Zenzero 5 - 1 Giuze (366068947)

30210 punters turned up at Policastrello, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Radolph Kleiss was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mauricio Huerta and Nik Šabič. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Zenzero. The following players took the field: Åkesson - Zoontjes, Florenciañez, Challier - Hawkins, Carnicero, Dubrawski, Andò, Gaiser - Lászlai, Zijm.

Giuze had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Lombardo - Stankiewicz, Soffientini, Neska - Zahov, Gava, Cânu, Tama, Lepschy - Vattuone, Bubbi.

Today, Zenzero's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. After 4 minutes, Giuze's M. Lepschy made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 0 - 1. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, J. Hawkins got himself booked. The manager of Zenzero was not happy. 17 minutes into the game, Giuze worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. Zenzero put pressure on the visitors' central defence 23 minutes into the game, but T. Gaiser couldn't find an opening. The crowd chanted their encouragement as Zenzero's J. Dubrawski came in from the right after 24 minutes and put the ball in the net to level the score at 1 - 1. After 25 minutes, Zenzero raised their score by one when T. Gaiser's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by L. Zijm. 2 - 1. Zenzero put in a good effort on the right, but J. Hawkins saw his volley fly wide of the mark 33 minutes into the game. With 37 minutes played, L. Zijm could have brought this one home for Zenzero as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. It was 2 - 1 at the break. Zenzero had most of the ball, with 58 percent of possession.

Things were deteriorating for the away team as Zenzero scored another to make it 3 - 1 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for J. Carnicero after 47 minutes. Cheers filled the stadium as L. Zijm broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 4 - 1 to Zenzero. Zenzero's A. Lászlai saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 68 minutes. The Giuze players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. After 70 minutes, Giuze used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Zenzero, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave T. Bubbi from Giuze a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 80 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 81 minutes, R. Zoontjes put Zenzero ahead 5 - 1 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Zenzero lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Zenzero enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 56 percent of possession.

Zenzero's top performer was clearly T. Gaiser. However, M. Åkesson made a disastrous appearance. Most important Giuze player was G. Tama. S. Lombardo was a disappointment, however. The match ends 5 - 1.