FUORI 1 - 2 ACS Žal (379858052)

3075 punters turned up at MARACANA' Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Kim Nonbye was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gregor van Beurden and Robert Anfang. FUORI started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. They fielded: Moro - Cambiaghi, Blecharczyk, Giling, de Kreek - Le Falher, Rae, Minopoli, Rame, Celtigos - Betta.

ACS Žal had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. Lineup: Siek - Haša, Englund, Drăguţ, Renteln - Binder, Rickett, Napoli, Burakowski, Bin-Alam - Fagert.

With 2 minutes played, G. Minopoli of FUORI fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of ACS Žal's Ö. Binder after 3 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 0 - 1 lead. I. Celtigos of FUORI received a yellow card after 9 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. After 12 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for A. Napoli who increased ACS Žal's lead to 0 - 2. R. Haša could have put his team up another goal 21 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. FUORI nearly produced a goal as I. Le Falher set up A. Betta for a strike from a seemingly impossible angle. However he put the shot narrowly wide. After 30 minutes A. Betta could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors' keeper. After 36 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to FUORI's G. Minopoli being carried off the pitch and replaced by G. Minetti. 0 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to FUORI, who controlled the ball 56 percent of the time.

The bench was restless, and with 51 minutes passed FUORI's coach gave D. Chiarelli the opportunity the player had been hoping for. D. Giling reluctantly left the field. M. Drăguţ of ACS Žal was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. The local team's free kick specialist I. Le Falher, reduced the away team's lead to 1 - 2 with a humdinger of a shot after 77 minutes. After 82 minutes, FUORI switched A. Betta with S. Sassetti, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. FUORI enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

S. Sassetti performed admirably for FUORI. I. Moro on the other hand, had a terrible day. ACS Žal's best player was N. Fagert. Ö. Binder turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.