Costesti 1 - 3 Prabusita (380782618)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 51395 at Bistrita today. Wilhelm van Straaten was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Arnaud Brunet and Mesrob Yezikyan. Costesti had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Byszewski - Maskalėnas, Haussmann, Deičs - Nogueira, Rigotti, Titwani, Palmieri, Karlsson - Georgescu, Meijer.

Prabusita tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Nicolae - Karancı, Posada, Breazu - Kriegbaum, Barzagli, Spirin, Melgar, D'hondt - Strâmbu, Tutoveanu.

7 minutes into the game, D. Strâmbu was a hair's breadth away from giving Prabusita the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by M. Byszewski saved the home team that time. With 9 minutes played, the excellent ball from the wing by Prabusita's X. D'hondt reached D. Strâmbu's head, and he is not one to miss such an opportunity - 0 - 1. With 23 minutes played, W. Palmieri of Costesti fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. After 37 minutes, Prabusita's C. Tutoveanu swiftly ran past R. Maskalėnas and nutmegged the keeper! 0 - 2. The referee showed Prabusita's Ş. Karancı the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Costesti's R. Maskalėnas went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. The home crowd cheered when, after 43 minutes, D. Strâmbu's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Possession in this half belonged to Prabusita, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

With 53 minutes played, X. D'hondt nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. After 77 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave X. D'hondt a chance to increase the lead for Prabusita, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 3. O. Karlsson's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 77 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to P. Georgescu who knocked it in for Costesti. 1 - 3! Prabusita enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 58 percent of possession.

Most important Costesti player was P. Georgescu. On the other hand, R. Maskalėnas's play was disheartening. Prabusita's top performer was clearly D. Strâmbu. N. Breazu was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 3.