Münchenstein 2 - 0 Gunners (384884256)

Due to an all-day shower, 36424 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Arena auf der Au. Jonas Håkansson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Emmanuel Bruno and Konstantin Kallinna. Münchenstein had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. They fielded: Marcon - Çebiç, Tonti, Giulianelli - Merkler, Brasser, Crash, Weidkuhn - Jacquat, Rehdanz, Hockenheim.

A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Gunners. The following players took the field: Roland - Kügler, Häggbom, Bargo, Jeanrenaud, Grassmann - Le Bozec, Blocker, Drakén, Holstein-Beck - Polini.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Gunners. Down the middle came H. Holstein-Beck, making a fantastic play that nearly had Gunners take the lead after 18 minutes, but Q. Marcon preserved the tie. Thighs bulging, R. Kügler charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. After 41 minutes, the home side was awarded a penalty. The visitors protested wildly but the referee was adamant. S. Çebiç easily put the ball away to give the lead to Münchenstein. 1 - 0 Münchenstein's opponents know to be wary of C. Weidkuhn's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 44 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! A great save by keeper G. Roland after 44 minutes kept the visitors in the game after E. Hockenheim struck from the left with a real cannonball. It was 1 - 0 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to Münchenstein, who controlled the ball 62 percent of the time.

G. Jacquat should probably have put his team up another goal after 50 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by G. Roland kept the visitors in the game. Gunners's counterattack was impressive and was only stopped by a shocking foul. Somehow, the referee's cards remained in his pocket - a terrible decision! B. Blocker's resulting free kick was easily saved by the keeper. With 65 minutes played, G. Crash of Münchenstein fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. There was concern in the stands when, at the 69 minute mark, Münchenstein's C. Weidkuhn hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. G. Jacquat squirmed through their central defence after 70 minutes, increasing the lead to 2 - 0. S. Çebiç's curling free kick almost found the goal for Münchenstein, but the visitors' keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it. Gunners's counterattacks created a good chance for X. Grassmann on the right after 76 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Münchenstein had most of the ball, with 65 percent of possession.

The most dominating Münchenstein player was without a doubt G. Jacquat. E. Hockenheim was a disappointment, however. Gunners's best player was P. Häggbom. On the other hand, G. Roland's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 0.