Saponato 4 - 4 sofia (381672873)

The 31585 fans in attendance at Aquapark di Follonica were roasting in the hot sun. Filip Håkansson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ruggiero Schibli and Jorge Lisboa. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Saponato. They fielded: Richards - Arendorff, Siemens, Anello - Musliu, Manchev, Deray, Frasso - Carratelli, 德耀 (Deyao), Malagoli.

sofia started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Groenewoud - Pacúch, Ignoffo, Schievani - Vacirca, Olcese, Śleboda, Cederle, Gatti - Bartels, Bocas.

Saponato clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to 蔡. 德耀 (Deyao), but the Saponato player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! sofia had a chance to level the score as Z. Śleboda suddenly found himself free in the middle of the box with only the keeper to beat, but he misjudged the finish, and only managed to hit the bar. Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile M. Pacúch. 25 minutes into the match the visitors levelled the score at 1 - 1 as R. Olcese struck home from a rebound off the crossbar, following a shot from the right. K. Bartels's speed was clear to see after 26 minutes, as he darted down the wing and released J. Bocas who placed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 1 - 2. Some fine movement on the left led to a sofia goal after 28 minutes, making it 1 - 3. F. Vacirca was noted down as the scorer. By now, the players in sofia felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Saponato were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. The home team's supporters got excited again when K. Deray broke through the visitors' central defence and caught their keeper off guard, making it 2 - 3. H. Siemens got left behind when sofia's J. Bocas made a sudden run forward after 37 minutes, finishing off with a neat strike. 2 - 4! The home crowd was given a certain amount of consolation when C. Malagoli scored after a brilliant midfield combination through the centre, reducing the lead to 3 - 4. 3 - 4 was the score after the first half. sofia enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

A. Ignoffo found it hard to catch his breath today in the stifling heat. Saponato players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. S. Carratelli showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 62 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 4 - 4 equaliser away. Saponato had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. Saponato's H. Siemens tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. Saponato created a good opportunity to score 64 minutes into the match when C. Malagoli's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. sofia claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

Saponato's top performer was clearly C. Malagoli. S. Frasso was a disappointment, however. sofia's best player was J. Bocas. A. Ignoffo on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 4.