Kranio 1 - 7 DARKWAR (350583116)

Clear skies welcomed the 23374 spectators who had made their way to Miramare Stadium. Reinaldo Madriz was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vladan Páral and Pedro Caseiro. Kranio tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Trogu - Monasterio, Ghilotti, D'Angelo - Sutcliffe, Wasielak, Piccinni, Manzella, Jovan - Lopilato, Baillien.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for DARKWAR. The following players had been chosen: Moletto - Grenga, Testoni, Monazza - Polati, Chiesi, Colica, Muraglia, Riccardo - Ligios, Delorme.

Pressing was the tactic of the day for Kranio. It wasn't a pretty goal, but the free kick by A. Baillien after 5 minutes somehow found its way past the keeper. Kranio takes the lead, 1 - 0! Kranio's G. Monasterio was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 6 minutes. A. Ligios tied the game at 1 - 1 after 13 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. A well placed corner kick from M. Grenga was followed by A. Muraglia's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for DARKWAR, the score now 1 - 2. After 22 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave N. Delorme a chance to increase the lead for DARKWAR, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 3. Confident in their lead, DARKWAR's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave C. Lopilato from Kranio a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 25 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! D. Sutcliffe of Kranio was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. With 34 minutes played, DARKWAR put themselves up 1 - 4 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was G. Chiesi. After 35 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for G. Monazza who increased DARKWAR's lead to 1 - 5. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 5. DARKWAR enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 62 percent of possession.

R. Trogu got a fingertip on E. Testoni's shot from the left 50 minutes in, and managed to keep the visitors from going up another goal. DARKWAR increased their lead after 56 minutes when N. Delorme broke through on the right, upping the score to 1 - 6, much to the home crowd's dismay. There was concern in the stands when, at the 62 minute mark, DARKWAR's P. Polati hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. The coach of DARKWAR was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 70 minutes, M. Macario came on for G. Monazza. With 70 minutes played, DARKWAR's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to A. Muraglia he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 1 - 7. Content with how the game was proceeding, the DARKWAR coach let N. Venè replace A. Ligios after 75 minutes. Kranio's talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. 81 minutes into the match, N. Delorme came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. Kranio's B. Jovan left the field after 82 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was E. Ledou. DARKWAR claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 66 percent.

Most important Kranio player was A. Baillien. T. Wasielak turned in a dismal performance, however. DARKWAR's best player was N. Delorme. On the other hand, M. Macario's play was disheartening. The match ends 1 - 7.