Kitma 1 - 1 hannover96 (384438720)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 16145 had shown up at Duisburg - Pafos Arena for the match. Bernardo Layseca was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Thomas Jensen and Moritz Berger. Kitma had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Rivas - Rosegger, Ben Ahmed, Messi - Záklasník, Waxman, Sculeanu, Frost, Berneth-Gasada - Elsen, Rivarone.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for hannover96. They fielded: Eötvös - Buchau, Busekist, Kemnade - Dondio, Radax, Orbe, Höhenmölsen, Ehrenburg - van Bakel, Piaseczna.

Kitma saw most attack opportunities on the wings. After 11 minutes Kitma's A. Messi limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. After 16 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Kitma was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. With 35 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as D. Berneth-Gasada flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. The visitors kept the pressure on to tie the game when, after 37 minutes, M. Dondio broke through the centre and found himself alone with the keeper. D. Rivas made a great block, though. The home team will be cursing T. Kemnade for weeks; he finished off a great pass from the left, knocking it past the keeper without a problem. The match was level at 1 - 1 after 41 minutes. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to Kitma, who controlled the ball 51 percent of the time.

After 46 minutes, the Kitma coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving C. Rivarone off the field. D. Ciocănescu took his place. Y. Waxman was handed the Kitma captain's armband. Down the middle came T. Kemnade, making a fantastic play that nearly had hannover96 take the lead after 49 minutes, but D. Rivas preserved the tie. It was obvious that Kitma had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. At 65 minutes played, D. Ciocănescu came in from the right with the intention of giving Kitma the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. A free kick aimed at the keeper's far post almost gave hannover96 the lead 75 minutes in, but the ball just wasn't able to squirm its way through the defensive wall. 80 minutes into the game, R. Elsen had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came J. Bechteler. H. Höhenmölsen's lack of experience almost gave Kitma a goal after 81 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. After 84 minutes, the visitors nearly went up a goal, but R. Ehrenburg's free kick hit the crossbar. Kitma's counterattacks created a good chance for U. Frost on the right after 85 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. hannover96 enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

Most important Kitma player was C. Rosegger. On the other hand, D. Ciocănescu's play was disheartening. hannover96's top performer was clearly S. van Bakel. M. Busekist was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.