Yanga 1 - 1 Forward (390249275)

The 32027 spectators at Yanga Arena were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Tero Ruotanen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by František Hradecký and Patrick Gauser. Yanga decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Lineup: Simov - Ezinger, Gortemaker, Keller, van der Star - Iñiguez Lafuente, Biritz, Moerman, 国平 (Guoping) - Usowicz, Muikku.

Forward had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Mechri - Hofman, Jaakke, Appel - Baggermans, Hokkeling, Müller, Pasin, van Aysma - Harmeling, van Oostrum.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Yanga. Down the middle came R. Baggermans, making a fantastic play that nearly had Forward take the lead after 18 minutes, but R. Simov preserved the tie. After 19 minutes, Yanga were awarded a free kick as their counter attack broke down. The set piece was lifted over the top, intended to open up the defence. However, the target man seemed to be taken by surprise, and could not reach the ball before it crossed the line for a goal kick. Forward took the lead after 28 minutes making the score 0 - 1. I. Harmeling placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from F. van Oostrum after 31 minutes, and prevented Forward from going up another goal. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Possession in this half belonged to Forward, who controlled the ball 61 percent of the time.

The referee showed Yanga's E. Ezinger the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Just a few inches to the right, and the visitors could have had a goal 81 minutes into the match. B. Jaakke surely wishes he could do that free kick over again. Yanga played a good counterattacking move down the left 82 minutes into the match, with M. Gortemaker finishing well for 1 - 1. The sunny day didn't make things easy for K. Muikku who didn't seem his usual powerful self on the pitch. Yanga's M. Keller got himself booked for a foul. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, J. Usowicz got himself booked. The manager of Yanga was not happy. Forward enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

The most dominating Yanga player was without a doubt M. Gortemaker. M. Keller on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Forward player was J. Hokkeling. E. van Aysma turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 1.