FCK08 4 - 2 Sulimov (381413233)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 26498 at Stadion Jaroslava Kohouta today. Henri Suorsa was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Celestino Muruais and Per Lundhby. FCK08 tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Ungvári - Ļekats, Homik, van Helfteren - Duprez, Puebla, Galardini, Hloušek, Diaz - Garski, O'Riordan.

Sulimov started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Carrau - Kabelka, Ulfke, Delamarre - Benard, Badocchi, Valkeejärvi, Glynn, Zelený - Descamps, Vymazal.

FCK08 were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. After a fine move down the middle M. Garski nearly gave the home side a goal after 4 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Sulimov's M. Benard was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the opposition's box - J. Vymazal managed to volley one of them into the net to make it 0 - 1 after 16 minutes. The home crowd cheered when, after 17 minutes, E. Descamps's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Players in FCK08 heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 22 minutes gave FCK08 a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and I. Ļekats stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 FCK08's V. van Helfteren was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 23 minutes. A. Galardini gave FCK08 the lead as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance. 2 - 1 It was 2 - 1 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to FCK08, who controlled the ball 60 percent of the time.

The FCK08 players could smell victory in the air. J. Hloušek wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for S. Mucip after 50 minutes. FCK08 were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. Sulimov showed their counterattack skill 74 minutes into the match by breaking through the middle, with E. Descamps scoring uncontested for 2 - 2. FCK08 took the lead after 76 minutes as a result of J. Puebla's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 3 - 2. FCK08 put themselves up 4 - 2 when J. Puebla broke through on the right, leaving the entire defence trailing in his wake. The crowd gasped as J. Carrau of Sulimov was flattened by an opponent after 81 minutes and had to be carried off. G. Galazzi came in off the bench. FCK08's S. Mucip got himself booked for a foul. FCK08's J. Puebla left the field after 87 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was P. Siñeriz. FCK08 enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

Most important FCK08 player was A. Galardini. On the other hand, V. Diaz's play was disheartening. E. Descamps performed admirably for Sulimov. G. Galazzi on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 2.