Hirschling 3 - 4 Traktor (384357134)

19772 spectators had come to Gumbs-Arena this cloudy day. César Elosu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alejandro Cabero and Fujimaru Inoguchi. Hirschling started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Rollwald - Genser, Werdersee - Heddinghausen, Gütlbauer, Bemtgen, Bolibruh, Wandas - van Aerssen Beyeren van Voshol, Foucault, Sándor.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Traktor. They fielded: Jähnichen - Hirnsberger, Bliznaković, da Costa - Nöttinghof, Bierbach, Hausegger, Benusch, Sadofsky - Sindermann, Pröhl.

It was obvious that Hirschling were using their pressing skill as their primary tactic. Traktor clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. Some great play up the middle by Hirschling led to a chance for V. van Aerssen Beyeren van Voshol to score after 30 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. With 32 minutes played, Traktor's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to E. Pröhl he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. After 33 minutes, S. Wandas made a dash down the middle past the away team's defenders to score the goal that made it 1 - 1. Hirschling took the lead, 2 - 1, after a penalty 35 minutes into the match. I. Bemtgen scored from the penalty spot. H. Sindermann came close to levelling the score 36 minutes into the game, as he was set up with a through ball coming in from the left, but his shot hit the post. Hirschling's I. Bemtgen got himself booked for a foul. K. Sadofsky made a run for the goal 43 minutes into the game but the home team's left back managed to sort the situation out in the end. Traktor tied it all up, 44 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by E. Pröhl, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 2 - 2. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to Traktor, who controlled the ball 56 percent of the time.

46 minutes into the game, Hirschling wanted to bring some new energy to their game. B. Foucault gave M. Cerasuolo a quick hug as he left the field. After 53 minutes, Traktor's M. Bliznaković made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 2 - 3. Hirschling had to make a substitution after 68 minutes. S. Heddinghausen limped off the field and was replaced by T. Glanner. With 77 minutes played, Traktor put themselves up 2 - 4 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was H. Sindermann. Confident in their lead, Traktor's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The home crowd were delighted when I. Bemtgen scored with a header after an attack from the right, making the score 3 - 4. But did he use his hand? That'll be one for the pundits to talk about after the game, that's for sure! 80 minutes into the match, E. Pröhl came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. Traktor had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

Hirschling's top performer was clearly V. van Aerssen Beyeren van Voshol. T. Glanner turned in a dismal performance, however. Traktor's best player was E. Pröhl. S. Nöttinghof on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 4.