SPARTACUS 1 - 2 U.S.M. (381852537)

It had rained all day, but 16980 hardy fans still made it out to Donato Bergamini. Marian Bronowski was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ernst Renner and Federico Córdova. SPARTACUS had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Bicák - Pizarro, Vitakić, Verriest, Lövskär - Ré, Suolahti, De Angelis, Dancu - Vesterstål, Schüpfer.

U.S.M. decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Lineup: Pihlajakangas - Drzewicki, Minihold, Vihola - Kallström, Spivey, Filgueiras, Özkaya, Venckutonis - Aresta, Sanchez.

U.S.M. used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. A. Vesterstål, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. The rain made it hard for players like V. Vitakić to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. With 35 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as E. Dancu flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. B. Drzewicki of U.S.M. received a yellow card after 36 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. U.S.M. had a chance to level the score as D. Filgueiras 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. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for U.S.M., as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. With 39 minutes played, the visitors could have drawn level after A. Minihold came through the middle, but his kick went wide. SPARTACUS had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 40 minutes, but A. Vesterstål's shot from the left sailed high over the bar. 1 - 0 was the halftime score. U.S.M. claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

B. Drzewicki tied the game at 1 - 1 after 56 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 69 minutes into the match left U.S.M.'s G. Aresta completely free to score. 1 - 2 for the visitors. The referee showed U.S.M.'s H. Özkaya the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by U.S.M., with 57 percent of the ball.

SPARTACUS's best player was P. Suolahti. L. Pizarro was a disappointment, however. U.S.M.'s top performer was clearly B. Drzewicki. However, K. Pihlajakangas made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.