Nordre 2 - 5 Strategie (393683005)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 3119 to Nordre City Arena. Viti Gudiel was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mikael Eriksson and Gino Caldara. Nordre decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Ribeira - Roche, Hansen, Bóveda - Willumsen, Olsen, Landmark, Solheim, Scibilia - Astrup, Kwiek.

A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Strategie. The following players took the field: Ahvenainen - Grönbom, Barbani - Bilardi, D'Angelantonio, Boisset, Baboľ, Szudra - Đulić, Grandclaude, Canà.

The wings were the focus of most of Nordre's attacks today. 3 minutes into the game, P. Canà was a hair's breadth away from giving Strategie the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by A. Ribeira saved the home team that time. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave A. Barbani from Strategie a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 4 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The terraces were silenced after 5 minutes when Strategie's L. Grandclaude put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. L. Grandclaude of Strategie seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 0 - 2 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by E. Boisset. The Strategie free kick 18 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 S. Đulić, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 0 - 3! A. Barbani received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly 35 minutes into the match, probably out of lack of experience, and almost let an opponent score. Halftime score was 0 - 3. Strategie enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

Nordre didn't give in and with 47 minutes played K. Solheim was able to make the score 1 - 3 after an attack on the right. The home crowd was not impressed when L. Grandclaude came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 58 minutes. Strategie were now up 1 - 4. By then L. Grandclaude had scored three goals - a hat trick! A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from P. Canà after 61 minutes, and prevented Strategie from going up another goal. At 64 minutes into the game, Nordre's H. Landmark deftly knocked the ball home after an impressive run down the left, reducing the visitors' lead to 2 - 4. Z. Szudra's speed was clear to see after 69 minutes, as he darted down the wing and released S. Đulić who placed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 2 - 5. The players of Strategie now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. After 75 minutes, Strategie were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. A. Baboľ did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. Possession in this half belonged to Strategie, who controlled the ball 57 percent of the time.

K. Solheim performed admirably for Nordre. X. Bóveda on the other hand, had a terrible day. Strategie's best player was A. Baboľ. A. Ahvenainen was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 5.