U23 World League

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 7506 (Terracing: 5630, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) After a defensive mix-up in Ajax's zone, Miguel Gilabert stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gigi Buffon came out of the goal and Miguel Gilabert tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ajax's goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Miguel Gilabert recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Miguel Gilabert might have been able to make a better finish in the 18th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gigi Buffon. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Miguel Gilabert ran back to his position shaking his head. When Tomasz Sierocki fell near the penalty area in the 20th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ajax's protests and gave Tomasz Sierocki a yellow card for diving instead. In the 22nd minute Miguel Gilabert shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gigi Buffon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The La Zabaleta fans' excitement grew in the 24th match minute when La Zabaleta's Miguel Gilabert 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 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. With a little luck, La Zabaleta's Eske Aksel got control of the ball when Remigiusz Galaska tried to sneak it across the goal line. Generoso Nerio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of La Zabaleta booed when Ajax was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Wojciech Mietus didn't get a good kick on the ball. During the 35th minute of the match Tomasz Sierocki completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Tomasz Sierocki a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. Tomasz Sierocki kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Andy Claes in the 38th minute of play forced Ajax's goalkeeper Gigi Buffon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Miguel Gilabert received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Gigi Buffon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Ajax players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. La Zabaleta were winning 0-1.

The wind increased when Wieslaw Cerocki made the kick off in the second half. Mateusz Biegun made in the 60th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Remigiusz Galaska immediately put the ball in play. After having played for 61 minutes, Wieslaw Cerocki managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ajax's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wieslaw Cerocki was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miguel Gilabert in the 63rd minute of play forced Ajax's goalkeeper Gigi Buffon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Miguel Gilabert had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Gigi Buffon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miguel Gilabert in the 74th minute of play. A sloppy throw-in by Dobromir Klimkiewicz in the 79th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by La Zabaleta's Generoso Nerio. Miguel Gilabert fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gigi Buffon having to interfere. Miguel Gilabert could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Gigi Buffon made a huge save. Ajax's Gigi Buffon proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 94th minute of the match, managed to save Ajax from getting a goal against them. Gigi Buffon showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Miguel Gilabert, who was totally free with the ball in the 97th minute. When the final whistle sounded La Zabaleta left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Ajax.