NK-Varlah 2 - 4 ALIGATOR (367043107)

Dark skies made the crowd of 30338 at NK-Varlah Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Matthias-Kevin Engler was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Bohuš Pícha and Jack B. Jeppsson. NK-Varlah tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Zimonjić - Minieri, Legierski, Toivanen - Prêtre, Schneiderbauer, Kovačec, Sordi, Pavlović - Filipoi, Petrunichev.

ALIGATOR started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. They fielded: Lorenčak - Nežmah, Girgós, Adldinger, Achhammer - Leevike, Felber, Aquilonia, Potočki, Pulici - Zola.

The home crowd was not impressed by the fancy moves of ALIGATOR's J. Felber after 4 minutes. He converted a pass from the left for a goal, resulting in the visitors taking the 0 - 1 lead. NK-Varlah were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes played, and M. Schneiderbauer made no mistake as he effortlessly slotted the equaliser home. 1 - 1. NK-Varlah created a good opportunity to score 30 minutes into the match when M. Schneiderbauer's hooked ball from the left created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors' defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. A. Baggesen was called on to replace NK-Varlah's M. Kovačec after 36 minutes following a nasty collision. The terraces were silenced after 37 minutes when ALIGATOR's C. Aquilonia put the guests ahead 1 - 2, following an attack on the right. 40 minutes into the match, the visitors put themselves ahead 1 - 3 as C. Aquilonia finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 3. ALIGATOR had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

NK-Varlah didn't give in and with 52 minutes played S. Petrunichev was able to make the score 2 - 3 after an attack on the right. 65 minutes into the game, Q. Prêtre came close to levelling the score with a dangerous shot from the centre of the area that went just over the bar. A drive down the left side allowed J. Felber to get in close and score another goal for ALIGATOR after 80 minutes, taking the score to 2 - 4. The home crowd cheered when, after 84 minutes, B. Nežmah's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. ALIGATOR's V. Leevike refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 85 minutes. A misunderstanding between the visitors' keeper P. Lorenčak and his left defence could have resulted in a goal for NK-Varlah, but S. Petrunichev's finish was way too lame. After 88 minutes NK-Varlah's N. Pavlović contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. ALIGATOR claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

S. Petrunichev performed admirably for NK-Varlah. Q. Prêtre on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating ALIGATOR player was without a doubt A. Zola. M. Achhammer was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 4.