World League

Couqueiros Arena
Spectators: 7701 (Terracing: 5777, Seating: 1771, VIP seats: 153) Haithabu FC's Remy Van Eyken started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. An unexpectedly hard shot by Remy Van Eyken in the 8th minute of play forced AM United's goalkeeper David Bastos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Teodoro Freire had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. David Bastos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rigoberto Piearres in the 15th minute of play. David Bastos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rigoberto Piearres in the 20th minute of the match. After 25 minutes Haithabu FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Jorge Morais who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Jorge Morais got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Fabian Söderström quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Nikos Christou charged in rather forcefully in the 26th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Nikos Christou the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, AM United's Nikos Christou got a free kick in the 26th minute. David Bastos stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Remy Van Eyken's shot from short distance in the 30th minute. David Bastos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rigoberto Piearres, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 40th minute Rigoberto Piearres shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but David Bastos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Remy Van Eyken had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Roberto Tinoco's late challenge caught a Haithabu FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Roberto Tinoco helped the player get up and apologised. Roberto Tinoco hit a great freekick 44 minutes into the match. In the 48th minute Remy Van Eyken shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but David Bastos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Teodoro Freire was the one to do the kick off. AM United's Adelino Palma quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Harold Van Cruchten, made in the 51st minute of the game. Haithabu FC's Fabian Söderström played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Teodoro Freire in the 54th minute of play. If Teodoro Freire had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rigoberto Piearres could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 58th minute of the match, but David Bastos made a huge save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rigoberto Piearres got free with David Bastos in the 65th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a defensive mix-up in Haithabu FC's zone, Teodoro Freire stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fabian Söderström came out of the goal and Teodoro Freire tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jacinto Torres in the 70th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg David Bastos saved AM United from getting behind. After 81 minutes, Teodoro Freire mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AM United and the Haithabu FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 81st minute, Teodoro Freire hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Haithabu FC made a substitution. Önder Kaçan replaced Harold Van Cruchten. The supporters of Haithabu FC booed when AM United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Teodoro Freire didn't get a good kick on the ball. AM United's David Bastos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jacinto Torres in the 85th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kurt Slaghmeulders in the 87th minute of play forced AM United's goalkeeper David Bastos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jacinto Torres in the 91st minute of play forced AM United's goalkeeper David Bastos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. David Bastos stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jacinto Torres's shot from short distance in the 94th minute. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.