World League

Aaron Jerrald
Spectators: 7960 (Terracing: 5971, Seating: 1831, VIP seats: 158) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Ksawery Gongola got the match started through his kick off. After some careless play in the FFC Merainies 03 defense, Oliver Bierhoff kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu. The FFC Merainies 03 fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu should have stopped the shot. Oskar Törnblom scored 1-1 in the 9th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Matías Patrone, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Matías Patrone took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ksawery Gongola, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Oskar Törnblom in the 20th minute of play forced Los Delfines's goalkeeper Matías Patrone to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Los Delfines's Oliver Bierhoff got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Oliver Bierhoff, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Oliver Bierhoff in the 29th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu saved FFC Merainies 03 from getting behind. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ksawery Gongola in the 33rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Matías Patrone prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Oliver Bierhoff recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Matías Patrone stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ksawery Gongola's shot from short distance in the 44th minute. The Los Delfines players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. FFC Merainies 03 were winning 2-3.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Oliver Bierhoff was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 55th minute, Oscar Orzaize managed to get in a good position for a shot. Los Delfines's supporters rose to their feet, but Oscar Orzaize was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The crowd rose to their feet as Bruno Marceau kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Matías Patrone. That made the score 2-4 in the 57 minute of play. When Oliver Bierhoff came up free with the goalie in the 60th minute, the Los Delfines 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 Oliver Bierhoff couldn't finish the play. In the 60th minute Oliver Bierhoff shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 62nd minute, Dani Cáceres managed to get in a good position for a shot. Los Delfines's supporters rose to their feet, but Dani Cáceres was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Los Delfines made a substitution. Ambrosio Bartolome replaced Hector Abadia. Los Delfines's Victor Jerrold was substituted for Saverio Regis. Los Delfines's Dani Cáceres managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Izaak Spijker in the 65 minute of the game. In the 68th minute, FFC Merainies 03's Ksawery Gongola dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-5. Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lucas Urbez in the 71st minute of the match. In the 72nd minute of the match Los Delfines got a corner. FFC Merainies 03's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Lucas Urbez ran over to the corner to take the kick. Matías Patrone made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ksawery Gongola in the 75th minute. The audience was convinced that Lucas Urbez's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rıdvan İbrahimoğlu was relentless in the 78th minute of the game. In the 82nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Los Delfines's goalkeeper Matías Patrone, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Lucas Urbez recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Through an outstanding action, after 90 minutes, Matías Patrone successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After a rather tough play, Los Delfines's Honorio Eder got a free kick in the 95th minute. When the match was over FFC Merainies 03 could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Los Delfines throughout the match.