Apep 1 - 3 BeoPower (393052956)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 47000 to Arena Of Gods. Bjarke Pries was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Gonzalo Merodio and Władysław 'El commandante' Malak. Apep had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Ablonskis - Marginet, Daroškevičius, Creus - Ordinas, Schaefer, Vigelskas, Juodakys, Lepekhov - Murelis, Šilkaitis.

BeoPower decided to use a 5-4-1 set up. The following players took the field: Strelkovas - Polacsik, Facca, Cotrim, Góral, Kniv - Nissi, Omaszta, Massé, Whitehand - Benavides.

The wings were the focus of most of Apep's attacks today. Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for BeoPower. BeoPower took the lead after 17 minutes making the score 0 - 1. G. Benavides placed the ball out of reach for the home side's keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, J. Góral would have put BeoPower up another goal 18 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. After 32 minutes, a counter attack by Apep was converted into a decent free kick opportunity. However, the indirect free kick routine was easily anticipated by the defenders. A textbook example of how to defend a free kick - the attackers were left with few viable options. S. Omaszta sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from G. Benavides after 36 minutes of play, making the score 0 - 2. It was 0 - 2 at the break. Apep claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

BeoPower's defence sent a ball soaring up the middle on a beautiful counterattack with 58 minutes gone, but T. Whitehand's finish was met by the reaching hands of the keeper. After 60 minutes, Apep switched T. Murelis with A. Zilinkus, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. The bench was restless, and with 60 minutes passed Apep's coach gave L. Tukāns the opportunity the player had been hoping for. V. Lepekhov reluctantly left the field. Apep's D. Vigelskas got the home crowd going when he finished off a left wing charge, reducing the away team's lead to 1 - 2. With 70 minutes played, the Apep coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. J. Pšigockis came on, D. Juodakys had to leave the fray. No matter how hard he tried, J. Pšigockis just couldn't get his shot past the visitors' right side defence after 80 minutes. With 84 minutes played, F. Schaefer of Apep fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Apep's A. Zilinkus put his head to a high ball coming in from the right after 85 minutes, but the ball went wide. BeoPower hit back on the counter attack 86 minutes into the game with a free kick. Initially it seemed wasted, hit wide towards the wing. But there was an idea to it - the ball was then crossed towards J. Massé, who was waiting for it in the box. That's 1 - 3! Don't forget to thank the set pieces coach for that idea! Apep had most of the ball, with 58 percent of possession.

Apep's best player was S. Šilkaitis. U. Ablonskis was a disappointment, however. Most important BeoPower player was E. Strelkovas. J. Góral on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 3.