What were the arrows and orders of your 4-4-2? Your opponents formation is similar to the wide diamond and/or 4-3w-3! If you were focusing passing through the flanks, with red arrows on the wingers, your opponent had a tactical advantage, with that additional striker.

I like the 4-1-2-1-2 ND or 4-3n-1-2 against this type of setup, since it'll grant me control of the midfield with 4 players against 1 MC. Just realize that with such a setup, its going to be a very open game as while you're running amok through your oppositions midfield, they'll have plenty of space on wings.