Kickers 5 - 1 Galatasaray (384573201)

14058 fans braved the pouring rain at Raging Kickers Arena. Aimar Kurm was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Adrian Perauer and Frank Havesta. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Kickers. Lineup: Gogiashvili - Kreiter, Kalman, Heldt - Duft, Hafenbrädl, Kleinmaier, Fürstenried, Baudach - Kuberek, Laschinger.

Galatasaray started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Wetterstein - Karandeev, Derenthall, Zizka - Kaynak, Bulkowski, Nommsen, Walla, Castellitz - Drehbrücke, Hrebeljanović.

Galatasaray used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Kickers took the lead 10 minutes in, as R. Kleinmaier broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. The muddy pitch made the game a gritty affair, which seemed to suit I. Duft just fine. Kickers managed to extend their lead to 2 - 0 when I. Duft cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. There was concern in the stands when, at the 23 minute mark, Kickers's D. Kalman hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. L. Bulkowski was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Kickers to 3 - 0 as R. Kuberek finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. The players of Kickers now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. Galatasaray were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. The visitors replied 28 minutes into the game, reducing the home side's lead to 3 - 1, as A. Drehbrücke dashed up the middle, easily lobbing the ball over the home team's keeper. After 29 minutes, Kickers's T. Gogiashvili fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! H. Baudach's curling free kick almost found the goal for Kickers, but the visitors' keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it. It was 3 - 1 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Kickers, with 65 percent of the ball.

R. Fürstenried wanted to play on, but the Kickers coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 46 minutes into the game by P. Fehring. Kickers's R. Kuberek increased the lead to 4 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 54 minutes. Kickers put themselves up 5 - 1 when R. Kleinmaier broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Galatasaray's U. Kaynak was shown a yellow card after 63 minutes for slicing down an opponent. The Kickers players could smell victory in the air. D. Laschinger wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for M. Bonk after 65 minutes. R. Kuberek became the new Kickers captain. K. Kreiter should probably have put his team up another goal after 68 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by B. Wetterstein kept the visitors in the game. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Galatasaray, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. Kickers had most of the ball, with 59 percent of possession.

Kickers's best player was R. Kuberek. D. Kalman on the other hand, had a terrible day. Galatasaray's top performer was clearly D. Walla. On the other hand, H. Nommsen's play was disheartening. The match ends 5 - 1.