associação 1 - 2 Lótus (393240376)

Due to an all-day shower, 45367 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at sauro futebol Arena. Rasmus Christensen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kolbjörn Leonsson and Víctor Suárez. A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for associação. The following players took the field: Conan - Arpoador, Paşca, Caballa, Murgia, Sá - Hampp, Hemerando, Seppani, Barnier - Patzer.

Lótus started off with a 4-3-3 lineup. Starters: Steven - Saraiva, Fernandes, Türk, Sandfeld - Balissat, Padkjær, Vazos - Diníz, Dornelles, Cantareira.

associação clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for Lótus. Lótus's M. Cantareira skillfully knocked a pass over the top after 4 minutes, and that was received by C. Diníz who just managed to slot it past the opposing goalkeeper for 0 - 1. Thighs bulging, F. Paşca charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. It was a bad day for the usually speedy A. Fernandes. The mud seemed to slow him down. Lótus's H. Padkjær missed a penalty shot 36 minutes into the contest. The shot produced was way too weak, allowing the keeper to collect it at his own leisure. associação mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 37 minutes, but L. Patzer was unable to convert from short range. 38 minutes in, and associação were able to score the equalising goal to make it 1 - 1 when R. Arpoador picked up a pass coming in from the right and chipped it past the away team's keeper. D. Seppani of associação was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Lótus claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

The visitors could have taken the lead from a free kick after 49 minutes, if it wasn't for the jaw-dropping save by F. Conan. As the 50 minute mark approached, the associação coach decided it was time for a substitution. L. Patzer reluctantly made way for E. Tecim on the pitch. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, C. Hampp took over the role of being the associação captain. R. Dornelles was struggling to make the ball dance with his usual trickery and panache, and the opposing players had little trouble shutting him down in these muddy conditions. After 70 minutes, the Lótus coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving H. Padkjær off the field. P. Ståhlér took his place. The Lótus captaincy was handed to R. Türk. 75 minutes into the game, Lótus wanted to bring some new energy to their game. R. Dornelles gave K. Ipanema a quick hug as he left the field. 80 minutes in, associação's J. Caballa received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The referee showed Lótus's P. Ståhlér the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Possession in this half belonged to Lótus, who controlled the ball 58 percent of the time.

As neither team was able to break the deadlock before the end of regular play, the teams took to the field again for extra time. 91 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Lótus substitution. T. Trancoso came on for M. Cantareira. H. Balissat made one of his many fine passes from the wing into the middle 96 minutes into the match. K. Ipanema bravely attempted to execute a diving header and the ball was met firmly with his forehead for Lótus. 1 - 2. Extra time over, Lótus were the victors! C. Hampp performed admirably for associação. F. Sá was a disappointment, however. Lótus's top performer was clearly K. Ipanema. However, A. Fernandes made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.