Official Cup

Sami Zübeyr Arena
Spectators: 555 (Terracing: 418, Seating: 127, VIP seats: 10) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Anatoly Karpov kicked off to start the match. FC Maci -MM-'s Vladimir Kramnik played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Désiré Alberto in the 3rd minute of play. The supporters of Les Pionniers de Touraine booed when FC Maci -MM- was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nechifor Brad didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, FC Maci -MM-'s Ştefan Mugur got a free kick in the 6th minute. Vladimir Kramnik made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Moussa Blanquart in the 7th minute of play. The supporters of Les Pionniers de Touraine booed when FC Maci -MM- was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nechifor Brad didn't get a good kick on the ball. 9 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Barnabé Dambrine came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vladimir Kramnik showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jean-Pascal Berthelot in the 12th minute of the match. 17 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Moussa Blanquart came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Bixente Morio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anatoly Karpov in the 19th minute of play. Vladimir Kramnik showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Désiré Alberto in the 20th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Moussa Blanquart in the 22nd minute of play forced FC Maci -MM-'s goalkeeper Vladimir Kramnik to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vladimir Kramnik stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Moussa Blanquart's shot from short distance in the 24th minute. In the 30th minute Les Pionniers de Touraine were awarded a corner. Jean-Pierre Goigoux went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 33rd minute, Barnabé Dambrine ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Vladimir Kramnik was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. FC Maci -MM-'s Anatoly Karpov got a good chance for a goal in the 37th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 39th minute, Vali Mitu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 44 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Désiré Alberto came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

An unexpectedly hard shot by Moussa Blanquart in the 51st minute of play forced FC Maci -MM-'s goalkeeper Vladimir Kramnik to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Les Pionniers de Touraine defense, Anatoly Karpov kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bixente Morio. The Les Pionniers de Touraine fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bixente Morio should have stopped the shot. Vladimir Kramnik showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jean-Pierre Morineau in the 58th minute of the match. Vladimir Kramnik made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Barnabé Dambrine in the 63rd minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Désiré Alberto kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Vladimir Kramnik. That made the score 2-2 in the 67 minute of play. Vladimir Kramnik showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Désiré Alberto, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. A collision led to FC Maci -MM- getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Anatoly Karpov hit a great ball. When Nechifor Brad was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 81 minutes had been played. FC Maci -MM-'s Anatoly Karpov got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When the match clock showed 91 minutes, the score became 2-3 when Moussa Blanquart sped through FC Maci -MM-'s defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Vladimir Kramnik.

The FC Maci -MM- fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Les Pionniers de Touraine were clearly better and deserved to take the win.