Falkland 2 - 4 Vorwärts (384290985)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 18646 at Stadion am Tullnauweiher today. Magnus Johansson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Suavi Alçın and Ervín Moučka. Falkland started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Studt - Taubitz, Pinternagel, O'Moore - Koschlau, Petermichl, Hörnig, Hift, Kerecsényi - Heany, Merschitz.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Vorwärts. Starters: Chrom - Senk, Kögel, Katalinić - Homburg, Torro, Wybaillie, Safonov, Haaf - Gangl, Gogenberg.

The wings were the focus of most of Falkland's attacks today. F. Homburg's early cross saw the defenders caught out of position and the alert M. Gangl was able to pounce and roll the ball past the hapless goalkeeper to score for Vorwärts. 0 - 1. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave D. O'Moore from Falkland a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 8 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 17 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed S. Gogenberg to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 2. R. Kerecsényi charged down the left and looked sure to score for Falkland 18 minutes into the game, but his shot went just wide. It took several tries, but Falkland managed to break through on the left after 24 minutes, getting the ball to P. Heany who easily reduced the lead to make the score 1 - 2. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 2. Vorwärts had most of the ball, with 55 percent of possession.

F. Homburg increased Vorwärts's lead to 1 - 3 with a superb free kick strike that flew in just under the far top corner. A marvellous Falkland effort on the right-hand side resulted in a goal after 51 minutes by R. Kerecsényi, making the score 2 - 3. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed Falkland's coach gave M. Engelseck the opportunity the player had been hoping for. H. Hift reluctantly left the field. J. Torro received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 66 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 2 - 4. The Vorwärts fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. Confident in their lead, Vorwärts's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. Falkland's R. Merschitz found himself alone on the left side 75 minutes into the match and laid down a perfect shot - right into the arms of the keeper! The home crowd cheered when, after 79 minutes, C. Kögel's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Vorwärts, with 57 percent of the ball.

P. Heany performed admirably for Falkland. M. Engelseck was a disappointment, however. Most important Vorwärts player was S. Gogenberg. On the other hand, M. Chrom's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 4.