Hroch 8 - 2 Barça38 (379601672)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 2422 at 5.FC Hroch Arena today. Rory Carr was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gino Righetto and Faruk Salkan. Hroch tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. Starters: Tihlařík - Ševčík, Kubovec, Křičenský - Lisner, Kolb, Reiter, Šonský - Děkan, Matyášek, Pipek.

A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Barça38. Lineup: von Wartburg - Klimowicz, Sagarribai, Cerulli, Rocha Pires - Wrulich, Figarski, Mitu, Korman - Leslie, Uluşan.

Hroch tried to focus their attacks down the middle. F. Pipek gave Hroch 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 Barça38 levelled the score after 21 minutes to make it 1 - 1, as R. Figarski struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. 28 minutes into the game, Hroch seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to inadequate. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Hroch, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. R. Křičenský caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 29 minutes. This gave Hroch the 2 - 1 lead. It was obvious that team Hroch had instructions to attack in the middle instead of on the wings. Cheers filled the stadium as Š. Lisner broke through the visitors' central defence to put away the ball to increase the lead to 3 - 1 to Hroch. Barça38's J. Sagarribai refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 40 minutes. V. Děkan had a fantastic opportunity to put Hroch up another goal 41 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. 43 minutes in, an amazing pass from the left side resulted in a goal for the visitors, as R. Figarski anticipated the through ball and scored, reducing the deficit to 3 - 2. It was 3 - 2 at the break. Hroch enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 62 percent of possession.

A review of the gameplan helped Hroch get back to a solid organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. Hroch put themselves up 4 - 2 when Š. Lisner broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. After 66 minutes, the away team failed to deal with a good exchange of passes on the right, and B. Reiter gave the Hroch supporters even more to cheer about when he increased the lead to 5 - 2. By now, the players in Hroch felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Z. Šonský's lightning pace was too much for N. Klimowicz who could only look on as the Hroch player blasted one home. 6 - 2. Hroch players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Hroch solidified their lead at the 80 minute mark, as V. Děkan dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 7 - 2. After 82 minutes Hroch's Z. Šonský limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. At the 83 minute mark, it looked like the opportunity for Hroch to score had been missed until J. Matyášek suddenly worked his way clear and fired off a spectacular shot. The keeper had no chance! 8 - 2. 86 minutes into the game, Hroch had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to passable. Hroch had most of the ball, with 65 percent of possession.

The most dominating Hroch player was without a doubt V. Děkan. Z. Tihlařík was a disappointment, however. Barça38's top performer was clearly G. Mitu. J. Sagarribai turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 8 - 2.