RCF 3 - 1 Athletic (382947160)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 31865 had shown up at Sehnsucht Arena for the match. Eric Carrillo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Sergio Mallada and Henrik Leijonland. RCF tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Rippe - Froreich, Bocco, Melojo - Bucciol, Gâdea, Åhbratt, Muçaj, Grime - Kovalchuk, Sula.

A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Athletic. Lineup: Boutillier - Verdú, Garreta, Shakeri, Arenys - Stjelja, Cand, Gorgulho, Ramírez, Andrés - Carretero.

The wings were the focus of most of RCF's attacks today. After 23 minutes of play, P. Åhbratt gave the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. S. Carretero made a good effort at breaking through on the right, but the home team's left defence cleared the ball to a corner. R. Sula increased the lead for RCF to 2 - 0, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! Athletic came close to narrowing the gap when R. Gorgulho's free kick nearly made it past the outstretched hands of J. Rippe after 38 minutes. RCF's A. Froreich swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to RCF, who controlled the ball 55 percent of the time.

After 52 minutes, R. Gorgulho replied with a fantastic free kick and the ball went in off the bar. 2 - 1. Things were deteriorating for the away team as RCF scored another to make it 3 - 1 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for D. Muçaj after 56 minutes. 64 minutes in, S. Carretero made an incredible run up the middle and nearly reduced the home side's lead, but J. Rippe refused to let the ball slip by him. A great save by keeper P. Boutillier after 68 minutes kept the visitors in the game after R. Sula struck from the left with a real cannonball. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by RCF, with 54 percent of the ball.

A. Kovalchuk performed admirably for RCF. G. Bucciol turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important Athletic player was S. Carretero. On the other hand, C. Ramírez's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 1.