RAHO 3 - 2 caracasFC (392700742)

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and RHO Big Stadium saw a crowd turnout of 27900. Cristoph Stoike was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Samuli Jaaro and Sergio Aragó. RAHO started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Korzeniak - Dettlaff, Bechler, Garotti - Bruzzese, Avendaño, Jerak, Orcajada, Zelník - Padilla, Andersson.

caracasFC tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Fardos - Rubio, Morales, Arefiev, Skrivanos - Váradi, Rojas, Mparmpetakis, Pinkas - Asseiceira, Arentoft.

The wings were the focus of most of caracasFC's attacks today. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 17 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from S. Orcajada, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. caracasFC had to make a substitution after 23 minutes. M. Rubio limped off the field and was replaced by S. Puerta. With 35 minutes played, L. Andersson could have brought this one home for RAHO as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. RAHO's L. Andersson had an excellent opportunity after 36 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! 41 minutes into the match RAHO's A. Bruzzese head butted an opponent nastily, and so the referee sent him off immediately. It was 1 - 0 at the break. RAHO claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 57 percent.

After 65 minutes, B. Avendaño put RAHO ahead 2 - 0 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. caracasFC's J. Asseiceira was shown a yellow card after 79 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A bit later, caracasFC's S. Arentoft easily reduced the lead to 2 - 1 after a misunderstanding in the home side's central defence. S. Bechler seemed to be huffing and puffing 83 minutes into the match. J. Asseiceira of caracasFC took advantage of his obvious fatigue to chip in past the keeper. 2 - 2 Some great play up the middle by RAHO led to a chance for G. Garotti to score after 85 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. Possession in this half belonged to caracasFC, who controlled the ball 51 percent of the time.

As neither team had managed to win, extra time was called. The referee signaled a penalty for the home side after 92 minutes, amid vocal protests from the visitors. RAHO fans erupted in celebration as E. Padilla rifled the ball into the the top corner. 3 - 2! What a dramatic win for RAHO! RAHO's top performer was clearly S. Orcajada. G. Garotti was a disappointment, however. Most important caracasFC player was J. Asseiceira. M. Skrivanos on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 2.