KOPŘIVNICE 1 - 2 Gambiti (315802443)

It had rained all day, but 65000 hardy fans still made it out to ZDRAVÍ-SÍLA-KRÁSA. Diego Garrido was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ghanem Essalhi and Todd Lomu. KOPŘIVNICE decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players took the field: Holý - Lesniak, Páleníček, Záruba - Vincent, Protiva, Gregor, Čihák, Berenguer - Tokoš, Kalvoda.

Gambiti started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Konáš - Porázik, Kromonen, Pirkl - Belderink, Romoli, Gleditsch, Trane, Gripenbratt - Canà, Nascimento.

The game was characterised by rough play and many physical challenges on the wet field, but K. Gregor showed great heart and had a good game. Gambiti's G. Canà could have put the guests one up after 22 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but M. Holý was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. It was a bad day for the usually speedy G. Canà. The mud seemed to slow him down. R. Vincent was very close to giving KOPŘIVNICE the lead with an ingenious free kick routine 36 minutes into the match, but the ball just grazed the bar. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 0. This part of the game was a standoff between the teams in terms of possession.

0 - 1 was the score with 52 minutes played, after G. Canà cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for Gambiti. The KOPŘIVNICE players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. The KOPŘIVNICE coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. Always quick and a menace to his opponents, G. Canà was very close to getting through after 64 minutes, but he could only put the ball into the keeper's arms. After 75 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave G. Canà a chance to increase the lead for Gambiti, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 2. 80 minutes into the match, a typically brave header by V. Kalvoda from R. Vincent's cross looped just over the opposing goalkeeper's desperate reach. Goal for KOPŘIVNICE, making the score 1 - 2. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for KOPŘIVNICE, but V. Kalvoda's shot went over the bar. Good work by the Gambiti defensive line after 85 minutes produced a good counterattack chance, which cut elegantly down the middle of the pitch and found W. Pirkl alone in front of the goal, but his shot whistled just wide. KOPŘIVNICE's E. Protiva got himself booked for a foul. The crowd gasped as R. Nascimento of Gambiti was flattened by an opponent after 88 minutes and had to be carried off. J. Pagacz came in off the bench. The Gambiti captaincy was handed to J. Konáš. KOPŘIVNICE enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

The most dominating KOPŘIVNICE player was without a doubt K. Gregor. L. Berenguer was a disappointment, however. Gambiti's top performer was clearly G. Canà. B. Belderink on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 2.