strickkers 0 - 6 Alucard (388513903)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 12000 to strickkers Arena. Jonas Eschler was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Enrique Mansilla and Thorsten Zimmerl. strickkers decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. They fielded: De Meue - Moestermans, Back, Boulahrouz, Dossche - Vanvelthoven, Schafroth, Stijnen, Van Den Ackerveken - Vercayie, Tettelin.

Alucard started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. Starters: Cheyns - Hertel, Csernus, Vandikkelen, Deferme - Kamrani, Gehrz, Beaufays, Klinck, Dauwers - Ekber.

Alucard used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. The terraces were silenced after 2 minutes when Alucard's F. Dauwers put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. D. Csernus of Alucard seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 0 - 2 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by Ç. Ekber. Ç. Ekber increased Alucard's lead to 0 - 3 with a superb free kick strike that flew in just under the far top corner. The players of Alucard now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. strickkers's K. Vercayie got himself booked for a foul. Ç. Ekber came close to extending the visitors' lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over R. De Meue but overcooked it and hit the bar instead. The pressing tactics used by Alucard were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. strickkers's D. Dossche was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 32 minutes. After 33 minutes, Alucard's D. Csernus burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 4. Alucard's Ç. Ekber was shown a yellow card after 36 minutes for slicing down an opponent. 37 minutes into the game, strickkers seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to passable. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 4. Alucard enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 91 percent of possession.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that strickkers had solid organisation. After 55 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave Ç. Ekber a chance to increase the lead for Alucard, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 5. Ç. Ekber of Alucard got sent off for kicking the ball after the whistle, a completely uncalled for move, earning him his second yellow card of the game. After 80 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as strickkers found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to solid. Alucard's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. A penalty was awarded after 85 minutes, and F. Klinck made the most of his chance to put Alucard up by another goal. 0 - 6 for the visitors. Alucard's talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. Alucard claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 93 percent.

A. Stijnen performed admirably for strickkers. L. Moestermans was a disappointment, however. Most important Alucard player was F. Klinck. On the other hand, J. Cheyns's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 6.