Natsuko 1 - 3 C . M (385900660)

Clear skies welcomed the 26340 spectators who had made their way to La Cuvette. Jonathan Defrance was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vlatko Stepic and Ashon Keter. Natsuko tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. The following players took the field: Iorga - Kinberg, Karaszewski, Flor, Sołtysik - Rueda, Alcarria, Battista, Escalier, Nesshall - Ecetes.

C . M had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Lievetmursu - van der Pennen, Henriette, Campinoti - Roncato, Besnier, Berthe, Gendrot, Saison - Vitoux, De Muynck.

Natsuko displayed their ability to play creatively. 5 minutes into the game, N. De Muynck almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when G. Vitoux slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against T. Iorga, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. A. Battista of Natsuko received a yellow card after 18 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The corner kick from D. Ecetes was powerfully met by the head of W. Karaszewski to make the score 1 - 0. The home team will be cursing G. Vitoux for weeks; he finished off a great pass from the left, knocking it past the keeper without a problem. The match was level at 1 - 1 after 23 minutes. Slack defending gave Natsuko a chance to take the lead with 27 minutes played, but D. Rueda's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 32 minutes allowed G. Vitoux to score for C . M. The scoreboard now read 1 - 2. Halftime score was 1 - 2. C . M claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

After 51 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave D. Berthe a chance to increase the lead for C . M, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of C . M lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. The coach of C . M was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 55 minutes, R. Halbide came on for N. De Muynck. With 60 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Natsuko resulted in a counterattack that set S. Escalier free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. J. Nesshall of Natsuko was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. C . M enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

Natsuko's best player was A. Battista. However, T. Iorga made a disastrous appearance. C . M's top performer was clearly G. Vitoux. G. Roncato was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 3.