U23 League

Estadio da Luz
Spectators: 175 (Terracing: 132, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Pierre Leclerc 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. The audience thought a goal was coming when Antoine Norton got free with Joel Seco in the 3rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Roberto Blue in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Emanuel Bazinet prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Antoine Norton got a free kick in the 6th minute. In the 7th minute Roberto Blue shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Bazinet saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Victorio Lasaca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Sport Lisboa e Benfica's zone, Roberto Blue stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Emanuel Bazinet came out of the goal and Roberto Blue tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. West Town SC's Joel Seco played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pierre Leclerc in the 22nd minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Antoine Norton in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Joel Seco saved West Town SC from getting behind. In the 37th minute Victorio Lasaca shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Bazinet saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Pierre Leclerc had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 39 minutes into the match, Sport Lisboa e Benfica's goal looked a bit too open when Eren Stone came free, but Emanuel Bazinet reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Eren Stone's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Emanuel Bazinet was relentless in the 39th minute of the game. Emanuel Bazinet made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eren Stone in the 43rd minute of play. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Victorio Lasaca stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Emanuel Bazinet played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Roberto Blue in the 56th minute of play. Emanuel Bazinet made an important save on a dangerous shot by Victorio Lasaca in the 61st minute. Joel Seco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pierre Leclerc, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. Sport Lisboa e Benfica made a substitution. Jared Temple replaced Lewis Horn. After 70 played minutes Sport Lisboa e Benfica got a freekick which was hit by Jared Temple. Joel Seco took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antoine Norton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eren Stone in the 78th minute of play forced Sport Lisboa e Benfica's goalkeeper Emanuel Bazinet to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Emanuel Bazinet showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roberto Blue, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. 90 minutes into the match, Sport Lisboa e Benfica's goal looked a bit too open when Roberto Blue came free, but Emanuel Bazinet reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 96 minutes into the game, Victorio Lasaca recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Emanuel Bazinet. Victorio Lasaca showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the West Town SC players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.