XIZI 1 - 1 RDNT (388859047)

Dark skies made the crowd of 12000 at Mikayil Muwfiq Adina Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Ottfried Kitzmantel was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Matteo Ginnari and Walter Markl. XIZI tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Gertz - Baxışov, Kreysler-Hehberger, Palso, Drozdovich - Ban, Salmanov, Turupuli, Əsədov - Pietrasiak, ter Horst.

A 3-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for RDNT. The following players took the field: Clota - Gartler, Krzywdziński, Mustafayev - Höwt, Schönfelder, Gradinarov, Luotojärvi - Remmelberger, Oßwald.

XIZI used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of RDNT. 18 minutes into the game, RDNT seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a weak level of organisation. With 20 minutes played, B. Turupuli of XIZI fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. J. Höwt of RDNT received a yellow card after 27 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of RDNT's M. Gartler after 32 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 0 - 1 lead. V. Salmanov missed a penalty after 33 minutes that would have put the teams level. The referee showed RDNT's M. Gartler the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by RDNT, with 52 percent of the ball.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that RDNT had passable organisation. XIZI's B. Turupuli put his head to a well placed ball, lifted in from the left, and scored to make the score 1 - 1 with 60 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock. Making his way up the middle 77 minutes into the match, V. Salmanov almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert È. Clota blocked it to keep the score level. 80 minutes in, RDNT appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only inadequate. XIZI's J. Kreysler-Hehberger left the field after 82 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was H. Salahov. RDNT enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 53 percent of possession.

J. ter Horst performed admirably for XIZI. On the other hand, B. Turupuli's play was disheartening. The most dominating RDNT player was without a doubt M. Gartler. M. Mustafayev turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 1.