United 0 - 8 Sharks (384182824)

Clear skies welcomed the 9263 spectators who had made their way to NIB United Arena. Árpád Mizsei was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Luca Diana and Dolbert Boersema. United tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Starters: Bangsund - Brendmo, Tveita, Jeppesen, Hägerstedt - Vatne, Hestehauge, Torbergsen, Brunes - Olsen, Karlsen.

Sharks decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Hansen - Lahnalampi, Murias - Gastealzategui, Johansen, Taini, Gohlke, de Weerd - Bogalha, de Geus, Zerbato.

Sharks displayed their ability to play creatively. The visitors grabbed the lead after J. Lahnalampi's free kick succeeded, resulting in a score of 0 - 1. J. Lahnalampi increased Sharks's lead to 0 - 2 with a superb free kick strike that flew in just under the far top corner. After the ball was lifted in from the left, F. Bogalha was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 19 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. The home crowd was not impressed when E. Zerbato came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 25 minutes. Sharks were now up 0 - 3. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 30 minutes, Sharks tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. 0 - 3 was the halftime score. Sharks had most of the ball, with 85 percent of possession.

With 59 minutes played, Sharks put themselves up 0 - 4 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was E. Zerbato. 60 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 5 as J. de Geus finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. After 67 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave R. Gastealzategui a chance to increase the lead for Sharks, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 6. The players of Sharks now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave G. Taini from Sharks a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 68 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! J. Murias wanted to play on, but the Sharks coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 70 minutes into the game by P. Viinikka. A drive down the left side allowed P. Viinikka to get in close and score another goal for Sharks after 71 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 7. The coach of Sharks was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 75 minutes, N. Hinić came on for J. Lahnalampi. After 81 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed G. Taini to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 8. Possession in this half belonged to Sharks, who controlled the ball 89 percent of the time.

United's top performer was clearly E. Karlsen. On the other hand, O. Torbergsen's play was disheartening. Most important Sharks player was E. Zerbato. However, S. Hansen made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 8.