Akropola 4 - 4 Devils (383798415)

The 21134 spectators at Akropola Arena were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Mathieu Frimmersdorf was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Tammo van der Schrier and Martín Rodríguez Villegas. Akropola decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: Tobiáš - Holm, Engelund - Arkın, Reitze, Gaetani, Berengan, Rojo - Noziglia, Fournier, Harboe.

Devils tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. They fielded: Periquet - Pagáč, Semeikka, Mora - Darms, Ponset, van Wolde, Nemeškal - Krupčík, Parzyński, Tole.

Akropola decided to play creatively. After 20 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Akropola found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to inadequate. They were singing the praises of E. Reitze 31 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Akropola. Akropola's H. Arkın had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 33 minutes having been played. I. Korekáč was the replacement. After 34 minutes, the visitors tied it up at 1 - 1 when a fantastic pass from the left was finished off by C. Mora. With 35 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. D. Tole put the ball away for 1 - 2. After 37 minutes of game time, M. Parzyński had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but Ľ. Tobiáš was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. 1 - 2 was the halftime score. Devils enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Despite his frustration resulting in the smashing of a few teacups, the coach of Akropola was able to get his message across, and raised Akropola's organisation to solid. With 54 minutes played, Akropola's R. Noziglia found an opening in the visitors' left side defence, but his shot was handled easily by the keeper. After 64 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave M. Pagáč a chance to increase the lead for Devils, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 3. R. Bernús was called on to replace Akropola's I. Korekáč after 67 minutes following a nasty collision. Devils increased their lead after 72 minutes when M. Pagáč broke through on the right, upping the score to 1 - 4, much to the home crowd's dismay. R. Bernús of Akropola received a yellow card after 74 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 76 minutes in, Akropola appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only inadequate. S. Nemeškal's lack of experience almost gave Akropola a goal after 77 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. D. Tole could have put his team up another goal 82 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. R. Bernús knew he was in trouble after hacking down an opponent. Despite his pleading with the referee, the Akropola player was shown a second yellow card and dismissed from the game. Due to a severely mistimed tackle, E. van Wolde of Devils spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. Akropola's H. Rojo got the home crowd going when he finished off a left wing charge, reducing the away team's lead to 2 - 4. R. Noziglia earned a rousing chorus of cheers from his fans as he seemed to come out of nowhere after 88 minutes to intercept the ball and put it in the back of the net for Akropola. 3 - 4. Almost all the way down to the corner flag, Akropola's H. Rojo somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for W. Fournier, who struck for 4 - 4. After 89 minutes Devils's M. Pagáč contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Devils claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

J. Berengan performed admirably for Akropola. Ľ. Tobiáš on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Devils player was D. Tole. On the other hand, M. Parzyński's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 4.