Gurkhas 2 - 1 SFC (393179191)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 2375 at Estádio das Caricas today. Federico Salmi was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Dmitry Kapshukov and Krzysztof Walecki. Gurkhas decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. They fielded: Silva - Tischenko, Sergio, García Reignier, Esteves Correia - Rosado, Simon, Roen, Lopes - Bruno, Barbosa Mendes.

A 5-3-2 alignment was the formation of choice for SFC. The following players took the field: Biel - De Pasquale, Mocciolo, Sassi, Sdino, Faggiano - Benvegnù, Castegnero, Gibbone - Spolaore, Rinkov.

Gurkhas were relying on their ability to counter-attack. It was an obvious ambition of SFC to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. K. Bruno gave Gurkhas the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 S. Spolaore levelled the score for SFC, making it 1 - 1 on a free kick that went in by way of the right post. 35 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Gurkhas to take the lead after a good cross from the right found B. Roen alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. The Gurkhas free kick 36 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of A. Esteves Correia, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 2 - 1! 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Gurkhas claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 54 percent.

A scuffle developed as players from both sides clashed following a tussle in the centre of the field 81 minutes into the match. After regaining order and consulting his linesman, the referee called SFC's K. Rinkov to one side and produced a red card for the player. S. Sassi made a run for the goal 84 minutes into the game but the home team's left back managed to sort the situation out in the end. M. Crocco was called on to replace Gurkhas's A. Esteves Correia after 87 minutes following a nasty collision. J. Lopes should probably have put his team up another goal after 88 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by E. Biel kept the visitors in the game. Attacking on the wings was the choice for SFC, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. Gurkhas enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

E. Simon performed admirably for Gurkhas. However, M. Crocco made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating SFC player was without a doubt A. De Pasquale. C. Sdino on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 1.