Mangrove 3 - 1 Samurais (245047509)

A scorching day at The Grove, where 51862 spectators were in place for today's match. Francisco González Pérez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Teodoro Börsig and Ylermi Parantainen. Mangrove tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. They fielded: van Geuns - Rolandsson, Tesi, Bucknall, Mantecón - Tsartsikidis, Prior, Morgan, Salter, Edenhult - Tenomaa.

Samurais started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Konvička - Amarilla, Anasta, Gustave - Lazarchuk, Stoichkov, Júlíansson, Pitu - Paquis, Viana Silva, Farhan.

Today, Mangrove's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Samurais were relying on their ability to counter-attack. After 26 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Mangrove was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. The referee signaled a penalty for the home side after 30 minutes, amid vocal protests from the visitors. Mangrove fans erupted in celebration as O. Tenomaa rifled the ball into the the top corner. 1 - 0! With 31 minutes played, M. Paquis of Samurais fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. N. Rolandsson could have put Mangrove up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 35 minutes. Mangrove's M. Tsartsikidis was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the opposition's box - O. Tenomaa managed to volley one of them into the net to make it 2 - 0 after 36 minutes. 2 - 0 was the score after the first half. Mangrove had most of the ball, with 72 percent of possession.

W. van Geuns made a brilliant save 52 minutes into the match, blocking a rocket of a shot from L. Farhan on the right hand side. Mangrove's B. Salter swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. Mangrove put themselves up 3 - 0 when O. Tenomaa broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. By then O. Tenomaa had scored three goals - a hat trick! Confident in their lead, Mangrove's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The sunny day didn't make things easy for G. Lazarchuk who didn't seem his usual powerful self on the pitch. With 71 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock, Samurais showed some good skill and were able to reduce the score to 3 - 1 when D. Viana Silva got past the home side's central defenders right in front of the goal. A great save by keeper J. Konvička after 75 minutes kept the visitors in the game after W. Prior struck from the left with a real cannonball. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, L. Farhan got himself booked. The manager of Samurais was not happy. Possession in this half belonged to Mangrove, who controlled the ball 71 percent of the time.

B. Salter performed admirably for Mangrove. A. Mantecón was a disappointment, however. Samurais's top performer was clearly L. Farhan. E. Gustave turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 1.