Escuela 2 - 3 Saracatrasca (391808561)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 49465 to Baixinho Ramos Park. Sergiu Tripac was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Yannick Neue and Leonhard Örn. Escuela decided to use a 5-3-2 set up. They fielded: Gotzev - Hoogerheide, Pospischil, Massin, Vankeunebrouck, Nieto - Pruiti, Cerchio, Petkov - Ripaoja, Wals.

Saracatrasca tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Brienne - Le Parc, Castellarnau, Sobot - Pizzi, Lundhner, Schalburg, Shaw, Tiralongo - Palacios, M'pamy.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Escuela. M. Pospischil of Escuela seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 1 - 0 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by K. Wals. With 9 minutes played, the visitors could have drawn level after S. M'pamy came through the middle, but his kick went wide. G. Tiralongo made a run for the goal 11 minutes into the game but the home team's left back managed to sort the situation out in the end. Escuela mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 12 minutes, but K. Ripaoja was unable to convert from short range. A cross coming in on the right hand side left C. Castellarnau alone in front of the goal after 13 minutes but his shot was woeful. Escuela almost scored after a counterattack 14 minutes into the match, but K. Wals took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net. K. Wals's speed was clear to see after 26 minutes, as he darted down the wing and released K. Ripaoja who placed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 2 - 0. The visitors got one back when L. Palacios finished off a pass from the left and scored after 35 minutes. 2 - 1 was the score. 2 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to Saracatrasca, who controlled the ball 65 percent of the time.

After 64 minutes, Saracatrasca used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. In an effort to secure the lead, Escuela changed their tactic after 65 minutes. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Escuela coach let M. Riva replace K. Wals after 70 minutes. G. Tiralongo could have made it all square after 80 minutes, if only his free kick had been a few inches to the other side of the post. The visitors were awarded a penalty by the referee 85 minutes into the match, much to the anger of the home crowd. G. Tiralongo took advantage of the situation and scored to make it 2 - 2. As the 85 minute mark approached, the Escuela coach decided it was time for a substitution. V. Petkov reluctantly made way for F. Quaglia on the pitch. The home crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief when C. Pizzi was unable to put the ball in the net after his show of skill down the left 86 minutes into the match. He was seen beating the pitch in frustration at missing such a good chance to give his team the lead! After 87 minutes, Saracatrasca's S. M'pamy made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 2 - 3. Saracatrasca enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 75 percent of possession.

Escuela's top performer was clearly K. Ripaoja. On the other hand, M. Riva's play was disheartening. Most important Saracatrasca player was R. Shaw. G. Le Parc on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 3.