Saturday 6th March
Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Att: 15,306.Cristiano Costa scored a hat-trick as Real Birmingham got off to flying start with a 3-1 win in Sheffield.
The Strikers however made it 1-0 with a goal from Phil van der Vuuren after only two minutes.
But it only fired up Real. Right-back Paolo Baggola upended Costa in the box, and the Portuguese slotted home the penalty.
Adam Barry hit a ferocious volley which Andrea Rossi punched out, only towards the oncoming Costa who tapped it in to make it 2-1.
And Costa completed his treble with a beautiful free-kick that had so much power and swerve on it.
Goals
Strikers: van der Vuuren 2'.
Real Birmingham: Costa 17' p, 55', 79'.
