Didn 3 - 1 Duvels (393227059)

The 44048 spectators at Thibaud arena were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Gilles Bittar was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Orla Andersen and Reinier Zwarthoed. Didn had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Krämer-Pirzer - Brito Silva, Großenhof, Blanchart - Dahlen, Imbo, van der Hurk, Serradell, Haeck - Buchanan, Focardi.

Duvels tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Van Landeghem - Zoff, Vinkeroye, Møllebjerg - Greber, Dumarey, Bourlard, Nuyts, Goedee - Turbatu, Töyry.

They were singing the praises of C. Buchanan 3 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Didn. L. Focardi was ever so close to scoring after an excellent corner was beautifully flicked on by D. Imbo, but the ball bounced off the post to safety. After 29 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Duvels was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Duvels's D. Vinkeroye was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 35 minutes. C. Van Ingelgem was given a chance to change things around. The visitors' V. Turbatu was alert after a cross coming in from the left, levelling the score at 1 - 1 after 37 minutes. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave G. Bourlard from Duvels a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 38 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Neither team were able to dominate possession this half.

The visitors were very close to gaining the lead with a marvellous free kick after 47 minutes, but V. Krämer-Pirzer made a beautiful one-handed save. With 48 minutes played, the excellent ball from the wing by Didn's E. Haeck reached C. Buchanan's head, and he is not one to miss such an opportunity - 2 - 1. Cheers filled the stadium as L. Focardi broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 3 - 1 to Didn. 51 minutes in, J. Dumarey made an incredible run up the middle and nearly reduced the home side's lead, but V. Krämer-Pirzer refused to let the ball slip by him. It wasn't a good day at all for F. Blanchart. His powerful style of play just didn't fit the bill on this warm day. Duvels's right side looked dangerous after 67 minutes, as C. Van Ingelgem broke through. V. Krämer-Pirzer continued to stifle them, however, as he made the save look easy. Duvels claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

Most important Didn player was C. Buchanan. On the other hand, E. Haeck's play was disheartening. The most dominating Duvels player was without a doubt V. Turbatu. R. Goedee was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.