Pwnage 1 - 2 Rumuński (387320015)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 28792 at Pure Pwnage Arena today. Christer Persson was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Emanuel Rotberg and Graziano Cereseto. Pwnage tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. The following players took the field: Cacique - Konstantinov, Jerónimo, Robin, Eckenroth - Moreno, Hirsch, Le Roi, 康贤 (Kangxian) , Hartland - Olaru.

Rumuński decided to use a 4-3-3 set up. They fielded: Arnone - Barbieri, Larsson, Vilhelmsen, Albiński - Stanley, Gurriarán, Hôrkový - Koukoglou, Czerniawski, Magalhães Santos.

Pwnage clearly had decided to counter-attack when they could. Rumuński were relying on their ability to counter-attack. The counterattacks of Rumuński were deadly and 8 minutes into the game, A. Magalhães Santos received a nice pass from the right flank, making it 0 - 1. With the scoreboard showing that 27 minutes had been played, Rumuński nearly put themselves up another goal after A. Magalhães Santos came through on the left. Fortunately for the home crowd, the keeper made the save. With 29 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of Rumuński resulted in a counterattack that set E. Gurriarán free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. 0 - 1 was the score after the first half. Pwnage enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 67 percent of possession.

The Rumuński players could smell victory in the air. E. Gurriarán wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for S. Dolder after 52 minutes. Pwnage's L. Jerónimo almost tied things up with 55 minutes played after breaking through on the right, but his shot deflected off the post. With the clock showing 56 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of Rumuński resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by L. Czerniawski in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. The coach of Rumuński was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 60 minutes, M. Kornbakk came on for A. Koukoglou. 66 minutes into the match, Rumuński's A. Magalhães Santos demonstrated his famed speed as he raced past his marker and passed the ball to M. Kornbakk who chipped it in for 0 - 2. Pwnage's S. Moreno scored to make the score 1 - 2 after 67 minutes by shooting accurately and hard from a long distance, leaving the opponent keeper no other option than to pick the ball out of the net. A. Magalhães Santos could have put his team up another goal 71 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. After 79 minutes, the defensive line of Rumuński created a counterattack through the middle that gave A. Magalhães Santos a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. Possession in this half belonged to Pwnage, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

D. Olaru performed admirably for Pwnage. C. Cacique was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Rumuński player was without a doubt A. Magalhães Santos. On the other hand, W. Arnone's play was disheartening. The match ends 1 - 2.