Klaka 0 - 3 VRBOVECKA (382869501)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 7947 at Klaka Arena today. Mikaël Le Garrec was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rune Skogseth and Pier Cesare Mele. Fans of both teams had been eagerly awaiting this Zagreb derby and were doing their best to outshout their opponents. Klaka started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. Starters: Uković - Bačoka, Kekić, Janeš, Štetić - Kavtičnik, Žulj, Rajčić, Paljar - Sason, Žuvela.

VRBOVECKA tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Sviličić - Lencevičius, van Pas, van Groningen, Kerić - Vuković, Sendón, Andreakos, Šantić - Pels, Hámori.

It was an obvious ambition of VRBOVECKA to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave R. Rajčić from Klaka a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 5 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! A loud groan was heard from the fans of VRBOVECKA, as N. Andreakos left the pitch in too much pain to finish the match. S. Pecikoza took his place on the field. Klaka had a chance to take the lead after S. Žuvela's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled out as his shot went just over the bar after 8 minutes. With 12 minutes played, VRBOVECKA's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to J. Pels he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. 16 minutes into the match, D. Hámori came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. VRBOVECKA's D. Sendón was shown a yellow card after 17 minutes for slicing down an opponent. Halftime score was 0 - 1. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by VRBOVECKA, with 60 percent of the ball.

Klaka tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors' defence got the best of this rather direct style of play. VRBOVECKA were determined to attack on the wing and their central attempts were constantly abandoned in favour of the wings. The home crowd was not impressed when D. Šantić came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 57 minutes. VRBOVECKA were now up 0 - 2. After 64 minutes, an incisive pass through the middle gave V. Lencevičius a chance to increase the lead for VRBOVECKA, and he did not disappoint. The score was then 0 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of VRBOVECKA lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. The home crowd cheered when, after 68 minutes, J. Pels's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. D. Šantić of VRBOVECKA was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. VRBOVECKA enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 66 percent of possession.

Klaka's top performer was clearly A. Sason. D. Uković turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important VRBOVECKA player was J. Pels. On the other hand, B. Kerić's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 3.