Federation Clash Challenge

Bombonera Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ruud Nistelrooy kicked off to start the match. Martin Palermo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a little luck, Nea Salamis's Antonis Nikopolidis got control of the ball when Martin Palermo tried to sneak it across the goal line. 19 minutes into the match, Ruud Nistelrooy had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ruben Sánchez. Magic is Back's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ruud Nistelrooy was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. 23 minutes into the match, Nea Salamis's goal looked a bit too open when Martin Palermo came free, but Antonis Nikopolidis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Antonis Nikopolidis made a fantastic save in the 24th minute, when Martin Palermo sent off a good shot on target. In the 25th minute of the match Magic is Back got a corner. Nea Salamis's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Marcelo Trobbiani ran over to the corner to take the kick. The supporters of Nea Salamis booed when Magic is Back was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roberto Mouzo didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Roberto Mouzo fell near the penalty area in the 39th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Magic is Back's protests and gave Roberto Mouzo a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Nea Salamis booed when Magic is Back was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roberto Mouzo didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ruud Nistelrooy in the 40th minute of play forced Magic is Back's goalkeeper Ruben Sánchez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Martin Palermo got free with Antonis Nikopolidis in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Magic is Back's Ruben Sánchez played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pipo Inzaghi in the 46th minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Martin Palermo was the one to do the kick off. Martin Palermo took the ball and in the 52 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Antonis Nikopolidis. Antonis Nikopolidis dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. After some careless play in the Nea Salamis defense, Martin Palermo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Antonis Nikopolidis. The Nea Salamis fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Antonis Nikopolidis should have stopped the shot. Nea Salamis made a substitution. Luciano Gallet replaced Cafu Milan. 64 minutes into the match, Magic is Back's goal looked a bit too open when Pipo Inzaghi came free, but Ruben Sánchez reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ruben Sánchez made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Ruud Nistelrooy sent off a good shot on target. 69 minutes into the game, Martin Palermo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Antonis Nikopolidis was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Magic is Back made a substitution. Gabi Batistuta replaced Martin Palermo. Antonis Nikopolidis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabi Batistuta in the 73rd minute of play. In the 77th minute, Roberto Mouzo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gabi Batistuta's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Antonis Nikopolidis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. Antonis Nikopolidis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gabi Batistuta, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Antonis Nikopolidis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabi Batistuta in the 89th minute of play. In the 90th minute the ball was on its way in behind Nea Salamis's goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ruben Sánchez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Darko Kovačević in the 93rd minute of play.