VELNI 1 - 2 lesalsicce (378401504)

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and FK Velnciems Arena saw a crowd turnout of 2006. Stian Haugland was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Larry Roijen and Pål Winther. VELNI tactics involved an interesting 4-3-3 combination. Lineup: Tomsons - Samsons, Muhammed, Šmitiņš, Svece - Egle, Kalniņš, Dalland - Klismets, Matisons, Khayretdinov.

lesalsicce had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Gaczkowski - Pésin, Karner, Aprile - Mattusch, Gandolfi, Risitano, Driol, Belluccini - Andrijanić, Frascone.

VELNI focused on getting players in position for long range shots. lesalsicce were determined to use their long shot ability. It was obvious that the tactic of the day for VELNI was to go for long shots, but in order to score they have to do better than the shooting attempt from A. Egle after 18 minutes, which was a total failure. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when G. Driol slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against P. Tomsons, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. S. Klismets gave VELNI 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 The head of J. Andrijanić connected with a corner kick after 42 minutes, and the ball ended up with M. Gandolfi of lesalsicce who blasted the ball into the net, making the score 1 - 1. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by lesalsicce, with 61 percent of the ball.

53 minutes into the game, V. Risitano had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 66 minutes allowed G. Driol to score for lesalsicce. The scoreboard now read 1 - 2. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave S. Klismets from VELNI a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 69 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! lesalsicce's G. Belluccini went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. VELNI tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defence got the best of this rather direct style of play. After 76 minutes lesalsicce showed some great patience outside the penalty area, waiting until G. Belluccini could find the right opportunity to finish off the attack from distance. The long shot, however, was an easy catch for P. Tomsons. lesalsicce claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 62 percent.

Most important VELNI player was S. Klismets. P. Tomsons on the other hand, had a terrible day. lesalsicce's best player was J. Andrijanić. M. Pésin turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.