U23 World League

War Memorial Stadium
Spectators: 7700 (Terracing: 5776, Seating: 1771, VIP seats: 153) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Aquilino Zarco started the match with the kick off. Aquilino Zarco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Edwin McNamara sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 12 minutes into the match, Minho FC's goalkeeper Maurício Guerreiro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lanny Lilly. When Wyoming Cowboys's Rodney Huston, in the 13th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Wyoming Cowboys. Zeferino Peixoto tried in the game's 20th match minute to clear up in front of his own goal but it went so bad that he put the ball into the goal to the left of an unhappy Maurício Guerreiro. An annoying self made goal, 1-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mats McNamara got free with Maurício Guerreiro in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wyoming Cowboys's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Edwin McNamara in the 25th minute. Ulf McNamara kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. Nils McNamara fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Maurício Guerreiro having to interfere. 45 minutes into the game, Saúl Passos was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Minho FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Wyoming Cowboys the free kick. In the 45th minute, Saúl Passos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 47th minute Aquilino Zarco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Henning Berglund saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Lanny Lilly to make the kick off. Maurício Guerreiro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edwin McNamara, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rodney Huston in the 54th minute of play forced Minho FC's goalkeeper Maurício Guerreiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Henning Berglund showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Aquilino Zarco in the 57th minute of the match. 59 minutes had been played when some careless play by Wyoming Cowboys's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Reinaldo Moutinho was slow to take the kick. During this time Minho FC's players had a chance to rest. After 70 played minutes Minho FC got a freekick which was hit by Aquilino Zarco. In the 74th minute, Alípio Gaspar hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Minho FC's Aquilino Zarco in 78 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Henning Berglund guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. In the 83rd minute, Aquilino Zarco got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The supporters of Wyoming Cowboys booed when Minho FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 91 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adélio Figueira didn't get a good kick on the ball. 95 minutes into the match, Mats McNamara had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Maurício Guerreiro. Minho FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mats McNamara was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. For all the effort they put into the match, the Minho FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Wyoming Cowboys.