catalans 2 - 0 Paiporta (382994002)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 26612 had shown up at Catalunya lliure for the match. Ionel Sârbu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Florian Rönker and Jorge Nunes. catalans tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Sardá - Meltl, Ascariz, Quirk - Küçük, Pacheco, Guerinot, Pietilä, Roura - Zechner, Buşe.

Paiporta had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. They fielded: Guillén - Espinosa, Huijsmans, Guimera, Nagy - Thomai, Roelfs, Tikva, Hassoun, Polster - Bertarelli.

Paiporta were relying on their ability to counter-attack. V. Buşe's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 23 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to P. Zechner who knocked it in for catalans. 1 - 0! V. Buşe should probably have put his team up another goal after 24 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by M. Guillén kept the visitors in the game. After 34 minutes Paiporta's C. Nagy contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. C. Küçük had a fantastic opportunity to put catalans up another goal 36 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Paiporta were able to draw a foul with their counterattacks, but the shot from J. Huijsmans went into the arms of the keeper. E. Araizaga was called on to replace catalans's M. Sardá after 43 minutes following a nasty collision. P. Ascariz fired a shot from distance after 43 minutes, but the long shot couldn't find the net for catalans. The referee showed catalans's R. Pacheco the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Paiporta were forced into a substitution as M. Guillén couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing J. Cigarán to come in off the bench. 1 - 0 was the score after the first half. catalans enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 76 percent of possession.

V. Buşe could have increased the lead after 49 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. V. Buşe of catalans was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. catalans increased the lead as S. Guerinot struck to make the score 2 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. By now, the players in catalans felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. The coach of catalans was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 80 minutes, E. Thorsen came on for P. Zechner. P. Roura left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 80 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. O. Guevara was the replacement. catalans claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 78 percent.

catalans's top performer was clearly J. Pietilä. E. Araizaga on the other hand, had a terrible day. S. Bertarelli performed admirably for Paiporta. J. Cigarán turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 0.