USUREROS 2 - 4 Limitada (392648162)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 28895 at TIMATORIUM today. Iso Ritsch was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Isaac Briceño and Toni Timonen. USUREROS tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. The following players had been chosen: Panaia - Harding, Armand, Karmelita - Vatinel, Sprangers, Cavillon, El-Alami - Valdés, Austria, Desbosh.

Limitada had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. Lineup: Mäklin - Sieradzki, Ebersbach, Wessel, Marzoratti - Šola, Bois d'enghien, Laux, Carril, Ribeiro - Todorov.

Limitada saw most attack opportunities on the wings. 10 minutes into the game, C. Ebersbach had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide. Limitada took the lead after 16 minutes making the score 0 - 1. O. Laux placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. C. Wessel could have put his team up another goal 27 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. There was concern in the stands when, at the 32 minute mark, Limitada's C. Wessel hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Limitada, with 67 percent of the ball.

An amazing free kick flew past the home keeper 51 minutes into the match, putting Limitada ahead 0 - 2. M. Ribeiro was the scorer. The Limitada players could smell victory in the air. T. Mäklin wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for G. Pruiti after 52 minutes. With 60 minutes played, the USUREROS coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. C. Keulen came on, T. Vatinel had to leave the fray. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, USUREROS's G. Cavillon was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 65 minutes. G. de Carvalho was given a chance to change things around. C. Keulen became the new USUREROS captain. C. Carril increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 3. It took several tries, but USUREROS managed to break through on the left after 86 minutes, getting the ball to J. Armand who easily reduced the lead to make the score 1 - 3. 89 minutes into the match USUREROS's E. Austria head butted an opponent nastily, and so the referee sent him off immediately. After 89 minutes, Limitada sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached A. Todorov, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 1 - 4. The players of Limitada now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. A well placed corner kick from A. El-Alami was followed by M. Sprangers's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for USUREROS, the score now 2 - 4. J. Juvanen was called on to replace Limitada's C. Ebersbach after 89 minutes following a nasty collision. Limitada had most of the ball, with 64 percent of possession.

USUREROS's best player was G. de Carvalho. M. Sprangers was a disappointment, however. Most important Limitada player was O. Laux. G. Pruiti on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 4.