T-bag 1 - 0 Naaroewe (388515795)

41289 spectators had come to Fox River Stadium this cloudy day. Mario Tendi was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Nils Bathke and Jorge Luís Cervantes. T-bag had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Starters: Lalatović - Gelberg, Åsen, Oberfeldt, Yordanov - Geamănu, Stoica, Yonev, Nikiel - Willame, Malecha.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Naaroewe. They fielded: Ccahuana - Vatev, Kelly, Bautrys - Boogert, Peković, Rickenbacher, Helokangas, Fontdemora - Olsen, Al-Moosa.

T-bag mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Naaroewe. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for T-bag, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. After a fine move down the middle D. Willame nearly gave the home side a goal after 25 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. With 27 minutes played, T. Kelly of Naaroewe fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. T-bag had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. Many thought R. Yordanov ought to have been awarded a penalty 30 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around A. Ccahuana after a determined run through the middle. Halftime score was 0 - 0. Possession in this half belonged to T-bag, who controlled the ball 64 percent of the time.

Naaroewe's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 64 minutes gone, but H. Helokangas's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. C. Stoica of T-bag was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. T-bag made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left S. Oberfeldt completely alone with keeper A. Ccahuana, who made a spectacular block. After 68 minutes, Naaroewe surprised their opponents with a breakaway counter attack. The defenders had to resort to a foul to stop it. The free kick that followed was a clever indirect effort that almost succeeded, but the defence read the situation well and the intended recipient was left ruing what might have been. As the 74 minute mark approached, the Naaroewe coach decided it was time for a substitution. T. Kelly reluctantly made way for S. Volle on the pitch. T-bag's I. Yonev tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. They were singing the praises of R. Nikiel 78 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to T-bag. T-bag enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 67 percent of possession.

T-bag's top performer was clearly R. Nikiel. M. Malecha turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Naaroewe player was without a doubt H. Helokangas. G. Boogert was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 0.