Falco 7 - 2 SSM (394032143)

The crowd of 1012 turning up at Arena FALCO today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain. Thierry Mürner was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gorun Hogas and Rivo Maarits. Falco tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Cserpák - Rostgaard, Wessel, Georgamlis - Brandér, Pokorný, Bergamin, Portocarrero, Banzato - Marchena, Sørbø.

SSM had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Puodžiulis - Chiari, Rensink - Casino, Oechslein, Saavedra, Mircovich, Gavinelli - Ruja, Candeloro, Majolino.

Pressing was the tactic of the day for SSM. Thighs bulging, T. Sørbø charged past the weaker players, seemingly oblivious to the rain. Falco took the lead 14 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as R. Marchena elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. L. Majolino, who often relies on his speed, had a rotten day on the drenched grass. SSM tied it all up, 28 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by F. Rensink, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to K. Bergamin, but the Falco player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 2 - 1! L. Majolino's lightning pace was too much for L. Wessel who could only look on as the SSM player blasted one home. 2 - 2. 39 minutes into the match and the home team took a 3 - 2 lead after breaking through on the left. The scorer for Falco was T. Sørbø. Falco's I. Portocarrero struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 4 - 2 after 40 minutes. SSM's talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. The referee showed Falco's E. Banzato the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, M. Casino got himself booked. The manager of SSM was not happy. 4 - 2 was the halftime score. Falco had most of the ball, with 60 percent of possession.

SSM needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 46 minutes L. Majolino made way for M. Arenile. Falco put themselves up 5 - 2 when R. Marchena broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Falco lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. O. Georgamlis increased the lead for Falco to 6 - 2, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! Falco played a good counterattacking move down the left 67 minutes into the match, with O. Georgamlis finishing well for 7 - 2. Falco enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

Falco's top performer was clearly T. Sørbø. P. Rostgaard turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important SSM player was F. Ruja. M. Casino was a disappointment, however. The match ends 7 - 2.