perla 0 - 3 Smerfy (378019293)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 2447 at Recerd del Mende today. Roberto Speyer was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Peter-Thilo Tilschner and Paco Pappeln. perla had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. The following players took the field: Cafarelli - Tabernero, Santiago, González, Lauria, Rampinini - Estela, Morquecho, Nuñez - Tirado Torres, García de Blanes.

Smerfy decided to use a 4-3-3 set up. Starters: Tjädering - Okay, Guilbaud, Erdoñana, Tiano - Marzoratti, Randjelović, van den Nieuwendijk - Barciela, Fines, Josefsson.

After 6 minutes, the perla coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving R. González off the field. S. Faus took his place. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when H. van den Nieuwendijk slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against A. Cafarelli, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Coming in from the right, perla had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 7 minutes, but I. Tirado Torres's attempt to finish was easily stopped. The terraces were silenced after 14 minutes when Smerfy's T. Okay put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. Smerfy's A. Barciela left the field after 18 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was T. Afacan. H. van den Nieuwendijk was, after 19 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper A. Cafarelli made the save. S. Faus of perla received a yellow card after 25 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. After 26 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave A. Marzoratti a chance to increase the lead for Smerfy, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 2. By now, the players in Smerfy felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. 0 - 2 was the score after the first half. Smerfy had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

With 65 minutes played, H. van den Nieuwendijk nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. perla's A. Estela got himself booked for a foul. A. Marzoratti came close to extending the visitors' lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over A. Cafarelli but overcooked it and hit the bar instead. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 79 minutes, Smerfy did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, H. van den Nieuwendijk was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 3. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, perla's I. Tirado Torres was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 85 minutes. J. García was given a chance to change things around. Smerfy enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

Most important perla player was B. Rampinini. On the other hand, C. García de Blanes's play was disheartening. The most dominating Smerfy player was without a doubt J. Fines. However, T. Afacan made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 3.