Ateam 3 - 1 MESCIUCICI (376732478)

A scorching day at ADOME, where 24661 spectators were in place for today's match. Bertrand Peressin was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Bruno Larsson and Ingo Stoike. Ateam started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Gioia - Iaselli, Pretashi, Teresa - Frizione, Zucconi, Ranocchi, Bricche - Nunziante, Van Rossem, Uburti.

MESCIUCICI tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Starters: Lleopart - Serrano, Valade, Arigò, Nicita - Morell, Hagendijk, Gwozdz-Pitschel, Cano - Buntak, Peteřík.

Ateam used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. With 29 minutes played, MESCIUCICI's V. Peteřík missed an opportunity to put his team one up from the penalty spot, later claiming that "the floodlights blinded him". Ateam were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. E. Zucconi gave Ateam the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 It was obvious that team Ateam had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. F. Frizione should probably have put his team up another goal after 38 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by P. Lleopart kept the visitors in the game. After 41 minutes, the visitors levelled the scores after J. Cano made it through the middle and struck home to make it 1 - 1. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Ateam enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

50 minutes in, the referee awarded Ateam a penalty. R. Nunziante coolly slotted it home for a 2 - 1 lead. Ateam's R. Pretashi was shown a yellow card after 51 minutes for slicing down an opponent. As usual, D. Ranocchi tried to use his strength and hard work for the benefit of the team, but the heat hit him hard and he couldn't keep pace at all. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, MESCIUCICI's V. Peteřík was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 60 minutes. G. Principe was given a chance to change things around. The MESCIUCICI captaincy was handed to G. Principe. Ateam had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. Ateam solidified their lead at the 74 minute mark, as E. Zucconi dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 3 - 1. The bench was restless, and with 75 minutes passed MESCIUCICI's coach gave P. Garzón the opportunity the player had been hoping for. E. Hagendijk reluctantly left the field. R. Pretashi wasn't much help defensively. His energy-consuming forward runs proved quite costly in the oppressive heat. With 87 minutes played, Ateam's R. Teresa almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. MESCIUCICI breathed new life into the game with an opportunity to reduce the score after 89 minutes, but the home side's defenders cleared the ball on the line, after a long shot coming in from the left rebounded off the crossbar. Coming in on the left, G. Principe did everything right to get a goal for MESCIUCICI after 89 minutes, but his finishing shot was stabbed clear by the keeper. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Ateam, with 57 percent of the ball.

K. Van Rossem performed admirably for Ateam. R. Pretashi on the other hand, had a terrible day. MESCIUCICI's best player was M. Buntak. F. Serrano was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.