CSKA 5 - 4 LuKee (366309514)

The 15100 fans in attendance at Colosseum Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Juan Enrique Peris was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Francis Vandecasteele and Rolf Knop. CSKA had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. They fielded: Lo Giudice - Kloek, Mascitti - Karlsrud, Chauque, Leinert, Merdassi, Giovani - Đerković, Spadaro, D'Antimi.

A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for LuKee. The following players took the field: Kaltiainen - Dehkhoda, Samko - Escobar, Peixoto, Gündoğar, Reilly, Vettore - Talbi, Ånghult, Cacchiani.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of CSKA. LuKee tried to focus their attacks down the middle. The referee signaled a penalty for the home side after 4 minutes, amid vocal protests from the visitors. CSKA fans erupted in celebration as P. D'Antimi rifled the ball into the the top corner. 1 - 0! CSKA solidified their lead at the 8 minute mark, as P. D'Antimi dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. The visitors' right side was dangerous today; M. Vettore made the home team's keeper look foolish as he easily reduced the lead to make it 2 - 1 13 minutes into the match. After 14 minutes, CSKA's M. Mascitti fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! P. D'Antimi enjoyed the sunshine and demonstrated his stunning technique over and over again. With 24 minutes played, A. Gündoğar of LuKee fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. 2 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by CSKA, with 53 percent of the ball.

The visitors didn't give in and, after 55 minutes, N. Ånghult got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 2 - 2. The corner kick from A. Gündoğar was powerfully met by the head of M. Vettore to make the score 2 - 3. The crowd chanted their encouragement as CSKA's F. Đerković came in from the right after 79 minutes and put the ball in the net to level the score at 3 - 3. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 82 minutes allowed E. Cacchiani to score for LuKee. The scoreboard now read 3 - 4. CSKA were awarded a penalty with 84 minutes played, and P. D'Antimi made no mistake as he effortlessly slotted the equaliser home. 4 - 4. By then P. D'Antimi had scored three goals - a hat trick! The sunny day didn't make things easy for V. Escobar who didn't seem his usual powerful self on the pitch. After 87 minutes, A. Spadaro came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 5 - 4, giving CSKA the lead. Possession in this half belonged to CSKA, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

CSKA's top performer was clearly P. D'Antimi. J. Karlsrud was a disappointment, however. Most important LuKee player was A. Talbi. On the other hand, M. Vettore's play was disheartening. The match ends 5 - 4.