Potsdam 0 - 2 HSMA (379456137)

The 2450 fans in attendance at Potsdam Kickers Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Robert ''Knöta'' Svensson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Driekus Alting Bles and Paul-Werner von Ellm. Potsdam started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Fassbinder - Cuche, Szwec, Fedon - Kramer, Singh, Al-Akhzamy, Neumer, von Buchwaldt - Heintze, Liehner.

HSMA had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Weickert - Eriksson, Pasquet, Iljin - Hadzhimitov, Pollard, Proksch, Folta, Grothaus - Evangelisti, Xarez.

Today, HSMA's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. After 9 minutes HSMA's D. Pollard contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Some great play up the middle by Potsdam led to a chance for F. Liehner to score after 27 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. HSMA's C. Xarez finished emphatically to make the score 0 -1 after 31 minutes, after the enigmatic W. Grothaus pulled a delightful long pass from his box of tricks to bypass the defence. C. Xarez increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 2. Potsdam's J. von Buchwaldt was shown a yellow card after 36 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A. Pasquet received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly 41 minutes into the match, probably out of lack of experience, and almost let an opponent score. The cannonball from 35 metres by B. Proksch of HSMA was an impressive sight, but didn't make it into the net. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 2. Potsdam claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

S. Evangelisti didn't pace himself at all, and after a series of daring offensive runs he was too tired to help out in the defensive play. The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance of getting one back as C. Heintze tried lifting the ball over keeper H. Weickert. Unfortunately, the ball went just over the bar. Potsdam had a brilliant opportunity to reply as A. Szwec received a high ball from the right, striking the ball in the air. Only H. Weickert's reflexes saved him. F. Liehner challenged the visitors' central defence eagerly, producing a good chance 75 minutes into the game as he went for a through ball. But, as so many times before, the guests' defensive efforts got the best of it. There was concern in the stands when, at the 81 minute mark, Potsdam's M. Al-Akhzamy hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. Possession in this half belonged to Potsdam, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

Potsdam's best player was C. Heintze. G. Fedon turned in a dismal performance, however. B. Proksch performed admirably for HSMA. I. Hadzhimitov was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 2.