a.c.padova 3 - 1 United (381676732)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 43000 at GILDO FATTORI today. Nazar Kozel was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Vladimír Coubal and Jens Jørgensen. a.c.padova tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Lineup: Monajo - Schiavone, Vacirca, Ingenito, Tskhadadze - Borge, De Cristofaro, Annan, Casolari - Gortemaker, Cangiano.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for United. The following players had been chosen: Cerrelli - Venturin, Szmaja, Filippa, Grateau - Polito, Szukaj, Bernardi, Giovanelli - Rijers, Bolmain.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of United. a.c.padova broke through on the left 12 minutes into the game, with D. Vacirca firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. With the clock showing 16 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of United resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by K. Szukaj in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. J. Borge's curling free kick almost found the goal for a.c.padova, but the visitors' keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it. After 19 minutes, a well-worked counterattack by United on the right presented an easy opportunity in front of the goal that was duly converted by K. Szukaj to make it 1 - 1. With 36 minutes showing on the scoreboard, a.c.padova had a chance to take the lead after being awarded a penalty, but J. Borge's shot was blocked by G. Cerrelli. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to a.c.padova, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

D. Vacirca gave a.c.padova the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 2 - 1 J. Borge struck a 30 metre free kick home 50 minutes into the match. 3 - 1 for the home team. Against a lesser team, a.c.padova could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 59 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. a.c.padova's M. Gortemaker saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 66 minutes. United's R. Filippa left the field after 67 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was A. Presutti. a.c.padova had most of the ball, with 60 percent of possession.

The most dominating a.c.padova player was without a doubt V. Cangiano. J. Tskhadadze was a disappointment, however. United's best player was K. Bolmain. A. Presutti turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 1.