U23 World League

Patissia Arena
Spectators: 7710 (Terracing: 5784, Seating: 1773, VIP seats: 153) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Patrick Neiva started the match with the kick off. Doru Apostu didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Marcelo Coutinho went, in the 4th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Gelu Beșliu hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. Cosmin Dragoș might have been able to make a better finish in the 15th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Célio do Valle. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cosmin Dragoș ran back to his position shaking his head. After 17 played minutes Paralia Athens got a freekick which was hit by Vicente Ibio. Doru Apostu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jacinto Paraíba, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Victor Tróia hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. Doru Apostu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jacinto Paraíba in the 29th minute of the match. In the 30th minute of the match Xapetuba Futebol Clube got a corner. Paralia Athens's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Amauri de Lima ran over to the corner to take the kick. Doru Apostu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Patrick Neiva in the 32nd minute of play. In the 36th minute, Patrick Neiva made a precise shot to the right of Doru Apostu. Paralia Athens's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. After some careless play in the Xapetuba Futebol Clube defense, Cosmin Dragoș kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Célio do Valle. The Xapetuba Futebol Clube fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Célio do Valle should have stopped the shot. In the 45th match minute, Paralia Athens was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Olimpiu Zgabei to maneuver through the defense. After the first half Xapetuba Futebol Clube were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Doru Apostu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vivaldo Paes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Paralia Athens fans' excitement grew in the 58th match minute when Paralia Athens's Cosmin Dragoș looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. 61 minutes into the match, Paralia Athens's goalkeeper Doru Apostu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Marcelo Coutinho. In the 61st match minute, Paralia Athens was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vasile Enciulescu to maneuver through the defense. Patrick Neiva could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Doru Apostu made a huge save. When Vivaldo Paes fell near the penalty area in the 64th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Xapetuba Futebol Clube's protests and gave Vivaldo Paes a yellow card for diving instead. In the 64th match minute, Xapetuba Futebol Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vivaldo Paes to maneuver through the defense. Elivélton Soares made in the 74th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Vivaldo Paes however managed to control. Thanks to some nice moves Aílton Cearense could shoot a difficult shot in the 75th minute, which Doru Apostu however easily saved by the left post. The supporters of Xapetuba Futebol Clube booed when Paralia Athens was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 77 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Tomozei didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Paralia Athens's Doru Apostu got control of the ball when Aílton Cearense tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 83rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Xapetuba Futebol Clube's goalkeeper Célio do Valle, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The crowd rose to their feet as Xapetuba Futebol Clube's Jacinto Paraíba slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Doru Apostu. That made the score 2-3 after 85 minutes of play. The supporters of Xapetuba Futebol Clube booed when Paralia Athens was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aron Nedelcea didn't get a good kick on the ball. Xapetuba Futebol Clube's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.