Pidiemme 1 - 2 Real (381988456)

Clouds darkened the skies at Comunale P.d.M. as 10546 spectators turned up for the match. Gabriel Vanderhaeghen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Lynn Gilman and Matthijs Becq. Pidiemme started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: van Gijzel - Mirabella, Caviglia, Pantaleon - Şahin, Díaz de Abadillo, Guerradell, Casanova, Ðuričanin - Maniero, Andenna.

Real decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Quezada - Scardovi, Hodne, Steidl, Maccarone - Volta, Zintu, Mouton, De Sousa - Annunziato, Važonis.

Pidiemme were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Real demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. With 4 minutes played P. Maniero almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' A. Quezada was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. A counterattack by Real after 5 minutes could have resulted in a goal, but L. Steidl, coming in on the left, couldn't get the shot off. C. Zintu really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal following a great play by J. Mouton after a corner. With 39 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. L. Steidl put the ball away for 0 - 1. After 40 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for F. Volta who increased Real's lead to 0 - 2. Pidiemme had a brilliant opportunity to reply as A. Casanova received a high ball from the right, striking the ball in the air. Only A. Quezada's reflexes saved him. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Pidiemme claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 51 percent.

The home crowd cheered when, after 49 minutes, C. Zintu's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. A. Casanova behaved like an inexperienced youth player after 70 minutes as he gave the ball away to C. Zintu. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. The home crowd were delighted when P. Maniero scored with a header after an attack from the right, making the score 1 - 2. But did he use his hand? That'll be one for the pundits to talk about after the game, that's for sure! Real's D. Važonis left the field after 74 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was B. Komár. Possession of the ball saw an equal split between the teams during the forty-five minutes.

Pidiemme's best player was P. Maniero. D. Caviglia was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Real player was without a doubt C. Zintu. However, O. Scardovi made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.