CHEKEBO 6 - 2 Runners (382966226)

38502 fans braved the pouring rain at MESTALLA. Afik Abuksis was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kaj Gram-Hansen and Tasesa Palea'aesina. CHEKEBO decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Villa Cano - Goryl, Stenersen, Celeghini - bin Wahab, Pareja, O'Neill, Mendoza, Chamaca - Saranello, Queck.

Runners had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Monhait - Sparwein, Petrov, Guercolata - Persson, Draksjö, Ruiz Jiménez, Vermiesch, Pieroni - Galistinos, Elejalde.

CHEKEBO tried to focus their attacks down the middle. It was a bad day for the usually speedy A. bin Wahab. The mud seemed to slow him down. Many thought P. Chamaca ought to have been awarded a penalty 22 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around M. Monhait after a determined run through the middle. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 27 minutes allowed R. Ruiz Jiménez to score for Runners. The scoreboard now read 0 - 1. C. Pareja showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 28 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 1 - 1 equaliser away. K. Vermiesch had a good opportunity to give Runners the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. Runners's V. Elejalde has the wonderful ability to create chances out of thin air. 38 minutes into the match he bamboozled a couple of opposition defenders before sending the keeper the wrong way and sidefooting the ball home into an empty net. That totally unexpected burst of flair made it 1 - 2. 39 minutes into the game, Runners worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. Given a free kick close to the byline, CHEKEBO tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let C. Pareja slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 2 - 2, 41 minutes into the game. 2 - 2 was the score after the first half. CHEKEBO claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

J. Goryl gave CHEKEBO the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 3 - 2 CHEKEBO increased the lead as V. Queck struck to make the score 4 - 2 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. The bench was restless, and with 70 minutes passed Runners's coach gave L. Halldorsson the opportunity the player had been hoping for. A. Guercolata reluctantly left the field. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of CHEKEBO to 5 - 2 as A. bin Wahab finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. Cheers filled the stadium as A. bin Wahab broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 6 - 2 to CHEKEBO. CHEKEBO enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 58 percent of possession.

CHEKEBO's top performer was clearly A. O'Neill. A. bin Wahab on the other hand, had a terrible day. Runners's best player was K. Vermiesch. On the other hand, S. Sparwein's play was disheartening. The match ends 6 - 2.