Pantherae 5 - 1 Van_Basten (365990932)

Dark skies made the crowd of 73000 at Pantherae Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Victor Neamtu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Daniele Rubagotti and Jeanloup Pategay. Pantherae decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. They fielded: Cavani - Lobbezoo, Lo Cascio - Stawarz, Pavani, Forni, Flikkenschild, Kiene - Blanès, Igelér, Belotti.

A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Van_Basten. Lineup: D'Ambrosio - Škrlj, Hallam, Charbonnier, Serra, Carpentier - Frostad, Ortu, Thisted, Carotenuto - Voight.

Pantherae were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Today, Van_Basten's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Van_Basten had to make a substitution after 19 minutes. J. Hallam limped off the field and was replaced by J. Packheiser. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Pantherae, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. With 39 minutes played C. Belotti almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. After 41 minutes of play, L. Flikkenschild gave the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. Things were deteriorating for the away team as Pantherae scored another to make it 2 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for E. Forni after 43 minutes. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 44 minutes, Pantherae did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, C. Belotti was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 3 - 0. 3 - 0 was the score after the first half. Pantherae enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 59 percent of possession.

After 46 minutes, Van_Basten switched C. Voight with P. Enache, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. 78 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as B. Blanès broke through, making the score 4 - 0 for Pantherae. In the lead, Pantherae adjusted their style of play with 79 minutes gone. The visitors' right side was dangerous today; P. Frostad made the home team's keeper look foolish as he easily reduced the lead to make it 4 - 1 79 minutes into the match. With 80 minutes played, Pantherae put themselves up 5 - 1 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to C. Belotti, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. The bench was restless, and with 89 minutes passed Van_Basten's coach gave I. Camisasca the opportunity the player had been hoping for. J. Packheiser reluctantly left the field. Possession in this half belonged to Pantherae, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

The most dominating Pantherae player was without a doubt T. Igelér. On the other hand, F. Pavani's play was disheartening. Van_Basten's best player was D. D'Ambrosio. I. Camisasca on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 5 - 1.