Rhino´s 3 - 1 Gladenbach (368749767)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 29020 had shown up at Frankensteins Höhle for the match. Jón Svart Jacobsen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Heiko Lünen and Johan Kruse. Rhino´s started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Mayrhofer - Burkel, Keen, Zweig - Kasparek, Falck, Fajth, Engerer, Benages - Deguai, Matosas.

Gladenbach decided to use a 4-5-1 set up. The following players had been chosen: Blanco - Barulho, Bielicz, McGuinness, Polk - Burgk, Lafargue, Ionas, Girafa, Debacker - Ingemarsson.

Gladenbach were relying on their ability to counter-attack. L. Kasparek gave Rhino´s the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 Rhino´s's H. Burkel swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Rhino´s to 2 - 0 as F. Falck finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. With 39 minutes played, A. Deguai could have brought this one home for Rhino´s as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Rhino´s had most of the ball, with 64 percent of possession.

A. Deguai could have increased the lead after 47 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. Gladenbach almost scored after a swift counterattack 48 minutes into the game, but M. Barulho put the shot from the left flank just outside the goal. N. Matosas had a fantastic opportunity to put Rhino´s up another goal 50 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. The counterattack by Gladenbach resulted in a free kick that M. McGuinness bent under the crossbar - 2 - 1! Gladenbach needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 60 minutes G. Lafargue made way for W. Stochniałek. 61 minutes into the match Rhino´s's È. Benages viciously shoved another player from behind while going for a loose ball and was sent off the pitch with a red card. A loud groan was heard from the fans of Gladenbach, as L. Debacker left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. R. Molins took his place on the field. L. Kasparek should probably have put his team up another goal after 71 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by A. Blanco kept the visitors in the game. Rhino´s's M. Zweig was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 74 minutes. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. N. Matosas squirmed through their central defence after 82 minutes, increasing the lead to 3 - 1. Rhino´s's M. Keen saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 83 minutes. Rhino´s claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 67 percent.

Rhino´s's best player was N. Matosas. E. Mayrhofer was a disappointment, however. W. Stochniałek performed admirably for Gladenbach. On the other hand, S. Bielicz's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 1.