RAKIETY 2 - 3 Szaraczki (393084374)

220 punters turned up at BLEND-A MED ARENA, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Jan-Pieter Kesseleer was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Hugo Hurtado and Gilberto Leemann. RAKIETY had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players took the field: Wall - Itacoatiara, Hemminga, Schenk, Ramysen - Calidoni, Dan, Skuciński, Keitaanranta - Betley, Ostapciuc.

A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Szaraczki. Lineup: Haike - Honorato, Zlotnikov, Dramaix, Bartoś - Desio, Nyhen, Skrzypa, Szymichowski, Doronzo - Nymark.

The corner kick from M. Zlotnikov was powerfully met by the head of J. Nymark to make the score 0 - 1. With the clock showing 11 minutes played, T. Schenk equalised for RAKIETY after curling a free kick around the defensive wall to make the score 1 - 1. When J. Nymark was badly injured by a couple of strong tackles after 23 minutes, Szaraczki fans were unhappy to discover that it was not possible to make a substitution. A. Bartoś hit the corner kick straight to the keeper, but it was mishandled, giving Szaraczki's H. Honorato an easy chance to knock it in for 1 - 2. Szaraczki almost scored after a counterattack 35 minutes into the match, but A. Bartoś took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net. The referee showed Szaraczki's G. Dramaix the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. After 38 minutes, RAKIETY raised their score by one when A. Keitaanranta's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by S. Betley. 2 - 2. 2 - 2 was the halftime score. RAKIETY claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 51 percent.

As the 51 minute mark approached, the RAKIETY coach decided it was time for a substitution. K. Skuciński reluctantly made way for J. Hoffstetter on the pitch. L. Itacoatiara's lack of experience almost gave Szaraczki a goal after 53 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. L. Itacoatiara would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. C. Quintozzi entered the game for RAKIETY as the match clock showed 53 minutes. After 69 minutes, Szaraczki were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. A. Bartoś did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. 73 minutes into the game, RAKIETY wanted to bring some new energy to their game. S. Betley gave G. Scridon a quick hug as he left the field. With 75 minutes played, L. Dan of RAKIETY fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of Szaraczki's A. Szymichowski after 84 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 2 - 3 lead. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by RAKIETY, with 51 percent of the ball.

L. Dan performed admirably for RAKIETY. C. Quintozzi on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Szaraczki player was K. Skrzypa. On the other hand, H. Honorato's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 3.