Electric 2 - 3 LOREALE (382042435)

18151 punters turned up at Electric Wizard Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Jordi Niubò was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jorn Hofstede and Jürgen Radtke. Electric started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Gárdonyi - Gasser, da Fonseca, Talasjärvi - Crivellaro, Polla, Meneghesso, Zinicola, Cordone - Catanzaro, Renhall.

LOREALE decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Casillas - Vasić, Caspersen, Daniele - Cambiaghi, Sousa, Pelowski, Totti, Ruspoli - Messi, Lorenzo.

Electric used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. The strategy for LOREALE was to use their ability to press. 14 minutes of the match played, and a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but H. Lorenzo, after finding himself dashing down on goal from the left with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. 17 minutes into the match and the home team took a 1 - 0 lead after breaking through on the left. The scorer for Electric was P. Crivellaro. Cheers filled the stadium as M. Catanzaro broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 2 - 0 to Electric. Electric had to manage with a reduced squad after 24 minutes, as P. Crivellaro got sent off for a needless foul away from the game's action. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 0. Electric enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

LOREALE's G. Ruspoli was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the opposition's box - H. Lorenzo managed to volley one of them into the net to make it 2 - 1 after 50 minutes. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Electric coach let G. Canova replace M. Catanzaro after 55 minutes. Electric's R. Gasser had an excellent opportunity after 58 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! The pressing tactics used by LOREALE were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. After 67 minutes, the visitors tied it up at 2 - 2 when a fantastic pass from the left was finished off by T. Totti. After 70 minutes, the LOREALE coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving M. Cambiaghi off the field. E. Santana took his place. 75 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a LOREALE substitution. M. Guerrero came on for Á. Messi. As the 80 minute mark approached, the LOREALE coach decided it was time for a substitution. T. Sousa reluctantly made way for L. Valdez on the pitch. After 80 minutes, LOREALE sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached T. Totti, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 2 - 3. Electric had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

Most important Electric player was M. Renhall. M. Talasjärvi turned in a dismal performance, however. LOREALE's best player was H. Lorenzo. However, O. Casillas made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 3.