NK-Varlah 2 - 2 ALIGATOR (382737765)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 36175 to NK-Varlah Arena. Rogier Spindler was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jan Persson and Demetrius Sussbauer. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for NK-Varlah. Starters: Zimonjić - Minieri, Legierski, Toivanen - Pavlović, Dreesen, Lauridsen, Schneiderbauer, Prêtre - Filipoi, Petrunichev.

ALIGATOR had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. They fielded: Lorenčak - Adldinger, Achhammer, Hrovat, Nežmah - Leevike, Felber, Girgós, Potočki, Pulici - Aquilonia.

ALIGATOR took the lead after 13 minutes making the score 0 - 1. A. Hrovat placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. It was a hot and sunny day, and several players seemed worn out. Maybe this was why T. Pulici found an unusual amount of space for his snappy footwork. ALIGATOR increased their lead after 34 minutes when C. Aquilonia broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 2, much to the home crowd's dismay. At this point, it was obvious that the players of ALIGATOR lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. NK-Varlah's K. Legierski found himself alone on the left side 40 minutes into the match and laid down a perfect shot - right into the arms of the keeper! Halftime score was 0 - 2. ALIGATOR enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 59 percent of possession.

After 68 minutes of game time, T. Pulici had an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors' lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but P. Zimonjić was in the right place and tipped the ball over for a corner. 73 minutes had been played and the home team was awarded a penalty. The guests' keeper dived the right way, but M. Schneiderbauer was still able to reduce the score to 1 - 2. After 80 minutes, J. Felber made a complete fool of himself when he presented the ball to the feet of S. Petrunichev who smashed it into the open goal for NK-Varlah. 2 - 2. 85 minutes of the match played, and a comedy of errors by the home side gave the visitors a chance at the lead, but C. Potočki, after finding himself dashing down on goal from the left with only the keeper to beat, sliced his shot horribly wide. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by ALIGATOR, with 57 percent of the ball.

NK-Varlah's top performer was clearly N. Filipoi. Q. Prêtre on the other hand, had a terrible day. ALIGATOR's best player was M. Girgós. On the other hand, C. Aquilonia's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.