Queensland 0 - 4 Menai (380315900)

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Queensland Lane saw a crowd turnout of 7000. Frano Berović was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vidar Røise and Eric Schwardt. Queensland decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Brant - Whitehead, Sutcliffe, O´Brien, Tabberer - Gibson, Martin, Evans, Darcy - Marriott, Sampayo.

Menai tactics involved an interesting 5-5-0 combination. Lineup: Kee - Gil Alvarado, Dutta, Collins, Chiacchio, Minuzzi - Gilchrist, Gravano, Sansone, Tzohar, Pumarino -.

Pressing was the tactic of the day for Menai. After 13 minutes, Menai put themselves up 0 - 1, as B. Minuzzi finished off a strike from the left with a real cannonball of a shot. A corner kick created great disorder in the penalty area with a goal nearly scored by B. Minuzzi. At last, Menai's R. Gilchrist was able to backheel the ball in. 0 - 2. The pressing tactics used by Menai were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. With 28 minutes played, Menai's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to O. Sansone he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 3. Confident in their lead, Menai's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. Menai pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. P. Brant got a fingertip on T. Collins's shot from the left 34 minutes in, and managed to keep the visitors from going up another goal. Halftime score was 0 - 3. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Menai, with 80 percent of the ball.

O. Sansone wanted to play on, but the Menai coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 46 minutes into the game by T. Michaleas. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, R. Pumarino took over the role of being the Menai captain. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Menai coach let J. Schulp replace G. Gravano after 50 minutes. D. Chiacchio increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 4. Menai's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. N. Tzohar left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 70 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. V. Stirmlinger was the replacement. With 74 minutes played, D. Chiacchio nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. Menai claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 76 percent.

Most important Queensland player was R. Marriott. P. Brant turned in a dismal performance, however. Menai's top performer was clearly R. Gilchrist. J. Gil Alvarado was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 4.