Hapoel 2 - 1 Cor (393369277)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 1638 at Blom Field today. Ignaz Albicker was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Chwalisław Błahut and José Luís Grilo. Hapoel decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. Lineup: Amrani - Goel, Pomazanov - Zuin, Balash, Zebunke, Aceña, Ørnstrup - Memişoğlu, Török, den Hollander.

Cor started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. The following players took the field: Zwimpfer - Wasiak, Popov, Tiberino - Hasiec, Haelterman, Moskov, Dybał - Donini, Dore, Cannavaro.

Cor displayed their ability to play creatively. 19 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for Hapoel to take the lead after a good cross from the right found İ. Memişoğlu alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. After 20 minutes, Hapoel raised their score by one when I. Zuin's dangerous low cross was cleverly tucked in at the near post by İ. Memişoğlu. 1 - 0. Cor showed their counterattack skill 22 minutes into the match by breaking through the middle, with A. Cannavaro scoring uncontested for 1 - 1. Cor's V. Popov was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 23 minutes. Some great play up the middle by Hapoel led to a chance for İ. Memişoğlu to score after 25 minutes, but the shot hit the crossbar. The referee showed Hapoel's D. Török the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. At 32 minutes played, D. Zebunke came in from the right with the intention of giving Hapoel the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 1. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Hapoel, with 68 percent of the ball.

With 54 minutes played D. Török almost put the home team one ahead on a cross coming in from the right, but the shot went just wide. After a fine move down the middle D. Pomazanov nearly gave the home side a goal after 70 minutes. However the finishing shot went just wide. Hapoel took the lead 71 minutes in, as D. Pomazanov broke through on the left and put the 2 - 1 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. After 72 minutes, Hapoel's D. Zebunke fell awkwardly, but was determined to stay in the match. That's the spirit! Hapoel's F. Aceña saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 77 minutes. Possession in this half belonged to Hapoel, who controlled the ball 64 percent of the time.

Hapoel's top performer was clearly D. den Hollander. On the other hand, S. Amrani's play was disheartening. Cor's best player was F. Tiberino. T. Dore turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.