Picasso1 2 - 0 Sprunk (390242011)

Clouds darkened the skies at Metaldome as 43442 spectators turned up for the match. Igor Kaniščák was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Onne Kroes and Célestin Cancelier. Picasso1 tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Merkelbach - Paccagnella, Los, Gennari - Bracht, Vidas, Di Carlofelice, Ubbink, Mondriaan - Oliván, de Roo.

Sprunk decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: Cornoldi - Dudkiewicz, Draijer, Rutigliano, Mercatili - Teerlinck, Dei Rossi, Kamlag, Šerer - Echaide, Elkjær-Larsen.

Today, Picasso1's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Sprunk. G. Echaide's tried to storm through the defence after 8 minutes, but H. Los was just too fast to shake off and the rest of the defence got back to cover. Sprunk's V. Mercatili could have put the guests one up after 10 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but H. Merkelbach was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. 11 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Picasso1 to take the lead after a good cross from the right found P. Vidas alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. Players in Picasso1 heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 20 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from R. Mondriaan, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Picasso1's H. Bracht swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. G. Echaide of Sprunk received a yellow card after 26 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Coming from the right, M. de Roo almost managed to score another goal for Picasso1, but his header was tipped over the bar by the visitors' keeper. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 0. Possession in this half belonged to Picasso1, who controlled the ball 71 percent of the time.

A great save by keeper A. Cornoldi after 49 minutes kept the visitors in the game after H. Bracht struck from the left with a real cannonball. D. Ubbink increased the lead for Picasso1 to 2 - 0, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! M. de Roo should probably have put his team up another goal after 73 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by A. Cornoldi kept the visitors in the game. With the clock showing 74 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of Sprunk resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by B. Elkjær-Larsen in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. Picasso1's H. Bracht was shown a yellow card after 76 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Picasso1 had a magnificent opportunity after 82 minutes as G. Gennari hit the ball hard from the edge of the penalty box. However, the shot went wide. Picasso1 had most of the ball, with 71 percent of possession.

The most dominating Picasso1 player was without a doubt M. de Roo. R. Mondriaan turned in a dismal performance, however. Sprunk's best player was G. Echaide. On the other hand, G. Dei Rossi's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 0.