Match № 23

The match № 23 (for 9-12 places), seventh tournament day

ESTONIA – MOLDOVA 2:3 (2:2)

January 22nd, 2015, St. Petersburg, Peterburgsky SCC, 300 spectators

Referees: Yuriy Aponasenko, Dmitriy Nadymov, Dmitriy Zhvakin

Estonia: Igonen, Vihmann, Avilov (Juhkam, 46), Paur (Marin, 46), Kirss, Sappinen (c) (Kauber, 82), Purg, Peetson (Tekko, 59), Gussev (Suurpere, 59), Sobtsenko (Aland, 76), Magi (Aloe, 71)

Head coach: Martin Reim

Moldova: Mitu, Rosca (Dulgheru, 33), Graur, Ciofu (Bejan, 46), Birdan (Paireli, 54), Spataru (c) (Burlacu, 88), Macritchii, Rogac, Dulghier (Razgoniuc, 40), Semirov (Andronic, 90), Lakusta (Ursu, 46)

Head coach: Igor Ursachi

Goals: Lakusta (1), Gussev (27), Kirss (31), Ciofu (44, pen.), Ursu (63)

Failed penalty kick: Spataru (77)

Yellow cards: Vihmann (30), Avilov (43), Gussev (45)

Red card: Igonen (73)

Best players: Robert Kirss, Dmitry Semirov

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After match comments

Head coach of team Estonia Martin Reim:

– I have to congratulate my opponent with the victory for the fourth time on this tournament. I get used to it. (Smiling) Talking seriously, a positive moment is that we improve from match to match, create more scoring moments, begin understand each other on the pitch. Our opponents have qualities that we lack so far. They have individual skills and the performers; we have many mistakes and bring balls to the opponents by ourselves, just to score. It was all the same this match.

– You have let in the goal on the first minute. What had happened? You weren't awaken?

– No, we were awaken. There was a mistake of one of our central defenders. What had happened with him we will discuss later. I think he was just fused. He didn't play last match and before he had failed in the game against Belarus. He was setting himself up for this match specially but he was overzealous.

– Some coaches trust that it is possible to lose in friendly matches but the victories will come in official games. Do you agree?

– May be, why not? Last year we had taken high place for us – the fourth, and then in qualification we were defeated by Dutch team 0:8! We have already made too many mistakes for 2 years in advance; the time to win has come. As for the players' motivation, it is much easier for sure to set up players for semifinal than for the matches for 9-12 places. In this case we have to prepare to the game, demand their devotion on the pitch and show their talent.

– Your goalkeeper has come to the game and played very sound: saved the penalty kick, stopped the 1 to 1 coming and was about to score at the end of the match. Does he have a chance to be the number 1 in the team?

– He is already number 1 in the next match! This goalkeeper is Richard Aland, he is older than our main goalkeeper for 2 years, but he is reserved because he doesn't have playing practice in his Club. He is very talented. Now we have one more problem: there is no substitution for the position of goalkeeper. We are eager to call another goalkeeper from Estonia for one match.

Head coach of team Moldova Igor Ursachi:

– The match was interesting with a lot of goals; it was spectacular for the audience till the very end. As we have supposed our opponents today were a skilled squad, confident both in attack and defense and placed kicks. It was hard to break their defense. There were two good teams on the pitch today, in spite of the statistics: Estonians haven't won a single match on the tournament, we haven't lost.

– Was it hard to set up for the match, paying attention to what you have said right now?

– It is obvious that the tournament is going to an end. It turned to be not a single-digit for us. We haven't lost even a single match, but we are at the bottom of tournament table. Players are about to catch the mood and lose it again. After the scored goal even I understood and felt it somehow that we could let in. That certainly happened. This is football. I see that some players can transfer the burdens, others can't. Nevertheless we know now who is capable for what.

– There was no definite answer about the winner till the final whistle in this match. Did you worry much about it?

– I tried to explain to my players that we need to play in a right way, drew their attention to the actions of Estonian players. They didn't think about opponents' status and played wide without fear to attack. We had to use it and played with counter attacks. I think we made many mistakes in the beginning and the opposite team felt free especially in the centre. Later I have made substitutions to change our tactical scheme and transferred from the play with 5 defenders to 3 of them. I think this certain step gave us a possibility to own the victory.

– What do think, are there players in your team that have improved during the tournament?

– There was a progress in this match, first games were much worse. I can note Bejan, Semirov, Spataru. As for the last one, our captain, I asked him not to perform penalty kick; he has failed them on trainings. He didn't obey, made it and lowered his playing rating! I tell my players: "Play, show your best and you will be noted!" I'm sure we have many players with good perspectives in our team. They need to work on themselves and we will make everything for this.