MFCH 2 - 1 Islanders (379082911)

Clear skies welcomed the 1599 spectators who had made their way to Balpet Stadium. Iulian Sandu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ciriaco Schilling and Steve Potter. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for MFCH. The following players had been chosen: Janoš - Žatecký, Čuri, Nitsche - Bulava, Busta, Jadrný, Maroušek, Chalupský - Hanyk, Topol.

Islanders tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Pitzer - Jakubíček, Klvaňa, Kaňka, Petřík - Stefanek, Couto Costa, Münif, Müller - Christiansen, Tomáš.

Islanders saw most attack opportunities on the wings. Some great play up the middle by MFCH led to a chance for Š. Topol to score after 15 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. With 18 minutes played M. Busta almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. Many thought M. Busta ought to have been awarded a penalty 21 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around R. Pitzer after a determined run through the middle. 0 - 0 was the halftime score. MFCH claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 55 percent.

C. Couto Costa had a good opportunity to give Islanders the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. After the game, the most discussed event will probably be the penalty given after 64 minutes that gave the visitors the 0 - 1 lead. Despite the controversy, M. Christiansen struck home the penalty, as cool as anything. MFCH's B. Bulava made a successful breakthrough on the left after 68 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. B. Bulava showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 76 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 1 - 1 equaliser away. After some beautiful movement down the left wing, M. Busta scored for MFCH putting them ahead 2 - 1, after 80 minutes. MFCH enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 59 percent of possession.

Š. Topol performed admirably for MFCH. However, B. Bulava made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Islanders player was without a doubt T. Münif. On the other hand, M. Christiansen's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 1.