Hironica 5 - 1 Lokomotiv (381679298)

37120 spectators had found their way to Hironica Stadium, despite the heavy rain. Alberto Álvarez Sánchez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Alain Garçon and Salvatore Barbanti. Hironica started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Vergnasco - Araújo, Gomucio, Romani - Schiti, Mühlenbrücke, Ungureanu, Spinelli, Envangelista - Orella, Cronskog.

Lokomotiv had chosen a strategic 2-5-3 formation. The following players took the field: Villarà - Rincon Ramos, Quebra-coco - Freksen, Van Sant, Ianculescu, Nonbo, Lo Bianco - Paleček, Donnarumma, Iacomino.

Hironica were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. It was a bad day for the usually speedy H. Freksen. The mud seemed to slow him down. 15 minutes into the game, M. Ianculescu almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a delicate lob over the keeper, but the ball glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. A foul after 28 minutes resulted in a free kick. P. Gomucio cannonballed it, giving the home team the lead 1 - 0. Hironica's P. Gomucio struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 2 - 0 after 33 minutes. A great save by keeper C. Villarà after 41 minutes kept the visitors in the game after C. Ungureanu struck from the left with a real cannonball. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave A. Romani from Hironica a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 42 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! After 43 minutes Hironica's A. Vergnasco limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. It was 2 - 0 at the break. Lokomotiv enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 54 percent of possession.

After 59 minutes, A. Romani put Hironica ahead 3 - 0 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. Hironica's A. Romani increased the lead to 4 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 64 minutes. After 65 minutes, Lokomotiv were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. N. Quebra-coco did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. 68 minutes into the game, D. Orella had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came D. Chabannier. The Lokomotiv coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. After 70 minutes of the match, the manager still hoped to turn things around. N. Quebra-coco was ordered to assume a different position on the pitch. He took the place of N. Lo Bianco, who in turn replaced his team mate. As the game started to slip away for Lokomotiv, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. After 71 minutes, Lokomotiv used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. The home team's fans were upset when, after 74 minutes, the visiting A. Van Sant broke through the central defence and kicked the ball past the keeper. 4 - 1 was the score. Lokomotiv had to make a substitution after 77 minutes. S. Iacomino limped off the field and was replaced by G. Laurora. M. Ianculescu was handed the Lokomotiv captain's armband. Attacking on the wings was the choice for Hironica, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. A. Romani increased the lead for Hironica to 5 - 1, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! That was his third goal of the match - a hat trick for A. Romani. By now, the players in Hironica felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Lokomotiv, with 51 percent of the ball.

Hironica's best player was A. Schiti. D. Chabannier was a disappointment, however. Most important Lokomotiv player was D. Paleček. N. Lo Bianco turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 5 - 1.