Desgraça 3 - 0 Buzelli (393329375)

386 spectators arrived at Arena Da Desgraça, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Fuat Tuğcu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Fred Lewlius and Joep Elshot. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Desgraça. The following players had been chosen: Correa - Gaeta, de Sá, Alencar, Morais - Maon, Smoter, Bêjas, Glam - Fortes, Hanada.

Buzelli tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. Lineup: Habil - Abu-Sulayman, Casolari, Maggiolo, Venturato - Jaunzems, Kutulmuş, Turuelo, Gaetani - Muscă, Hadzhipetkov.

Desgraça were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. The strategy for Buzelli was to use their ability to press. Buzelli's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. Desgraça had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. Desgraça created a good opportunity to score 13 minutes into the match when C. Glam's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. E. Maggiolo got left behind when Desgraça's G. Hanada made a sudden run forward after 14 minutes, finishing off with a neat strike. 1 - 0! With 17 minutes played, Desgraça put themselves up 2 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to S. Maon, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. Some things can only be learned through experience, and J. Gaeta should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting Buzelli a goal with 23 minutes of the match played. A free kick just outside of the visitors' penalty area after 25 minutes could have resulted in another goal, but Y. Habil got a hand out and tipped the ball over the bar. With 26 minutes played, E. Smoter of Desgraça fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Desgraça had most of the ball, with 66 percent of possession.

Buzelli pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave I. Alencar from Desgraça a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 51 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! L. Bêjas unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide. Desgraça's J. Gaeta swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. L. Bêjas struck a 30 metre free kick home 62 minutes into the match. 3 - 0 for the home team. Confident in their lead, Desgraça's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. Possession in this half belonged to Desgraça, who controlled the ball 64 percent of the time.

Desgraça's best player was P. Fortes. However, R. Correa made a disastrous appearance. M. Casolari performed admirably for Buzelli. On the other hand, M. Gaetani's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 0.