Melbourne 5 - 0 Kensington (393067071)

467 spectators had found their way to Hillsborough Park, despite the heavy rain. Patrick Finucane was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Virgílio Piedade and Goran Glavović. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Melbourne. The following players had been chosen: Paiva - Stravocheris, Jousmäki, Woe, de Beuker - Hernesniemi, Paal, Lančić, Brener - Teodorof, McGrady.

Kensington started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Elegheert - Gallimore, Fotheringham, Thompson - Hennebert, Lorenz, Pion, Zeidan, Wilkhu - Staffoli, Picariello.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Melbourne. R. Thompson slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. 30 minutes into the game, H. Lorenz had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came K. Hussey. Y. Brener was first to reach a ball launched long through the center from Melbourne's defence 33 minutes into the game. He managed to keep his cool and beat the goalkeeper to make the score 1 - 0. B. Woe should probably have put his team up another goal after 34 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by N. Elegheert kept the visitors in the game. After 37 minutes Kensington's A. Pion had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. J. Serba came in to replace him. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 0. Possession in this half belonged to Kensington, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

Melbourne increased the lead as B. Woe struck to make the score 2 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. The coach of Melbourne was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 66 minutes, M. Jelovica came on for D. Lančić. After 69 minutes, Melbourne felt secure enough to make a tactical change. Y. Brener and D. McGrady assumed each others positions on the field. G. Paal increased the lead for Melbourne to 3 - 0, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! N. Teodorof left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 70 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. M. Maitena was the replacement. The Melbourne players could smell victory in the air. D. McGrady wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for L. Kaser after 71 minutes. Y. Brener increased Melbourne's lead to 4 - 0 with a penalty spot cannonball. By now, the players in Melbourne felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Melbourne to 5 - 0 as R. de Beuker finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Melbourne, with 54 percent of the ball.

Melbourne's top performer was clearly Y. Brener. However, L. Kaser made a disastrous appearance. Kensington's best player was J. Fotheringham. R. Thompson was a disappointment, however. The match ends 5 - 0.