Prized/Friendly Cup

Claudio D. Borghi
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Virgilio Quinto kicked off to start the match. With a little luck, WWW LENINGRAD's Stepan Babich got control of the ball when Sven de Zwaan tried to sneak it across the goal line. Denis Mero 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. The audience thought a goal was coming when Sven de Zwaan got free with Stepan Babich in the 7th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Sven de Zwaan who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 8thth minute tested the skills of Stepan Babich when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Virgilio Quinto hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. Argentinos Juniors's Igor Macario was substituted for Baldomero Lucila. In the 12th minute, Virgilio Quinto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 16th minute Virgilio Quinto shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. WWW LENINGRAD's Stepan Babich proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 18th minute of the match, managed to save WWW LENINGRAD from getting a goal against them. Sven de Zwaan in the 22ndth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Stepan Babich, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Sven de Zwaan could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 23rd minute of the match, but Stepan Babich made a huge save. In the 30th minute the ball was on its way in behind Argentinos Juniors's goalkeeper Rigoberto Nazario, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Petruț Fințescu hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. In the 32nd minute, Petruț Fințescu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Stepan Babich made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sven de Zwaan in the 36th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Sven de Zwaan got free with Stepan Babich in the 39th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 39th minute, Petruț Fințescu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

WWW LENINGRAD's Stepan Babich played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Petruț Fințescu in the 51st minute of play. Sven de Zwaan might have been able to make a better finish in the 60th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Stepan Babich. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Sven de Zwaan ran back to his position shaking his head. Stepan Babich showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sven de Zwaan, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sven de Zwaan in the 67th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Stepan Babich prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 72nd minute of the match Argentinos Juniors got a corner. WWW LENINGRAD's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Leon Richie ran over to the corner to take the kick. Stepan Babich didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Diego Gonzales went, in the 73rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. Argentinos Juniors made a substitution. Ruperto Matei replaced Denis Mero. Stepan Babich showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sven de Zwaan in the 79th minute of the match. Stepan Babich made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 84th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Petruț Fințescu in the 86th minute of play forced WWW LENINGRAD's goalkeeper Stepan Babich to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stepan Babich stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sven de Zwaan's shot from short distance in the 87th minute. Sven de Zwaan scored 3-0 in the 89th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Stepan Babich, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Stepan Babich made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sven de Zwaan in the 93rd minute of play. Ruperto Matei scored 4-0 in the 94th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Stepan Babich, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Argentinos Juniors walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.