Beefy Württemberg expose Yednyst frailty

Württembergischer FV made a powerful start in UEFA Regions' Cup Group A, as goals from Patrick Faber and Martin Kleinschrodt subdued a luckless Yednyst Plysky side in Vila Verde.

Württemberg coach Wolfgang Kopp insisted before the game that he had learned a lot from the 2003 finals, when his side failed to progress beyond the group stage as hosts. In the first-half, that knowledge was put into ominous practice as the German side pressed and harried youthful Yednyst, taking the lead on ten minutes when Patrick Faber exchanged passes with Manuel Grampes before sliding the ball under Oleh Shevchenko.

Maksym Leheda, Serhiy Yakimenko and Yevgen Valko had half-chances for the Ukrainian side afterwards, but they were rarely given time to play their methodical game, though they could feel a little unlucky at conceding a second on 30 minutes. Grampes' header thudded hard into the post but was directed back into the net by Kleinschrodt as Yednyst scrambled to clear.

Having scored five times in qualifying, Vadim Tarykin had Yednyst's best effort of the first half, darting in a low free-kick which Julian Hauser scrambled wide, and he was to have a reminder of the goalkeeper's ability to dive to his left five minutes after the break. Having drawn the foul to earn his side a penalty, the striker was denied by Hauser, who spun his spot-kick wide at full stretch.

Yednyst were willing and hungry thereafter, but slammed repeatedly into the brick wall of the Württemberg defence. Serhiy Bakun's men will be playing for their tournament lives when they meet Braga on Thursday, as Württemberg forge onwards against Zlín Region.