Cheese 1 - 1 NIDERDORF (351597740)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 9998 at NK Cheese Burger Arena today. Iuliu Podeanu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rasmus Paulsen and Pekka Toivainen. Cheese had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. They fielded: Udrih - Ciarniello, Lavrič, Brezan, Korenik - Burnić, Šušteršič, Čufer, Miklič - Kreslin, Šprah.

NIDERDORF started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. Lineup: Holzner - Tretjak, Petkovšek, Griljec, Jäger - Ovca, Pirš, Potočar, Šebalj - Kavčič, Bartolucci.

Cheese took the lead 25 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as A. Miklič elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. With 33 minutes played, NIDERDORF's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to S. Griljec he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 1 - 1. M. Bartolucci came close to putting the visiting team one up 40 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but I. Udrih managed to tip the ball to a corner. Some things can only be learned through experience, and G. Čufer should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting NIDERDORF a goal with 41 minutes of the match played. With 42 minutes played, S. Griljec of NIDERDORF fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. After a fine move down the middle N. Brezan nearly gave the home side a goal after 43 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Cheese's G. Čufer left the field after 44 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was V. Meh. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Cheese claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 66 percent.

NIDERDORF's V. Ovca was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 84 minutes. Cheese's I. Udrih refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 89 minutes. Cheese enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 65 percent of possession.

Cheese's top performer was clearly N. Brezan. A. Miklič turned in a dismal performance, however. NIDERDORF's best player was V. Ovca. However, D. Holzner made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 1.