Paradis 2 - 3 Ceata (380779475)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 37829 to FC Paradis Arena. Bogdan Buliga was the appointed referee. Paradis tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players took the field: Lacalle Cuvillo - Treml, Lăzăroiu, Vargha - Bucur, Ilie, Matei, Mircescu, Grigore - Acasandrei, Bura.

Ceata had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Starters: Ramos Cervera - Gazel, Mijalski, Iacob - Võsu, Nava, Cantarini, Rusu - Zanon, Bestué, Horodnic.

Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 16 minutes into the match left Ceata's C. Zanon completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. Paradis's G. Vargha made a successful breakthrough on the left after 22 minutes and should have levelled the score, but instead he clipped it over the bar. After 29 minutes, G. Vargha got through on the right and was very close to equalising for the home side, but didn't get the shot away. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 33 minutes gave Paradis a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and C. Matei stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 The guests took the lead 35 minutes into the match, after a right-side attack resulted in I. Bestué scoring to make it 1 - 2. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Paradis, but G. Acasandrei's shot went over the bar. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to Paradis, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

After a scuffle in the guests' penalty area 55 minutes into the game, the home team was awarded a penalty. R. Treml scored to make it 2 - 2. Ceata took the lead after 58 minutes making the score 2 - 3. F. Cantarini placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. P. Bura was just a finger's breadth away from an equaliser for Paradis with a strike from the left, but E. Ramos Cervera managed to ward the shot off for a corner. F. Cantarini wanted to play on, but the Ceata coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 72 minutes into the game by I. Ispas. C. Zanon left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 72 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. T. Dobrea was the replacement. In an effort to secure the lead, Ceata changed their tactic after 78 minutes. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Ceata coach let D. Talker replace K. Mijalski after 80 minutes. Ceata enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

The most dominating Paradis player was without a doubt P. Bura. On the other hand, A. Lacalle Cuvillo's play was disheartening. Ceata's top performer was clearly O. Rusu. D. Talker was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 3.