Game report : Kriens - NE Xamax :  1 - 1  (0 - 0)    Attendance : 8'200
-------------------------------
Goals : 84' Sandjak (Penalty), 91' Schnarwiler (Penalty)


Yesterday I realized that the Kleinfeld (litt. 'Smallfield') really
deserves its name. It was full with only 2'800 people; but first of all,
they didn't have a single tribune left when I entered the place !!
(alright, a couple of minutes too late). Which is why I didn't have an
optimal view on that game.

But the first half was clearly dominated by Kriens, who managed themselves
4 or 5 clear opportunities, while Xamax had troubles to keep the ball and
make clean passes, and hardly had, well, a half possibility... Kriens was
surely well organised, active, volonteer and physically present. Colatrella
and Schwizer especially had good opportunities, but missed a few experience
to make it, I suppose. By Xamax, who was generally quite defensive, Wittl
didn't play the first half; he entered at the 46', replacing Gigon, and
that brought much creativity in Neuchatel's offensive scenes. After seeing
it again on TV I believe the referee, Mr Leuba, should've whistled a
penalty for Kriens.

In the second half, Xamax began with good intentions and dominated a bit,
but seldomly brought danger around Crevoisier's cage, while Kriens was
still doing good, but had less opportunities than earlier as well. But the
game went on and on and I finally strongly believed it would've been going
toward a virgin score, when suddenly Leuba whistled a Penaly for a foul on
Wittl that _really_ wasn't clear. Sandjak scored and it smelled then
somehow like a hold-up.

7 minutes later, after that Kriens made a pressure like hell and that Xamax
almost scored twice on counters, Leuba whistled again a penalty (a right
one, this time), and it was nothing but justice if Kriens could tie at the
very last moment. They would've even deserved the win. Focusing on Kriens'
organisation on the field, I believe Jochen Dries has quite a big part in
Kriens' strenght and quality of playing.

Keep watching football.

Laurent.

Laurent Weber, Zurich, Switzerland --- lweber@worldcom.ch ---
http://home.worldcom.ch/~lweber
                             --- The truth is out there ---