Ubuntu 2 - 7 Kopecek (381402089)

Dark skies made the crowd of 15418 at Ubuntu Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Olympio Burkhalter was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Carl Henry and Jari Tammisto. Ubuntu decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. The following players took the field: Klouda - Udrea, Kośnik, Lvovskiy, Sjurelv - Juřica, Costea, Ceresoles, Santelli - Melappioni, Iturburu.

Kopecek had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Topos - Vejdělek, Milcent, Hanták - Fikr, Bodny, Harasser, van der Zwan, Maass - Fumega, Arnold.

Ubuntu demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. Today, Kopecek's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Kopecek's M. Fikr was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the opposition's box - M. Arnold managed to volley one of them into the net to make it 0 - 1 after 7 minutes. The home crowd was not impressed when B. Harasser came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 17 minutes. Kopecek were now up 0 - 2. M. Maass increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 3. By now, the players in Kopecek felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. J. Sjurelv did everything he could to get one back for his Ubuntu, but keeper E. Topos denied him with a spectacular block. After 31 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed B. Fumega to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 4. Halftime score was 0 - 4. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Kopecek, with 56 percent of the ball.

Ubuntu's T. Kośnik had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 50 minutes having been played. A. Cerroa was the replacement. The home crowd cheered when, after 54 minutes, M. Arnold's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Kopecek's M. Fikr showed his experience after 63 minutes, as he expertly set himself up to take advantage of a rebound off the crossbar, but his shot was tipped harmlessly out of the way. Ubuntu refused to be intimidated and, breaking through the middle, E. Iturburu managed to slip the ball home for 1 - 4. Kopecek had a good opportunity to attack in the middle, but remembered their instructions to focus on wing attacks instead. Some fine movement on the left led to a Kopecek goal after 80 minutes, making it 1 - 5. B. Fumega was noted down as the scorer. After 81 minutes, S. Ceresoles sent the corner kick right to I. Udrea who headed it sharply past the keeper. 2 - 5! A drive down the left side allowed A. Milcent to get in close and score another goal for Kopecek after 83 minutes, taking the score to 2 - 6. Ubuntu had to make a substitution after 84 minutes. V. Juřica limped off the field and was replaced by H. Koral. 85 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 2 - 7 as M. Arnold finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. A. Milcent was, after 87 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper O. Klouda made the save. Kopecek had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

E. Iturburu performed admirably for Ubuntu. A. Cerroa turned in a dismal performance, however. Kopecek's best player was M. Arnold. E. Topos on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 7.