Albacete 6 - 4 Smashing (383506607)

The 10506 fans in attendance at Albacete Toros Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Paddy Fieggen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jean Joseph Etienne Valtz and Ernesto Schubiger. Albacete started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. Starters: de Mingo - Lafulla, Casais, Pedrero, Peón de Rey - Oliveros, Villandrado, Lertxundi, Rivas - Ocaña, Fornos.

Smashing tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Velay - de Rosita, Izcúe, Vilanova, Cabanellas - Martell, Ciurana, Morell, Solagaiztoa - Gil de Bernabé, Osorio.

Albacete fans held their breath as Z. Lertxundi scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! With 13 minutes played, Smashing's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to J. Morell he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 1 - 1. After some beautiful movement down the left wing, P. Pedrero scored for Albacete putting them ahead 2 - 1, after 17 minutes. Perseverence paid off for Smashing, as their R. de Rosita equalised making it 2 - 2 with a fabulous free kick. Albacete took the lead 25 minutes in, as Z. Lertxundi broke through on the left and put the 3 - 2 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. Smashing's R. Gil de Bernabé got himself booked for a foul. A loud groan was heard from the fans of Albacete, as P. Pedrero left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. A. Ruiz Correa took his place on the field. E. Villandrado was the new captain of Albacete - handed the armband by the departing player. Smashing levelled the score after 32 minutes to make it 3 - 3, as R. de Rosita struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. L. Peón de Rey gave Albacete the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 4 - 3 The referee showed Albacete's A. Ruiz Correa the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Albacete made it 5 - 3 as G. Rivas got a touch to the floated corner kick and flicked the ball to A. Ruiz Correa who whipped a low drive in off the far post. T. Fornos could have put Albacete up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 39 minutes. The teams went for the halftime break at 5 - 3. Possession in this half belonged to Albacete, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

A. Ruiz Correa's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. Albacete put in a good effort on the right, but L. Peón de Rey saw his volley fly wide of the mark 68 minutes into the game. Smashing's E. Cabanellas refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 71 minutes. It wasn't a good day at all for G. Rivas. His powerful style of play just didn't fit the bill on this warm day. With 74 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Albacete resulted in a counterattack that set J. Ocaña free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. Albacete's E. Lafulla struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 6 - 3 after 76 minutes. A bit later, Smashing's R. de Rosita easily reduced the lead to 6 - 4 after a misunderstanding in the home side's central defence. At that, R. de Rosita was noted down for a hat trick! Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Albacete, with 60 percent of the ball.

Albacete's top performer was clearly G. Rivas. E. de Mingo turned in a dismal performance, however. R. Osorio performed admirably for Smashing. S. Velay was a disappointment, however. The match ends 6 - 4.