Ducks 2 - 1 Kimberley (393592499)

Clouds darkened the skies at Buckingham Road as 70300 spectators turned up for the match. Lucian Petrescu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Björn Åkerstål and Sergejs Medins. Ducks decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Vammen - Kim Lee, Marlin, Hofbräu, Herrero - Elik, Welback, Muzîcă, Nini - Launay, Adler.

Kimberley tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Ibrahim - Sun, Hobson, Dromgoole, MacCarrghamhna - Ries, Finlay, Yarwood, Hopper - Dillon, Wicklmayr.

For their match strategy, Kimberley had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. A lovely run by Ducks's G. Nini left his markers for dead and should have resulted in a goal, but the finish went just wide. Kimberley's counterattacks created a good chance for R. Dillon on the right after 30 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Ducks created a good opportunity to score 34 minutes into the match when G. Nini's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. A quick counter attack by Kimberley forced the opponent's defender to give away a freekick. G. Wicklmayr was allowed to take it quickly by the referee, much to the dismay of the goalkeeper who wasn't prepared. 0 - 1! With 38 minutes played, after a good run down the left, U. Elik went down looking for a penalty after a challenge from the visitors' right fullback, but the referee waved play on, and later warned him for diving. The referee showed Kimberley's K. Yarwood the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Unfortunately for Ducks, H. Hofbräu was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. 张. 文卓 (Wenzhuo) replaced him. 0 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Ducks, with 68 percent of the ball.

After 60 minutes, Ducks used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. The Ducks players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. Ducks's U. Elik had a hard, curved free kick after 65 minutes that would have paid off, had it gone just a little lower. After 70 minutes, Ducks switched F. Marlin with P. Guise, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. 70 minutes into the match, the technically gifted P. Guise of Ducks scored 1 - 1, having made O. Hobson look like a complete fool. After a fine move down the middle P. Guise nearly gave the home side a goal after 72 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. With 73 minutes played P. Guise almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. With 74 minutes played U. Elik almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' G. Ibrahim was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. As the match clock reached 75 minutes, Ducks's organisation began to suffer due to a lack of experience. 85 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Kimberley substitution. M. McCauley came on for K. Yarwood. Ducks claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 69 percent.

As neither team was able to break the deadlock before the end of regular play, the teams took to the field again for extra time. Despite his frustration resulting in the smashing of a few teacups, the coach of Ducks was able to get his message across, and raised Ducks's organisation to solid. The Ducks free kick 93 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of A. Launay, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 2 - 1! Game over, Ducks win! Most important Ducks player was G. Adler. 张. 文卓 (Wenzhuo) was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Kimberley player was without a doubt R. Dillon. On the other hand, P. Sun's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 1.