Cartagineses 2 - 2 Atlético (367345010)

56440 spectators arrived at Llanura de Zama, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Niklas Thystad was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Wolfgang-Wilhelm Koskull and Dany Michel. Cartagineses decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Villafranca - Verdeces, Monzón Mazo, Corvaja - Picó, Pszonka, Cachafeiro, Sachse, Carneiro - Casón, Enasteasu.

Atlético had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Chopieta - Jeantes, Lanners, Sabando - Valladares, Almoina, Raines, Esteban, Yari - Graner, Tamés.

F. Sabando came close to putting the visiting team one up 9 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but P. Villafranca managed to tip the ball to a corner. Cartagineses's A. Corvaja refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 29 minutes. They were singing the praises of T. Verdeces 33 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Cartagineses. Atlético's M. Esteban was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 36 minutes. The visitors' A. Graner was alert after a cross coming in from the left, levelling the score at 1 - 1 after 40 minutes. Slack defending gave Cartagineses a chance to take the lead with 42 minutes played, but A. Corvaja's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. Atlético had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 43 minutes in when R. Valladares came up alone against P. Villafranca who managed a block. 43 minutes into the game, A. Picó had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came H. Saksala. After a fine move down the middle R. Casón nearly gave the home side a goal after 44 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession of the ball saw an equal split between the teams during the forty-five minutes.

This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when F. Sabando slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against P. Villafranca, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Some good play on the left wing created an opportunity for the visitors 53 minutes into the match, and R. Valladares wasn't about to let it go by. He got past the defenders and fired a shot that the keeper just missed. 1 - 2 for the visitors. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Atlético coach let N. Currelos replace A. Graner after 54 minutes. Encouraged by their lead, after 54 minutes the Atlético coach asked N. Currelos to change positions with R. Raines. With a shot curled in from just outside the middle of the penalty area after 67 minutes played, S. Enasteasu of Cartagineses made the score 2 - 2. J. Soljancic was called on to replace Cartagineses's P. Villafranca after 79 minutes following a nasty collision. J. Pszonka was the new captain of Cartagineses - handed the armband by the departing player. Atlético had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

The most dominating Cartagineses player was without a doubt S. Enasteasu. J. Soljancic turned in a dismal performance, however. Atlético's top performer was clearly J. Tamés. On the other hand, N. Currelos's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.