Rückwärts 0 - 1 Blutgraetsche (384512992)

It had rained all day, but 15279 hardy fans still made it out to RSV Arena. Souleymane Dieye was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mansour El-Walid and Seth Kreuk. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Rückwärts. The following players had been chosen: Génovèse - Coe, Tobiassen, Stawiany - Girshovich, Charbonnel, Barbar, Kastanidis, Polhorský - Barut, Isoardi.

Blutgraetsche tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Sanocki - Pellet, Woyna, Brothanek - Netzel, Elul, Zopper, Englschalking, Aymie - Hansen, Lövész.

Rückwärts used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. V. Kastanidis did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. Blutgraetsche's M. Pellet could have put the guests one up after 14 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but S. Génovèse was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. After 30 minutes Rückwärts's E. Barbar contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Rückwärts made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left V. Kastanidis completely alone with keeper I. Sanocki, who made a spectacular block. Blutgraetsche's M. Pellet gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead after 42 minutes with a superb strike from the right. With 44 minutes played, P. Netzel nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Blutgraetsche enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 56 percent of possession.

The Blutgraetsche players could smell victory in the air. G. Aymie wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for S. Fesl after 51 minutes. A. Elul was handed the Blutgraetsche captain's armband. S. Girshovich was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Rückwärts, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Blutgraetsche coach let A. Kosmakis replace S. Hansen after 57 minutes. R. Hauptreif was called on to replace Rückwärts's P. Polhorský after 78 minutes following a nasty collision. R. Hauptreif was the new captain of Rückwärts - handed the armband by the departing player. Blutgraetsche had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

The most dominating Rückwärts player was without a doubt Y. Barut. S. Génovèse on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Blutgraetsche player was P. Englschalking. On the other hand, M. Brothanek's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 1.