Rutland 0 - 6 Isotopes (390050688)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 52489 to Rutt land arena. Igor Bergenhenegouwen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Davy Clyncke and Peter Monrad. Rutland decided to use a 2-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Ward - Lawrence, Bylois - Manchanda, O'Meara, Rutland, Yates, Heracleous - Peled, Baltensperger.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Isotopes. The following players took the field: Warrick - Gosset, Cereto, Cafranga - Pääkkölä, MacAirt, Gillis, Cartwright, Çalkın - Herrera, Lineker.

Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 10 minutes into the match left Isotopes's O. Lineker completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. After 27 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Rutland found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to poor. Some fine movement on the left led to a Isotopes goal after 31 minutes, making it 0 - 2. E. Gillis was noted down as the scorer. The visitors' M. Pääkkölä took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 33 minutes into the match. 0 - 3 for Isotopes. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from J. Herrera after 40 minutes, and prevented Isotopes from going up another goal. 0 - 3 was the score after the first half. Isotopes claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Rutland had passable organisation. After 50 minutes B. Baltensperger could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors' keeper. 51 minutes into the game, Rutland seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to wretched. After 61 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Ç. Çalkın who increased Isotopes's lead to 0 - 4. The coach of Isotopes was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 80 minutes, S. Lardner came on for P. Cafranga. Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile O. Lineker. After 86 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave J. Herrera a chance to increase the lead for Isotopes, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 5. The players of Isotopes now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. After 88 minutes, Isotopes's M. Pääkkölä burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 6. J. Herrera wasn't much help defensively. His energy-consuming forward runs proved quite costly in the oppressive heat. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Isotopes, with 66 percent of the ball.

The most dominating Rutland player was without a doubt G. Rutland. On the other hand, A. Ward's play was disheartening. Isotopes's best player was E. Gillis. M. Pääkkölä turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 0 - 6.