DS 09 4 - 2 Gerlafingen (384983967)

The crowd of 20591 turning up at Häxächessäl today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Jozias Acket was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ferdinand Vanderlijden and Paulo Dünnenberger. DS 09 had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Bertagnini - Niess, Seibert, Burbach - Affoltemer, Cadonau, Gasche, Wirschun, Meyenberg - Erimodafe, Freidinger.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Gerlafingen. The following players took the field: Yiğit - Parisod, Jončas, Duerrenberger, Prisciandaro - Landert, Socher, Gregorio, Scatolini - Ottolini, Martinho.

The strategy for Gerlafingen was to use their ability to press. With 5 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, N. Burbach needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. A foul after 13 minutes resulted in a free kick. E. Gasche cannonballed it, giving the home team the lead 1 - 0. S. Erimodafe of DS 09 received a yellow card after 30 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. After 35 minutes, DS 09's E. Gasche found the back of the goal with a beautiful free kick. 2 - 0. After 37 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to DS 09's N. Cadonau being carried off the pitch and replaced by A. Woolfenden. DS 09's S. Erimodafe swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. A great save by keeper N. Yiğit after 39 minutes kept the visitors in the game after S. Erimodafe struck from the left with a real cannonball. The referee showed Gerlafingen's G. Landert the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. DS 09 increased the lead as S. Erimodafe struck to make the score 3 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. Confident in their lead, DS 09's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. P. Gregorio of Gerlafingen was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. 3 - 0 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to DS 09, who controlled the ball 66 percent of the time.

The muddy pitch made the game a gritty affair, which seemed to suit A. Woolfenden just fine. One of many good crosses from G. Landert on the wing was received and skillfully taken care of by S. Martinho, who scored for Gerlafingen. 3 - 1 With 65 minutes played, DS 09's I. Freidinger almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. C. Prisciandaro had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. Gerlafingen bypassed the midfield with their counterattack, leading to a free kick goal by M. Jončas for 3 - 2. 79 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as J. Seibert broke through, making the score 4 - 2 for DS 09. DS 09 claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 67 percent.

X. Wirschun performed admirably for DS 09. N. Burbach turned in a dismal performance, however. Gerlafingen's best player was T. Socher. N. Yiğit on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 2.