pļāvēji 2 - 1 Pirates (220770619)

Clouds darkened the skies at Big green Arena as 76927 spectators turned up for the match. Alfredo Mirete was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ken Kütt and Edgar Haffter. pļāvēji started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Munteanu - Železník, Schiner, de Rijke - Amanou, Olofsson, Iglesia, Gottby, Nagorniak - Dudler, Pagniez.

Pirates had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Scheller - Epermanis, Tumiņš, Kamozin - Langer, Melderiņš, Zīlītis, , Kotlyar - Pannekoek, Baldiņš.

Pirates immediately set off using their skill at pressing their opponents. Pirates's ability to press all over the field frequently paid dividends. With the clock showing 33 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of Pirates resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by G. Baldiņš in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. P. Gottby of pļāvēji received a yellow card after 40 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. It was 0 - 0 at the break. pļāvēji claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

The most controversial moment of the game was likely the penalty given after 61 minutes. Pirates's G. Baldiņš kept his concentration, despite the upset crowd, and calmly put the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 1. Pirates had to make a substitution after 61 minutes. C. limped off the field and was replaced by R. Bulanin. pļāvēji's S. Dudler put his head to a well placed ball, lifted in from the left, and scored to make the score 1 - 1 with 68 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock. 70 minutes into the match, the referee signalled for a pļāvēji substitution. J. Funa came on for P. Gottby. As the 70 minute mark approached, the pļāvēji coach decided it was time for a substitution. G. Olofsson reluctantly made way for I. Smagars on the pitch. They were singing the praises of J. Funa 73 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 2 - 1 to pļāvēji. The referee showed Pirates's A. Tumiņš the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The Pirates coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. H. Pagniez had a fantastic opportunity to put pļāvēji up another goal 81 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by pļāvēji, with 56 percent of the ball.

Most important pļāvēji player was M. Iglesia. However, C. Amanou made a disastrous appearance. Pirates's best player was J. Zīlītis. A. Epermanis turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.