Düsseldorf 1 - 1 Treptower (384524754)

The 16835 fans in attendance at GroßstadtHÖLLE were roasting in the hot sun. Tommy Bannova-Ware was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Cristoph Stöbel and Klaus Stoermer. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Düsseldorf. Lineup: Hauger - Sá, Holland, Spitoni - Oßmann, Mougin, Kovács, Ginés, Cavallera - Debruyn, Barwikowski.

Treptower started off with a 4-3-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Richmodis - Kolley, Marx-Sachs, Lippolis, Höntsch - Dürenmatt, Lawrenz, Wolffram - Pollerer, Smith, Casoria.

Düsseldorf focused on getting players in position for long range shots. Treptower used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. E. Höntsch really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal following a great play by R. Lippolis after a corner. Düsseldorf were very close to putting themselves one up after 8 minutes as S. Debruyn got through on the left, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. After 13 minutes of play, Z. Oßmann gave the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. The Treptower free kick 25 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of H. Kolley, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 1 - 1! 35 minutes into the game, N. Marx-Sachs was a hair's breadth away from giving Treptower the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by R. Hauger saved the home team that time. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Treptower, with 52 percent of the ball.

Treptower had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. Down the middle came D. Pollerer, making a fantastic play that nearly had Treptower take the lead after 63 minutes, but R. Hauger preserved the tie. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Barwikowski from Düsseldorf a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 64 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 74 minutes Treptower's D. Pollerer contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Treptower enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

Düsseldorf's best player was M. Barwikowski. Z. Oßmann turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Treptower player was without a doubt S. Lawrenz. N. Marx-Sachs was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.