Grand 3 - 0 Sugo (391463642)

Due to an all-day shower, 34946 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Le stade Grand Nord. Jens Ole Kristensen was the appointed referee. A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Grand. Starters: Mezid - Bustamante, Lagrotta, Holzheu, Pietzka, Zwick - Pestana, Popławski, Beresten, Grattepanche - Van den Eynde.

Sugo decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Hartland - Prévost, Cîmpian, Paoli, Costa - Lavallée, Shepherd, Perry, Armillei - Lancashire, Toller.

Right from the start it was obvious that Sugo were expecting an easy victory. For their match strategy, Grand had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. Sugo were relying on their ability to counter-attack. With 23 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Sugo resulted in a counterattack that set P. Armillei free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. The corner kick from M. Pietzka was powerfully met by the head of M. Pestana to make the score 1 - 0. P. Lavallée spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. J. Van den Eynde had a fantastic opportunity to put Grand up another goal 40 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Sugo had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 41 minutes, but P. Armillei's shot from the left sailed high over the bar. Z. Popławski could have put Grand up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 43 minutes. Sugo's H. Toller got himself booked for a foul. Sugo's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 44 minutes gone, but D. Prévost's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Grand enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

The Sugo coach was infuriated with the lax attitude of his players during the first half, and rightly so. As the players returned from the dressing room, it was clear that his message had sunk in. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Grand to 2 - 0 as J. Holzheu finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. Sugo needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 60 minutes P. Lavallée made way for I. Gadéas. After 60 minutes, Sugo used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. After 72 minutes, Sugo were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. D. Prévost did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. Things were deteriorating for the away team as Grand scored another to make it 3 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for J. Van den Eynde after 74 minutes. By now, the players in Grand felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. 76 minutes into the game, Sugo seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to inadequate. 80 minutes in, Sugo's D. Cîmpian received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Grand claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 54 percent.

Grand's top performer was clearly G. Zwick. D. Grattepanche was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Sugo player was without a doubt M. Lancashire. D. Prévost turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 0.