SaudiArabiaSoccerCl 3 - 2 Rangers (374269122)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 35900 at Saudi Arena today. Gert-Marijn Warmelink was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rombout van Oldebarneveld and Thembekile Mphahlele. SaudiArabiaSoccerCl tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Messuti - Hanlon, Zalesiński, Dochiu - Picapiedra, Pappenheim, Vavřík, Goyens, Kress - Pollicino, Artois.

Rangers had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Mozhayskiy - Khatib, Abano, Fuentes - Nadal, Carlés, Haj-Saleh, Corman, Cigala - Mitrofan, Haj-Akil.

Slack defending gave SaudiArabiaSoccerCl a chance to take the lead with 3 minutes played, but K. Pappenheim's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. R. Abano neatly controlled the ball after a short corner, and knocked it on to S. Mitrofan who had the whole net open before him, but only managed to hit the post. SaudiArabiaSoccerCl's P. Vavřík was shown a yellow card after 30 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Rangers's Z. Khatib managed to lose the defenders as he advanced down the right wing and scored, putting the visitors ahead after 31 minutes. 0 - 1. SaudiArabiaSoccerCl were able to draw a foul with their counterattacks, but the shot from L. Kress went into the arms of the keeper. The crowd roared in delight as G. Pollicino finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for SaudiArabiaSoccerCl 42 minutes into the match. 1 - 1. Rangers took the lead 43 minutes into the game, making the score 1 - 2 after some elegant movement down the middle. Z. Khatib was the scorer. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to Rangers, who controlled the ball 51 percent of the time.

After 47 minutes of play, P. Vavřík evened things up for SaudiArabiaSoccerCl with an impressive goal coming up the middle. 2 - 2. É. Artois gave SaudiArabiaSoccerCl 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 P. Vavřík of SaudiArabiaSoccerCl got sent off for kicking the ball after the whistle, a completely uncalled for move, earning him his second yellow card of the game. 83 minutes in, Rangers's M. Nadal received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. G. Messuti was the unlucky victim and couldn't continue the game, so SaudiArabiaSoccerCl's J. Mets had to come off the bench. A. Strandkvist was called on to replace SaudiArabiaSoccerCl's M. Goyens after 85 minutes following a nasty collision. F. Haj-Saleh of Rangers received a yellow card after 86 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. SaudiArabiaSoccerCl had most of the ball, with 52 percent of possession.

SaudiArabiaSoccerCl's top performer was clearly G. Pollicino. However, J. Mets made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Rangers player was without a doubt H. Corman. On the other hand, R. Abano's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 2.