Depor 2 - 1 Makaira (381662852)

48009 fans braved the pouring rain at Cat's Arena. Héctor González was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vasil Grúncharov and Mario Nicasio Sosa. Depor tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Calem - Vestri, Sánchez, Saggioro - Sammallahti, Ravera, Battaglino, Ursino, Váňa - Bertè, Antoniacci.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Makaira. The following players had been chosen: Soares - Giuliati, De Cianni, Sorm - Crnko, Lukey, Mazzurana, Urbāns, Daguet - Marcos, Vassdal.

As the 1 minute mark approached, the Makaira coach decided it was time for a substitution. G. De Cianni reluctantly made way for H. Hansen on the pitch. H. Daguet slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. After 17 minutes, speedy H. Daguet dashed past his marker, making plenty of room for the second wave of attack. However, B. Vassdal failed to score. F. Antoniacci had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. Many thought F. Sánchez ought to have been awarded a penalty 31 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around D. Soares after a determined run through the middle. Halftime score was 0 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Depor, with 52 percent of the ball.

After 46 minutes, the Makaira coach had a quick word about the tactical set-up and decided to try another approach. L. Giuliati would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. E. Cambieri entered the game for Makaira as the match clock showed 50 minutes. Priding himself in being an active coach, the Makaira manager gave new instructions to his players after 60 minutes. 64 minutes into the game, a swerving free kick by P. Vestri almost resulted in the home team taking the lead, but the shot glanced harmlessly off the frame of the goal. With 67 minutes played P. Vestri almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' D. Soares was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. Depor took the lead 69 minutes in, as S. Bertè broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. The Makaira coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. D. Marcos tied the game at 1 - 1 after 75 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to S. Bertè, but the Depor player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 2 - 1! With 85 minutes played, V. Váňa of Depor fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Depor claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

The most dominating Depor player was without a doubt S. Bertè. On the other hand, H. Calem's play was disheartening. B. Vassdal performed admirably for Makaira. D. Marcos turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.