T>K>O 3 - 2 Kickers (391251684)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 26757 at El MuNiCiPaL DiEgO MaTiAs IgNaCiO today. Hubert Guillas was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Regino Puccio and Jesper Branderberg. T>K>O tactics involved an interesting 4-3-3 combination. Lineup: Sevilla - Orte, Liaño, Montenegro, Caravéo - Melin, Haefner, Toro - Amorosi, Mallarino, Prosperi.

Kickers started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Pachón - Paleta, Mier, Rahden - Panţiruc, Bauers, Ryge, Cornejo, Rădoi - Moreira, Nogueira.

Kickers decided to play creatively. 6 minutes into the game, K. Ryge was a hair's breadth away from giving Kickers the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by E. Sevilla saved the home team that time. T>K>O took the lead after 21 minutes as a result of V. Montenegro's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 1 - 0. T>K>O's counterattacks were lethal to the opposing defence, allowing V. Montenegro to score easily from the right flank for 2 - 0. The players of T>K>O now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. After 25 minutes, Kickers sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached K. Ryge, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 2 - 1. Kickers's G. Rădoi was shown a yellow card after 27 minutes for slicing down an opponent. R. Orte struck a 30 metre free kick home 30 minutes into the match. 3 - 1 for the home team. 3 - 1 was the score after the first half. Kickers enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

T>K>O's H. Haefner got himself booked for a foul. In a fantastic display of determination, Kickers's C. Panţiruc forced himself to his feet, after an opponent viciously knocked him down. Kickers fought on and, after 69 minutes, J. Mier was able to reduce the deficit to 3 - 2 after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. Possession in this half belonged to Kickers, who controlled the ball 70 percent of the time.

T>K>O's top performer was clearly G. Mallarino. H. Haefner turned in a dismal performance, however. Kickers's best player was K. Ryge. On the other hand, J. Mier's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 2.