Branlos 1 - 9 Villefontaine (392666855)

Clouds darkened the skies at Stade de la Cigale as 25740 spectators turned up for the match. Guido Tomas Hernandez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gerónimo Algaze and Luigi Carulli. Branlos decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Lecoq - Hot, Rodrigues, Mazza - Stracagnolo, Houze, Baron, Tourette, Kamoye - Belliot, Berthe.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Villefontaine. The following players had been chosen: Collet - Gourdet, Ruiz, Bakken - Luţu, Maaring, Trimarchi, Boiron, Teodorini - Morel, Morival.

Some good play on the left wing created an opportunity for the visitors 11 minutes into the match, and A. Trimarchi wasn't about to let it go by. He got past the defenders and fired a shot that the keeper just missed. 0 - 1 for the visitors. The crowd was on its feet 14 minutes into the match, as Branlos's F. Baron found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 1 - 1 equaliser. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 15 minutes into the match left Villefontaine's S. Bakken completely free to score. 1 - 2 for the visitors. Villefontaine's G. Teodorini had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 23 minutes having been played. L. Calabro was the replacement. M. Morival was the new captain of Villefontaine - handed the armband by the departing player. In a rapid move 25 minutes into the match, M. Morival of Villefontaine lost his man and passed the ball to the unmarked D. Morel who easily hit it home to make it 1 - 3. Luckily the ref didn't see him taunting the opposing fans in celebration - naughty boy! C. Ruiz increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 1 - 4. After 33 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed D. Morel to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 1 - 5. 1 - 5 was the halftime score. This part of the game was a standoff between the teams in terms of possession.

S. Marquis was called on to replace Branlos's L. Hot after 52 minutes following a nasty collision. After 53 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave N. Boiron a chance to increase the lead for Villefontaine, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 6. Branlos had a brilliant opportunity to reply as F. Baron received a high ball from the right, striking the ball in the air. Only T. Collet's reflexes saved him. Villefontaine had to make a substitution after 60 minutes. A. Trimarchi limped off the field and was replaced by A. Gigon. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave N. Boiron from Villefontaine a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 74 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! P. Rodrigues of Branlos had to be helped off the pitch as an injury meant he was unable to finish the game. A. Dernovšcek came in to finish the match. A. Lecoq was handed the Branlos captain's armband. C. Ruiz received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 77 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 1 - 7. The Villefontaine fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. After this, you could see that the players of Villefontaine were more interested in killing time than scoring more goals. With 79 minutes played, Villefontaine put themselves up 1 - 8 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was S. Bakken. Villefontaine increased their lead after 80 minutes when M. Maaring broke through on the right, upping the score to 1 - 9, much to the home crowd's dismay. Branlos claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Most important Branlos player was P. Tourette. However, A. Dernovšcek made a disastrous appearance. D. Morel performed admirably for Villefontaine. M. Maaring turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 9.