Van_Basten 1 - 2 SaTiVoeriAncaMo (381663455)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 49764 had shown up at Marco Van Basten Arena for the match. Gabriel Rebelo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Leon Yannick Paradowska-Thimm and Florian Windhager. Van_Basten started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. They fielded: D'Ambrosio - Carpentier, Charbonnier, Serra, Hallam - Taferner, Ortu, Carotenuto, Malvárez - Voight, Enache.

SaTiVoeriAncaMo tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. Lineup: Zanchi - Precisamente, Chmyrev, Marzocchi, Caccavalle, David - Della Corte, Talamano, Pinella - Valtolina, Lussu.

The wings were the focus of most of Van_Basten's attacks today. SaTiVoeriAncaMo were relying on their ability to counter-attack. After 5 minutes, Van_Basten sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached P. Enache, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 1 - 0. Van_Basten's M. Taferner was shown a yellow card after 19 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Due to a severely mistimed tackle, B. Chmyrev of SaTiVoeriAncaMo spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. S. Charbonnier unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. Having turned the direction of play quickly, the SaTiVoeriAncaMo counter attack ended as the ball carrier was brought down violently by a defender after 25 minutes. The resulting free kick was a flat shot into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and did not allow the opponents to reach the ball. It was obvious that Van_Basten had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. With 31 minutes played, P. Enache could have brought this one home for Van_Basten as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Van_Basten's P. Enache had an excellent opportunity after 34 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! SaTiVoeriAncaMo showed their counterattack skill 35 minutes into the match by breaking through the middle, with G. Lussu scoring uncontested for 1 - 1. Van_Basten's J. Hallam was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 36 minutes. With the clock showing 38 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of SaTiVoeriAncaMo resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by S. Pinella in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Van_Basten, with 59 percent of the ball.

R. Malvárez would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. P. Frostad entered the game for Van_Basten as the match clock showed 70 minutes. Always a threat, M. Valtolina tore past his marker and placed the ball right at the feet of the waiting G. Lussu who should have easily scored for SaTiVoeriAncaMo, but the ball went wide. After 82 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to SaTiVoeriAncaMo's C. Zanchi being carried off the pitch and replaced by M. Scardina. Van_Basten's M. Ortu's long shot really ought to have found the net 83 minutes into the match, but it fell just wide of the target. 1 - 2 was the score with 85 minutes played, after S. Pinella cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for SaTiVoeriAncaMo. With 89 minutes played, the Van_Basten coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. O. Hilfinger came on, C. Voight had to leave the fray. After 89 minutes, Van_Basten switched O. Hilfinger with T. Mikaelsson, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. Possession in this half belonged to Van_Basten, who controlled the ball 57 percent of the time.

Most important Van_Basten player was D. D'Ambrosio. On the other hand, T. Mikaelsson's play was disheartening. The most dominating SaTiVoeriAncaMo player was without a doubt G. Lussu. M. Scardina was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 2.