capitols 5 - 2 Traktor (384538858)

17707 spectators had come to Mezzanine ARENA this cloudy day. Óscar Rubio was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Klas Sunesson and Benny Örnlund. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for capitols. The following players took the field: Poetscher - Justiceiro, Adolfsson, Grula - Laschke, Nidderau, Lupi, Hiermannsperger, Jovanović - Birkl, Antasdeulla.

Traktor decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Schütte - Löwenbräu, Rychnovský, Layton, Furuta - Matamoros, Alkun, Garraio, Dutta - Preimel, Knott.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Traktor. capitols took the lead 2 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as T. Laschke elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. With 6 minutes played, B. Grula could have brought this one home for capitols as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. The home side's C. Justiceiro came close to extending the lead 31 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but S. Schütte managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in capitols's N. Antasdeulla increasing the lead to 2 - 0. capitols put themselves up 3 - 0 when B. Grula broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Traktor reduced the deficit to 3 - 1 with a penalty placed perfectly beside the left post by R. Matamoros. 3 - 1 was the halftime score. capitols enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 79 percent of possession.

A wonderful trick by J. Preimel that left C. Justiceiro bewildered really deserved to end in a goal but the keeper made a fine save. capitols solidified their lead at the 66 minute mark, as N. Antasdeulla dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 4 - 1. By now, the players in capitols felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. T. Birkl wanted to play on, but the capitols coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 69 minutes into the game by R. Weinhart. The home crowd was silenced as R. Matamoros took a successful penalty shot 74 minutes into the game, reducing the home lead to 4 - 2. Things were deteriorating for the away team as capitols scored another to make it 5 - 2 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for M. Lupi after 86 minutes. Possession in this half belonged to capitols, who controlled the ball 81 percent of the time.

capitols's best player was G. Hiermannsperger. C. Justiceiro was a disappointment, however. Most important Traktor player was S. Alkun. J. Preimel on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 5 - 2.