FCB 1 - 2 Persepolis (389280173)

27601 fans braved the pouring rain at Blazar Stadium Complex. Nathan Vonken was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Igor Wiechecki and Kasper Eskildsen. FCB had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. Lineup: Kollakowski - Okan, Gottschalk - Cotegipe, Levitus, Ferraguti, Hajizadeh, Zaccaria - Kuy, Dresvianikovas, Buzzo.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Persepolis. The following players had been chosen: Pârvulescu - Hezavei, Alavi, Mathias, Keneshlu - Chamorro, Voirin, Barnten, Dragomir - Ribas, Sørum.

Persepolis were relying on their ability to counter-attack. 7 minutes into the game, FCB had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to weak. 20 minutes into the game, Persepolis seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to poor. A. Okan was struggling to make the ball dance with his usual trickery and panache, and the opposing players had little trouble shutting him down in these muddy conditions. With 35 minutes played, N. Hezavei of Persepolis fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Persepolis's counterattacks created a good chance for N. Hezavei on the right after 37 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. 38 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for FCB to take the lead after a good cross from the right found M. Gottschalk alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. After a fine move down the middle A. Dresvianikovas nearly gave the home side a goal after 43 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Halftime score was 0 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by FCB, with 70 percent of the ball.

A review of the gameplan helped FCB get back to a passable organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. Despite his frustration resulting in the smashing of a few teacups, the coach of Persepolis was able to get his message across, and raised Persepolis's organisation to passable. After 50 minutes, a well-worked counterattack by Persepolis on the right presented an easy opportunity in front of the goal that was duly converted by K. Keneshlu to make it 0 - 1. With 51 minutes played, the FCB coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. M. Chiarenza came on, S. Levitus had to leave the fray. It was a bad day for the usually speedy J. Barnten. The mud seemed to slow him down. A. Chamorro showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for Persepolis after 56 minutes to make the score 0 - 2. T. Ershadifar was called on to replace Persepolis's K. Keneshlu after 61 minutes following a nasty collision. FCB didn't give in and with 63 minutes played R. Kuy was able to make the score 1 - 2 after an attack on the right. You could feel the tension in the crowd after the referee awarded the home side a penalty kick and a chance to equalise. Sadly, E. Buzzo's shot sailed wide of the goal. FCB's A. Cotegipe was shown a yellow card after 69 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Persepolis coach let B. Lăzărescu replace S. Voirin after 70 minutes. FCB enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

The most dominating FCB player was without a doubt A. Dresvianikovas. E. Buzzo was a disappointment, however. Persepolis's top performer was clearly S. Sørum. However, T. Ershadifar made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.