Warriors 4 - 2 Valencia1961 (367344625)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 50165 had shown up at El Quebrantahuesos for the match. Pier de Rooij was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Eduardo Sousa and Klaas Eveleens. Warriors decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Skowronek - Bossler, O'Brien, Gobbi - Bilbilovski, Piqueras, Stauffiger, Wallau, Nigl - Gorriarán, Masferré.

A 5-3-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Valencia1961. The following players had been chosen: Di Biagio - Hallsjö, Goloevi, Derwael, de Kreij, Komjáthy - Golpillanes, LaMata, Schilirò - Cayo, Benazet.

The wings were the focus of most of Warriors's attacks today. Valencia1961 clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. After 10 minutes, A. Masferré came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving Warriors the lead. A foul called during a Valencia1961 counterattack resulted in a great chance to score, but R. de Kreij's shot rattled off the post. After 36 minutes, following yet another great corner, M. Bilbilovski's flick on at the near post reached A. Masferré, who was just wide with his snapshot - the ball went out for a goal kick. Warriors managed to extend their lead to 2 - 0 when A. Gorriarán cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. After 39 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and A. Masferré gave the Warriors supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 3 - 0. A well placed corner kick from R. de Kreij was followed by M. Komjáthy's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for Valencia1961, the score now 3 - 1. The away team improved the scoreline to 3 - 2, as R. Golpillanes struck home, set up well by a play on the left 43 minutes into the match. A great save by keeper G. Di Biagio after 43 minutes kept the visitors in the game after B. Wallau struck from the left with a real cannonball. The teams went for the halftime break at 3 - 2. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Warriors, with 63 percent of the ball.

M. Bilbilovski dispatched a majestic long shot 57 minutes into the match, but missed the goal by a few metres. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Warriors's G. Gobbi increasing the lead to 4 - 2. After 80 minutes, Valencia1961 used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the Valencia1961 manager used a brief break in play after 82 minutes to give the players new directives. The Valencia1961 players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. Possession in this half belonged to Warriors, who controlled the ball 65 percent of the time.

Warriors's top performer was clearly A. Gorriarán. L. O'Brien turned in a dismal performance, however. Ó. Cayo performed admirably for Valencia1961. J. Derwael was a disappointment, however. The match ends 4 - 2.