POLLI 5 - 3 Celtics (382019774)

8017 spectators had found their way to POLLI Arena, despite the heavy rain. Martin Höststrand was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Oswaldo Arredondo and Justus Berni. A 5-3-2 alignment was the formation of choice for POLLI. Lineup: Corzo - Merino Íñiguez, Pereira Saraiva, Zopfi, Agrinenko, Kerschbaumer - Panasiti, Espinosa, Mazzuoccolo - Fernández Peña, Kubacki.

Celtics tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Bonichini - Libri, Croce, Arione - Maisano, Marzocchi, Corradini, De Luca, Mendoza - Caridei, Ruju.

Celtics were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Players in Celtics heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. The guests took the lead 11 minutes into the match, after a right-side attack resulted in V. Ruju scoring to make it 0 - 1. POLLI's F. Panasiti was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 24 minutes. With a shot curled in from just outside the middle of the penalty area after 36 minutes played, T. Kerschbaumer of POLLI made the score 1 - 1. Celtics's goal to make the score 1 - 2 came via a questionable penalty, but M. Maisano struck it home without a second thought. J. Pereira Saraiva showed his inexperience when he failed to anticipate the bounce of a high ball, allowing Celtics's V. Ruju to take advantage and place a shot into the bottom corner of the goal. 1 - 3. POLLI were great at switching from defence to attack, and after 42 minutes, C. Espinosa swept through the middle on a counterattack, making the score 2 - 3. With 43 minutes played, G. Caridei of Celtics fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Halftime score was 2 - 3. Celtics enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

After 60 minutes, POLLI switched F. Panasiti with Á. Bebek, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. After 60 minutes, POLLI used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. The POLLI players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. T. Kerschbaumer showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 66 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 3 - 3 equaliser away. After 66 minutes, the POLLI coach had a quick word about the tactical set-up and decided to try another approach. A corner kick created great disorder in the penalty area with a goal nearly scored by G. Mazzuoccolo. At last, POLLI's P. Kubacki was able to backheel the ball in. 4 - 3. POLLI managed to extend their lead to 5 - 3 when G. Mazzuoccolo cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. Possession in this half belonged to POLLI, who controlled the ball 54 percent of the time.

P. Kubacki performed admirably for POLLI. R. Agrinenko on the other hand, had a terrible day. Celtics's top performer was clearly V. Ruju. However, A. Arione made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 5 - 3.