STRANGERS 4 - 0 AVFC (390083692)

12016 punters turned up at The international Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Luuk van Amsterdam was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Dirk Tarone and Rodrigo Pimentel. STRANGERS decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: Mehiläinen - Siuba, Byrne - Harrington, Tozer, Shields, Baig, Wiejaczka - Himmelberger, Conner, Mellholt.

AVFC had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Lineup: Jordan - Patzer, Bates, Irabor, Clooney - Moorish, Houston, Docker, Ball - Pointon, Cooksey.

STRANGERS were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. It was obvious that STRANGERS had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. STRANGERS took the lead 3 minutes in, as C. Conner broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. Things were deteriorating for the away team as STRANGERS scored another to make it 2 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for R. Mellholt after 9 minutes. Confident in their lead, STRANGERS's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. With 40 minutes played, STRANGERS put themselves up 3 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to R. Mellholt, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. AVFC mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 44 minutes, but M. Clooney was unable to convert from short range. Halftime score was 3 - 0. STRANGERS enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

With 47 minutes played, STRANGERS's H. Tozer almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. STRANGERS were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. STRANGERS's H. Tozer increased the lead to 4 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 65 minutes. A lovely run by AVFC's B. Ball left his markers for dead and should have resulted in a goal, but the finish went just wide. R. Mellholt of STRANGERS was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Possession in this half belonged to STRANGERS, who controlled the ball 69 percent of the time.

Most important STRANGERS player was R. Mellholt. L. Himmelberger on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating AVFC player was without a doubt A. Houston. C. Pointon turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 0.