Denwer 4 - 0 MPear (378408181)

It had rained all day, but 1174 hardy fans still made it out to Fc Denwer Arena. Edward Nosal was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Evtim Vúzharov and Casper Larsen Nielsen. Denwer started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. They fielded: Bavrirčák - Furman, Mokráň, Novoa, Heberlein - Bartram, Serrano, Valenčík, Kryštof - Dumpis, Haraldsson.

MPear tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. The following players took the field: Jacolet - Bartrés, Pastor, Kasdorff, Ragančík - Pietragalla, Katrenec, Lamberti, Iványi - Kulbert, Skau.

Denwer tried to focus their attacks down the middle. MPear were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. After 13 minutes a well-practised indirect free kick routine by Denwer was easily anticipated by the defenders. The players forward were so well marked, they were left with few viable options. Denwer's D. Heberlein was shown a yellow card after 18 minutes for slicing down an opponent. One of many good crosses from Z. Kryštof on the wing was received and skillfully taken care of by L. Dumpis, who scored for Denwer. 1 - 0 The home side's V. Haraldsson curled a free kick home after 26 minutes, putting Denwer ahead 2 - 0. With 28 minutes played, V. Haraldsson could have brought this one home for Denwer as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. 29 minutes into the game MPear managed a counterattack, but K. Skau took a soft shot from the left flank that was easy prey for the alert keeper. V. Haraldsson struck a 30 metre free kick home 30 minutes into the match. 3 - 0 for the home team. Denwer players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. M. Serrano had a fantastic opportunity to put Denwer up another goal 31 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Valenčík from Denwer a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 33 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! 3 - 0 was the score after the first half. Denwer enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 82 percent of possession.

As the game started to slip away for MPear, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. V. Haraldsson slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. Denwer increased the lead as M. Mokráň struck to make the score 4 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. The rain made it hard for players like M. Serrano to show their technical control of the ball on this soggy day. It was obvious that team Denwer had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. After 74 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by D. Heberlein might have resulted in another goal for Denwer. However, P. Jacolet made a spectacular save. Z. Kryštof seems to have an uncanny ability to try the unusual. He nearly produced a great goal - unfortunately for Denwer his shot went just wide this time. MPear's L. Pietragalla got himself booked for a foul. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Denwer, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. Denwer claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 82 percent.

Most important Denwer player was M. Valenčík. M. Bavrirčák was a disappointment, however. MPear's top performer was clearly B. Kulbert. F. Iványi turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 0.