T-bag 5 - 3 S4E (372963980)

The 39696 fans in attendance at Fox River Stadium were roasting in the hot sun. Lorne Wass was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Pelle Houmøller and Stefano Crea. T-bag tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Lalatović - Åsen, Blonde, Oberfeldt, Yordanov - Hermano, Nikiel, Yonev, Geamănu - Willame, Langrock.

S4E started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. Lineup: Redzin - Delucchi, Čabara, Craanen - Alfasi, Lagache, Mărginean, van der Wetering - Afonso Ferreira, Hiesche, Termolle.

It was obvious that T-bag were using their pressing skill as their primary tactic. S4E tried to focus their attacks down the middle. They were singing the praises of R. Nikiel 13 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 T-bag. Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile F. Geamănu. S4E levelled the score after 15 minutes to make it 1 - 1, as D. Mărginean struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when R. Hiesche slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against M. Lalatović, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. After 24 minutes, the home side was awarded a penalty. The visitors protested wildly but the referee was adamant. D. Willame easily put the ball away to give the lead to T-bag. 2 - 1 T-bag's talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. H. Blonde increased the lead for T-bag to 3 - 1, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! It was 3 - 1 at the break. T-bag enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

D. Willame increased T-bag's lead to 4 - 1 with a penalty spot cannonball. At this point, it was obvious that the players of T-bag lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. V. Afonso Ferreira earned a rousing chorus of cheers from his fans as he seemed to come out of nowhere after 56 minutes to intercept the ball and put it in the back of the net for S4E. 4 - 2. The sunny day didn't make things easy for O. Alfasi who didn't seem his usual powerful self on the pitch. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, S4E's G. Delucchi was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 60 minutes. G. í Djónastovu was given a chance to change things around. G. í Djónastovu was handed the S4E captain's armband. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed S4E's coach gave G. Van Der Zyl the opportunity the player had been hoping for. R. Hiesche reluctantly left the field. The home team's fans were upset when, after 66 minutes, the visiting D. Mărginean broke through the central defence and kicked the ball past the keeper. 4 - 3 was the score. The home side's D. Willame curled a free kick home after 70 minutes, putting T-bag ahead 5 - 3. That made three goals for D. Willame and he was marked down for the hat trick. After 80 minutes, the T-bag players received new instructions from their manager on how to keep in control of the game. Possession in this half belonged to T-bag, who controlled the ball 55 percent of the time.

The most dominating T-bag player was without a doubt I. Yonev. M. Lalatović was a disappointment, however. Most important S4E player was G. Van Der Zyl. V. Afonso Ferreira turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 5 - 3.