Africa 4 - 2 ADAI (383164891)

The crowd of 10910 turning up at Erwin Rommel Memorial today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Kenneth Holmgaard was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jip Pander and Xaver Osta. Africa tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Stoica - Vargas, Reguero, Ocón - Marí, Saura Pradas, Csöke, Juaneda, Trentsaal - Cabelo, Casillas.

ADAI started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Grañón - Adriaenssens, Egues, Ehmann - Bartrés, Bay, Hegger, Jaromin, Heeren - Espiga, Villalaúd.

Slack defending gave Africa a chance to take the lead with 4 minutes played, but D. Marí's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 12 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from M. Casillas, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. A really bad tackle inside the penalty area 18 minutes into the match gave the referee no other choice but to award the visiting ADAI a penalty. J. Adriaenssens knocked it home. 1 - 1 After some beautiful movement down the left wing, D. Marí scored for Africa putting them ahead 2 - 1, after 37 minutes. J. Cabelo increased the lead for Africa to 3 - 1, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! Africa's Á. Vargas increased the lead to 4 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 41 minutes. After 42 minutes Africa's M. Ocón contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. 4 - 1 was the score after the first half. Africa had most of the ball, with 59 percent of possession.

47 minutes in, C. Jaromin made an incredible run up the middle and nearly reduced the home side's lead, but C. Stoica refused to let the ball slip by him. With 56 minutes gone, Africa had a free kick in a decent position. Despite this being a great chance for a shot, they tried a cheeky move intended to bypass the defence. However, M. Casillas did not manage to connect with it cleanly and the ball went out. Thighs bulging, J. Cabelo charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. A. Hegger of ADAI received a yellow card after 62 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. A bit later, ADAI's C. Villalaúd easily reduced the lead to 4 - 2 after a misunderstanding in the home side's central defence. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave L. Csöke from Africa a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 74 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Africa enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

Most important Africa player was J. Cabelo. C. Stoica on the other hand, had a terrible day. C. Villalaúd performed admirably for ADAI. However, E. Grañón made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 4 - 2.