Union 3 - 2 karakara (382975218)

Clouds darkened the skies at Nou Union as 25000 spectators turned up for the match. Ettore Lauriola was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Corvin Länzlinger and Ivano Mascellani. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Union. Lineup: Zelga - Merhaut, Osho, Simoen - Rohardt, Mousset, Patzke, Iliev, Furlani - Dobmaier, Wallez.

karakara tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. The following players took the field: Weischedel - Monterrubio, Fitado, Guiffard, Auradell, Lavelli - Gale, Kohl, Jara - Ramírez, Ljungling.

With 4 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, D. Lavelli needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. The home keeper expected a move to the right, but M. Kohl surprised him with a free kick aimed the other way 5 minutes into the match. 0 - 1 for karakara. The visitors' A. Monterrubio took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 27 minutes into the match. 0 - 2 for karakara. With 27 minutes played, the Union coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Doniániz came on, T. Dobmaier had to leave the fray. Union didn't give in and with 35 minutes played J. Merhaut was able to make the score 1 - 2 after an attack on the right. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave N. Mousset from Union a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 36 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! M. Kohl was the unlucky victim and couldn't continue the game, so karakara's T. Siistonen had to come off the bench. karakara's T. Siistonen got himself booked for a foul. 1 - 2 was the halftime score. Union claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

The crowd chanted their encouragement as Union's K. Osho came in from the right after 47 minutes and put the ball in the net to level the score at 2 - 2. 61 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Union to take the lead after a good cross from the right found J. Merhaut alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. The home side put themselves ahead 3 - 2 after 69 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from K. Osho, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. The bench was restless, and with 70 minutes passed karakara's coach gave Y. Díaz de la Serna the opportunity the player had been hoping for. P. Fitado reluctantly left the field. karakara needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 71 minutes A. Monterrubio made way for M. Zorita. Union's D. Furlani was shown a yellow card after 71 minutes for slicing down an opponent. After 83 minutes, karakara's Y. Díaz de la Serna fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! When N. Mousset made yet another studs-first tackle after 84 minutes, the referee was obliged to book the Union player for the second time, sending him off the pitch. karakara were worse off though, as R. Auradell was unable to finish the game and no more substitutes were available! Possession in this half belonged to Union, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

Union's best player was G. Iliev. J. Merhaut turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important karakara player was E. Ljungling. However, Y. Díaz de la Serna made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 2.