Meruna 0 - 8 FC Plzeň (365842159)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 12000 at OCV Arena today. Mariano Orellana was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Joseph Zeitler and Carlos Pina. Meruna had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players took the field: Homik - Pelikán, Pavlát, Šolar, Gavenda - Divila, Mikovec, Křivý, Kazda - Rajsigl, Rohlena.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for FC Plzeň. Lineup: Trindade - Kalyuzhnyi, Melo Silva, Savojärvi - Manoz, Moreau, Brignoli, Krogh, Syväoja - Turčinov, Vainio.

FC Plzeň's A. Turčinov gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead after 15 minutes with a superb strike from the right. E. Melo Silva increased FC Plzeň's lead to 0 - 2 with a superb free kick strike that flew in just under the far top corner. There was concern in the stands when, at the 28 minute mark, FC Plzeň's P. Manoz hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. After 29 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for S. Kalyuzhnyi who increased FC Plzeň's lead to 0 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of FC Plzeň lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. T. Vainio could have put his team up another goal 33 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. T. Vainio increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 4. A. Turčinov received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 35 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 0 - 5. The FC Plzeň fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. It was 0 - 5 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to FC Plzeň, who controlled the ball 85 percent of the time.

A crazy pass by P. Pelikán towards his own keeper almost caused a goal for FC Plzeň, but E. Syväoja didn't get the finish right. The home crowd was not impressed when T. Vainio came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 48 minutes. FC Plzeň were now up 0 - 6. FC Plzeň's A. Turčinov left the field after 79 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was M. Hietanen. After 82 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave T. Vainio a chance to increase the lead for FC Plzeň, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 7. That was his third goal of the match - a hat trick for T. Vainio. With 85 minutes played, FC Plzeň put themselves up 0 - 8 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. The scorer was O. Krogh. FC Plzeň claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 88 percent.

Most important Meruna player was O. Rajsigl. P. Homik turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating FC Plzeň player was without a doubt G. Brignoli. However, T. Trindade made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 8.