Game report : NE Xamax - Servette  1 - 2  (0 - 1)    Attendance : around 8'000
=================================
Goals : 33' Ippoliti, 65' Ippoliti, 79' Jeanneret.

Line-up :
Xamax		: Delay, Alicarte, Cyprien, Martinovic (Boughanem ~70'),
		  Cyprien, Perret (Friedly 46'), Rothenbuehler, Wittl,
		  Kunz, Lesniak (Isabella ~80'), Sandjak.
Sorry, line-up for Servette is incomplete, I don't take notes and my memory
has limits...
Servette	: Pedat, Margarini, Fournier, Potocianu, Durix, Sesa,
		  Ippoliti, De Souza, Mueller,...


I wouldn't say this season's first travel of mine was really worth it. But
I'm quite glad I've seen this game anyway.

In the first half, just like in the second one as well, Xamax mostly
dominated, for there have been a couple of small periods under Servette's
dominance, but Neuchâtel mainly had things in hands, and had a good
offensive attitude throughout the game. Throughout the game as well did
Servette stay quite steady, not taking much risks running toward Delay, and
made from time to time some good pressures.

During the first half-hour, Xamax did have about 5 fair, concrete
opportunities to do something (Wittl, Alicarte, Kunz 2x, Sandjak). They
have been maybe a bit unlucky, but were mainly awkward. Near the end of the
half, Kunz missed an 'elephant' while alone on the 6 yards line.
On Servette's side, Ippolitti sent once a fairly interesting shot, and, of
course, scored after some Xamax defensor lost the balls in Durix's feet,
near the central line.

In the second half-time Geneva had about 2 to 3 opportunities, one where
they scored, on a superb scene where ippoliti made a Maradona-like shot,
and the second where some guy hit the left pole while alone in front of
Delay (scene which was, IMHO, off-side, but that would've been the only
error, if any, of that night's Ref, who was good; seems like it's only when
the refs are doing bad that you remember their name...). Xamax probably had
about 3 or 4 opportunities, from which many were just stupidly wasted by
Sandjak.

I think that most will agree that Xamax did play quite well without being
_that_ good either, would've absolutely deserved at least the tied,
possibly the win. Servette was not bad either good, they just didn't want
to really play openly, but had an effectiveness near 100%. The away win is
on my opinion a absolute Hold-up. But alright, when a team just can't
score, there has to be something wrong with the forwards (see right
below...)

I'm pleased to mention that Sandjak has been *Extremely* bad and useless
that evening, and that no single one person in the attendance understood
why Gress kept him on the field. The German (and English as well) similar
name Sandsack was quite realistic to describe his performance tonight.
Still by Xamax, Kunz was not very good. Wittl did a good job though you
could feel that he is still recovering from a past injury. Perret good as
usual. Jeanneret, in more of the goal, was very good. Alicarte did not
convice me, neither Gress, in his defensive task, though he seems to have
multiple qualities when it comes to the offense. Cyprien has done a good
job as well. Lesniak was not very good either. Newcomer Frieldy has done a
very good job, was very volonteer to fill up empty spaces and did many
efficient passes. Way to go. Rueda still has about 5 weeks to wait before
playing again, for he got a surgery again.

Jan Berger is still not 'qualified' to play with Xamax, therefore I was
wondering whether some stuff is still not cleared up between GC and Xamax,
regarding lending sums or whatever, or whether GC would only allow him to
play when next Saturday's game (GC-Xamax) will be over.
Talking of that game, I have no idea whether I will be able to attend it.

By Servette, I have been positively impressed by the following players :
Pedat, Durix, Ippoliti, De Souza. But you already knew what these guys are
worth...

Keep watching football,
Laurent.

Laurent Weber
Zurich, Switzerland
lweber@worldcom.ch
-------------------
-- I loved Norma Gene. But hated Marylin.