Cidadão 0 - 4 Karmagnola (392997434)

1322 spectators had found their way to Estadio da Cidade, despite the heavy rain. Federico Raggio was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gaël Gournay and Galin Nedyalkov. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Cidadão. The following players took the field: Toniollo - Martinez, Aranha, Índio - Tetéu, Canela, Elli, Leme Costa - d'Andrade, Rosa Filho, Xereu.

Karmagnola had chosen a strategic 3-4-2 formation. They fielded: Cardella - Calamani, Clerx, Arienti - Bolettieri, Manupelli, Sassoli, Durigon - Pinhal, Matassa.

It was obvious that Cidadão were using their pressing skill as their primary tactic. C. d'Andrade slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. 13 minutes into the game, Cidadão seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to solid. After 17 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Karmagnola found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to inadequate. With clinical precision, the cross from winger D. Bolettieri found its way to I. Pinhal's head, and a screaming header gave Karmagnola the goal after 22 minutes played. 0 - 1 With 32 minutes of the game having been played, G. Manupelli received a blow to the hip in a collision and was unable to continue. Karmagnola, with no available replacements, now faced the prospect of finishing the game with a reduced number of players. 33 minutes into the game, Cidadão had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to inadequate. Cidadão's A. Aranha made a successful breakthrough on the left after 34 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. Cidadão had to make a substitution after 36 minutes. A. Aranha limped off the field and was replaced by D. Sheehan. With 39 minutes played, D. Sheehan of Cidadão fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. 40 minutes into the game, Karmagnola worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. D. Bolettieri received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 44 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 0 - 2. The Karmagnola fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. Confident in their lead, Karmagnola's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. 0 - 2 was the score after the first half. Karmagnola enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

A review of the gameplan helped Cidadão get back to a solid organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that Karmagnola had solid organisation. Some things can only be learned through experience, and F. Sassoli should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting Cidadão a goal with 62 minutes of the match played. Karmagnola's G. Durigon made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 67 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. After 72 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as Cidadão found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to solid. After 75 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed F. Sassoli to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 3. Karmagnola came close to extending their lead as A. Matassa delivered a low effort on goal from the right after 79 minutes, but the angle was too narrow and the shot went harmlessly into the side netting. A drive down the left side allowed F. Sassoli to get in close and score another goal for Karmagnola after 86 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 4. Karmagnola had most of the ball, with 62 percent of possession.

The most dominating Cidadão player was without a doubt D. Sheehan. However, D. Canela made a disastrous appearance. D. Bolettieri performed admirably for Karmagnola. M. Arienti was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 4.