Global 2 - 1 Mazzers (381587224)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 47625 at FC Global Soccer Arena today. Aleksandar Maksic was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Immanuel Dequae and Gernot Rüegg. Global started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. Starters: Lopes - Risso, Kanter - Kielan, Escalona, Sennheiser, Alfonso, Bevers - Vollard, Nerheim, Veenpere.

Mazzers had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Wynsberghe - Bresler, Leonte, Joost, Sircana - Yuhara, Pärn, Nirk, Aagesen - Stjernskär, Popolizio.

Today, Global's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Mazzers. Global could have put themselves ahead after 3 minutes but R. Vollard missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. At 14 minutes played, F. Nerheim came in from the right with the intention of giving Global the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. Global broke through on the left 17 minutes into the game, with V. Veenpere firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. J. Alfonso unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. Mazzers were great at switching from defence to attack, and after 24 minutes, B. Stjernskär swept through the middle on a counterattack, making the score 1 - 1. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Global had most of the ball, with 69 percent of possession.

Attacking on the wings was the choice for Global, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. Global created a good opportunity to score 58 minutes into the match when R. Vollard's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. A free kick aimed at the keeper's far post almost gave Mazzers the lead 67 minutes in, but the ball just wasn't able to squirm its way through the defensive wall. Global took the lead after 76 minutes as a result of D. Escalona's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 2 - 1. With 76 minutes played, the Mazzers coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. M. Wollert came on, H. Joost had to leave the fray. M. Wollert was handed the Mazzers captain's armband. Possession in this half belonged to Global, who controlled the ball 72 percent of the time.

V. Veenpere performed admirably for Global. D. Bevers was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Mazzers player was without a doubt M. Wollert. M. Sircana turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.