Obarak 0 - 3 Pandora (377106311)

Clouds darkened the skies at Obarak Arena as 15000 spectators turned up for the match. Mariano Martínez Portoles was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mick Nielsen and Vicente Revilla. Obarak started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Schreml - Gašparović, Ostojić, Begzadić, Bešević - Prakljačić, Valjević, Linck, Tomašević - Thøgersen, Saifert.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Pandora. Lineup: Bjørnødegård - Sarnataro, Espanhol, Aiazzone - Goncalves, Płaszczyński, Francardelli, Açougueiro, Ávila - Dedić, Stuparu.

Obarak used their skill at pressing to cut off the attack angles of their opponents all over the field. After 15 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Pandora was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. Some good play on the left wing created an opportunity for the visitors 24 minutes into the match, and D. Stuparu wasn't about to let it go by. He got past the defenders and fired a shot that the keeper just missed. 0 - 1 for the visitors. 27 minutes in, Pandora's M. Ávila received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Unfortunately for Obarak, A. Prakljačić was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. O. Lešević replaced him. B. Gašparović was handed the Obarak captain's armband. D. Stuparu stunned the crowd with a brilliant counterattack from the left, giving Pandora the goal to make it 0 - 2. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, D. Stuparu would have put Pandora up another goal 39 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. After 42 minutes of game time, D. Stuparu had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but T. Schreml was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. 0 - 2 was the halftime score. Pandora enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 69 percent of possession.

After 56 minutes, Pandora's J. Płaszczyński burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 3. P. Francardelli left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 56 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. D. Vlaisavljević was the replacement. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Pandora coach let N. Fočak replace M. Ávila after 56 minutes. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, J. Espanhol took over the role of being the Pandora captain. By now, the players in Pandora felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. At this time in the match, Obarak were using their skill at pressing to successfully stifle the game. 79 minutes into the game, Pandora seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a solid level of organisation. Obarak will have to do without O. Lešević for a time, due to a bad foot injury at the 84 minute mark. He was substituted by A. Džaferagić. After 85 minutes, Pandora 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. D. Stuparu did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. A misunderstanding between the visitors' keeper V. Bjørnødegård and his left defence could have resulted in a goal for Obarak, but M. Saifert's finish was way too lame. Pandora had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

H. Thøgersen performed admirably for Obarak. A. Džaferagić was a disappointment, however. Pandora's top performer was clearly J. Płaszczyński. However, D. Vlaisavljević made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 3.