Artistene 1 - 2 Champions (384110688)

Due to an all-day shower, 41319 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at BALLBINGEN. Tonni Bøgild was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Tomáš Nováček and Robert Danielsson. Artistene decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Totland - Sinivuo, Statkov - Gluić, Evju, Ortexa, Lara, Frunză - Sówka, Carrard, Cyruliński.

Champions tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. They fielded: Elstad - Eriksen, Lyngvær, Stakvik, Solli - Sørensen, Herfindal, Holkestad, Mikalsen, Røst - Lunden.

For their match strategy, Champions had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. T. Carrard gave Artistene the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 The visitors almost came back with an equaliser 10 minutes into the match after a good combination down the middle, but when A. Herfindal tried to finish the attack, he couldn't deliver the shot hard enough to seriously challenge the keeper. The visitors didn't give in and, after 21 minutes, S. Lunden got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 1 - 1. 26 minutes into the game, Champions's J. Røst missed an opportunity to score the leading goal from a penalty when he delivered the shot straight into the keeper's hands. N. Eriksen was having a great game - if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on! Halftime score was 1 - 1. Artistene claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

With 47 minutes played G. Lara almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. Champions played a good counterattacking move down the left 48 minutes into the match, with M. Stakvik finishing well for 1 - 2. G. Lara did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. S. Lyngvær was struggling to make the ball dance with his usual trickery and panache, and the opposing players had little trouble shutting him down in these muddy conditions. Artistene's G. Lara made an attempt at equalising 64 minutes into the match, coming in from the right, but the ball hit the post and the defence easily cleared the rebound. Champions's S. Lunden got himself booked for a foul. Due to a severely mistimed tackle, E. Evju of Artistene spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. N. Sinivuo of Artistene received a yellow card after 73 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Artistene, with 56 percent of the ball.

Artistene's top performer was clearly G. Cyruliński. On the other hand, L. Frunză's play was disheartening. The most dominating Champions player was without a doubt A. Herfindal. C. Solli turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.