Aino 5 - 3 Madagascar (381505539)

48000 spectators had come to Aino Arena this cloudy day. Alain Steinberg was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Emmanuel Prado and Frede Reinwald. Aino decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Abate - Gottardi, Gécsek, Bartnik - Poleksić, Hartrott, Runesson, Kashtan, Lugo - Dingehouts, Brūnais.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Madagascar. The following players had been chosen: Silakka - Lipko, Westman, Rozentāls-Rožleja - Sampolahti, Paškēvičs, Ivanovs, Kociuba, Baxter - Accorsi, Griparis.

Today, Aino's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Many thought F. Lugo ought to have been awarded a penalty 20 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around M. Silakka after a determined run through the middle. After some beautiful movement down the left wing, F. Lugo scored for Aino putting them ahead 1 - 0, after 30 minutes. With 32 minutes played, Aino put themselves up 2 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to N. Brūnais, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. After 35 minutes, Aino's N. Poleksić fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Madagascar fought on and, after 36 minutes, G. Accorsi was able to reduce the deficit to 2 - 1 after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. Aino put themselves up 3 - 1 when F. Gécsek broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. With 42 minutes played, Aino's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to N. Poleksić he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 4 - 1. The teams went for the halftime break at 4 - 1. Aino enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

The away team improved the scoreline to 4 - 2, as A. Ivanovs struck home, set up well by a play on the left 56 minutes into the match. With 62 minutes played, the Madagascar coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Kudulis came on, J. Kociuba had to leave the fray. 69 minutes into the game, Madagascar's attack got through on the right, but A. Griparis couldn't handle the ball and his feeble kick wound up in the keeper's arms. A. Gottardi increased the lead for Aino to 5 - 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 visitors replied 79 minutes into the game, reducing the home side's lead to 5 - 3, as A. Ivanovs dashed up the middle, easily lobbing the ball over the home team's keeper. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Aino, with 51 percent of the ball.

Most important Aino player was M. Runesson. F. Gécsek turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Madagascar player was without a doubt K. Baxter. On the other hand, M. Rozentāls-Rožleja's play was disheartening. The match ends 5 - 3.