Montaron 3 - 2 Arrancar (392339007)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 21232 to A.C. Montaron Arena. Eugen Zimmer was the appointed referee. Montaron had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. They fielded: Pavšič - Vinyas, Jonasson, Mallia, Maggiore, Jadue - Audineau, Čavrag, Petruţiu - Mačak, Bonin.

Arrancar tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. Starters: Sáinz Diez - Frade, Gandra, van der Waard - Spiekermann, Dorrego, Srdanović, Szalai - Martín del Campo, Valentini, Gjengstø.

Montaron clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. Coming in from the right, Montaron had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 12 minutes, but S. Vinyas's attempt to finish was easily stopped. With 14 minutes played, Montaron's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to S. Vinyas he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 1 - 0. Montaron's A. Maggiore was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 18 minutes. Arrancar had a chance to level the score as S. Spiekermann suddenly found himself free in the middle of the box with only the keeper to beat, but he misjudged the finish, and only managed to hit the bar. The visitors kept the pressure on to tie the game when, after 30 minutes, S. Martín del Campo broke through the centre and found himself alone with the keeper. B. Pavšič made a great block, though. Montaron's counterattacks were lethal to the opposing defence, allowing Y. Bonin to score easily from the right flank for 2 - 0. After this, you could see that the players of Montaron were more interested in killing time than scoring more goals. 2 - 0 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to Arrancar, who controlled the ball 58 percent of the time.

The bench was restless, and with 46 minutes passed Arrancar's coach gave F. Carafa the opportunity the player had been hoping for. M. Szalai reluctantly left the field. O. Jadue wanted to play on, but the Montaron coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 48 minutes into the game by E. Caramazza. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave P. Gjengstø from Arrancar a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 61 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 62 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving S. Martín del Campo completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. Montaron had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 63 minutes, but V. Jonasson's shot from the left sailed high over the bar. P. Gjengstø's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 65 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to L. Valentini who knocked it in for Arrancar. 2 - 1! A well placed corner kick from E. Gandra was followed by S. Martín del Campo's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for Arrancar, the score now 2 - 2. As the 70 minute mark approached, the Arrancar coach decided it was time for a substitution. R. van der Waard reluctantly made way for G. Dovesi on the pitch. Arrancar had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

After the regular 90 minutes, the agony of extra time followed. With 100 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 3 - 2 lead as T. Audineau flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. Extra time over, Montaron were the victors! The most dominating Montaron player was without a doubt B. Pavšič. On the other hand, T. Mallia's play was disheartening. Arrancar's top performer was clearly L. Valentini. J. Sáinz Diez on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 2.