Matera 0 - 2 Laval (381772485)

20000 spectators had come to "III agosto 2007" this cloudy day. Richi Nusser was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Greg Gamble and Gisbert Rustebiel. Matera had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Giuliati - Serpa Costa, Rekonen, Vanin - Zangrillo, Restelica, Teodorini, N'Diatt, Racano - Talmelli, Sekulovski.

Laval tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. They fielded: Dordoni - Losurdu, Spagnulo, Pirrò - Hemeter, Dei Rossi, Nizzolo, Pogliaghi - Turino, Picchio, Gardini.

Laval clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. After a fine move down the middle M. N'Diatt nearly gave the home side a goal after 16 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. G. Losurdu knocked one home from a counterattack down the right wing, making the score 0 - 1 after 17 minutes. 18 minutes in, Matera's A. Talmelli received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Laval were forced into a substitution as U. Turino couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing C. Bibescu to come in off the bench. Laval's D. Dei Rossi was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 33 minutes. Laval's C. Bibescu left the field after 34 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was E. Lucchesi. S. Sekulovski made a superb strike after 36 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to Matera, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

Laval had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 57 minutes, but K. Hemeter's shot from the left sailed high over the bar. With the scoreboard showing that 60 minutes had been played, Laval nearly put themselves up another goal after D. Dei Rossi came through on the left. Fortunately for the home crowd, the keeper made the save. Matera had to make a substitution after 64 minutes. A. Rekonen limped off the field and was replaced by F. Randolo. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Matera, but S. Sekulovski's shot went over the bar. Matera's opponents know to be wary of A. Racano's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 71 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! Matera's F. Vanin made an attempt at equalising 77 minutes into the match, coming in from the right, but the ball hit the post and the defence easily cleared the rebound. Laval played a good counterattacking move down the left 78 minutes into the match, with E. Gardini finishing well for 0 - 2. After 82 minutes S. Sekulovski could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors' keeper. After 83 minutes Laval's U. Dordoni contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Matera claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 66 percent.

Matera's best player was D. Restelica. F. Randolo was a disappointment, however. Laval's top performer was clearly M. Picchio. On the other hand, G. Losurdu's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 2.