Panzer C.F 2 - 7 Atletic (382911154)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 36381 at El Barracon today. Asgeir Rønning was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Dionizjusz Duliński and Mikko Korkeaniemi. Panzer C.F had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. Starters: Redondo Sierra - Danielis, Hooyer - Vanaudenaerde, Wesendonk, Olli, Roldán Gaona, Chona - Widmann, Llorente, Lapuente.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Atletic. Lineup: Pisera - Milak, Webers, Hauchecorne - Panella, Redondo, Verdes, Dutã, Jurensons - Sályi, van der Helst.

Panzer C.F used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Atletic's F. Milak gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead after 3 minutes with a superb strike from the right. With 31 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed O. Verdes of Atletic to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 0 - 2. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, W. van der Helst got himself booked. The manager of Atletic was not happy. Panzer C.F supporters cheered as good work down the right got the ball to T. Danielis who reduced the visitors' lead after 36 minutes to 1 - 2. 1 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Atletic, with 51 percent of the ball.

The home crowd cheered when, after 58 minutes, A. Jurensons's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Some fine movement on the left led to a Atletic goal after 62 minutes, making it 1 - 3. W. van der Helst was noted down as the scorer. After 66 minutes, Panzer C.F's Z. Roldán Gaona fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! A. Hauchecorne of Atletic seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 1 - 4 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by B. Sályi. Confident in their lead, Atletic's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. W. van der Helst received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 80 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 1 - 5. The Atletic fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. Panzer C.F players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. After 82 minutes, M. Llorente had a good opportunity to reduce the scoreline for Panzer C.F with a chance created through the middle, but wasn't cool enough. The ball went miles over the bar. Atletic were given a free kick 83 minutes into the game, just after a swift counter attack broke down. Rather than shooting straight at goal, it was directed at the area just in front of the keeper. The attackers made several runs and made it hard for the defenders to protect their goal. After a short tussle with a defender, E. Panella could finally lay the ball to rest behind the keeper. 1 - 6, and proof it can pay off to come prepared. The home team's supporters got excited again when H. Wesendonk broke through the visitors' central defence and caught their keeper off guard, making it 2 - 6. E. Panella of Atletic took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 89 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 2 - 7. Atletic enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

Panzer C.F's top performer was clearly M. Llorente. C. Vanaudenaerde was a disappointment, however. B. Sályi performed admirably for Atletic. A. Jurensons on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 7.