squadra 2 - 2 Schuppers (388558403)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 25954 to the ultimate arena. Pedro Fermín Valéncia was the appointed referee with assistance provided by František Vrbka and Franco Messer. squadra started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Dreesden - Tuohino, Boşneag, Fero - Progin, Sova, Wedekind, Pujol Coll, Degani - Petitot, Campbell.

Schuppers decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Droge - Gysbrechts, Bjerknes, Laborde - Van De Lanotte, De Bakker, Saverys, Smits, Quettani - Hazan, Eriksson.

Schuppers used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. A free kick aimed at the keeper's far post almost gave Schuppers the lead 21 minutes in, but the ball just wasn't able to squirm its way through the defensive wall. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 27 minutes, Schuppers tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. Schuppers's M. Van De Lanotte gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead after 39 minutes with a superb strike from the right. T. Degani made a superb strike after 42 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. The home crowd was not impressed when C. Laborde came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 43 minutes. Schuppers were now up 0 - 2. 0 - 2 was the halftime score. Schuppers had most of the ball, with 59 percent of possession.

squadra's E. Petitot got the home crowd going when he finished off a left wing charge, reducing the away team's lead to 1 - 2. C. Laborde could have added one to the visitors' lead if his free kick had gone just a little lower. After 70 minutes of play, T. Tuohino equalised for squadra after an elegant attack from the right. squadra's J. Campbell was shown a yellow card after 71 minutes for slicing down an opponent. The visitors were very close to gaining the lead with a marvellous free kick after 79 minutes, but M. Dreesden made a beautiful one-handed save. 80 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Schuppers substitution. B. Silkijn came on for D. Smits. 82 minutes into the game, F. Eriksson almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. With 83 minutes played J. Campbell almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Schuppers, with 59 percent of the ball.

Most important squadra player was E. Petitot. T. Degani was a disappointment, however. B. De Bakker performed admirably for Schuppers. On the other hand, W. Quettani's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.