cotoru 2 - 2 DeepValley (379728764)

Due to an all-day shower, 2274 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at fc cotorul Arena. Tommy Skjolden was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Peter Dingemans and Dalibor Paperák. cotoru tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. Lineup: Savin - Myga, Tyynysniemi, Gherca, Cook - Fischbeck, Klimala, Alf, Pia, Buşaga - Papança.

DeepValley had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Klintbom - Gardener, Arno, Andersson - Georgiev, De Coensel, Pettersson, Escompuesto, Bentley - Sheppard, Lindhmo.

cotoru clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. DeepValley were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 20 minutes into the match left DeepValley's C. Gardener completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. After 26 minutes DeepValley's C. Gardener limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. Given a free kick close to the byline, cotoru tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let D. Papança slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 1 - 1, 28 minutes into the game. DeepValley were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when T. Andersson slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against D. Savin, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. The cotoru free kick 40 minutes into the match seemed wasted, as the shot was both short and off target. But was this actually a plan? The ball landed at the feet of R. Tyynysniemi, who was completely unmarked in the box. That's 2 - 1! H. Pia spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. Attacking on the wings was the choice for DeepValley, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to cotoru, who controlled the ball 62 percent of the time.

The bench was restless, and with 46 minutes passed DeepValley's coach gave R. Serretti the opportunity the player had been hoping for. J. Klintbom reluctantly left the field. With 46 minutes played, the DeepValley coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. B. Davidsson came on, J. Sheppard had to leave the fray. J. Falkbeck was called on to replace DeepValley's C. Arno after 49 minutes following a nasty collision. A really bad tackle inside the penalty area 54 minutes into the match gave the referee no other choice but to award the visiting DeepValley a penalty. N. De Coensel knocked it home. 2 - 2 cotoru's S. Klimala got himself booked for a foul. Many thought D. Papança ought to have been awarded a penalty 81 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around R. Serretti after a determined run through the middle. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave D. Papança from cotoru a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 82 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! cotoru had most of the ball, with 65 percent of possession.

cotoru's best player was P. Alf. D. Savin on the other hand, had a terrible day. R. Serretti performed admirably for DeepValley. However, A. Bentley made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 2.