GF1995Bologna 3 - 2 Sporting (377033168)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 37401 to Dozza Tommy Arena. Andrea Ruperti was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Nicasio Carreaga and Gabriel Vanderhaeghen. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for GF1995Bologna. Starters: Alba - Terramoccia, Carlotti, Denise - Haugen, Lorenzon, Fini, Gómez Ulla, Oetermann - Hehling, Rizzetto.

Sporting decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Miretti - Castaldo, Tàrrega, Monaco Vito - Wilson, Vagner, Casimiro, Pils, Expert - Miguel Conde, Karagkiozoglou.

It was an obvious ambition of GF1995Bologna to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. D. Miguel Conde of Sporting seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 0 - 1 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by S. Casimiro. GF1995Bologna had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. H. Oetermann was just a finger's breadth away from an equaliser for GF1995Bologna with a strike from the left, but A. Miretti managed to ward the shot off for a corner. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for GF1995Bologna, but R. Lorenzon's shot went over the bar. GF1995Bologna tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defence got the best of this rather direct style of play. No matter how hard he tried, R. Lorenzon just couldn't get his shot past the visitors' right side defence after 38 minutes. Good work by the Sporting defensive line after 42 minutes produced a good counterattack chance, which cut elegantly down the middle of the pitch and found F. Vagner alone in front of the goal, but his shot whistled just wide. It might be a while before the fans see GF1995Bologna's E. Terramoccia again, after he had to leave the field in great distress at the 43 minute mark. He was replaced by M. Rivelloni. It was 0 - 1 at the break. GF1995Bologna enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

R. Haugen made one of his many fine passes from the wing into the middle 67 minutes into the match. A. Hehling bravely attempted to execute a diving header and the ball was met firmly with his forehead for GF1995Bologna. 1 - 1. With the match clock at 68 minutes, Sporting modified their style of play a little bit. 68 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Sporting substitution. M. Cavalcante came on for L. Wilson. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, M. Cavalcante took over the role of being the Sporting captain. 68 minutes into the match, the Sporting manager wanted to try a new tactic, and the players loyally obliged. L. Karagkiozoglou would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. S. Grueneis entered the game for Sporting as the match clock showed 70 minutes. The coach of Sporting wanted to try to change things around after 70 minutes, and gave new tactical instructions. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to A. Hehling, but the GF1995Bologna player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 2 - 1! B. Denise could have put GF1995Bologna up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 79 minutes. The visiting team's M. Cavalcante was able to score the 2 - 2 equaliser with a header 80 minutes into the match, after some good work on the right. After 81 minutes, R. Lorenzon came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 3 - 2, giving GF1995Bologna the lead. After 82 minutes Sporting's U. Castaldo limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. GF1995Bologna claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 66 percent.

GF1995Bologna's top performer was clearly L. Fini. M. Rivelloni was a disappointment, however. D. Miguel Conde performed admirably for Sporting. U. Castaldo turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 2.