STRATUS-59 1 - 2 Popišanci (393409413)

Clear skies welcomed the 59869 spectators who had made their way to STRATUS Arena. Leopoldo Cabeza was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Rudolph Elssenwenger and Iván Fejér. STRATUS-59 started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Mejak - Oroveanu, Zellhofer, Neşe - Rakabe, Sabljak, Zaninović, Obitz, Bakhshi - Latorre, Sergeev.

Popišanci had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Lineup: Câlea - Biteye, Vláčil, Danguso - Bendoni, Strencis, Escobal, Kohman - Mathisen, Bon Nielsen, Borgemoen.

With 2 minutes played, Popišanci's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to M. Bon Nielsen he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 1. I. Borgemoen could have put his team up another goal 14 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. STRATUS-59's opponents know to be wary of S. Bakhshi's speed, but it made little difference as he flew past the defence 35 minutes into the game. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! STRATUS-59 put pressure on the visitors' central defence 37 minutes into the game, but A. Latorre couldn't find an opening. 0 - 1 was the halftime score. STRATUS-59 claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 52 percent.

I. Borgemoen received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 49 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 0 - 2. The Popišanci fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. After the ball was lifted in from the left, Y. Biteye was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 62 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. 63 minutes into the match, B. Vláčil came through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. STRATUS-59 refused to be intimidated and, breaking through the middle, S. Bakhshi managed to slip the ball home for 1 - 2. 75 minutes into the game, A. Latorre came close to levelling the score with a dangerous shot from the centre of the area that went just over the bar. STRATUS-59 had most of the ball, with 55 percent of possession.

STRATUS-59's top performer was clearly A. Latorre. On the other hand, O. Rakabe's play was disheartening. The most dominating Popišanci player was without a doubt S. Mathisen. O. Kohman turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 2.