ROVERS 1 - 5 matov (393401578)

52000 spectators arrived at Štadion SNP xD, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Vlad Maslachenko was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Roy Duke and Diant Colenbrander. ROVERS started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Zorić - Syversen, Gandziała, Lodňan - Czauderna, Lema, Gigoła, Molina, Appelberg - Coutinho, Kaltenbeck.

matov decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Lineup: Banchelli - Combret, Richards, Mann - Weser, Brugnone, Szypowski, Flåten, Mastorakis - Mahlavuori, Petrov.

The terraces were silenced after 8 minutes when matov's E. Brugnone put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack on the right. After 10 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for M. Mahlavuori who increased matov's lead to 0 - 2. 14 minutes into the game ROVERS broke through on the left wing and C. Lema managed to reduce the lead to 1 - 2. matov increased their lead after 21 minutes when W. Richards broke through on the right, upping the score to 1 - 3, much to the home crowd's dismay. By now, the players in matov felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. The referee showed matov's D. Combret the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. ROVERS's B. Kaltenbeck went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. 30 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 1 - 4 as A. Mann finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 4. matov had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

O. Weser left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 46 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. L. Holzapfel was the replacement. Content with how the game was proceeding, the matov coach let J. Ximénez de Rada replace D. Petrov after 46 minutes. The coach of matov was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up. After 46 minutes, F. Bras came on for E. Brugnone. With 61 minutes played, F. Bras of matov fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. J. Ximénez de Rada was, after 67 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper R. Zorić made the save. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, O. Coutinho got himself booked. The manager of ROVERS was not happy. matov's L. Holzapfel made it through the home team's defence on the right hand side 75 minutes into the match. After rounding the keeper, he only had to place the ball in the unguarded goal when a defender slid in and cleared the ball off the line. A penalty was awarded after 79 minutes, and S. Flåten made the most of his chance to put matov up by another goal. 1 - 5 for the visitors. 81 minutes into the game, matov worked the left side industriously creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but just couldn't apply the finishing touch. matov enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 63 percent of possession.

ROVERS's top performer was clearly B. Kaltenbeck. S. Molina on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating matov player was without a doubt J. Ximénez de Rada. J. Szypowski was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 5.