Smolsteam 4 - 3 Bouba (381371744)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 41875 had shown up at Smols Arena for the match. Manfredi Repetti was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Fortunat Aldaffer and Emmanuel Bruno. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Smolsteam. Lineup: Pieńkowski - Šimonek, Jonsson - Rankka, Jeske, Puul, Stensson, Fuerbass - Mäntyneva, Riedlingen, Sankari.

Bouba had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Fransman - Kühlböck, Minguella, Noromies - Krammer, Cangaceiro, Gagula, Åkerner, Kaalep - Wenner, Hoření.

Smolsteam used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Bouba's P. Wenner proved that he's been around on a football pitch before, when he took advantage of a few moments of confusion in the opposition's defensive line and elegantly scored for 0 - 1. With 24 minutes played, Bouba put themselves up 0 - 2 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was B. Gagula. The home team's supporters got excited again when M. Mäntyneva broke through the visitors' central defence and caught their keeper off guard, making it 1 - 2. S. Cangaceiro increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 1 - 3. Smolsteam had to make a substitution after 43 minutes. S. Jonsson limped off the field and was replaced by M. Alderete. Halftime score was 1 - 3. Smolsteam claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Smolsteam reduced the lead to 2 - 3 with 52 minutes on the clock when P. Sankari got the best of a ball floated in from the left. The crowd chanted their encouragement as Smolsteam's F. Riedlingen came in from the right after 53 minutes and put the ball in the net to level the score at 3 - 3. 59 minutes into the game, Bouba wanted to bring some new energy to their game. M. Krammer gave H. Erez a quick hug as he left the field. Smolsteam were very close to putting themselves one up after 62 minutes as H. Fuerbass got through on the left, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. O. Pieńkowski looked great 69 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' P. Wenner. They were singing the praises of P. Sankari 80 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 4 - 3 to Smolsteam. After 80 minutes, Bouba used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. As the game started to slip away for Bouba, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. Possession in this half belonged to Smolsteam, who controlled the ball 58 percent of the time.

The most dominating Smolsteam player was without a doubt P. Sankari. M. Alderete turned in a dismal performance, however. P. Wenner performed admirably for Bouba. J. Fransman was a disappointment, however. The match ends 4 - 3.