Garaz 4 - 2 Slezská (365830367)

Dark skies made the crowd of 56249 at FC Garaz club Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Malte Pflügel was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Borisa Cilinsek and Lutz Feix. Garaz tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. The following players had been chosen: Ptáček - Richieri, Kania, Šereda - Svátek, Švec, Nolf, Bořek - Meiendorf, Tonfoni, Osterroth.

Slezská decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Gerhart - Torti, Maňák, Serrano - Ismail, Panisello, Ramut, Rincón, Allen - Schimmelpfennig, Mannhardt.

J. Richieri gave Garaz the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1 - 0 After 4 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by B. Kania might have resulted in another goal for Garaz. However, C. Gerhart made a spectacular save. Slezská tied it all up, 8 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by R. Mannhardt, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. Slack defending gave Garaz a chance to take the lead with 24 minutes played, but J. Osterroth's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. It was 1 - 1 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Garaz, with 53 percent of the ball.

B. Kania would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. I. Okhrimenko entered the game for Garaz as the match clock showed 50 minutes. 50 minutes into the match, the Garaz manager wanted to try a new tactic, and the players loyally obliged. The coach of Garaz wanted to try to change things around after 50 minutes, and gave new tactical instructions. After 55 minutes, the Garaz coach wanted to see a new face on the pitch, waving D. Nolf off the field. K. Tuszyński took his place. I. Okhrimenko was the new captain of Garaz - handed the armband by the departing player. The visiting A. Serrano was booed thoroughly by the home crowd 63 minutes into the game, after he broke through the middle and scored, resulting in the visitors taking the lead. 1 - 2 was the score. After a fatal mistake from the away team's right side defence 64 minutes into the match, an alert J. Šereda bagged the ball for Garaz, levelling the score to 2 - 2. Garaz fans held their breath as R. Meiendorf scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 3 - 2! 77 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as J. Šereda broke through, making the score 4 - 2 for Garaz. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Garaz lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Garaz enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 59 percent of possession.

Garaz's top performer was clearly J. Osterroth. However, K. Tuszyński made a disastrous appearance. Most important Slezská player was L. Schimmelpfennig. R. Allen on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 2.