GOAL

Zafar Evren

DEFENSE

Timo Alberts

Markus Dolenga

Sascha Maric

Denis Mecklenburg

MIDFIELD

Alex Bursak

Jens Taubken

Philipp von Pein

Jan Wiechmann

STRIKERS

Michael Klemm

Volker Giebitz

SUBS

Hendrik "Finch" Bohne

Florian Schmidt

Frank van't Hoog

During the pre-match talk Coach Joerg issued a strong warning against judging Hollandse by their league table position. After all they had convincingly beaten the Swiss in the cup, something the Germans have not managed to achieve this season. A 4-4-2 line-up was chosen and the following marching orders given: (1) keep it tight in midfield; (2) show fighting spirit; (3) play a good passing game with easy balls; (4) wait for counter attacks.

The first opportunity fell to the Germans after a mere three minutes of play when the Hollandse goalie parried a long range freekick but Pippo didn't quite get a foot to it to hit the empty goal. 120 seconds later the score suddenly read 0-1: a Dutch midfielder dribbled past two GAS defenders across the left and his accurate cross found an unmarked striker who whacked the ball in from 10 yards.

Fortunately, the GAS side reacted well to this early shock, exercising good and sustained pressure. A a brilliant run by Timo over the left side was stopped by a foul inside the box. Micha said "thank you" and converted the penalty into the bottom right corner. 1-1 it was after 11 minutes.

After the equalizer the Whites remained dominant with Timo on the left and Markus on the right (both had good games) creating a lot of space and several good opportunities for the strikers upfront. After 33 minutes Volle got the ball at the corner of the box. In the absence of anybody offering himself he gave it a try ... and scored beautifully into the top left corner, 2-1.

Subsequently the Germans increased pressure even more, cleverly forechecking and dominating midfield, and at times producing some excellent passing. Volker could have made his second after 34 minutes, forcing the Dutch goalie into a superb safe, but it happened to be Alex, who had an impressive work rate in the center, to make it 3-1 after 38 minutes - the halftime score.

Coach Joerg was quite happy with the scoreline and the standard of play so far, but issued a strong warning against complacency, and the possibility of a Hollandse "Anschlusstreffer". And that's exactly what happened after just 120 seconds gone in the secnd half. The GAS defense didn't manage to clear a through ball, giving a Dutch striker the chance to dribble around Zafar and hit the empty goal. 3-2, the Dutch were back in the match, and now trying to create some danger over the wings.

The next real scoring opportunity fell to the Germans, though. With 56 minutes gone Jan went through on the left and curled in a perfect cross which Volle took on the volley from 15 yards, only to hit the goalie. On the other side of the pitch, Zafar prevented the equalizer rushing some 25 yards out to clear a dangerous counter attack.

The match went back and forth now with both sides looking for a goal. It was the GAS side who found the net after 64 minutes. Another nice cross from Jan, who had a good game on the left side, found Micha who left it for Volle who delivered the ball expertly into the run of Pippo. Our "#10" made no mistake with his shot into the bottom left corner. The decisive goal? Hollandse certainly didn't think so, benefiting from some confusion in the German defense only two minutes later, thereby setting the stage for a dramatic last quarter of the game.

The decider eventually came with 85 minutes gone. Another great pass from Jan was neatly picked up by Micha who slotted it in from 10 yards to make it 5-3, the final score.

Despite some deficiencies the Germans showed good attitude and therefore deserve the three points which get the team yet another step closer to the top third of the league.

Florian Schmidt