U23 League

Dragons Stronghold
Spectators: 151 (Terracing: 114, Seating: 34, VIP seats: 3) Invictus FC's Gert Sterckx 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. In the 4th minute Koen Huijsmans shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arnaldo Berardi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Invictus FC fans' excitement grew in the 8th match minute when Invictus FC's Lennart De Keyser 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. In the 12th minute Lennart De Keyser shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arnaldo Berardi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lennart De Keyser sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Arnaldo Berardi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lennart De Keyser, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gert Sterckx in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Arnaldo Berardi prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Lennart De Keyser took the ball and in the 23 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arnaldo Berardi. Arnaldo Berardi dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. Arnaldo Berardi didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Lennart De Keyser went, in the 26th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. 29 minutes into the match, Gert Sterckx had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Arnaldo Berardi. Black Dragons's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gert Sterckx was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-4. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-5 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Rene Stocker to strike the kick off in the second half. Flemming Garzoli's late challenge caught a Invictus FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Flemming Garzoli helped the player get up and apologised. In the 58th minute, Flemming Garzoli hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Invictus FC's Cedric Van Den Bosche shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 58th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Arnaldo Berardi but with some difficulty. Gert Sterckx fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arnaldo Berardi having to interfere. The supporters of Black Dragons booed when Invictus FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Corneel Wuyts didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gert Sterckx could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 68th minute of the match, but Arnaldo Berardi made a huge save. Janos Seiler got a throw-in 74 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Beniamino Mahle. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Janos Seiler during the 79th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 79th minute, Janos Seiler hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Lennart De Keyser struck a weak shot in the 81st minute. Arnaldo Berardi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Invictus FC. 84 minutes into the match, Black Dragons's goalkeeper Arnaldo Berardi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gert Sterckx. After a defensive mix-up in Black Dragons's zone, Lennart De Keyser stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnaldo Berardi came out of the goal and Lennart De Keyser tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Black Dragons's Arnaldo Berardi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lennart De Keyser in the 94th minute of play. When the match was over Invictus FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Black Dragons throughout the match.