Golden 2 - 3 Philippin (391466152)

Clouds darkened the skies at Joga Bonito Arena as 51146 spectators turned up for the match. Ilkka Joukainen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Daryadi Katehokang and Ennio Scirgolea. Golden tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Fossheim - Lantink, Tzara, Simonsson - Roldán Caballero, Sherrill, Jetté, Sas, Grillenzoni - Erazo, Knorring.

Philippin had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Cartier - Grünewald, d'Ooichem, Gualba, Volonnino - Coppola, Żych, van Boekel, Versteegh - Zappoli, Le Marec.

The wings were the focus of most of Golden's attacks today. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Philippin. 6 minutes into the game, J. Versteegh was a hair's breadth away from giving Philippin the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by E. Fossheim saved the home team that time. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 14 minutes, Philippin did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, B. Le Marec was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 1. Philippin's M. van Boekel was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 15 minutes. 18 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as G. Coppola finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. A counterattack by Philippin after 26 minutes could have resulted in a goal, but B. d'Ooichem, coming in on the left, couldn't get the shot off. Philippin's G. Coppola made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 40 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. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Golden, with 63 percent of the ball.

With 60 minutes played, the Golden coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. G. Rottoli came on, A. Jetté had to leave the fray. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed Golden's coach gave A. Frias the opportunity the player had been hoping for. M. Erazo reluctantly left the field. With 63 minutes on the clock, S. Roldán Caballero surprised the guests' goalkeeper with a snappy free kick, which reduced their lead to 1 - 2. Golden's G. Rottoli was shown a yellow card after 64 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Golden had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. Due to some great work on the right wing Golden's H. Knorring was able to even the score after 65 minutes to make the score 2 - 2. With 71 minutes played, G. Coppola of Philippin fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Players in Golden heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. Philippin's goal to make the score 2 - 3 came via a questionable penalty, but B. d'Ooichem struck it home without a second thought. Golden enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 64 percent of possession.

Golden's top performer was clearly O. Tzara. On the other hand, P. Sherrill's play was disheartening. Philippin's best player was B. Le Marec. C. Cartier was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 3.