blas 5 - 4 Atlético (383207036)

4376 spectators had found their way to san blas Arena, despite the heavy rain. Jerzy Sobanski was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Liam Heuer and Paulo Allen. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for blas. The following players had been chosen: Macía - Lukin, Zapata, Belartze, Costa - Guadiana, Camaro, Pidal, Dolara - Arnuero, Cellórico.

Atlético had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Starters: Manso del Toro - Tejada Jávea, Bejes, Costabal, Albitzua - Gomara, Téllez Peña, Rizo, Peces - Ríos Mendez, Tàcias.

Almost all the way down to the corner flag, blas's G. Dolara somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for R. Cellórico, who struck for 1 - 0. blas's A. Lukin struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 2 - 0 after 23 minutes. After 37 minutes Atlético's A. Costabal contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. The visitors got one back when R. Tàcias finished off a pass from the left and scored after 40 minutes. 2 - 1 was the score. There was concern in the stands when, at the 41 minute mark, blas's J. Macía hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. R. Tàcias's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 42 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to J. Ríos Mendez who knocked it in for Atlético. 2 - 2! With 44 minutes gone, R. Tàcias suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by Atlético caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave A. Costabal from Atlético a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 44 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! M. Guadiana of blas had to be helped off the pitch as an injury meant he was unable to finish the game. F. Moro came in to finish the match. After the game, the most discussed event will probably be the penalty given after 44 minutes that gave the visitors the 2 - 3 lead. Despite the controversy, R. Tejada Jávea struck home the penalty, as cool as anything. Atlético had to make a substitution after 44 minutes. R. Tàcias limped off the field and was replaced by M. Guzmán Ibáñez. It was 2 - 3 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by blas, with 53 percent of the ball.

Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 56 minutes, blas did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, R. Pidal was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 3 - 3. Some great play up the middle by blas led to a chance for M. Arnuero to score after 67 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. blas took the lead 68 minutes in, as R. Cellórico broke through on the left and put the 4 - 3 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as Atlético's M. Guzmán Ibáñez put the ball in the onion bag after 75 minutes to make it 4 - 4. They were singing the praises of R. Cellórico 75 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 5 - 4 to blas. At that, R. Cellórico was noted down for a hat trick! M. Arnuero of blas received a yellow card after 78 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. An equalising goal seemed certain after 79 minutes when P. Peces attacked down the left wing, but J. Macía just managed to make a save to keep the ball out of the net. Possession in this half belonged to blas, who controlled the ball 58 percent of the time.

Most important blas player was M. Arnuero. J. Macía was a disappointment, however. Atlético's best player was J. Ríos Mendez. M. Manso del Toro on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 5 - 4.