Fagerborg 2 - 4 TXF (384109534)

A scorching day at Marienlyst, where 71890 spectators were in place for today's match. Gyõzõ Makay was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Niels Rothborg and Elmar Kuehtreiber. Fagerborg tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Stritt - Åhs, Yanong, Jiřinec - Penoff, Valla, Dios, 冠安 (Guanan), Milushev - Mathy, Ekener.

TXF started off with a 5-2-3 lineup. Starters: Ragg - Soula, Nedregård, Celer, Corvino, Poser - Zăbavă, Itshaki - Mast, Talitsikas, Vanohier.

Right from the start it was obvious that Fagerborg were expecting an easy victory. Fagerborg saw most attack opportunities on the wings. TXF were relying on their ability to counter-attack. T. Talitsikas of TXF seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 0 - 1 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by J. Mast. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave N. Zăbavă from TXF a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 20 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 30 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave M. Vanohier a chance to increase the lead for TXF, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 2. The visitors' J. Mast took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 31 minutes into the match. 0 - 3 for TXF. 31 minutes into the match, Fagerborg's T. Mathy collected a ball sent down the right and put it in the back of the net, narrowing the score to 1 - 3. Ø. Nedregård's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. After 34 minutes, Fagerborg's V. Åhs fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! I. Jiřinec charged down the left and looked sure to score for Fagerborg 35 minutes into the game, but his shot went just wide. With 36 minutes gone, L. Soula suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by TXF caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. It was 1 - 3 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Fagerborg, with 69 percent of the ball.

The Fagerborg coach was infuriated with the lax attitude of his players during the first half, and rightly so. As the players returned from the dressing room, it was clear that his message had sunk in. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Fagerborg, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. Fagerborg's L. Penoff managed a superb strike from the left after 50 minutes that would have left goalkeeper L. Ragg without a chance, had it not hit the post. TXF mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 51 minutes, but M. Vanohier was unable to convert from short range. After 61 minutes, T. Mathy had a good opportunity to reduce the scoreline for Fagerborg with a chance created through the middle, but wasn't cool enough. The ball went miles over the bar. It took several tries, but Fagerborg managed to break through on the left after 72 minutes, getting the ball to B. Milushev who easily reduced the lead to make the score 2 - 3. Fagerborg had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. T. Talitsikas showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for TXF after 81 minutes to make the score 2 - 4. Confident in their lead, TXF's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. After 89 minutes, Fagerborg switched F. Yanong with J. Galanto, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. Fagerborg needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 89 minutes V. Åhs made way for M. Backhaus. With 89 minutes played, the Fagerborg coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. R. Ness came on, 周. 冠安 (Guanan) had to leave the fray. Fagerborg had most of the ball, with 75 percent of possession.

The most dominating Fagerborg player was without a doubt T. Mathy. M. Backhaus on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important TXF player was J. Mast. On the other hand, Ø. Nedregård's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 4.