World League

Joaquin muñoz
Spectators: 7596 (Terracing: 5698, Seating: 1747, VIP seats: 151) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Yan Zhi Chuan started the match with the kick off. Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Ilkka Markkula played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by 史铮坤 in the 7th minute of play. 9 minutes into the match, Ilulea FC's goal looked a bit too open when Raimundo Tupper came free, but Gabby Arias reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 12th minute of the match Club Deportes Santa Cruz got a corner. Ilulea FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Vágner Linares ran over to the corner to take the kick. Raimundo Tupper was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Yan Zhi Chuan in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gabby Arias prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With an all-out effort, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Gabby Arias threw himself towards the right post 15 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Raimundo Tupper, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Gabby Arias was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Yan Zhi Chuan showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 17 minute of play. Gabby Arias took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Yan Zhi Chuan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 25th minute, Eleuterio Mirande ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ilkka Markkula was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. After 27 played minutes Ilulea FC got a freekick which was hit by Gregorio Sein. 29 minutes into the match, Ilulea FC's goal looked a bit too open when Raimundo Tupper came free, but Gabby Arias reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Raimundo Tupper's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gabby Arias was relentless in the 31st minute of the game. After 33 minutes of play, Ilulea FC's Eleuterio Mirande made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ilkka Markkula was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Eleuterio Mirande managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ilulea FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Eleuterio Mirande was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ilkka Markkula breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ilkka Markkula made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from 史铮坤 in the 38th minute of play. Ilulea FC's Gabby Arias proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 40th minute of the match, managed to save Ilulea FC from getting a goal against them. 45 minutes into the match, Ilulea FC's goalkeeper Gabby Arias had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Podador Raheiro. Pablo Tolino hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. Vágner Linares kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. Club Deportes Santa Cruz made a substitution. Trayko Gradinarski replaced Podador Raheiro. After a rather tough play, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Vágner Linares got a free kick in the 48th minute. The Club Deportes Santa Cruz players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ilulea FC were winning 1-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when 史铮坤 stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goalkeeper Ilkka Markkula had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by 史铮坤. Yan Zhi Chuan might have been able to make a better finish in the 55th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gabby Arias. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Yan Zhi Chuan ran back to his position shaking his head. Club Deportes Santa Cruz's defense didn't have a chance, in the 60th minute, when 史铮坤 scored to the left of an out of position Ilkka Markkula, making the score, 1-3. 史铮坤s short, quick shot in the 64thth minute got Ilkka Markkula to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Gabby Arias made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yan Zhi Chuan in the 69th minute of play. When Eleuterio Mirande came up free with the goalie in the 71st minute, the Ilulea FC 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 Eleuterio Mirande couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Yan Zhi Chuan in the 76th minute of play forced Ilulea FC's goalkeeper Gabby Arias to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The throw-in from Paulino Pelagius in the 77th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Shi Yuan. Ilkka Markkula showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eleuterio Mirande in the 78th minute of the match. The referee felt a red card was in order, 82 minutes into the game, when Gregorio Sein put in a rough tackle. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 82nd minute of the game. One of Ilulea FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Club Deportes Santa Cruz:s goal. Vágner Linares walked up to take care of the penalty kick. He was aiming for the top corner, but the ball went just outside the post. 87 minutes into the match, Ilulea FC's goal looked a bit too open when Hüseyin Rahmi Toper came free, but Gabby Arias reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 89 played minutes Ilulea FC got a freekick which was hit by Adam Tanner. Gabby Arias showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hüseyin Rahmi Toper, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. Gabby Arias made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yan Zhi Chuan in the 93rd minute of play. 史铮坤 fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilkka Markkula having to interfere. In the 96th minute Yan Zhi Chuan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gabby Arias saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 史铮坤 sent away a hard shot on goal in the 98th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ilulea FC's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.