Pawikan 4 - 1 TORONTO (393676088)

Due to an all-day shower, 2693 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at The Shell. Borislav Evtimov was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Svein Østgård and Thomas Baric. Pawikan started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Min Sung - Tabotabo, Mabini, Demogena - de Pedro, Miguel, Bautista, Parchaso, Lapuz - Lima, Montejo.

TORONTO decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Vardakas - Fornitis, Siagris, Adamantakis, Ratzeburger - Branchi, Theodoropoulos, Kostopoulos, Luisi - Tiron, Volmut.

Pawikan mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. The rain made it hard for players like T. Adamantakis to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. Pawikan made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left R. Miguel completely alone with keeper V. Vardakas, who made a spectacular block. 32 minutes in, TORONTO appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only passable. After 34 minutes, C. Fornitis sent the corner kick right to F. Siagris who headed it sharply past the keeper. 0 - 1! Pawikan players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. After 36 minutes, A. Montejo made a dash down the middle past the away team's defenders to score the goal that made it 1 - 1. After a fine move down the middle F. Bautista nearly gave the home side a goal after 39 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. 40 minutes into the game, TORONTO seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a inadequate level of organisation. I. Tiron spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. 43 minutes in, the referee awarded Pawikan a penalty. A. Montejo coolly slotted it home for a 2 - 1 lead. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Pawikan's M. Demogena increasing the lead to 3 - 1. By now, the players in Pawikan felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. 3 - 1 was the score after the first half. Pawikan claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 74 percent.

Despite his frustration resulting in the smashing of a few teacups, the coach of TORONTO was able to get his message across, and raised TORONTO's organisation to solid. Pawikan put in a good effort on the right, but J. Lima saw his volley fly wide of the mark 47 minutes into the game. After 65 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by A. Montejo might have resulted in another goal for Pawikan. However, V. Vardakas made a spectacular save. Pawikan were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. 71 minutes into the game, TORONTO seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to passable. 78 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as J. Lima broke through, making the score 4 - 1 for Pawikan. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Pawikan, with 73 percent of the ball.

C. Tabotabo performed admirably for Pawikan. L. Min Sung turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating TORONTO player was without a doubt L. Branchi. M. Volmut was a disappointment, however. The match ends 4 - 1.