Köln 2 - 0 wikings (384455546)

Clouds darkened the skies at Installation 04 as 25000 spectators turned up for the match. Szilveszter Szoboszlai was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Sébastien Colin and Higinio Pennesi. Köln tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Lödige - Helminen, Papakaliatis, Peralta - Salletmayer, Schwarzhoff, Pleske, Karlsruhe, Elormendi - Kraak, Fafalatos.

wikings decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players took the field: Klemenya - Paulsson, Kokas, Schneehuber, Seebauer - Heim, Bøgebjerg, Machacek, Houndonougbo - Alsheim, Schmorl.

It was an obvious ambition of Köln to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. wikings immediately set off using their skill at pressing their opponents. With 23 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, N. Pleske needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. wikings pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. Against a lesser team, Köln could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 43 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. wikings's P. Paulsson refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 44 minutes. 0 - 0 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to Köln, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

Köln fans held their breath as P. Elormendi scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! After 61 minutes, Köln sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached C. Schwarzhoff, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 2 - 0. Coming from the right, P. Elormendi almost managed to score another goal for Köln, but his header was tipped over the bar by the visitors' keeper. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Köln, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Köln, with 65 percent of the ball.

Köln's top performer was clearly J. Helminen. On the other hand, R. Lödige's play was disheartening. The most dominating wikings player was without a doubt E. Alsheim. J. Bøgebjerg was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 0.