Rapido 2 - 2 DEMANDA (367684806)

Clouds darkened the skies at Rapido de Meira as 11763 spectators turned up for the match. Danél Navarro Rubio was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Víctor Lechuga and Şahin Ayyüce. Rapido had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: von Wolffskeel - Branco, Saeglitz, Lubeckis - Engelhorn, Fräser, La Paglia, Baudin, Endueñas - Niubò, Cucija.

DEMANDA decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Hobel - Laszuk, Unterwieser, Cardeo - Momparler, Sawczyński, Antxia, Escué, Jacobsen - Bajo Fernández, Karlsruhe.

The strategy for Rapido was to use their ability to press. With 1 minutes played M. Endueñas almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' H. Hobel was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. Having turned the direction of play quickly, the DEMANDA counter attack ended as the ball carrier was brought down violently by a defender after 13 minutes. The resulting free kick was a flat shot into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and did not allow the opponents to reach the ball. Rapido fans held their breath as R. Baudin scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as DEMANDA's A. Antxia put the ball in the onion bag after 21 minutes to make it 1 - 1. 22 minutes into the match, DEMANDA's R. Karlsruhe demonstrated his famed speed as he raced past his marker and passed the ball to A. Bajo Fernández who chipped it in for 1 - 2. Some mind-boggling play by X. Escué almost resulted in a goal for Rapido, but D. Cucija's shot rebounded off the post. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Rapido enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 55 percent of possession.

On any other day, M. Endueñas's free kick would have found the back of the net to tie the game for Rapido, but not today - the visitors' keeper displayed extraordinary reflexes as he blocked the shot harmlessly to the side. The crowd chanted their encouragement as Rapido's A. Niubò came in from the right after 60 minutes and put the ball in the net to level the score at 2 - 2. Rapido's J. La Paglia got himself booked for a foul. Rapido's talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. Many thought A. Niubò ought to have been awarded a penalty 76 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around H. Hobel after a determined run through the middle. Rapido had most of the ball, with 55 percent of possession.

Most important Rapido player was M. Endueñas. L. von Wolffskeel turned in a dismal performance, however. H. Unterwieser performed admirably for DEMANDA. On the other hand, H. Hobel's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.