Emona 1 - 2 Kaizen (192983029)

58428 punters turned up at NK Emona Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Szymon Maćkowiak was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Frodo Hilterman and Hunter Wright. Emona tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Stjärnflod - Krzysteczko, Ebnet, Vučić - Sasson, Brlec, Ude, Navon, Brogli - Gril, Kropivnik.

Kaizen had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Lineup: Rebollar - Jelovčan, Tenesor, Pagkalos - Bärtsch, Glavina, Križaj, Conrad - Peterc, Cazaux, Grm.

The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to S. Ebnet, but the Emona player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! It might be a while before the fans see Emona's G. Brlec again, after he had to leave the field in great distress at the 26 minute mark. He was replaced by R. Lindal. B. Ude could have increased the lead after 27 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. 35 minutes into the game, V. Grm had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Y. Rochus. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Emona enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 55 percent of possession.

B. Krzysteczko should probably have put his team up another goal after 51 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by A. Rebollar kept the visitors in the game. The home crowd was dismayed when the referee called a penalty for Kaizen after 52 minutes. M. Glavina calmly took the shot and scored. The game was level at 1 - 1. 1 - 2 was the score with 54 minutes played, after M. Peterc cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Kaizen. Emona claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

Most important Emona player was Y. Navon. B. Krzysteczko turned in a dismal performance, however. L. Križaj performed admirably for Kaizen. M. Peterc was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 2.