The fans braved the pouring rain at the stadium today. For strong, physical players the heavy rain was easy to overcome, it was even an advantage given their style of play. Others, such as the quick or technical ones, made bleaker appearances. The following players had been selected: Bebek - Bönighausen, Dyk - Hallema, Schätzel, Schleussner, Sadir, Anđelić - Koetteritz, Garzillo, Schug.

They fielded: Dob - Webb, Panigrahi - Xin Seng, Mohammad Harun, Muthyala, Kamel, ter Berg - Ze Han, Mudaliar, Egan.

As the teams spread out over the pitch, it became clear that they would both be using a 2-5-3 formation today. Grilled mostly ignored the flanks in favor of their divine (+5) ability to attack in the middle. With 9 minutes of the match played, a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but Salah Kamel, after dashing down on goal from the left and finding himself with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. After 22 minutes, following yet another great corner, Bernd Schug knocked the ball to Pietro Garzillo but it was just too high and the shot came off his shin. Pietro Garzillo gave Altenburg the 1 - 0 lead, as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then placed the ball at the keeper's right post – what a clinical finish! It was obvious that Grilled had instructions to attack in the middle when they directed a break on the wing into the center of the park. The visitors didn't give in and, after 31 minutes, Moey Xin Seng got through the home side's central line of defense, rolling in the leveling goal to make it 1 - 1. 1 - 2 was the score after 34 minutes, when Grilled's Vikram Mudaliar cut through the central defense and pounded one in. Grilled players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. A thrilling play through the middle after 36 minutes gave Grilled's Bilal Mohammad Harun a chance to increase the lead, and he happily obliged. The score was then 1 - 3. Big paper red cards were being held up by the opposing supporters with 37 minutes on the clock after Axel Schleussner's mistimed tackle from behind. The referee only showed the Altenburg player a yellow card though. 1 - 3 was the halftime score. Well, look at this! Nikki Minaj is on the Jumbotron in naught but pink lipstick, soccer balls, and a Ben Nevis of platinum hair. I've not seen anything like it before. She's not got enough room inside her for a rheumatic pain. Can you hear her? Altenburg's Jelke Hallema scored a screamer after 56 minutes, made possible by a deep pass from Tamás Bebek which cut through the entire defensive line. That's 2 - 3. The crowd chanted their encouragement as Altenburg's Petar Anđelić came in from the right after 63 minutes and put the ball in the net to even the score at 3 - 3. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 66 minutes into the match left Grilled's Moey Xin Seng completely free to score. 3 - 4 for the visitors. 68 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 3 - 5 as Bernie Egan finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular bicycle kick. The home crowd found their second wind when Petar Anđelić scored with a header after an industrious attack from the right, making the score 4 to 5. Feeling like a boy about to meet his girlfriend's father for the first time, the inexperienced Grilled struggled to maintain their level of play after 82 minutes. After 85 minutes, the Grilled coach wanted to see a new face on the field, waving Kalle ter Berg off. Heng Dong Chu took his place. The crowd was on its feet at the 85 minute mark, as Altenburg's František Dyk found himself all alone in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 5 - 5 equalizer. The fourth official announced that there would be 3 minutes of stoppage time, giving fans a slim hope that their team could get one more attack in before this was all over. The match ends 5 - 5. Looks like Nate Silver was right again - his prediction that Grilled would have 55 percent possession in this half was spot on!

The most outstanding Altenburg player was without a doubt Bernd Schug. Good thing František Dyk isn't a horse, because he'd surely be sent to the glue factory after that performance. Grilled's best player was Chan Ze Han. I can't remember Bhavya Panigrahi ever having a worse night than he just had.