Jerzu 6 - 1 Victoria (381759661)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 15046 at New Jerzu Arena today. Václav Johanovský was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Adam DeVane and Jonas Jeppsson. Jerzu tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. They fielded: Derypapa - Guţu, Sabadini - Caprioli, Cirò, Lafayette, Can, Schöpf - Schneppenhausen, Trenta, Hemmes.

Victoria started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Haj-Akil - Raffa, Carvalho Araújo, Bartolini - Valgimigli, Boggio, Saggioro, Kolev, Aller - Saunders, Dávalos.

After 26 minutes, V. Schneppenhausen came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 1 - 0, giving Jerzu the lead. Victoria's A. Aller was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 29 minutes. The visiting team's B. Valgimigli was able to score the 1 - 1 equaliser with a header 32 minutes into the match, after some good work on the right. They were singing the praises of C. Schöpf 36 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 2 - 1 to Jerzu. After 37 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by O. Can might have resulted in another goal for Jerzu. However, R. Haj-Akil made a spectacular save. Victoria's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 38 minutes gone, but A. Bartolini's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. 40 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as P. Hemmes broke through, making the score 3 - 1 for Jerzu. 3 - 1 was the halftime score. Jerzu had most of the ball, with 53 percent of possession.

Coming in on the left, E. Saunders did everything right to get a goal for Victoria after 51 minutes, but his finishing shot was stabbed clear by the keeper. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, A. Saggioro got himself booked. The manager of Victoria was not happy. Jerzu's S. Trenta left the field after 55 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was K. Obuchowicz. Jerzu solidified their lead at the 57 minute mark, as V. Schneppenhausen dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 4 - 1. M. Guţu increased the lead for Jerzu 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! P. Hemmes increased Jerzu's lead to 6 - 1 with a penalty spot cannonball. Possession in this half belonged to Jerzu, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

K. Obuchowicz performed admirably for Jerzu. L. Sabadini turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Victoria player was without a doubt L. Boggio. R. Haj-Akil on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 6 - 1.