elgoléador 3 - 1 Duivels (377623484)

Dark skies made the crowd of 1019 at elmagnifico a little nervous, but the rain held off. Silviu Popa was the appointed referee with assistance provided by IJsbrand Muijzer and Michael Limbach. elgoléador tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Doorseele - Verheyen, Kudri, Hannon, Fack - Ward, Desimpelaere, Joris, Belouchi - Bryssinck, Ringoir.

A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Duivels. They fielded: Kończyński - Taylor, Ferong, Hansson, Ţăranu, Coignard - Kapanga, Weratschnig, Graftiaux, Lombilla - Hormiga.

elgoléador were relying on their ability to counter-attack. elgoléador's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 7 minutes gone, but B. Verheyen's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. After 17 minutes, the defensive line of elgoléador created a counterattack through the middle that gave C. Ringoir a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. Duivels took the lead after 24 minutes making the score 0 - 1. W. Weratschnig placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. elgoléador's S. Belouchi lived up to his reputation for finding unexpected ways to get the ball in the net when he sent a nifty little pass over to C. Ringoir who finished for 1 - 1 with 28 minutes of the match played. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when Á. Hormiga slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against F. Doorseele, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. With 30 minutes played, W. Weratschnig of Duivels fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Duivels had to manage with a reduced squad after 31 minutes, as K. Ferong got sent off for a needless foul away from the game's action. elgoléador's B. Verheyen went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. Duivels's A. Coignard could have put the guests one up after 33 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but F. Doorseele was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Duivels, with 57 percent of the ball.

After 61 minutes, elgoléador's D. Ward surprised everyone as he managed to intercept a pass intended for the opposing keeper and flip it in, making the score 2 - 1. Duivels's J. Kapanga got himself booked for a foul. Due to a severely mistimed tackle, T. Bryssinck of elgoléador spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. With 75 minutes gone, I. Desimpelaere suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by elgoléador caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. B. Verheyen increased the lead for elgoléador to 3 - 1, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! Duivels claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

elgoléador's top performer was clearly I. Desimpelaere. On the other hand, D. Ward's play was disheartening. Duivels's best player was W. Weratschnig. K. Hansson was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.