FFC 1 - 1 NAYO (388891424)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 40065 at KARAKOL today. Roberto Ribichini was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Axel Le Bras and Rami Mastonen. FFC started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Delchambre - Dänemark, Hildenbrand, Gatz - Bourdais, Sera, Wotte, Kıyas, Willis - Tatara, Krivoruchko.

NAYO tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Sivertzen - Cappa, Rüşdi, Balkı - Ramírez, Haimböck, van Harmelen, Zülfiyar, Hennessy - Limere, Gürdağ.

NAYO were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. FFC took the lead 10 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as N. Krivoruchko elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. After 16 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by T. Kıyas might have resulted in another goal for FFC. However, C. Sivertzen made a spectacular save. It was 1 - 0 at the break. FFC had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 47 minutes, NAYO did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, B. van Harmelen was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 1 - 1. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 77 minutes, NAYO 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. Possession in this half belonged to FFC, who controlled the ball 63 percent of the time.

FFC's best player was N. Krivoruchko. M. Bourdais turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important NAYO player was H. Haimböck. C. Sivertzen on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 1.