Fancy 1 - 1 Hammer (375857437)

Due to an all-day shower, 48294 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Withrow Park. Walter Brekelmans was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Cuono Cotugno and Jur De Puyt. Fancy decided to use a 5-4-1 set up. The following players had been chosen: Plamondon - Littomericzky, Paquet, Bell, Talbot, Łoś - Fernández, Jamal, Walsh, Wassell - Gómez.

Hammer tactics involved an interesting 5-4-1 combination. They fielded: Karpenko - Causse, Väli, Garoldi, Raqqi, Favreau - Nenezič, Loew, de Keizer, Ştefan - Tudor.

Today, Hammer's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. I. Gómez acted with superior experience when, 3 minutes into the match, he predicted a pass, intercepted it and then finished off with a goal. 1 - 0 for Fancy! S. Łoś almost put Fancy ahead another goal when he curled a free kick over the defensive wall and almost into the net, but the visitors' keeper got there just in time to knock it wide. G. Deschenes was called on to replace Hammer's C. Karpenko after 17 minutes following a nasty collision. A lot of people in the terraces claimed the penalty resulting in Hammer's A. Nenezič equaliser for 1 - 1 was a mistake by the referee. He did, however, have a very good view of the situation from his position. Fancy had a good opportunity to take the lead as C. Jamal came up the left side, but he struck the ball weakly and it went straight into the arms of G. Deschenes. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Fancy, with 57 percent of the ball.

J. de Keizer had a good opportunity to give Hammer the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. Fancy's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 50 minutes gone, but I. Gómez's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. The referee showed Hammer's E. Favreau the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. As the 65 minute mark approached, the Hammer coach decided it was time for a substitution. M. Loew reluctantly made way for R. Caraman on the pitch. After 65 minutes, the Hammer coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving A. Nenezič off the field. D. Kariti took his place. With 69 minutes showing on the scoreboard, Fancy had a chance to take the lead after being awarded a penalty, but S. Łoś's shot was blocked by G. Deschenes. Fancy had most of the ball, with 52 percent of possession.

Fancy's top performer was clearly C. Jamal. On the other hand, G. Talbot's play was disheartening. R. Caraman performed admirably for Hammer. M. Causse was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.