grozmeni 3 - 1 ČegeVairas (381508267)

35590 spectators had found their way to grozino arena, despite the heavy rain. Diego Pasero was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kennet Reimer and Noah Brandsma. grozmeni started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Artış - Göttler, Shtogrin, Griķis, Ruģelis - Klemenz, Reményi, Can, Bladmo - Brancaleone, Sostegni.

ČegeVairas tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Capelo - Kubrakov, Matisons, Bacanović - Simeonov, Tomkēvičs, Ozols, Uļmans, Pastars - Iamele, Vanags-Daugavvanags.

grozmeni were relying on their ability to counter-attack. ČegeVairas tried to focus their attacks down the middle. I. Reményi slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. 0 - 1 was the score with 25 minutes played, after S. Simeonov cut through the central defence and chipped home a goal for ČegeVairas. After the ball was lifted in from the left, A. Pastars was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 28 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. With the clock showing 29 minutes played, a great pass from the defensive line of grozmeni resulted in a counterattack that was smoothly brought under control by G. Sostegni in the centre of the opposition's penalty area, but his finish went high. The referee showed grozmeni's K. Bladmo the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. 0 - 1 was the halftime score. ČegeVairas claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 73 percent.

A well placed corner kick from Y. Can was followed by R. Ruģelis's hard but accurate header. The well executed routine resulted in a goal for grozmeni, the score now 1 - 1. ČegeVairas had a magnificent opportunity after 59 minutes as A. Pastars hit the ball hard from the edge of the penalty box. However, the shot went wide. grozmeni played a good counterattacking move down the left 60 minutes into the match, with G. Sostegni finishing well for 2 - 1. The visitors kept the pressure on to tie the game when, after 63 minutes, V. Vanags-Daugavvanags broke through the centre and found himself alone with the keeper. M. Artış made a great block, though. grozmeni were given a free kick 89 minutes into the game, just after a swift counter attack broke down. Rather than shooting straight at goal, it was directed at the area just in front of the keeper. The attackers made several runs and made it hard for the defenders to protect their goal. After a short tussle with a defender, B. Shtogrin could finally lay the ball to rest behind the keeper. 3 - 1, and proof it can pay off to come prepared. Possession in this half belonged to ČegeVairas, who controlled the ball 74 percent of the time.

B. Shtogrin performed admirably for grozmeni. However, Y. Can made a disastrous appearance. Most important ČegeVairas player was M. Uļmans. M. Bacanović turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 1.