Wolkocans 1 - 4 JEY (388875463)

Due to an all-day shower, 3518 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Arena In "Wolves Lair". Heino Derbsch was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Leo Saarenpää and Lars-Erik Jansson. Wolkocans had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. They fielded: Gogokhia - Bendeliani, Gaspariani, Chichiboshvili, Revazishvili - Papiashvili, Adaksin, Abdullayev, Meshveliani - Chikadze, Kurtanidze.

JEY decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. Starters: Ničić - Gigolashvili, Hayran - Luparu, Roccucci, Kolas, Ragued, Elsdijk - Galbi, Neuhold, Zodelava.

Right from the start it was obvious that JEY were expecting an easy victory. It was an obvious ambition of Wolkocans to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. Wolkocans's K. Chikadze tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. With 25 minutes played A. Papiashvili almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. Some good play on the left wing created an opportunity for the visitors 32 minutes into the match, and S. Hayran wasn't about to let it go by. He got past the defenders and fired a shot that the keeper just missed. 0 - 1 for the visitors. V. Ugulava was called on to replace Wolkocans's R. Revazishvili after 33 minutes following a nasty collision. JEY's counterattack was impressive and was only stopped by a shocking foul. Somehow, the referee's cards remained in his pocket - a terrible decision! M. Galbi's resulting free kick was easily saved by the keeper. After 38 minutes Wolkocans's S. Meshveliani contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. 0 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to Wolkocans, who controlled the ball 51 percent of the time.

JEY were in the lead, even though they'd severely underestimated their opponents. The team looked slightly more willing to put in the necessary work as the second half started. Wolkocans tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defence got the best of this rather direct style of play. 78 minutes into the game, JEY seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to inadequate. T. Neuhold had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. A drive down the left side allowed M. Galbi to get in close and score another goal for JEY after 81 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 2. Wolkocans were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. At 85 minutes into the game, Wolkocans's T. Gaspariani deftly knocked the ball home after an impressive run down the left, reducing the visitors' lead to 1 - 2. V. Elsdijk increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 1 - 3. Wolkocans's T. Gaspariani had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 88 minutes having been played. G. Shervashidze was the replacement. 89 minutes into the game, JEY seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a weak level of organisation. A. Papiashvili challenged the visitors' central defence eagerly, producing a good chance 89 minutes into the game as he went for a through ball. But, as so many times before, the guests' defensive efforts got the best of it. With 89 minutes played, a quick exchange of passes on the left wing freed P. Kolas of JEY to slip through the defence and score another goal for the visitors. That made the score 1 - 4. Wolkocans had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

Wolkocans's best player was K. Chikadze. G. Gogokhia was a disappointment, however. JEY's top performer was clearly T. Neuhold. On the other hand, R. Luparu's play was disheartening. The match ends 1 - 4.