Atletico 1 - 4 socceroos

 (273543355)

 12-06-2010 15:40

It had rained all day, but 6584 hardy fans still made it out to Caja Mágica de Usera. Atletico started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Cardelli - Campanile, Alba, Nirschl - Delamarre, González, Baetsen, Daiche, Mateos - Dahle, Aleksandrowski.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for socceroos. They fielded: Alcazaba - Miholič, Jones, Pompei - Fois, Moreau, Sudić, Gazitúa, Johansson - Meurant, Schneider.

Atletico took a creative approach on the field. After 2 minutes, socceroos put themselves up by 0 - 1, as Morris Jones finished off a strike from the left with a real cannon placed at the far post. Nemesio Gazitúa was, after 19 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but home side's keeper Paolo Cardelli made the save. A series of fine plays up the middle should have led to a goal for Atletico, but Reodor Dahle's shot went over the bar. Jeff Meurantshowed great fighting spirit and didn't seem to mind the rain at all. With 33 minutes played, socceroos's Cene Miholič fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Cene Miholič for diving. After 34 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Jeff Meurant who increased socceroos's lead to 0 - 2. It was 0 - 2 at the break. socceroos held the ball, with a clear 61 percent of possession.

Atletico needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 46 minutes Reodor Dahle made way for Manuel Lalanda. Some things can only be learned through experience, and Cene Miholič should take his lesson to heart after nearly giving Atletico a goal with 56 minutes of the match played. Atletico's Giancarlo Campanile managed a superb strike from the left after 62 minutes that would have left goalkeeper Saúl Alcazaba without a chance, had it not hit the post. socceroos's Nicolas Moreau wanted to play on, but 71 minutes into the game the decision was made to substitute him for Aapo Suokko. The socceroos players could smell victory in the air. Cene Miholič wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for Luca Fetto after 74 minutes. As Jeff Meurant was substituted 74 minutes into the game, he could take comfort in the fact that his team was in the lead. Artur Pfaffenzeller was the replacement. Artur Pfaffenzeller increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley shot away on a pass from the right. 0 - 3. By now, socceroos were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead. The visitors' Artur Pfaffenzeller took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and central backs 78 minutes into the match. 0 - 4 for socceroos. Jerko Daničić was called on to replace Atletico's Elroy Baetsen after 81 minutes following a nasty collision. At 82 minutes into the game, Atletico's Jerko Daničić deftly knocked the ball home after an impressive run down the left, reducing the visitors' lead to 1 - 4. socceroos enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

The most dominating Atletico player was without a doubt Adam Aleksandrowski. Jerko Daničić was a disappointment, however. socceroos's top performer was clearly Roman Schneider. Luca Fetto on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 4.

Highlights

0 - 1	Morris Jones	2'
0 - 2	Jeff Meurant	34'
0 - 3	Artur Pfaffenzeller	74'
0 - 4	Artur Pfaffenzeller	78'
1 - 4	Jerko Daničić	82'
	Cene Miholič	33'
	Elroy Baetsen	81'
	Reodor Dahle   Manuel Lalanda	46'
	Nicolas Moreau   Aapo Suokko	71'
	Cene Miholič   Luca Fetto	74'
	Jeff Meurant   Artur Pfaffenzeller	74'
	Elroy Baetsen  Jerko Daničić	81'

socceroos 4 - 2 Atletico

 (273543346)

 05-06-2010 15:40

10358 punters turned up at socceroo Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. socceroos had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Alcazaba - Miholič, Jones, Pompei - Fois, Moreau, Gazitúa, Sudić, Johansson - Meurant, Schneider.

Atletico decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Lineup: Cardelli - Vilariño, Alba, Caparriaga, Nirschl - Delamarre, González, Baetsen, Mateos - Lalanda, Soria.

Atletico were relying on their ability to counter-attack. 11 minutes into the match, socceroos's Roman Schneider demonstrated his famed speed as he raced past his marker and passed the ball to Jeff Meurant who chipped it in for 1 - 0. socceroos added another goal to their lead as Roman Schneider struck home the 2 - 0 goal after an attack from the left set him up unmarked in front of the keeper. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Atletico's Víctor González was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 37 minutes. Robertus Daiche was given a chance to change things around. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 38 minutes, socceroos tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. The home side's Jeff Meurant came close to extending the lead 40 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but Paolo Cardelli managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. Ater 41 minutes Avelín Caparriaga seized on an opportunistic attack from the right, and scored the reducer for Atletico making it 2 - 1. socceroos'sNicolas Moreau was shown a yellow card after 42 minutes for slicing down an opponent. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 1. socceroos held the ball, with a clear 70 percent of possession.

The bench was restless, and in the 46th minute Atletico's coach gave Adam Aleksandrowskithe opportunity the player had been hoping for. Pedro Mariano Soria reluctantly left the field. socceroos's Roman Schneider was delighted to score the 3 - 1 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 67 minutes. Confident in their lead, socceroos decided to play a more defensive game at this point. The socceroos players could smell victory in the air. Roman Schneider wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for Artur Pfaffenzeller after 69 minutes. Content with how the game was proceeding, the socceroos coach let Aapo Suokko replace Rijad Sudić after 71 minutes. With 72 minutes played, Atletico's Söhnke Nirschl fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Söhnke Nirschl for diving. socceroos's Tommaso Foiswanted to play on, but 74 minutes into the game the decision was made to substitute him for Giuliano Bianchi. Nemesio Gazitúa's curling free kick almost found the goal for socceroos, but the visitors' keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it. 76 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as Nicolas Moreau dashed through, knocking home 4 - 1 for socceroos. The visitors' right side was dangerous today;Avelín Caparriaga made the home team's keeper look foolish as he easily reduced the lead to make it 4 - 2 80 minutes into the match. This half belonged to socceroos, who controlled the ball 69 percent of the time.

Most important socceroos player was Nemesio Gazitúa. Cene Miholič turned in a dismal performance, however. Atletico's best player was Adam Aleksandrowski. On the other hand, Avelín Caparriaga's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 2.

Highlights

1 - 0	Jeff Meurant	11'
2 - 0	Roman Schneider	12'
2 - 1	Avelín Caparriaga	41'
3 - 1	Roman Schneider	67'
4 - 1	Nicolas Moreau	76'
4 - 2	Avelín Caparriaga	80'
	Nicolas Moreau	42'
	Söhnke Nirschl	72'
	Víctor González   Robertus Daiche	37'
	Pedro Mariano Soria   Adam Aleksandrowski	46'
	Roman Schneider   Artur Pfaffenzeller	69'
	Rijad Sudić   Aapo Suokko	71'
	Tommaso Fois   Giuliano Bianchi	74'

alonsinho 3 - 0 socceroos

 (273543343)

 29-05-2010 15:40

The 16494 fans in attendance at Real Alo Stadium were roasting in the hot sun. alonsinho started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Pajareles - Białomyzy, Berg Briese, Soberà, Gaioso - Felhi, Gore, Muller, Marçalo - Cañoto, Spitzer.

socceroos tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Alcazaba - Meurant, Pompei, Fetto - Johansson, Gazitúa, Fois, Miholič, Bianchi - Pfaffenzeller, Schneider.

A free kick aimed at the keeper's far post almost gave socceroos the lead 16 minutes in, but the ball just wasn't able to squirm its way through the defensive wall. alonsinho broke through on the left 19 minutes into the game, with Marco Muller firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 1 - 0 lead. The socceroos players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. alonsinho put themselves up 2 - 0 when Ivo Cañoto broke through on the right, leaving the entire defensive box behind him. The structure of the game started to change as alonsinho decided to pull back and meet their opponents in their own half. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Possession of the ball saw an equal split between the teams during the forty-five minutes.

After 46 minutes, socceroos used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. The socceroos coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. The referee showed alonsinho's Sabri Felhi the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Mats Johansson's knee will be throbbing for days, but thankfully for socceroos, he bravely continued in the match. Sabri Felhi found it hard to catch his breath today in the stifling heat. With 74 minutes played, the socceroos coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. Kees Dekkerscame on, Giuliano Bianchi had to leave the fray. Nemesio Gazitúa had a couple of good opportunities to reply, but the home team's keeper Francisco Pajareles just wouldn't surrender. alonsinho's Marco Muller was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 75 minutes. The game was close to savage at times, and alonsinho's Sabri Felhi received a second yellow card after 78 minutes, his ticket out of the game. The socceroos player who had to be helped off the pitch, was Luca Fettoas he was unable to finish the game. Morris Jones came in to finish the match. alonsinho managed to extend their lead to 3 - 0 when Cláudio Marçalo cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. Against a lesser team, socceroos could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick combination after 81 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. No one team arose to dominate this half, ending in a deadlock.



alonsinho's best player was Ivo Cañoto. However, Francisco Pajareles made a disastrous appearance. Most important socceroos player was Artur Pfaffenzeller. Saúl Alcazaba on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 0.

Highlights

1 - 0	Marco Muller	19'
2 - 0	Ivo Cañoto	21'
3 - 0	Cláudio Marçalo	80'
	Sabri Felhi	53'
	Marco Muller	75'
	Sabri Felhi	78'
	Mats Johansson	54'
	Luca Fetto	79'
	Roman Schneider Defensive   Normal	19'
	Cene Miholič Defensive   Normal	46'
	Mats Johansson Normal   Offensive	46'
	Giuliano Bianchi   Kees Dekkers Normal  Offensive	74'
	Luca Fetto  Morris Jones	79'