Valmo 2 - 5 DeRodeDuivels (390241898)

42048 spectators arrived at Valmoborg, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Avishay Tabak was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jan 'S' Mårtensson and Flavio Raco. Valmo started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Areosa - Gorgievik, Bardill, Trenta - Alsoy, van Blitterswijk, Pytlak, Botzen, Viitalähde - Rautio, Vagrande.

DeRodeDuivels had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Starters: Añel - Count, Balke, Monte, Giampieri - van Straten, Ax, Brinkman, Alleyn - Vijil, Snip.

The wings were the focus of most of Valmo's attacks today. DeRodeDuivels clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. DeRodeDuivels played a good counterattacking move down the left 10 minutes into the match, with L. Snip finishing well for 0 - 1. It was obvious that Valmo had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. With 22 minutes played, after a good run down the left, A. Vagrande went down looking for a penalty after a challenge from the visitors' right fullback, but the referee waved play on, and later warned him for diving. After 26 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave J. van Straten a chance to increase the lead for DeRodeDuivels, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 2. After 30 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Valmo was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. Valmo supporters cheered as good work down the right got the ball to Z. van Blitterswijk who reduced the visitors' lead after 35 minutes to 1 - 2. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Valmo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 64 percent.

With 59 minutes having been played, Valmo scored to make it 2 - 2. A dribble down the left wing, followed by a shot which took a wicked bounce off a defender resulted in the keeper having no chance. Everyone thought it'd been an own goal, but P. Viitalähde was marked down as the scorer. After 74 minutes, DeRodeDuivels raised their score by one when J. van Straten's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by L. Snip. 2 - 3. L. Count showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for DeRodeDuivels after 76 minutes to make the score 2 - 4. The counterattacks of DeRodeDuivels were deadly and 78 minutes into the game, F. Monte received a nice pass from the right flank, making it 2 - 5. The crowd's chants of support turned to grumbles when R. Rautio's penalty shot went well wide of the mark. DeRodeDuivels's counterattacks created a good chance for L. Snip on the right after 80 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Valmo were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. With 81 minutes played, G. Trenta was very close to reducing the score for Valmo with a low drive from the left, but a defender stuck his foot out just in the nick of time, blocking the shot to a corner. DeRodeDuivels's L. Snip made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 82 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. Valmo had most of the ball, with 62 percent of possession.

Valmo's top performer was clearly R. Rautio. On the other hand, S. Gorgievik's play was disheartening. DeRodeDuivels's best player was L. Snip. However, J. van Straten made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 5.