mollocks 3 - 4 zippers (380263764)

The 22902 spectators at Absolute Mollocks Stadia were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Víctor Hugo Monsalve was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Falke Pind Nielsen and Paolo Linetti. mollocks had chosen a strategic 5-5-0 formation. The following players took the field: Schildknecht - Wolvensberg, Fadda, Tooze, Erb, Chehri - Ben-Ari, Gualanduzzi, Garaiburu, Tomović, Rárison -.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for zippers. They fielded: Ruckerbauer - Raynor, Free, Diz, Ascariz - Prugar, Bella, Abid, Mangado Pérez - Tellgren, Macello.

For their match strategy, mollocks had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. After 25 minutes zippers's K. Bella limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. M. Gualanduzzi's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. mollocks made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left F. Erb completely alone with keeper J. Ruckerbauer, who made a spectacular block. With 36 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as M. Gualanduzzi flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. zippers's J. Mangado Pérez got himself booked for a foul. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 0. Possession in this half belonged to mollocks, who controlled the ball 57 percent of the time.

S. Schildknecht wanted to play on, but the mollocks coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 46 minutes into the game by C. Grasso. The coach of mollocks was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 46 minutes, S. Caffrey came on for M. Garaiburu. The mollocks players could smell victory in the air. D. Tomović wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for A. Murer after 46 minutes. A. Murer became the new mollocks captain. C. Raynor was the first to reach the corner kick, but his header was blocked by the keeper. However, zippers's F. Prugar managed to get hold of the rebound and tucked the ball into the empty net. 1 - 1 As the 60 minute mark approached, the zippers coach decided it was time for a substitution. K. Bella reluctantly made way for S. Angelov on the pitch. A. Murer didn't pace himself at all, and after a series of daring offensive runs he was too tired to help out in the defensive play. mollocks could have put themselves ahead after 73 minutes but M. Gualanduzzi missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. The referee showed mollocks's T. Rárison the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave S. Fadda from mollocks a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 77 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! zippers were forced into a substitution as F. Prugar couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing S. Nezih to come in off the bench. mollocks had no available replacements when W. Tooze had to leave the game after 83 minutes because of a pulled tendon, leaving the team a man short. mollocks claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

Still tied after 90 minutes, the match continued into extra time. zippers's counterattacks created a good chance for M. Abid on the right after 94 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. With the score still deadlocked after extra time, the teams took to the field for a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

Clearly nervous from the start, mollocks's C. Grasso took a long run up, but could only blast the ball over the bar. The score remains 1 - 1. A confident S. Angelov of zippers put the ball right where he wanted, but C. Grasso was right there for the save. No goal. mollocks's S. Caffrey didn't look like he was confident as he stepped up, and produced a badly struck penalty - right into the arms of J. Ruckerbauer. The score remained 1 - 1. zippers's C. Raynor coolly put the ball past C. Grasso. 1 - 2. mollocks's J. Wolvensberg looked like he knew exactly where he wanted to put the ball, but unfortunately his shot went wide of the left hand post. Still 1 - 2. zippers's M. Free looked nervous even as he was putting the ball on the spot. He didn't take much of a run up, and his weak shot was easily saved by the keeper. mollocks's T. Rárison made no mistake. J. Ruckerbauer didn't have a chance. 2 - 2. Boy, does S. Nezih of zippers know how to treat a football or what?! He's curled that shot past the keeper and into the top corner of the goal - a great penalty! 2 - 3. mollocks's R. Chehri was relaxed as he smoothly put the ball in the net. 3 - 3! zippers's M. Abid showed he has nerves of steel when it comes to penalties, easily changing the score to 3 - 4. S. Fadda performed admirably for mollocks. However, C. Grasso made a disastrous appearance. zippers's top performer was clearly M. Abid. D. Tellgren was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 4.