CFR 2 - 1 Norocoshii (380794810)

26008 fans braved the pouring rain at Rahova`s Street Lane. Pere Riera was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Zoltán Bagoly and Javier Lemus. A 4-4-2 alignment was the formation of choice for CFR. The following players had been chosen: Caulet - Yssing Hansen, Zicchieri, Habibi, Kocot - Villota, Flor, Karo, Rozen - L'Abbate, Klinčík.

Norocoshii started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Murillo - Monaco, Pranginangin, Lipso - Boktorp, Alcaide, Mosstål, Vale e Azevedo, Sacherini - Nicoară, Popa.

It was an obvious ambition of Norocoshii to use their ability at attacking on the flanks. CFR fans held their breath as A. Rozen scampered down the left side. He successfully avoided all challenges and cracked home the shot for 1 - 0! Attacking on the wings was the choice for Norocoshii, and they were successfully passing the ball from the middle to the wings to attack. R. Pranginangin made a run for the goal 10 minutes into the game but the home team's left back managed to sort the situation out in the end. 15 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as A. Habibi broke through, making the score 2 - 0 for CFR. P. Boktorp spent most of the time in a heap on the ground today, his normally rapid movement hindered by the slippery pitch. C. Nicoară of Norocoshii received a yellow card after 22 minutes for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The boggy pitch disrupted the game, especially for technical players like J. Sacherini. 2 - 0 was the halftime score. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by CFR, with 54 percent of the ball.

The bench was restless, and with 46 minutes passed Norocoshii's coach gave W. Sachau the opportunity the player had been hoping for. A. Monaco reluctantly left the field. R. Pranginangin was handed the Norocoshii captain's armband. CFR's C. L'Abbate swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. After 51 minutes, the defensive line of Norocoshii created a counterattack through the middle that gave W. Sachau a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. Norocoshii had a fair chance to reply after 53 minutes due to some fine moves down the left, but in the end P. Alcaide was slow to keep up with the play and was unable to make it into the penalty box to apply a finish. 62 minutes into the match, Norocoshii replied and reduced the lead to 2 - 1. C. Nicoară scored on a marvellous cross pass coming in from the left. CFR's A. Rozen had an excellent opportunity after 63 minutes, shooting after receiving a pass from the right hand side, but he missed the goal by miles! With 75 minutes played, the Norocoshii coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. R. Ürün came on, A. Vale e Azevedo had to leave the fray. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Karo from CFR a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 78 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! A great save by keeper M. Murillo after 79 minutes kept the visitors in the game after M. Karo struck from the left with a real cannonball. Possession in this half belonged to CFR, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

Most important CFR player was C. L'Abbate. M. Villota on the other hand, had a terrible day. Norocoshii's best player was M. Mosstål. M. Murillo turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 2 - 1.