Hapoel 8 - 0 Wittenberg (379206361)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 2545 at Blom Field today. Edmundo Jardim was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Danilo Boldizzoni and Martin Tungström. Hapoel started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Amrani - Kominko, Rappaport - Calvani, Zebunke, Aceña, Ostadi, Zsarnay - Graps, Memişoğlu, Török.

Wittenberg had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. They fielded: Ramseyer - Theuerkaufer, Waldsaum, Kupfermühle, Schutzbier, Filusch - Schwarzbeck, Schaukal, Hermansson, Deibl - Eric.

Down the middle came D. Waldsaum, making a fantastic play that nearly had Wittenberg take the lead after 6 minutes, but S. Amrani preserved the tie. 15 minutes into the game, Wittenberg seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a inadequate level of organisation. Hapoel fans held their breath as İ. Memişoğlu scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Hapoel to 2 - 0 as H. Graps finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. I. Zsarnay increased the lead for Hapoel to 3 - 0, 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! Hapoel increased the lead as P. Ostadi struck to make the score 4 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. By now, the players in Hapoel felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Hapoel put themselves up 5 - 0 when J. Kominko broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. 5 - 0 was the score after the first half. Hapoel had most of the ball, with 77 percent of possession.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Wittenberg had solid organisation. 62 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as D. Török broke through, making the score 6 - 0 for Hapoel. 64 minutes into the game, Wittenberg seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to solid. With 66 minutes played, Hapoel put themselves up 7 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to İ. Memişoğlu, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, H. Graps got himself booked. The manager of Hapoel was not happy. 84 minutes into the game, İ. Memişoğlu had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came D. den Hollander. One of many good crosses from V. Calvani on the wing was received and skillfully taken care of by D. den Hollander, who scored for Hapoel. 8 - 0 J. Kominko of Hapoel was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. D. Török unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. D. Török was ever so close to scoring after an excellent corner was beautifully flicked on by I. Zsarnay, but the ball bounced off the post to safety. Possession in this half belonged to Hapoel, who controlled the ball 75 percent of the time.

Most important Hapoel player was H. Graps. S. Amrani was a disappointment, however. Wittenberg's top performer was clearly D. Filusch. However, E. Hermansson made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 8 - 0.