xacobeoFC 1 - 3 Stagua (383052398)

It had rained all day, but 16142 hardy fans still made it out to xacobeo Arena. Richard Gill was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Max Käpelle and János Stoll. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for xacobeoFC. The following players took the field: Flamme - Puffky, Tulstrup, Kaihola - Chudzik, Arthur, Fournial, Lo Iacono, Rantzau - Uryszek, Schild.

Stagua decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. They fielded: Garcés - Reay, Carolino, de Man - Horvatinović, Kuechler, Soncco, Bonanotti, Fazekas - Seremetidis, Abbas.

xacobeoFC decided to play creatively. It was an obvious ambition of Stagua to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 6 minutes into the match left Stagua's F. Soncco completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. H. Fazekas's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 7 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to L. Seremetidis who knocked it in for Stagua. 0 - 2! M. Arthur, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. Stagua increased their lead after 19 minutes when B. Reay broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 3, much to the home crowd's dismay. O. Kaihola was having a great game - if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on! M. Liljenskär was called on to replace Stagua's N. de Man after 27 minutes following a nasty collision. The crowd groaned when T. Chudzik, having maneuvered his way down the right, fired the ball just wide and missed a great opportunity to reduce the deficit for xacobeoFC. xacobeoFC didn't give in and with 37 minutes played B. Uryszek was able to make the score 1 - 3 after an attack on the right. 1 - 3 was the score after the first half. Stagua had most of the ball, with 56 percent of possession.

The visitors almost increased their lead after 53 minutes when a sweetly hit free kick looked like it was heading for the top corner. However the keeper managed to get a fingertip to it, sending it over the bar. It might be a while before the fans see Stagua's D. Carolino again, after he had to leave the field in great distress at the 70 minute mark. He was replaced by X. da Fornea. A couple of inches to the right and T. Chudzik's free kick 71 minutes into the match would have resulted in the goal of the year for xacobeoFC. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, S. Abbas would have put Stagua up another goal 81 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. After 83 minutes, Stagua were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. F. Soncco did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance of getting one back as Z. Puffky tried lifting the ball over keeper D. Garcés. Unfortunately, the ball went just over the bar. xacobeoFC's T. Chudzik was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 86 minutes. Stagua enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 51 percent of possession.

B. Uryszek performed admirably for xacobeoFC. B. Flamme turned in a dismal performance, however. Stagua's best player was N. Kuechler. However, X. da Fornea made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 3.