Merc 3 - 0 Atlético (393387997)

Clouds darkened the skies at Ant Queen Arena as 2402 spectators turned up for the match. Wawan Siswanto was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jari Mustola and Ägidus Grosenick. Merc tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Alas - Poncin, Ekholm, Sorgun - Fagerling, Mabille, Cervantes, Mar Bravo, Arechi - Hansen, Bellot.

A 4-5-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Atlético. The following players had been chosen: Słoka - Nogués, Majó, Olazábal Solís, Dalmases - Matyáš, Gaztañaga, Huertas, Trigueros, Aeeiman - Gültekin.

The wings were the focus of most of Merc's attacks today. J. Alas looked great 22 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' S. Gültekin. After 27 minutes Atlético's S. Gültekin had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. A. Paz came in to replace him. 28 minutes in, the referee awarded Merc a penalty. S. Bellot coolly slotted it home for a 1 - 0 lead. With 29 minutes played, the visitors could have drawn level after P. Olazábal Solís came through the middle, but his kick went wide. Coming from the right, S. Fagerling almost managed to score another goal for Merc, but his header was tipped over the bar by the visitors' keeper. Merc's K. Mar Bravo was shown a yellow card after 39 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Merc claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Merc's J. Hansen increased the lead to 2 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 49 minutes. Atlético came close to narrowing the gap when S. Matyáš's free kick nearly made it past the outstretched hands of J. Alas after 64 minutes. After 75 minutes, Atlético switched S. Matyáš with J. Holmes, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Merc coach let V. Chytil replace K. Poncin after 75 minutes. The home side's S. Bellot curled a free kick home after 81 minutes, putting Merc ahead 3 - 0. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Merc lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Merc enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

J. Hansen performed admirably for Merc. However, M. Ekholm made a disastrous appearance. Most important Atlético player was P. Olazábal Solís. F. Gaztañaga turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 0.