DAlgemesi 3 - 1 Lucero (382933620)

23302 fans braved the pouring rain at Tàvecs D'Algemesi C. Arena. Jord Grimmelikhuijsen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Thorben Boehn and Ronaldo Good. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for DAlgemesi. The following players had been chosen: Gil Cano - Arriba, Claret, Hanzali - Sigrist, Wargnier, Foncalada, Barrios - La Cámara, Sametz, Serrano Lázaro.

Lucero had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players took the field: Portelli - Athlone, Wameling, van Meer - Bertho, Oviedo, Tolosa, Saïd - 存祥 (Cunxiang), Lallement, Kervadec.

The strategy for DAlgemesi was to use their ability to press. Lucero mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. The rain made it hard for players like C. Bertho to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. Many thought P. Claret ought to have been awarded a penalty 37 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around J. Portelli after a determined run through the middle. After 40 minutes, Lucero's T. Lallement made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 0 - 1. 42 minutes in, Lucero appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only weak. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Arriba from DAlgemesi a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 43 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! In a fantastic display of determination, Lucero's R. van Meer forced himself to his feet, after an opponent viciously knocked him down. 0 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by DAlgemesi, with 61 percent of the ball.

A review of the gameplan helped Lucero get back to a passable organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. After 47 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Lucero found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to weak. T. Sametz made a superb strike after 73 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. Lucero's B. Saïd was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 80 minutes. The corner kick from M. Barrios was powerfully met by the head of W. Wargnier to make the score 1 - 1. DAlgemesi made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left R. La Cámara completely alone with keeper J. Portelli, who made a spectacular block. It wasn't a pretty goal, but the free kick by M. Barrios after 84 minutes somehow found its way past the keeper. DAlgemesi takes the lead, 2 - 1! What ever got into H. Tolosa, the crowd mumbled, as he suddenly struck a cross pass through his own defence - ending up right in front of DAlgemesi's T. Sametz, who easily put the ball away for 3 - 1 after 87 minutes. DAlgemesi's C. Sigrist had an excellent opportunity after 88 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! DAlgemesi claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

R. La Cámara performed admirably for DAlgemesi. On the other hand, Z. Hanzali's play was disheartening. Lucero's top performer was clearly I. Oviedo. H. Tolosa on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 1.