JiMs 1 - 3 Lauretana (392599404)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 29832 at Sound of Silence Arena today. Rikard Persson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jöns Thorstensson and Denis Marti. A 5-3-2 alignment was the formation of choice for JiMs. The following players took the field: Giotto - De sena, Branbilla, Sanjabi, Haasbroek, Visconti - Hitrec, Jagerman, Morris - Kaftan, Blāzma.

Lauretana started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Isaraj - Montinaro, Bonfrate, Chorev - Lobo, Marra, Grosso, Reale, Costamagna - Nerla, Scarsoglio.

JiMs clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. N. Branbilla really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal following a great play by J. Sanjabi after a corner. 27 minutes in, Lauretana's L. Scarsoglio received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Unfortunately for JiMs, G. Visconti was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. C. Calzoni replaced him. The guests took the lead 33 minutes into the match, after a right-side attack resulted in E. Lobo scoring to make it 0 - 1. 34 minutes into the match, a typically brave header by C. Nerla from E. Lobo's cross looped just over the opposing goalkeeper's desperate reach. Goal for Lauretana, making the score 0 - 2. With 35 minutes played, the JiMs coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Ponko came on, Ş. Kaftan had to leave the fray. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Lauretana lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Lauretana increased their lead after 37 minutes when C. Marra broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 3, much to the home crowd's dismay. JiMs players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. The home side worked their way through the middle and almost got one back when N. Branbilla tried to sneak the ball past the keeper. J. Isaraj was too alert for that! JiMs mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 43 minutes, but J. Sanjabi was unable to convert from short range. A. Hitrec of JiMs received a yellow card after 44 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 0 - 3 was the score after the first half. Lauretana claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 57 percent.

It took several tries, but JiMs managed to break through on the left after 58 minutes, getting the ball to C. Blāzma who easily reduced the lead to make the score 1 - 3. Lauretana came close to extending their lead as G. Grosso delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 65 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting. The bench was restless, and with 70 minutes passed JiMs's coach gave R. Cocco the opportunity the player had been hoping for. A. Hitrec reluctantly left the field. The JiMs captaincy was handed to R. Cocco. JiMs's J. Morris got himself booked for a foul. Lauretana enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Most important JiMs player was J. Ponko. C. Calzoni was a disappointment, however. Lauretana's top performer was clearly L. Scarsoglio. On the other hand, C. Costamagna's play was disheartening. The match ends 1 - 3.