maccabi 3 - 1 gil (381028886)

53256 spectators had come to bonbonera this cloudy day. Richi Gisi was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kjell Öhrwald and Jan-Christian Friedland. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for maccabi. The following players had been chosen: Sankola - Endrődi, Weißling, Saban - van Diepen, Coelho, Dor, Fredmar, Aburuza - Girardi, Barrett.

gil had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Ennis - Holsen, Beşer, Schiattarella - Zárate, Kaijalainen, Vilbaste, Le Roy, Chiers - Fontanive, Coudeville.

maccabi created a good opportunity to score 3 minutes into the match when S. Barrett's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. Slack defending gave maccabi a chance to take the lead with 9 minutes played, but M. Girardi's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. D. Le Roy fired a shot from distance after 19 minutes, but the long shot couldn't find the net for gil. maccabi's S. Barrett tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. S. Barrett gave maccabi the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 1 - 0 was the score after the first half. maccabi claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

47 minutes into the game gil's T. Coudeville found a gap in the home side's central defence and scored with a fabulous shot, making it 1 - 1. maccabi's L. van Diepen got himself booked for a foul. M. Girardi caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 66 minutes. This gave maccabi the 2 - 1 lead. maccabi's A. Aburuza increased the lead to 3 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 67 minutes. maccabi's opponents know to be wary of A. Aburuza's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 77 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! The home side's G. Coelho came close to extending the lead 78 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but A. Ennis managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. With 81 minutes played, M. Chiers had a fantastic opportunity to reply but his shot flew harmlessly into the side-netting of the goal. Possession in this half belonged to maccabi, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

L. Fredmar performed admirably for maccabi. L. van Diepen on the other hand, had a terrible day. gil's top performer was clearly C. Fontanive. A. Ennis was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.