FC.Dnepr 2 - 4 ShaperLazio (388008669)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 44429 at Dnepr Stadion today. Sergiy Novikov was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Ib Bang Christiansen and Jianu Laza. FC.Dnepr tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Starters: Kiełkiewicz - Prokopenkov, Pignon, Trattner - Alventosa, Chacanavičius, Callís, Tambalo, Mackie - Islamov, Lampio.

ShaperLazio started off with a 4-3-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Schaap - Cybulenko, Apicella, Ostroushko, Strömmar - Aprile, Kondratovich, Lualdi - Mancelo, Rogovets, Wadoux.

For their match strategy, ShaperLazio had decided to use their ability to counter-attack whenever possible. FC.Dnepr had a good opportunity to take the lead as K. Lampio came up the left side, but he struck the ball weakly and it went straight into the arms of P. Schaap. After 24 minutes, a counter attack by ShaperLazio was converted into a decent free kick opportunity. However, the indirect free kick routine was easily anticipated by the defenders. A textbook example of how to defend a free kick - the attackers were left with few viable options. Some great play up the middle by FC.Dnepr led to a chance for V. Chacanavičius to score after 28 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. M. Lualdi was first to reach a ball launched long through the center from ShaperLazio's defence 32 minutes into the game. He managed to keep his cool and beat the goalkeeper to make the score 0 - 1. After 33 minutes, ShaperLazio's A. Kondratovich burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 2. It was 0 - 2 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by FC.Dnepr, with 62 percent of the ball.

The home crowd was given a certain amount of consolation when G. Mackie scored after a brilliant midfield combination through the centre, reducing the lead to 1 - 2. The visitors' J. Strömmar took advantage of a misunderstanding between the home side's goalie and centre backs 82 minutes into the match. 1 - 3 for ShaperLazio. ShaperLazio were great at switching from defence to attack, and after 84 minutes, M. Lualdi swept through the middle on a counterattack, making the score 1 - 4. 86 minutes into the game, FC.Dnepr's T. Alventosa fired home from an incredible distance! We'll be seeing that on Xmas goal compilation DVDs for years to come! 2 - 4. FC.Dnepr had most of the ball, with 63 percent of possession.

The most dominating FC.Dnepr player was without a doubt V. Islamov. T. Alventosa turned in a dismal performance, however. Most important ShaperLazio player was A. Wadoux. However, O. Cybulenko made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 4.