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Desert Rats FC played an early League match, away to 6th place, who were an improving side on the back of 6 straight wins, after losing the first four matches of the season. The Rats started with ST/AMR Emanuele Imbimbo deputising for the injured right-winger Patrick Tillmanns, and as if by telepathy, the team started passing down the left-wing through Kostadin Marinov by default. The left-winger had an eventful first half, earning the ire of the referee and his first yellow card of the season, but was saved from further embarrassment by the safe hands of 'keeper Kevin McKibben when the free-kick was taken. Five minutes before the break, Marinov put the visitors into the lead, and they didn't look back. In the second-half, the Management took pity on the unfortunate Imbimbo, who had been starved of ball all match and was patrolling the right-wing, his ratings falling all the time, his replacement being utility winger Emerson de Alencar Arraes. The team then started to use the right-wing, and de Alencar Arraes had some uncredited assistance with the two goals in three minutes that made the match safe for the Rats, striker Shaun Ruel registering a solo goal, and MoM Ireneusz Jezierski providing the final pass to fellow-midfielder Mukhtar Hassan. The final score of 3-0 keeps Desert Rats three points clear at the top. Thanks to madflo for the support.
The final Group match in the Champions League was treated as a bit of a party by Desert Rats, the team being through to the Knockout stage, top of the table by right. The Management took the opportunity to give some of the fringe players some match time, but the Rats proved dominant throughout. Emanuele Imbimbo was still out right in place of Patrick Tillmanns, Maximiliano Arcamone was starting at striker, and left-winger Gary Cusack was introduced in the second-half to give Kostadin Marinov a rest later in the the match. Marinov bagged his brace early on, scoring both in the first nine minutes' play, and Arcamone added a third goal with only 17 minutes on the clock, assisted by Imbimbo. Arcamone returned the favour for Imbimbo to get on the scoresheet after 33 minutes, before the visitors pulled one back courtesy of a free-kick conceded by Filip Andersson, who got a yellow card for his trouble. Andersson was replaced by Osama Dawood early in the second-half, then Imbimbo and Arcamone added the second goals to their doubles. The visitors got a consolation goal close to time, but the 6-2 win was proof of the hosts' depth of talent. Desert Rats now play the Runner-up in Group F in the Round of 16.
