Vorwärts 4 - 0 Grasnarbe (348116387)

It had rained all day, but 65000 hardy fans still made it out to Grüne Au. Jo Lievens was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Martin Genelin and Ambrosio Zuñiga. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Vorwärts. Starters: Igellund - Di Gianfrancesco, Ramos García, Valério - Meusburger, Witzmann, Greinstetter, Hoeland, Rupprecht - Kordič, Catană.

Grasnarbe decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Weidl - Ristl, Hochstetter, Morsch-Zlatkovic, Kaulsdorf - Faktor, Bargteheide, Layer, Zimer - Granados, Čelica.

For their match strategy, Grasnarbe had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 12 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from A. Hoeland, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Vorwärts put themselves up 2 - 0 when A. Di Gianfrancesco broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Vorwärts's L. Igellund left the field after 28 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was B. Kriesmair. J. Faktor was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. A. Hoeland squirmed through their central defence after 31 minutes, increasing the lead to 3 - 0. With 33 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Grasnarbe resulted in a counterattack that set K. Zimer free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. The bench was restless, and with 35 minutes passed Grasnarbe's coach gave S. Zotzmann the opportunity the player had been hoping for. J. Layer reluctantly left the field. Vorwärts's R. Rupprecht saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 42 minutes. Grasnarbe mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 43 minutes, but J. Ristl was unable to convert from short range. D. Kaulsdorf of Grasnarbe received a yellow card after 44 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. It was 3 - 0 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to Vorwärts, who controlled the ball 61 percent of the time.

After 48 minutes, following yet another great corner, R. Rupprecht's flick on at the near post reached F. Meusburger, who was just wide with his snapshot - the ball went out for a goal kick. The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 80 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving D. Kaulsdorf completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. After 82 minutes, the defensive line of Grasnarbe created a counterattack through the middle that gave J. Bargteheide a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. After 86 minutes A. Kordič made a speedy advance and dropped the ball to M. Catană who shuffled it past the keeper. The score was now 4 - 0. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Vorwärts lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Vorwärts had most of the ball, with 62 percent of possession.

Most important Vorwärts player was A. Kordič. On the other hand, B. Kriesmair's play was disheartening. J. Weidl performed admirably for Grasnarbe. M. Morsch-Zlatkovic turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 0.