Merlin 1 - 5 HSVV (379392034)

Due to an all-day shower, 3091 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at The Peak. Juan Antonio Ribes Llopes was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Antero Hasa and Anders Sörensson. Merlin started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Kijmongkolsak - Willett, Wachiraban - Del Curto, Manuphan, Balseiros, Şeuleanu, Benosmane - Salas, Røed, Pellizzaro.

HSVV decided to use a 4-5-1 set up. The following players took the field: Corona - Herrera, Graaf, Czech, Rato - Lichtenwalde, Stelle, Kauth, Tossani, Griephan - Aguado.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of HSVV. Merlin created a good opportunity to score 20 minutes into the match when R. Røed'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. 25 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Merlin substitution. C. Wongsaksri came on for O. Benosmane. The muddy pitch made the game a gritty affair, which seemed to suit J. Manuphan just fine. The HSVV free kick 35 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of S. Herrera, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 0 - 1! A swift counterattack by HSVV resulted in a free kick that D. Aguado elegantly twisted into the goal - 0 - 2! HSVV increased the lead to 0 - 3 as D. Aguado scored from the penalty spot, putting the ball in near the top left corner. Merlin refused to be intimidated and, breaking through the middle, S. Pellizzaro managed to slip the ball home for 1 - 3. A misunderstanding between the visitors' keeper E. Corona and his left defence could have resulted in a goal for Merlin, but S. Pellizzaro's finish was way too lame. 1 - 3 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to Merlin, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

With 50 minutes played, the Merlin coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. W. Krajangthong came on, J. Willett had to leave the fray. The Merlin captaincy was handed to B. Wachiraban. HSVV's counterattacks were lethal to the opposing defence, allowing S. Herrera to score easily from the right flank for 1 - 4. With 70 minutes gone, Merlin had a free kick in a decent position. Despite this being a great chance for a shot, they tried a cheeky move intended to bypass the defence. However, S. Şeuleanu did not manage to connect with it cleanly and the ball went out. H. Graaf of HSVV took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 71 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 1 - 5. The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance of getting one back as R. Røed tried lifting the ball over keeper E. Corona. Unfortunately, the ball went just over the bar. The HSVV players could smell victory in the air. M. Stelle wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for T. Zandler after 75 minutes. Merlin had a brilliant opportunity to reply as F. Balseiros received a high ball from the right, striking the ball in the air. Only E. Corona's reflexes saved him. Merlin claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 65 percent.

The most dominating Merlin player was without a doubt J. Manuphan. However, C. Wongsaksri made a disastrous appearance. D. Kauth performed admirably for HSVV. T. Zandler turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 5.