Standard 4 - 3 Butterflies (388492161)

A scorching day at No Gods, No Master, where 53052 spectators were in place for today's match. Federico Armando Aguilar was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Denis Gérard and Nick Barsits. Standard had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Montesiña - Veugelen, Mazy, Wolbers - Tibúrcio, Chillemi, Phước Tài, Oorthuis, Herrera - Eşkin, Duffy.

Butterflies started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Putz - Al-Ghamdi, Pann, Stoyanov - Tello, Doeven, Haslwanter, Appels, Gallone - Bislimi, Jolkinas.

Standard were relying on their ability to counter-attack. Butterflies demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. As the 1 minute mark approached, the Standard coach decided it was time for a substitution. S. Eşkin reluctantly made way for E. Kletzka on the pitch. After 1 minutes, the Standard coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving F. Montesiña off the field. F. Bekkers took his place. 0 - 1 was the score with 5 minutes played, after G. Bislimi cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Butterflies. The crowd was on its feet 15 minutes into the match, as Standard's C. Duffy found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 1 - 1 equaliser. Always quick and a menace to his opponents, A. Herrera was very close to getting through after 24 minutes, but he could only put the ball into the keeper's arms. Butterflies's B. Jolkinas could have put the guests one up after 25 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but F. Bekkers was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. Standard almost scored after a counterattack 26 minutes into the match, but C. Duffy took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net. S. Chillemi caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 28 minutes. This gave Standard the 2 - 1 lead. It was 2 - 1 at the break. Butterflies enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Butterflies tied it all up, 60 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by B. Jolkinas, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 2 - 2. 65 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Standard substitution. W. Gallo came on for L. Phước Tài. The intense heat forced C. Duffy into making some errors because he couldn't seem to keep up with the others. W. Gallo sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from I. Mazy after 86 minutes of play, making the score 3 - 2. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. S. Tibúrcio squirmed through their central defence after 87 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 2. After a short break after 87 minutes, Standard seemed to change their tactical approach a bit. By now, the players in Standard felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Butterflies certainly deserved a goal after some stunning play down the left, but G. Appels just wasn't able to finish. Butterflies reduced the lead after 89 minutes to 4 - 3 as G. Appels easily chipped the ball past the home side's keeper after a dazzling play from the right. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Standard, with 52 percent of the ball.

Standard's best player was E. Kletzka. A. Herrera was a disappointment, however. B. Jolkinas performed admirably for Butterflies. However, S. Al-Ghamdi made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 4 - 3.