Karlshorst 2 - 1 Athletic (384282192)

46596 spectators had come to Wuhle Arena this cloudy day. Kimmo Munter was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Joshua Ekhart and Justus Rautenfeld. Karlshorst tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Striegl - Koumpouris, Knuth, Topalović - Dumitru, Gronsky, Nell, Reelfs, Bünsdorf - Mezzogori, Hausner.

Athletic started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Salerno - Osmanovski, Soncin, Bärtsch - Dick, Spampinato, Žvak, Romerales, Iturrioz - Guarino, Gandaberro.

It was obvious that Athletic were using their pressing skill as their primary tactic. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to E. Hausner, but the Karlshorst player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! A. Mezzogori almost put Karlshorst ahead another goal when he curled a free kick over the defensive wall and almost into the net, but the visitors' keeper got there just in time to knock it wide. Karlshorst's Ž. Topalović got himself booked for a foul. A cross coming in on the right hand side left R. Gandaberro alone in front of the goal after 20 minutes but his shot was woeful. After 34 minutes, K. Gronsky put Karlshorst ahead 2 - 0 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. A. Mezzogori could have increased the lead after 36 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. The crowd roared its approval when M. Striegl somehow managed to block a shot which seemed to be a certain goal by Athletic's T. Guarino 37 minutes into the game. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Karlshorst, with 56 percent of the ball.

Karlshorst put in a good effort on the right, but A. Knuth saw his volley fly wide of the mark 49 minutes into the game. A great save by keeper A. Salerno after 58 minutes kept the visitors in the game after E. Dumitru struck from the left with a real cannonball. Athletic certainly deserved a goal after some stunning play down the left, but T. Guarino just wasn't able to finish. In a rapid move 63 minutes into the match, S. Dick of Athletic lost his man and passed the ball to the unmarked T. Guarino who easily hit it home to make it 2 - 1. Luckily the ref didn't see him taunting the opposing fans in celebration - naughty boy! Karlshorst's K. Gronsky swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Athletic's S. Romerales was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 68 minutes. M. Benfadil was given a chance to change things around. The pressing tactics used by Athletic were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. With 74 minutes played, the Athletic coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. R. Cenusã came on, B. Osmanovski had to leave the fray. Possession in this half belonged to Karlshorst, who controlled the ball 55 percent of the time.

Most important Karlshorst player was E. Hausner. However, J. Bünsdorf made a disastrous appearance. R. Gandaberro performed admirably for Athletic. S. Dick on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 1.