Globetrotters 5 - 1 Garden (393888104)

It had rained all day, but 2421 hardy fans still made it out to Bern Globetrotters Arena. Patrice Georges was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gerhardt Klein-Müllersmann and Miquel Montroig. Globetrotters had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. They fielded: Alloin - Cescon, Bratovš, Lumma, Mullen - Gigante, Sacktannen, Willi, Patrac, Duer - Schumpbach.

Garden started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Mauvais - Pinau, Werneuchen, Zibert - Korngold, Holzgräber, Popow, Grünhagen, Palmér - Lenzenweger, Postha.

Today, Globetrotters's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. P. Bratovš was having a great game - if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on! Globetrotters broke through on the left 17 minutes into the game, with J. Schumpbach firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. Having just succeeded in blocking a dangerous counter attack, the defending team was outwitted by the follow-up Globetrotters 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. Schumpbach appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie. 2 - 0, after 19 minutes. Confident in their lead, Globetrotters's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. M. Gigante, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. F. Duer increased Globetrotters's lead to 3 - 0 with a penalty spot cannonball. The home crowd was silenced as A. Popow took a successful penalty shot 27 minutes into the game, reducing the home lead to 3 - 1. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of Globetrotters to 4 - 1 as T. Mullen finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. A. Popow of Garden was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Garden had to make a substitution after 39 minutes. C. Zibert limped off the field and was replaced by G. Šálek. 40 minutes into the match, the speedy F. Duer easily outpaced R. Pinau, chipped the keeper and made the score 5 - 1. 5 - 1 was the halftime score. Globetrotters enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

Coming in from the right, Garden had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 48 minutes, but W. Holzgräber's attempt to finish was easily stopped. Garden's G. Šálek was shown a yellow card after 54 minutes for slicing down an opponent. V. Bento was called on to replace Globetrotters's M. Gigante after 66 minutes following a nasty collision. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Globetrotters, with 55 percent of the ball.

Most important Globetrotters player was P. Bratovš. J. Schumpbach was a disappointment, however. A. Popow performed admirably for Garden. However, Y. Mauvais made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 5 - 1.