ELBANIC 3 - 4 Doz (238228068)

17634 punters turned up at MENABREU, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Nemo van der Linden was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gerrit-Jan Harthoorn and Fabrice Videau. ELBANIC had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Tian Bai - Franco, Smrž, Llamas - Gérard, Piana, Ribas, Topin, Płonowski - Vanaots, Loret.

Doz started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Mosca - Dücius, Hafner, Nardini - Ragnbratt, Runesson, av Lofti, Miranda, Filipoiu - Moch, Trippodo.

16 minutes into the match and the home team took a 1 - 0 lead after breaking through on the left. The scorer for ELBANIC was P. Piana. ELBANIC's T. Vanaots increased the lead to 2 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 27 minutes. 29 minutes in, Doz's F. av Lofti received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. J. Topin received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly 31 minutes into the match, probably out of lack of experience, and almost let an opponent score. Doz fought on and, after 33 minutes, G. Trippodo was able to reduce the deficit to 2 - 1 after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. The visitors didn't give in and, after 37 minutes, S. Runesson got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 2 - 2. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 2. Doz had most of the ball, with 51 percent of possession.

50 minutes into the match, Doz nearly took the lead, as P. Moch broke through on the right. L. Tian Bai made the save, however. After 63 minutes, the home side was awarded a penalty. The visitors protested wildly but the referee was adamant. J. Franco easily put the ball away to give the lead to ELBANIC. 3 - 2 66 minutes into the game Doz's M. Miranda found a gap in the home side's central defence and scored with a fabulous shot, making it 3 - 3. L. Tian Bai looked great 69 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' G. Trippodo. Priding himself in being an active coach, the ELBANIC manager gave new instructions to his players after 70 minutes. F. av Lofti of Doz got sent off for kicking the ball after the whistle, a completely uncalled for move, earning him his second yellow card of the game. Doz's S. Runesson gave the visitors a 3 - 4 lead after 79 minutes with a superb strike from the right. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the ELBANIC manager used a brief break in play after 80 minutes to give the players new directives. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by ELBANIC, with 59 percent of the ball.

ELBANIC's best player was J. Ribas. On the other hand, J. Franco's play was disheartening. Most important Doz player was G. Trippodo. A. Mosca turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 4.