Fudoshin 1 - 2 Vertigo (389413059)

64506 punters turned up at The Playboy Mansion, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Marko North was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Thomas Keil and Noel Mercer. Fudoshin had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Sletskov - Krause, Thomsen - Gaebel, Águas, Nasser, Korsholm, Hoboldt Jensen - Jerinić, Drejer, Kljaić.

Vertigo tactics involved an interesting 4-3-3 combination. The following players took the field: Ðinđić - Bodea, Laustsen, Vester, Haase - Trust, Schmidt, Lundgaard - Lundberg, Karlsen, Paaske Sørensen.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Vertigo. Many thought N. Nasser ought to have been awarded a penalty 2 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around M. Ðinđić after a determined run through the middle. The goal to make it 0 - 1 was scored by R. Karlsen after 3 minutes, following an opportunistic counterattack down the middle by Vertigo. The referee showed Vertigo's H. Vester the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Fudoshin's M. Sletskov went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. Fudoshin's B. Drejer made a successful breakthrough on the left after 9 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. After 25 minutes, A. Hoboldt Jensen got through on the right and was very close to equalising for the home side, but didn't get the shot away. R. Karlsen received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 40 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 0 - 2. The Vertigo fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. 0 - 2 was the score after the first half. Fudoshin enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 84 percent of possession.

It took several tries, but Fudoshin managed to break through on the left after 47 minutes, getting the ball to B. Drejer who easily reduced the lead to make the score 1 - 2. Fudoshin's A. Hoboldt Jensen almost tied things up with 50 minutes played after breaking through on the right, but his shot deflected off the post. Fudoshin put pressure on the visitors' central defence 58 minutes into the game, but B. Drejer couldn't find an opening. Fudoshin's M. Kljaić was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 63 minutes. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Fudoshin, but J. Korsholm's shot went over the bar. In the lead, Vertigo adjusted their style of play with 65 minutes gone. In an effort to secure the lead, Vertigo changed their tactic after 65 minutes. After 65 minutes, the Vertigo players received new instructions from their manager on how to keep in control of the game. R. Karlsen left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 65 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. B. Høyer was the replacement. Vertigo almost scored after a counterattack 68 minutes into the match, but K. Lundberg took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net. Vertigo's I. Haase left the field after 74 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was M. Lüthje. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Fudoshin, with 75 percent of the ball.

D. Águas performed admirably for Fudoshin. However, M. Sletskov made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Vertigo player was without a doubt K. Lundberg. M. Lüthje was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 2.