Cesale 4 - 2 milan (381883904)

17400 fans braved the pouring rain at LaDriate. Paul Högkvist was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jens Spahr and Miguel Haza. Cesale decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Lopes - Elkins, Hernandez, Vesterskov - Fischler, Lattmann, Egidio, Battaioli, Gorostiaga - Juslin, Bãlan.

milan had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Halep - Vasilenko, Gheară, Borgborn - Lien, Ivarsson, Tirado Vilches, Rona, Lefkovits - Lazo, Kumičić.

Cesale were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. milan clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. After 29 minutes, speedy V. Bãlan dashed past his marker, making plenty of room for the second wave of attack. However, P. Juslin failed to score. P. Gheară of milan was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. With 35 minutes played V. Bãlan almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. milan's S. Vasilenko was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 37 minutes. Cesale's I. Hernandez was shown a yellow card after 38 minutes for slicing down an opponent. After 39 minutes, V. Bãlan came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving Cesale the lead. 42 minutes into the game, Cesale were awarded a penalty that R. Elkins turned into 2 - 0 without a problem. milan made it 2 - 1 as O. Lazo got a touch to the floated corner kick and flicked the ball to M. Kumičić who whipped a low drive in off the far post. It was 2 - 1 at the break. milan had most of the ball, with 52 percent of possession.

Cesale increased the lead as L. Fischler struck to make the score 3 - 1 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. V. Bãlan's lightning pace was too much for S. Vasilenko who could only look on as the Cesale player blasted one home. 4 - 1. Confident in their lead, Cesale's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The coach of Cesale was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 64 minutes, A. Cuya came on for M. Vesterskov. V. Bãlan left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 66 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. R. Kükels was the replacement. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, R. Kükels took over the role of being the Cesale captain. The home crowd was silenced as K. Lefkovits took a successful penalty shot 75 minutes into the game, reducing the home lead to 4 - 2. The rain made it hard for players like P. Juslin to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. milan players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 77 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving S. Vasilenko completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. Possession in this half belonged to milan, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

A. Egidio performed admirably for Cesale. On the other hand, A. Lopes's play was disheartening. Most important milan player was M. Tirado Vilches. K. Lefkovits turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 2.