VIP 0 - 2 Linč (379783188)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 1111 at Diablova Arena today. Bastien Garde was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Albert Fernández and Alewijn Thate. VIP started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Urizar - Lidor, Buchard, Nyegaard - Beláustegui, Maholiak, Konkoly, Enemark, Stocco - Dubáň, Taxwell.

Linč decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: D'Ortona - Trastulli, Kamír, Di Giacomo - Wolbers, Bondin, Grädel, Bettella, Buferli - Özbay, Kayahan.

VIP demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. For their match strategy, Linč had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. Linč had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 9 minutes in when G. Bondin came up alone against J. Urizar who managed a block. 11 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for VIP to take the lead after a good cross from the right found E. Buchard alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. The guests almost went up by a goal after 12 minutes when G. Grädel came through and shot from the right. The ball bounced harmlessly off the post, though. A badly positioned defensive formation on a free kick after 13 minutes led to Linč's O. Kayahan giving the visitors the lead 0 - 1. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from G. Buferli after 15 minutes, and prevented Linč from going up another goal. 0 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Linč, with 55 percent of the ball.

Although the whole team were struggling to impress, VIP's M. Stocco was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 46 minutes. G. Sugarotti was given a chance to change things around. With 46 minutes played, the VIP coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. A. Meulenberg came on, E. Buchard had to leave the fray. VIP needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 46 minutes M. Maholiak made way for B. Čabák. G. Buferli seemed to be impossibly far from the goal, but he looked up and bang! A real cracker for Linč after 48 minutes. 0 - 2. S. Özbay left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 55 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. H. Zenz was the replacement. The coach of Linč was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 55 minutes, J. Lakatos came on for G. Buferli. VIP's A. Beláustegui got himself booked for a foul. The player down was J. Lakatos. The Linč bench looked worried for a while, but in the end he managed to get up. After the ball was lifted in from the left, I. Wolbers was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 59 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. Linč came close to extending their lead as O. Kayahan delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 68 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting. Linč claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

The most dominating VIP player was without a doubt A. Meulenberg. M. Lidor was a disappointment, however. O. Kayahan performed admirably for Linč. On the other hand, G. D'Ortona's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 2.