, but I think TIG has enough to overcome. Their Wights are wily and tactical, so they won’t be caught off guard, and I think the same is true of Thuringwethil. I think they’ll bring enough coolness and stability to keep such a plan from working to its full potential.

ATA: Plus there is the pure play-making ability of the Wolves. I just figure there will be a time where Armenelos plays things perfectly and TIG just one-ups them with sheer athleticism and power.

R: I can see that happening as well, but I do see McP’s point—if Armenelos can minimize those opportunities, and one of the defender Wolves gets too hot-headed…

PMcP: Exactly. I see this coming down to the play of the Werewolves at the back. I think Armenelos will be looking to get one of them carded out of the game.

ATA: Oh, definitely they’ll be looking to force such an issue, and I hope they can, but I just think TIG is working too well this season, thus 2-1 to them.

R: I picked the same.

PMcP: Well all right, we’ve made it through all the games. Now we just sit back and see what happens, and enjoy all the drama and play-making. We’ll be back before the semis to do this again!

ATA: Can’t wait.

Ruharg: Enjoy the football.

[Nogrod]

The quarterfinals will be really tough – and superbly hard to predict. But here’s the AKM’s shortish take on them.


Valimar vs. AC Beleriand

Some Valimar players had publicly hoped to meet Angband in the quarterfinal to “kick Morgoth out of the tournament” but there was probably another reason as well for their desire, and that is the fact that AC Beleriand looks clearly the more dangerous team of the two – and Fëanor sure is a thorn on the leading Valar’s side as much as Morgoth is – but in a way more annoying to them.

The stats seem to favour AC Beleriand – and one can’t say Valimar would have had a harder tournament before this game. Actually one might claim the opposite: that AC Beleriand has made their superior stats in slightly tougher matches than Valinor.

So the AKM thinks AC Beleriand to be the favourites to win the game, even if the margin isn’t that great and many things will affect the outcome beside what the games already played can tell – like the possibility Manwë will step up their game just because it’s the “Fëanor clan” they’re opposing. And you can never underestimate Arien, if she’s on fire – if you forgive the bad pun.

The AKM predicts: AC Beleriand wins 2-1


Real Valinor vs. FC Valinor

Some analysts and fans alike think the game between the two Valinors is the moral championship-game – that had the grouping been different these two teams would have only met in the final, implying that they would both have been able to beat any other team on their way to the final. Now that view sure is backed by a host of facts and can’t be discredited lightly – but the AKM thinks it still is a bit premature stance. There are other teams that could pick the cup this year besides the two, especially AC Beleriand and Valimar (the upper side of the bracket that is) with maybe Hitlum or T-I-G as wild cards.

Everyone is probably familiar with the late history of the two teams but it might be worth recapitulating once more. So last year FC Valinor plainly crushed Real Valinor two times (once in friendlies, another time in the group stage) but Real Valinor were the champions in the end as Erebor kicked FC Valinor out from the competition in a penalty shoot-out in the quarterfinals. This season the teams met in the friendlies and played a draw. As it is now their stats are pretty much alike, but Real Valinor has had a tougher schedule than FC Valinor has.

So with the mutual draw behind the teams this season and Real Valinor having almost even stats from a lot tougher schedule, the AKM holds Real Valinor the favourites to win the game. But that said, there will be so much more than just stats to decide this game – the history, the personalities, the playing-styles…

The AKM predicts: the game ends in a draw 2-2, either team may make it to the semifinals but the AKM belives Tulkas will beat Huan in the penalty shoot-out.


---------


Eriador vs. Hithlum

So it is a game between a defending-machine vs. an attacking powerhouse. Many – including the AKM – have not been convinced on Eriador’s form this year. Compared to other teams through the last eight they clearly score a lot less than others while their defence isn’t that superb in comparison to other teams as to compensate it. Actually some teams defend better than Eriador… Then again Hithlum’s defences are the worst of the final eight – with seven goals allowed they have given in almost 50% more goals any other team has.

Now Eriador’s problem is taking advantage of Hithlum’s weak spot in their defence while keeping Hithlum’s hurricane for an attack at bay – while Hithlum’s challenge is to show they can open also tough defences while not letting the opponent to take advantage of their own uncomfortable areas of game.

The AKM thinks that Eriador is not able to stop Hithlum from scoring – even if Elrond will stand brave at his goal – and that their scoring skills are just that notch worse they would need to come even, not to talk of prevailing.

The AKM predicts: Hithlum wins 3-1 (or 2-0)



Tol-In-Gaurhoth vs. Armenelos

The Werewolves and Wights have been on fire this year after a few seasons of less impressive performances and at this point it is clear no team affords to take them lightly but as serious candidates to go far in this tournament. Now were they placed in the upper bracket of the tournament the AKM wouldn’t bet a lot on their survival into the finals, but located in the lower one they actually have a chance to get it even to the final – and the question is just on stamina and continuity: T-I-G sure could challenge any of the teams left on a good day, but being on the upper bracket would require them to win the best teams in a row. On the lower bracket, Gondolin and Armenlos are both quality teams, but not comparable to those on the upper bracket – and even Hithlum is kind of an “on-off” –team which can either perfotm brilliantly or just fall down, as Real Valinor so clearly showed.

That said the stats predict quite a tough and even game.

Tar Atanamir and ShastaWolf have the exact same saving percentage (83,3%) but Tar Atanamir has been tested twice as much as Shasta so there’s an edge for Armenelos as keeping that high quality tending for more shots speaks well of Tar Atanamir.

Both teams score with almost the same percentages but the T-I-G shoots more – and the T-I-G also let’s the opponent shoot less - so an edge from there to the T-I-G.

To be honest, the T-I-G hasn’t exactly met any offencive powerhouses thus far but some rather pathetic attacks (like Imladris or Anfaughlith) – but neither has Armenelos convinced anyone that they wolud be back in their former glory.

The AKM predicts: T-I-G wins 2-1 (or a draw 1-1 and then anything’s possible)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Elenrod: Question: What’s the size of Nargothrond and can’t defend to save their lives? Answer: Nargothrond. That’s it, really; that’s the punchline. Today: like AC Beleriand before them, Hithlum give Nargothrond a high five—in the behind. Poor Nargothrond get knocked out in the round of sixteen in front of their home crowd yet again. Let’s see if we can get Felagundion to say a word about them. Elsewhere: it’s the most thrilling last sixteen tie ever—so enthralling that you’d want to gouge your eyes out and watch it again. We recap Eriador-Barad-dûr—that is, if we don’t doze off. Meanwhile, Misty Mts and Tirion fail to stop another Valinor derby, although Tirion came very close; Fëanor beat Morgoth in an extra-time thriller and face his brother Manwë in the quarterfinals; and Tol-in-Gaurhoth-Armenelos: will the Númenóreans finally pay the Wolves back for 2008? All that, and more, in this consume-sparingly-and-keep-a-glass-of-water-near-at-all-times Matchday. With us here are very familiar faces. Maikalomion, how was Weathertop?

Maika: Weathertop Arena was lovely.

Elenrod: And was it comfortable there? You know…

Maika: Haha, you mean to sleep on? Actually, I found the game interesting.

Adam: But you get excited when a team completes fifty passes. Us in the real world want that ball to get in the back of the net.

Elenrod: He’s feeling contrarian today, our non-economist, Adam Smith, fresh from a trip to Nargothrond. And with him on that visit to the High Faroth Arena was…

Felagundion: …

Elenrod: Nargothrond football blogger, Felagundion, who’s probably feeling nothing today.

Felagundion: …

Elenrod: To spare Felagundion from having to remember the pain too soon, we’ll first discuss Eriador-Barad-dûr. Maika? How did you manage to stay awake? And how did they lull the rest of us to sleep?

Maika: Haha, well, the midfield battle was interesting. Both teams, unfortunately, were set up more negatively—more focused on marking their counterparts than finding space. Only Glorfindel and Sauron were actively looking for space to receive passes and create chances, but both were double-marked, being obviously their respective teams’ creative hub.

Adam: I agree. You can also see their defensive approaches in the way both teams lined up their back four. The defenders who were most useless with the ball—Arroch and the Fellbeast—were the ones assigned to the weaker flanks, because the better ball-handlers happened to be better defenders. This means they were more concerned with containing each other’s threat than creating chances with surging full-backs.

Elenrod: So they ended up deciding the game on penalties. And what penalty kicks they were.

Maika: Someone told me that, after the game, Gil-galad approached Sauron and said, ‘We have Elrond and you don’t. That’s the difference.’

Adam: And that’s not far from the truth: except for Sauron’s brilliantly taken kick, Elrond went in the correct direction for all penalties. 75% ain’t luck, that’s pretty mad skillz, with a ‘z’.

Elenrod: What will Sauron do after this? They made a pretty pile because their team’s pretty cheap—does he strengthen and try to go further, or just keep it steady?

Maika: I reckon he won’t break the bank, just add one or perhaps two more star signings. Grishnákh’s a rough gem at goal, hard to find anyone better at that price range. And if he could convince the Blue Wizards to stay, that’s half of his back line sorted. Well, he’d probably drop one of the Fellbeasts there—#2 didn’t cover himself with glory as the only open Barad-dûr player. A ball-playing centre-back, or an attacking full-back, perhaps? His midfield and attack’s pretty coherent; after years of playing together, they’re pretty much on the same wavelength now.

Adam: Yeah. Alatar, Berúthiel, and Sauron on that one play was pretty much, tap-tap-tap, nutmeg Aragorn. Like they pretty much know where the other would be.

Elenrod: Right, that’s it for Eriador-Barad-dûr, then. There’s no avoiding it, Felagundion; we’ll have to discuss Nargothrond-Hithlum.

Felagundion: … We live by the dragon, we die by the dragon. Finrod should’ve been in that ten spot. We need a new centre forward in the transfer window.

Elenrod: Nice to see you back in the world of the articulate, Felagundion. But we’ll leave all that for later. For now, it’s all about the game. And that means the inspired second half performance by Hithlum.

Adam: Triggered by their inspired second half formation switch. Before that, you can see that the two teams were quite evenly matched; both teams had focal points who could bully their markers, a player who was occupying an entire wing on his own, and a free player who created overloads.

Maika: From what I saw of the game, Nargothrond were decent at keeping possession, even during that disastrous second half. It’s just that whenever they tried to get it to their forwards, they lost the ball quite easily and get murdered on the break.

Elenrod: By the way, Adam, you were right to call it. Arroch handled Gwindor all on his own, except for that first goal.

Felagundion: And I was surprised Glaurung managed to get to the locker room, so deeply stuffed was he in that Balrog’s pockets. Just like against Anfauglith.

Elenrod: So, will Glaurung be back? Felagundion’s of the opinion that he shouldn’t.

Felagundion: He had the gall to say that we should commit less going forward, and let more of the attack go through him. Just after that performance! Is he mental, or just really thick?

Maika: They do need more help on the defence. Bëor seems to have finally found his niche as a deep-lying playmaker, but he needs a midfield enforcer alongside him. It was agonising to see Húrin and Morwen simply strolling past him.

Adam: I had a word with Orodreth after the game. He’s fearful that teams will start sniffing around the squad, knowing that Nargothrond are haemorrhaging financially. Glaurung, Nienor, even Finrod could be poached, and that would leave them back to what they were two years ago.

Elenrod: Well, commiserations to Nargothrond, and well done, Hithlum, who now face Elrond’s Eriador in the quarterfinals. What’s your call on this one? Elrond’s 17-game concede-a-goal-or-less streak seems to be under considerable threat from Túrin and company.

Maika: Eriador’s defenders are much better than Nargothrond’s. And if Elrond set up his team to stifle Hithlum, I can see them conceding one or less.

Felagundion: Basically the same thing they did vs Barad-dûr? But Túrin’s a better target man than Castamir, not to mention his father can also hold the ball up well. Hithlum will try to play it long, something Barad-dûr explicably failed to do.

Maika: The only Hithlum defender who can play cultured long balls is Balrog #5. I’m sure Elrond has a plan to account for him.

Elenrod: So another nil-nil and penalty win for Eriador?

Maika: Why not? Well, maybe 1-1 and penalty win for Eriador.

Adam: You’re despicable. You’re the only one who finds entertainment in those kinds of games.

Elenrod: Moving along to the rest of the last sixteen results: Valimar-Arnor?

Felagundion: Arien is awesome.

Maika: Basically, Arnor didn’t have the talent to beat a less naïve Valimar side.

Elenrod: And AC Bel-Angband? A game that had the most talent on display in the round.

Maika: I don’t know about that. Real-Tirion was a spectacle. Anyway, yeah, there were a lot of talent on display on the pitch, but AC Bel were far more cohesive. Especially that front line.

Adam: Phwoar. Fingolfin-Angrod-Eöl for their equaliser, Aegnor-Eöl-Angrod for their late chance in normal time, and Aegnor-Eöl-Fëanor for that play that won the penalty. That is one scary, scary front line.

Elenrod: Fancy their chances against a Manwë-led back line?

Maika: Well, Valimar’s midfield can’t keep the ball against more combative midfields, which AC Bel obviously have, and I expect much of the game to be spent in Valimar’s half. But Valimar do have a fearsome counterattack, and a clinical finisher of them in Arien.

Adam: That’s basically it, right? Whichever score first will most likely win. Valimar can keep battering AC Bel on the break if they score first, and AC Bel can just play keep-ball if they get the opener. Oh, crap, that means it’ll be a cagey 1-0 AC Bel, despite the attacking talents on display.

Elenrod: Who’s up for some Real-Tirion?

Maika: Tirion gave a good account of themselves, taking the lead against the defending champions, and being three minutes away from upsetting them. But they need a better right-back.

Adam: Oh, Eru, yes. Irimë was responsible for conceding the corner that led to Real’s equaliser, and, of course, leaving her alone against Nerdanel is pretty much committing suicide. Where the hell was Rúmil in that play?

Felagundion: Why didn’t Tirion shut down shop after scoring? They didn’t need to get drawn in to that end-to-end action near the end of regular time.

Adam: You expect Anairë and Eldalótë to keep possession against Enerdhil and Nessa?

Felagundion: They could have pulled Aredhel or Finwë back and tucked Mahtan in.

Maika: You need mobile midfielders to keep possession against aggressive pressing teams. I don’t think Anairë or Eldalótë have the legs for that.

Felagundion: Ah, all right. Carry on.

Elenrod: In the next round, Real will be facing their inter-city rivals FC Valinor—this fixture seems to be a staple now, isn’t it? Now, before we discuss that, how about a brief account of FC Val-Misty Mts.

Adam: Another adults vs children performance. You’d have to worry whether they’re mentally prepared to face a team of Real’s calibre without prior preparation.

Felagundion: I don’t think you need to worry about that. Some great teams just have their bogey teams. Germany, for example, just don’t fancy playing against the Italians, no matter how strong or weak the respective teams are. Real were relieved just to be drawing even with FC Val, even though they’re the defending champs.

Maika: FC Val just seem a bit quicker and more energetic than Real. For example, last year, Celegorm and Curufin just gave Tilion and Caranthir the fits. The two defenders can’t get the ball past them whenever Real tried building play from the back.

Adam: But you have to admit the gap between the two is no longer that wide. I don’t think there is much between them from the very beginning, though—it’s just that the quality of the two sides amplify whatever marginal advantage there is.

Elenrod: So, what’s your prediction.

Maika: I’d go with 2-1 FC Val

Elenrod: All right. Finally, the games that were shockingly untelevised: TiG-Gondolin and Anduin-Armenelos.

Adam: Yeah, that was weird. All I saw of the Wolves-Gondolin game was: opening whistle, Duilin passes to Salgant, who passes to Penlod, who takes one touch, then hoofs it into the stands for a ShastaWolf goal kick. Then the signal died.

Elenrod: We’re still waiting for word from the broadcasters of these games to see if we can talk about the game, but it’s safe to say we can discuss the outcomes. Armenelos scored two goals after the break before Anduin pulled one back two minutes before time, so a pretty comfortable win for the Royals. Then, shockingly, Gondolin opened the scoring early before the Wolves scored three unanswered goals for a comfortable win. Now, how do you think the TiG-Armenelos quarterfinal tie would shape?

Felagundion: Speaking of bogey teams…

Maika: Tol-in-Gaurhoth always seem to get the best of Númenóreans: there’s that third place match in 2008, and another quarterfinal tie in 2011, when Westernesse seemed like world-beaters after their win over the first and best Anfauglith team.

Elenrod: But do you expect that trend to continue?

Adam: Well, TiG are pretty much as dominant as they were in 2011, and Armenelos aren’t as good as that Westernesse squad. So another 3-1 Wolves win, I guess.

Elenrod: I suppose that’s it for today’s Matchday. Our apologies that we can’t discuss goals of the week, but we hope to be able to do so next time. Until then, from all of us here, bye for now.

[the phantom]

Vinyamar Prepares for the Quarterfinals
Philip McPhantom, MESPN News

When the Arda Cup tournament used Vinyamar as a host site three years ago it led to a rebirth of the city, and a revival of football tradition as well. The meeting of mountains and sea at Mount Taras was astoundingly picturesque, and travelers that visited during Arda Cup 2010 swiftly spread the word—that buildings and homes of fine Noldorin make were sitting vacant, and that the overhaul of the roads and aqueducts etc. necessary for hosting had put everything in prime condition.

Many of the Noldorin and Dwarf craftsmen that came to work on the project stuck around and were soon joined by their families, and three years later the city had nearly reached the population that it possessed of old before Turgon moved his people to Gondolin. With increased fan support and a beautiful new stadium (with an increased capacity of around 75,000) their football fortunes improved, as could be predicted. After nearly 30 years in a row finishing in the bottom half of the Northwest League, they finished in fifth place last year—only one place out of qualifying for the Champion’s League.

With such a nice arena and the lovely setting and enthusiastic fans, it made complete sense for Arda Cup to return to Vinyamar. Eriador versus Hithlum would be played in the afternoon, while AC Beleriand versus Valimar would be played in the evening. The harbor was packed full of ships from the Blessed Realm, and thousands of visitors had flooded in from the south and west, as well as many more Elves and Men that had made their way through Nevrast out of Hithlum.

It remained to be seen which squads would get the greatest support, but the analysts felt they could guess fairly confidently. Beleriand was nearby obviously and the Noldor would be behind them in a very big way. Also any Orcs and such that showed up would likely support them due to the presence of the Balrog, not to mention their opponent was the hated Valimar. And of course they had Marach and Ulrad which would solidify their support with any attending mortals. Valimar would probably only get support from the folks that had sailed (or spirited) their way from far to the west.

The match between Eriador and Hithlum would be more even. Hithlum would obviously be getting all of the weight of the House of Hador, and added to that would be a contingent from Doriath (to support Beleg) and quite a few Noldor (supporting their financial investment), but Eraidor had brought quite the crowd from the east. The Elves of Lindon and Rivendell had come in large numbers, and a decent crowd of Dunedain had turned up to support the men of Arnor on the squad. But the real equalizer was Glorfindel—before Gondolin he had of course served Turgon right there in Vinyamar, thus the locals had overwhelmingly adopted him as their favorite. More than likely the crowd would be evenly split in that contest.

The weather forecasters were predicting a perfect day for Vinyamar, with minimal breeze and a high temperature around 75 (24 C), cool enough that players wouldn’t be too overheated and warm enough that the crowd wouldn’t get chilled. Everyone was happy to be in Vinyamar, and two teams and fan bases would soon be even a bit happier.

[Nogrod]

Despite a few grumbles the footballing commitees of certain locations seemed not too shy to voice out, the Arda Cup had once again moved into the blessed isle of Númenórë. The Númenorians were quick to ignore any protests concerning their right to organize games once more and made it clear they felt it was a kind of a self-evident fact that the games are played at the old and venerable Armenelos Stadium.

But it was also clear that the islanders had started feeling the pressure of success: to justify being the “obvious” hosts of the Arda Cup more or less every year, both to themselves and to the wider World outside their self-serving realm, their team would have to show some quality. To advance, that is.

The Númenorians could claim the most glorious – and some claim even the longest – history of football by the Atani, but that wouldn’t exac tly imply any greatness today. With footballing-culture spreading all over Arda, staying on the top has proved all the harder – and the Númenorian’s know it full well.

But even if the Armenelos Stadium is one of the smallest arenas the games are played nowadays (with it’s capacity of 60 000 only) and there would be a thing or two with the general facilities that don’t quite fit the modern standards for a sports-venue, no one can deny the awesomeness of it. Like the AKM wrote about it in 2011: “Even if there are some fancier and bigger new stadiums in Arda, the Armenelos stadium stands as the classic venue, the somewhat grey but revered King of Stadiums. And in its stonework one can still see the craftsmanship of the men of old, and the eye for architecture of the Dúnedain at the height of their power.”

The athmosphere of the stadium is also quite unique, for instead of the practical and safe empty areas around the pitch the first rows of spectators begin more or less straight from the white lines marking the borders of the field – so that the first row seat-holders could touch the throwers on the back if they wished to only by streching their arm from their seat, and the corner-kick takers can only take a few steps backwards (and only diagonally so) to send the ball going. That means the players will really feel the audience and their reactions around them and the crowds become much more part of the game. But also the spectators really feel the game – and literally smell the sweat of the players.


The semifinals in Armenelos include two games then.

In the afternoon match up Real Valinor is set up against FC Valinor – a game no football fan would miss. It has been marked as “the clash of the titans” or “the game of the year”, or even as “the moral final” (by some).

A great host of the Eldar and Maiar had landed at the harbour of Andúnië and were there to cheer for either or both teams – and even some of the Valar and a band of the Great Eagles were present. So there was no fear a single seat would be not taken when the afternoon match would take off – and via the Palantir-Network it would be followed by millions all around Arda.


But the locals were even more interested in the evening-game where the hosts Armenelos will meet the bunch of Werewolves and Wights playing under the banner of Tol-in-Gaurhoth – and they have strong memories of the two sides colliding before…

There were rumours that Sauron himself would be attending the match, but those have not been verified by the AKM at this point. But what can be said, is that the much-feared hooliganism on part of the T-I-G fans have stayed relatively minor in scope and that the Armenelos King’s Men’s guard has been able to deal with any troubles coolly and efficiently.


So what an evening of football ahead!

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Vinyamar Stadium
Eriador vs Hithlum

All 75,000 tickets for Eriador-Hithlum have been sold a mere 24 hours after they had been made available, and, on the day of the game itself, Vinyamar Stadium was jam-packed a full two hours before the opening whistle, with one side a wall of black, the other a sea of crimson. The Eriador supporters’ group Northern Wall managed to occupy an entire stand for themselves, and their presentation, a tifo of a man’s hand reaching out for the Arda Cup, was well-received. Unwilling to be outstaged, the Hithlum supporters sung a moving rendition of their anthem, ‘We’re Hithlum ‘til we die.’

After the pre-arranged presentations have been exhausted, the two groups set out to outchant the other. A clear favourite of Hithlum fans was:

‘He scores when he wants.
‘He scores when he wants.
‘Túrin of Hithlum,
‘He scores when he wants.’

Whereas the Eriador fans chanted:

‘We’re black, we’re white.
‘Our midfielder’s a wight.
‘Eriador! Eriador!’

When the two teams walked into the pitch the stadium exploded into cheers; the ones for Elrond of Eriador and Túrin of Hithlum were especially enthusiastic. But the loudest cheer was for Glorfindel, a native son returning to play on his old home city.

There were a lot of handshakes and hugs exchanged on the pitch during the warm-ups, which was not surprising considering that the two teams were filled with Edain from different generations. Aragorn and Arwen struck up a deal with Húrin and Morwen to exchange shirts after the match, while Arador, Araphant, and Arveleg almost fought over who would get Túrin’s shirt at the end of the game. NogWight was generally left alone by the Hithlum players—even Balrog #5 had been approached by Glorfindel, asking him about Gothmog.

As game time drew near, the interaction between the two teams came to a halt. Elrond gathered his team in a huddle, while Hador and Húrin went around, clapping Hithlum players on the back, whispering instructions and encouragement. Túrin sat alone on the penalty spot, facing the goal, seemingly deep in contemplation of the task at hand.


[Hithlum in yellow and dark red; Eriador in white and black.]

The opening whistle was blown, and Hithlum were nearly caught unawares when Araphant immediately launched a long lofted pass to NogWight 15 metres from Hithlum’s penalty area. Aradan and Morwen did well to recover and cover the areas where he could knock it down to. But with a twist of his neck, NogWight flicked it to Arveleg, who drifted in from his starting position on the right wing. At the same time, Isildur dropped a little deeper, as if to receive a pass. Out on the left, Glorfindel sprinted past Arroch just as Arveleg chipped past the defence. With a side-footed volley, Glorfindel sent the ball past Huor and into the net, but the linesman had his flag raised. Glorfindel was offside—the goal was disallowed. Arroch had noticed that the rest of the Hithlum back line had unintentionally advanced a metre forward as they closed down their marks. He then stepped up to play the Gondolin Elf offside just moments before Arveleg’s pass.

The Hithlum faithful heaved a sigh of relief, having escaped going behind so early in the match. They applauded Arroch for his foresight—had he not noticed that detail, or seen it too late, Glorfindel would have been onside for his run.

Around five minutes after that opening spell, some semblance of structure has been imposed on the pitch. Aragorn tracked Húrin in all his runs, Gil-galad kept a body on Túrin, and Asfaloth got in front of Beleg. Arwen was the Eriador back line’s spare player, helping Gil-galad in marking Túrin while keeping an eye on his father’s runs.

On the other side of the pitch, Hithlum left-back Galdor kept an eye on Arveleg’s movements, but didn’t follow him all over the pitch—the Eriador midfielder played deeper, almost in line with the midfield, he and often drifted to central positions. Balrog #5 towered over Isildur, and Arroch kept up with Glorfindel reasonably well. When Glorfindel beat Arroch there was Gundor to stand between him and the goal.

In the midfield, Aradan screened for his back four, while NogWight did his best to connect Eriador’s midfield and the attackers. Their holding midfield duo Arador and Araphant had to deal with the energetic running of Morwen and Hador. With Arveleg moving inside, Eriador had a numbers advantage in the midfield, allowing them to dominate possession. But with Hithlum’s intense pressing on NogWight and Isildur, they couldn’t establish a foothold in Huor’s penalty area. An Eriador turnover often led to nervy moments for their defence, as Morwen and Hador made lung-busting runs to bring the ball up to their forwards.

With Eriador’s midfield playing a defensive game, and Hithlum concerned with the speed and passing of Eriador’s front four, the game played out slowly, with players passing to the safer option (sideways or even backwards) instead of the more speculative forward passes. But as the game wore on some players became more comfortable with trying to get the ball to their forwards.

In a sequence during the nineteenth minute, Morwen picked NogWight’s pockets as he tried to turn on Aradan. She immediately sent it to Hador, who skipped past Araphant and combined with Húrin down the right. Arwen and Aragorn did their best to keep up as they pedalled back, but with a neat step-over Hador found enough wiggle room to cross for Túrin, who headed towards Elrond’s top-left corner. But Elrond palmed it clear just before it crossed the goal line—there were some Hithlum fans who swore it had already crossed the line—and over the bar for a corner kick.

Beleg took the corner kick. While Túrin and Húrin caused havoc on the near- and far-post, respectively, the Doriath Elf sent an inch-perfect delivery for Balrog #5, who stood near the penalty spot. His header, aimed for the far post, had Elrond stranded in no-man’s land on his near post, but Glorfindel rushed in and headed the goalbound effort clear. As Arador booted the clearance downfield, Glorfindel smiled and shook his head at Balrog #5, who flashed a thumbs-up sign at the midfielder.

Eriador got their first serious chance of the game as the first half drew to a close. After intercepting a Morwen through pass, Arwen dribbled forward instead of passing to a midfielder. While the Hithlum midfield’s marking was confused by her appearance, nobody noticed NogWight peeling off to right. Suddenly there were three players down Hithlum’s left channel: Isildur, Arveleg, and NogWight, with only the Balrog and Galdor to contain them. Arwen launched the ball forward, and a sudden NogWight surge met it. As he got to the byline, Glorfindel and Arveleg cut infield, and suddenly Hithlum were outnumbered in their penalty area. The Wight crossed low towards the box, but Galdor slid in and got a toe on it, pushing it past the byline. Isildur screamed at NogWight to cross high, but NogWight pointed at the Balrog, who could have beat any of them in the air.

Huor easily claimed Arveleg’s ensuing cross, and the referee saw it fit to end the first half after that.

The second half began with the same slow tempo as the first one. Eriador were content with their first half and continued their defensive tactic of man-marking in the midfield, while Hithlum were shaken by the close call just before half time and pulled Morwen and Hador back a few metres.

Aside from their slight defensive shift, Hithlum also made one other change: Húrin made more runs infield, dragging Aragorn with him. This left Galdor with the left flank entirely to himself, as Arveleg was still playing more on the centre than on the right. With the midfield more congested, his forward runs became more valuable in driving Hithlum forward.

Shortly before the hour mark, Isildur lost the ball as he tried to run past Balrog #5. After a simple lateral pass to Galdor, the left-back ran from his position in front of the Hithlum penalty box uncontested up to the half way line. Arveleg slid right to stop his run, but he still had space for a cross from deep that Húrin knocked down just in front of the penalty arc. Túrin got to the ball before Arwen and fired a screamer from long range. Elrond got down to save it, but, screaming in pain, he was unable to hold on to the ball. The save spilled into Beleg’s path, who thrashed it in from five metres out. Elrond’s face was clearly in pain as he tried to dive after the rebound, but he got a hand to the ball after it had crossed the goal line. The goal stood, and Hithlum was in the lead!

There was a stoppage of play afterwards as Elrond walked to the touch line, holding his right hand awkwardly. Afterwards it was found out that he broke a finger saving Túrin’s long-range shot. Such was the power of the Hithlum forward’s boot.

The Hithlum fans were overjoyed. Clearly, Eriador now have to chase the game, and that would open up more space for Hador and Morwen in the midfield. But the Northerners still kept the game’s tempo slow, keeping possession in the midfield with Arveleg, and trying to pass their way forward. Hithlum were torn whether to press home the advantage or put a lid on it at the back. As a result, Eriador got a few chances once they got past Hithlum’s midfield.

In the sixty-seventh minute, Isildur headed an Arveleg cross straight at Huor.

In the seventy-third minute, Arador played NogWight in behind Hithlum's midfield, and his dipping drive from thirty metres didn’t dip enough, sailing inches over the crossbar.

By the eightieth minute, Hador decided to put more players behind the ball. Only Túrin and Beleg were left upfield to keep Eriador’s back line honest. But with Aragorn free from the responsibility of marking Húrin, he moved forward to combine with Arveleg down Eriador’s left. As the defence shifted to trap them, Arveleg slid a pass to NogWight outside the penalty area. He quickly sent it to Glorfindel running down the right with plenty of space. Aradan and Gundor moved up to stop him, but he did an impressive 180-degree turn that left them looking flat-footed. Unfortunately, his angle for the shot was too difficult, and he only managed to send into the side netting.

And that was the last serious chance either team had. A ninetieth-minute mazy dribble by Glorfindel through the Hithlum penalty box just ended with Balrog #5 calmly tackling him before he could get into a shooting position. Morwen got to the clearance first, and she booted it downfield. The referee then blew his whistle to end the game. The crimson side of the stadium became a sea of limbs and voices; they were happy, they were relieved, they were ecstatic to be back among the pinnacle of Arda football. On the other side, the fans in black looked glum, dropped out in the last eight after a finals appearance last year. The players on the pitch exchanged handshakes, the Hithlum players giving their opponents a pat on the back for their efforts. Finally, Hador gathered his players in front of the Hithlum fans. As one, they bowed before them, and the fans clapped in appreciation of their efforts. Hithlum, finalists in the first two Arda Cups, are only a game away from returning to those lofty heights.

Exit interviews shall be provided in The Matchday episode next week.

Eriador 0-1 Hithlum
GOALS:
59, 0-1 Beleg (Túrin)

Total Shots
11-12
Shots On Target
4-5

YELLOW CARDS:
1-2
ERD: Asfaloth
HTH: Gundor, Morwen

[Nogrod]

Real Valinor vs. FC Valinor @ Armenelos


Already at noon the Armenelos downtown was buzzing. Tourists were taking their sightseeing tours following guides wawing the flags of the different travel agancies, and locals hung around in parks and cafes just enjoying the general mood the town filled with tourists created. Various marching bands and child-choirs from different schools performed on the Eärendil square playing classics like “Rule Armenelos, Armenelos Rule the Sea” and “Star Dotted Banner” with its famous lines “realm of the free and the isle of the brave”.

With the soft westerly wind the crispness and dim of the morning faded away and finally the sun came up from behind the curtain of clouds fast withering to the east. It was going to be a perfect day for football, a Valar-proof weather one could say.

Slowly but steadily the crowds started to wander towards certain focal points of the city. Those lucky ones who’d got tickets to the game were heading towards the Armenelos Stadium, while the rest took in their sights the Eärendil Square and the great Meneltarma Hall – where the games would be shown live from giant screens with the hugely popular Vëantur and Tar Minastir as commentators.

The Arda Cup holders from the last season Real Valimar were about to take off against their friends and toughest opponents FC Valimar who have so many times proved the better of the ruling champions. At the eve of this year’s tournament they played a draw though – so would Real’s somewhat upward trend continue or would FC prove the better of them yet again? These questions were filling the minds of millions of creatures all around Arda as they gathered around the giant screens of their home-town provided by the Palantir Networks.


~*~*~

As expected, both teams started the game avoiding unnecessary risks – and all the top-scorers soon found themselves wearing an overcoat or two.

When Real was having the ball, Thorondor was following Oromë where ever he tried to move while Miriel and Nerdanel were shadowed by Eönwë and Maglor – and Indis kept keeping up with anyone, mainly Nessa and Enerdhil, who tried to advance forwards from behind the actual strikers or offer her support to the others when needed. FC Valinor did a great job holding Real’s options in attack at minimum for it was clear Tilion or even Quennar were not willing to take the risk of advancing deep into FC-side that early in the game and risk a diminished defence in case of a turnover.

But Real Valinor was marking the FC players quite efficiently as well. Firstly they had realised it takes an Aratar to hold one and Yavanna was held tightly by Nienna leaving her in anguish indeed. The brothers in turn were marked by Ingwion (Celegorm) and Nahar (Curufin) whilst Tilion was always at hand doubling the marking in need – finally Quennar and Enerdhil had both dropped a bit lower when FC was having the ball to either help the others or to mark any attempts by Argon or Findis to break through from behind.

So the first twnety minutes went without any remarkable deeds even if the level of the game and the personal skill on the field were quite dashing indeed – it was just that for any brilliant attacking manouver there was at least as brilliant a defensive move to counter it.

At the 21st minute Tilion gave a bad tackle to Celegorm as he was wrestling himself free from Ingwion ending up in Celegorm falling down like a huge tree and Tilion getting carded. The ensuing free-kick was one of the most beautiful ones executed in this year’s tournament.

Eönwë came from defence to give it and the FC attackers spread themselves around the wall of defenders – except Yavanna and Findis who took positions at the edge of the wall; getting immediately accompanied by Quennar as trying to block them from getting away from the ball’s route if that was what they were up to. And Nienna stood right behind Yavanna breathing on her neck.

Eönwë blasted the ball from 25-meters and it seemed to head straight towards Yavanna and Findis who both reacted – Findis by crouching and Yavanna by leaping outwards away from the wall. Nienna and Quennar made instinctively the very same decision and leaned in to fill the gap that had opened into the wall – but the ball was doing something completely different. It went flying just past the wall (had Quennar not leaned towards the center it would have hit him) and suddenly started swerwing heavily towards the middle. Tulkas had realised the trajectory of the ball a wink of an eye too late and when he dashed for it the tips of his fingers did make a contact – but wth the power of the shot there was no way for him to stop it or even have an influence to its direction. FC Valinor had taken an early lead!

Real Valinor kept their cool after the goal and didn’t went on a rampage to try and even the game out immediately but kept on playing their own game making sure the defence was always organized first. But there was a new intensity in the game. FC Valinor seemed somewhat more confident with their one goal lead daring to play a bit more intuitively and resulting in some oohs and well-earned cheers from the spectators. But Real Valinor had more spirit in their game as well and with determination they seemed to win more one-on-one’s in offence creating a few nice shots that sadly (from their POV) just went an inch wide or high from Huan’s goal.

So the teams went for a breather for the half-time in FC Valinor’s 1-0 lead.

-----

The second half started more or less from where the first had ended – but with fresh legs on both teams the speed of the game increased considerably. Even the most cynical know-all Armenelos fans who were so well learned in the art of the game and its history were gasping with the athletism, creativity and skill on display in front of their eyes.

Miriel did an astonishingly fast double-dribble leaving first Maglor and then Indis behind her but was forced then to shoot in a flash-of-an-eye moment while turning herself almost 180 degrees at the same time – and yet Huan managed to tip the ball off via the crossbar only just and just.

On the ensuing corner Oromë went for a bicycle kick avoiding the onleaping Thorondor - and hitting the post!

On the other end Celegorm released Curufin into an open shooting opportunity by leaving the ball to him with a heel-kick that distracted Ingwion just for the moment needed – but Tulkas saw it coming and saved the ball from the top corner with an amazing leap.

A little later Argon got the ball behind the frontline of the attack and had a second to really boot the ball from the bottom of his heart – and what a cannon-shot it was! Hitting the crossbar it felt like the goal-structure would break down into pieces – and the bars did tremble a long time after the hit. Even if it was shot from well over thirty meters there would have been no chance for Tulkas to stop it had it landed just that bit lower.

On the other end it was time for a classic Miriel – Nerdanel show. Nerdanel played wall-play to left with Miriel to get rid of Maglor and getting inside the box. Charged by Indis she faked a shot and let Indis slide pass her. Left with only Huan to beat Eönwë leaped to help. Nerdanel took a fast step forwards and away from onrushing Eönwe, looking like she was aiming for a shot with her better leg at the same time: both Huan and Eönwë were diving towards her… but she did not shoot! Instead she tossed the ball calmly forwards left where Miriel had dashed at the moment Eönwë had left her free for a second – and it was an easy task for Miriel to just set her foot on the path of the ball directing it into the back of the empty net in front of her.

Real Valinor had evened the game and the crowds were roaring with cheers. It was going to be a thriller as everyone had kind of anticipated. With 25 minutes on the clock everything was open once again.

For a short while the intensity of the game actually dropped a bit as both teams felt they needed to breathe in some air and neither team wished to be on the receiving end just after the equalizer. But with the clock ticking away the minutes the energy started coming back and the last ten minutes were just great football – even if both teams did tighten up their defences the closer the 90-minute whistle was coming. No team would wish to lose a play-off game at the last minute – and these two teams were professional enough to keep that in mind even in the midst of their best efforts to score a late one.

Neither succeeded in scoring in the last minutes and it was going to be an overtime – and if the overtime would not solve it, then a shoot-out. The crowds had been drawn into the game even if most of the spectators weren’t having strong preferences as to which team should win in the beginning (to Númenorians it was more or less the same in principle and many guests from the West were just feeling divided loyalties) but now they were getting really warmed up, and many had chosen their favourites according to the performances on the field.

-----

So the overtime started with the thunder and roar of the crowds as they lived the game now with their hearts – and in the close stadium the audiences really breathed the air the players did – and the players really felt the emotions of the crowds at their skin.

What was clear from the outset was that neither team seemed too happy to be forced into a penalty shoot-out. Paradoxically the game was at it’s most open at the beginning of the overtime when normally teams start playing a hedgehog-style defence just to avoid a goal scored on – but these teams wished to score themselves, in game, not from the penalty spot.

Real Valinor had the first real chance when four minutes into the overtime Oromë centered the ball from near the corner-flag and Nessa dived forwards from behind heading the ball from around the edge of the box dangerously close to the totally open lower-left corner of the goal – only to be slided off by Eönwë at the last moment.

FC Valinor had their chance a few minutes later when Celegorm made a diagonal pass into the box and Curufin slided into it only to miss the ball by inches.

Real Valinor took the possession of the ball and started rolling a passing-play at the FC-half forcing the whole FC Valinor to retreat into defence – except Curufin who wandered near the midfield guarded by Nahar, and Nienna and Tilion hanging around on the bottom of the attack ready to dash backwards if needs be, as usual. And they really pinned FC Valinor down – the passes went from left to right and to and fro, and Real was forcing FC Valinor to use their feet running after the ball while they themselves made the minimum physical effort trying to keep their feet fresh and letting the ball do the running for them.

Finally Miriel noticed a minute positioning-failure by Thorondor who had left just a little bit too big a gap between himself and Oromë when he glanced centerwards to check that others were well positioned – and that was enough. Miriel made a quick waist-high pass to Oromë who charged away from Thorondor the two steps he had time to and volleyed the ball while turning towards the goal at the same time. It was a perfect shot heading towards the upper left-corner of the goal and Huan was clearly late.

But Thorondor was quick enough to make good his error in judgement and leaped towards the ball bouncing it high in the air with his chest. The ball came down just behind the box and Nerdanel fought for the header together with her son Maglor – and neither won the possession. Indis managed to kick the ball and was only trying to clean it away from the FC-half of the field, but it took a new angle hitting Enerdhil just a few meters away and bounced higher up right and forward the field.

When Yavanna saw Thorondor bouncing the ball up in the air she started creeping forwards just in case and with Indis trying to clear the ball she saw her chance and dashed for it as it was coming to her reach. Nienna saw what was happening and reacted charging towards where the ball was going to land – and Curufin leapt leftwards trying to create distance between him and Nahar who had a second of problems choosing between following Curufin to the side or back slightly away from the oncharging Celegorm – as he couldn’t hold the two of them after the possible pass would be given and the off-side danger for the attackers be released. Tilion shouted at Nahar to take Curufin and closed himself on Celegorm.

Yavanna reached the ball first just in front of Nienna and sent it immediately fast forwards diagonally towards the Real goal – and suddenly everyone was running.

Celegorm tried to break through from the middle with Tilion following him a step or two behind – Nahar turned around and charged after Curufin who was running like mad on the left towards the trajectory of the ball…

Curufin got the ball with him about 35 meters and pushed it forwards while turning slightly towards the goal. Nahar was outpacing him though, and was fast approaching him from the right – Tulkas was coming forwards from his goal to diminish the angle Curufin would have to make his shot, if he could do that. Celegorm kept Tilion behind him making the run of his life in the middle almost reaching the level where Curufin was running. The whole stadium held their breath.

Just as Nahar was reaching Curufin, Fëanor’s son made a sudden stop and leaped towards the middle tossing the ball ahead of him. Being much slower to stop from a full gallop Nahar had problems following Curufin’s sudden move and lost a few seconds – and that was enough for Curufin to re-charge forwards and gain the hold of the ball once more. Curufin coming more and more towards the center as he advanced forced Celegorm to steer right while he was calling his brother to lend the ball – and Tilion made the decision to dash rather between the two to cut the passing-line than trying to outrun Celegorm. And Tulkas was almost on Curufin as he was approaching the edge of the box – and he was clearly coming for Curufin outside it.

Curufin faked a shot and Tulkas dived to beat it, but Curufin didn’t shoot. Instead he passed the ball forwards to himself to the left before the sliding-towards goalie could reach it – and jumped over Tulkas in full speed himself. There was a roar gathering in the crowds when Curufin landed and tried to reach the ball that was rolling steadily towards the empty goal – but just a tiny bit off the post!

And Curufin slided for it – just in time to change the direction of the ball – and it rolled into the back of the net! Curufin had scored! FC Valinor had beaten Real Valinor once again! It was over.

-----

While cheering and yelling their throats sore the crowds stood up in spontaneous admiration – not only of Curufin’s personal skill and determination, but for both teams and the battle they gave to each other. And many were moved by the scenes they saw after the referee had blown his whistle to mark the game over.

They saw Celegorm and Oromë changing shirts and patting each other to the shoulder while changing views of the game. They saw Yavanna coming to form a group-hug with Nessa and Nienna, and all three leaving the stadium with arms wrapped around each others’ shoulders. They saw Eönwë and Tulkas shake hands and joke about something – and then deciding to change shirts as well. Nahar and Thorondor were seen laughing about something and then being joined by Huan – and later Celegorm – and they all went off the stadium together.

But the most moving scene sure was when Maglor came to her mom and took her by the shoulder holding her close for a fleeting moment, and was rewarded by a kiss on the forehead. Even Miriel was seeing shaking hands with Curufin – the most like their father of the brothers – but few can figure what she thought about…


The late-game would be the one where the feelings would really get high as the homecrowds would be going nuts for their team, but seldom has there been a warm-up game like this!


FC Valinor 2-1 Real Valinor (OT)
on target 5-4
tot shots 14-11
GOALS:
*22, 1-0 Eönwë
*63, 1-1 Miriel (Nerdanel)
*11, 2-1 Curufin (Yavanna)
YELLOW CARDS:
*FCVal- Curufin, Findis
*RealV- Tilion, Nienna, Quennar

[the phantom]

The disappointed Eriador folks and happy Hithlum fans were cleared out and the eager supporters of AC Beleriand and Valimar streamed in. The Valar and company were as confident as they’d been since Pelori’s run to the semis, but AC Bel was equally confident. Both felt they were good enough to be in the finals.

Listening to the various chants and taking in the colors before the kickoff it was quite obvious that AC owned the arena, which was no surprise seeing as they had such a diverse squad, and all of them based decently close to Vinyamar (certainly closer than Valimar anyway).

The crowd was forced into silence in the early going though, as Valimar came out full speed and focused. On the flip side, Denethor of Ossiriand looked confused and out of position, Imlach let himself drift out of position a couple times as well, Rochallor made a poor pass and mishandled another, and Angrod and Aegnor missed the deliveries on what should have been routine passes. The announcers supposed that their nerves had failed them. In the quarterfinals against the Valar, perhaps one could understand why they were nervous, particularly attempting to play alongside Feanor and Fingolfin, who were always so high level. The lesser players on the squad must have felt petrified of being the reason for a loss.

Valimar went to take advantage of the early minute lapses—Ingwe had a virtually unopposed header at minute 2, but Marach made a brilliant save. Arien was left a huge clearing to shoot through, but her drive was heroically deflected by Fingolfin, who had sprinted in to make up for the missing defenders. At minute 6 Arien rose up and sent a header just over the crossbar. Finally at minute 13 Irmo fed Vaire a perfect cross, but Feanor flashed in from out of nowhere to take it off her forehead.

Some of the Valimar fans applauded the fact that they’d forced even Feanor to play at the back, but others were uncomfortable. They had wasted golden opportunities, and now that Feanor had been forced to take such a direct role in protecting the goal, he was likely ready to explode and whip his squad into shape. And indeed they were right—Feanor’s voice could be heard clearly by most all of the stadium. “I don’t expect you to win or lose this game, just play! Just be the right place and do the obvious! Don’t even try to make great plays! Let us take care of that!”

Some scratched their heads a bit at the message, and wondered if it was really the right thing to tell the squad, but Feanor has a feel for persuasion, and suddenly it looked as if AC’s players were more loose. Their new goal wasn’t to do things themselves, but rather to get the ball to Feanor or Fingolfin and let them do things. Somehow the closer and more manageable goal settled them, and instantly they could hold the ball and no longer appeared vulnerable to attack.

Already in minute 16 Fingolfin led Feanor forward with a beautiful through ball and Feanor angled in from the right and with a hard cut back outside caused two defenders to entirely fall down, and last minute he skipped it across to Eol who easily deflected it into the open net. AC had weathered the early storm and now they had the lead!

If AC had looked better after Feanor’s speech they certainly looked better after having the lead in pocket, and the ball moved effortlessly and Arien was ball-starved at the front. At minutes 25 and 31 they nearly scored again, but after that Manwe finally got the troops rallied and Valimar raised their level back to the early game level. After Feanor’s rally call Valimar had fallen off their game—whether it was some magical effect of the speech or if it was merely the surprise of AC playing their real game for the first time it is not certain, but they looked ready to push back finally.

Ilmare and Namo pushed out wide to the margins as did Irmo, forcing AC to spread themselves out, which made their transition to offense less immediate and smooth, for AC liked to bunch themselves more tightly and move the ball with very quick and accurate passes, moving forward all the while. At first AC wasn’t willing to chase their marks all the way to the edge, but rather hovered in front and inside of them, keeping them from going anywhere yet allowing them all the time they could ask for to find an open teammate. At minute 37 Irmo was left too much room for too long and he bent in a perfect strike to Arien who managed to get over the Balrog and Imlach and headed the ball perfectly. But Marach was there again, tipping the ball just enough to send it off the post!

After that Fingolfin and Feanor went ahead and expanded their defense and got more aggressive with their on-the-ball play, encouraging all to pressure their mark if possible. Most of the Valimar squad held out okay, but at minute 40 Elenwe found herself harassed by Angrod, and he straight up stole it from her and sent it over to his brother who banged it forward and middle to Fingolfin who was making a deep run (he had been tailing Ingwe who had gone rather far back for a moment).

Feanor and Eol drifted to the wings and let Fingolfin take the center behind them, leaving the defenders to choose between evils. Namo peeled off with Feanor while Este drifted back and right to keep an eye on Eol while Vana and Amarie stayed put. Fingolfin immediately put on an astonishing turn of speed and came on Vana before Este could threaten to help to force a pass, and with one hard cut he rounded her and before Amarie could adjust her positioning he fired a rocket to Manwe’s left and he had no chance of stopping it. AC had a two-goal lead!

The stadium was truly crazy for the first time—the AC supporters were screaming words like “Insurmountable!” and “Clinched!” and the Orc drums were pounding at full speed. The noise continued all the way to the halftime whistle, and AC looked energetic jogging off while Valimar looked downright frustrated. The MESPN announcers took that as a positive, saying that at least they didn’t look beaten or passive. “They felt they should’ve grabbed the lead in the early going, and that would’ve changed the complexion of the contest. They don’t feel out of it—and frankly the hostile atmosphere combined with the Orc section and the Balrog on the field… they may just go full wrath-of-the-Valar mode in the second half.”

When the second half started the commentators were proved correct. Manwe and company were almost glowing with energy—was it fury, or pride, or destiny? But they looked grim to a man, and they seemed to kick and tackle harder and leap higher, and with their special glow some of the AC players definitely looked hesitant.

Already in the first minute Arien got a nearly point-blank shot, but the kick rebounded off Rochallor who managed to get in the way, and the rebound try from Ingwe was smothered nicely by Marach. The AC fans breathed a sigh of relief while Fingolfin received a knowing look from the Balrog next to him, and Feanor quickly trotted back and exchanged a word or two with them. Perhaps Fingolfin had been hesitant to believe that Valimar would bring the heat in this fashion, whereas Feanor and the Balrog had more or less considered it a given.

They were certainly on the same page now, though, and their strategy was set. The Balrog personally marked Arien—who better to stay close to fire than fire? Meanwhile Fingolfin stuck to the side of Irmo, and Angrod and Aegnor actually moved farther back than their midfield fellows and helped clean up anything that got missed. Eol stayed somewhat forward, but he never got far from Namo, assuming he might be used in the offense. Essentially Feanor was left on an island at the front and the rest of the squad committed to defense first, and when in possession they pretty well just held it and didn’t try too hard to get it to Feanor. But Manwe simply had to commit players to the defense anyway, because it was Feanor after all.

This unexpectedly conservative play from AC stymied Valimar, and as the minutes went by the started showing signs of frustration. AC wasn’t going to let Valimar get anything done, and didn’t seem to care if they scored again. Finally at minute 70 Manwe committed wholly to a goal-or-bust strategy, and AC fans began salivating. They were certain they could contain the Valimar attack, and Feanor was being left with too much room to run into.

And at minute 77—it happened. Aegnor dispossessed Ingwe and instantly AC was tearing upfield with it (there must have been some prearranged signal). Eol got it first and he sent it on to Angrod. Angrod and Ulrad were side by side on the left with Feanor to the right, and only Amarie and Vana were even with them. Angrod passed forward to Feanor as everyone expected, but no! It was a hard fake and both defenders pulled up to send Feanor offside and Angrod and Ulrad just continued right past them! The pair ran in unopposed on Manwe and he guessed wrong on the shot-pass option and Ulrad slotted it home off of Angrod’s feed. AC was up by three!

With less than 15 minutes remaining it was all over but the celebrating. AC fell back to defend once again, and while Valimar tried to score a face-saving goal the best they could manage was a weak header that Marach caught easily. Though they weren’t trying to score themselves AC actually managed better, as both Eol and Feanor tried long-range snipes for fun, and the powerful and unpredictably bending shots might’ve gotten past a lesser keeper. As it was the score remained at 3-0 and the stadium was partying in earnest.

The fans barely even noticed the Valimar fans and squad leave the arena. Ingwe wished Feanor and Fingolfin well and everyone except Arien gave a gracious nod or handshake to their foes. Arien just headed straight to the lockers, burning the turf as she went. Losing in the quarterfinals was a far cry from winning the title last year. Good feelings prevailed in the stands as Orcs and Men actually patted each other on the backs. A group of Orcs with signs supporting the Balrog received hugs from some of Marach’s household. “I’m glad we had that Balrog to help with Arien. I know Marach is glad of it!” And the Orcs reciprocated: “Marach probably could’ve stopped her anyway. He was fantastic!”

Football magic strikes again.

AC Beleriand 3-0 Valimar
on target 7-4
tot shots 14-14
GOALS:
*16, 1-0 Eol (Feanor)
*40, 2-0 Fingolfin (Aegnor)
*77, 3-0 Ulrad (Angrod)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACBel- Feanor, Balrog#4
*Valimar- Vana, Amarie

MESPN Postgame Exit Interview

MESPN: I wouldn’t imagine you thought things would end like this.

Manwe: I think that’s only true of the scoreline. The score just looks bad.

MESPN: So you don’t think you earned a 3-0 ousting?

Manwe: No. We didn’t play poorly at all—we were solid. All credit to AC Beleriand, as they executed even better, but not 3 goals better I should think. We were even on shots, and they just had 3 more on target, and I suppose those just happened to be the three that went in, so to speak.

MESPN: AC had more possession, and they did seem to look more dangerous, especially after the opening minutes of the first half.

Manwe: Well, that was just the matchup. We didn’t come into this intending or expecting to own possession. We thought we’d try and hit them early, and then with timely attacks and perhaps a trick play and a good execution off some sort of free kick we could win the rest of the match. Frankly we did what we planned that first half. That header of Arien’s was perfect, but Marach just had a notion and cheated that direction, and it was similar with that one shot from Ingwe.

MESPN: Arien looked pretty upset after the game. How is she doing?

Manwe: She’s taking the loss hard. She sets her expectations high, and no doubt she’s beating herself up for not putting it in when she had chances. But she can’t do it all alone, so we need to share what blame there is. But for the most part just give credit to AC Beleriand.

MESPN: So the offense was what you wanted, you just caught some bad breaks and Marach had some intuitive magic. But what about the defense giving up 3 goals?

Manwe: That’s the larger concern, for me anyway. We did a reasonable job at bottling up the playmakers Feanor and Eol at times, but it was just too difficult to accomplish that and still lock out the rest of their offense. Those forwards just took too much of our concentration and effort.

MESPN: What can be done about that for next year?

Manwe: You’ve hit in on the head—something needs to change. I really think we need an additional elite athlete at the back. It will be tough to do that on a budget though and still maintain our offensive power.

MESPN: Any clues on how that will work, considering the team finished a few million underwater this season?

Manwe: We haven’t come to a decision yet, whether it’s time for belt tightening or time for an all-or-nothing gamble. Not that another such season would bankrupt us—we don’t exactly have shallow pockets here, and minus seven isn’t the end of the world.

MESPN: All right, thanks Manwe. Good luck on making the tough decisions.

[Galadriel55]

As the TIG team got ready to play their game, they realized that all of them were missing their supplies of crocodilian stickers! First, they thought that they misplaced them in the cookie jar, but the cookie jar was empty. Then they thought they forgot them in the bathtub, but that was empty as well. All the wights, wolves, and other species came to the same conclusion simultaneously.

“Somebody stole our crocodilian stickers!” sallywight voiced the common thought.

“The rogue took my beautiful stickers!” Thuringwethil wailed. “What am I going to do without them?”

“I had a beautiful little alligator,” Inzilawolf confessed. “I named him Bob. And now my poor darling Bobby is gone!”

“I had all 23 species of crocodilians,” said Borowolf. “I will never have such a complete collection again!”

Nerwight and Phantomwolf were accusing each other, just like in good old Werewolf games. Draugluin howled and chased around a moth. Galadriwight was running around in circles, reciting the quadratic formula because that helped her pronounce the name of her Paleosuchus trigonatus. Legatewight was shouting very loudly at her to be quiet. Shastawolf was crying crocodile tears.

Then a brilliant idea hit Niplwolf on the head so hard that he said “ow!” and hit it back, but then realized what was happening and quickly pulled in back into his head. “I know who stole our crocodilian stickers!” he yelled across the room. “It was the garbage man! He wanted to ransom them for chocolate chips! Here is what we have to do.” And Nilpwolf carefully laid out his plan of getting back the beloved stickers.

That night, Nilp walked out of the TIG camp with a bag of small, round, brown chunks. He set the bag next to a tree that was exactly 37 and a half steps away from the nearest McDonald’s and pinned a piece of paper that said, “In return for our crocodilian stickers. –TIG.” He then strolled away lazily. As soon as he was out of sight, a stealthy figure of a garbage man appeared from behind the tree and stretched a hand towards the bag.

“Aha!” shouted Nilp as le leapt onto the garbage man from behind. “Tricked ya! Now give me back our stickers!” The garbage man was too scared to protest. Taking both the stickers and the bag, the victorious Nilp returned to his teammates. Once inside, he opened the bag and spilled out a ton of coffee grains. “Now we get to have the coffee, and the chocolate, and the stickers!”

And the TIG team was once again ready to play football.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Armenelos Stadium was emptied of most of its First Age crowd after the conclusion of the match between the Valinors. In their place, it seemed that the whole of Elenna had made their way to the capital to watch their home team take on the on-form Tol-in-Gaurhoth side. There was much bad blood between the two teams; Armenelos have been cruelly defeated twice by the Wolves. It was expected that the stadium would be almost totally on the home team's side, since the Wolves and the Wights could muster only about two thousand supporters to make their way to the island.

Shortly before the opening whistle. Ar-Pharazôn and PhantomWolf shook hands in the centre circle, but immediately let go. The Wolves were just here to do a job; the Royals here to avenge a few slights.

It was clear a few minutes into the game that Armenelos were having the run of play, with their midfield of Ar-Gimilzôr, Tar-Telemmaitë, and Elros keeping possession against SallyWight and LegateWight. BoroWolf and NilpWolf couldn't help their midfield due to fear of leaving their defenders two-on-two against Ar-Adûnakhôr and Ar-Pharazôn. And when NerWight drifted in from the wing to help, Tar-Miríel simply followed her there. The Wolves were outnumbered in the midfield, and their pressing weren't too effective against the mobile and energetic Númenóreans.

Elros was superb in his role as link man, helping his holding midfielders bypass the Wolves' pressing, and then moving forward to feed the strikers with through passes down the middle and crosses from the flanks. In one sequence during the twentieth minute, he played a pass to Ar-Pharazôn's feet, who turned on GaladriWight and fire a powerful side-footed shot towards ShastaWolf's far post. Fortunately, the TiG shotstopper reacted with alacrity and pushed his goalbound effort wide.

It was not all one-way traffic, but play stayed longer in the Wolves' side of the pitch, with even the talismanic TiG playmaker PhantomWolf being forced to defend against Tar-Ancalimon's forward runs. Around the half-hour mark, the two Armenelos forwards played a one-two right through the heart of the Wolves' defence, and only Draugluin's timely intervention prevented Ar-Pharazôn from tapping in Ar-Adûnakhôr's low cross into the net.

Half-time soon came, a respite for Tol-in-Gaurhoth and a wasted chance for Armenelos. Everyone in the stadium expected the wily Wolves to devise a plan to wrest control of the game from the Royals; Armenelos' position would have been much safer had they taken a lead into the interval.

In the second half, PhantomWolf took up a higher position on the pitch, essentially becoming a third forward, and NerWight tucked in to become a third central midfielder. It was a 4-3-3 vs a 3-5-2, a tactical battle of interest because of the lack of spare players for either side: two Armenelos forwards vs two TiG central defenders, three TiG forwards vs three Armenelos defenders, Armenelos' wing-backs vs TiG's full-backs, and three central midfielders against each other.

During the break, PhantomWolf ordered BoroWolf to work his socks off, making forwards runs while not neglecting his defensive duties, to make up for missing three match reports. Armenelos perhaps expected the more attacking NilpWolf to make the runs, but he was tasked to be more disciplined and help out his defence.

With each player occupied with an immediate task in front of him, giving no one time to consider tactics, the teams' attitudes became an important factor. Armenelos were apprehensive and thrown off balance by the Wolves' change, while the ferocity of Tol-in-Gaurhoth came to the fore--they were ever chasing after loose balls and closing down their marks.

PhantomWolf opened the scoring in the sixty-sixth minute. BoroWolf crossed for Thuringwethil at the edge of the box, and the vampire managed to bring the ball down despite the challenge of Tar-Calmacil. She then timed her lay-off to meet PhantomWolf's run, and his impressive finish from fifteen yards was too powerful for Tar-Atanamir to keep out. PhantomWolf ran to the centre circle and lifted his shirt, revealing an undershirt with the words, 'They don't call me phantasista for nothing.' This was met with a cry of approval from the TiG supporters.

But the goal seem to have woken Armenelos up from dazed and confused slumber, and they made ShastaWolf pick up the ball in his net six minutes later. Elros combined with Tar-Ancalimon on the wings, passing their way past BoroWolf and LegateWight. Elros got to the byline and cut the ball back for Ar-Pharazôn to stab home.

There was less than twenty minutes to play in normal time, but instead of sitting back and waiting for extra time, Tol-in-Gaurhoth threw themselves forward in search of the winner, leaving them dangerously open to Armenelos counterattacks. It felt like, one way or another, the game would be decided in a few minutes, and it was as if the stadium held its breath waiting for the outcome.

In the eighty-third minute, SallyWight was caught dallying in possession, and Tar-Telemmaitë dispossessed her, getting the ball to Elros. The Armenelos number ten then began a four-on-four break, but BoroWolf slid in to intercept his pass to Tar-Ancalimon. He passed it to PhantomWolf, who had acres of space before him on the right wing. Tar-Telperiën was forced to bring him down at the edge of the area, earning a booking and conceding a free kick.

PhantomWolf himself took the free kick, and Tar-Atanamir was preparing for a goalbound effort, setting up the wall to that effect. But the TiG playmaker fired an outswinging cross that had the whole Armenelos defence fooled. BoroWolf met it inside the six-yard box, and his bullet header for the far post crashed into the net. It was two-one to the Wolves with five minutes left!

Armenelos desperately pushed forward for another equaliser, but Tol-in-Gaurhoth smartly reverted to their 4-4-2, arraying two banks of four as a wall between the Royals and ShastaWolf's goal. The Wolves were disciplined and well-positioned, and Armenelos were unable to find that spark of creativity that would unlock those defences. All dribbles were contained, shepherded harmlessly to the touchline, and all through balls were intercepted and returned to their sender. The final whistle signalled the end of Armenelos' Arda Cup campaign, and a small section of the stadium let out a blood-curdling roar. PhantomWolf ran to BoroWolf and lifted him off the ground, acknowledging the defender's vital contribution to all aspects of Tol-in-Gaurhoth's victory. The Armenelos players slinked quietly out of the pitch, and the home crowd poured out of the stadium, only a few of them applauding the victors' efforts. No matter. After last year's embarrassment, Tol-in-Gaurhoth were back in the semifinals!

Armenelos 1-2 Tol In Gaurhoth
on target 3-4
tot shots 11-14
GOALS:
*66, 0-1 PhantomWolf (Thuringwethil)
*72, 1-1 Ar-Pharazôn (Elros)
*85, 1-2 BoroWolf (PhantomWolf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ARM- Ar-Adûnakhôr, Tar-Telperiën
*TIG- InzilWolf

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Bracket:


Power Rank:


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

Greatest gain:

• +2 Hithlum

Greatest loss:

• -5 Valimar
• -2 Eriador
• -1 Armenelos

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. 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. Ties are broken by a) fewer number of shots allowed on target per game; and b) fewer number of shots allowed per game.

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

GOALS + ASSISTS

5+2
Túrin (Hithlum)
Curufin (FC Valinor)

4+2
Eöl (AC Beleriand)

4+1
Arien (Valimar)
Ar-Pharazôn (Armenelos)

3+2
Hador (Hithlum)
Maeglin (Gondolin)
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Beleg (Hithlum)
PhantomWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)

1+4
Yavanna (FC Valinor)

0+3
Angrod (AC Beleriand)

GOALKEEPING

• 84.62% – 11/13 – Huan (FC Valinor)
• 84.21% – 16/19 – Marach (AC Beleriand)
• 83.33% – 15/18 – Elrond (Eriador)
• 81.25% – 13/16 – Ungoliant (Anfauglith)
• 80.95% – 17/21 – Tulkas (Real Valinor)

[the phantom]

MESPN Quarterfinal Round Table
Live from Angband

Philip McPhantom: It's semifinal time, and we’re here to discuss the quarters and predict who will play in the final. I’m Philip McPhantom, MESPN Lead Football Coordinator, and with me I have the dragon Ruharg the Red, the lead sports editor of Monster Magazine, and Ar-Tar-Aradil, sports writer for Westernesse Weekly and president of the Numenorean Association for the Advancement of Football.

Ruharg: Exciting times ahead!

Ar-Tar-Aradil: Let's get cracking!

Philip McP: First things first- Ar-Tar is no longer undefeated.

ATA: Sad to say. But still, 11 and 1 isn't too bad.

Ruharg: Perhaps I'll catch you yet.

ATA: I'd have to really nose-dive at the end, here.

PMcP: But before we go to those picks, let's look back at the last round.

ATA: We were unanimous selecting AC, but Ruharg was more correct about the margin.

R: You saw the game. I called it right.

PMcP: Indeed, AC was simply too much for Valimar to handle.

ATA: They had the better array of athletes, and they were battle-tested.

R: And they'll be facing another battle in the next round. Not the one I thought they'd face, though.

PMcP: Yes, FC had the edge on Real after all. It went to overtime and all, but I think the right team won.

ATA: No mistake- FC played a fantastic game and just executed an inch better when it counted.

R: And I think perhaps I underestimated their determination to undo last year's quarterfinal flame-out.

PMcP: And then there was the Hithlum-Eriador contest.

ATA: The one that broke the streak.

R: You had too much faith in Eriador's defense. It's rock-solid, no mistake, but defense doesn't trump offense in the playoffs.

PMcP: Indeed- Hithlum's offense proved equal to Eriador's defense, while Eriador couldn't score themselves. Elrond can't win a game by himself- not with Turin and friends on the field.

ATA: And both Ruhard and I had TIG advancing. Too bad- I was rooting for my home team, but Armenelos just didn't have it in them.

R: TIG just didn't have the weaknesses or lapses to take advantage of.

ATA: And PhantomWolf. Again.

R: Oh, that's right. He's the one that got Armenelos a couple years ago.

ATA: Don't remind me.

PMcP: And how about the next round- will PhantomWolf and TIG continue to impress?

ATA: Yes. They can handle Hithlum's offense as well as about anyone in the tournament. BoroWolf or NilpWolf will be tasked with shadowing Turin and denying him the ball and roughing him up if he gets it, and Drauglin's speed and agility will be used to take Beleg out of the game.

PMcP: So you don't think they go with a more team defense concept like Eriador?

ATA: No. They excel at winning straight up with athleticism.

R: Hithlum isn't a two-man team, though. Hurin and Hador are more than competent scorers.

ATA: TIG will have another Wolf defender to deal with one of them, essentially turning Hithlum into a single-threat squad supported by a midfield and defenders that frankly won't be able to support that well as they'll have their hands full with the TIG attack.

R: The Hithlum defense isn't without teeth. The size and speed of Arroch will be useful, and their Balrog won't be overpowered or made to look unathletic either.

ATA: I doubt Arroch will be at his best around monsters. They'll make him nervous. And Galdor and Gundor certainly can't be expected to outjump or outrun whoever is left.

R: I don't think anyone will be "left". Arroch and the Balrog will be free to roam a bit- they can close out in a hurry. That might not work against an attack like Miriel and Nerdanel, but the TIG attackers don't necessarily specialize in making a series of pinpoint passes in a crowded offensive zone.

PMcP: That's true. They generally favor making big plays off of free kicks and corners and big runs on counters.

R: Exactly. Hithlum will be able to limit their big play opportunities and hamstring their athletic advantage. And once the ball is theirs one of their big playmakers will have a mismatch and the rest of the team knows how to give him a shot.

ATA: And what if TIG calls in help from one of their attackers.

R: Then they'll be that much easier to defend against.

ATA: With their speed PhantomWolf and Thuringwethil can practically play on both sides of the field, though.

R: So can Arroch and the Balrog. They can help the offense more than you think they will, and it won't hurt them getting back.

PMcP: Okay okay guys, what I'm hearing is that both teams can somewhat counter the other. Do you agree with that?

R: To an extent, but Hithlum has the edge.

ATA: I think TIG does.

PMcP: But it's close?

R: Definitely. I'm picking Hithlum 2-1.

ATA: TIG 2-1.

PMcP: I really have no idea if this thing will be low or high scoring. You'd almost think they could shut each other out or score a handful, depending on the philosophy and flow of things.

R: That's why I picked a score in the middle. I could see 1-0 or 4-3 both happening.

ATA: Same here.

PMcP: Well, I'm going with Ruharg here. I think Turin will not be denied sitting so close to the finals. Plus Turin, Hurin, and Beleg all have recent experience getting the best of TIG in that final two years ago.

R: Yep, they'll know how to play TIG.

ATA: But this Hithlum team isn't 2011 Doriath. Melian, Thingol and Luthien aren't back there in front of Huan.

R: Yes, but-

PMcP: No no, we're running too long on this one. We need to keep moving. How about the other semifinal, AC Beleriand vs FC Valinor?

R: I did a column for Angband's paper right after the quarters and I wrote a piece for TIG just yesterday, and I flip-flopped.

ATA: Ha ha, I know how you feel. I was late with a couple of my submissions because I couldn't decide which team to go with.

PMcP: But you stuck with just one after you decided?

ATA: Yes, I figured I may as well just stay true.

PMcP: So, who did you go with?

ATA: *sigh* AC Beleriand.

R: That's who I landed on.

PMcP: Why?

R: Feanor. I think he's kind of due for a dominant game. And especially against three of his sons and his step-mother, I think his competitive juices will be off the charts.

PMcP: So you don't see that being a disadvantage?

R: No. Do you?

PMcP: AC has been exactly what they need to be all tournament, so if Feanor starts pressing I think it may undo the flow of the offense they've established. He might be a little quick to jump on Angrod and Aegnor for doing something he didn't want, or he may try to take it alone when he should give the ball up... I can see several ways that Feanor could undermine the effort.

R: I disagree. I think when he gets that intense will to win it sharpens and focuses him to the point where he'll simply do everything right. His temper won't get the best of him because that would run counter to his goal.

PMcP: Ar-Tar-Aradil?

ATA: I'm not certain that Feanor will be out for blood or anything- I just think AC is the slightly better team.

R: I think if Feanor doesn't make the difference that FC might be slightly better.

PMcP: I think FC is better. Huan has been one of the best keepers in Arda Cup through the years, plus the defense in front of him is better.

ATA: No, I'd give AC the edge on defenders.

R: How? Eonwe and Fingolfin are a wash, and Indis and Imlach bring different skill sets to the table, but they're essentially a wash. Then Maglor and the Balrog- Roggie has the size and strength, but Maglor has the quickness and is better in possession. Then finally it's Thorondor vs Rochallor, and both have speed but Thorondor is faster and bigger. FC has the better defense.

ATA: Give the Balrog more credit- while Maglor might be equally useful in some situations the Balrog is generally the more useful situational defender.

R: Not against these fast-pace pass-happy offenses. Maglor does a better job staying in the hip pocket of an attacker and not getting carded for anything.

PMcP: Wow- you guys are even arguing when you agree on a result.

R: We wouldn't if Ar-Tar would just have better opinions.

ATA: Hey now, I'm the one with the good record this year.

R: Can we continue on to the midfield since we disagree at the rear?

ATA: Certainly- edge AC. Denethor and Ulrad have the slight edge over Elemmire and Findis, while Angrod and Aegnor are a wash with Argon and Yavanna.

R: No, no- Argon has proven himself the equal of the twins, and Yavanna is better. That's an edge to FC.

ATA: But it's undone by the edge held by the other two midfielders.

R: Which at best makes the whole thing a wash.

ATA: You can't deny the AC edge at the front though.

R: *grumble* No, probably not. Celegorm and Curufin are no slouches though.

ATA: I never said they were, but it doesn't get better than Feanor-Eol.

R: But AC's offensive edge is countered by FC's edges at defense and at keeper.

ATA: But I don't even agree that FC has the defensive edge.

PMcP: All right, all right- if we had more time we'd go into this more, but for right now, let's have the picks.

ATA: AC wins it 2-1.

R: AC wins in overtime or in a shootout.

PMcP: And I'm going with 2-1 to FC.

ATA: No matter what it's going to be amazing to watch.

R: No argument there.

PMcP: Okay guys, thanks for coming on. Enjoy watching, and I'll see you next week to rehash things.

ATA: Later.

R: Have a good one.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Elenrod: Question: What’s black and white and red all over? Answer: Eriador battered by Hithlum, with Elrond more than black and blue from Túrin’s rocket. Meanwhile, Valimar huffed and puffed until they were blue, but AC Bel blew them down. Elsewhere, Valinor derby couldn’t be settled in ninety minutes, but Curufin’s goal proves golden as FC Val’s quest for gold continues. And speaking of gold: Ar-Pharazôn scores against TiG, but PhantomWolf and BoroWolf shine. All that, and more, in this colourful edition of The Matchday.With us today is red-faced Maikalomion, who got Eriador-Hithlum wrong.

Maika: Well, I did get half the scores right.

Elenrod: You and your excuses. And with us is pale-faced Adam, who was in awe of AC Bel’s performance.

Adam: I knew they’d win, but I did not see a hammering.

Elenrod: And also on this week’s panel is Felagundion, who’s green with envy at the teams still in tourney. Who did you watch?

Felagundion: Armenelos-TiG. Of course, they lost. Tar-Míriel is out.

Elenrod: Commiserations, Fel. Well, to start off, let’s discuss the game at Vinyamar, Eriador v Hithlum. According to the stats, Eriador had a slight advantage in possession, 53% to Hithlum’s 47%. But why weren’t they able to score.

Adam: They did put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. They were probably hoping for an early goal so they could force Hithlum to open up and be vulnerable on the break. As it was, they were the ones more vulnerable on the counter due to Morwen and Hador’s runs.

Felagundion: Their legs probably haven’t recovered from that Barad-dûr game, and then they had to chase and battle a bunch of energetic players. You can see after the goal that they were just sitting on the ball, catching their breaths, because none of the midfielders or full-backs could make runs.

Maika: Eriador play a man-marking system, which is amazing, considering the amount of stamina needed to keep up with the athleticism and movement of modern footballers. Usually, you apply man-marking only at limited times or on limited areas of the pitch, like AC Bel’s standard high pressing game or what Valimar did in the opener of their quarterfinals match—more on that later, of course. But it’s tiring to man-mark for ninety minutes, let alone for a hundred and twenty, or, worse, for two straight matches. You can see it on the defenders’ faces when Túrin made that run that led to the goal. Arwen was too gassed to get in front of him, and none of them had the alertness to clear the rebound that Beleg slotted home.

Adam: Isildur just doesn’t have the work rate of Wiki. He and Glorfie were instrumental last year in disrupting opposition build-up plays, easing the defensive burden on everyone behind them.

Elenrod: Well, Glorfindel now plays on the line of attacking midfielders, although he still plays like a wide forward.

Felagundion: Also, may I just say, through gritted teeth I must add, that this was exactly the type of game you wanted Hithlum to win if you wanted them to win the cup; a close, cagey game where chances are hard to come by and the other team have a combative midfield and forwards who can do heinous things on the break. They weren’t dominated in the middle of the park, and they weren’t caught out by any dangerous counterattack.

Elenrod: Adam, you were on the post-game press conference. How did Eriador feel after the game?

Adam: I can show you a clip of my exclusive interview with Elrond.

Elenrod: That would be great.

_____

Adam: Elrond, if I may ask, why do you think you lost this game?

Elrond: We didn’t create enough chances to score. I know you’d be pointing at how we just came from a very exhausting victory over Barad-dûr, but I think we had enough time to recover. Maybe I was too conservative with my setup—I should have given my full-backs greater license to advance, for example. Hithlum were going to get shots no matter how we set our defences up, so a more adventurous approach on our part would have given us the win.

Adam: But you had one less shot than Hithlum had. Don’t you think it has more to do with the lack of composure of your finishers?

Elrond: No, I don’t think so. Isildur and Glorfindel are talented forwards, and, even though we’ve played NogWight in midfield, he used to be a striker for Tol-in-Gaurhoth.

Adam: But Isildur has never been a prolific scorer, and this is statistically Glorfindel’s worst season playing for you.

Elrond: Next question, please.

Adam: What changes will you make to this team to give you a chance to go back to the finals?

Elrond: Not much. Glorfindel and Gil-galad told me they’d be here again next year. In fact, Gil-galad told me that he’s been making some good progress with a relation of his that seems to be leaning towards a return to this region.

Adam: What does that mean?

Elrond: He hasn’t told me yet, either.

Adam: And your attackers? Will you make changes there?

Elrond: Hmm… Given our need to change things up front, there would be some… You know that I also have an eye on Arnor and Imladris, so our team and their teams often exchange talent, depending on our respective needs. But I hope that this squad remains intact coming into 2014.

Adam: Even NogWight?

Elrond: That’s a tough question. We still haven’t got a reply from AFA if he can stay or if he has to return to TiG or the Barrow-Downs due to residence restrictions.

Adam: Thank you for your time, Elrond. Good luck for next year.

_____

Felagundion: Wow, you got through five minutes without being declared persona non grata.

Adam: I have experience interviewing stars, you know. There was that preseason interview with Fëanor last year, for example.

Elenrod: All right, moving along, let’s discuss their semifinal opponent—Tol-in-Gaurhoth, coming off that narrow 2-1 victory over Armenelos in their own stadium.

Adam: I bet Maika was salivating over that. 4-4-2 vs 3-5-2, then a 4-3-3 vs 3-5-2.

Maika: Well, yeah, the tactical adjustments played a part in the result, but it was a game of fine margins, that the turning point was PhantomWolf’s brilliance and BoroWolf’s stamina. In fact, here’s an interesting stat: Armenelos ran 106.3 kilometres in that game, and TiG 117.9. BoroWolf ran 11.5 kilometres—in essence, his effort was the difference between the two teams.

Felagundion: You can see that: by the eightieth minute, Tar-Ancalimon had enough of running after BoroWolf. He owned that right flank. His cross to Thuringwethil led to the opener; his tackle on Tar-Ancalimon led to PhantomWolf’s run that won the free kick; and, of course, he scored the winner.

Maika: PhantomWolf was also instrumental in BoroWolf’s dominion of the right flank—his runs dragged Tar-Calmacil further infield so he couldn’t help on their left, meaning that it was purely a battle between Tar-Ancalimon and BoroWolf for that side of the pitch, which the TiG right-back won.

Adam: Since we’re praising them for the win, of course it’s also essential that we criticise them for getting their first-half formation wrong. Perhaps they thought they could overwhelm Armenelos on the wings, but they didn’t count on the Royals being so good at keeping possession. If they stuck to their usual 4-4-2 diamond, with LegateWight as holder, NerWight and SallyWight as shuttlers, and PhantomWolf as number ten, and getting width from NilpWolf and BoroWolf’s runs, they could have dominated even that opening stage.

Maika: Well, that formation might have left them either lacking in width or very vulnerable at the back. It was slim, but Ar-Pharazôn and Ar-Adûnakhôr had the better of GaladriWight and Draugluin. One of NilpWolf and BoroWolf would have been forced to stay behind just so they could have spare bodies at the back.

Elenrod: Now that we’ve discussed both of their quarterfinal games, how do you think a semifinal tie between Hithlum and TiG would go?

Felagundion: That Hithlum front three looks super-scary. I don’t think we’ll see BoroWolf or NilpWolf going past the halfway line in this game.

Adam: And they have a midfield conundrum—do they change back to the diamond, meaning that Hithlum’s full-backs would be unmarked and free to double up on TiG’s full-backs, or do they stick to 4-4-2 and get outnumbered in the middle of the park? Letting Hithlum have a lot of the ball is, quite frankly, asking for trouble.

Maika: They could ask Thuringwethil to help the midfield; she’s played there before, after all. I don’t know why they didn’t think of doing that in the first half of the Armenelos game, but I guess it’s difficult to change things halfway through a half.

Elenrod: A result, anyone?

Felagundion: …

Adam: …

Maika: … I’m thinking a one-goal Wolves win, just because they’re slightly better across the board. Maybe 3-2 TiG.

Elenrod: Well, then. Let’s move on to the other side of the bracket. First off, there’s AC Bel’s 3-0 destruction of Valimar. How could Manwë ever concede three?

Felagundion: Well, first of all, he’s up against Fëanor. More importantly, though, they gambled in the first fifteen minutes of the game, they failed, and they paid for it.

Maika: Yes, it was that early spell that decided the game. Valimar unnerved AC Bel’s midfield in that fifteen-minute spell—they were unable to get the ball forward and looked under pressure. I think the intention behind that was correct—get the early goal so that AC Bel would be forced to chase the game. But they didn’t get that early goal, and Fëanor and Fingolfin exploited their high defensive line. Then by the second half, after another brief spell of pressure, the fatigue hit their legs and AC Bel scored a third that killed the game.

Adam: That strategy is probably the best way of beating a team as good at keeping possession as AC Bel, but it’s basically a coin-toss. Last year, Real scored after their early pressure and ripped AC Bel apart on the break for the rest of the game. This year, Valimar didn’t score, and they get picked open on the break.

Elenrod: That was rather unanimous. Well, then. The final quarterfinal game was the Valinor derby. FC Val gets the better of Real, again, with Curufin nicking an extra-time goal in their 2-1 victory. And to tell us about this one, calling all the way from Rómenna, Iorithil of QN Sport. Hello, Iorithil.

Iorithil: Good morning, Elenrod.

Elenrod: Let’s get down to it, then. The Valinor derby: some people thought that the game was too open. A few even called it sloppy from both sides, relying too much on their talents and athleticism instead of a shared tactical philosophy and structure.

Iorithil: Well, yes, it was basically an end-to-end game, far too open for a normal knockout tie, but you know how these derby games take a life of their own. For one thing, the form book’s often thrown out the window. Well, both teams were in sparkling form coming into the game, but many believed that Real would be sharper, having beaten two genuinely good teams to get there, whereas FC Val strolled through their games. And another thing is, both teams want not only to win, but to win while imposing their style on the game.

Elenrod: So what styles do these two teams have? And did FC Val impose theirs on the game?

Iorithil: Well, the funny thing is, they basically both have broadly the same style. Everything starts from their Valarin defensive solidity and verticality. Remember that First Age clásico when it took Valinor ages to attack Angband, and people had to wait for the last minute for a goal, but it took only one Manwë long ball to release Eönwë and score the only goal of the game? Now Valimar—Manwë teams in general—are the ones most faithful to this philosophy, but the Valinor teams adhere to it to some extent. It’s just that they married it to the Noldorin concept of possessiveness and creativity. This is why the attacking force of both teams has been built around a pair of Noldorin strikers. That Curufin goal was basically the combination of verticality—FC Val took just two touches from Thorondor’s clearance to the net—and creativity that epitomised both team’s philosophy—well, there was also the belief in individual talent that FC Val had.

Elenrod: Did the Valinor press think it was a fair result?

Iorithil: Well, for one thing, they’re glad it didn’t end in a penalty shoot-out, which is generally a disappointment for the Valinor crowd. And FC Val were slightly better in that game, so yeah, they thought it was fair.

Elenrod: Any prediction for their semifinal match with AC Bel?

Iorithil: I think AC Bel wouldn’t be drawn to FC Val’s franticness—they’d control the game with possession before slicing the defence open—so FC Val’s best chance is to do what Valimar did—high-intensity pressure to get the early goal, forcing AC Bel to play instead of keeping the ball. The early fifteen to twenty minutes is important—if FC Val get that early goal, I think they’ll win. If not, it’ll be difficult. I think they’ll do better than Valimar. 2-1 FC Val

Elenrod: Thanks for your thoughts, Iorithil.

Iorithil: My pleasure. Speak to you soon.

Elenrod: All right, then. Anything to add?

Adam: Nope.

Elenrod: I see. Well, before we go, what’s your favourite goal of the week?

Adam: Curufin’s winner. The way he rounded Tulkas, an Arda Cup-winning goalie, was just oozing with confidence. Stating the obvious here, but I think he’s the key to beating AC Bel.

Maika: Speaking of AC Bel, Fingolfin’s goal was a classic example of how their high pressing combines both defence and offence in one smooth play. Angrod nicks the ball from Elenwë in Valimar’s half and then start a four-on-four break that left Manwë helpless.

Felagundion: PhantomWolf’s opener was almost a perfect thunderbuster. Too bad it wasn’t from outside the area, but from the way he hit, I was certain that, had someone tried to block it, he would have died.

Maika: Speaking of that, an interesting stat: Túrin’s shot that broke Elrond’s finger and led to their opener was clocked at around 144 kph (90 mph). PhantomWolf’s shot? 186 kph (116 mph). So maybe you’re right.

Felagundion: Ouch.

Elenrod: You covered most of the good goals, so I’ll take something totally different. In fact, it wasn’t a goal. Did you see that Glorfindel 180 turn on Aradan and Gundor.

Maika: Glorfindel’s close control is still something special, even if his stats this year are down.

Elenrod: I agree. And with that we’ve come to the end of yet another edition of The Matchday. Many thanks to all of you, and we’ll be back after the semifinals. Speak to you then.

[Nogrod]

There are only really good teams left so no game will be inevitable or easy to any one team. There are no clear winners or even favourites at this point – only some different grades of differences which will play out this or that way. And with the debatable exception of a few teams it is easy to see we have the top four teams of the tournament left at this point.

Many say that with different groupings etc. we could have had Real Valinor, or Nargothrond, or Angband, or Armenelos, or… in this final four. But the AKM actually thinks that only Real Valinor would have seriously challenged the four top teams in a simple series of games where everyone played each other.

So more or less, we have the best left.


AC Beleriand vs. FC Valinor

It is a game of two quite equal keepers. Marach of AC Beleriand with 84,2% (3/19) and Huan of FC Valinor with 84,6% (2/13). But looking at the number of shots saved the AKM thinks Marach is actually the hotter goalie at the moment – but it is very close anyway.

It is a game of two tough defences. AC Beleriand defences have allowed more shots against them (19/54 vs. FC’s 13/44) but they have also been more dangerous in the attack. That said, the AKM thinks the FC Valinor defence is slightly better in what it is there to do in the first place aka. Defending – so a slight edge there for FC Valinor.

It is a game of two midfields where the balance is as even as it can be. With the defencive midfielders AC Beleriand has the edge and with the offencive ones FC Valinor has it. But in sum, the AKM thinks that the dangerousness of Argon and Yavanna over Angrod and Aegnor is more relevant to the final score than the slightly better numbers of Denethor and Ulrad over Elemmirë and Findis in the more defencive end. So the midfield goes ever so slightly to FC Valinor.

But it is is also – and most formidably – a game of two attacks both trying to outshine and -perform each other. And even if the brothers Celegorm and Curufin are known through the footballing Arda as the wonderboys or the killer-duet, it must be said that this year Fëanor and Eöl have formed an even more dangerous pair and the scales fall toward them being the favourites…

So basically it is even, two strongpoints against two: goaltending and attack for Ac Beleriand, defence and midfield for FC Valinor.

But because of some of the discrepancies there the AKM concludes that AC Beleriand (mostly because of their defences ability to score and the importance of a great finishers – two of them, not just one as Celegorm hasn’t quite shown his qualities this year) is the slight favourites to win the game and proceed to the final.


Hithlum vs. Tol-in-Gaurhoth

Unlike the other semifinal, this one is played between two very different teams by their profiles. Even if the T-i-G –team became famous in their first games as a team that shoots a lot they are now meeting a team that is sovereign in that area: if Hithlum is dangerous in one field of the game, that is shooting. Hithlum shoots a lot and they shoot efficiently – 14 goals in five games gives you the rough idea, it’s almost three goal per game. Meanwhile T-i-G has only made two goals per game.

But on the other side of the coin is the defence. Hithlum has given in seven goals in five matches aka. about 1½ per game – while T-i-G has given in only three goals (a little bit over ½ goal per game).

The question then becomes whether the T-i-G can take the bombardment of Hithlum without allowing too many goals while being able to score enough to win themselves.

One clue to that question lies, naturally, on the goalkeepers. Huor’s percentage of 77,4% is slightly worse than ShastaWolf’s 80%, but when you see that Húor has faced 31 shots while ShastaWolf has only faced 15 the difference kind of melts away – with almost the same percentage Húor has caught 24 shots while ShastaWolf has only caught 12. So a slight edge here woud go to Hithlum.

On the other hand, the difference between goals scored (advantage to Hithlum 14-10 aka less than one third) and goals allowed (advantage to T-i-G 3-7 aka. over half) would bring the advantage back to the T-i-G.

In a sense this is the harder game to predict than the other one, due to the different approaches of the teams to the game.

The AKM is drawn to predict Hithlum to win because of their record in earlier games: unlike T-i-G, Hithlum has played against wildly charging teams and fex. won Nargothrond 5-2 and managed to squeeze a win from the defending champs Eriador – meanwhile T-i-G has shown they have what it takes to beat strong defences but not how to handle a wildly overwhelming attack Hithlum will serve them.

[the phantom]

Angband Attempts to Outshine Valinor
The Phantom, MESPN News

Gracious as he is, Eru decided to give Valinor every opportunity to prove themselves after the lifting of the ban on hosting games. Their opportunities will culminate next week as they host the finals of Arda Cup. But knowing that such a move would be unpopular with some, Eru awarded the semifinals to the polar opposite- Angband.

Many of Melkor's friends and associates had been blasting Valinor for years before the ban, and now they were given the perfect opportunity to make good on their words. Hosting back to back in this fashion, all of Arda would be allowed the opportunity to compare the two and see which one truly knew how to host football properly.

Some, like Monster Magazine sports editor Ruharg, believe that Eru's decision was very wise indeed. "Angband has been calling out Valinor for years as hypocrites, and making a big show of the discrimination and violence of the Valar. With Valinor set to host immediately after them, how could Angband not put their best foot forward and try to prove that they can do things right? And then in the finals, how could Valinor not try and outperform Angband? Eru set this up so that the conditions will be as perfect as anyone could hope for. I think things will be as peaceful and organized and controlled in these semis and finals as ever they were."

One step Melkor has made to ensure a smooth pair of games is he has elected to prepare and use both arenas- the ancient underground arena modeled after Utumno Underground, and the somewhat larger and more famous outdoor arena burrowed between the triple-peaked Thangorodrim.

One of the hallmarks of the outdoor arena was the constant canopy of roiling smoke that blotted out light and gave an atmosphere of a burning battlefield, especially when combined with the occasional rumblings of the ground that made it feel as if catapults were bombarding the stadium. But Melkor was doing away with this trademark. "Most of the players on AC Beleriand and FC Valinor, and most of their fans, wish to play the game in a less hostile and foreign atmosphere. Rest assured the air will be clear when the squads take the field for the afternoon match."

By no means was Melkor expected to make such a concession- it was rather expected that the stadium would be take as-is. This gesture of welcoming and accommodation has to make those in Valinor sit up and take notice. Melkor has raised the bar on what a host site can do.

The late match between Hithlum and Tol-In-Gaurhoth would be played in the loud and formidable underground arena, lit by the light of many fires, and at times stiflingly hot. Many have wondered if Angband was attempting to show favoritism for Tol-In-Gaurhoth, but there is no clear consensus. Some have even posited that the Werewolves would prefer the cold, what with their thick fur and all, whereas Hithlum has playing for them a Balrog who will feel right at home.

When asked about the use of both stadiums, Melkor said that the primary concern was the flow of fans. "I don't want fans of the first game to be chased out like thieves. Let them stay and celebrate a while, or drown their sorrows, depending on which side they supported. Meanwhile the Hithlum and TIG fans can get in their rows nice and early and get in the spirit of things." Melkor also acknowledged that other sites had had problems with TIG fans in the past, and said that hosting them underground would make things easier. "They have to pass by checkpoints to get in or out, so rest assured they can't bring anything in that we won't know about, and they won't be able to escape out easily if they've misbehaved."

All in all it looks like Arda Cup is set to have a fine semifinal where the main thing to talk about will be the matches on the field.

[Nogrod]

AC Beleriand vs. Real Valinor
By the AKM


Many eybrows were raised when it was told by Melkor’s press-secretary that the game between AC Beleriand and FC Valinor would be the afternoon-match and thus, in a way, the game between Hithulm and T-i-G had been promoted to a kind of the “main game on the day” –status. So while making concessions with the clearance of the ever-present smoke and darkness, and forcing off the trembling of the earth, Melkor was still able to humiliate the greatest heroes of the High-elves and the Ainur.

Even with the smoke and darkness gone the stadium under the pillars of Thangorodrim was imposing enough to make weaker mortals and even elves shudder with unnameable anquish. But despite that the stadium was filled to the brim for the first game – and with the rays of the afternoon sun finally reaching the plains and greeting the spectators to mark the beginning of the game the overall mood was actually lifted. And people were actually praising Morgoth for his benevolence – which was a real annoyance to some of the Valar present. “He just lifts a burden for a moment he has himself imposed in the first place” they complained, but enjoying the rays of the sun was enough to most lesser souls – and the feeling was high when the game began.


~*~

The name of the game was soon revealed to everyone. To counter – or to actually prevent AC Beleriand’s possession-play – FC Valinor was pressing heavily the AC Beleriand midfield and defenders forcing them into errors and creating nice opportunities from stealing the ball – but when AC Beleriand managed to get past the pressure and get the ball up to their famous “diamond” of brothers Angrond and Aegnor, Eöl and Fëanor, the FC Valinor defences were having hard times to keep their own goal safe. The result was a nightmare to any coach but extremely spectator-friendly play with great chances of scoring at both ends from the get-go.

Some analysts at Tar-Eldar Network had pointed out that it would be very important for FC Valinor to get the first goal, hopefully early on to the game, so that they could force AC Beleriand to play more openly. But that was exactly what did not happen.

On the contrary AC Beleriand scored the first goal of the game at the 22nd minute after a beautiful cross-passing by the “diamond” which totally ripped the FC Valinor defences apart and left Fëanor no problems finishing it off from close quarters.

After the goal it seemed for a while FC Valinor was too dumbfounded to actually do anything as their scenario had failed totally – and AC Beleriand took advantage of that by taking the possession of the ball and building up their attacks slowly but dangerously. But FC Valinor was not going to leave it at that, and little by little they started to get the hang of the game once more and started coming more aggressively towards the AC Beleriand players – it cost them a few yellow cards but it did change the spirit of the game and AC Beleriand was once again forced to fight an uphill struggle to bring the ball upwards and basically rendered them unable to make long possessions.

All that was cut off by the half-time whistle.


It was clear both teams hade been thinking about their best strategies during the half-time and came to the field both with some brand new ideas. FC Valinor had clearly decided to fall back with their pressure to both avoid more cards but also to contain AC Beleriand’s attacking quartet. The idea was simply to let the AC Beleriand to possess the ball and bring most of their team up to the attack and then by a quick steal let their strong forwards Celegorm and Curufin make their way through the field from the center of the fied where they would be waiting for the occasion – the speed of Yavanna and sharpeness of Argon’s long passes would be instrumental in that, of course. And they could deliver the ball up fast.

Sadly from FC Valinor’s point of view AC Beleriand had dropped the idea of possessing the ball away and was going for very straight and fast offence with a lots of players left downstairs to keep the lead secure instead.

Suddenly there was a total misbalance on the field. FC Valinor’s fastbreaks were futile as Celegorm and Curufin faced four to six defenders in front of them. And FC Valinor’s attempts at “containing of the diamond” were more or less pathetic compared to the speed especially Fëanor and Eöl went left and right and to and fro searching for room to be passed the ball to – totally breaking the diamond-formation the defneces were trying to defend against.

And so it was that Fëanor striked again before FC Valinor had had time enough to correct their tactics enough. It was a nice centering from close to the corner-flag Eöl gave and Fëanor just plain outmanouvered his son Maglor (whom he had always considered a kind of a sissy coming too much to his mom) and booted the ball in behind Huan with fierce force.

On top of other problems FC Valinor had it seemed not to be Huan’s day – it was two goals from four shots towards the goal. 50% is not exactly what one is used to from Huan.

Even if their father was celebrating his second goal, it was not in the spirit of Fëanor’s sons to give up – even to their dad. To the amazement of all the spectators and even AC Beleriand players it seemed that Thorondor, Eönwe and Yavanna seemed to suddenly to grow in stature while all the three sons of Fëanor began to radiate some holy (or unholy) glow – and Huan was roaring wildly like giving a battle cry. Even many dark creatures on the stands were frightened by the show-off.

It was a kind of “put away tactical finesse, we come now for real” –moment. And FC Valinor really started to play like there was a fire in their back. They were on the skin of everyone trying to possess the ball and getting it themselves they came forwards like a hurricane aiming just towards one place, AC Beleriand goal.

Suddenly the cards were turned upside down and AC Beleriand which had more or less commanded the pace of the game thus far were forced to draw back towards their own goal under the pressure of the whirlwind called FC Valinor. Even Fëanor seemed helpless to turn the tide – and Fingolfin and the Balrog were having their hands and feet full, unable to strech everywhere when other defenders seemed to fall.

Eönwe led many of the attacks like a herald of Mänwe should in a time of trouble, and so awesome he was the orcs and goblins in the stands had to shut their eyes – only the Balrog in the defence could face him and keep him from scoring with ease. Yavanna had grown and turned into a fearsome white-green light swirling around the field making the rest of the Melkor’s minions at the stands to cry in pain – and only Rochallor and his master Fingolfin were steady enough to contain her – but sometimes it took both of them to do that.

Which left Fëanor to deal with his two mighty sons who were pressing towards the goal relentlessly.

And so it was in the end that Curufin, the son who it was said was most like his father, forced his way away from his dad while Celegorm held him at bay – and with the accurate pass from Argon received the ball around the penalty spot. Shooting from the bottom of his heart Curufin left Marach no chance whatsoever to pick the shot.

It was a one goal game again and there was about twenty minutes left. It was building up to be a great finale for the game. The spectators were all standing now.

FC Valinor didn’t ease up their game a bit and AC Beleriand was in great trouble.

On 73rd minute Eönwe broke free from the Balrog’s guard and fired a booming shot to the crossbar from the edge of the box making the crowds to let out a loud “Oooh!”.

Two minutes later Yavanna got Fingolfin and Rochallor to stumble on each other and got free only to be denied the ball by a last-second slide by Aegnor. From the ensuing corner Findis headed the ball just inches away from the post.

On 78th minute it was Curufin and Celegorm –show once again. Fooling their father they passed the ball between themselves and were getting open to shoot when Rochallor galloped to the scene at the last moment and kicked the ball off the field and high up to the stands.

Fëanor was yelling at his team – and so was Fingolfin, and the Balrog… They were gathering strength for the last ten minutes. And it seemed to ease their plight for a moment. For a long time AC Beleriand was able to go for an attack – and it was actually only a cool save by Huan that prevented AC Beleriand from taking the quite unassailable – and against-the-odds – lead 3-1 when Eöl was set free to run one-on-one with Huan.

With “all or nothing” game at hand FC Valinor was not taken back by AC Beleriand’s newly found spirits but pressed on with all they had to throw on attack.

On 83rd minute Thorondor winged the ball towards the upper-right corner of the goal from a great center by Yavanna but Marach tipped it away. Yea. Even Thorondor had come up at the last minutes and FC Valinor was leaving their defences to chance now. It was a goal or nothing.

On 86th minute Argon managed to dribble Denethor and was left open to give a perfect pass towards the middle from between Rochallor’s hooves – and Yavanna dashed to it leaving Fingolfin behind. Sliding to the ball she tipped it forwards… and Marach dived for the save… just missing the ball by an inch… and the ball rolled… to the post!

There was a great sigh from the audience. And then Imlach booted the ball far to the other side of the field forcing a host of FC Valinor players to run for their money to catch the ball before the AC Beleriand players could break through – which was in the end shot back to the AC Beleriand side of the field by Huan coming off from his goal to meet the ball.

There was only two minutes left of the game and FC Valinor was having the game stick on the AC Beleriand half of the pitch. With the exception of Huan who was impatiently strolling around the center-circle of the field all the players were deep in the AC Beleriand half.

The clock was ticking away the precious seconds.

FC Valinor defenders were passing the ball around 40 meters away trying to find any free spaces to pass the ball forwards while being harrassed by AC Beleriand’s few forward disturbers (Angrod, Aegnor and Eöl who were really giving them a rough time). Itseemed totally deadlocked – until Angrod charged Maglor to the ankles and the referee called a free kick from 35 meters. There was one minute on the clock.

After a short discussion Thorondor and Eönwe stood behind the ball and all the others took their places around the edge of the box held closely by AC Beleriand players.

Thorondor took off towards the ball with one great swing of his wings but just as he was reaching the ball he actualy dived forwards and Eönwe dashed into a run. It took the defenders a moment to realise what was going on – and then it seemed late to move…

When Thorondor was just about to pass the defending line Eönwe’s hammer of a kick was flying forwards – and Thorondor turned a bit sideways mid-fly in the air to accommodate the onrushing ball and to… yes, wing it in!
Among the astonished players the Balrog was awake though and not only saw what was going on but was also able to act. With a flash of an eye he produced something totally controversial: his wings!

In a flash and clash of wings Thorondor tried to steer the ball into the net… and was denied by the Balrog’s wing sending the ball high up into the air and flying off the stadium’s walls.

After a short discussion between the referees it was judged as a throw-in for FC Valinor. The clock was already ticking overtime…

It was going to be the last chance.

Yavanna went to give in the throw. Curufin demanded the ball and so did Celegorm – while Eönwe was calling for the ball at the other side and Thorondor at third. Even Huan had come forwards and showed his eagerness to give the last shot.

Willing to try the last card Yavanna threw the ball to Huan who ran for it and gave it a shot of a lifetime – from the power of the shot the ball sped through the air with incredible speed and past the defenders… only to miss the post by half a meter.

With Marach getting the ball back from the stands and readying to kick the opening shot the referee finally blew his whistle. It was game over.



AC Beleriand had advanced to the final. But surely, not without a fight.


AC Beleriand 2-1 FC Valinor
on target 5-7
tot shots 14-17
GOALS:
*22, 1-0 Fëanor (Angrod)
*55, 2-0 Fëanor (Eöl)
*68, 2-1 Celegorm (Argon)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACBel- Angrod
*FCVal- Celegorm, Thorondor

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Utumno Arena
Hithlum vs Tol-in-Gaurhoth

The second semifinal of the 2013 Arda Cup was to be held in the underground arena in Utumno, also known as ‘Hell’s Pit’ to the locals. The name came easily to those who saw the thousand torches and bonfires that illuminated the stadium. Smoke had started gathering in some stands, and had begun rolling towards the pitch itself; Hithlum fans suspected that this was no accident, that Morgoth and Angband, who had strong sympathy with the Wolves (two of their players had once played for Angband), were trying to recreate conditions similar to those in ‘the Den’, the Wolves’ home arena in Tol-in-Gaurhoth. Hithlum captain Hador had already approached the Avari referee, asking him to stop the game in case the smoke interfered with visibility on the pitch.

Three thousand denizens of the Barrow-Downs forums assembled to cheer for their team. While they were outnumbered by forty thousand Hithlum supporters who made their way into enemy territory, they were reinforced by the home crowd, who cheered for the lycan team as if they were their own.

However, it was no ordinary team they were up against, and no amount of intimidation would work on them. Many of the Hithlum players had died (or, in Húrin’s case, lived) within sight of Angband, and they knew well the terror of Morgoth’s stronghold. These players had nerves of mithril and could not be psyched out—they had to be outplayed.


[Hithlum in yellow and dark red; Tol-in-Gaurhoth in green and black.]

One of the biggest questions coming into the game was TiG’s formation—more specifically the number of central midfielders they would field. It turned out that they stuck to the 4-3-3 they beat Armenelos with, making everyone think that they would battle Hithlum for possession without conceding the flank. But NerWight, SallyWight, and LegateWight sat in their own half instead of pressing Hithlum’s midfielders, springing only into action when Aradan crossed the halfway line. Every recovered ball was sent quickly to the wings, where PhantomWolf or Thuringwethil stormed forward and combined with InzilWolf.

NilpWolf moved to central defence to provide strength against the on-form Túrin, while BoroWolf matched endurance with Húrin. GaladriWight tracked Beleg’s forward runs, but refrained from following the winger whenever he dropped deep. Draugluin was the spare defender and swept up behind them, occasionally barking orders about retaining shape.

Hithlum had lion’s share of possession in the opening spell of the game, but Hador and Morwen were repeatedly rebuffed when they attempted playing the ball to the final third. NerWight and SallyWight kept goalward of them, while LegateWight was quietly efficient in cutting off passing lanes to the Hithlum forwards. In the first fifteen minutes of the game, Hithlum may have had 57% of the ball, but the Wolves had already mustered three shots to Hithlum’s none—and, more importantly, they were a goal ahead.

LegateWight intercepted a Hador through ball for Húrin and sent the ball quickly to PhantomWolf on the right. The TiG number 10 ran at Galdor, and InzilWolf brilliantly faked a far post run, as if to meet a cross, before quickly changing direction and taking PhantomWolf’s lay off. He fired a snapshot that Huor did well to bat away. The lycan forward was also involved in the ensuing play. Thuringwethil met NerWight’s corner kick at the near post, but instead of trying for goal himself, she set InzilWolf up wonderfully for an unstoppable close-range volley that beat Huor.

Hithlum committed more players forward in search of an equaliser, leaving themselves vulnerable to the Wolves’ counterattacking strategy. Shortly past the half-hour mark, Draugluin cleared a Beleg cross, and SallyWight sent it long to PhantomWolf, who stormed forward with acres of space before him. Aradan was forced to bring him down at the edge of the area, conceding a free kick and receiving a yellow card in the process. PhantomWolf himself took the free kick. Again, InzilWolf was prominently involved in the subsequent play—displaying his brilliant change-of-direction play once more, he made a nuisance of himself at the far post, before spinning and dashing for the near post just as PhantomWolf took the kick. His booming header forced an outstanding reflex save from the Hithlum shotstopper, but the rebound spilled into SallyWight’s path, and she stabbed it home into an empty net.

‘Two-nil, and it’s not even half-time,’ the Wights and Wolves chanted, soon taken up by orcs, trolls, and other nameless creatures of the home crowd. Meanwhile, shortly before play restarted, Túrin conferred briefly with his captain Hador. ‘Keep the midfield back and just send the ball to me. I’ll win every header.’ It might have seemed a boast coming from any other player, but the Hithlum talisman’s eyes glinted with determination. He would turn this game around, or die trying.

After this change in tactic, Hithlum mustered two good chances before the half time whistle. Túrin did seem to win every header, although he often got too rough with NilpWolf in their duels—at one point, he got booked for elbowing the Wolves defender hard in the face. The lycan rolled on the ground and cried in pain, screaming, ‘The pain, the pain! Lynch me! For Eru’s sake, lynch me now!’ His performance might have influenced the referee into reaching for his card, because no one else was convinced the Werewolf was really hurt. But in other instances, the Hithlum forward headed the ball past the Tol-in-Gaurhoth defensive line for his father to run into; unfortunately, Húrin got the ball too close to the byline, and his shot from a very acute angle sailed wide of ShastaWolf’s left-hand post.

Shortly before half time, he chip-headed an effort at goal past ShastaWolf, only for his attempt to land on the roof of the net.

The Hithlum faithful were on tenterhooks during the break; they had once overturned a tactical difficulty against Nargothrond with an inspired formation change, but they feared that the Wolves were too cunning to be outthought like that. The second half soon began with no changes in either team’s strategy: Hithlum kept seven players behind the ball, sending long passes for Túrin, while Tol-in-Gaurhoth kept their shape, snapping into tackles only when Morwen or Hador tried to bring the ball into their half. Túrin kept winning an absurdly high number of aerial duels, but he found his space easily smothered by the two centre-backs, sometimes aided by LegateWight. His knockdown targets Húrin and Beleg were ably corralled by the TiG full-backs. If they were to break through the Wolves defence, they really needed the help of their midfield.

The Hithlum front line did induce a moment of panic among the Wolves back four. An hour into the game, Balrog #5 sent a long ball, but this time not for Túrin but for his father. Húrin won the header, brought it down, and turned on Boro before the rest of the defence could reorient themselves. NilpWolf shifted right to contain him, and Draugluin switched on Túrin. Húrin sent a short cross to his son, who easily outleapt his marker and sent a goalbound effort from the penalty spot. Fortunately, Shasta was at hand to keep him out, and his clearance fell to GaladriWight, who sent it forward to Thuringwethil. The vampire tried to dribble infield, but Arroch shepherded him to the touchline, rebuffing all her attempts to link up with InzilWolf. The TiG centre forward jogged closer to Thuringwethil, dragging Balrog #5 with him. He had noticed PhantomWolf’s infield run from the opposite wing, and his movement left Gundor all alone to contain the Wolves playmaker. Thuringwethil sent a low cross, and Balrog #5 slid in to clear it, but the ball bounced awkwardly off his knee and into his arms. The referee whistled and pointed to the penalty spot, then brought out a yellow card for the Hithlum defender.

The Hithlum fans were outraged. Balrog #5 pleaded with the ref, telling him that the ball hit his arm, not the other way around. But the referee shook his head; the ball bounced into the byline instead of continuing on its path, meaning that he had controlled the ball with his arm. Balrog #5 spun away with a huff; Hador had to grab his shoulder to tell him to calm down, lest he get sent off.

And so it was a penalty to Tol-in-Gaurhoth. PhantomWolf stepped up to take it, lashing it into the top-left corner before Huor could react. The stadium exploded as the Angband crowd howled in delight. ‘Three-nil to the empty seats,’ they chanted, gleeful that the shoulders of the Hithlum supporters have dropped.

Hithlum players gritted their teeth. They were so close, throwing the Wolves off-guard when they sent the ball to Húrin instead of to Túrin, but their goalkeeper made an excellent save, and they immediately started a counter just as Hador and Morwen advanced to reinforce their attackers. The players of Hithlum were not ones to admit defeat easily, but most of them could see that overhauling a three-goal deficit in less than half an hour against an excellently defending side required nothing short of a miracle. Only Túrin and his father had any fight left in them, and Tol-in-Gaurhoth smartly shifted to 4-4-2, the same formation they used to shut Armenelos out in the closing stages of their quarterfinal tie.

Hithlum now had an extra player in the centre of the pitch, and they managed to pass their way past the Wolves’ midfield barrier. But with the front band of four just a few metres ahead of the back four, there was no space for the advancing midfielders to manoeuvre in, and they repeatedly lost the ball, prompting even more bare-bones counterattacking (‘Route One plays’) from Tol-in-Gaurhoth—a downfield hoof from a clearance to their two centre forwards who were fifty metres ahead of the midfield. Hithlum’s defenders were able to contain Inzilwolf and Thuringwethil, but with their movement they managed to occupy all four defenders, giving them second thoughts about advancing to help on the offensive.

There were ten minutes left in the game when PhantomWolf conceded a free kick to the left of the box after a clumsy challenge on Beleg. The Doriath march-warden took the free kick, and Húrin’s dummy header fooled half the TiG defenders in the box, leaving Túrin relatively free to take a shot. ‘Relatively free’ in his case meant that the head and feet of NilpWolf and Draugluin came at him from many directions, but, without jumping, he fired an overhead back-heel over NilpWolf’s shoulder with such ferocity that ShastaWolf was unable to contest the shot.

But that was the last time Hithlum would ever seriously threaten Tol-in-Gaurhoth. In the last nine minutes, the Wolves defended with ferocity, closing down anyone who came within five metres of their penalty area and rushing to intercept every through ball. Hithlum, like Armenelos before them, looked bereft of ideas how to break through that wall. Soon, the final whistle was blown, and one of the tournament’s best players was relegated to playing the consolation game. As for the Wolves, they were playing their second final in three years. Last time it took Melian’s super team to deny them the cup. This year, maybe they could finally get their paws on it.

Hithlum 1-3 Tol In Gaurhoth
GOALS:
15, 0-1 InzilWolf (Thuringwethil)
32, 0-2 SallyWight (InzilWolf)
66, 0-3 PhantomWolf
81, 1-3 Túrin (Beleg)

Total Shots
16-14

Shots On Target
4-7

YELLOW CARDS:
3-2
HTH: Túrin, Aradan, Balrog#5
TIG: Draugluin, PhantomWolf

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Bracket:


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

GOALS + ASSISTS
6+2
Túrin (Hithlum)

5+2
Curufin (FC Valinor)
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)

4+3
Eöl (AC Beleriand)

4+2
PhantomWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)

3+3
Beleg (Hithlum)

1+4
Yavanna (FC Valinor)

0+4
Angrod (AC Beleriand)

GOALKEEPING

• 84.62% – 22/26 – Marach (AC Beleriand)
• 83.33% – 15/18 – Elrond (Eriador)
• 81.25% – 13/16 – Ungoliant (Anfauglith)
• 80.95% – 17/21 – Tulkas (Real Valinor)
• 80.77% – 21/26 – Arvedui (Arnor)

[Nogrod]

So it's the time of the finals again.

The T-I-G -team has shown to the doubters (including the AKM) they're in it for real this year after a few year's flying low. Whether their possible success will generate renewed calls for disarming their Werewolf-capabilities once again will remain to be seen. But it is clear what the purists will say...

But AC Beleriand has been in top form this year and many fans would love to see them making good their stumbling at the last hurdle the previous year. That hope is not at all overstreched. AC Beleriand really looks like the toughest Arda -team this year.

Here are the numbers:

AC Beleriand 15-4 (6-0-0)
Shots made: 40/89
Shots allowed: 26/71
Attack: 15/89 (16,9%)
Marach: 4/26 (84,6%)

Tol-In-Gaurhoth 13-4 (5-1-0)
Shots made: 36/91
Shots allowed: 19/69
Attack: 13/91 (14,3%)
ShastaWolf: 4/19 (78,9%)

As the numbers show, T-I-G has allowed considerably less shots towards their goal, but AC Beleriand is both the more active shooter and has a better goalie.

So it will be a very hard game to predict, but the AKM thinks AC Beleriand will prevail - at least it would be Righteous if that happened.



On the Bronze-Game the situation is as hairy - adding to it the fact that different players and teams take playing for the third place with varying interest. So who'll have more pure will to win a game after a big disappointment?

So who will arise from the ashes, Fëanor's sons or Húrin's children?

FC Valinor 13-4 (5-0-1)
Shots made: 38/88
Shots allowed: 18/58
Attack: 13/88 (16,9%)
Huan: 4/18 (77,8%)

Hithlum 15-10 (4-0-2)
Shots made: 43/101
Shots allowed: 38/91
Attack: 15/101 (14,9%)
Húor: 10/38 (73,7%)

Both teams have done some real feats this year but the numbers would suggest there is but one favourite for the game: Hithlum does shoot more, considerably so if you count all the shots they make - but looking at the shots actually towards the goal the difference isn't that drastic. And on all other fronts FC Valinor is clearly having the upper hand: they let the opponents to shoot towards their goal about half the shots Hithlum does, they are more efficient in scoring, they have a better goal keeper...

The only thing is, football is not only statistics. And there lies the chance of Hithlum.

That said, the AKM predicts FC Valinor to take the Bronze medals - unless Curufin and Celegorm are too frustrated to play the game with a full effort...

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Elenrod: Dagor Bragollach. Nirnaeth Arnoediad. The plague that killed Lalaith. Mr Hador, your boys took a hell of a beating. Today: Won’t someone lynch them? Tol-in-Gaurhoth literally maul Hithlum and put, not one, not two, but three crosses on their title challenge. Meanwhile: Dagor Bragollach. Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Getting expelled from Nargothrond. Mr Curufin, your boys took a hell of a beating. Fëanor ordered his sons to go to their rooms—or, rather, the third-place match. This is the Matchday, coming to you very late because we’ve run out of things to say in the intro. But our panellists would never run out of words. Isn’t that right, tactics guru Maikalomion?

Maika: I always have plenty to say.

Elenrod: And someone who is equally not lacking in quantity of utterances, Adam Smith of ArdaCup.com.

Adam: Is that another way of saying, ‘Someone who doesn’t shut up’?

Elenrod: Could be, could be. And I don’t know what he’ll contribute to the conversation, but he’s here, anyway: blogger Felagundion.

Felagundion: Of course I’m here. You’re practically slave-driving me to be on this show.

Elenrod: But that’s another day closer to freedom, isn’t it? And finally—we’ve dragged him back from Angband—Iorithil of Quenta Noldorin Sport.

Iorithil: Hello.

Elenrod: Well, then, we have two very thrilling matches to discuss. Which one shall we start with?

Adam: FC Val were once again statistically the best team in the tournament, but they fail to reach the finals.

Felagundion: Of course, the best teams don’t always win these tournaments. Having to win four one-off matches in a row also requires a bit of luck.

Elenrod: So, were AC Bel lucky?

Maika: I once said that AC Bel’s playing style makes them immune to upsets, that you have to outplay them in all three areas of the pitch—especially in the midfield—to beat them. But that same style makes them a tough out for stronger teams. Well, ‘stronger’ is a relative term; both teams are separated only by inches in talent.

Iorithil: It was indeed a game of fine margins. You’d expect FC Val’s front line to be so good at pressing defenders into mistakes, especially with Celegorm and Curufin up front, and Yavanna and Argon behind them, but they seemed to lack the energy to do so—maybe their game with Real tired them. There was that tackle that got Celegorm booked; basically, he was late to the challenge and just lashed a boot out at Rochallor.

Maika: Also, in one sequence late in the first half, Curufin nicked the ball from Denethor, but he looked too winded to get past him. He still managed to thread a pass that put Celegorm one-on-one with Rochallor. But, instead of taking him on and rounding Marach, Celegorm just shot from range. He didn’t trust himself to have that extra burst of pace to beat both of them. The team on a whole were a bit leggy.

Adam: Well, they caught their breaths late in the second half, but by then AC Bel put a lot of players behind the ball. It’s hard to break the teeth of a determined defence, even if you’re FC Val.

Elenrod: On the other end, Huan had a right proper ‘mare, didn’t he?

Felagundion: I suppose it was more due to the quality of Fëanor’s finishes; giving him all that space really is just asking to lose. I mean, on the second goal, Maglor, the right-back, was marking his father near the penalty spot—both centre-backs have been dragged wide by Eöl and Aegnor’s movement. But, yeah, on another day, Huan could’ve saved one or even both of them.

Maika: I want to focus on the movement of AC Bel’s front four. The AKM commentator called their formation a diamond, even though the traditional team notation was 4-2-3-1: Eöl ahead of an attacking trio of Angrod, Fëanor, and Aegnor. But, boy, did he call it right—the AC Bel front four were very fluid, interchanging positions so that FC Val’s defence had no reference point and were dragged all over the pitch. They were all dangerous finishers and clever playmakers, and they all created chaos for the opposition so that Fëanor could romp through the middle and beat people one-on-one.

Elenrod: Well, then, let’s focus on the other game featuring a double-star striker who didn’t get to romp through the middle and beat people one-on-one. Were any of you surprised by the result of Hithlum-TiG?

Iorithil: I was certainly surprised at the margin of victory afterwards, but, seeing everything that happened in the pitch, it wasn’t that surprising. Basically, Tol-in-Gaurhoth were just better, both physically and tactically.

Felagundion: A few bloggers were critical of their deep defensive line and putting eight players behind the ball most of the time, but their midfield pressed intelligently, and the defence contained Hithlum’s multifaceted threats completely. GaladriWight kept Beleg in her pocket, and, except for a few scares, BoroWolf handled Húrin’s run quite well. The centre-backs kept Túrin almost scoreless, which is the best praise there is. His goal, though, was just—I can’t describe it.

Adam: I heard a MESPN pundit say that TiG beat teams with their athleticism, and that Galdor and Gundor can’t be expected to keep up with the Wolves. He pretty much called it right. InzilWolf was brilliant, disguising his intentions quite well before pouncing on the lapses of overcommitted defenders. I’ve never seen anyone change direction that quickly.

Felagundion: And I think there aren’t enough superlatives to describe how PhantomWolf is playing right now. His speed on the ball, his decision-making, his set pieces—he was at the heart of everything TiG did well on the offensive end for two games now.

Maika: Well, since I’ve praised AC Bel’s front four earlier, I’ll complete the praise of TiG’s front three as well. Thuringwethil played well as Anfauglith’s lone forward last year—strong, quick, and dominant in the air; she could win headers to score from crosses or feed attacking midfielders. But with a strike partner, especially one with movement as excellent as InzilWolf’s, she is a lethal weapon on crosses and set pieces.

Elenrod: Let’s get down to it, then. AC Bel vs the Werewolves: who would win?

Iorithil: Remember: two years ago, Tol-in-Gaurhoth had the same run of form going into the finals, when they swatted good teams aside left, right, and centre. They lost only to Doriath’s galacticos, arguably the best Arda Cup team ever. So unless AC Beleriand approach that level of untouchability, I predict TiG to be the winners.

Adam: Also, it looks like TiG played the way they did with an eye on the finals. How would you beat a team with a combative midfield and a dangerous attack? Answer: You let the team build up from the back, press their midfield when they cross the halfway line, and break forward behind their defence.

Felagundion: Don’t forget cashing in on set pieces. TiG’s goals in the semis came from a corner, a free kick, and a penalty.

Maika: But remember: teams are forced to play in those unconventional ways against AC Bel because of the way they control the game. Teams need a good defence to keep their front four at bay. They need a good midfield so that Denethor won’t have time to ping those dangerous long diagonals behind the defence, and so that Ulrad won’t have time to make those forward runs that break a distracted defence. And they need a decent threat up front, especially from the wings, so that AC Bel’s defenders won’t have time to go forward and help on the attack. Even then, they’re still playing on the back foot because they won’t see much of the ball. The composure of AC Bel in possession, how resistant they are to all but the most determined pressing, is unprecedented. Even Rochallor can take on a marker to play a long diagonal.

Iorithil: But that’s it. TiG have a team capable of determined pressing. You praised BoroWolf’s stamina in the quarterfinals; the entire team is roughly on that level. They will run and press, get legs and bodies in the way of passes, then run some more once they have the ball.

Elenrod: I’m just finding this fun. We know roughly how both teams will play, but you’re just going back and forth on the result. It all depends on what happens on the pitch, then?

Maika: Yes, I guess. But I’m thinking it’ll be 2-1 to AC Bel

Iorithil: TiG will beat AC Bel by the same score line as Hithlum: 3-1 TiG

Elenrod: And the third place match? Anyone hazard a prediction?

Adam: 2-1 or 3-1 FC Val, easy. Hithlum’s defence just isn’t good enough against world-class strikers, and if they sit the midfield deeper to screen for the back four, they’ll just invite pressure from Argon, Yavanna, and Maglor attacking them from all sorts of uncomfortable angles.

Elenrod: That looks painful. Speaking of uncomfortable angles… Someone already mentioned his unbelievable goal earlier, but Túrin almost managed to score from an uncomfortable angle when he chip-headed the ball past Draugluin. He scored similar goal vs Nargothrond way back in the round of sixteen. And with that we come to the end of the penultimate episode of the Matchday. We’ll be back to discuss the finals. Hope to see you then.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Valimar Stadium
FC Valinor vs Hithlum

For the first time in the Arda Cup’s five-year history, the same arena would both open and close the tournament. The inaugural game of the 2013 Arda Cup, the Group A match between Armenelos and the Havens, was contested in the Valimar Grand Stadium, and the finals would similarly take place there. But before the eagerly-awaited tie between AC Beleriand and Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the teams they defeated in the semifinals would first fight to be the best of the rest.

Reaching the semifinals was a financial success for both teams—even the outlay for the fourth-placed team would be sufficient to cover their nine-digit wage bills. There is the matter of a $5-million difference in the amount received by the third- and fourth-placed team, but at this level of football, such a trifle does not matter. Or so the teams say.

‘We’re just here to win, to end the tournament in a high note,’ said FC Valinor’s captain Yavanna. ‘We’re still smarting from the loss to Fëanor’s AC Beleriand—on a different day, I believe we could have snatched a result—, but here is another game for us to play. We’ll do our best to win it, and then plan our campaign to win the cup next year.’

‘This is not exactly the game I wanted to play in,’ said Hithlum’s star forward Túrin, ‘but like Yavanna said, it’s a game to be played. Those familiar with my history, especially my old Mithrim teammates Curufin and Celegorm, know that I play to win every game.’



When the consolation match between the FC Valinor and Hithlum began, Túrin and the rest of Hithlum’s attackers made their presence felt. With the need to relieve pressure on their overmatched defence, Hithlum pressed high up the pitch and took the game to the Valineoreans, who defended resolutely and denied Hithlum easy chances, but were unable to make much headway up the pitch themselves. Húrin spurned a fine chance to put Hithlum in the lead six minutes into the game when, after being played through on goal by his son’s knockdown of a Beleg cross, shot straight at Huan instead of going for a curler.

After a rocky start, FC Valinor recovered their composure and began to play around Hithlum’s aggressive pressing. With two ball-playing centre-backs being marked by a lone centre forward (even one with Túrin’s boundless energy), they managed to find an outlet to play the ball forward to their midfield, who quickly got the ball to the wings. Once FC Valinor’s front four had possession, Hithlum immediately felt their bite.

In one sequence shortly after the half-hour mark, Eönwë played a long diagonal straight to Yavanna, who cut inside Galdor and dribbled past Aradan. After playing wall with Celegorm (while Curufin and Argon distracted the rest of the defence), she was one-on-one with Huor at the edge of the six-yard box. With the Hithlum goalkeeper closing in, the FC Valinor midfielder slid the ball between his legs and into the net to open the scoring.

One chance, one goal. Such was the difference between FC Valinor’s attack and Hithlum’s defence (which isn’t bad, but is clearly not good enough for the highest echelon of the game). After the goal, FC Valinor’s back six sat deeper and absorbed Hithlum’s attack, cutting off through passes to Túrin in the penalty area and turning Morwen and Hador’s dribbles aside. With the centre of the pitch clearly denied them, Hithlum played from the wings instead. Húrin was unable to get the better of Maglor whenever he tried to cut infield from the flank, but Beleg on the other side got more joy, beating Thorondor to the byline and swinging in crosses for the father-son forward duo. Shortly before the half ended, Hador made a late run into the box as Túrin and Húrin pushed the defenders back. Beleg’s cross fell to him, unmarked near the penalty spot, but he shot narrowly over the crossbar and the chance went begging.

When second half began, FC Valinor might have realised the danger of allowing Hithlum to attack with abandon, and pushed their back line higher up the pitch, moving Túrin further away from the penalty area but leaving space behind for pacy players to exploit. But with midfielders Elemmírë and Findis able to close down Morwen and Hador more easily, Hithlum were forced to initiate plays from much deeper in the pitch, which played into FC Valinor’s hands. They put on a clinic on high pressing; with Celegorm and Curufin closing down Hithlum’s centre-backs and Yavanna as well as Argon occupying the full-backs. Hithlum were unable to get the ball into the midfield, and the Valinoreans easily won the ball back, putting Huor under pressure.

There was one player who escaped the attention of FC Valinor’s pressing. Aradan, between the lines of the Hithlum defence and the midfield, was unmarked by any of the yellow-shirted players, and he had a lot of time on the ball to ponder his options. But the Hithlum holding midfielder wasn’t the best at creating chances; his diagonal passes to Beleg or Húrin were often wayward, conceding possession cheaply to FC Valinor.

At the hour mark Aradan overhit a long diagonal behind Maglor, and Huan easily claimed the ball, playing a short pass to his right-back. Maglor then skipped past Húrin, stormed forward, cut inside Arroch (just as Argon drifted to the touchline) then played a short low cross that Curufin easily stabbed home.

After the second goal, FC Valinor eased off the pressure, which proved to be a mistake with half an hour left for Hithlum to make a comeback. They would pay for this lapse after sixteen minutes. Beleg dropped deeper to allow Aradan to play a shorter pass to him, after which the Hithlum winger charged down the touchline and steamed past Indis. Hador, at the same time, made a run into the penalty area that distracted the defenders in the box. It was the reverse of Hithlum’s chance late in the first half, with Hador the decoy this time, and Húrin outmuscled Maglor and bundled Beleg’s cross into the net.

Hithlum’s goal angered FC Valinor, who attacked with renewed ferocity to grab a third goal that would kill the game once and for all. Their passing and movement were a little less fluid, and the chances they created weren’t clear-cut, but they pegged Hithlum back and denied them the chance to grab the equaliser. Curufin had a glorious chance eight minutes from full time, when a short Argon low cross found him with his back to the goal and he went for an audacious back-heel. Huor parried out the slow shot and sent it long behind Indis for Beleg to run on to, but Huan went off his line to clear the danger. The last eight minutes was spent with FC Valinor passing around Hithlum’s penalty box, with Hador pushing his midfield back to screen his defenders. Hithlum never really got into the game from that point on, and FC Valinor saw out their win comfortably. They have improved from their showing last year, but they hope to make that next step to become a true power of the game. As for Hithlum, it remains to be seen if they could keep their team together next year and improve upon it, or if the financial pressure would see them letting key pieces go.

But all those thoughts were set aside for later, for there was still one more game to see.

Hithlum 1-2 FC Valinor
GOALS:
34, 0-1 Yavanna (Celegorm)
60, 0-2 Curufin (Maglor)
76, 1-2 Húrin (Beleg)

Total Shots
14-15

Shots On Target
5-7

YELLOW CARDS:
2-1
HTH: Gundor, Galdor
FCV: Elemmírë

[the phantom]

The championship match between AC Beleriand and Tol-In-Gaurhoth was set to begin at 6:30- later than usual for a match in Valimar, but then this was not a normal game. It wasn't even a normal championship match, for it pitted two fantastic squads that were due for a title.

The Wights and Wolves of TIG had taken home the third place trophy before, and fell just one game short against Doriath two seasons ago. This year they've looked as good as ever, opening with a 2-0 win over Morgoth's Angband squad, then holding Imladris to 1 on-target shot in another 2-0 win, and finishing off the group in first with a 1-1 draw against Angfauglith. In the playoffs they've been solid, taking down Gondolin 3-1, Armenelos 2-1, and finally Hithlum 3-1.

AC has had a similarly stellar run. In group play they got past Gondolin 2-1, then beat Inter Beleriand 3-1 and thumped Dwarves United 3-0 to finish with the full nine points. They opened the playoffs with a hard-fought overtime victory against Angband 2-1, then blitzed Valimar 3-0, and lastly gutted out a win against the streaking FC Valinor.

In the lead up to the championship analysts have been split in their match forecast. Ar-Tar-Aradil of Westernesse Weekly picked AC last night on MESPN's round table, saying: "Besides the two finalists FC was the toughest out in the tournament, and AC took them down. They also took down Melkor when it really counted in the playoffs, and their win against Valimar was the most impressive thing I've seen from either side. Plus, how do you bet against Feanor and Fingolfin?" Meanwhile, Ruharg the Red has been TIG's biggest supporter. "There's one obvious thing to look at here- common foes. They've both played Gondolin and Angband and while AC just scraped by them both by one goal, TIG got them each by two goals."

Which analyst would earn bragging rights during the off-season? That would be up to the squads taking the pitch as the sun lowered to the western horizon. A very partisan crowd greeted them. A section of Wights and assorted beasts made a nice bit of noise, but the stadium was overwhelmingly behind AC Beleriand.

Thousands of Noldor from nearby Tirion were there to support Feanor and Fingolfin, and Angrod and Aegnor were cheered by the Noldor and a large section from Alqualonde. The Ainur were behind AC as well, partly in opposition to the presence of Thuringwethil and Draugluin on the TIG squad, and because AC had earned their admiration by dismantling their own beloved Valimar squad. But officially neither squad was the "home" squad, and the huge stadium bells would be used to celebrate the goals from both teams.

In warm-ups the arena was unusually quiet- both fan bases obviously wanted this title very badly. The Noldor felt the title was theirs by right- after all, in recent years Noldorin talent had gotten it done for Foremenos, Gondolin, and Real Valinor, but they were definitely wary of the Wolves of Tol In Gaurhoth who had come so very close in the past. TIG felt they were due for a breakthrough, but they were quite nervous about facing the attack of AC, spear-headed by the matchless touch and creativity of Feanor.

When the action finally started both squads were tentative and cautious. The midfielders and defenders from AC only just stopped themselves from making long passes forward- they wanted to be aggressive, but they had done their homework and recognized BoroWolf and NilpWolf were attempting to bait them into passes. While normal defenders wouldn't be able to play so far off their marks, the Werewolves could move with fearsome speed and turn a pass forward into an interception and an immediate counter back the other direction.

AC didn't take the bait, but tried to move the ball more methodically. They had some success given the skill of their players, but TIG was equal to them and AC could not gain any decent looks when their attacks reached the tipping point. Seeing that AC wasn't taking the bait and was playing smart, TIG decided to try and work a bit of offense themselves. GaladriWight moved forward to join the other Wight midfielders to gain numbers in the field's center, and they effectively held it, but Fingolfin and the Balrog were marking InzilWolf and PhantomWolf, while Rochallor galloped in pursuit of Thuringwethil, and Imlach moved smartly to any threat that he saw.

Seeing that AC seemed content to allow the TIG midfield to hold the ball, NerWight and SallyWight pushed forward to receive it, and when the ball was passed back to NilpWolf he started working upfield as far as AC would let him go before passing off to one of the Wights. Drauglin and BoroWolf were left back to handle any sudden attack by the AC quad, which they had to be nervous about, but they trusted their teammates not to allow an easy flip of the field.

At minute 25 AC was given a scare as LegateWight read NilpWolf's mind and received it from him and sent it on forward back to NilpWolf who didn't stop his run after passing it off, and NilpWolf received it in open space sprinting down the right side. Meanwhile PhantomWolf and Thuringwethil had pulled the defense a bit left and as NilpWolf sprinted past Denethor the defenders weren't sure how much to challenge the run, knowing he could hang it up to the other side, and the last thing they wanted was a ball in the air with only a couple defenders to challenge both PhantomWolf and Thuringwethil.

In the end NilpWolf took the shot himself as the defense continued to sag off of him, but Imlach and Ulrad smartly took up the lanes enough to push NilpWolf right and leave his only option to be the near post, and despite the wicked power Marach had his head on straight and recognized it in time to deflect the shot into the turf, and Imlach turned and volleyed it high back to the center.

After that AC pulled Angrod back to be a bit more active in defending against the Wight midfield, and TIG appeared stumped as GaladriWight and BoroWolf continually passed it back and forth. PhantomWight trotted back towards the ball shouting something at NilpWolf, and he shouted back, and so on a couple more times- it sounded as if they were deciding on a new course of things. But in the midst of the exchange BoroWolf swung his leg back and rocketed the ball straight down the center.

The instant he kicked NerWight broke for the ball and she reached the exact spot where the ball came low enough to touch and she leaped to head it- but instead of passing it to SallyWight or InzilWolf on her flanks (and calling for the ball) she just bounced it on forward right over the top of two defenders. It looked like it was straight to Imlach, but Thuringwethil's shocking speed got her there first- she had been running for that spot ever since BoroWolf first sent his kick. She received it perfectly in stride, just barely ahead of Rochallor. With her first touch she sent it over Imlach who was frozen in his tracks, and on his backside she caught it on her foot again, nudging it left and over the top of Denethor who was rushing in to help. And before the ball came down to the grass and just before Rochallor ran into her from behind and just before Fingolfin came sprinting in from the opposite side she flung herself into the air in a whirling side-kick and sent the ball rocketing into the top left corner from about 20 yards out! TIG had the lead!

The TIG section of the stadium did their best to fill the arena with their noise as the rest of the crowd stared in disbelief. TIG had employed a perfect blend of strategy, touch, and athleticism- the ball never once touched the ground between BoroWolf's foot and the back of the net. It was truly a play to be admired, and the Elves and Ainur started to think that perhaps their squad was the underdog here.

For the 10 minutes that followed AC dedicated themselves wholly to possession and defense, determined to blunt the emotional flow from carrying the game away, and not willing to allow TIG to grab a two-goal lead by virtue of another fantastic effort. As the half approached AC finally turned their offense loose, trying to launch a flurry at the end to get a cheap equalizer. TIG seemed to know it was coming, however, and they went into full prevent and time-waste mode, meaning that whenever any TIG player managed to get a toe on the ball, instead of trying for the steal they simply tried to send the ball as far and deep as possible.

During intermission the TIG section of the crowd was loud and boisterous, and ordering far more food than was good for them. The rest of the arena didn't have much of an appetite, as things weren't going their way. They had faith that AC could score on anyone, but TIG had a superb defense, especially if they were to commit 100% to it. Scoring 2 would be difficult indeed. Some analysts calling the game in various booths were saying that AC now had the measure of TIG and would soon equalize things and have the advantage the rest of the way, but others were already calling for a second half shutout.

Both squads started the second half carefully, seemingly trying to draw out the other squad’s plans. But a few minutes in AC suddenly switched gears, and their passive possession transitioned into an attack from the rear. Fingolfin and Balrog#4 came straight through the middle playing a one-two and each time they were forced to pass TIG obviously expected them to send it off to the midfielders and break off the run, but the two of them advanced it from near their own goal all the way past midfield while the rest of AC hung back.

Finally TIG committed to halting them, but it required leaving Aegnor some room and Fingolfin slid it to him precisely, and as Aegnor charged in TIG turned to meet the new threat and watched as Aegnor passed it to the now free Eol who one-touched it back to Fingolfin who sent it right back to Aegnor. The path of the ball on AC’s foot was a whirling tornado, but continually churning forward. The numbers were even, but with the skill of teamwork of AC it was really like having the advantage, even as the spacing tightened on the approach to ShastaWolf’s goal.

Finally off a flip from Angrod it was the Balrog with a golden look at the goal, but as he shot it Thuringwethil came in as a near blur and got just the tiniest bit of her foot on the shot, which slowed the shot a surprising amount, for her talons were not retracted as usual and they grabbed at the ball as it passed. ShastaWolf leaped on the ball as it bounced awkwardly towards the left post, and the TIG section breathed a sigh of relief.

A couple AC players appealed to the ref regarding the legality of stopping the ball in such a way that would cause permanent damage to the ball, but the most the refs did was issue Thuringwethil a warning. Meanwhile BoroWolf was barking at the TIG attackers, feeling that the defense was left out to dry against the AC charge. Most of the TIG section agreed—if Fingolfin and the Balrog made a run from the back at least one of the athletes on the TIG attack had to come with them to help. Thuringwethil had seen the danger only just in time, and only her winged speed covered the necessary ground before it was too late.

As the game got under way again, AC’s players did not look too let down—they obviously hadn’t pinned all their hopes on one play. On the contrary, they were energized by the nearness of the goal and felt they could shake the Wolves and company with continued pressure. After another five minutes of testing and prodding and quality ball movement AC earned another chance—this time a header from Denethor after a sharp one-touch pass from Feanor. ShastaWolf shot like a ball from a cannon up to the top-right corner to bat the effort away. What other keepers were capable of such a quick and powerful spring? Perhaps Carcharoth and Huan could have saved the shot, but no others.

The stadium collectively groaned again when the shot was denied, and a few fans shook their heads slowly and lowered their gaze, hope seemingly leaving them. But once again the players from AC weren’t the least bit discouraged. The Balrog could be heard shouting to Fingolfin, “It’s only a matter of time!” TIG tried to wrest control of the contest their way again with a couple surprise long-balls to their forwards, but the Balrog got in the way of both of them and Imlach cleaned up beautifully and AC was right back into their offense.

Finally TIG opted for a bit of possession instead, but AC now had their players pressuring possession, even at the rear as TIG soon discovered. Angrod and Aegnor converged on NilpWolf from two sides, and the surprised defender sent it over to Draugluin without getting the time to check things carefully. As fast and athletic as wolves like Draugluin are they don’t have the soft touch of their Noldorin foes, and Draugluin failed to control the hot pass on the first touch, and as he tried to scoot the ball away from him on the second touch it was too late—Feanor was upon him. Feanor dashed madly by pursued by BoroWolf, and they bore down on ShastaWolf slightly from the left as Eol sprinted in from the right followed by GaladriWight. Feanor faked the shot then sent it forward to Eol, who instead of taking the shot as everyone expected sent it back off his heel to Feanor, who had frozen in place after sending his pass.

As the ball bounced to Feanor it was clear NilpWolf and Draugluin wouldn’t arrive in time to stop his shot, and BoroWolf and GaladriWight’s momentum following Eol had taken them in closer to goal than to Feanor. The TIG fans held their breath waiting to see what would happen, but the rest of the stadium was already rising into a roar. Feanor was approaching the ball with a clear view of everything and no one close enough to bother him. It was as good as in the net. BoroWolf and GaladriWight tried to block off the left side only leaving ShastaWolf to cover the right, but Feanor tipped the ball up with his right foot and snapped off a high left-footed shot from near his shoulder that went well over the leaping BoroWolf but with so much topspin that it dove down beneath the crossbar to sneak into the corner of the goal! The score was level with 20 minutes remaining!

ShastaWolf threw up his hands and hollered something at his defense, but it couldn’t be heard amidst the roar of the arena—all the fans coming fully to life at last! TIG had managed to suck the air out of the game for over an hour, but now it was an even contest with little time left, and every ball now had a chance to give AC the title. TIG had their own plans, however, and went into full-bore attack mode. Evidently it had been decided that AC had found their stride and was playing their best, thus they simply could not be allowed to control the outcome. Not only that, but most agreed that TIG had decided playing for a shootout was a bad idea against AC. They wanted the game to be over as soon as possible.

AC was almost overwhelmed initially, with PhantomWolf putting a perfect cross onto the snout of NilpWolf, whose effort was only just turned away by Marach. AC settled in after that, however, and they pulled back nearly all their help, except they kept Feanor and Eol at the top, threatening the counter. TIG gained a couple snipes from far out—their Wolves had the legs to make the attempt, but the shots sprayed off course. As time ticked past 80 minutes it appeared TIG was losing steam from their constant running and aggression, and AC started to gain ground, and finally TIG collectively retreated to receive AC’s last attempt to win it in regulation.

AC accepted the turn of fortunes and Fingolfin and Feanor signaled back and forth what strategy to employ, but as AC stalled passing the ball around at the rear, something happened. Imlach received it from the Balrog again, and as he had several times he turned to his right and sent it over to Rochallor, but just as he swung his leg back PhantomWolf, who no one had noticed creeping closer, made a furious beeline directly at Rochallor. Meanwhile, InzilWolf broke from midfield straight toward the AC goal.

Just as Thuringwethil’s beastly speed had shocked the AC crowd in stopping the scoring opportunity earlier, PhantomWolf’s speed dropped jaws through the arena. There was simply no real way to prepare for such athleticism in practice, and though AC had faced speedy individuals along the way, no squad could compare to TIG for speed up and down the roster.

The ball arrived at Rochallor’s hooves just before PhantomWolf, but deftness was not the valiant warhorse’s forte, not to mention he was probably ever so slightly spooked by the Werewolf bearing down on him. After all, PhantomWolf had his claws out and was snarling as he came, and was looking directly at Rochallor rather than the ball, and some predatory-danger instinct within Rochallor was undoubtedly sounding an alarm. TIG had selected the perfect player to attack at the perfect time and in the perfect manner. The ball trickled away to Rochallor’s right, and before he could stretch to collect it PhantomWolf veered and swept it away first, booting it ahead of him and then catching up to it in full stride.

The TIG section leaped to their feet and started shouting! There would be no question of off sides, as PhantomWolf was farther upfield than anyone else! As PhantomWolf angled in at the left post InzilWolf approached from the right, Imlach sprinting straight down the middle to beat them to the box with Fingolfin a few yards behind. Finally the moment of truth arrived as they converged, and Imlach made his decision and veered straight for PhantomWolf. PhantomWolf made sure Imlach was committed then snapped his vision to the near post, approached the ball with purpose, and lobbed it up over Imlach to the far post. The keeper Marach had been momentarily frozen thinking PhantomWolf might shoot it, and so he could not beat InzilWolf to the point of attack. InzilWolf rose up uncontested and nodded the ball just inside the right post in front of the diving keeper! TIG had the lead with only minutes left!

As their supporters let out primal screams and embraced in the stands team TIG showed almost no emotion but grim determination, as if to say: “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time and we’ve done everything we need to do. Just a few more minutes of good play and all the work will pay off.” Now desperately needing a quick score AC threw everyone forward, and Fingolfin and the Balrog pushed up behind Angrod and Aegnor to help with the attack. If they conceded a counter then they did—losing by two goals wasn’t any worse than losing by one. They simply needed to score and that was that.

AC excelled in quick ball movement and precision passes through small openings, so even with everyone pulled back to defend TIG knew the game wasn’t in the bag if they allowed AC to come at them, so TIG played it smart, clearing the ball past their own end line whenever they were in doubt. Though it would be foolish for most teams to grant a ton of corner kicks, TIG felt that AC could not hurt them with a cross from the corner, as TIG had five Wolves and Thuringwethil that could own the air just as much as AC’s biggest mark, the Balrog.

The game and AC’s offense had to be continually reset for corners, and precious seconds ticked away. AC was aware of their aerial disadvantage and simply sent it short each time and attempted a flurry of passes to gain an open shot, but each time a TIG paw or foot got in the way and the ball ended up dribbling out towards midfield or shot out over the end line. Finally GaladriWight got in the way of an Angrod header and LegateWight booted the bouncing ball high to the opposite end of the field, and as AC began to give chase the ref sounded his whistle. TIG had withstood the final blows with authority, and at last the coveted Arda Cup was theirs!

The sagging and defeated members of AC Beleriand gave quick polite pats and handshakes to the TIG players and jogged off the field, leaving TIG free to bask in the glory of the title. The stadium bells and all the bells of the city sounded in unison, huge lamps sitting on the tops of every tall building in Valimar were reflected to shine at the stadium to give the arena a sort of halo of light, flags bearing the colors and devices of Tol In Gaurhoth were raised at points all over the stadium, and confetti rained down from the sky as huge eagles swept over carrying bags of the stuff! Valimar was doing this hosting thing right.

The TIG players motioned for their fans to join them on the field and the Wights, Wolves and assorted characters with them needed to second invitation, and soon they had surrounded the TIG players and had them lifted into the air, passing them about the throng so that everyone would get a chance to slap every player on the back. Every player on the field had done what was asked of them and had even gone beyond what could be expected. Discipline, intelligence, strength, speed, accuracy, strategy and selflessness had been on display in perfect blends. TIG had faced the best that Arda had to offer and emerged victorious!

AC Beleriand 1-2 Tol In Gaurhoth
on target 5-5
tot shots 14-13
GOALS:
*33, 0-1 Thuringwethil (NerWight)
*71, 1-1 Feanor (Eol)
*84, 1-2 InzilWolf (PhantomWolf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACBel- Rochallor, Aegnor
*TIG- NilpWolf, SallyWight

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Final Standings:

• (1) - champion
• (2) - runner-up
• (3) - third place
• (4) - fourth place
• (q) - quarterfinalist
• (o) - reached knockout stage
• (x) - failed to reach knockout stage

Bracket:



Power Rank:



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:

GOALS

6
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Curufin (FC Valinor)
Túrin (Hithlum)

4
Eöl (AC Beleriand)
PhantomWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
InzilWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Arien (Valimar)
Ar-Pharazôn (Armenelos)
Scatha (Wilderland)
Glaurung (Nargothrond)

3
Beleg (Hithlum)
Thuringwethil (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Hador (Hithlum)
Maeglin (Gondolin)
Argon (FC Valinor)
Húrin (Hithlum)
Celegorm (FC Valinor)
Maedhros (Inter Beleriand)
Ancalagon (Angband)
Sauron (Barad-dûr)
Tuor (Gondolin)
Eärendil(The Havens)
Oromë (Real Valinor)

ASSISTS

4
Eöl (AC Beleriand)
Beleg (Doriath)
Yavanna (FC Valinor)
Angrod (AC Beleriand)

3
PhantomWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Thuringwethil (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Finrod (Nargothrond)
Aredhel (Tirion)
Míriel (Real Valinor)
Elros (Armenelos)

GOALKEEPING

1. Elrond (Eriador) - 15/18 (83.33%)
2. Ungoliant (Anfauglith) - 13/16 (81.25%)
3. Tulkas (Real Valinor) – 17/21 (80.95%)
4. Arvedui (Arnor) - 21/26 (80.77%)
5. Marach (AC Beleriand) - 25/31 (80.65%)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

The lads of The Matchday decided to take an early (?) holiday and left us with this list. No limits on players per team. This is their list of the twenty-two best players of the 2013 Arda Cup

The First Team (4-2-3-1):

Marach (AC Beleriand)
He was already a good goalkeeper last year, but this year he made the leap to become one of the best, anchoring one of the tightest defences in Arda. His save rate of 80.65% was the highest among the four semifinalist goalkeepers, and fifth best overall.

Fingolfin (AC Beleriand)
The leader of AC Beleriand's back line. He has contributed less to their offence (mostly because they now have width in their front four), but could be called upon to go forward and attack when needed.

NilpWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Scoring an all-important goal in TiG's opening win vs Angband, he is as good playing in the centre as he is in his primary role as an attacking left-back. Túrin might have embarrassed him in their aerial duels during the semifinals, but he kept him scoreless when it mattered.

Balrog #5 (Hithlum)
Hithlum also acquired Galdor and Gundor to improve their defence (as well as Arda Cup winner Huor in goal), but Balrog #5 was the rock of their back line. Along with his strengths in traditional centre-back skills (strong and powerful in the air), he is also as good with the ball on his feet as midfielders. He was the outlet that allowed Hithlum to bypass Nargothrond's aggressive high pressing during their last sixteen thrashing of the Cave Elves.

BoroWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
His domination of the right flank in TiG's game vs Armenelos cemented his status as the lungs of the Wolves' team; his defensive performance against Hithlum's Húrin was equally impressive. A good crosser as well as a positionally solid defender, he is a quality two-way full-back who stands out because of his sheer energy.

LegateWight (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
One of the best pure defensive midfielders in the tournament. LegateWight didn't show up in the score sheet at all, but his ability to protect the back four, cutting off through passes, marking midfield runners, and denying space to opposing playmakers, ensured that TiG's defenders had an easier time dealing with Ancalagon, Gothmog, Tuor, Ar-Pharazôn, Túrin, and Fëanor.

Hador (Hithlum)
AC Beleriand, Eriador, and FC Valinor aside, the idea of a passing midfield has not yet made much inroads into Arda Cup squad-building considerations. Energy and stamina remain the greater consideration when choosing midfielders: Hador in that sense was the ideal top-flight midfielder--excellent on the tackle and in the penalty area (with three goals and two assists) who ran for the whole ninety minutes. He also played left wing-back against Nargothrond without a hitch.

Curufin (FC Valinor)
The FC Valinor striker is clearly of the same class as the two-star max contract forwards Fëanor and Túrin, matching their production with six goals and two assists in seven games. His team has fallen short of their goal once again, but their failure to beat AC Beleriand was more a team issue than a personal one for Curufin.

Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Playing behind Eöl for most of this year, the Fiery Boot still managed to be joint top scorer of the tournament. A devastating finisher with tricky dribbling, clever movement, and uncanny positional instinct, he managed to gel immediately with new wing recruits Angrod and Aegnor and continue his partnership with Eöl to give AC Bel one of the most potent offences in the tournament.

PhantomWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
A versatile player, having played as number ten, right-sided midfielder, and right winger, the Phantasista has clearly been the best player of TiG's dangerous attacking trio. His right-sided partnership with BoroWolf was the best wing partnership in the tournament (rivalled only perhaps by Inter's Beren and Lúthien).

Túrin (Hithlum)
He returns to prominence after a disappointing 2012 campaign. Renewing his partnership with Beleg, Túrin had been the recipient of eight crosses from the winger, scoring thrice from them. He remains a dangerous penalty box presence, with his strength, speed, and nose for goal, able to score as adeptly with his head as with either foot.



The Second Team (4-4-2):

Elrond (Eriador)
His ridiculous one or less goals conceded streak extends to 18 games, despite playing against Hithlum.

Alatar (Barad-dûr)
The Black Tower's defence improved drastically from last year's shambles, conceding around 12 shots per game despite having only 47% possession on average--if only their offence were clicking. The addition of the Blue Wizards, as well as the growth of goalkeeper Grishnákh, was the reason for it. Alatar almost contributed to a goal against Eriador, and he converted his penalty in the shootout, so he gets the nod ahead of Pallando.

Eönwë (FC Valinor)
Replaced Penlod as the rock of FC Val's defence without a hitch. Also scored a crucial goal against city rivals Real Valinor in the quarterfinals.

Gil-galad (Eriador)
Eriador conceded less than 11 shots per game, despite having less of the ball compared to last year. The Elven king often marked the opposition's most dangerous threat; his slip-up against Túrin in the quarterfinals was his only big mistake, but it proved costly.

Maglor (FC Valinor)
Although not as aggressive as he had been last year, he remains a solid full-back in the Fingolfin mould--a defensively solid player with attacking nous.

Yavanna (FC Valinor)
Started slowly but ended up being joint leader in assists. Nominally placed on the right of FC Val's midfield, she often moved centrally to help control possession and link up midfield and attack.

SallyWight (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Another energetic box-to-box midfielder makes the list. She helped press and disrupt the build-up plays of Armenelos, Hithlum, and AC Bel; with her forward runs she scored two goals and created one more for the Wolves.

Elros (Armenelos)
With Armenelos' wing-backs disappointing, a tremendous creative burden was often placed on Elros' shoulders. His hand in five of the Royals' eight tournament goals meant that he had done well bearing that burden.

Beleg (Hithlum)
One of the best wingers in the game with his speed, dribbling, and crossing ability, he was the most consistent outlet and creator in a Hithlum front line full of finishers.

InzilWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Athletic, hardworking, intelligent, InzilWolf's movement had opposing defences bending in uncomfortable ways, creating space for PhantomWolf to get his wonderstrikes in or to wreak havoc on a disorganised back line. He is also a decent finisher with his four goals.

Eöl (AC Beleriand)
The Dark Boot perfectly understands his role at the tip of AC Beleriand's attacking lance--drag opposing defenders out of position and create space for Fëanor to run into. He has not lost the knack of going to the wings to combine with his new teammates Angrod and Aegnor, and his four goals + assists is the best production among the non-Túrin/Fëanor/Curufin crowd.



Just Missed the Cut

GK ShastaWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
DF Tilion (Real Valinor)
DF Ingwion (Real Valinor)
MF Argon (FC Valinor)
MF Denethor (AC Beleriand)
FW Thuringwethil (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
FW Húrin (Hithlum)

[the phantom]

Looking Back: Commenting on Arda Cup 2013
by Philip McPhantom, MESPN News

Another Arda Cup come and gone. There were teams and players that excelled and some that let their supporters down. Here are a few brief notes on what made up Arda Cup 2013 and in some cases what it means in the future.

1) The Blessed Realm did a fine job of hosting overall. They were given a tough task when the miscreants from The Barrow-Downs arrived, but they did as well as could be expected. They did particularly well with the post-game celebration in the finals, and the cup ceremony was seamless.

2) Amon Hen Coliseum continues to get better every year, both the stadium itself and the surrounding accommodations. Arda Cup cannot have a tournament without sending at least a game or two there. And as a nice bonus this year, the home team Anduin got to win the group in their own arena.

3) Morgoth and Angband aren't dead, they just got a bad draw. They couldn't win their group because the champs were there, and TIG is frankly a matchup problem for Angband. So, since Angband finished second they had to travel for their first playoff match, and who should be waiting but Feanor and 2nd place AC Beleriand. So Angband was knocked out of the tournament by the top two squads, and remember that ACBel needed overtime to pull out the win. If things had gone the other way who knows?

4) Angfauglith is very unhappy with the way Morgoth has been running the operation, and shortly after being eliminated some of the other investors managed to force Morgoth into shrinking his percentage holding down below 50%. As a first symbolic order of business they changed their name from the Morgoth-given "Angfauglith" to the proper "Anfauglith". No one knows what their roster strategy will be for next season, but rest assured that Morgoth won't be making all the decisions.

5) Ar-Pharazon continues to score goals when no one is looking. The golden-boy put up four more this year, and with Elros organizing things from the midfield Ar Phar will likely continue to add to his totals.

6) Sauron is making cash, but not a lot of fans these days. He's been aggressively focused on gaining and maintaining ownership of various squads and keeping a healthy profit margin, but his teams have not been the most competitive. This year Barad-Dur seemed to take a little step forward, but it remains to be seen if that will turn into a trend.

7) Inter Beleriand continues to play second fiddle to AC Beleriand. While both FC and Real Valinor have made names for themselves Inter just hasn't stepped out of the shadow of AC. They have a few Arda-class talents, but somehow they can't break out.

8) Several high-price squads are going to have trouble keeping their rosters intact. Teams like AC and FC have no room to grow before hitting the luxury tax, and some of their players have probably earned pay bumps. There might be other organizations out there more willing to offer them the pay they want, or the player may simply want a change of scene or a more favorable position and their current squad would have to offer greater incentive to keep them. And after a season like this one, you can't expect Feanor to give up any pay.

9) Eriador is still really tough to score on, but their scorers didn't hold up their end of the bargain. Doubtless Elrond will be shopping around for a way to return to last year's success, but will he have to sacrifice some defense?

10) Gondolin continues to hover in the middle of Arda squads, despite strong financial backing. They have solid role players and Maeglin continues to earn his pay as a creator and a scorer, but they need another elite player, preferably at the rear, to rise up and challenge the heavy-weights.

11) The southern kingdoms definitely took a step back this year. Gondor, Minas Tirith and Rohan all made the playoffs last year, with MT and Rohan advancing to the quarters, but all three teams were left in groups this season. They cannot afford to lose some of their best talent to other squads- there is a lot of talent out there that could play for them but didn't (Gandalf & Shadowfax, Eorl & Felarof, Elendil, Isildur, Aragorn, Arwen, etc.).

12) The Misty Mts is probably the most interesting and diverse team out there, with Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Trolls, Eagles, Wolves, Balrogs, and even mountains represented. It was nice to see them make the playoffs this year, and with a large group of backers it will be interesting to see if they can continue getting better.

13) Nargothrond's defense needs fixing. While they managed to restrain solid attacks from Tirion and The Sea this year to an extent, they were reminded yet again that possession alone isn't a defense. Two years in a row they've had a squad dump 5 goals on them. Admittedly the scoring binges were by Feanor-led and Turin-led offenses, but still- that isn't the way for a strong squad to exit a tournament.

14) The Sea lacks a killer instinct. Despite solid players at every position and a very enviable defense they were left in the group stage. Draws aren't good enough sometimes and The Sea could really use a clutch scorer to turn some draws into wins.

15) FC Valinor was the complete package this year, but got edged out by AC Beleriand in the semis. FC doesn't need to gain any pieces, but the question is can they keep their team intact? Their payroll can't really go any higher, while Curufin, Yavanna, Eonwe, Argon, and Maglor could all justifiably ask for more money. Will other squads try to poach them?

16) The Barrow-Downs is headed in the right direction, adding some respectable Middle-Earth talent and still staying cheap. They're no longer the doormat they once were and they still have ample room to grow. The Barrow-Downs management group obviously knows how to do it. (Their other squad, TIG, took the title after all!)