U23 World League

Arena Guará
Spectators: 7598 (Terracing: 5700, Seating: 1747, VIP seats: 151) Guará FC's Tiago Gabriel Vieira 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. Damian Dăscălescu struck a weak shot in the 2nd minute. Emílio Motta didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The Valar. Tiago Gabriel Vieira's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 8thth minute, Manole Robu skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Claudiu Iorgovan was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Washington Neto hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Cătălin Creteanu managed to get in a good position for a shot. The Valar's supporters rose to their feet, but Cătălin Creteanu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Emílio Motta breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 43rd minute Erlingur Haaland shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manole Robu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Guará FC booed when The Valar was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lucian Ştirbu didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Guará FC's Amadeu Mello got a free kick in the 46th minute. After the first half The Valar were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Claudiu Iorgovan to make the kick off. After 51 played minutes The Valar got a freekick which was hit by Iosif Bordeianu. After having played for 57 minutes, Claudiu Iorgovan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. The Valar's supporters crossed their fingers, but Claudiu Iorgovan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The Valar's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Claudiu Iorgovan in the 62nd minute. The Valar's Claudiu Iorgovan was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Emílio Motta in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After 71 played minutes The Valar got a freekick which was hit by Gică Popescu. Manole Robu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tiago Gabriel Vieira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Valar's Manole Robu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ivo Figueiredo in the 75th minute of play. In the 77th minute, Tiago Gabriel Vieira hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 84th minute, Ivo Figueiredo left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Guará FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Claudiu Iorgovan in the 87th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Emílio Motta prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Cătălin Creteanu came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the The Valar fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Cătălin Creteanu couldn't finish the play. Claudiu Iorgovan's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 90thth minute, Emílio Motta skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Emil Hortopan's late challenge caught a Guará FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Emil Hortopan helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, The Valar's Emil Hortopan got a free kick in the 93rd minute.