Kickers 2 - 1 Sparta (280411119)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 57816 to Berend Kroekenstoel Arena. Hans Mohr was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Renato Nogueira and Antonio Clementi. Kickers decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Joyau - Vaneynde, Vredenbregt, Serimanakrit - Schopman, Zuiderwijk, Bermúdez, Ram, Kahlman - Naeff, Vrisekoop.

Sparta had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Starters: Couceiro - Devreese, Berdillo, Alfaro - Cola, Marmelstein, Layike, Kočović - Crijne, Razokevičius, Wiemers.

Sparta used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. A. Schopman caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 6 minutes. This gave Kickers the 1 - 0 lead. Kickers's L. Naeff had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 15 minutes having been played. Z. Hamid was the replacement. Kickers's P. Vrisekoop increased the lead to 2 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 26 minutes. Kickers's P. Vrisekoop swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 0. Kickers had most of the ball, with 55 percent of possession.

After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Z. Hamid got himself booked. The manager of Kickers was not happy. The home team's fans were upset when, after 53 minutes, the visiting L. Crijne broke through the central defence and kicked the ball past the keeper. 2 - 1 was the score. Coming from the right, P. Vrisekoop almost managed to score another goal for Kickers, but his header was tipped over the bar by the visitors' keeper. V. Razokevičius of Sparta was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Kickers had to make a substitution after 73 minutes. D. Vaneynde limped off the field and was replaced by R. Croom-Carter. Sparta had a chance to level the score as V. Razokevičius suddenly found himself free in the middle of the box with only the keeper to beat, but he misjudged the finish, and only managed to hit the bar. R. Croom-Carter of Kickers received a yellow card after 83 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Kickers's O. Kahlman had an excellent opportunity after 84 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! Possession in this half belonged to Kickers, who controlled the ball 56 percent of the time.

Most important Kickers player was L. Zuiderwijk. R. Croom-Carter was a disappointment, however. B. Berdillo performed admirably for Sparta. S. Kočović on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 1.