Shark 4 - 2 Vienroči (381507708)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 53935 at Big Shark Arena today. Ger Baselmans was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ettore Ruberto and Joakim Rundman. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Shark. They fielded: Huechun - Maes, Zebrzydło, Charankevich, Johansson - Lassak, Molinier, Vāvere, Kurelis - Baltgalvis, Gudzinskas.

Vienroči had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Eihvalds - Larsen, Isorna, Cherepnev - Shlionskiy, Weidel, Andrade, Becattini, Duijzer - van Esschoten, Váradi.

With 11 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as Ē. Baltgalvis flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. With 12 minutes played, Shark put themselves up 2 - 0 when the visiting defenders lost the ball to D. Molinier, who came up from the left and proceeded to coolly round the keeper and knock the ball home. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Shark's D. Molinier increasing the lead to 3 - 0. With 27 minutes played, R. Lassak could have brought this one home for Shark as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Shark's Ē. Baltgalvis saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 31 minutes. Vienroči's M. van Esschoten was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 38 minutes. It was 3 - 0 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to Shark, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

Shark managed to extend their lead to 4 - 0 when R. Kurelis cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. Morale on the visitors' bench was greatly improved when their B. Becattini reduced the lead to make it 4 - 1 after 52 minutes, following a pass from the right. Vienroči managed to reduce the score to 4 - 2 as M. van Esschoten finished off a well-played combination from the left, easily carving through the defence. Ē. Baltgalvis could have put Shark up one more, but he fired into the side netting after breaking free on the left after 70 minutes. L. Huechun made a brilliant save 79 minutes into the match, blocking a rocket of a shot from A. Duijzer on the right hand side. Shark enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Shark's top performer was clearly R. Lassak. J. Zebrzydło was a disappointment, however. Vienroči's best player was M. van Esschoten. A. Duijzer turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 2.