SPS-07 3 - 1 MIRUTD (385503951)

33023 spectators had come to Siivikkala Arena this cloudy day. Florencio Abánades was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Urbano Periccioli and Ben Winterkorn. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for SPS-07. Lineup: Magalhães Costa - Simontaival, Chatzipetros, Marchelli - Ahia, Arcellano, Marzo, Paulus, Roelas - Costales, Varchi.

MIRUTD had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: Qoraih - Castrocaldelas, Davì, Baliński, Kyrölä - Levati, Mota Duarte, Becchio, Poulin, Constantin - Proestos.

For their match strategy, MIRUTD had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. SPS-07 could have put themselves ahead after 2 minutes but E. Varchi missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Levati from MIRUTD a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 18 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After some beautiful movement down the left wing, M. Roelas scored for SPS-07 putting them ahead 1 - 0, after 28 minutes. With 29 minutes played, P. Becchio of MIRUTD fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Against a lesser team, SPS-07 could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 33 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. 36 minutes into the game MIRUTD's J. Poulin found a gap in the home side's central defence and scored with a fabulous shot, making it 1 - 1. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to SPS-07, who controlled the ball 63 percent of the time.

Given a free kick close to the byline, SPS-07 tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let L. Paulus slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 2 - 1, 52 minutes into the game. E. Varchi unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. The score became 3 - 1 at 58 minutes into the game, when SPS-07 were given a penalty which P. Marzo blasted straight down the middle giving the keeper no chance! With 72 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, R. Marchelli needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. A foul called during a MIRUTD counterattack resulted in a great chance to score, but J. Poulin's shot rattled off the post. 77 minutes in, MIRUTD's O. Castrocaldelas received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. SPS-07 enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

Most important SPS-07 player was A. Costales. P. Marzo turned in a dismal performance, however. MIRUTD's top performer was clearly M. Proestos. T. Baliński was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.