ROMA AS 1 - 1 Placice (381431143)

18035 spectators had found their way to stadio olimpico, despite the heavy rain. Kenan Pekin was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vasco Cannas and Julio Asendegui. ROMA AS decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Govoni - Kienbacher, Dolle, Frelik - Vujović, Kolff, Börjesson, Rogge, Ryöpäs - Bonù, Valenzuela Serrano.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Placice. Lineup: Hansen - Tričius, Helmlinger, Vabels - Lecanda, Biró, Mina, Defauw, Rensink - Hermans, Castrelo.

It was an obvious ambition of ROMA AS to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. The referee showed Placice's F. Lecanda the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. With 20 minutes played, Placice's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to B. Defauw he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. J. Börjesson charged down the left and had a wonderful opportunity to score the equaliser for ROMA AS, but the shot went well wide of the goal. ROMA AS were awarded a penalty with 29 minutes played, and M. Valenzuela Serrano made no mistake as he effortlessly slotted the equaliser home. 1 - 1. Thighs bulging, A. Vujović charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. The crowd groaned its disapproval when M. Valenzuela Serrano missed a free kick that would have given ROMA AS the lead after 35 minutes. With 37 minutes played A. Vujović almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. L. Ryöpäs of ROMA AS was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to ROMA AS, who controlled the ball 62 percent of the time.

The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Helmlinger from Placice a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 60 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! ROMA AS had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. ROMA AS could have put themselves ahead after 76 minutes but S. Frelik missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. Attacking on the wings was the choice for ROMA AS, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. ROMA AS claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

Most important ROMA AS player was R. Kolff. On the other hand, F. Govoni's play was disheartening. The most dominating Placice player was without a doubt M. Castrelo. P. Hansen turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 1.