Ceata 4 - 1 Phantom (380779489)

Clouds darkened the skies at Padurea de la Strunga as 49436 spectators turned up for the match. Isto Uusitalo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Davide Schlegel and Randy De Beus. Ceata decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Ramos Cervera - Iacob, Gazel - Võsu, Nava, Cantarini, Rusu, Lyhblom - Zanon, Bestué, Horodnic.

Phantom tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Golea - Cruşoveanu, Sgrava, Verhaagh - Jandiri, Schwegler, Gorgan, Gournay, Panait - Kusunoki, Welsh.

Phantom were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Ceata took the lead 3 minutes in, as R. Horodnic broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. With 21 minutes played, Ceata put themselves up 2 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to C. Zanon, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. Ceata's F. Cantarini increased the lead to 3 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 28 minutes. The players of Ceata now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. The teams went for the halftime break at 3 - 0. Ceata had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

Phantom's G. Panait was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 60 minutes. The visitors' right side was dangerous today; H. Kusunoki made the home team's keeper look foolish as he easily reduced the lead to make it 3 - 1 66 minutes into the match. Ceata managed to extend their lead to 4 - 1 when C. Zanon cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. C. Zanon wanted to play on, but the Ceata coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 70 minutes into the game by K. Mijalski. F. Cantarini left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 74 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. I. Ispas was the replacement. The Ceata players could smell victory in the air. R. Horodnic wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for T. Dobrea after 76 minutes. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Ceata, with 62 percent of the ball.

I. Ispas performed admirably for Ceata. A. Lyhblom on the other hand, had a terrible day. Phantom's best player was C. Welsh. On the other hand, G. Cruşoveanu's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 1.