Lovci 6 - 3 Velez (382623059)

51913 punters turned up at Lovačka Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Maximilian Snape was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jaakko Kurikka and Maximiliano Fox. Lovci had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Starters: Corbatón - Mishkov, Cañas, Garin - Škontra, Malele, Mengin, Irumberri - Scrimieri, Garriador, Gottflod.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Velez. They fielded: Tshuva - In, Chappate, Geyer - Federici, Brakoniecki, Jauregi, Marías, Gouveia - De Dionigi, Floquet.

It was an obvious ambition of Lovci to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. Velez mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 18 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from N. Cañas, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as Velez's A. De Dionigi put the ball in the onion bag after 29 minutes to make it 1 - 1. Lovci broke through on the left 30 minutes into the game, with T. Škontra firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 2 - 1 lead. Lovci managed to extend their lead to 3 - 1 when N. Cañas cut in neatly from the left side and struck a fine shot past the away team's goalkeeper. With 37 minutes played, A. Federici had a fantastic opportunity to reply but his shot flew harmlessly into the side-netting of the goal. Lovci hit back on the counter attack 38 minutes into the game with a free kick. Initially it seemed wasted, hit wide towards the wing. But there was an idea to it - the ball was then crossed towards M. Garriador, who was waiting for it in the box. That's 4 - 1! Don't forget to thank the set pieces coach for that idea! A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Lovci's M. Mengin increasing the lead to 5 - 1. Confident in their lead, Lovci's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. 5 - 1 was the halftime score. Velez had most of the ball, with 54 percent of possession.

The Lovci players could smell victory in the air. N. Cañas wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for T. dos Santos after 50 minutes. As the captain was no longer on the pitch, T. Škontra took over the role of being the Lovci captain. A great save by keeper P. Tshuva after 50 minutes kept the visitors in the game after M. Garriador struck from the left with a real cannonball. M. Garriador left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 55 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. L. Solomun was the replacement. After 66 minutes, Velez sent a free kick in high over the penalty box. In what looked like a well-rehearsed move, the ball was headed backwards and reached A. Marías, who had plenty of space to place a well aimed shot - 5 - 2. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Lovci coach let S. Omanović replace T. Škontra after 70 minutes. S. Omanović became the new Lovci captain. The visitors got a chance to pulling one back after 74 minutes, due to a defensive blunder leaving E. Chappate completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side's keeper. Lovci's L. Mishkov increased the lead to 6 - 2, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 75 minutes. R. Geyer really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal following a great play by R. Brakoniecki after a corner. Velez reduced the lead after 79 minutes to 6 - 3 as A. De Dionigi easily chipped the ball past the home side's keeper after a dazzling play from the right. L. Mishkov could have increased the lead after 81 minutes, but his shot hit the post after a nice combination in the middle of the park. Velez claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

The most dominating Lovci player was without a doubt K. Gottflod. L. Mishkov turned in a dismal performance, however. Velez's best player was S. In. A. De Dionigi on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 6 - 3.