AMERICA 3 - 2 Secta (389954972)

35199 spectators had found their way to AZTECA71, despite the heavy rain. Eric Schwardt was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Santiago Ortiz and Asko Leviäinen. All of Estado de México was shut down for the day, as fans of both clubs came to the derby. AMERICA started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Raga - Plieren, Willemse, Hole - Cid, Vicuña Oyarbide, Pierce, Reinert, Braamhaar - Pitkäkoski, Verde.

Secta had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Pradere - Smets, Piedrolas, Fredersdorf - Eg, Vivanco, Sánchez Recio, Mairhofer, Calleja - Nastoupil, Girard.

Secta's E. Piedrolas gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead after 13 minutes with a superb strike from the right. A. Verde did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. With 33 minutes played, Secta put themselves up 0 - 2 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was O. Nastoupil. T. Pitkäkoski challenged the visitors' central defence eagerly, producing a good chance 35 minutes into the game as he went for a through ball. But, as so many times before, the guests' defensive efforts got the best of it. It was 0 - 2 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by AMERICA, with 57 percent of the ball.

At 52 minutes into the game, AMERICA's R. Cid deftly knocked the ball home after an impressive run down the left, reducing the visitors' lead to 1 - 2. Secta's E. Piedrolas got himself booked for a foul. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Mairhofer from Secta a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 75 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The game was characterised by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but G. Smets showed great heart and had a good game. The crowd was on its feet 84 minutes into the match, as AMERICA's S. Pierce found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 2 - 2 equaliser. AMERICA took the lead after 87 minutes as a result of T. Pitkäkoski's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 3 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to AMERICA, who controlled the ball 64 percent of the time.

Most important AMERICA player was A. Verde. R. Cid on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Secta player was without a doubt R. Vivanco. L. Girard turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 2.