Down 3 - 2 Jenssen (394140829)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 641 had shown up at Down B-Lo Sportarena for the match. Paolo Sorrentino was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jonas Gussner and Romeo van Dortmont. Down had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: De Smet - Rahier, Bruinsma, Kremer - Cervo, De Crop, Uzay, Blanchaert, Mueller - Catico, Vervaecke.

Jenssen tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: D'haen - Monterde, Gaillard, Tavasti - Van Rymenant, Verheyleweghen, Knickl, Vanderheyden, Fürsicht - Van Zele, Abbes.

Jenssen used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Down created a good opportunity to score 6 minutes into the match when I. De Crop'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. Jenssen's S. Abbes had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 18 minutes having been played. D. Sackx was the replacement. After 31 minutes, Jenssen raised their score by one when I. Van Rymenant's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by D. Sackx. 0 - 1. The crowd roared in delight as S. Mueller finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for Down 35 minutes into the match. 1 - 1. With 41 minutes played, H. Blanchaert of Down fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The visiting R. Gaillard was booed thoroughly by the home crowd 42 minutes into the game, after he broke through the middle and scored, resulting in the visitors taking the lead. 1 - 2 was the score. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Down enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 51 percent of possession.

Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Down's A. De Smet was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 46 minutes. T. Matama was given a chance to change things around. After 47 minutes, Down switched I. De Crop with P. Van Caenegem, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. With 58 minutes played, the Down coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Antkowiak came on, H. Blanchaert had to leave the fray. Down's J. Vervaecke made a successful breakthrough on the left after 71 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 77 minutes gave Down a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and P. Van Caenegem stepped up to the challenge. 2 - 2 The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave P. Van Caenegem from Down a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 80 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! They were singing the praises of J. Antkowiak 81 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 3 - 2 to Down. Down had no available replacements when Y. Uzay had to leave the game after 85 minutes because of a pulled tendon, leaving the team a man short. Possession in this half belonged to Down, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

Most important Down player was J. Antkowiak. However, P. Van Caenegem made a disastrous appearance. Jenssen's best player was D. Fürsicht. On the other hand, R. Gaillard's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 2.