League Play-Off

Šmarje pri Jelšah St
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Djordjo Prah started the match with the kick off. Zemri Pečar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adil Skok in the 8th minute of play. In the 10th match minute, Šmarje pri Jelšah ND was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hilarij Franjčić to maneuver through the defense. After 20 minutes, Mentor Saksida mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lukovica and the Šmarje pri Jelšah ND players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 20 played minutes Lukovica got a freekick which was hit by Mentor Saksida. Zemri Pečar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adil Skok in the 23rd minute of play. Djordjo Prah received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Zemri Pečar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Adil Skok came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Lukovica fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Adil Skok couldn't finish the play. In the 34th minute of the match Radko Lozej shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Zemri Pečar showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Adil Skok sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Djordjo Prah in the 37th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Zemri Pečar saved Šmarje pri Jelšah ND from getting behind. If Djordjo Prah had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Armando Paulič's late challenge caught a Lukovica's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Armando Paulič helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Šmarje pri Jelšah ND's Armando Paulič got a free kick in the 47th minute. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Vojimir Žvirc made a kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 53rd minute, Vojimir Žvirc managed to get in a good position for a shot. Šmarje pri Jelšah ND's supporters rose to their feet, but Vojimir Žvirc was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Anžej Trnovšek breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vojimir Žvirc in the 57th minute of play forced Lukovica's goalkeeper Anžej Trnovšek to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 59 minutes into the match, Jugoslav Zaponšek notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Lukovica's Anžej Trnovšek. Anžej Trnovšek was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Jugoslav Zaponšek received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Anžej Trnovšek tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 66 minutes into the match, Šmarje pri Jelšah ND's goal looked a bit too open when Djordjo Prah came free, but Zemri Pečar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Šmarje pri Jelšah ND's Jugoslav Zaponšek in the 72nd minute got a chance for a shot 72nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Lukovica's goalie prevented a goal. In the 72nd minute, Silvan Moder hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 93 minutes, Djordjo Prah managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lukovica's supporters crossed their fingers, but Djordjo Prah was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Anžej Trnovšek made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jugoslav Zaponšek in the 94th minute of play. Hilarij Franjčić fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anžej Trnovšek having to interfere. Šmarje pri Jelšah ND were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Lukovica for a fine match.