SEPREUS 3 - 0 Steaua (380880521)

Dark skies made the crowd of 27318 at AF GABO Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Ferdinand Bujor was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mihael Štefanić and Anders Rogersson. SEPREUS had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players took the field: Akpinkou - Georgescu, Doană, Kryuchin - Uhlir, López Negredo, Montoya, Berckmoes, Dincã - Knyphausen, Mitrache.

A 5-3-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Steaua. They fielded: Manea - Spurio, Pankko, Ivarsson, Degerloch, van Rhijn - Ursea, Agasucci, Cioară - Cauc, Ţeţu.

Steaua used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Some great play up the middle by SEPREUS led to a chance for D. Uhlir to score after 13 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. G. Agasucci's lack of experience almost gave SEPREUS a goal after 20 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 22 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from C. Doană, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. A speedy charge from the left side of the field increased the lead of SEPREUS to 2 - 0 as G. Berckmoes finished it off competently, firing in from an acute angle. At this point, it was obvious that the players of SEPREUS lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. 2 - 0 was the score after the first half. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by SEPREUS, with 76 percent of the ball.

Steaua had to make a substitution after 60 minutes. B. Cioară limped off the field and was replaced by D. Verdeaţă. 83 minutes in, Steaua's F. Ţeţu received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Unfortunately for SEPREUS, F. Montoya was injured when the game became more physical, and he had to leave the field. D. Sławski replaced him. A well-executed free kick by G. Knyphausen after 85 minutes made it 3 - 0 for SEPREUS. R. Ivarsson of Steaua was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. When B. Spurio left the game because of a back injury after 88 minutes, Steaua had to continue a man short due to there being no available replacements. Possession in this half belonged to SEPREUS, who controlled the ball 81 percent of the time.

C. Doană performed admirably for SEPREUS. M. Akpinkou on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Steaua player was R. Manea. However, D. Verdeaţă made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 0.