Bystrica 4 - 2 LIPOVEC (392330395)

Dark skies made the crowd of 26450 at Old Trafford a little nervous, but the rain held off. Ambrosio Zuñiga was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Juan Zunzunegui and Sonny Richardsson. Bystrica tactics involved an interesting 5-3-2 combination. Starters: Jänes - Szpakowicz, Bugala, Vrzal, Dubovský, Mladonický - Židek, Rebro, Vuojolainen - Santovito, Centrella.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for LIPOVEC. The following players had been chosen: 恩华 (Enhua) - Vanthillo, Marques, Johnson - Grgić, Piastowski, Zaloña, Alegre, Cannegieter - Mantovani, Iguerabide.

LIPOVEC used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. X. Iguerabide has acquired a talent for predicting the movements of the opposing defence over the years and this almost resulted in a goal 6 minutes into the match. The guests almost went up by a goal after 31 minutes when X. Iguerabide came through and shot from the right. The ball bounced harmlessly off the post, though. LIPOVEC had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 36 minutes in when X. Iguerabide came up alone against S. Jänes who managed a block. After a fine move down the middle A. Centrella nearly gave the home side a goal after 37 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Bystrica took the lead after 39 minutes as a result of J. Rebro's peach of a shot from the right hand side of the box - placed beautifully in the top corner. 1 - 0. With 41 minutes played, J. Rebro of Bystrica fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 0. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by LIPOVEC, with 57 percent of the ball.

57 minutes into the game, J. Grgić almost tied it all up for the visitors with an expertly placed free kick. Unfortunately for LIPOVEC, the home keeper made an incredible save. J. Cannegieter tied the game at 1 - 1 after 59 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. LIPOVEC claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

As neither team had managed to win, extra time was called. X. Iguerabide came close to putting the visiting team one up 103 minutes into the match, following a solo raid down the middle, but S. Jänes managed to tip the ball to a corner. Making his way up the middle 108 minutes into the match, B. Mladonický almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert 宋. 恩华 (Enhua) blocked it to keep the score level. After extra time, the game was still tied and a penalty shoot-out ensued.

Bystrica's M. Vrzal was relaxed as he smoothly put the ball in the net. 2 - 1! LIPOVEC's J. Cannegieter penalty shot was very well placed but S. Jänes went the right way, blocking it spectacularly. The score was still 2 - 1. Clearly nervous from the start, Bystrica's M. Dubovský took a long run up, but could only blast the ball over the bar. The score remains 2 - 1. Oooh - how unlucky! LIPOVEC's S. Zaloña attempt hit the underside of the bar, but rebounded down into the grateful arms of S. Jänes. The score stays 2 - 1. Bystrica's E. Santovito showed he has nerves of steel when it comes to penalties, easily changing the score to 3 - 1. LIPOVEC's A. Alegre didn't look like he was confident as he stepped up, and produced a badly struck penalty - right into the arms of S. Jänes. The score remained 3 - 1. Bystrica's Ľ. Bugala coolly put the ball past 宋. 恩华 (Enhua) . 4 - 1. LIPOVEC's J. Grgić made no mistake. S. Jänes didn't have a chance. 4 - 2. Bystrica's B. Mladonický cockily booted the ball with a short-and-fast instep. The penalty, going just wide of the mark, didn't produce a goal. LIPOVEC's M. Marques looked nervous even as he was putting the ball on the spot. He didn't take much of a run up, and his weak shot was easily saved by the keeper. Bystrica's best player was A. Centrella. However, M. Vrzal made a disastrous appearance. LIPOVEC's top performer was clearly P. Piastowski. 宋. 恩华 (Enhua) on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 2.