Robin 2 - 3 CIPHER (381276397)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 18823 to Arsenal. Ezequiel Aníbal Gauna was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Manolo Ilarduya and Tarro Ipskamp. Robin had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players took the field: Pedersen - de Araújo, San Sadurniño, Velichkov, Vaggelli - Martínez Díaz, Camara, Svensson, Guła - Romi, Dijoux.

CIPHER decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Ibn-Akram - Marhani, Goujon, Koks, Hassan - Ibn-Gibril, Montaner, Skrzecz, Brohus - Lugibihl, Abu-Hussain.

For their match strategy, Robin had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. CIPHER were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. The most controversial moment of the game was likely the penalty given after 5 minutes. CIPHER's S. Marhani kept his concentration, despite the upset crowd, and calmly put the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 1. Robin's O. Dijoux made a successful breakthrough on the left after 16 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. After 31 minutes, B. Romi got through on the right and was very close to equalising for the home side, but didn't get the shot away. Robin put pressure on the visitors' central defence 32 minutes into the game, but M. Camara couldn't find an opening. With 37 minutes played, M. Guła of Robin fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The crowd roared in delight as J. Svensson finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for Robin 39 minutes into the match. 1 - 1. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. This part of the game was a standoff between the teams in terms of possession.

Attacking on the wings was the choice for CIPHER, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. S. Velichkov gave Robin the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 2 - 1 The visitors refused to give in and, after 62 minutes, B. Brohus evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 2 - 2 63 minutes into the game, a swerving free kick by J. Svensson almost resulted in the home team taking the lead, but the shot glanced harmlessly off the frame of the goal. CIPHER's B. Brohus was shown a yellow card after 66 minutes for slicing down an opponent. 70 minutes into the game, CIPHER wanted to bring some new energy to their game. N. Ibn-Gibril gave A. Zuabi a quick hug as he left the field. As the 70 minute mark approached, the CIPHER coach decided it was time for a substitution. K. Abu-Hussain reluctantly made way for I. Mansour on the pitch. Robin's O. Dijoux tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. In the 72 minute, CIPHER were awarded a free kick as their counter attack dried up. The ball was sent in high over the penalty box and, in what looked like a well-rehearsed move, it was headed backwards to reach H. Hassan, who placed it into the net with a single touch. 2 - 3. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Camara from Robin a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 75 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Robin enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 51 percent of possession.

Most important Robin player was J. Svensson. However, C. Vaggelli made a disastrous appearance. F. Skrzecz performed admirably for CIPHER. On the other hand, S. Goujon's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 3.