Genoa_Lindo 6 - 1 O.I.A.D. (381665699)

40226 spectators arrived at Arena Valentina, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Brian Shearer was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Lionel Duscher and Kanda Chinda. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Genoa_Lindo. The following players had been chosen: Gerhardsson - Visona, Temuder, Harnois - Kulmaczewski, Celani, Sesto, Leombruno, Launila - Viola, Mirabella.

O.I.A.D. tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. They fielded: Reumert - Branchereau, Rose, Miccolis, Bukała, Misuraca - Honko, Delfino, Vermigli - Johansen, Extrakt.

For their match strategy, O.I.A.D. had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. Genoa_Lindo made it 1 - 0 as M. Viola got a touch to the floated corner kick and flicked the ball to V. Celani who whipped a low drive in off the far post. Genoa_Lindo's V. Celani increased the lead to 2 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 6 minutes. Genoa_Lindo increased the lead as P. Mirabella struck to make the score 3 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. Genoa_Lindo's M. Viola saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 19 minutes. R. Misuraca finished off the counterattack of O.I.A.D. from the left rather easily, making the score 3 - 1. With 21 minutes played, Genoa_Lindo's P. Mirabella almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. With 22 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of O.I.A.D. resulted in a counterattack that set I. Bukała free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. After 24 minutes O.I.A.D.'s M. Delfino limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. 3 - 1 was the halftime score. Genoa_Lindo enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 76 percent of possession.

Things were going to get worse for the visitors. M. Viola squirmed through their central defence after 47 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 1. After 58 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by A. Launila might have resulted in another goal for Genoa_Lindo. However, I. Reumert made a spectacular save. After 59 minutes J. Kulmaczewski made a speedy advance and dropped the ball to M. Viola who shuffled it past the keeper. The score was now 5 - 1. By now, the players in Genoa_Lindo felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. 62 minutes in, O.I.A.D.'s O. Johansen received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. With 65 minutes played, the O.I.A.D. coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. C. Verri came on, C. Extrakt had to leave the fray. O.I.A.D. needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 65 minutes O. Johansen made way for C. Piscopo. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, V. Honko took over the role of being the O.I.A.D. captain. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, O.I.A.D.'s V. Honko was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 70 minutes. A. Hamzaj was given a chance to change things around. The O.I.A.D. captaincy was handed to M. Miccolis. 80 minutes into the game, Genoa_Lindo were awarded a penalty that A. Launila turned into 6 - 1 without a problem. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave J. Kulmaczewski from Genoa_Lindo a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 82 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! P. Sesto should probably have put his team up another goal after 85 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by I. Reumert kept the visitors in the game. Having turned the direction of play quickly, the O.I.A.D. counter attack ended as the ball carrier was brought down violently by a defender after 88 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. Genoa_Lindo had most of the ball, with 79 percent of possession.

V. Celani performed admirably for Genoa_Lindo. P. Harnois was a disappointment, however. O.I.A.D.'s top performer was clearly R. Misuraca. On the other hand, C. Verri's play was disheartening. The match ends 6 - 1.