ACADEMIA 3 - 3 Langer (347138761)

1343 spectators had found their way to EL CILINDRO DE ALICANTE, despite the heavy rain. Aristodemo Albano was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jani Siika-aho and Aviv Tzalik. ACADEMIA decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. They fielded: Moreno - Le Corre, Palasciano, Demay - Pruulsen, Gillind, Szarlej, Cererols - Sá, Passauer, Koureas.

Langer started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. Starters: Alvarez - Michaelsen, Baudissin - Pernet, Kapoor, Iribi, Nandini, Singh - Basit, Kazmi, Chatterji.

2 minutes into the game, J. Pernet almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. The goal for 1 - 0 was a funny story: after 9 minutes the seemingly nonchalant lob from ACADEMIA's J. Sá landed at the feet of K. Pruulsen who sidefooted it into the net - nice goal! 26 minutes into the game, Langer seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to inadequate. P. Passauer should probably have put his team up another goal after 30 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by M. Alvarez kept the visitors in the game. The visitors refused to give in and, after 32 minutes, A. Nandini evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 1 - 1 ACADEMIA's K. Koureas was shown a yellow card after 35 minutes for slicing down an opponent. L. Iribi had a good try after 36 minutes, coming in on a fine move from the left, but the ball went wide. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Langer had most of the ball, with 51 percent of possession.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Langer had solid organisation. 46 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a ACADEMIA substitution. D. Gurbindo came on for O. Szarlej. 1 - 2 was the score with 53 minutes played, after Y. Singh cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Langer. After 58 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Langer found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to poor. The crowd was on its feet 64 minutes into the match, as ACADEMIA's P. Gillind found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 2 - 2 equaliser. Thighs bulging, P. Gillind charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. The referee showed ACADEMIA's K. Pruulsen the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. As the 80 minute mark approached, the ACADEMIA coach decided it was time for a substitution. P. Gillind reluctantly made way for O. Al-Ghanem on the pitch. After 80 minutes, J. Sá came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 3 - 2, giving ACADEMIA the lead. Langer levelled the score after 81 minutes to make it 3 - 3, as I. Chatterji struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. 85 minutes into the game, ACADEMIA wanted to bring some new energy to their game. I. Moreno gave J. Campsor a quick hug as he left the field. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by ACADEMIA, with 57 percent of the ball.

The most dominating ACADEMIA player was without a doubt D. Gurbindo. On the other hand, K. Pruulsen's play was disheartening. Langer's best player was I. Chatterji. M. Alvarez was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 3.