Tesos 2 - 1 El Ciclon (376285001)

It had rained all day, but 48178 hardy fans still made it out to T.N.T. Arena. Julián Álvarez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Marijan Magazin and Asko Pätiälä. Tesos tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Popov - Ornelas, Medeossi, Zuburu - Boschman, Ahmadinejad, Dima, Justesen, Bertrand - Romanek, Guran.

El Ciclon had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Gheysen - Camporrells, Pedraza, Ponce - Viana, Caldas, Ríos López, Orsini, Kala - Abbas, Vallejo.

Right from the start it was obvious that El Ciclon were expecting an easy victory. F. Bertrand spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. They were singing the praises of L. Medeossi 29 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 Tesos. The home team will be cursing A. Abbas for weeks; he finished off a great pass from the left, knocking it past the keeper without a problem. The match was level at 1 - 1 after 32 minutes. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Tesos enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

The El Ciclon players had looked too sure of themselves in the first half. Several of the players managed to break this attitude as the second half started, realising they would not be able to win unless they also put in the hard work. After a fine move down the middle M. Guran nearly gave the home side a goal after 51 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. After 65 minutes, the El Ciclon coach had a quick word about the tactical set-up and decided to try another approach. 67 minutes in, Tesos's S. Ornelas received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. When S. Ornelas made yet another studs-first tackle after 71 minutes, the referee was obliged to book the Tesos player for the second time, sending him off the pitch. After 72 minutes of play, M. Guran gave the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. The El Ciclon coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. An equalising goal was close at hand, but G. Ponce clipped a free kick just wide of the goal. Tesos had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

I. Dima performed admirably for Tesos. H. Popov on the other hand, had a terrible day. El Ciclon's best player was E. Vallejo. However, L. Viana made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 1.