RUSTAVI 3 - 0 EZDI (392443424)

30965 spectators had come to RUSTAV ARENA this cloudy day. Roland Staier was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mikko Sibakoff and Andrei Serban. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for RUSTAVI. Lineup: Deinhardt - Laime, Gökdemir, Glazkov - Aso, Tönjes, Turcu, Fuertes - Décorte, Maisto, Bruun.

EZDI decided to use a 4-5-1 set up. Starters: Mkheidze - Walspuski, Tomasson, Shishlo, Stefanou - Wypich, Sidamonidze, van Anraad, Meyer, Tarquini - Kérchy.

EZDI showed off their creative tactics. After 13 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by RUSTAVI was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when T. Tomasson slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against S. Deinhardt, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. RUSTAVI's M. Fuertes got himself booked for a foul. RUSTAVI were very close to putting themselves one up after 25 minutes as A. Maisto got through on the left, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. RUSTAVI's T. Tönjes had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 29 minutes having been played. M. Gresham was the replacement. 0 - 0 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by RUSTAVI, with 64 percent of the ball.

After 47 minutes, B. Turcu came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving RUSTAVI the lead. V. Sidamonidze of EZDI received a yellow card after 48 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. RUSTAVI solidified their lead at the 51 minute mark, as M. Glazkov dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. Some things can only be learned through experience, and F. Meyer should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting RUSTAVI a goal with 62 minutes of the match played. İ. Gökdemir could have put RUSTAVI up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 65 minutes. After 66 minutes RUSTAVI's M. Aso had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. S. Seman came in to replace him. RUSTAVI increased the lead as M. Gresham struck to make the score 3 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. By now, the players in RUSTAVI felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. RUSTAVI enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

B. Turcu performed admirably for RUSTAVI. S. Seman was a disappointment, however. EZDI's top performer was clearly A. Stefanou. However, I. Mkheidze made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 0.