SharkXD 2 - 4 Pitufi (382015321)

Clouds darkened the skies at Ocean Arena as 10173 spectators turned up for the match. Zeki Lami was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Udo Ortlepp and Rufo Vilamarín. SharkXD tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Bodet - Paritario, Bartomeu, Trevisan - Näther, Piano, Jagoń, Kidawa, Jones - Rasmussen, Agosti.

Pitufi started off with a 4-3-3 lineup. Lineup: Ramalho - Altenberger, Baumert, Sagron, Cazzella - Alves, Genchev, Bunster - Deghenghi, Roger, Di Martino.

For their match strategy, Pitufi had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. SharkXD had a chance to take the lead after H. Näther's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 20 minutes. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 23 minutes into the match left Pitufi's A. Roger completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. With 28 minutes played, A. Altenberger of Pitufi fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. T. Rasmussen charged down the left and had a wonderful opportunity to score the equaliser for SharkXD, but the shot went well wide of the goal. Coming in from the right, Pitufi had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 31 minutes, but A. Roger's attempt to finish was easily stopped. The home crowd was not impressed when F. Di Martino came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 32 minutes. Pitufi were now up 0 - 2. After 33 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave F. Di Martino a chance to increase the lead for Pitufi, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 3. 0 - 3 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by SharkXD, with 53 percent of the ball.

Although the whole team were struggling to impress, SharkXD's D. Paritario was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 46 minutes. M. Cojocaru was given a chance to change things around. SharkXD needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 50 minutes K. Agosti made way for A. Bugno. After 60 minutes, a deliberate handball from Pitufi's A. Altenberger was judged to be his second bookable offence, and he was sent off. SharkXD's G. Trevisan got the home crowd going when he finished off a left wing charge, reducing the away team's lead to 1 - 3. After 73 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed F. Di Martino to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 1 - 4. At that, F. Di Martino was noted down for a hat trick! After this, you could see that the players of Pitufi were more interested in killing time than scoring more goals. A well placed corner kick from D. Bartomeu was followed by M. Jagoń's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for SharkXD, the score now 2 - 4. 76 minutes into the game, Pitufi worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. SharkXD had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

Most important SharkXD player was T. Rasmussen. A. Bodet was a disappointment, however. Pitufi's top performer was clearly F. Di Martino. A. Ramalho turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 4.