Axo 2 - 1 brasile2007 (381797061)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 23603 to Axo's Arena. Massimiliano Cavallaro was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gavin Rodman and Hernâni Silva. Axo decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Çisem - Gabruk, Pecze, Moratti - Ferrer, Jongen, Sinelli, Citeroni, Spanjer - Piret, Mataković.

A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for brasile2007. They fielded: van Kapel - Gasparri, Buitenkant, Mohn - Gargiulo, Hinoveanu, Velino, Tanguy - Santoriello, Morias, Fara.

brasile2007 used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. 30 minutes in, Axo's G. Gabruk received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Making his way up the middle 37 minutes into the match, G. Gabruk almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert S. van Kapel blocked it to keep the score level. After 40 minutes, P. Fara sent the corner kick right to G. Gasparri who headed it sharply past the keeper. 0 - 1! The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave O. Buitenkant from brasile2007 a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 41 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Axo had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

The bench was restless, and with 50 minutes passed Axo's coach gave H. Biezbārdis the opportunity the player had been hoping for. F. Pecze reluctantly left the field. At this time in the match, brasile2007 were using their skill at pressing to successfully stifle the game. With 66 minutes played, the Axo coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. S. Mata came on, L. Jongen had to leave the fray. 68 minutes into the game, brasile2007 had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to inadequate. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Axo, but S. Mata's shot went over the bar. 80 minutes into the game, brasile2007 seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a weak level of organisation. After 83 minutes of play, G. Gabruk equalised for Axo after an elegant attack from the right. Axo fans held their breath as R. Spanjer scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 2 - 1! Axo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

Axo's top performer was clearly G. Piret. On the other hand, Q. Moratti's play was disheartening. Most important brasile2007 player was R. Velino. M. Tanguy was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 1.