SCORPİON 1 - 4 NoGoals (374591272)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 36000 at Arena Scorpion today. Philippe Moureau was the appointed referee with assistance provided by David Rubiño Martín and Víctor Porcel. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for SCORPİON. Starters: Brambilla - Muñiz, Pihlava - Szrejder, Mann, van Solkema, Cartoccio, Ionescu - Barger, Usman, McDonalds.

NoGoals started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. Lineup: Andrei - Nwankwo, Makaty, bin Hj Hassan, Dória - Valença, Risco, Arnaud, Duifhuizen, Nokela - Gavanelli.

The wings were the focus of most of NoGoals's attacks today. A. Risco gave the visitors the lead 24 minutes into the match to make it 0 - 1. The goal was scored from the penalty spot after a handball in the penalty area. 25 minutes in, and SCORPİON were able to score the equalising goal to make it 1 - 1 when D. McDonalds picked up a pass coming in from the right and chipped it past the away team's keeper. Many thought D. McDonalds ought to have been awarded a penalty 35 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around N. Andrei after a determined run through the middle. The visiting V. Valença was booed thoroughly by the home crowd 40 minutes into the game, after he broke through the middle and scored, resulting in the visitors taking the lead. 1 - 2 was the score. SCORPİON were able to draw a foul with their counterattacks, but the shot from J. Ionescu went into the arms of the keeper. Halftime score was 1 - 2. NoGoals had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

SCORPİON's G. Usman was shown a yellow card after 52 minutes for slicing down an opponent. The coach of NoGoals was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 58 minutes, E. Tankink came on for G. Arnaud. P. Duifhuizen wanted to play on, but the NoGoals coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 71 minutes into the game by A. Troitiño. 73 minutes into the match, A. Risco came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. After 80 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed E. Tankink to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 1 - 3. Content with how the game was proceeding, the NoGoals coach let S. Otermin replace C. Gavanelli after 80 minutes. In the lead, NoGoals adjusted their style of play with 80 minutes gone. SCORPİON's D. McDonalds had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 83 minutes having been played. M. Obi was the replacement. After 85 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave A. Risco a chance to increase the lead for NoGoals, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 4. By now, the players in NoGoals felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. NoGoals's V. Valença had a good first touch on the flank, but was crowded and, after a change of plan, sent the ball to T. Nokela who somehow managed to curl the ball wide. With 87 minutes played, G. Usman was very close to reducing the score for SCORPİON with a low drive from the left, but a defender stuck his foot out just in the nick of time, blocking the shot to a corner. NoGoals had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by NoGoals, with 60 percent of the ball.

The most dominating SCORPİON player was without a doubt M. Mann. S. Cartoccio on the other hand, had a terrible day. NoGoals's best player was E. Tankink. However, S. Otermin made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 4.