Blancas 0 - 3 Masters (391261117)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 12697 to Estadio Francesco Cristino. Dario Arcudi was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Zelimir Oppliger and Thije Bijker. Fans of both teams had been eagerly awaiting this Metropolitana derby and were doing their best to outshout their opponents. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Blancas. Lineup: Matilainen - Kałuziak, Amri, Zacaia - Mrnjavčević, van Gogh, Colasante, Roisin - Aertgeerts, Omer, Federer.

Masters started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Mesías - Dempster, Pühringer, Mével - Gueba, Blot, Vermehren, Schreier, Valdez - Enebrant, Sarabia.

The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of Masters's V. Gueba after 10 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 0 - 1 lead. 11 minutes into the game, Masters worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. With 12 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Blancas resulted in a counterattack that set S. Kałuziak free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. M. Sarabia was, after 14 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper M. Matilainen made the save. With 19 minutes played, Masters put themselves up 0 - 2 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was P. Blot. After 20 minutes, Masters's V. Gueba burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Masters lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 3. Possession in this half belonged to Masters, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

With 68 minutes played, Y. Omer was very close to reducing the score for Blancas with a low drive from the left, but a defender stuck his foot out just in the nick of time, blocking the shot to a corner. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, M. Sarabia would have put Masters up another goal 70 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave T. Mével from Masters a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 73 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Masters's B. Schreier made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 78 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. Masters's V. Valdez was shown a yellow card after 79 minutes for slicing down an opponent. N. Federer enjoyed the sunshine and demonstrated his stunning technique over and over again. The cannonball from 35 metres by V. Gueba of Masters was an impressive sight, but didn't make it into the net. Masters's D. Pühringer got himself booked for a foul. D. van Gogh of Blancas had to be helped off the pitch as an injury meant he was unable to finish the game. C. van der Valk came in to finish the match. It wasn't a good day at all for R. Roisin. His powerful style of play just didn't fit the bill on this warm day. After 89 minutes of game time, B. Schreier had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but M. Matilainen was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. Masters enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

N. Federer performed admirably for Blancas. W. Amri was a disappointment, however. Most important Masters player was P. Enebrant. On the other hand, V. Valdez's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 3.