Kursaal 6 - 2 Dea Thai (365990121)

45944 spectators had found their way to La tana dei leoni, despite the heavy rain. Hendrie Kamphuis was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gniewomir Lewański and Ciro Frisenda. Kursaal had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Sobrevals - Grisez, Ámundason, Edens - Polojärvi, Gustavsson, Vikesh, Macheritsas, Adamidis - Ermiye, Houli.

Dea Thai decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Romberg - Kostak, Knif, Andreani - Lauriola, Hirth, Bolcioni, Di Nardo, Terralavoro - Unruh, Bukarts.

It was an obvious ambition of Kursaal to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. 1 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a Kursaal substitution. A. Lepp came on for J. Sobrevals. Against a lesser team, Dea Thai could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 4 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 11 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from A. Ámundason, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. The visitors refused to give in and, after 31 minutes, I. Knif evened things up as he finished off a perfect pass from the right. 1 - 1 After 40 minutes, Dea Thai's E. Lauriola fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Kursaal's opponents know to be wary of D. Adamidis's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 41 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! After a fine move down the middle M. Polojärvi nearly gave the home side a goal after 42 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. M. Bukarts fired a shot from distance after 43 minutes, but the long shot couldn't find the net for Dea Thai. 1 - 1 was the halftime score. Kursaal had most of the ball, with 51 percent of possession.

After some beautiful movement down the left wing, C. Macheritsas scored for Kursaal putting them ahead 2 - 1, after 47 minutes. Still trailing on the score board, Dea Thai adjusted their tactics after 47 minutes. G. Andreani had a quick chat at the side line, then switched positions with S. Kostak. After 52 minutes, M. Polojärvi put Kursaal ahead 3 - 1 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. Kursaal's A. Ámundason increased the lead to 4 - 1, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 54 minutes. After 65 minutes, Dea Thai switched A. Bolcioni with A. De Fazio, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. After 68 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and M. Polojärvi gave the Kursaal supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 5 - 1. The players of Kursaal now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. 71 minutes in, Kursaal's J. Edens received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Dea Thai's A. Terralavoro was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 73 minutes. B. Håkansson was given a chance to change things around. The Dea Thai coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. D. Adamidis slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. Kursaal put themselves up 6 - 1 when F. Houli broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Kursaal's M. Ermiye got himself booked for a foul. Unfortunately for Dea Thai, M. Bukarts was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. T. Vallefuoco replaced him. The home team's fans were upset when, after 84 minutes, the visiting L. Di Nardo broke through the central defence and kicked the ball past the keeper. 6 - 2 was the score. The Kursaal players could smell victory in the air. A. Lepp wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for C. Lazarek after 89 minutes. Kursaal claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

F. Houli performed admirably for Kursaal. C. Lazarek turned in a dismal performance, however. Dea Thai's best player was F. Unruh. However, B. Håkansson made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 6 - 2.