Vittoria 3 - 0 ares74 (381885569)

Due to an all-day shower, 14730 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at TD Garden Arena. Gonzalo Noriega was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mičeslavas Birenis and Soriano Mut. Vittoria started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Kucherenko - Bouget, Bovermann, Moa - Francardelli, Strahlemann, Virzì, Gündemir, Gajowniczek - Burzachechi, Senise.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for ares74. Starters: Summa - Bonnin, Maffei, Sobar - Sambusiti, Neyer, Ahrensfelde, Chiti, Bolognesi - Bulku, Pastore.

Vittoria used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for ares74. L. Burzachechi was struggling to make the ball dance with his usual trickery and panache, and the opposing players had little trouble shutting him down in these muddy conditions. Vittoria had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. They were singing the praises of F. Bovermann 20 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Vittoria. Thighs bulging, L. Bulku charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. With the clock showing 33 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of ares74 resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by M. Neyer in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. Vittoria's I. Moa was shown a yellow card after 37 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A loud groan was heard from the fans of ares74, as C. Ahrensfelde left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. B. Heintze took his place on the field. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Vittoria, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. R. Bonnin, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, B. Maffei got himself booked. The manager of ares74 was not happy. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Vittoria claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

ares74's right side looked dangerous 60 minutes in, but P. Kucherenko made a good save on E. Chiti's hard shot to the top corner. D. Senise increased the lead for Vittoria to 2 - 0, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! A late sliding challenge from B. Maffei was deemed to be his second yellow card offence by the referee, resulting in him being sent off, and ares74 left a man down. P. Kucherenko was the unlucky victim and couldn't continue the game, so Vittoria's D. Mocofan had to come off the bench. With 71 minutes played, Vittoria's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to B. Strahlemann he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 3 - 0. B. Heintze received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly 72 minutes into the match, probably out of lack of experience, and almost let an opponent score. B. Gündemir had a fantastic opportunity to put Vittoria up another goal 72 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Vittoria, with 62 percent of the ball.

Vittoria's best player was A. Virzì. On the other hand, D. Mocofan's play was disheartening. ares74's top performer was clearly L. Bulku. D. Bolognesi was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 0.