Football 2 - 1 ALEXANDER (379127681)

1601 fans braved the pouring rain at F.K.S. Arena. Falco Berkvens was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alberto Estaña and Anacleto Baranda. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Football. The following players had been chosen: Blugaro - Fürsicht, Ciottoni - Jankočka, Ciotti, Skytte, Śledź, Rikka - Jansen, Rikardsson, Sagués.

ALEXANDER had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. Starters: Kusolitsch - Loukas, Dimaras, Patsiavouras, Fizziolli, Feroutsos - Anapodopsalidis, Adamantidis, Distomos - Mertsanidis, Adams.

ALEXANDER saw most attack opportunities on the wings. Football were very close to putting themselves one up after 13 minutes as L. Jansen got through on the left, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. M. Śledź seemed highly inexperienced when, after 40 minutes, he was caught dilly-dallying with the ball and allowed D. Anapodopsalidis to intercept and strike home the goal for ALEXANDER to make the score 0 - 1. The rain made it hard for players like M. Jankočka to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. Football 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. Football's L. Jansen made an attempt at equalising 44 minutes into the match, coming in from the right, but the ball hit the post and the defence easily cleared the rebound. ALEXANDER's D. Fizziolli got himself booked for a foul. D. Anapodopsalidis, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Football had most of the ball, with 75 percent of possession.

With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 53 minutes gave Football a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and S. Rikka stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 Football made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left A. Ciottoni completely alone with keeper X. Kusolitsch, who made a spectacular block. Football had a chance to take the lead after P. Rikardsson's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 72 minutes. With 73 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of ALEXANDER resulted in a counterattack that set A. Adams free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. Football had a good opportunity to take the lead as D. Ciotti came up the left side, but he struck the ball weakly and it went straight into the arms of X. Kusolitsch. The home side put themselves ahead 2 - 1 after 84 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from M. Jankočka, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Football enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 78 percent of possession.

T. Skytte performed admirably for Football. S. Blugaro on the other hand, had a terrible day. ALEXANDER's top performer was clearly A. Adams. X. Kusolitsch was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 1.