SPRINGFIELD 4 - 0 Grintos (351108932)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 11267 at A.S. SPRINGFIELD stadium today. Norbert Gräber was the appointed referee with assistance provided by José Carlos Echeverría and Luis Leandro Durango. SPRINGFIELD had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Hann - Eusebi, Bagni, Boosaeed, Busan - Chiappi, Endziņš, Fiscina, Cottone - Cavalli, Roininen.

Grintos decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Hakola - Lamberti, Lattante, Grima - Bucci, Filippin, Martinato, Primozich, Zarbo - Primatesta, Schindler.

Today, Grintos's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. 5 minutes into the match and the home team took a 1 - 0 lead after breaking through on the left. The scorer for SPRINGFIELD was G. Cottone. Grintos's right side looked dangerous 6 minutes in, but B. Hann made a good save on S. Martinato's hard shot to the top corner. After 12 minutes, F. Bagni put SPRINGFIELD ahead 2 - 0 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. S. Lattante received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly 18 minutes into the match, probably out of lack of experience, and almost let an opponent score. SPRINGFIELD increased the lead as K. Boosaeed struck to make the score 3 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. G. Endziņš could have increased the lead after 26 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. Halftime score was 3 - 0. SPRINGFIELD enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

G. Fiscina unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. After 66 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and G. Fiscina gave the SPRINGFIELD supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 4 - 0. After 67 minutes SPRINGFIELD's G. Cottone contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. With 80 minutes played, SPRINGFIELD's J. Roininen almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. After 81 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to Grintos's N. Primatesta being carried off the pitch and replaced by J. Hyväri. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by SPRINGFIELD, with 54 percent of the ball.

F. Bagni performed admirably for SPRINGFIELD. S. Eusebi on the other hand, had a terrible day. Grintos's top performer was clearly K. Schindler. S. Lattante was a disappointment, however. The match ends 4 - 0.