Dogs 4 - 4 FCLF (385473519)

Due to an all-day shower, 34434 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Hot Dogs Arena. Romeo Bergonzoni was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Fabio Urrea and Bonifazius Runge. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Dogs. They fielded: Hassinen - Vilches, Mesas - Heras Hermosilla, Moscardelli, Zboina, Paulos, Odkladal - Dimitriu, Zampetakis, Pálffy.

FCLF started off with a 4-3-3 lineup. Lineup: Ohrankämmen - Taimisto, Alonen, Ikäläinen, Kusmin - Mämmi, Ristiluoma, Aukio - Örntorp, Kenraali, Sallavuori.

Dogs were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for FCLF. After 5 minutes, S. Vilches came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving Dogs the lead. The visitors refused to give in and, after 6 minutes, H. Örntorp evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 1 - 1 Players in Dogs heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. P. Mämmi showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for FCLF after 8 minutes to make the score 1 - 2. A. Moscardelli made a superb strike after 9 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. P. Mämmi was first to reach a ball launched long through the center from FCLF's defence 10 minutes into the game. He managed to keep his cool and beat the goalkeeper to make the score 1 - 3. A. Pálffy challenged the visitors' central defence eagerly, producing a good chance 18 minutes into the game as he went for a through ball. But, as so many times before, the guests' defensive efforts got the best of it. H. Örntorp was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 3. Dogs had most of the ball, with 80 percent of possession.

Content with how the game was proceeding, the FCLF coach let I. Kuusi replace K. Ristiluoma after 65 minutes. The coach of FCLF was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 70 minutes, K. Kekarainen came on for O. Alonen. R. Zboina charged down the left and looked sure to score for Dogs 74 minutes into the game, but his shot went just wide. With 75 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of FCLF resulted in a counterattack that set P. Kenraali free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. With 81 minutes played, V. Dimitriu was very close to reducing the score for Dogs with a low drive from the left, but a defender stuck his foot out just in the nick of time, blocking the shot to a corner. After 84 minutes, S. Vilches sent the corner kick right to J. Heras Hermosilla who headed it sharply past the keeper. 2 - 3! Dogs's R. Hassinen left the field after 87 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was E. Infante. It was obvious that Dogs had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. After 88 minutes of play, B. Odkladal equalised for Dogs after an elegant attack from the right. 88 minutes into the game, A. Sallavuori had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came M. Tuomari. It was a bad day for the usually speedy C. Zampetakis. The mud seemed to slow him down. B. Odkladal gave Dogs 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 89 minutes in, FCLF's P. Kenraali received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. O. Aukio of FCLF was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. FCLF showed their counterattack skill 89 minutes into the match by breaking through the middle, with H. Örntorp scoring uncontested for 4 - 4. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Dogs, with 77 percent of the ball.

The most dominating Dogs player was without a doubt A. Pálffy. E. Infante turned in a dismal performance, however. H. Örntorp performed admirably for FCLF. M. Tuomari on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 4.