Limbažu 2 - 4 Laser (392658327)

12000 spectators had found their way to Limbažu arena, despite the heavy rain. Arkady Loshak was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Eitan Unger and Sandi Vilendečić. Limbažu started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Matyukhin - Romero, Hintermeier, Nikoniuk - Bērziņš, Prīsis, Pettersson, Lepziger, Yona - Špiletič, Koc.

Laser tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. The following players took the field: N'Gning - Berasategui, Lo Iacono - Weightman, Ötlegen, Roadknight, Kabilio, Goiburu - North, Popov, Züst.

Limbažu mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. R. Roadknight had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of Laser's T. North after 21 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 0 - 1 lead. After 24 minutes, a mistake by the home side's left defence allowed S. Kabilio to get through. He outclassed the home side's keeper, adding another goal for the visitors. 0 - 2. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Laser coach let C. Ottesen replace M. N'Gning after 24 minutes. The Laser players could smell victory in the air. S. Kabilio wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for E. Laborde Barreres after 24 minutes. İ. Ötlegen wanted to play on, but the Laser coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 24 minutes into the game by S. Valkama. Confident in their lead, Laser's players relaxed and focused more on defending the lead than increasing it. A quick free kick deep in the opponent's half found R. Pettersson, who produced a brilliant first touch to send it flying beyond the keeper into the net. This reduced the away team's lead to 1 - 2. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Limbažu's R. Pettersson was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 35 minutes. L. Vieira Sá was given a chance to change things around. With 35 minutes played, the Limbažu coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. T. Lašák came on, B. Špiletič had to leave the fray. Halftime score was 1 - 2. Limbažu had most of the ball, with 51 percent of possession.

After 50 minutes, Limbažu switched W. Hintermeier with L. Skangalis, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. Laser increased the lead to 1 - 3 as D. Züst scored from the penalty spot, putting the ball in near the top left corner. T. North of Laser took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 58 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 1 - 4. 75 minutes into the match, Limbažu's T. Lašák collected a ball sent down the right and put it in the back of the net, narrowing the score to 2 - 4. After the ball was lifted in from the left, T. North was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 76 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. Against a lesser team, Laser could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 81 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Laser, with 51 percent of the ball.

Limbažu's best player was T. Lašák. V. Matyukhin was a disappointment, however. Most important Laser player was T. North. R. Berasategui turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 4.