Cerza 4 - 2 g.a.j. (392895434)

2771 punters turned up at Stadio Famila, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Gilsinho Moutinho was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Paul Hohenberger and Hélio Cassiano. Cerza decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Gama - Steccanella, Wilbers, Lupro - Menzani, Quattrini, Wallstrand, Giacomoni - Panunzio, Fantoni, Giambartino.

g.a.j. had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. They fielded: Schortsianitis - Papastefanou, Grelloni, Moncusí, Pountidis, Karaoglanidis - Lakiotis, Chavaletzidis, Ţociu, Epskamp - Mpletsios.

With 2 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, M. Lupro needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. Cerza took the lead after 16 minutes as a result of B. Panunzio's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 1 - 0. The goal to make it 1 - 1 was scored by T. Pountidis after 18 minutes, following an opportunistic counterattack down the middle by g.a.j.. g.a.j.'s T. Pountidis had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 30 minutes having been played. O. Georgamlis was the replacement. Cerza took the lead 32 minutes into the game by 2 - 1, as G. Wilbers elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. M. Lupro of Cerza received a yellow card after 40 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. After 42 minutes, Cerza's A. Quattrini fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Cerza put themselves up 3 - 1 when M. Lupro broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. By now, the players in Cerza felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. The crowd roared its approval when C. Gama somehow managed to block a shot which seemed to be a certain goal by g.a.j.'s G. Epskamp 44 minutes into the game. The teams went for the halftime break at 3 - 1. Possession in this half belonged to Cerza, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

The home side's B. Panunzio came close to extending the lead 47 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but M. Schortsianitis managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 69 minutes, Cerza did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, G. Menzani was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 4 - 1. 70 minutes into the game, A. Wallstrand had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came M. Cataplano. M. Lupro unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. The away team improved the scoreline to 4 - 2, as G. Epskamp struck home, set up well by a play on the left 81 minutes into the match. Cerza enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 58 percent of possession.

Cerza's best player was J. Giambartino. C. Gama turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating g.a.j. player was without a doubt V. Mpletsios. However, M. Schortsianitis made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 4 - 2.