Squad 4 - 1 liverworst (374639897)

41171 spectators arrived at Elan Squad Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Gejza Ušák was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Norberto Moureau and Aksel Rothborg. Squad had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. They fielded: Ballester - Heimendinger, Mleczak, Kadijk, Harmeier - Prandi, Grožák, Berris, Kwakman - Campmany, Langeveld.

liverworst decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Lineup: Schoemans - Kamber, Wentholt, van der Geest, Cauwenbergh - Lisser, Fokas, Andersson, Vianello - Knežak, van IJzerloo.

Squad tried to focus their attacks down the middle. liverworst clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. Squad were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. Squad took the lead 14 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as F. Harmeier elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. 18 minutes in, liverworst's F. van der Geest received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Squad's D. Berris went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. A. Kwakman's experience almost gave Squad a goal after 19 minutes but the keeper made a great save. Squad's R. Mleczak struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 2 - 0 after 26 minutes. By now, the players in Squad felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. 39 minutes in, liverworst appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only passable. D. Langeveld unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. 41 minutes into the game, liverworst seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a inadequate level of organisation. With the clock showing 44 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of liverworst resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by B. van IJzerloo in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Squad, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. After 44 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by D. Prandi might have resulted in another goal for Squad. However, E. Schoemans made a spectacular save. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 0. Possession in this half belonged to Squad, who controlled the ball 63 percent of the time.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that liverworst had solid organisation. A well-executed free kick by R. Mleczak after 49 minutes made it 3 - 0 for Squad. I. Geessink was called on to replace Squad's K. Kadijk after 56 minutes following a nasty collision. The Squad captaincy was handed to F. Harmeier. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the liverworst manager used a brief break in play after 60 minutes to give the players new directives. The liverworst players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. The liverworst coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. The visitors' right side was dangerous today; L. Andersson made the home team's keeper look foolish as he easily reduced the lead to make it 3 - 1 60 minutes into the match. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave A. Kwakman from Squad a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 61 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Squad's D. Berris saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 63 minutes. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. D. Langeveld squirmed through their central defence after 66 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 1. Squad claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

Most important Squad player was D. Langeveld. I. Geessink was a disappointment, however. liverworst's best player was T. Fokas. However, F. van der Geest made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 4 - 1.