Ezkio 0 - 1 Manchester (382971868)

20388 spectators had come to Ezkio&Itsaso Center this cloudy day. Rendert Bouwman was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Megumu Nagase and Grzegorz Janiczak. Ezkio decided to use a 2-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Beckert - Lips, Poulsen - Baquero, Dysarz, Parguiña, Cobanillas, Tareco - Pasucci, Cascajares.

A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Manchester. Lineup: Iturburu - Mora, Karpodinis, Plaza, Schlittgen - Aguiar, Urzáiz Pardo, Farrar, Sola, 聪晖 (Conghui) - Turan.

Ezkio clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. It was an obvious ambition of Manchester to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when I. Karpodinis slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against R. Beckert, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. It was obvious that Manchester had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. It was obvious that team Ezkio had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. After a fine move down the middle D. Tareco nearly gave the home side a goal after 36 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. 0 - 0 was the halftime score. Manchester claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

R. Schlittgen had a good try after 49 minutes, coming in on a fine move from the left, but the ball went wide. 54 minutes in, Ezkio appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only poor. 55 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Manchester substitution. J. Miranda came on for F. Plaza. 62 minutes into the game, R. Urzáiz Pardo had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide. The coach of Ezkio wanted to try to change things around after 75 minutes, and gave new tactical instructions. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 76 minutes into the match left Manchester's J. Miranda completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. 78 minutes in, Manchester's J. Miranda received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave R. Mora from Manchester a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 82 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Ezkio's N. Pasucci had to leave the pitch and there were no more available substitutions! Manchester enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

Most important Ezkio player was F. Cascajares. G. Parguiña turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Manchester player was without a doubt P. Farrar. 陆. 聪晖 (Conghui) was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 1.