H.C.Brasov 2 - 1 Sporting (380810277)

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Tampa Arena saw a crowd turnout of 25508. Ilkka Pentti was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Teuvo Kempas and Gustaw Socha. H.C.Brasov decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. The following players had been chosen: Rízquez - Tortora, Bumbierkalns, Bakos - Friezner, Moroz, Jongepier, Schönbrodt, Tepper - Korvenpää, Hottinen.

Sporting tactics involved an interesting 5-4-1 combination. Lineup: Toader - Andersson, Saguir, Gaasch, Ignat, Lazăr - Gabrea, Alegre Martínez, Tryk, Fehl - Miclea.

H.C.Brasov used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Sporting were relying on their ability to counter-attack. Sporting's S. Fehl was shown a yellow card after 23 minutes for slicing down an opponent. With the clock showing 25 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of H.C.Brasov resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by H. Hottinen in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. H.C.Brasov were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to L. Korvenpää, but the H.C.Brasov player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! It was 1 - 0 at the break. H.C.Brasov claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 63 percent.

The visitors' equaliser seemed sure to come after 65 minutes, following a one on one situation around the left hand side of the goal area, but C. Rízquez got the best of it, blocking the shot from G. Ignat. D. Gabrea knocked one home from a counterattack down the right wing, making the score 1 - 1 after 67 minutes. H.C.Brasov players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. H.C.Brasov took the lead 69 minutes into the game by 2 - 1, as H. Hottinen elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. H.C.Brasov put in a good effort on the right, but L. Korvenpää saw his volley fly wide of the mark 76 minutes into the game. H.C.Brasov's C. Jongepier left the field after 77 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was F. Kavalec. H.C.Brasov enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 63 percent of possession.

H.C.Brasov's top performer was clearly L. Korvenpää. On the other hand, U. Friezner's play was disheartening. Most important Sporting player was G. Ignat. D. Gabrea turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.