Game report : NE Xamax - Carouge :  6 - 2   (3 - 0)    Attendance  : supposely 6'100.
--------------------------------
Goals : 24' Wittl, 38' Kunz, 45' Isabella, 60' Bugnard (3-1), 66' Mosca
(3-2), 78' Alicarte, 81' Zambaz, 89' Perret.


As I appear to be desperately lazy, I decided to take a few notes once
more, to leave my memory alone as I now find enough energy to write this
little report.
This game was the very beginning for the three brand new players, Helgason,
Hamann and Zambaz.


10' Nourou, who was way too aggressive, got a yellow card.
** The first quarter definitely belonged to Xamax who had however troubles
against a very defensive Carouge.
17' Kunz misses all alone facing Rapo, on a pass from Wittl.
23' Mosca had a very good opportunity. Corminboeuf saves.
24' Wittl scores in a quite confused situation
27' On a counter, Wittl serves Isabella who make a direct shot on the goal.
Rapo saves.
38' Long pass from 50 to 60 meters from Rothenbühler, the ball bounces
above a defensor, Kunz is alone facing Rapo, the shot is a nice lob, right
in.
40' Free kick shot by Mosca from 17 meters away from Corminboeuf's cage.
The red and black goalie saves as the ball was going for the high top
corner of the frame.
45' Kunz gets the ball near the edge of the box as some defensor stupidly
lost it, makes a little slalom within the box, tries the shot, the ball
goes beyond Rapo, but would've missed the goal if Isabella wouldn't have
been at the 2nd post for the 3-0.

2nd half

15' Bugnard scores on a free kick from near the box. The 'wall' deviated
Bugnard's shot, but the whole scene was quite cleverly prepared, so that we
all thought until the very last moment that Mosca would've accomplished the
duty.
21' On a very nice counter scene, Mosca scores for Carouge.
24', then 26' Wittl being twice alone in front of Rapo, misses both
opportunities. The public whistled him quite a lot.
33' Alicarte, who ran alone from 40m away, scores after a nice 1-2-1 with
Wittl.
34' Mr Markus Nobs, who's done a very average job that evening, should've
definitely whistled a free kick within Carouge's box, for Xamax.
36' Zambaz makes a very nice, energetic move within Carouge's last 20m,
scores with a relay with Perret
37' When Chanlot enters for Wittl, Charles-the-rasta-man has been quite
whistled by the public. Too bad, for if he effectively regularly missed
passes or shots, he scored once and made two assists. And therefore really
didn't deserve any whistle.
40' Negri makes an excellent shot.
45' Perret scores on a quite interesting collective move. Hamann did the
assist.

The final score does however not really reflect both team's strength,
though it is clear that Xamax' three points were completely logical. Xamax'
defense needs to concentrate more in their job, and, obviously, the
integration of the three new players will take a little while. Talking of
those guys, Zambaz did a great performance that afternoon, Hamann, in a
Libero role, impressed with the security and control he brought in the
game. The third one, Icelander Helgason did show decent and interesting
qualities, but did a few mistakes, and it will definitely need a deeper
look at the man in order to make one's opinion on the guy's capabilities.

Keep enjoying fooball.

Laurent.

Laurent Weber, Zurich, Switzerland - lweber@worldcom.ch -
http://home.worldcom.ch/~lweber
"The pioneers of a warless world are the young men who refuse to serve" -
Albert Einstein