The Mints 3 - 2 Hortaleza (384264038)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 59485 had shown up at Minto Meadows for the match. Fredrik Pihlblad was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alfons Berkien and Yves Marsollier. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for The Mints. Lineup: Gucwa - Muscarello, Trads - Pereyra, Grist, Greenstock, Waerenburgh, Carbotta - Pavão, Horváth, Buckler.

Hortaleza had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Mundi - Pirotta, Vasques, Zanetti - Minieri, Arco, Aziz, Ene, Luque - Espinace, Barwinek.

The Mints broke through on the left 17 minutes into the game, with T. Pavão firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. With 21 minutes played, S. Vasques came in from the right and could have evened the score, but the defenders successfully repelled the attack by Hortaleza. M. Horváth's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 24 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to T. Pavão who knocked it in for The Mints. 2 - 0! By now, the players in The Mints felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Hortaleza reduced the deficit to 2 - 1 with a penalty placed perfectly beside the left post by J. Espinace. Halftime score was 2 - 1. The Mints claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

The visiting team's J. Espinace was able to score the 2 - 2 equaliser with a header 70 minutes into the match, after some good work on the right. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 76 minutes, The Mints did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, A. Pereyra was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 3 - 2. The Mints enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

L. Waerenburgh performed admirably for The Mints. K. Buckler was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Hortaleza player was without a doubt F. Barwinek. S. Mundi on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 2.