Highland 1 - 2 Galacticos (382814495)

26997 punters turned up at Black hell, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Ignacio Rayón was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Estêvão Manteiga and Thomas Hämmerle. Highland decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Fuentes - Alexandersson, Snapper, Rocha Carvalho - Panaseth, Ahonen, Terjéki, Guillou, Thoren - Belmen, Lagonegro.

Galacticos had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Noyman - Van Dyck, Rosa Cruz, Figueira - Schwebach, Trošić, Vicinanza, Pierleoni, Dejaeger - Güldenstein, Târnăcop.

Highland tried to focus their attacks down the middle. S. Vicinanza came close to putting the visiting team one up 11 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but N. Fuentes managed to tip the ball to a corner. I. Figueira of Galacticos received a yellow card after 31 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 32 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from A. Belmen, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Highland's D. Rocha Carvalho saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 33 minutes. A well placed corner kick from J. Dejaeger was followed by S. Vicinanza's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for Galacticos, the score now 1 - 1. Galacticos's goal to make the score 1 - 2 came via a questionable penalty, but J. Dejaeger struck it home without a second thought. 40 minutes in, Galacticos's S. Vicinanza received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Galacticos had most of the ball, with 56 percent of possession.

B. Van Dyck behaved like an inexperienced youth player after 47 minutes as he gave the ball away to D. Lagonegro. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. O. Alexandersson made a superb strike after 62 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. Galacticos claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 60 percent.

Most important Highland player was D. Lagonegro. D. Rocha Carvalho turned in a dismal performance, however. M. Pierleoni performed admirably for Galacticos. Y. Noyman was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 2.