Olympique 2 - 1 Unlimited (393069064)

A scorching day at Hotoie Stadium, where 3247 spectators were in place for today's match. Vicente Mafé was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jorge Nunes and Thomas Nutley. Olympique had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Starters: Desille - Vally, Bossut, Simonsen - Butera, Clerget, Deligny, Girardin - Jouanne, Roy, Hammemi.

A 5-5-0 alignment was the formation of choice for Unlimited. The following players had been chosen: van Ree - Seminara, Radavniković, Parada, Kuijer, Raudaskoski - Parlevliet, Riccomi, Temper, Wuijster, Baerselman -.

Unlimited were relying on their ability to counter-attack. 4 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Olympique to take the lead after a good cross from the right found V. Roy alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. After 13 minutes, Olympique raised their score by one when B. Butera's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by K. Hammemi. 1 - 0. With 15 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Unlimited resulted in a counterattack that set R. Baerselman free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. Olympique's B. Butera refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 29 minutes. 37 minutes in, Olympique's B. Butera received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Olympique to 2 - 0 as A. Clerget finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. Confident in their lead, Olympique's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. 43 minutes into the game, Olympique had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to inadequate. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Olympique claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 79 percent.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Olympique had solid organisation. Unlimited's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 54 minutes gone, but F. Kuijer's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. J. Parada's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. After 66 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by P. Girardin might have resulted in another goal for Olympique. However, N. van Ree made a spectacular save. With 67 minutes gone, J. Parada suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by Unlimited caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. Having just succeeded in blocking a dangerous counter attack, the defending team was outwitted by the follow-up Unlimited free kick. The routine was expertly executed as the ball was shifted quickly to one side of the box, then back to the other. J. Parada appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie. 2 - 1, after 77 minutes. With 81 minutes played, K. Hammemi could have brought this one home for Olympique as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Olympique enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 80 percent of possession.

Olympique's best player was A. Clerget. On the other hand, B. Desille's play was disheartening. G. Riccomi performed admirably for Unlimited. M. Temper turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.