Arkona 4 - 2 Lambardos (394199668)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 2807 had shown up at Schinkelarena for the match. Rudie Sprik was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Joaquim Morales and Uwe Königseck. Arkona started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Brehme - Rosenholtz, Schramm-Breunig, Monge - Preusser, Abbe, Weikinger, Aschauer, Jackel - Akhadov, Tradt.

Lambardos decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. The following players took the field: Castellano - Boldizsár, Denney, Meso - Peiti, Bakhuys, Lindmair, Malvezzi - Sarasin, Tuaillon, Brown.

Arkona decided to play creatively. They were singing the praises of C. Schramm-Breunig 8 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 Arkona. After 16 minutes, the visitors levelled the scores after J. Tuaillon made it through the middle and struck home to make it 1 - 1. Making his way up the middle 28 minutes into the match, B. Tradt almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert M. Castellano blocked it to keep the score level. It was showtime for artist B. Tradt who showed off his technical mastery when he rounded E. Peiti and finished with a goal to make the score 2 - 1. K. Akhadov unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. 33 minutes in, Lambardos appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only inadequate. It was 2 - 1 at the break. Arkona enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

A review of the gameplan helped Lambardos get back to a solid organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. L. Bakhuys tied the game at 2 - 2 after 54 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. 66 minutes into the game, Lambardos seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to passable. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to C. Schramm-Breunig, but the Arkona player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 3 - 2! After 76 minutes Arkona's C. Schramm-Breunig limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. Arkona put themselves up 4 - 2 when M. Abbe broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Possession in this half belonged to Arkona, who controlled the ball 63 percent of the time.

Arkona's best player was K. Akhadov. On the other hand, U. Brehme's play was disheartening. Lambardos's top performer was clearly C. Brown. J. Denney turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 2.