Slags 0 - 3 Rubbish (390107039)

Clear skies welcomed the 20057 spectators who had made their way to The Eddy Jackson Memorial Arena. Anton Sennels was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Josué Ocampo and Alexander Vintsman. Slags had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Hazuka - Vieira, Delas, Hoop, Pears - Góras, Opas, Donnelly, Rinaldo - Gardiner, Coco.

Rubbish started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Kolev - Rhonheimer, Dinsmore, Folger - Bogataj, Caldarulo, Hrzán, Seuna, Minarelli - Bucurescu, Bin-Hamdan.

The strategy for Slags was to use their ability to press. Rubbish clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. 0 - 1 was the score with 20 minutes played, after D. Bucurescu cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Rubbish. 22 minutes in, Slags's A. Coco received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Slags, but J. Delas's shot went over the bar. It was obvious that team Rubbish had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. Rubbish's A. Seuna had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 28 minutes having been played. S. Cousido was the replacement. T. Folger was handed the Rubbish captain's armband. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Rubbish, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. After 29 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave Y. Rhonheimer a chance to increase the lead for Rubbish, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 2. Rubbish were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Rubbish, with 58 percent of the ball.

60 minutes into the game, Rubbish worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. Slags's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. 82 minutes into the game, A. Hrzán had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came J. Škridlovský. Rubbish had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. With 83 minutes played, D. Bucurescu nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. The pressing tactics used by Slags were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. S. Cousido was first to reach a ball launched long through the center from Rubbish's defence 87 minutes into the game. He managed to keep his cool and beat the goalkeeper to make the score 0 - 3. Neither team was controlling the possession at this point in the match, with the stats showing a 50:50 split.

P. Donnelly performed admirably for Slags. A. Pears was a disappointment, however. Rubbish's top performer was clearly S. Cousido. P. Caldarulo turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 0 - 3.