JUVENTUS 3 - 3 DaBombazza (381939055)

Clouds darkened the skies at LA BELLA E DIVINA SIGNORA as 12631 spectators turned up for the match. Oskar Istad was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Patrik Sunesson and Benjamin Stoltenberg. JUVENTUS had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Siani - Schallgruber-Horstmann, Vallejos, Hinkkuri - Türk, Hammen, Mikalsen, Sommer, Fabry - Asturg, Sartor.

DaBombazza decided to use a 4-3-3 set up. The following players took the field: Kovachev - Andersen, Geurts, Schaaf, Andersson - Nakov, Täger, Siejak - Pezzuto, Almanza, Rosenstein.

The wings were the focus of most of JUVENTUS's attacks today. Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of DaBombazza. After 30 minutes, J. Türk came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving JUVENTUS the lead. The DaBombazza players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. B. Sommer had a fantastic opportunity to put JUVENTUS up another goal 33 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. D. Siejak behaved like an inexperienced youth player after 37 minutes as he gave the ball away to G. Hammen. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. G. Sartor struck a 30 metre free kick home 38 minutes into the match. 2 - 0 for the home team. At this point, it was obvious that the players of JUVENTUS lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. JUVENTUS's E. Hinkkuri left the field after 42 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was A. Masin. G. Hammen was handed the JUVENTUS captain's armband. After 43 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by B. Sommer might have resulted in another goal for JUVENTUS. However, V. Kovachev made a spectacular save. With 44 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of DaBombazza resulted in a counterattack that set A. Almanza free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. D. Siejak was the first to reach the corner kick, but his header was blocked by the keeper. However, DaBombazza's E. Andersen managed to get hold of the rebound and tucked the ball into the empty net. 2 - 1 It was 2 - 1 at the break. JUVENTUS enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

A. Masin increased the lead for JUVENTUS to 3 - 1, 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! With 67 minutes played, the DaBombazza coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. M. Dolejší came on, A. Almanza had to leave the fray. The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 72 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving M. Rosenstein completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. The bench was restless, and with 74 minutes passed DaBombazza's coach gave D. Pobrklić the opportunity the player had been hoping for. S. Nakov reluctantly left the field. DaBombazza were desperate to get a goal back and pushed forward through the middle 74 minutes into the game. After a scramble in the box, the ball dropped to M. Dolejší, who smashed it home to make the score 3 - 2. JUVENTUS's G. Asturg swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. M. Rosenstein was first to reach a ball launched long through the center from DaBombazza's defence 81 minutes into the game. He managed to keep his cool and beat the goalkeeper to make the score 3 - 3. DaBombazza's W. Täger was shown a yellow card after 85 minutes for slicing down an opponent. In a fantastic display of determination, JUVENTUS's R. Siani forced himself to his feet, after an opponent viciously knocked him down. Possession in this half belonged to JUVENTUS, who controlled the ball 62 percent of the time.

Most important JUVENTUS player was G. Sartor. R. Siani turned in a dismal performance, however. M. Dolejší performed admirably for DaBombazza. L. Geurts on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 3.