Panthers 3 - 0 slashers (387172284)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 32250 to Karaci Arena. Marcus Ritter zu Groenesteyn was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Grzegorz Wichlacz and Joppe Dawance. Panthers started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Cruse - Lucin, Kornyik, bin Ahmad - Gallas, Lorbiecki, Akhter, Morotti, Doop - Päivölä, Bunjevčević.

slashers had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. The following players took the field: Martin - Proszowski, Prats, Tático, Lakonen - Qizilbash, Mårtensson, Cüreklibatur, Andradas, á Ryggi - Pominov.

Panthers mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 14 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from S. Päivölä, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. After 28 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by S. Päivölä might have resulted in another goal for Panthers. However, C. Martin made a spectacular save. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. G. Morotti squirmed through their central defence after 30 minutes, increasing the lead to 2 - 0. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Panthers lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Panthers players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. 2 - 0 was the halftime score. Panthers enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

Z. Andradas really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal following a great play by B. á Ryggi after a corner. A great save by keeper C. Martin after 58 minutes kept the visitors in the game after D. Bunjevčević struck from the left with a real cannonball. Panthers's G. Morotti was shown a yellow card after 70 minutes for slicing down an opponent. After a savage shot that could only be parried by the keeper, D. Bunjevčević demonstrated his experience by being in just the right place to slot home the rebound. His goal for Panthers 80 minutes into the match made the score 3 - 0. Panthers's D. Bunjevčević left the field after 82 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was I. Parreño. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, K. Akhter took over the role of being the Panthers captain. After 83 minutes, Panthers's G. Lorbiecki fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Possession in this half belonged to Panthers, who controlled the ball 61 percent of the time.

The most dominating Panthers player was without a doubt S. Päivölä. On the other hand, I. Parreño's play was disheartening. Z. Andradas performed admirably for slashers. L. Tático turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 0.