Hsmnch 1 - 3 Fortis (377030657)

Clouds darkened the skies at glorium Hsmnch Arena as 26500 spectators turned up for the match. Alexander Hoerth was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gordon Brook and Malik Šašić. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Hsmnch. The following players had been chosen: Barbanti - Mateos Romero, Naip, Giani - Palareti, Xira, Bujakowski, Fuglsig, Gavanelli - Gava, Camón.

Fortis had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. They fielded: Braksator - Schlump, Manarte, Nessler, Chwist - Pulga, Laneve, Kalm, Brinch, Hoffmann - Agena.

Today, Hsmnch's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. The visitors were very close to gaining the lead with a marvellous free kick after 4 minutes, but A. Barbanti made a beautiful one-handed save. After 8 minutes, Hsmnch's A. Giani fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! With 14 minutes played, Fortis's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to J. Agena he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 32 minutes gave Hsmnch a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and A. Giani stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 Fortis's opponents know to be wary of L. Pulga's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 37 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! R. Schlump had a good opportunity to give Fortis the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. 40 minutes into the match, Fortis nearly took the lead, as C. Hoffmann broke through on the right. A. Barbanti made the save, however. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Fortis had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

The guests almost went up by a goal after 49 minutes when T. Kalm came through and shot from the right. The ball bounced harmlessly off the post, though. M. Chwist would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. C. Treptow entered the game for Fortis as the match clock showed 60 minutes. 64 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Hsmnch to take the lead after a good cross from the right found F. Gava alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. Fortis's L. Pulga got himself booked for a foul. 70 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Fortis substitution. P. Maistri came on for D. Nessler. With the clock showing 73 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of Fortis resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by J. Agena in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. After 75 minutes, the Hsmnch coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving M. Camón off the field. C. Lualdi took his place. The corner kick from T. Kalm was powerfully met by the head of T. Brinch to make the score 1 - 2. With 80 minutes played, the Hsmnch coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. V. Lugones came on, I. Xira had to leave the fray. R. Schlump of Fortis took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 84 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 1 - 3. The coach of Fortis was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 85 minutes, V. Vargas came on for J. Agena. A late sliding challenge from L. Pulga was deemed to be his second yellow card offence by the referee, resulting in him being sent off, and Fortis left a man down. Hsmnch's L. Fuglsig had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 87 minutes having been played. S. Bojaxhiu was the replacement. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Fortis, with 54 percent of the ball.

Most important Hsmnch player was F. Gava. V. Lugones turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Fortis player was without a doubt A. Braksator. However, V. Manarte made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 3.