Diablos 9 - 1 LdGainZa (390910084)

The crowd of 22998 turning up at Libertadores de America today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Henri Ravi was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Leoš Machek and Edo Santinho. All of Ciudad de Buenos Aires was shut down for the day, as fans of both clubs came to the derby. Diablos started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Pereira Jorge - Faye, Halavan, Mayer - Miączyński, Zanetti, Asa Negra, Ahlburg, Dobrin - Dellai, Suárez.

LdGainZa tactics involved an interesting 4-3-3 combination. Starters: Rodríguez - Parosti, Galladini, Karlsen, Grandi - Lancieri Durán, Riveros, Arce - Voland, Dego, Batistuta.

The wings were the focus of most of LdGainZa's attacks today. The boggy pitch disrupted the game, especially for technical players like E. Ahlburg. Diablos broke through on the left 11 minutes into the game, with C. Suárez firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. Diablos solidified their lead at the 12 minute mark, as E. Mayer dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. After 30 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and A. Halavan gave the Diablos supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 3 - 0. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. C. Zanetti squirmed through their central defence after 35 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 0. By now, the players in Diablos felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. E. Ahlburg increased the lead for Diablos to 5 - 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! LdGainZa's P. Dego was shown a yellow card after 39 minutes for slicing down an opponent. M. Miączyński of Diablos had to be helped off the pitch as an injury meant he was unable to finish the game. M. Pantufla came in to finish the match. Halftime score was 5 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Diablos, with 79 percent of the ball.

The unexpected cross pass from LdGainZa's I. Riveros after 52 minutes opened up the defence and was received by T. Arce who finished off for 5 - 1. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Diablos's M. Pantufla increasing the lead to 6 - 1. After 60 minutes, B. Dobrin put Diablos ahead 7 - 1 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. The referee showed LdGainZa's G. Parosti the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Diablos's N. Dellai increased the lead to 8 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 66 minutes. L. Faye almost put Diablos ahead another goal when he curled a free kick over the defensive wall and almost into the net, but the visitors' keeper got there just in time to knock it wide. 69 minutes into the game, Diablos were awarded a penalty that L. Faye turned into 9 - 1 without a problem. LdGainZa needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 71 minutes H. Lancieri Durán made way for K. Bargest. LdGainZa's M. Galladini got himself booked for a foul. C. Suárez wanted to play on, but the Diablos coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 75 minutes into the game by A. Urtazun. C. Zanetti left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 80 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. D. Russell was the replacement. The bench was restless, and with 80 minutes passed LdGainZa's coach gave D. Alé the opportunity the player had been hoping for. D. Batistuta reluctantly left the field. Diablos enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 77 percent of possession.

N. Dellai performed admirably for Diablos. M. Pantufla turned in a dismal performance, however. LdGainZa's top performer was clearly I. Riveros. D. Alé on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 9 - 1.