U.D.Parque 4 - 3 lhforever (367620157)

13328 punters turned up at Stadium Park Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Adam Nathan was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Igor Massa and Viktor Crameri. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for U.D.Parque. The following players took the field: Anczyk - Carneiro, Bettiol, Burkhart Pérez - Tacuba, Krause, Cuchet, Gregori - Łowicki, Rizzini, Nave.

lhforever tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. They fielded: Wemmenhove - Dolder, Nachtigallen, Lyskovičius - Tochi, Ruelle, Mattozzi, Ilchenko - San Pedro, Kaklamanakos, Copóns.

The strategy for lhforever was to use their ability to press. M. Nave's speed was clear to see after 16 minutes, as he darted down the wing and released R. Łowicki who placed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 1 - 0. After 17 minutes, the visitors tied it up at 1 - 1 when a fantastic pass from the left was finished off by P. Kaklamanakos. After 22 minutes, U.D.Parque sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached M. Nave, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 2 - 1. Maybe due to the uphill battle the team was facing, the lhforever manager looked to change things around. After 25 minutes, D. San Pedro and H. Copóns swapped positions on the field. lhforever tied it all up, 27 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by D. San Pedro, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 2 - 2. Making his way up the middle 29 minutes into the match, E. Tacuba almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert M. Wemmenhove blocked it to keep the score level. P. Vuojolainen was called on to replace lhforever's V. Lyskovičius after 30 minutes following a nasty collision. The pressing tactics used by lhforever were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. lhforever's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. H. Copóns got new instructions from the lhforever coach after 40 minutes. He changed positions with D. San Pedro soon after. It was 2 - 2 at the break. U.D.Parque had most of the ball, with 63 percent of possession.

60 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a lhforever substitution. W. Jordi came on for P. Kaklamanakos. After 65 minutes, the lhforever coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving P. Tochi off the field. G. Urban took his place. K. Krause gave U.D.Parque the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 3 - 2 After 76 minutes, following yet another great corner, M. Dolder's flick on at the near post reached W. Jordi, who was just wide with his snapshot - the ball went out for a goal kick. Cheers filled the stadium as R. Łowicki broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 4 - 2 to U.D.Parque. With 79 minutes played, U.D.Parque's E. Tacuba almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. lhforever were desperate to get a goal back and pushed forward through the middle 84 minutes into the game. After a scramble in the box, the ball dropped to P. Vuojolainen, who smashed it home to make the score 4 - 3. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, D. San Pedro got himself booked. The manager of lhforever was not happy. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by U.D.Parque, with 60 percent of the ball.

The most dominating U.D.Parque player was without a doubt R. Łowicki. T. Carneiro turned in a dismal performance, however. D. San Pedro performed admirably for lhforever. M. Wemmenhove on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 3.