Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 19000 at House Music Utd Arena today. House had chosen
a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Svensson - Ruell, Haigh, Mevius - Barão, Neal, Otzen,
Richards, Maas - Marguet, Carlstrand.
Rockers tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Lineup: Santasus
- Válido, Selhami, Bois, Cheyne - Callow, Evans, Gruber, Ismail - Adolfsson, Meyers.
The strategy for Rockers on this
day was to use their ability to press. Rockers pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at
times. House made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left
Björn Carlstrand completely alone with keeper
Carles Santasus, who made a spectacular block. House broke through on the left in the 29th minute, with
Herschel Neal firing at an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead.
Jeffrey Haigh of House received a yellow card in the 34th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 1 - 0 was the halftime score. House
dictated play, as they maintained 78 percent of possession.
Björn Carlstrand of House received a yellow card in the 67th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Seemingly due to lack of experience,
Scott Cheyne needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. 71 minutes
into the game, House were awarded a penalty that
Björn Carlstrand turned into 2 - 0 without a problem. After this, House lowered the tempo in order to concentrate on their defensive
efforts.
Clément Marguet could have put House up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left in the 81st minute. In
the 82nd minute, a deliberate handball from House's
Björn Carlstrand was judged to be his second bookable offence, and he was sent off. House held the ball, with a clear 79 percent of possession.
The
most dominating House player was without a doubt
Jeffrey Haigh.
Clément Marguet turned in a dismal performance, however.
Thomas Callow performed admirably for Rockers.
Harry Evans was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 0
