SSCALCIONAPOLI 0 - 7 Slugs (392877312)

8023 punters turned up at Stadio SanPaolo, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Bodomar Dinkelsbühler was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kornelius Mascher and Ross Langfelder. SSCALCIONAPOLI tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Lineup: Defoe - Sergerie, Doversberger, Ferron, Dolan - Bhutia, Ciarlo, Ciliberto, Desmarais - Amstutz, Quintal.

Slugs decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Carrera - Senesi, Engels, Jensen - Kurtti, Valle, Comfort, Massey, van de Ruit - Vilaro, Lessiak.

Slugs had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 2 minutes in when G. van de Ruit came up alone against G. Defoe who managed a block. H. Sergerie of SSCALCIONAPOLI received a yellow card after 19 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The crowd gasped as P. Ferron of SSCALCIONAPOLI was flattened by an opponent after 22 minutes and had to be carried off. D. Ding came in off the bench. The visitors grabbed the lead after R. Valle's free kick succeeded, resulting in a score of 0 - 1. G. van de Ruit increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 2. G. Lessiak was, after 34 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper G. Defoe made the save. After 39 minutes, a deliberate handball from SSCALCIONAPOLI's H. Sergerie was judged to be his second bookable offence, and he was sent off. After 40 minutes, Slugs's G. Lessiak burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Slugs lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. It was 0 - 3 at the break. Slugs enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 79 percent of possession.

A. Senesi of Slugs took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 48 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 0 - 4. Slugs's J. Kurtti had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 54 minutes having been played. D. Field was the replacement. With 64 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed G. Lessiak of Slugs to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 0 - 5. The visitors' J. Massey took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 73 minutes into the match. 0 - 6 for Slugs. Slugs increased their lead after 83 minutes when E. Comfort broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 7, much to the home crowd's dismay. Possession in this half belonged to Slugs, who controlled the ball 81 percent of the time.

The most dominating SSCALCIONAPOLI player was without a doubt W. Ciliberto. G. Defoe on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Slugs player was J. Massey. R. Vilaro was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 7.