NG 2 - 2 Lambermont (388497685)

The crowd of 28445 turning up at Het Artevelde Stadion today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Cristian Damián Armida was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ruurd Petersen and Stefan Magnusson. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for NG. They fielded: Collier - Törel, Chichveishvili, Dobrin, Laurent - Beckers, Coman, Drohomirecki, Casters - Belgutai, Thorninger.

Lambermont had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Simões Santos - Slaby, Arlotti, Rajoy - Gilleman, De Ceulaer, Janssens, Juprelle, Dewit - Jehoul, Markko.

NG were relying on their ability to counter-attack. Lambermont mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 21 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from G. Dobrin, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. 22 minutes into the game, P. Dewit had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came J. Dirlmeier. Lambermont had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. With 26 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of NG resulted in a counterattack that set A. Drohomirecki free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave V. Janssens from Lambermont a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 29 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! K. Törel could have put NG up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 33 minutes. K. Törel of NG was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Content with how the game was proceeding, the NG coach let G. Engelbeen replace G. Dobrin after 41 minutes. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Lambermont had most of the ball, with 63 percent of possession.

L. Jehoul finished off a quick charge from the left of the field by chipping the ball just past the home side's keeper, making the score 1 - 1 60 minutes into the match. After 74 minutes, the NG coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving T. Thorninger off the field. A. Peeters took his place. K. Törel remonstrated furiously with the referee after NG had another decision go against them. The referee had no alternative but to show him another yellow card and send him from the pitch. X. Rajoy was struggling to make the ball dance with his usual trickery and panache, and the opposing players had little trouble shutting him down in these muddy conditions. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 82 minutes into the match left Lambermont's L. Jehoul completely free to score. 1 - 2 for the visitors. The game was characterised by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but A. Peeters showed great heart and had a good game. A. Drohomirecki showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 85 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 2 - 2 equaliser away. Lambermont's D. De Ceulaer left the field after 88 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was J. Camino. Possession in this half belonged to Lambermont, who controlled the ball 64 percent of the time.

NG's top performer was clearly M. Belgutai. G. Engelbeen was a disappointment, however. V. Janssens performed admirably for Lambermont. G. Simões Santos turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 2.