Ne. Xamax - FC Zurich 1-1  (1-0)

La Maladiere: 6'600
Referee: Detruche (good game)
Goals: 26' Martinovic (penalty) 1-0, 85' Tarone 1-1

Line-ups:
Xamax: Corminboeuf; Martin, Moret, Alicarte; Gigon, Wittl, Boughanem,
Martinovic; Chanlot (65' Vernier), Sandjak (73' Friedli), Kunz.

Zurich: Shorunmu; Brugnoli, Fischer, Hodel, Huber (57' Di Jorio);
Ferreri, Tejeda, Sant'Anna, Gambino (67' Baldassari); Yekini, Nonda.

With the absences of Rueda, Jeanneret, Isabella, Perret and
Rothenbühler, Xamax looked extremely diminished on the paper. On the
other hand, Zurich entered the field in its standard line-up (even
though Castillo was missing). The first 20 minutes was pretty equal,
both team coming up with interesting movements. Xamax's Chanlot (first
game with Xamax) already showed promising abilities. Neuchâtel took a
somehow unearned lead after Martinovic scored on penalty ("flagrant"
foul by Hodel on Wittl).

In the second half, the same scenario took place. Both team playing an
"open" football and having good intentions. After 15 minutes, Zurich
showed some signs of fatigue and Xamax got a couple of huge
opportunities to take a decisive lead. The international Kunz miserably
missing 2 one-on-one situations against the excellent Shorunmu (don't
tell me it is bad luck !). The substitution of Ferreri by Baldassari
boosted Zurich's offense. The earned equalization finally came 5 minutes
before the end (a "heavy" shoot by Tejeda deflected by Tarone giving no
chance for Corminboeuf to stop it).

I am always amazed of the capacity of Gilbert Gress to create a team
with so many average players. Xamax's organization on the field is
definitively the key of all their success over the years. Chanlot looks
like a good acquisition. He brings movement and imagination to the
team and gets along with Wittl and Sandjak. I still don't get why Gress
substitute him after 70 minutes. Kunz sucked, he missed too many good
opportunities and was caught in an offside position about a dozen times.
The whole Xamax's defense with youngsters Martin and Moret surprisingly
provided a good game. Also good performances by Wittl and Martinovic.

In Shorunmu, Hodel and Fisher, Zurich has very strong defense. Ferreri
played well the first 30 minutes but then completely "sank". I was
much more impressed by Sant'Anna's performance. This Sony Anderson look
alike has good stuff. Same comments about Baldassari who was the key of
Zurich's equalization. On the other hand, Yekini was really painful to
see playing. He looked over weighted, out of shape, physically ran a
couple of times and had no imagination at all. Xamax's young defense had
no problems controling him. He basically did it all wrong. Fortunately,
Ponte still has Nonda. Bad grades also to Brugnoli (too short
technically) and Tejeda (lost the ball too many times in midfield
providing good opportunities to Xamax to score).

Cheers,

Fabien
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Fabien Girardin                   Email: fabien@girardin.org
Delemont, Switzerland         W3: http://www.girardin.org/fabien/

"Out of clutter, find simplicity, from discord, find harmony, in the
middle of difficulty, lies opportunity." The Three Rules of Work
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+