division 1 - 2 Xil (286009111)

Due to an all-day shower, 1486 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Doctor Vicente Lustres. division had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Varo - Daniëls, Movileanu, Sitsen - Oelzant, Girona, Delissen, Meeuwissen - Melitz, Denti, Acero.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Xil. Starters: Espargueró - Juaristi, Hassa, Baltag, Díez de la Losa - Gascon Salvadó, Alapont, Belmonte, Maeso - Santandreu, Hiniesta.

For their match strategy, Xil had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. Some beautiful plays on the left side of the field resulted in a goal after 5 minutes by Heinz Adalbert Melitz for division, putting them ahead 1 - 0. Raúl Díez de la Losa slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. Juan Carlos Acero could have put division up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 20 minutes. Juan Carlos Acero was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. Although the counter attack was halted by the defenders, Xil were given a free kick 36 minutes into the game. Rather than shooting straight at goal, it was directed at the area just in front of the keeper. The attackers made several runs and made it hard for the defenders to protect their goal. After a short tussle with a defender, Nelu Baltag could finally lay the ball to rest behind the keeper. 1 - 1, and proof it can pay off to come prepared. Halftime score was 1 - 1. division claimed to be the more dominant force in the game, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 64 percent.

Making his way up the middle 62 minutes into the match, Valentine Daniëls almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert Roger Espargueró blocked it to keep the score level. After 65 minutes division's Enrique Girona had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. Fiorenzo Vetrano came in to replace him. The forty-five minutes were dominated by division, with an impressive 66 percent possession of the ball.

As neither team had managed to win, extra time was called. After 94 minutes, Xil put themselves up by 1 - 2, as Guillermo Hiniesta finished off a strike from the left with a real cannon placed at the far post. What a dramatic win for Xil!

Juan Carlos Acero performed admirably for division. Paco Varo was a disappointment, however. Xil's best player was Orest Hassa. Raúl Díez de la Losa on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 2.