octeville 1 - 1 Verdun (385971156)

A scorching day at Stade Salengro, where 21528 spectators were in place for today's match. Fatih Maksut was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Yogev Makhlav and Pedro Vidigal. octeville had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: van Wissen - Brocard, Zehar, Pereira, Sølvhøj - Cicuta, Lazăr, Bacle, Bălaşa, Freilassing - Rivera.

Verdun started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Apo - Chaize, Gillis, Lampa - Pineau, Kelsterbach, van Sichem, Pautasso, Martínez - Ñústez, Roxo.

octeville decided to play creatively. Verdun mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. It was obvious that team Verdun had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. Verdun took the lead 13 minutes into the game, making the score 0 - 1 after some elegant movement down the middle. R. Gillis was the scorer. Verdun's L. Kelsterbach made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 14 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. R. Bacle's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. A handball in the penalty area gave the home team a penalty 32 minutes into the match, and F. Rivera was able to score, taking the scoreline to 1 - 1. With 36 minutes played D. Freilassing almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Possession in this half belonged to Verdun, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

Many thought T. Sølvhøj ought to have been awarded a penalty 58 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around L. Apo after a determined run through the middle. Verdun players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Verdun's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 60 minutes gone, but X. Chaize's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. After 61 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by octeville was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. At 62 minutes played, V. Bălaşa came in from the right with the intention of giving octeville the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. 75 minutes into the game, J. Pautasso had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came A. Castaneo. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Verdun, with 52 percent of the ball.

The most dominating octeville player was without a doubt R. Bacle. However, P. van Wissen made a disastrous appearance. Verdun's top performer was clearly L. Kelsterbach. L. Apo was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.