THC 2 - 2 romana (378377462)

3403 spectators had found their way to Mommas Magical Ganja Garden, despite the heavy rain. Aaron Abbt was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Eduardo Pais and Toby Speleers. THC decided to use a 3-4-3 set up. Lineup: Koponen - Jyrkönen, Lahti, Suurpää - Olsen, Filip, Raitanen, Rensujeff - Pihl, Lamminsivu, Nironen.

romana had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. They fielded: Dalianis - Bellotti, Svoboda, Rutigliano, Kohler, Campos - Thurner, Cordier, Barella, Ammassari - Vučeraković.

romana were relying on their ability to counter-attack. The referee showed romana's S. Kohler the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. THC were forced into a substitution as N. Olsen couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing E. Heinämaa to come in off the bench. With 14 minutes gone, M. Cordier suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by romana caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. THC had a chance to take the lead after T. Nironen's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 17 minutes. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Ammassari from romana a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 18 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The game was characterised by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but M. Cordier showed great heart and had a good game. S. Kohler was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn't move the ball around with his usual grace. 0 - 0 was the halftime score. THC enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 69 percent of possession.

The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to N. Lahti, but the THC player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! 52 minutes in, THC's J. Rensujeff received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. romana made it 1 - 1 as A. Rutigliano got a touch to the floated corner kick and flicked the ball to M. Ammassari who whipped a low drive in off the far post. Good work by the romana defensive line after 76 minutes produced a good counterattack chance, which cut elegantly down the middle of the pitch and found M. Cordier alone in front of the goal, but his shot whistled just wide. It was a bad day for the usually speedy T. Raitanen. The mud seemed to slow him down. V. Koponen looked great 81 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' G. Thurner. Slack defending gave THC a chance to take the lead with 83 minutes played, but J. Rensujeff's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. With their counter attack move halted 84 minutes into the game, romana were left with a free kick. The ball is passed straight through to the other end of the penalty area, with hopes for it to reach P. Barella. However, he didn't have his wits about him and the ball went out. P. Campos of romana received a yellow card after 85 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. They were singing the praises of T. Nironen 87 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 2 - 1 to THC. A. Vučeraković finished off the counterattack of romana from the left rather easily, making the score 2 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to THC, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

The most dominating THC player was without a doubt C. Filip. However, J. Rensujeff made a disastrous appearance. romana's best player was A. Vučeraković. I. Dalianis turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 2.