Albions 4 - 3 Stelo (366454305)

7494 spectators had found their way to Albions stadium, despite the heavy rain. Thomas Balaguer was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Michael Paumgarten and João Amaro. Albions tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. The following players took the field: Volchenko - Ābele, Karavatski, Volkovs, Lasmanis - Siliņš, Dreiska, Liepiņš, Gusikhin - Ālmanis, Klevin.

Stelo decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Lineup: Dūgiņš - Kissel, Goja, Mokhov, Kulmancis - Duļbe, Zirnis, Uguns, Circenis - Ronkin, Minin.

It was a bad day for the usually speedy M. Ābele. The mud seemed to slow him down. After 10 minutes, the home side was awarded a penalty. The visitors protested wildly but the referee was adamant. M. Ābele easily put the ball away to give the lead to Albions. 1 - 0 A. Ālmanis had a hard time on the waterlogged pitch - his trademark technique was nowhere in sight today. After 25 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by V. Klevin might have resulted in another goal for Albions. However, G. Dūgiņš made a spectacular save. G. Dūgiņš was caught napping as M. Ābele lifted a ball over him following a free kick, but the ball hit the bar, rebounding into the keeper's arms. Some brilliant football from the visitors' right wing resulted in a levelling of the score as Stelo's I. Goja put the ball in the onion bag after 32 minutes to make it 1 - 1. Many thought V. Volkovs ought to have been awarded a penalty 40 minutes into the game, as he went down trying to dribble around G. Dūgiņš after a determined run through the middle. A scuffle developed as players from both sides clashed following a tussle in the centre of the field 41 minutes into the match. After regaining order and consulting his linesman, the referee called Stelo's E. Mokhov to one side and produced a red card for the player. V. Klevin sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from M. Ābele after 42 minutes of play, making the score 2 - 1. A. Dreiska had a fantastic opportunity to put Albions up another goal 43 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Albions's V. Siliņš was shown a yellow card after 43 minutes for slicing down an opponent. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 1. Stelo claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 53 percent.

The visitors almost came back with an equaliser 47 minutes into the match after a good combination down the middle, but when K. Minin tried to finish the attack, he couldn't deliver the shot hard enough to seriously challenge the keeper. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Albions's V. Volkovs increasing the lead to 3 - 1. Stelo were desperate to get a goal back and pushed forward through the middle 56 minutes into the game. After a scramble in the box, the ball dropped to A. Ronkin, who smashed it home to make the score 3 - 2. Stelo's T. Duļbe's long shot really ought to have found the net 62 minutes into the match, but it fell just wide of the target. J. Zirnis tied the game at 3 - 3 after 77 minutes, when he converted an incredible pass from the right. There was concern in the stands when, at the 79 minute mark, Stelo's G. Dūgiņš hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. The home side put themselves ahead 4 - 3 after 84 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from V. Siliņš, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. Stelo enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

The most dominating Albions player was without a doubt A. Ālmanis. B. Volchenko turned in a dismal performance, however. Stelo's best player was K. Minin. On the other hand, G. Dūgiņš's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 3.