Toffee 0 - 2 Sporting (390058684)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 50552 at Goodison Arena today. Aigar Ülenõmm was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Wilhelm Jeelof and Sandro Schwanck. Toffee started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. Lineup: Ben Khalfallah - Šušić, Lee Mark, Bustos, Rotkirch - Łukasik, Nuttall, Roncali, Scadden, Edmunds - Petter.

Sporting decided to use a 4-5-1 set up. The following players had been chosen: Eekma - Gajewicz, von Ballmoos, Gwilt, Carroll - Girart, Aissa, Turner, Bartlett, Antolak - van Ettekoven.

E. Girart of Sporting was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 24 minutes into the match left Sporting's B. Turner completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. After 32 minutes Sporting's M. von Ballmoos limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Sporting had most of the ball, with 55 percent of possession.

With the scoreboard showing that 63 minutes had been played, Sporting nearly put themselves up another goal after O. Carroll came through on the left. Fortunately for the home crowd, the keeper made the save. 66 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as A. Gajewicz finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. By now, the players in Sporting felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Sporting claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 54 percent.

Toffee's best player was B. Scadden. C. Roncali was a disappointment, however. Sporting's top performer was clearly I. Aissa. On the other hand, M. von Ballmoos's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 2.