Lokomotiv 2 - 3 Esplugues (380091334)

Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 21285 to Briquets Park. Abel Baracaldo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gregor Boudier and Eberhardt Kupferschmiede. Lokomotiv had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Hauptman - Falcón, Grøn Nielsen, Morais Pinto - Ribers, ten Dam, Ucero, Michlewicz, Villumsen - Rodríguez, Tarelkin.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Esplugues. The following players had been chosen: Pikoń - Capuchines, Marin Cano, Panciu - Utiel, Aedo, Pulido, Agra, Kortesa - Otte, Velicu.

For their match strategy, Lokomotiv had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. With 5 minutes played, Esplugues's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to N. Velicu he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. A handball in the penalty area gave the home team a penalty 10 minutes into the match, and V. Tarelkin was able to score, taking the scoreline to 1 - 1. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 11 minutes allowed K. Otte to score for Esplugues. The scoreboard now read 1 - 2. After 16 minutes of game time, K. Otte had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but T. Hauptman was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. Lokomotiv's B. Villumsen left the field after 22 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was J. Vansimpsen. Halftime score was 1 - 2. Esplugues claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

Esplugues's N. Velicu made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 60 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave V. Tarelkin from Lokomotiv a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 68 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! The Lokomotiv coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Lokomotiv's S. Rodríguez was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 70 minutes. A. Karadzovski was given a chance to change things around. In a well-rehearsed move, Lokomotiv delivered a free kick into the box which V. Tarelkin, soaring majestically above the defence, rose to head home to make the score 2 - 2. K. Otte came close to putting the visiting team one up 86 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but T. Hauptman managed to tip the ball to a corner. Esplugues enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

As neither team had managed to win, extra time was called. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 92 minutes into the match left Esplugues's R. Agra completely free to score. 2 - 3 for the visitors. Extra time over, Esplugues were the victors! The most dominating Lokomotiv player was without a doubt J. Ucero. T. Hauptman was a disappointment, however. R. Agra performed admirably for Esplugues. H. Kortesa on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 3.