Blackbirdz 1 - 0 CJB (393403856)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 56000 at The Wurzel Nest today. Lucius Schonhart was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Santiago Ballesta and Milán Havasi. Blackbirdz had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. Starters: Melo - Peca, Moldavskiy, Järvelä, Wallenstein - Villa, Aragó, Hansen, Rošić, Fruet - Frost.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for CJB. The following players took the field: Collomosse - Flood, Bryan, Harper, Derbyshire - Zylmans, Roberts, Students, Cruickshank - Delaney, Pall.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of CJB. Making his way up the middle 12 minutes into the match, R. Frost almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert F. Collomosse blocked it to keep the score level. Coming in from the right, CJB had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 13 minutes, but K. Pall's attempt to finish was easily stopped. It was 0 - 0 at the break. Blackbirdz had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

With 48 minutes played D. Moldavskiy almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. With the clock showing 57 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of CJB resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by K. Pall in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. A wonderful trick by N. Villa that left A. Derbyshire bewildered really deserved to end in a goal but the keeper made a fine save. 70 minutes in, Blackbirdz appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only passable. After a fine move down the middle R. Frost nearly gave the home side a goal after 71 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. R. Frost would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. T. Minguet entered the game for Blackbirdz as the match clock showed 80 minutes. After 88 minutes, the Blackbirdz manager redeployed his men. B. Rošić swapped positions with M. Fruet. As the 89 minute mark approached, the Blackbirdz coach decided it was time for a substitution. M. Fruet reluctantly made way for J. Formby on the pitch. The coach of Blackbirdz wanted to try to change things around after 89 minutes, and gave new tactical instructions. Blackbirdz claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

Still tied after 90 minutes, the match continued into extra time. The Blackbirdz players spent the break getting a rerun of the team's tactical organisation and regained a solid organisation when the game started again. Blackbirdz made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left T. Minguet completely alone with keeper F. Collomosse, who made a spectacular block. CJB's counterattacks created a good chance for B. Cruickshank on the right after 96 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. They were singing the praises of G. Hansen 97 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 1 - 0 to Blackbirdz. This put an end to extra time, making Blackbirdz the winners. The most dominating Blackbirdz player was without a doubt S. Aragó. B. Rošić turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important CJB player was F. Students. However, F. Collomosse made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 0.