Costesti 3 - 3 LOCOMOTIVA (380782624)

It was an exceptionally sunny day for the crowd of 29657 that came out to Bistrita. Nick Klemmensen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Danny Mønsted and Julio Jorge Pertusi. Costesti decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Byszewski - Maskalėnas, Haussmann, Deičs - Nogueira, Rigotti, Titwani, Sarić, Karlsson - Georgescu, Meijer.

LOCOMOTIVA tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: da Luz - Siwczyński, Kropáček, Stekelenburg - Gunderson, Motoc, Žemla, Vila, Chalaça - Crăiţă, Creţ.

Costesti were very close to putting themselves one up after 10 minutes as P. Georgescu got through on the left, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. One of many good crosses from C. Nogueira on the wing was received and skillfully taken care of by T. Meijer, who scored for Costesti. 1 - 0 The sun seemed to put A. Sarić in a great mood, and he showed off his technical skills all match long. N. Rigotti had a fantastic opportunity to put Costesti up another goal 30 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Coming through the middle L. Creţ almost scored the equaliser for LOCOMOTIVA after 31 minutes, but M. Byszewski made an excellent save, tipping the awkwardly curled shot past the post. 32 minutes into the game, A. Sarić had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came N. Cocoş. S. Titwani could have put Costesti up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 37 minutes. LOCOMOTIVA levelled the score after 40 minutes to make it 1 - 1, as S. Stekelenburg struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. C. Crăiţă hit the corner kick straight to the keeper, but it was mishandled, giving LOCOMOTIVA's R. Žemla an easy chance to knock it in for 1 - 2. Costesti put pressure on the visitors' central defence 43 minutes into the game, but P. Georgescu couldn't find an opening. After 43 minutes LOCOMOTIVA's I. Chalaça had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. L. Dăscălete came in to replace him. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Costesti claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

Costesti's T. Meijer made an attempt at equalising 46 minutes into the match, coming in from the right, but the ball hit the post and the defence easily cleared the rebound. After 74 minutes LOCOMOTIVA's L. Creţ contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. Usually a powerful player on the field, C. Crăiţă looked kind of pale and tired under the hot sun. The crowd roared in delight as T. Meijer finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for Costesti 81 minutes into the match. 2 - 2. LOCOMOTIVA's R. Žemla gave the visitors a 2 - 3 lead after 82 minutes with a superb strike from the right. The crowd was on its feet 84 minutes into the match, as Costesti's P. Georgescu found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 3 - 3 equaliser. LOCOMOTIVA's M. Motoc was shown a yellow card after 85 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Costesti were forced into a substitution as M. Byszewski couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing E. Ghiţ to come in off the bench. Possession in this half belonged to Costesti, who controlled the ball 54 percent of the time.

The most dominating Costesti player was without a doubt P. Georgescu. E. Ghiţ turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important LOCOMOTIVA player was L. Creţ. L. Dăscălete was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 3.