CGNU 0 - 8 Mfc (286472159)

The 12000 spectators at CGNU Community Park were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Engelhard Stärker was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jiro Ina and Rune Stentoft. CGNU had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Bent - Ruffles, Wessman, Spengler, Cody - Mullins, Gaskell-Bhuller, Fenn, Walsh - Pumphrey, Nightingale.

Mfc tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Op de Becq - Callejo, Génova, Corazzo - Ingelander, Rabeling, Martinsen, Visca, Steffensen - Westerbeck, Álvarez.

Mfc used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. It was a hot and sunny day, and several players seemed worn out. Maybe this was why P. Westerbeck found an unusual amount of space for his snappy footwork. It was obvious that team Mfc had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. 20 minutes into the game, P. Westerbeck almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. Mfc had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 24 minutes allowed I. Callejo to score for Mfc. The scoreboard now read 0 - 1. Mfc's M. Génova got himself booked for a foul. Given a free kick close to the byline, Mfc tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let J. Ingelander slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 0 - 2, 34 minutes into the game. Confident in their lead, Mfc's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The referee signalled a penalty 41 minutes into the game following an offence which looked like it was outside the box. I. Martinsen knocked it home to make the score 0 - 3. A penalty was awarded after 42 minutes, and I. Martinsen made the most of his chance to put Mfc up by another goal. 0 - 4 for the visitors. 43 minutes in, CGNU's S. Walsh received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Halftime score was 0 - 4. Possession in this half belonged to Mfc, who controlled the ball 80 percent of the time.

After 48 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed I. Martinsen to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 5. That made three goals for I. Martinsen and he was marked down for the hat trick. Usually a powerful player on the field, M. Génova looked kind of pale and tired under the hot sun. Mfc increased their lead after 59 minutes when P. Westerbeck broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 6, much to the home crowd's dismay. 71 minutes into the game, J. Ingelander had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came R. Passos. With 72 minutes played, Mfc put themselves up 0 - 7 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was M. Génova. The home keeper was stunned 73 minutes into the match when he misjudged the free kick by I. Martinsen and dived in the wrong direction. The visitors increased the lead to 0 - 8. Mfc came close to extending their lead as P. Westerbeck delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 74 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting. Mfc enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 83 percent of possession.

CGNU's top performer was clearly G. Pumphrey. On the other hand, B. Mullins's play was disheartening. Mfc's best player was P. Westerbeck. R. Passos was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 8.