Máquina 3 - 2 internacional (375607383)

52000 punters turned up at Estadio Dr. Daniels, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Sergejs Medins was the appointed referee with assistance provided by ZhangCai Chih-Cheng and Placide Reynier. Máquina decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. Starters: Liker - Barozzi, Mermod - Molinier, Rasmussen, Sáenz, Oswald, Mateos - Aros, Pookong, Danov.

internacional started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Di Ciommo - Vera-Cruz, Jaskiernia, Constantin - Van Pellicom, Reynero, Sánchez, Bastarrica, Tichy - Thyholt, Borghaerts.

internacional clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. Máquina created a good opportunity to score 16 minutes into the match when R. Mermod's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. They were singing the praises of P. Aros 22 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 Máquina. The visitors didn't give in and, after 24 minutes, E. Borghaerts got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 1 - 1. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Possession in this half belonged to Máquina, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

The visiting T. Van Pellicom was booed thoroughly by the home crowd 52 minutes into the game, after he broke through the middle and scored, resulting in the visitors taking the lead. 1 - 2 was the score. The home crowd cheered when, after 70 minutes, E. Borghaerts's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave R. Mermod from Máquina a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 71 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The crowd roared in delight as G. Danov finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for Máquina 72 minutes into the match. 2 - 2. Máquina made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left T. Pookong completely alone with keeper R. Di Ciommo, who made a spectacular block. A questionable penalty 77 minutes in gave the home side the lead, 3 - 2. The visitors' goalie didn't stand a chance as T. Oswald knocked the ball home. Máquina claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 57 percent.

Most important Máquina player was L. Rasmussen. On the other hand, R. Mateos's play was disheartening. internacional's top performer was clearly E. Borghaerts. T. Van Pellicom turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 2.