Real 3 - 0 PALLINE (381665366)

The crowd of 50630 turning up at Erasmo da Rotterdam today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Massimo Andreuccetti was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Lorenzo Trombetti and Jan Sundal. Real had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. Starters: Martens - Barbee, Zbranek - Rosano, Sertel, Austraete, Checher, Brokmose - Jańczy, Gallardo, Svanidze.

PALLINE started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Noser - Cauzzi, Gemo, Manerba, Nania - Ingenito, Leite, Arioli, Camaiora, De Noble - Cirillo.

PALLINE clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. With 3 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as S. Jańczy flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. PALLINE's R. De Noble got himself booked for a foul. Real were forced into a substitution as J. Barbee couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing H. Milchram to come in off the bench. Real solidified their lead at the 38 minute mark, as S. Jańczy dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. The players of Real now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave G. Nania from PALLINE a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 39 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Given a free kick in a difficult position after 40 minutes, Real tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. With 41 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of PALLINE resulted in a counterattack that set H. Leite free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. PALLINE almost scored after a swift counterattack 43 minutes into the game, but L. Cauzzi put the shot from the left flank just outside the goal. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 0. Real claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 62 percent.

G. Rosano did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. 49 minutes in, Real's H. Milchram received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. E. Brokmose left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 70 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. J. Helenius was the replacement. The corner kick from G. Rosano was powerfully met by the head of H. Milchram to make the score 3 - 0. The bench was restless, and with 76 minutes passed PALLINE's coach gave R. Sorrenti the opportunity the player had been hoping for. R. De Noble reluctantly left the field. The rain made it hard for players like G. Nania to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. PALLINE had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 83 minutes, but U. Cirillo's shot from the left sailed high over the bar. There was concern in the stands when, at the 85 minute mark, PALLINE's C. Manerba hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. Real had most of the ball, with 63 percent of possession.

Most important Real player was S. Jańczy. However, J. Helenius made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating PALLINE player was without a doubt T. Camaiora. R. Sorrenti was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 0.