Pucelano 2 - 1 Russafeta (382942192)

The 23010 fans in attendance at Pucelano I Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Robert Marco Schrammek was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Balthasar Jansenius and David Terrier. Pucelano had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Andrei - Vief, Aragonés, Bleecke - Schwürzenbeck, Venturato, Desio, Habibi Nejad, Dechanet - Szinetár, Ascanio.

A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Russafeta. They fielded: Sáez Gutiérrez - Silverbratt, Cochin, Bruyn, Thorpe - Cingolani, Onere, Simón, Schattin, Claver - Nesset.

Today, Pucelano's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when M. Onere slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against F. Andrei, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Pucelano's J. Ascanio was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 25 minutes. 26 minutes of the match played, and a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but P. Silverbratt, after finding himself dashing down on goal from the left with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. 32 minutes in, Pucelano's T. Schwürzenbeck received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 33 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from J. Ascanio, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Things were deteriorating for the away team as Pucelano scored another to make it 2 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for G. Desio after 38 minutes. Halftime score was 2 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Russafeta, with 56 percent of the ball.

55 minutes into the game, the referee ruled a penalty for Russafeta. Unfortunately, H. Schattin shot wide of the mark. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Pucelano coach let D. Pavarotti replace S. Szinetár after 60 minutes. Russafeta fought on and, after 63 minutes, P. Cingolani was able to reduce the deficit to 2 - 1 after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. A. Bleecke wanted to play on, but the Pucelano coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 65 minutes into the game by A. Dunstone. Usually a powerful player on the field, B. Thorpe looked kind of pale and tired under the hot sun. The Pucelano players could smell victory in the air. M. Habibi Nejad wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for A. Ospino after 70 minutes. M. Aragonés of Pucelano received a yellow card after 77 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. With 83 minutes played, M. Aragonés could have brought this one home for Pucelano as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. After 84 minutes, the defensive line of Russafeta created a counterattack through the middle that gave M. Nesset a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. With 85 minutes of the game having been played, P. Dechanet received a blow to the hip in a collision and was unable to continue. Pucelano, with no available replacements, now faced the prospect of finishing the game with a reduced number of players. Possession in this half belonged to Russafeta, who controlled the ball 55 percent of the time.

Most important Pucelano player was M. Aragonés. A. Ospino turned in a dismal performance, however. Russafeta's top performer was clearly M. Onere. M. Claver on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 1.