Manlleu 1 - 5 SEMENTALES (393225549)

Due to an all-day shower, 50602 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Estadi Pep Ventura. Jan Šenkýř was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Sorin Pascaru and Joshua Stebler. Manlleu had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players took the field: Breda - Biada, Besora, Sanfeliu - Ferrera, Antolí, Pujolàs, Vives - Rispau, Alboquer, Estelrich.

SEMENTALES started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. Lineup: Urzaiz - Capero, Ávila, Małopolski, Delpás - Shmilovich, Canseco, Antohi, Moya Prieto, Dreihen - Bagañeira.

Manlleu were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. SEMENTALES's goal to make the score 0 - 1 came via a questionable penalty, but C. Antohi struck it home without a second thought. Manlleu's P. Rispau was shown a yellow card after 13 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A drive down the left side allowed E. Delpás to get in close and score another goal for SEMENTALES after 21 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 2. With 22 minutes played, J. Estelrich of Manlleu fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from E. Bagañeira after 24 minutes, and prevented SEMENTALES from going up another goal. E. Bagañeira could have put his team up another goal 26 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. SEMENTALES's C. Antohi was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 29 minutes. The referee signalled a penalty 30 minutes into the game following an offence which looked like it was outside the box. C. Antohi knocked it home to make the score 0 - 3. It might be a while before the fans see Manlleu's X. Alboquer again, after he had to leave the field in great distress at the 33 minute mark. He was replaced by A. Pernal. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 3. SEMENTALES claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

After 59 minutes, SEMENTALES's H. Shmilovich burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 4. Confident in their lead, SEMENTALES's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. With 70 minutes played, the Manlleu coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. T. Bosch came on, X. Sanfeliu had to leave the fray. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Manlleu's X. Antolí was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 74 minutes. A. Myrland was given a chance to change things around. W. Dreihen of SEMENTALES seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 0 - 5 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by C. Antohi. Manlleu's A. Myrland found himself alone on the left side 84 minutes into the match and laid down a perfect shot - right into the arms of the keeper! A. Myrland didn't let the weather get him down and made some great moves on the pitch in spite of the rain. A. Vives was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. Manlleu were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. After 89 minutes P. Rispau could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors' keeper. Manlleu reduced the lead to 1 - 5 with 89 minutes on the clock when R. Ferrera got the best of a ball floated in from the left. Unsportsmanlike behaviour by C. Antohi rendered him his second booking of the match, and SEMENTALES had to finish the game with a reduced squad. Possession was split evenly between the teams.

Manlleu's best player was A. Myrland. J. Estelrich on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important SEMENTALES player was E. Bagañeira. R. Ávila was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 5.