Nutrilett 3 - 4 Rajamiehet (385475123)

Clear skies welcomed the 48543 spectators who had made their way to FC Nutrilett Arena. Ramón Berrio was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Matti Leskelä and Felipe Zubieta. Nutrilett had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. The following players took the field: Clarete - Pascagaza, Bergerberg - Certanini, Kujanen, Rammos, Ledesma, Roselaar - van Kolck, Pipić, Coghlan.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Rajamiehet. Lineup: Valdés - Mäkilä, Jyrkkärinne, Tomppo, Tuunanen - And, Zakurin, Wellingsbüttel, Rahkola - Kaal, Guendica.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Rajamiehet. D. Bergerberg caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 3 minutes. This gave Nutrilett the 1 - 0 lead. A quick counter attack by Rajamiehet forced the opponent's defender to give away a freekick. R. Kaal was allowed to take it quickly by the referee, much to the dismay of the goalkeeper who wasn't prepared. 1 - 1! Coming in from the right, Rajamiehet had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 30 minutes, but E. And's attempt to finish was easily stopped. Rajamiehet almost scored after a counterattack 35 minutes into the match, but E. And took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net. Making his way up the middle 36 minutes into the match, N. Pipić almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert J. Valdés blocked it to keep the score level. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Nutrilett enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 71 percent of possession.

Slack defending gave Nutrilett a chance to take the lead with 58 minutes played, but B. Coghlan's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, K. Tuunanen got himself booked. The manager of Rajamiehet was not happy. Almost all the way down to the corner flag, Rajamiehet's E. And somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for I. Guendica, who struck for 1 - 2. After 72 minutes Rajamiehet's J. Rahkola contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. After 73 minutes, Nutrilett switched B. van Kolck with T. Koskenmäki, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. Nutrilett put pressure on the visitors' central defence 73 minutes into the game, but B. Coghlan couldn't find an opening. Rajamiehet were given a free kick 74 minutes into the game, just after a swift counter attack broke down. Rather than shooting straight at goal, it was directed at the area just in front of the keeper. The attackers made several runs and made it hard for the defenders to protect their goal. After a short tussle with a defender, V. Tomppo could finally lay the ball to rest behind the keeper. 1 - 3, and proof it can pay off to come prepared. The bench was restless, and with 80 minutes passed Nutrilett's coach gave A. Mattinen the opportunity the player had been hoping for. H. Pascagaza reluctantly left the field. With 80 minutes played, the Nutrilett coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. A. Kashintsev came on, D. Bergerberg had to leave the fray. Nutrilett refused to be intimidated and, breaking through the middle, B. Coghlan managed to slip the ball home for 2 - 3. There was concern in the stands when, at the 86 minute mark, Nutrilett's N. Pipić hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. In a rapid move 87 minutes into the match, E. And of Rajamiehet lost his man and passed the ball to the unmarked R. Kaal who easily hit it home to make it 2 - 4. Luckily the ref didn't see him taunting the opposing fans in celebration - naughty boy! 88 minutes into the game Nutrilett broke through on the left wing and N. Pipić managed to reduce the lead to 3 - 4. Nutrilett claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 74 percent.

Nutrilett's top performer was clearly B. Coghlan. A. Kashintsev was a disappointment, however. I. Guendica performed admirably for Rajamiehet. However, J. Valdés made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 4.