Podcabaje 1 - 3 Zavka (387281388)

38535 spectators had come to San Siro Arena Auf Wicher Podcabaje this cloudy day. Beat Brenninger was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Dan Trif and Aviad Pizanti. A 2-5-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Podcabaje. They fielded: Gąsiński - Murrieta, Sosna - Onu, Szot, Zhelikhovskiy, Almansa, Muromskiy - Tzohar, Ibárrola, Zavagli.

Zavka had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. Starters: Mutu - Mattschull, Heene, Akpakoun, Ferlay - Charino, Ernsberger, Ingenito, Mallo, Pastoors - Montenay.

Zavka used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 6 minutes into the match left Zavka's N. Pastoors completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. The pressing tactics used by Zavka were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. With 31 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed G. Akpakoun of Zavka to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 0 - 2. The Zavka players could smell victory in the air. N. Pastoors wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for 孔. 靖亮 (Jingliang) after 31 minutes. The Zavka coach was visibly pleased with the score so far, but still ordered a few tactical changes 31 minutes into the game. In the lead, Zavka adjusted their style of play with 31 minutes gone. Zavka pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. 0 - 2 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Podcabaje, with 54 percent of the ball.

A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from T. Ernsberger after 47 minutes, and prevented Zavka from going up another goal. Podcabaje's D. Murrieta left the field after 49 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was P. Pleszczyński. G. Onu became the new Podcabaje captain. G. Tzohar caught everyone off guard with a great opening pass - but unfortunately G. Onu was as surprised by the move as anybody else, and managed to miss the extraordinary opportunity. Podcabaje's fans were urging them forward as they tried to get back into the game, and their vocal support was rewarded 63 minutes into the match as S. Ibárrola ran onto a beautiful ball played through the visitors' defence and slotted it past the keeper to reduce the deficit. 1 - 2. Podcabaje tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defence got the best of this rather direct style of play. After 70 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave E. Ingenito a chance to increase the lead for Zavka, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 1 - 3. The referee showed Podcabaje's G. Tzohar the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Possession in this half belonged to Podcabaje, who controlled the ball 51 percent of the time.

J. Almansa performed admirably for Podcabaje. On the other hand, P. Pleszczyński's play was disheartening. Most important Zavka player was T. Montenay. J. Ferlay on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 3.