HALCONES 4 - 3 melis (381352590)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 17000 at EL FUERTE today. René Kellerer was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Miguel Ângelo Mourinho and Raúl Rodríguez. HALCONES had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. Starters: Banay - Ferrari, Château - Mapelli, Pigulski, Uncys, Čala, Braga Silva - Beyranvand, Barashi, Buergi.

melis decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Lineup: Brüderl - Asselman, Haller, Werdt - Simões Conceição, Teaha, Macías, Danas, Sakharnikov - Muurinaho, Gaganiaras.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of melis. 0 - 1 was the score with 18 minutes played, after A. Sakharnikov cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for melis. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the HALCONES manager used a brief break in play after 19 minutes to give the players new directives. A foul 28 minutes into the game resulted in a free kick for HALCONES. G. Mapelli took advantage as he curled the equalising goal into the top corner, just out of the reach of the keeper. 1 - 1. After a fine move down the middle S. Ferrari nearly gave the home side a goal after 29 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. 33 minutes in, melis's E. Gaganiaras received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. S. Ferrari caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 34 minutes. This gave HALCONES the 2 - 1 lead. 2 - 1 was the score after the first half. HALCONES claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 60 percent.

Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as melis's J. Werdt put the ball in the onion bag after 50 minutes to make it 2 - 2. 65 minutes into the game, O. Haller had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide. G. Mapelli gave HALCONES the lead with a beautiful free kick after 78 minutes. 3 - 2! F. Beyranvand increased the lead for HALCONES to 4 - 2, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! The away team improved the scoreline to 4 - 3, as A. Sakharnikov struck home, set up well by a play on the left 85 minutes into the match. After 86 minutes melis's T. Muurinaho had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. G. Chatzidakis came in to replace him. HALCONES had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

Most important HALCONES player was F. Beyranvand. A. Braga Silva turned in a dismal performance, however. melis's top performer was clearly E. Gaganiaras. G. Chatzidakis was a disappointment, however. The match ends 4 - 3.