Neudorf 2 - 1 BLANZAC (370357929)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 32570 had shown up at Marco Van Basten Arena for the match. Per Sunesson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alex Ciorbea and Godefroy Groleau. Neudorf tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. Starters: Thomas - Édmond, Jobard - Veau, Fichet, Peneff, Démas, Frizon - Gaillard, Cantais, Chiboub.

BLANZAC decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Tokuş - Gachet, Magaud, Pillard - Günerman, Baagø, Løken, Scalvini, Kopcsák - Biggel, Abed-Hossein.

Neudorf saw most attack opportunities on the wings. Down the middle came H. Abed-Hossein, making a fantastic play that nearly had BLANZAC take the lead after 3 minutes, but A. Thomas preserved the tie. 0 - 1 was the score with 11 minutes played, after O. Baagø cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for BLANZAC. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, R. Magaud would have put BLANZAC up another goal 18 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. The referee showed BLANZAC's F. Biggel the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from H. Abed-Hossein after 25 minutes, and prevented BLANZAC from going up another goal. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Neudorf enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 58 percent of possession.

Players in Neudorf heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. With 48 minutes played, after a good run down the left, V. Démas 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. Content with how the game was proceeding, the BLANZAC coach let Y. Rouvier replace H. Abed-Hossein after 50 minutes. In an effort to secure the lead, BLANZAC changed their tactic after 50 minutes. The BLANZAC coach was visibly pleased with the score so far, but still ordered a few tactical changes 51 minutes into the game. After 54 minutes S. Cantais made a speedy advance and dropped the ball to N. Gaillard who shuffled it past the keeper. The score was now 1 - 1. A. Fichet would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. G. Dumoulin entered the game for Neudorf as the match clock showed 55 minutes. 65 minutes into the game, Neudorf wanted to bring some new energy to their game. B. Frizon gave J. Mirallès a quick hug as he left the field. It was obvious that Neudorf had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. 70 minutes into the game, V. Pillard almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. After some beautiful movement down the left wing, N. Gaillard scored for Neudorf putting them ahead 2 - 1, after 71 minutes. With 87 minutes played, V. Peneff of Neudorf fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Possession in this half belonged to Neudorf, who controlled the ball 58 percent of the time.

Neudorf's top performer was clearly R. Chiboub. A. Thomas on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating BLANZAC player was without a doubt F. Biggel. T. Tokuş turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.