Kickers 2 - 3 Oberst (314667028)

Dark skies made the crowd of 31220 at Letzigrund a little nervous, but the rain held off. Giancarlo Casalini was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Joost van Rhijn and Michael Evans. Kickers started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Ofstad - Venerucci, Pérez, Kara - von Guttenberg, Engesser, Forlani, Robustelli, Puurula - Meléndez, Bidet.

Oberst decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Middelmann - Gerena, Rietiker, Lequesne - Wetzstein, Flinkkvist, Jacobsson, Kullendahl, Gade - Barilla, Lattanzi.

Oberst mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, M. Lattanzi got himself booked. The manager of Oberst was not happy. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when M. Lattanzi slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against O. Ofstad, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. With 32 minutes played, the excellent ball from the wing by Oberst's M. Gade reached F. Barilla's head, and he is not one to miss such an opportunity - 0 - 1. F. Barilla could have put his team up another goal 36 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. After 37 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for N. Kullendahl who increased Oberst's lead to 0 - 2. Kickers had to make a substitution after 38 minutes. R. Engesser limped off the field and was replaced by G. Schumpbach. 0 - 2 was the halftime score. Oberst enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

The home crowd cheered when, after 47 minutes, F. Barilla's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. A marvellous Kickers effort on the right-hand side resulted in a goal after 48 minutes by A. Robustelli, making the score 1 - 2. 58 minutes into the game, Oberst worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. M. Puurula made a superb strike after 67 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. Kickers's Á. Kara put his head to a well placed ball, lifted in from the left, and scored to make the score 2 - 2 with 77 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock. The terraces were silenced after 88 minutes when Oberst's M. Lattanzi put the guests ahead 2 - 3, following an attack on the right. Neither team were able to dominate possession this half.

The most dominating Kickers player was without a doubt C. Forlani. On the other hand, G. Schumpbach's play was disheartening. F. Barilla performed admirably for Oberst. M. Lattanzi was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 3.