Esporte 3 - 1 Flacanagem (391557279)

30409 fans braved the pouring rain at Batistão Arena. Heini Berchtold was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Viktoras Vasakis and Mathias Kiefner. Esporte started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Marchetta - Scheltens, Das, Murina - de Sá Gama, Melchiori, Martinello, Valença, Schwald - Paes Leme, Ishaya.

Flacanagem decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Dalecký - Sorriso, Sánchez, Hultflod - Barriga Verde, Szostak, Höytö, Bengtsson, Collado - Siemienkiewicz, Mineirinho.

Esporte clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. The wings were the focus of most of Flacanagem's attacks today. After 1 minutes, the Flacanagem coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving P. Bengtsson off the field. L. Pantilov took his place. E. Murina didn't let the weather get him down and made some great moves on the pitch in spite of the rain. Some great play up the middle by Esporte led to a chance for D. Schwald to score after 29 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. Flacanagem's C. Szostak got himself booked for a foul. They were singing the praises of J. Ishaya 34 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Esporte. 1 - 0 was the halftime score. Esporte enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the Flacanagem manager used a brief break in play after 60 minutes to give the players new directives. The Flacanagem coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. D. Schwald did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. After 79 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and J. Martinello gave the Esporte supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 2 - 0. After 84 minutes Esporte's D. Schwald limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. 86 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as V. Scheltens broke through, making the score 3 - 0 for Esporte. M. Paes Leme unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. Esporte's A. de Sá Gama had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 88 minutes having been played. Z. Karancı was the replacement. Morale on the visitors' bench was greatly improved when their G. Siemienkiewicz reduced the lead to make it 3 - 1 after 89 minutes, following a pass from the right. It was obvious that team Esporte had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. After 89 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by M. Paes Leme might have resulted in another goal for Esporte. However, J. Dalecký made a spectacular save. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Esporte, with 55 percent of the ball.

E. Murina performed admirably for Esporte. Z. Karancı was a disappointment, however. Most important Flacanagem player was J. Barriga Verde. J. Sorriso turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 1.