Pistoiese 1 - 2 Pepeho (381371448)

48435 spectators had come to FC Pistoiese Arena this cloudy day. Jorge Luís dos Santos was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Lars Strandgren and Víctor Madera. Pistoiese decided to use a 5-3-2 set up. They fielded: Falkén - Kristiansen, Drulić, Nederstrand, Stefansson, Omland - Vlahović, Åkesson, Vermeulen - Hrubý, Reyes.

Pepeho had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Tongar - Kuckel, Tarquini, Lannerstål - Kulhánek, Latsis, Černý, Krejbich, Lindström - Princ, Ávalos.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Pistoiese. Pistoiese's P. Omland was shown a yellow card after 18 minutes for slicing down an opponent. After 29 minutes, A. Nederstrand sent the corner kick right to J. Drulić who headed it sharply past the keeper. 1 - 0! The referee showed Pepeho's R. Ávalos the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Unfortunately for Pistoiese, A. Nederstrand was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. J. Kluch replaced him. T. Stefansson was the new captain of Pistoiese - handed the armband by the departing player. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Pepeho enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

Pistoiese almost scored after a swift counterattack 71 minutes into the game, but P. Omland put the shot from the left flank just outside the goal. Pistoiese mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 74 minutes, but F. Vermeulen was unable to convert from short range. Pistoiese's A. Reyes got himself booked for a foul. N. Tongar's knee will be throbbing for days, but thankfully for Pepeho, he bravely continued in the match. The visitors' X. Lannerstål was alert after a cross coming in from the left, levelling the score at 1 - 1 after 78 minutes. 81 minutes in, Pepeho's P. Černý received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. After 84 minutes, Pepeho's R. Ávalos made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 1 - 2. Pepeho had most of the ball, with 58 percent of possession.

Pistoiese's best player was M. Hrubý. On the other hand, J. Kluch's play was disheartening. The most dominating Pepeho player was without a doubt O. Princ. However, M. Lindström made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.