Samara 6 - 2 Tähtikoskela (369591529)

25958 punters turned up at Kolhoosi, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Carlos Eduardo Frias was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Antonio Millalonco and Giuseppe Oliva. Samara had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. They fielded: Aronds - Cambien, Gaudêncio, Grot - Dalla Sega, Gravesen, Derejczyk, Pihlajakangas - Cockayne, Lünen, Armendáriz.

Tähtikoskela started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Kilga - de Nooijer, Nevair, Barkholt, Abreu - Saltarelli, Kroon, Bakker, Cháb - Kuttenberger, Svensson.

It was an obvious ambition of Tähtikoskela to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. With 4 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as Q. Grot flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. Samara solidified their lead at the 26 minute mark, as G. Dalla Sega dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 2 - 0. By now, the players in Samara felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. J. Aronds made a brilliant save 31 minutes into the match, blocking a rocket of a shot from B. Barkholt on the right hand side. G. Saltarelli's early cross saw the defenders caught out of position and the alert B. Kuttenberger was able to pounce and roll the ball past the hapless goalkeeper to score for Tähtikoskela. 2 - 1. M. Abreu came close to levelling the score 36 minutes into the game, as he was set up with a through ball coming in from the left, but his shot hit the post. Players in Tähtikoskela heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as Tähtikoskela's B. Kuttenberger put the ball in the onion bag after 37 minutes to make it 2 - 2. 2 - 2 was the halftime score. Samara had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

As the 46 minute mark approached, the Samara coach decided it was time for a substitution. R. Pihlajakangas reluctantly made way for A. Sand on the pitch. D. Cambien would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. V. Markström entered the game for Samara as the match clock showed 56 minutes. With the match clock at 57 minutes, Samara modified their style of play a little bit. The home side put themselves ahead 3 - 2 after 57 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from Q. Grot, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Samara's C. Cockayne increasing the lead to 4 - 2. 70 minutes into the game, N. Svensson had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came M. Puolamaa. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, B. Kuttenberger took over the role of being the Tähtikoskela captain. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. N. Armendáriz squirmed through their central defence after 71 minutes, increasing the lead to 5 - 2. After 80 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and J. Lünen gave the Samara supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 6 - 2. M. Puolamaa made a nice dash down the wing after 83 minutes, but was unable to get the cross into the box. A goal kick was awarded. 84 minutes into the game, Tähtikoskela's attack got through on the right, but G. Nevair couldn't handle the ball and his feeble kick wound up in the keeper's arms. Possession in this half belonged to Samara, who controlled the ball 57 percent of the time.

Most important Samara player was N. Armendáriz. J. Aronds on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Tähtikoskela player was without a doubt J. Kroon. M. Puolamaa was a disappointment, however. The match ends 6 - 2.