Aston 5 - 1 Kalleja (383021286)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 33092 at Cornella - El Prat today. Mika Lehtisaari was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Abromas Lapkovskis and Everaert Van Durme. Aston decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: De Los Heros - Heckler-Koch, Linde-Liepiņš - Hoonakker, Elías, Román, Fernández Espartero, Gianninoni - Bye, Custurer, Fallón.

Kalleja tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Niklasson - Serrano, Schönherr, Mielec - Omieciński, Anglès, De Vita, Hooks, Hons - Escher, Lo Bianco.

Aston were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Aston were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. Aston fans held their breath as A. Custurer scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! S. Anglès sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from D. Escher after 13 minutes of play, making the score 1 - 1. 14 minutes in, Kalleja's P. Serrano received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Aston, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. Aston had a chance to take the lead after M. Fallón's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 20 minutes. Aston created a good opportunity to score 30 minutes into the match when A. Custurer's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. Aston had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. After 36 minutes of play, F. Bye gave the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Aston had most of the ball, with 58 percent of possession.

The coach of Aston was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 51 minutes, J. Gulling came on for A. Linde-Liepiņš. Aston put themselves up 3 - 1 when R. Hoonakker broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. A great save by keeper A. Niklasson after 69 minutes kept the visitors in the game after F. Bye struck from the left with a real cannonball. After 70 minutes, E. Román put Aston ahead 4 - 1 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. Aston's M. Fallón increased the lead to 5 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 80 minutes. The players of Aston now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. Aston claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

The most dominating Aston player was without a doubt A. Custurer. J. Gulling turned in a dismal performance, however. Kalleja's top performer was clearly S. Anglès. On the other hand, A. Niklasson's play was disheartening. The match ends 5 - 1.