Skorpions 3 - 3 Smokers (384983324)

A scorching day at Skorpions Park, where 28715 spectators were in place for today's match. Stefan Gustavsson was the appointed referee. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Skorpions. Starters: Leoni - Hausberger, van Schaaik, Chiavone - Mariancini, Del Pia, Couasnon, Peruzzi, Marella - Milito, Mpikakis.

Smokers decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Lineup: Galindo - Happe, Czora, Gomiero - Camor, Küther, Grelet, Raychev, Krenn - Schreyer, Hertzberger.

M. Mariancini'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 S. Mpikakis who knocked it in for Skorpions. 1 - 0! Always quick on his feet, Skorpions's M. Mariancini sped down the field after 27 minutes, but his pass to W. Milito was just a bit too far ahead for him to get a good shot off. The visiting team's I. Schreyer was able to score the 1 - 1 equaliser with a header 31 minutes into the match, after some good work on the right. Skorpions took the lead 32 minutes into the game by 2 - 1, as S. Mpikakis elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. The home team will be cursing I. Schreyer for weeks; he finished off a great pass from the left, knocking it past the keeper without a problem. The match was level at 2 - 2 after 36 minutes. Some great play up the middle by Skorpions led to a chance for W. Milito to score after 39 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. 2 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to Skorpions, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to C. Couasnon, but the Skorpions player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 3 - 2! M. Mariancini didn't pace himself at all, and after a series of daring offensive runs he was too tired to help out in the defensive play. With 60 minutes played, the Smokers coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. H. Mitjavila came on, A. Camor had to leave the fray. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed Smokers's coach gave K. Woroniecki the opportunity the player had been hoping for. K. Krenn reluctantly left the field. A great save by keeper E. Galindo after 64 minutes kept the visitors in the game after C. Hausberger struck from the left with a real cannonball. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Smokers's A. Gomiero was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 65 minutes. T. Nielen was given a chance to change things around. The visitors' T. Nielen was alert after a cross coming in from the left, levelling the score at 3 - 3 after 77 minutes. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Skorpions, with 59 percent of the ball.

The most dominating Skorpions player was without a doubt D. Peruzzi. M. Mariancini was a disappointment, however. F. Hertzberger performed admirably for Smokers. However, E. Galindo made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 3.