gordian 2 - 0 k.k. (365998636)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 56000 at gordian Arena today. Roger Corman was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Radu Anca and Reitze Kos. gordian tactics involved an interesting 5-2-3 combination. The following players took the field: Barbetta - Bertetto, Grugni, Barbareschi, Concaro, Gaasenbeek - Commisso, Ichigawa - Malle, Coticelli, Conticello.

k.k. had chosen a strategic 5-5-0 formation. They fielded: Minissini - Argenziano, Licani, Montrone, Grant, Scaramelli - Bertocchi, Quarta, Tassoni, Menchinella, Brasini -.

gordian clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. k.k. immediately set off using their skill at pressing their opponents. A. Montrone got left behind when gordian's M. Coticelli made a sudden run forward after 13 minutes, finishing off with a neat strike. 1 - 0! The corner kick from J. Commisso was powerfully met by the head of J. Bertetto to make the score 2 - 0. Some things can only be learned through experience, and A. Montrone should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting gordian a goal with 30 minutes of the match played. 31 minutes in, k.k.'s A. Argenziano received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. k.k. pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. There was concern in the stands when, at the 38 minute mark, gordian's L. Gaasenbeek hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. At this time in the match, k.k. were using their skill at pressing to successfully stifle the game. gordian's E. Barbareschi was shown a yellow card after 41 minutes for slicing down an opponent. 2 - 0 was the halftime score. k.k. claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 81 percent.

k.k.'s talent at pressing frustrated the spectators as the game became a dire midfield struggle. After 54 minutes, k.k. switched G. Tassoni with M. Zampa, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. With the clock showing 68 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of gordian resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by M. Coticelli in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. gordian had to make a substitution after 80 minutes. J. Bertetto limped off the field and was replaced by G. Diaferia. k.k.'s ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. gordian mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 85 minutes, but L. Grugni was unable to convert from short range. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by k.k., with 82 percent of the ball.

F. Conticello performed admirably for gordian. E. Barbareschi was a disappointment, however. Most important k.k. player was F. Menchinella. M. Minissini turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 0.