HERMANSTADT 3 - 2 Pelendava (365253082)

The 25387 fans in attendance at STEAUA HERMANSTADT Arena were roasting in the hot sun. Konstantin Bickman was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Daniel Hedemann and Olo Lubi. HERMANSTADT tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Mohrenberg - Bulboaca, Minghini, Abad García - Ievanen, Weibel, Lövborg, Pranis, Wacławik - Lietz, Patriciu.

Pelendava had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Kaliciński - Weelinck, Labrador, Andersen - Rosengarten, Nagy, Munk, Cadoret, Srovnal - Ollé, Håkansson.

It was an obvious ambition of Pelendava to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. HERMANSTADT took the lead 11 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as A. Ievanen elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. Several players seemed a little dazed by the warm weather, and were repeatedly tricked by the clever and agile A. Ievanen. Pelendava tied it all up, 18 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by G. Munk, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. Pelendava's A. Ollé got himself booked for a foul. 26 minutes of the match played, and a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but A. Ollé, after finding himself dashing down on goal from the left with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. Pelendava's L. Andersen was shown a yellow card after 29 minutes for slicing down an opponent. HERMANSTADT had a good opportunity to take the lead as F. Lietz came up the left side, but he struck the ball weakly and it went straight into the arms of F. Kaliciński. HERMANSTADT had a chance to take the lead after F. Lietz's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 31 minutes. With 32 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. J. Håkansson put the ball away for 1 - 2. 1 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Pelendava, with 51 percent of the ball.

With 48 minutes played, HERMANSTADT's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to B. Patriciu he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 2 - 2. HERMANSTADT took the lead after 58 minutes as a result of S. Abad García's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 3 - 2. After 65 minutes, Pelendava switched B. Nagy with E. Greetfeld, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. The bench was restless, and with 67 minutes passed Pelendava's coach gave J. Ruiz Girón the opportunity the player had been hoping for. G. Munk reluctantly left the field. Coming through the middle J. Cadoret almost scored the equaliser for Pelendava after 82 minutes, but H. Mohrenberg made an excellent save, tipping the awkwardly curled shot past the post. With 84 minutes played, A. Ollé came in from the right and could have evened the score, but the defenders successfully repelled the attack by Pelendava. Pelendava enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 59 percent of possession.

HERMANSTADT's top performer was clearly A. Bulboaca. B. Patriciu on the other hand, had a terrible day. A. Ollé performed admirably for Pelendava. On the other hand, F. Kaliciński's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 2.