Lješevo 5 - 0 Pirati (367202021)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 25354 at El-Fatih today. Guillermo Borges was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Aksel Moe and Jordi Necochea. A 4-3-3 alignment was the formation of choice for Lješevo. The following players took the field: Kleissner - Derviš, Thomas, Cotts, Leme Silva - Hjálmarsson, Claassens, Lipso - Akay, Aćimović, Krchov.

Pirati had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. Lineup: Harkai - Richter, Kolotyrkin, Moravac, Liedflod - Suša, Vrgoč, Beltrán, Niinimaa - Ðukić, Brajević.

Lješevo used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. Today, Pirati's strategy involved concentrating on the flanks for their attacks. Lješevo pressed their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. After 22 minutes, Pirati's S. Brajević fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Lješevo took the lead 35 minutes in, as N. Aćimović broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. Lješevo managed to extend their lead to 2 - 0 when M. Krchov cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. Lješevo put themselves up 3 - 0 when M. Krchov broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. Confident in their lead, Lješevo's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave K. Thomas from Lješevo a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 41 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 42 minutes, Lješevo were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. N. Leme Silva did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. The teams went for the halftime break at 3 - 0. Lješevo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Things were going to get worse for the visitors. E. Cotts squirmed through their central defence after 53 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 0. The coach of Lješevo was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 61 minutes, T. Kartay came on for M. Krchov. The bench was restless, and with 62 minutes passed Pirati's coach gave S. Livnjak the opportunity the player had been hoping for. I. Suša reluctantly left the field. A. Claassens wanted to play on, but the Lješevo coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 63 minutes into the game by J. Jelačić. 75 minutes in, Pirati's S. Kolotyrkin received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. At this time in the match, Lješevo were using their skill at pressing to successfully stifle the game. After 79 minutes, Lješevo's R. Akay swiftly ran past M. Moravac and nutmegged the keeper! 5 - 0. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Lješevo coach let V. Pulja replace O. Hjálmarsson after 80 minutes. Pirati had most of the ball, with 51 percent of possession.

Lješevo's top performer was clearly I. Lipso. V. Pulja on the other hand, had a terrible day. Pirati's best player was S. Brajević. However, M. Moravac made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 5 - 0.