Mercum 1 - 4 Cidadão (376042836)

4952 punters turned up at Caldeirão do Vade Mercum, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Alexander Jonas was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Walter Staub and Ludvig Grimberg. Mercum decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. Starters: Pernilongo - Palma, Fonjic, Gramsci - Leme Rocha, Munarriz, Melo Souza, Costa - Netto, Sarsur, Capixaba.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Cidadão. The following players took the field: Quoistiaux - Landzaat, Mauri Alarcon, Di Ninno, Sandoval - Arnedo, Pfeilsdorff, Elli, Vidali - Saltykov, Rainha.

Mercum were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. The strategy for Cidadão was to use their ability to press. Mercum took the lead 4 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as A. Sarsur elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. With 20 minutes played, E. Netto could have brought this one home for Mercum as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. 29 minutes into the match the visitors levelled the score at 1 - 1 as S. Landzaat struck home from a rebound off the crossbar, following a shot from the right. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Mercum claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

Cidadão pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. With 54 minutes played E. Netto almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' G. Quoistiaux was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. After 57 minutes, Cidadão put themselves up 1 - 2, as V. Rainha finished off a strike from the left with a real cannonball of a shot. One of many good crosses from J. Arnedo on the wing was received and skillfully taken care of by Y. Saltykov, who scored for Cidadão. 1 - 3 The pressing tactics used by Cidadão were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. The Cidadão players could smell victory in the air. S. Landzaat wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for W. Leme Costa after 70 minutes. J. Mauri Alarcon of Cidadão took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 74 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 1 - 4. V. Rainha left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 74 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. J. Xereu was the replacement. The coach of Cidadão was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 75 minutes, D. Canela came on for G. Elli. Mercum's R. Costa was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 78 minutes. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Cidadão, with 58 percent of the ball.

Mercum's top performer was clearly M. Gramsci. G. Fonjic on the other hand, had a terrible day. Y. Saltykov performed admirably for Cidadão. L. Sandoval was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 4.