CSL 1 - 2 Malevaje (383035779)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 25416 to tiky-taka arena. Leonard Strasser was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Angus Garvey and Uģis Usāns. CSL had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Lineup: Giménez Guerra - Verdejo, Gaspar, Santxotenea, Rouvoet - Fajdulec, Buenfil, Mönkkönen, Martins - Espar, Yanes.

Malevaje tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. Starters: Alleaume - Váczi, Haferl, Božić, Reinen, Sølvberg - van Muiden, Elizagaray, Tyventö - Van den Wijngaert, Quilapan.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for CSL. Malevaje clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. There was concern in the stands when, at the 1 minute mark, CSL's M. Yanes hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. CSL played a good counterattacking move down the left 23 minutes into the match, with E. Gaspar finishing well for 1 - 0. After 37 minutes, T. Haferl sent the corner kick right to R. Van den Wijngaert who headed it sharply past the keeper. 1 - 1! The referee showed CSL's E. Santxotenea the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Malevaje claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 66 percent.

After 50 minutes, the CSL coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving P. Espar off the field. F. Ferrugem took his place. CSL's counterattacks created a good chance for F. Mönkkönen on the right after 68 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Malevaje had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 77 minutes in when S. Tyventö came up alone against R. Giménez Guerra who managed a block. Malevaje's Ð. Božić gave the visitors a 1 - 2 lead after 78 minutes with a superb strike from the right. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for CSL, but F. Mönkkönen's shot went over the bar. Possession in this half belonged to Malevaje, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

M. Yanes performed admirably for CSL. However, M. Martins made a disastrous appearance. Most important Malevaje player was R. Van den Wijngaert. On the other hand, J. Váczi's play was disheartening. The match ends 1 - 2.