socceroos 4 – 2 Rollers

(209559039)

14-02-2009 14:10

The crowd of 10673 turning up at socceroo Arena today were greeted with some nasty showers of rain.
socceroos had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Alcazaba - Marín Valle, Corneanu, Ezpeleta - Jespersson, Suokko, Caranza, Olofsson, Bianchi - Marcu, Illescas.Rollers tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Pitzek - Armaño, Luft, Ruete - Haapasalo, Habla, Schockaert, Truszkowski, Ahi - Vītolds, Setznagel.

Going for long shots seemed to be the pick of the day for socceroos. After a fine move down the middle Mats Jespersson nearly gave the home side a goal after 11 minutes. The finishing shot went just wide, though. Giuliano Bianchi made one of his many fine passes from the wing into the middle 29 minutes into the match. Constantin Marcu bravely attempted to execute a diving header and the ball was met firmly with his forehead for socceroos. 1 - 0. The game was characterized by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but Witold Truszkowski showed great heart and had a good game. With 31 minutes played, Serkan Ahi came in from the right and could have had the tying goal, but the defenders successfully repelled the attack by Rollers. The referee showed socceroos's Constantin Marcu the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Rollers's Geert Habla went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. After 34 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by Daniel Illescas might have resulted in another goal for socceroos. However, René Pitzek made a spectacular save. Agripino Caranza increased socceroos's lead to 2 - 0 with a penalty spot cannonball. Rollers fought on and, after 36 minutes, Witold Truszkowski was able to reply with the 2 - 1 goal after some excellent moves on the right side were finished off with an incredibly clever chip. It was 2 - 1 at the break. Possession of the ball saw an equal split between the teams during the forty-five minutes.

Cheers filled the stadium as Daniel Illescas broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the 3 - 1 goal for socceroos. As Giuliano Bianchi was substituted 60 minutes into the game, he could take comfort in the fact that his team was in the lead. Mats Johansson was the replacement. The socceroos players could smell victory in the air. Albert Marín Valle wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for Humberto Oreste Pompei after 65 minutes. The coach of socceroos was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 70 minutes, Nicolas Moreau came on for Aapo Suokko. 70 minutes into the game, socceroos adjusted their style of play in order to conserve the lead. Saúl Alcazaba made a brilliant save 72 minutes into the match, blocking a rocket of a shot from Gints Vītolds on the right hand side. The visitors replied 80 minutes into the game, scoring the 3 - 2 goal, as Felipe Ruete dashed up the middle, easily lobbing the ball over the home team's keeper. socceroos's José Ezpeleta was delighted to score the 4 - 2 goal after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper and into the net, following some good attacking movement on the right wing after 81 minutes. By now, socceroos were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead. Ekkehard Luft could've grabbed a goal for Rollers 84 minutes in when he got a pass from the left putting him free of the home side's defence, but he was unable to take advantage of the situation. socceroos claimed to be the more dominant force in the game, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 51 percent.

socceroos's best player was Dorel Corneanu. Humberto Oreste Pompei on the other hand, had a terrible day. Rollers's best player was Witold Truszkowski. However, Felipe Ruete made a disastrous appearance.

The match ends 4 - 2.


Highlights
1 - 0
Constantin Marcu
29'
2 - 0
Agripino Caranza
35'
2 - 1
Witold Truszkowski
36'
3 - 1
Daniel Illescas
55'
3 - 2
Felipe Ruete
80'
4 - 2
José Ezpeleta
81'