LIVERPOOL 2 - 3 DSK_Vitebsk (388077051)

The weather was pretty good, and a crowd of 50593 had shown up at D.DOGS-PREMIUM Arena MINSK for the match. Christoffer Baló was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Stefan B. Wästerhall and Dick Munn-Giddings. A 3-4-3 alignment was the formation of choice for LIVERPOOL. The following players took the field: Scalmana - Courtois, Fredriksson, Santner - Forssjö, Skorodumov, van der Kuijlen, Gallaga - Boberski, Flessas, Bari.

DSK_Vitebsk started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Helguera - Rechichi, Godoy, Pintea - Lakin, Magutto, Ackermans, Aupetit, Mazo Santolalla - Azabache, Rapin.

The wings were the focus of most of LIVERPOOL's attacks today. DSK_Vitebsk were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. This was a good period for the visitors, with several opportunities to take the lead, particularly when G. Rapin slipped through the defence on the right to come up alone against G. Scalmana, but the home side's keeper showed his lightning reflexes. Players in DSK_Vitebsk heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. DSK_Vitebsk's C. Godoy managed to lose the defenders as he advanced down the right wing and scored, putting the visitors ahead after 30 minutes. 0 - 1. 36 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as G. Rapin finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. 0 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to DSK_Vitebsk, who controlled the ball 55 percent of the time.

C. Lakin came close to extending the visitors' lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over G. Scalmana but overcooked it and hit the bar instead. LIVERPOOL's fans were urging them forward as they tried to get back into the game, and their vocal support was rewarded 83 minutes into the match as F. Boberski ran onto a beautiful ball played through the visitors' defence and slotted it past the keeper to reduce the deficit. 1 - 2. After 84 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for G. Rapin who increased DSK_Vitebsk's lead to 1 - 3. After this, you could see that the players of DSK_Vitebsk were more interested in killing time than scoring more goals. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, C. Courtois got himself booked. The manager of LIVERPOOL was not happy. The home crowd was given a certain amount of consolation when J. Bari scored after a brilliant midfield combination through the centre, reducing the lead to 2 - 3. DSK_Vitebsk enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

Most important LIVERPOOL player was F. Boberski. However, C. Courtois made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating DSK_Vitebsk player was without a doubt O. Azabache. A. Pintea turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 3.