U23 League

Zalany Stadium
Spectators: 175 (Terracing: 132, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jan Dalecký kicked off to start the match. Facundo Nazario might have been able to make a better finish in the 3rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Pavel Hurník. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Facundo Nazario ran back to his position shaking his head. After a rather tough play, Golden Tigers's Giuseppe Tavares got a free kick in the 9th minute. Pavel Hurník showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Facundo Nazario in the 10th minute of the match. 13 minutes into the match, Golden Tigers's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Nazario came free, but Pavel Hurník reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A hard shot 14 in the game by Jiří Hejda from a close distance when the talented Krasimir Mishovski managed to make a qualified save. Lokomotiv Plovdiv's players were relieved. Giuseppe Tavares charged in rather forcefully in the 18th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Giuseppe Tavares the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 18th match minute, Golden Tigers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Giuseppe Tavares to maneuver through the defense. Facundo Nazario fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pavel Hurník having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Facundo Nazario's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pavel Hurník was relentless in the 23rd minute of the game. Facundo Nazario sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 29th match minute, Lokomotiv Plovdiv was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zhang Jing Lin to maneuver through the defense. Facundo Nazario might have been able to make a better finish in the 32nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Pavel Hurník. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Facundo Nazario ran back to his position shaking his head. Pavel Hurník made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Antoni Tokludzhanov in the 33rd minute of play. The corner led Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Jordi Alba to fire away a dangerous shot which Pavel Hurník despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Giuseppe Tavares got his second yellow card in the match during the 38th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 39th match minute, Golden Tigers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Giuseppe Tavares to maneuver through the defense. Jacques Chandler charged in rather forcefully in the 42nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jacques Chandler the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Jacques Chandler got a free kick in the 42nd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ctibor Vrána during the 44th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 44th minute, Ctibor Vrána hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Facundo Nazario in the 46th minute got a chance for a shot 46th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Golden Tigers's goalie prevented a goal. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Facundo Nazario made the kick off in the second half. The Lokomotiv Plovdiv fans' excitement grew in the 52nd match minute when Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Zdzislaw Obuchowicz looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Pavel Hurník showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Facundo Nazario, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. After 58 minutes of play, Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Zdzislaw Obuchowicz made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Pavel Hurník was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Facundo Nazario had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 64 minutes had been played when some careless play by Golden Tigers's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jordi Alba was slow to take the kick. During this time Lokomotiv Plovdiv's players had a chance to rest. Krasimir Mishovski showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Václav Machálek, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. In the 71st minute Lokomotiv Plovdiv were awarded a corner. Jordi Alba went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Jordi Alba got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Pavel Hurník quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 73 minutes into the match, Golden Tigers's Jiří Hejda sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Krasimir Mishovski narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 85 minutes into the match, Golden Tigers's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Nazario came free, but Pavel Hurník reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 87th minute Lokomotiv Plovdiv were awarded a corner. Jordi Alba went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Jordi Alba almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Golden Tigers's Pavel Hurník did a great save. In the 90th minute the ball was on its way in behind Golden Tigers's goalkeeper Pavel Hurník, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The Lokomotiv Plovdiv supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Lokomotiv Plovdiv would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.