elboru 1 - 2 Buffoons (379390843)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 4067 to La Cope Stadium. Roee Strauss was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jacques Reeser and Diego Fernández. A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for elboru. The following players had been chosen: Ojeda - Menascì, Karp, Denis, Stroe - Verola, Moreira, Reijerse, Glanvall, Coll - Pan.

Buffoons decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. Starters: Speer - Jansen, Morris, Sousa - de Grande, Craven, Jones, Kaiser - Pearce, Benítez, Cornell.

elboru clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. 14 minutes into the game, elboru seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to passable. After 22 minutes, Buffoons's D. Jones made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 0 - 1. After 23 minutes, P. Verola got through on the right and was very close to equalising for the home side, but didn't get the shot away. 26 minutes into the game, Buffoons worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Glanvall from elboru a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 27 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! elboru had to make a substitution after 30 minutes. A. Stroe limped off the field and was replaced by F. Arrua. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. elboru had most of the ball, with 52 percent of possession.

A review of the gameplan helped elboru get back to a solid organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. elboru needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 46 minutes S. Moreira made way for K. Åström. The elboru captaincy was handed to K. Åström. Sensing defeat in the air, the elboru manager directed D. Reijerse and N. Denis to change positions with each other. This was 46 minutes into the match. With 48 minutes played, the elboru coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Poole came on, N. Denis had to leave the fray. 56 minutes in, elboru appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only passable. Just a few inches to the right, and the visitors could have had a goal 57 minutes into the match. U. Kaiser surely wishes he could do that free kick over again. A counterattack by elboru after 60 minutes could have resulted in a goal, but J. Poole, coming in on the left, couldn't get the shot off. U. Kaiser left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 70 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. V. Gigante was the replacement. J. Jansen increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 2. After 76 minutes, elboru's M. Glanvall fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! A corner kick created great disorder in the penalty area with a goal nearly scored by M. Glanvall. At last, elboru's V. Coll was able to backheel the ball in. 1 - 2. elboru's counterattacks created a good chance for J. Poole on the right after 82 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Unfortunately for elboru, J. Ojeda suffered a concussion after 86 minutes and had to be taken for tests. The coach had his head in his hands after realising he could not send a replacement onto the pitch, and the team had to continue a man short. Now M. Pan had to try his luck as goalkeeper. Buffoons claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 65 percent.

Most important elboru player was F. Arrua. On the other hand, V. Coll's play was disheartening. Buffoons's top performer was clearly M. Pearce. J. Jansen turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.