Planisphere 2 - 0 Rambosix (390054411)

67000 punters turned up at Park Road Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Stergios Floropoulos was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Luciano Banchelli and Melker Vinmar. Planisphere decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Badieh - O'Flanagan, Powell, Dodge - Malony, Swabey, Muurinen, Lourido, Poppleton - Gattlen, Henderson.

Rambosix had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Shashi - Kálmán, Batista, Zeinstra - Grunewald, Panin, Teodorović, Hümpel, Valtoaho - Dannemann, Cequeliños.

It was an obvious ambition of Rambosix to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. There was concern in the stands when, at the 22 minute mark, Rambosix's V. Teodorović hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. After 30 minutes, F. Gattlen sprinted between the opposing defenders and squared the ball, but the keeper deflected J. Henderson's shot. After 33 minutes, B. Dodge came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving Planisphere the lead. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. P. Lourido squirmed through their central defence after 37 minutes, increasing the lead to 2 - 0. The players of Planisphere now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. A scuffle developed as players from both sides clashed following a tussle in the centre of the field 39 minutes into the match. After regaining order and consulting his linesman, the referee called Rambosix's V. Teodorović to one side and produced a red card for the player. 2 - 0 was the halftime score. Planisphere enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

F. Gattlen could have increased the lead after 58 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. D. Malony has acquired a talent for predicting the movements of the opposing defence over the years and this almost resulted in a goal 60 minutes into the match. After 67 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by K. Poppleton might have resulted in another goal for Planisphere. However, N. Shashi made a spectacular save. In the lead, Planisphere adjusted their style of play with 70 minutes gone. Encouraged by their lead, after 70 minutes the Planisphere coach asked K. Poppleton to change positions with P. Muurinen. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Planisphere coach let R. Dixon replace D. Malony after 71 minutes. The Planisphere players could smell victory in the air. P. Muurinen wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for D. Kuhn after 71 minutes. F. Gattlen wanted to play on, but the Planisphere coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 75 minutes into the game by M. Başkaya. D. Kuhn was handed the Planisphere captain's armband. Planisphere claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

Planisphere's best player was J. Henderson. P. O'Flanagan on the other hand, had a terrible day. A. Hümpel performed admirably for Rambosix. However, C. Cequeliños made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 0.