Potternewton 3 - 3 botabaixo (390067664)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 48435 had shown up at Potternewton Park for the match. Claes Ivarsson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alain Garçon and Deivi Ahja. Potternewton decided to use a 5-2-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Berger - Mulligan, Davies, Pernet, Smith, Cameron - Kilpijoki, Ortaarış - Riera, Maniš, Grzebisz.

botabaixo started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. Lineup: Figgis - Orey, Ciappesoni, Chilczuk - Warmerdam, Zadaya, Aragão, Grinyó - Sircar, Stokowiec, Miranda.

For their match strategy, Potternewton had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. It was obvious that botabaixo were using their pressing skill as their primary tactic. Potternewton created a good opportunity to score 26 minutes into the match when B. Grzebisz's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. The goal to make it 1 - 0 was scored by M. Maniš after 32 minutes, following an opportunistic counterattack down the middle by Potternewton. botabaixo played a good counterattacking move down the left 37 minutes into the match, with O. Orey finishing well for 1 - 1. After 38 minutes of play, M. Maniš gave the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. R. Zadaya made a run for the goal 39 minutes into the game but the home team's left back managed to sort the situation out in the end. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 1. botabaixo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

After 57 minutes, botabaixo used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. The botabaixo players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. As the game started to slip away for botabaixo, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. botabaixo needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 70 minutes S. Grinyó made way for N. Medina. After 73 minutes, botabaixo switched M. Stokowiec with S. Spall, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. botabaixo tied it all up, 81 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by R. Zadaya, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 2 - 2. 82 minutes into the match, the Potternewton manager wanted to try a new tactic, and the players loyally obliged. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Maniš from Potternewton a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 83 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! O. Orey had a good opportunity to give botabaixo the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. M. Maniš was in the clear after breaking the offside trap following a Potternewton counterattack from the left after 87 minutes. His neat finish made the score 3 - 2. This third goal completed a hattrick for M. Maniš. After 89 minutes a very unfortunate collision in the penalty area led to botabaixo's O. Orey being carried off the pitch and replaced by I. Helland. At this time in the match, botabaixo were using their skill at pressing to successfully stifle the game. botabaixo levelled the score after 89 minutes to make it 3 - 3, as F. Sircar struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. botabaixo enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

B. Grzebisz performed admirably for Potternewton. M. Maniš turned in a dismal performance, however. botabaixo's best player was J. Miranda. However, C. Figgis made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 3.