strijp 5 - 2 !Kung (374652334)

It was an exceptionally sunny day for the crowd of 31997 that came out to The Old Firm. Brett Dubose was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Berend Eussen and Frank Wittek. strijp decided to use a 5-3-2 set up. Starters: Donners - Linighan, Ervin, Norén, Baranda, Viadana - Bejinariu, Holzapfl, Brancati - Koskinen, Acerbi.

!Kung had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. The following players took the field: Marsis - Moreira Gonçalves, Rossi - Yordam, Parfait, Loonstein, Gaviraghi, Oggiano - Bettella, Mollard, Vienot.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for strijp. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 11 minutes into the match left !Kung's T. Loonstein completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 36 minutes gave strijp a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and M. Koskinen stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 The home crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief when W. Bettella was unable to put the ball in the net after his show of skill down the left 37 minutes into the match. He was seen beating the pitch in frustration at missing such a good chance to give his team the lead! Having just succeeded in blocking a dangerous counter attack, the defending team was outwitted by the follow-up strijp free kick. The routine was expertly executed as the ball was shifted quickly to one side of the box, then back to the other. M. Koskinen appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie. 2 - 1, after 42 minutes. The visitors refused to give in and, after 43 minutes, W. Bettella evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 2 - 2 It was 2 - 2 at the break. !Kung had most of the ball, with 66 percent of possession.

With their counter attack move halted 60 minutes into the game, strijp were left with a free kick. The ball is passed straight through to the other end of the penalty area, with hopes for it to reach H. Bejinariu. However, he didn't have his wits about him and the ball went out. I. Norén of strijp received a yellow card after 67 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. B. Acerbi showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for strijp after 74 minutes to make the score 3 - 2. The score became 4 - 2 at 80 minutes into the game, when strijp were given a penalty which D. Baranda blasted straight down the middle giving the keeper no chance! After 84 minutes strijp tried to exploit their counterattacking skills, unfortunately, N. Brancati's shot sailed wide after his break down the right. The goal to make it 5 - 2 was scored by I. Norén after 88 minutes, following an opportunistic counterattack down the middle by strijp. By now, the players in strijp felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by !Kung, with 66 percent of the ball.

The most dominating strijp player was without a doubt M. Koskinen. M. Viadana on the other hand, had a terrible day. !Kung's top performer was clearly M. Vienot. On the other hand, I. Moreira Gonçalves's play was disheartening. The match ends 5 - 2.