SPORTING 2 - 3 Vardar (393151564)

A scorching day at La Bombonera, where 1845 spectators were in place for today's match. Juan Genta was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Hugo Abade and Claudio Beehler. SPORTING decided to use a 5-3-2 set up. The following players took the field: Waracki - Buonocore, Felci, Strumień, 文峰 (Wenfeng) , Klok - Moreau, Ololovski, Potengi - Boekdrukker, Soldevila.

Vardar had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: Papp - Camoni, Douděra, Grigoriev, Allegrezza, Meilner - Pertusa, Franch, Manta, Vijil - Borja.

For their match strategy, SPORTING had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Vardar. With 21 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. M. Borja put the ball away for 0 - 1. G. Klok enjoyed the sunshine and demonstrated his stunning technique over and over again. Vardar's counterattacks created a good chance for M. Pertusa on the right after 28 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Halftime score was 0 - 1. Vardar had most of the ball, with 52 percent of possession.

The Vardar players could smell victory in the air. D. Manta wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for K. Haložan after 46 minutes. After a short break after 46 minutes, Vardar seemed to change their tactical approach a bit. In a well-rehearsed move, SPORTING delivered a free kick into the box which B. Moreau, soaring majestically above the defence, rose to head home to make the score 1 - 1. 55 minutes into the match, Vardar nearly took the lead, as L. Meilner broke through on the right. T. Waracki made the save, however. With 56 minutes gone, 吴. 文峰 (Wenfeng) suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by SPORTING caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. The heat made it a terrible day for R. Allegrezza, who seemed unable to keep up with the other players. With 68 minutes played, 吴. 文峰 (Wenfeng) of SPORTING fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. P. Camoni of Vardar received a yellow card after 70 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 72 minutes were showing on the scoreboard when Vardar's P. Camoni received his second yellow card and was sent off. Due to a severely mistimed tackle, F. Buonocore of SPORTING spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by SPORTING, with 51 percent of the ball.

After the regular 90 minutes, the agony of extra time followed. After 105 minutes SPORTING's T. Waracki limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. After extra time, the game was still tied and a penalty shoot-out ensued.

SPORTING's S. Felci made no mistake. D. Papp didn't have a chance. 2 - 1. Vardar's V. Franch coolly put the ball past T. Waracki. 2 - 2. SPORTING's T. Waracki didn't hesitate but D. Papp managed the save, resulting in an unchanged 2 - 2 score. Vardar's M. Borja kept his cool as he faced down T. Waracki. His composure paid off as he scored easily for 2 - 3. Clearly nervous from the start, SPORTING's J. Boekdrukker took a long run up, but could only blast the ball over the bar. The score remains 2 - 3. Vardar's K. Haložan cockily booted the ball with a short-and-fast instep. The penalty, going just wide of the mark, didn't produce a goal. Oooh - how unlucky! SPORTING's 吴. 文峰 (Wenfeng) attempt hit the underside of the bar, but rebounded down into the grateful arms of D. Papp. The score stays 2 - 3. Vardar's M. Pertusa penalty shot was very well placed but T. Waracki went the right way, blocking it spectacularly. The score was still 2 - 3. SPORTING's T. Potengi looked like he knew exactly where he wanted to put the ball, but unfortunately his shot went wide of the left hand post. Still 2 - 3. A confident L. Meilner of Vardar put the ball right where he wanted, but T. Waracki was right there for the save. No goal. Most important SPORTING player was 吴. 文峰 (Wenfeng) . However, T. Potengi made a disastrous appearance. Vardar's best player was M. Borja. R. Allegrezza turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 3.