United 1 - 3 ManUtd (381702674)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 38376 at PMF Amfiteatar today. Łukasz Łagosz was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Józef Dyczek and Leon Thein. United tactics involved an interesting 5-2-3 combination. Lineup: Diaz - Schliffkowitz, Recuero, Sava, Würthele, Skjødt - Sülen, Mattes - Fotev, Montecchi, Atanasov.

ManUtd decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. Starters: Baiona - Melovski, Araujo - Idrizi, Meckelfeld, Steigerwald, Chadikoski, Lovach - Fredriksson, Boesze, Waszczuk.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of United. D. Boesze sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from L. Fredriksson after 15 minutes of play, making the score 0 - 1. After 19 minutes, following yet another great corner, B. Lovach's flick on at the near post reached F. Waszczuk, who was just wide with his snapshot - the ball went out for a goal kick. After the ball was lifted in from the left, D. Boesze was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 23 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. A counterattack by United after 24 minutes could have resulted in a goal, but N. Atanasov, coming in on the left, couldn't get the shot off. United's C. Schliffkowitz was shown a yellow card after 28 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A loud groan was heard from the fans of ManUtd, as B. Lovach left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. S. Paulin took his place on the field. A. Diaz got a fingertip on V. Araujo's shot from the left 36 minutes in, and managed to keep the visitors from going up another goal. With 37 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of United resulted in a counterattack that set S. Sülen free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. 39 minutes into the game, C. Schliffkowitz had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came G. Hoes. 43 minutes into the game, ManUtd worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to ManUtd, who controlled the ball 88 percent of the time.

With 61 minutes played, S. Paulin nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. United's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 62 minutes gone, but F. Montecchi's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, N. Atanasov got himself booked. The manager of United was not happy. A defender managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal-line after a curling shot coming in from the right from S. Paulin after 74 minutes, and prevented ManUtd from going up another goal. With the clock showing 75 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of United resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by F. Montecchi in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. B. Skjødt showed why he is feared on the counterattack, breaking through in the middle and scoring for United after 80 minutes to make the score 1 - 1. After 83 minutes, ManUtd put themselves up 1 - 2, as V. Araujo finished off a strike from the left with a real cannonball of a shot. There was concern in the stands when, at the 84 minute mark, United's N. Atanasov hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. With 85 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed D. Steigerwald of ManUtd to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 1 - 3. Confident in their lead, ManUtd's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by ManUtd, with 89 percent of the ball.

Most important United player was B. Skjødt. However, G. Hoes made a disastrous appearance. ManUtd's best player was L. Fredriksson. M. Idrizi was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 3.