Kauguri 1 - 2 Torpedo (393041396)

50057 punters turned up at Kauguri Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Sebi Kolber was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Egidio Fortis and Teije Ooievaar. Kauguri tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Marín Alonso - Briniss, Kizalavičius, Rechichi, Cibò - Slabbinck, Prots, Hedman, Kopinec - Weinberg, Galluccio.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Torpedo. Lineup: Korvelis - Šulcs, Tornos, Gunnarsson - Angern, Dosen, Bite, Vărzaru, Gerstlauer - Pozo, Engelen.

Kauguri were relying on their ability to counter-attack. The wings were the focus of most of Torpedo's attacks today. Slack defending gave Kauguri a chance to take the lead with 4 minutes played, but J. Hedman's cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition. The terraces were silenced after 5 minutes when Torpedo's U. Bite put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. C. Galluccio made a superb strike after 14 minutes with a shot straight in front of the goal after a long ball through the middle, but one of the visitors' defenders got a foot in at the last second and warded it off for a corner. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, L. Engelen got himself booked. The manager of Torpedo was not happy. No matter how hard he tried, C. Slabbinck just couldn't get his shot past the visitors' right side defence after 38 minutes. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Torpedo, with 57 percent of the ball.

47 minutes into the game, T. Prots came close to levelling the score with a dangerous shot from the centre of the area that went just over the bar. Kauguri needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 53 minutes J. Kopinec made way for T. Railo. After 61 minutes, Kauguri were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. H. Briniss did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. Players in Torpedo heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their central attacks to the wings instead. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, R. Šulcs would have put Torpedo up another goal 68 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. With a shot curled in from just outside the middle of the penalty area after 69 minutes played, L. Kizalavičius of Kauguri made the score 1 - 1. Torpedo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 58 percent.

As neither team was able to break the deadlock before the end of regular play, the teams took to the field again for extra time. P. Marín Alonso looked great 104 minutes into the match after stopping a shot from the middle of the penalty area from the visitors' T. Gerstlauer. P. Rechichi would have preferred to play on, but his coach decided otherwise. K. Dülken entered the game for Kauguri as the match clock showed 112 minutes. T. Railo was the new captain of Kauguri - handed the armband by the departing player. 117 minutes into the game, M. Vărzaru was a hair's breadth away from giving Torpedo the lead with a shot from over on the left. A prompt block by P. Marín Alonso saved the home team that time. A badly positioned defensive formation on a free kick after 117 minutes led to Torpedo's T. Gerstlauer giving the visitors the lead 1 - 2. Extra time over, Torpedo were the victors! T. Prots performed admirably for Kauguri. K. Dülken turned in a dismal performance, however. The most dominating Torpedo player was without a doubt L. Engelen. However, K. Korvelis made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 1 - 2.