Hødd 7 - 2 BCW (384111553)

A scorching day at Høddvoll, where 49799 spectators were in place for today's match. Piter Bogaard was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rudolf Razgulyaev and Elmar Scoles. Hødd tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. The following players took the field: Ström - Nehir, Campllonch - Jensen, Baliqi, Mauri, Hagebutte, Rocca - Opheim, Leren, Stokkeland.

BCW decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Delforge - Stadhouders, Evangelista, Moreira - Kolberg, Kraus, Scuderi, Keinonen, Botten - Nakić, Gurenko.

After 6 minutes of play, Z. Baliqi gave the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. The visitors didn't give in and, after 7 minutes, L. Kraus got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 1 - 1. Hødd made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left S. Stokkeland completely alone with keeper J. Delforge, who made a spectacular block. After a fine move down the middle S. Stokkeland nearly gave the home side a goal after 22 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. The home crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief when G. Botten was unable to put the ball in the net after his show of skill down the left 23 minutes into the match. He was seen beating the pitch in frustration at missing such a good chance to give his team the lead! With 29 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 2 - 1 lead as Z. Baliqi flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. G. Gurenko tied the game at 2 - 2 after 31 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. Hødd fans held their breath as S. Stokkeland scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 3 - 2! It was 3 - 2 at the break. Hødd had most of the ball, with 64 percent of possession.

Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile V. Nakić. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. A. Opheim squirmed through their central defence after 57 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 2. After 60 minutes, BCW switched L. Kraus with L. Kasper, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. BCW needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 60 minutes D. Evangelista made way for Z. Luknja. Hødd's A. Opheim left the field after 67 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was A. Andresen. After a short break after 77 minutes, Hødd seemed to change their tactical approach a bit. With 77 minutes played, Hødd put themselves up 5 - 2 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to A. Andresen, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. The heat made it a terrible day for S. Keinonen, who seemed unable to keep up with the other players. Hødd solidified their lead at the 81 minute mark, as M. Hagebutte dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 6 - 2. By now, the players in Hødd felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. L. Kasper found it hard to catch his breath today in the stifling heat. The Hødd free kick 85 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of S. Stokkeland, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 7 - 2! Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Hødd, with 66 percent of the ball.

Most important Hødd player was S. Stokkeland. On the other hand, E. Campllonch's play was disheartening. BCW's best player was V. Nakić. H. Kolberg on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 7 - 2.