Hidalgos 2 - 2 Mariscotti (381845400)

Clear skies welcomed the 12837 spectators who had made their way to Hidalgos Arena. Themis Thomaidis was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Odo Deidre and Dan Pettersson. Hidalgos tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. Lineup: Latosiński - Aguilar Bustamante, Binjaku, Xheraj, Sai, Grochulski - Rico, Giambartino, Massai - Zeytuni, Tulbure.

Mariscotti had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: D'Agostini - Ratkus, Mäentakanen, Trimboli - Da Concesio, De Toma, Corveddu, Senneca, Frison - Dal Corso, Charczuk.

Hidalgos were relying on their ability to counter-attack. 0 - 1 was the score with 25 minutes played, after S. Mäentakanen cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Mariscotti. G. Senneca of Mariscotti was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Hidalgos's V. Tulbure proved that he's been around on a football pitch before, when he took advantage of a few moments of confusion in the opposition's defensive line and elegantly scored for 1 - 1. M. Xheraj showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for Hidalgos after 39 minutes to make the score 2 - 1. L. De Santis was called on to replace Mariscotti's R. Charczuk after 41 minutes following a nasty collision. Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as Mariscotti's N. Da Concesio put the ball in the onion bag after 43 minutes to make it 2 - 2. As V. Tulbure had, completely unprovoked, swept the legs out from under an opponent in front of a linesman, the referee gave the Hidalgos player a red card without batting an eyelid. W. Latosiński became the new Hidalgos captain. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Sai from Hidalgos a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 44 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! S. Mäentakanen's knee will be throbbing for days, but thankfully for Mariscotti, he bravely continued in the match. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 2. Mariscotti enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 69 percent of possession.

W. Latosiński looked great 58 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' A. Trimboli. 69 minutes into the game, M. Corveddu almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. Coming in from the right, Hidalgos had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 71 minutes, but E. Giambartino's attempt to finish was easily stopped. 73 minutes of the match played, and a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but L. De Santis, after finding himself dashing down on goal from the left with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. Hidalgos almost scored after a swift counterattack 74 minutes into the game, but E. Giambartino put the shot from the left flank just outside the goal. G. Senneca came close to putting the visiting team one up 78 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but W. Latosiński managed to tip the ball to a corner. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, F. Aguilar Bustamante got himself booked. The manager of Hidalgos was not happy. Possession in this half belonged to Mariscotti, who controlled the ball 70 percent of the time.

Y. Zeytuni performed admirably for Hidalgos. S. Binjaku on the other hand, had a terrible day. Mariscotti's top performer was clearly D. Dal Corso. G. D'Agostini turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 2.