Flames 4 - 3 fuego (390884327)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 23072 at Harles Mancini Arena today. Vladimiro Mayo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rogelio Urmeneta and Francisco Elorriaga. Flames started off with a 2-5-3 lineup. They fielded: Mitas - Avaro, Kerem - Danielsson, Trotta, Guillaume, Rodríguez, Ellingsen - Rondon, Romay, Blainville.

fuego decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. The following players took the field: Garosa - Edenskog, Caldiero, Zamutovský - Zwiers, Koppy, Bochini, Pérez - Gonzáles, Navarrete, Vitali.

Flames were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. fuego used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Flames created a good opportunity to score 12 minutes into the match when A. Blainville'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. fuego's C. Caldiero got himself booked for a foul. Flames took the lead after 36 minutes as a result of J. Avaro's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 1 - 0. With 37 minutes played, J. Avaro of Flames fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. fuego had a magnificent opportunity after 38 minutes as I. Edenskog hit the ball hard from the edge of the penalty box. However, the shot went wide. M. Gonzáles's lightning pace was too much for Y. Kerem who could only look on as the fuego player blasted one home. 1 - 1. Flames broke through on the left 40 minutes into the game, with J. Danielsson firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 2 - 1 lead. After 41 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and J. Avaro gave the Flames supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 3 - 1. With 42 minutes played, R. Romay could have brought this one home for Flames as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. It was 3 - 1 at the break. Flames had most of the ball, with 59 percent of possession.

The head of U. Bochini connected with a corner kick after 49 minutes, and the ball ended up with G. Pérez of fuego who blasted the ball into the net, making the score 3 - 2. Flames increased the lead as U. Rodríguez struck to make the score 4 - 2 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. 64 minutes in, an amazing pass from the left side resulted in a goal for the visitors, as M. Gonzáles anticipated the through ball and scored, reducing the deficit to 4 - 3. T. Trotta had a fantastic opportunity to put Flames up another goal 69 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. A penalty 80 minutes into the game gave the home side a chance at adding to the score, but an overconfident J. Danielsson shot the ball wide trying to put it away in the top corner. Flames claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

Most important Flames player was T. Rondon. C. Mitas was a disappointment, however. fuego's top performer was clearly F. Navarrete. G. Pérez turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 3.