Valencia1961 3 - 1 Pantuflo (382889053)

The crowd of 40102 turning up at Valencia1961 Arena today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Mikael Gustavsson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Samuel Girouard and Claus Justesen. Valencia1961 decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Di Biagio - Komjáthy, Tomalczyk, Hamdi, Hallsjö - Zarza, Golpillanes, Vara del Rey, Glatzel - Cayo, Benazet.

Pantuflo started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Martínez - Botí, Xavier, Uribe Bernedo - González Fraguas, Lázaro Garrido, Cajete, Navarrete, Basagaitz - Zarza, Ozorio.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Valencia1961. After 4 minutes Pantuflo's R. Ozorio contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Given a free kick close to the byline, Valencia1961 tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let G. Tomalczyk slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 1 - 0, 7 minutes into the game. M. Hallsjö spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. Pantuflo tied it all up, 20 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by R. Ozorio, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. The home side put themselves ahead 2 - 1 after 32 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from A. Hamdi, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. E. Benazet unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Pantuflo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 51 percent.

A cross coming in on the right hand side left R. Navarrete alone in front of the goal after 50 minutes but his shot was woeful. Valencia1961's G. Tomalczyk was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 68 minutes. The bench was restless, and with 70 minutes passed Pantuflo's coach gave C. Juvany the opportunity the player had been hoping for. E. Zarza reluctantly left the field. F. González Fraguas was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. Things were deteriorating for the away team as Valencia1961 scored another to make it 3 - 1 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for G. Tomalczyk after 71 minutes. Ó. Cayo left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 71 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. D. Ruiz was the replacement. The crowd roared its approval when G. Di Biagio somehow managed to block a shot which seemed to be a certain goal by Pantuflo's R. Ozorio 80 minutes into the game. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Pantuflo, with 51 percent of the ball.

Valencia1961's best player was E. Benazet. G. Di Biagio turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Pantuflo player was without a doubt F. González Fraguas. On the other hand, G. Basagaitz's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 1.